Batumi in 3 Days: A Black Sea Weekend with Adjarian Khachapuri

Morning

Start at the Batumi Boulevard — a 6-km promenade along the Black Sea. In the morning, locals run, drink coffee on terraces, and feed pigeons. Walk from the Alphabet Tower (a tower with an internal elevator and ornate Georgian letters outside, entry 5 GEL) to Piazza — an Italian square with a fountain and restaurants.

Breakfast at a cafe on the waterfront: Cafe Batumi or any cafe near Piazza. Order Adjarian churchkhela-chocolate (the local version with walnuts) and coffee. 8-15 GEL.

Day

Move into Batumi's Old Town — a small quarter with 19th-century streets, balconies, and colorful facades. Streets: Gorgiladze, Lermontova, Vakhtang Gorgasali. Europe Square with an equestrian statue is the heart of the Old Town.

Lunch at Mimino Cafe (2 Gorgiladze St.) or Baraka — traditional Adjarian cuisine. Try the Adjarian khachapuri — a boat-shaped bread with egg and a knob of butter, 15-20 GEL. Eat it with your hands: tear the bread at the edges and dip in the melted cheese.

The Batumi bazaar next to the Old Town — fruit, spices, homemade wine in plastic bottles, churchkhela. Take mandarins — Adjara is famous for them.

Evening

Sunset from the Batumi Lighthouse (Gorgiladze St.) or from the waterfront near the Alphabet Tower. Evening city lights, mountains in the mist to the north.

Dinner: Restaurant Batumi (the former "Ship" restaurant on the water, Boulevard) or Pirita (Lermontova St.) — Georgian wines, meze, fresh Black Sea fish. 40-70 GEL with wine.

Morning

The Batumi Botanical Garden — one of the largest in the world, 113 hectares on a hillside 9 km north of the city. Marshrutka #31 from the stop near the market — 1 GEL. Entry 20 GEL. Open from 9:00.

Trees, shrubs, and flowers from around the world: Japanese garden, Mexican grove, Australian eucalyptus. Views of the Black Sea from above. Trails wind across the hill — pick up a map at the ticket counter. The walk takes 2-3 hours.

Breakfast: bring your own or buy at the entrance — there's a small cafe with coffee and flatbreads.

Day

After the botanical garden — the village of Green Cape (Mtsvane Kontskhi), 10 km from Batumi. A cozy resort village with wooden houses surrounded by green, old dachas of Soviet intelligentsia, and a small beach. Very quiet after busy Batumi.

Lunch in Green Cape: family cafes along the road. Khinkali (1.5-2.5 GEL each) and wine. A serving of 6-8 — filling and tasty. 15-25 GEL.

Swimming at Green Cape's pebble beach — fewer people than in Batumi. Clean water; in season (June-September) warm (22-24°C / 72-75°F).

Evening

Back in Batumi at sunset. Walk along Nino Chkheidze Street — a new pedestrian street with cafes and bars. Or the art quarter near the market.

Evening bar: Factory Bar & Grill (Gorgiladze St.) or any rooftop terrace with sea views. Local lagers "Natakhtari" or "Zedazeni" — 8-12 GEL per bottle. Grape chacha (local Georgian brandy) — 5-8 GEL per 50 ml.

Morning

Two options for the final day:

Option 1 — mountains: an excursion to mountain Adjara — the village of Machakhela or the Adjaristskali Gorge. This is a national park 60-80 km from Batumi. Waterfalls, mountain rivers, beech forests. Tours run from Batumi — 50-80 GEL per person. By marshrutka on your own is harder but doable.

Option 2 — relaxed: morning at the beach in Batumi itself. Batumi Beach is long and pebbly. Loungers — 10-15 GEL. Calm sea in good weather. In summer it's crowded, but that's the Caucasian resort atmosphere — accept it as part of the experience.

Day

If you chose mountains: snack in a mountain village with local hostesses — lavash, cheese, walnut jam, herbal tea. That's a separate culinary experience.

If beach day: lunch at a beach restaurant on the waterfront. Narikala (waterfront) or any cafe with shade. Grilled fish, salad with herbs and pomegranate, cold lemonade — 25-40 GEL.

Evening

Before departure: the casinos — unexpected, but Batumi is known for its casinos. Gambling is legal in Batumi. If you've never been — stop in just to see the interiors of "Casino Sheraton" or "Magnolia." Free entry.

Or the evening waterfront — illuminated fountains, dancing fountains at Europe Square run at 21:00 and 22:00. Finish the trip with mandarins and the last bits of churchkhela under the stars.

Rain in Batumi is no reason to stay in the hotel. Here's what to do:

• Adjara Museum (4 Baratashvili St.) — a small museum with a collection of gold jewelry from the Colchian era, Adjarian cultural artifacts, and historic photographs. Entry 5 GEL, 1-2 hours well spent.
• Batumi Bazaar (Gorgiladze St.) — a huge covered market selling Adjarian honey, tenili, churchkhela, and homemade wine. It's especially cozy here in the rain.
• Batumi Casinos — Batumi is famous for legal casinos. Drop in at least an hour at "Casino Sheraton" or "Magnolia" just to see the interiors. Free entry, no obligation to spend.
• Piazza Cafe and restaurants on the same Italian square in the Old Town center. Perfect for a long lunch with khachapuri and wine to the sound of rain outside.
• Galleria Batumi (Shota Rustaveli Ave.) — a downtown shopping mall with shops, coffee shops, and a food court. A refuge in extended bad weather.

Tip: rain in Batumi is common, especially in May and October. Adjara is subtropical, getting up to 2,500 mm of rain a year. An umbrella and waterproof jacket are essentials, and rain usually clears by evening.