From Wikitravel

Batumi is the capital of the autonomous republic of Ajara in the country of Georgia.

[edit] Get in

Catch the bus towards east from Trabzon a turkish city near Georgian border. However the last part of the trip you will probably do in the taxi. It is better to catch a direct bus from Trabzon to Batumi. Visa also can be obtained in Trabson at Georgian consulate. However for some nationalities visa is not required.

[edit] By plane

The new airport terminal in Batumi has been in operation since May 26, 2007. It has direct flights from Tbilisi, Istanbul and Kiev.

[edit] By bus

Buses leave Batumi for Tbilisi about three times a day, the earliest at 7am. There is a marshrutka service, every hour from 7am to 23pm, on the hour. Travel time is 6 hours and the vans are more comfortable than the local marshrutkas in the city. The fare is 18 Lari. The scenery along the way is breathtaking.

[edit] By car

[edit] By train

The night train from Tbilisi to Batumi leaves at 22:30 and arrives at 7:00 the next morning. First class is 40 Lari, second class is 23, and the difference doesn't seem to be great. In first class, there are two people per cabin, the berths are a little short, narrow and hard but rather comfortable, and linen are provided. The train only goes to an obscure stop some 5 km north of Batumi, where taxis and marshrutkas await incoming passengers. A one-hour delay is not unusual.

The night train back leaves Batumi at 23:30 and arrives at 8:00. There are also two day trains in each direction.

A day train also runs between Batumi and Tbilisi. That one is much more comfortable but not a sleeping class. For schedules and pricing check out the Georgian Railways page http://www.railway.ge/portal/lang__en/default.aspx

[edit] By boat

Ferries run from Sochi in Russia or or from Illlichevsk, which is close to Odessa in Ukraine. The ferry from Ukraine is $145 one way and takes 42 hours. It doesn't run very regularly.. More boats are operated from Poti (5 Lari with marchutka and takes one hour). It's a kind of Freighter travel. Probably best to call first to make inquiries, to avoid coming back from Poti empty-handed. The booking office is on Kutaisi 34, but the staff only speaks Russian and is not very helpful.

Small boats to Sochi and Poti run from the terminal in the city center.

[edit] Get around

• There are two Marshutka stations. One has minibusses further into Georgia to Kutaisi, Tbilisi, Poti, etc., the other on (Tbilisi square) has marshutkas to Sarpi, the bordercrossing with Turkey. The latter cost 2 Lari.
• Train station with (night) trains to Tbilisi

[edit][add listing] See

The Black Sea: In Batumi you can enjoy the waves and admire the beach and the port itself. Also see the following: Nurigeli lake, Oceanarium (locally called a delphinarium), beautiful beach park, orthodox, catholic, armenian churches and an old mosque. City centre is interesting for its distinctive 19th century Imperial style architecture. Between Poti and Batumi lies Kobuleti, an unsinspiring albeit cheap beach resort, where many Georgians and Armenians spend their holidays. There is not much to be seen, beside the pebble beach. However the peak which you have to pass on the road to Kobuleti is beautiful and you can check out the remains of Petra Fortress overlooking the beautiful sea landscape. To the south of Batumi visit the remains of Gonio Fortress and the village of Sarpi - where a Georgian-Turkish border starts. To the north of a city - an absolute must see is a Batumi Botanical Garden. Eat at the restaurants scattered in mountains. The views and nature are spectacular.

[edit][add listing] Do

[edit][add listing] Buy

[edit][add listing] Eat

Georgian cuisine is very rich. It is mostly meat and vegetables based. For a quick snack you can try all variety of "pirozhki" sold on the streets. Be aware of western-style dishes (pizzas, hamburgers etc) proposed. Usually they are a bad copy. It is much better to try local food. A must : shashlik (a variety of BBQ), khinkali(a local and extremely tasty variety of dumplings), khachapuri (cheese pie).

[edit][add listing] Drink

Georgia has a ancestral tradition of winemaking. Georgia has myriads of wines made out of myriads of sorts of grape. In ex-USSR Georgian wines were very popular and still they are.

[edit][add listing] Sleep

Hotel whats-the-name, Kutaiski str 21, 40 Lari for a double room, 25 for a single.

• Lavro, Pushkin St., between Tbilisis Moedani and Stalin Museum. A double without bathroom costed 20 lari (summer 2005). Reasonably clean, hot water.  edit

• Intourist, Ninoshvili St., on the promenade. Certainly the best hotel in town. Grand, spacious with all amenities. From $110.  edit

There is usually a big choice of private flats and rooms for rent, for reasonable price.

[edit] Get out

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