Hello friends. This summer I had the opportunity to spend a month and a half in the Caucasus. I visited Georgia and Armenia. Before that I had a vacation in Turkey. We flew directly from Istanbul to Batumi. Our journey took about 1 hour and 40 minutes and the ticket price was 70 Euros per person. We flew with Pegasus airlines and these tickets did not include luggage. I even managed to fit my hair straightener in my hand luggage because the ticket didn’t include checked baggage and I didn’t want to pay extra. Honestly, I was a bit worried whether we would have any issues on the plane, but the flight attendants didn’t raise any problems. I wasn’t sure if the suitcase would fit under the seat, but luckily it did. 😃
I really love Georgian cuisine and during the flight, I realized that I hadn’t eaten pork for a while because I had been in Turkey. Pork is not sold here or used in restaurants. It might be available, but it would be quite expensive. In Georgia there are delicious dishes like khinkali, shish kebab, kubdari and khachapuri, all of which I love. By the way I’ve been to Batumi twice before. The last time was probably three years ago.
We rented an apartment to stay in Batumi for a month. Before calling a taxi, I was planning to get internet. There are many sales points at the airport, probably around seven. We checked them all and found the most advantageous one. There was a very long line here. The cost for 15 days of internet was 30 lari and for a month, it was 37 lari. The difference isn’t very big, about 7 lari (2-3 Euros). Since 15 lari is about 5 Euros, the internet for a month costs around 12-13 Euros. Internet is a crucial need, so we waited in line.
Then we arrived at the center of Batumi. The taxi cost only 2 Euros, can you believe it? This is probably one of the cheapest taxis you can get from the airport. We called the taxi through the Bolt app. We stayed in a building right on the seafront, in the first row. There are popular Orbi City buildings here and we had stayed in this area before. There are also new buildings around. For example, we noticed the Holiday Inn hotel. Our apartment was located on the 27th floor. I was eager to see the view.
The monthly rent for the apartment we rented was only 350 dollars and this price covered all expenses. Water, electricity and apartment management services were all included in the price. The landlord said that this amount was usually sufficient and no one had to pay extra so far. Of course, if we had used water and electricity excessively, there might have been an additional charge, but this was rare, according to the landlord.
When we entered the apartment, the Wi-Fi immediately caught our attention, the kitchen corner was small but sufficient for our needs. Everything was there. A stove, microwave, refrigerator, even salt and sugar. The bathroom was modern and there was a dryer. The living area was comfortable, with a large bed, air conditioning and basically everything we needed. The balcony had a view and there was even a washing machine. The city view was amazing, with the sea on the left side. It was really nice.
We were very happy to find such an apartment at this price. It turned out to be much better than what we saw in the photos, exceeding our expectations. At first we thought, well it's just an apartment, we'll stay here. But after settling in, we realized we had made a really good choice. The location of the apartment was quite advantageous. The beach was nearby and large markets like Carrefour were almost right next to the building. We were very satisfied with that. We unpacked our things, took a shower and rested for a bit. The weather was a bit cloudy on the first day, so we did some shopping and spent the day at home. The next day, however, the sun was shining, so we went out again to explore and enjoy Batumi.
The next day arrived and as we expected, the weather was sunny and wonderful. We walked through Batumi's beautiful streets and visited its interesting places. Of course, we also tried some dishes from Georgian cuisine. We left the apartment and passed by the Orbi City complex, where we had stayed during our previous visit. This complex has three giant towers. We had stayed here before and I must say that people were already living in the building before it was fully completed. In fact, when we stayed here, construction was still ongoing. Due to the constant noise from the construction, we didn’t want to stay here again. However orBI City is still a popular option due to its affordable apartments.
On the other hand, the apartment we stayed in this time felt much safer and more peaceful. It is said that massive towers like Orbi sway slightly in the wind, which made us a little uneasy. Our last accommodation gave us more confidence in terms of both tranquility and safety.
We visited an area called Heroes street. There is a newly built pedestrian bridge here, surrounded by walking paths, parks, lakes and a magnificent sea view. The modern atmosphere of this area reminded me a bit of Dubai. It looks quite impressive and is an ideal place for a walk. After strolling around the park, we continued our exploration along the coastal road. We were excited for a pleasant day and ready to discover the beauties of Batumi.
Next to Orbi Lake, we saw fishermen sitting and fishing. But I’m not sure if there are actually fish here. However, if people are sitting, they are probably catching something. Maybe small fish, perhaps for feeding cats. It’s unlikely to catch big fish here.
Then we went to the beach. There is a bike path along the beach and you can walk for a long time along this path. You can also rent a bike or a scooter and enjoy a ride from one end of the city to the other. By the way I really like Batumi's beach. Especially in areas with bike paths, there are palm trees everywhere. I can say it feels just like Miami Beach.
We noticed that there is a lot of construction in Batumi. It seems like everything is still in progress. From what I understand, Batumi wants to grow like Dubai. I even heard that they plan to build something similar to Dubai's artificial Palm Island in Batumi. If they succeed, everyone coming to Batumi might compare it to Dubai. For example, this area, especially when lit up at night, could be indistinguishable from Dubai. If you took a photo and said, This is Dubai, no one would notice. However, I think Batumi still needs a couple of years to finish all this construction. After that, it will be much more comfortable to explore without construction sites.
When we came here a few years ago, there wasn’t as much construction. We came in April and swam at this beach. I love this beach because it offers a mini Dubai-like view. However, the weather was cold. It wasn’t very hot in the house either. The sea water was the same temperature as in Turkey. When we visited Batumi previously, it had rained nonstop for several days. This time, I wanted to have a vacation without rain.
We arrived at the beach. People were sunbathing and swimming. The day before, we were walking around in winter coats, but then the sun came out. The beach was calm, with no waves. The water was warmer than I expected. Batumi has pebble beaches, so the water is clearer. But for those who are uncomfortable with the stones, water shoes could be a good idea.
While walking on the beach, we explored different spots. The beach near the Alphabet tower is my favorite. From there, you can see Heroes street and the skyscrapers. Another beautiful spot is the area with the Ferris wheel. However, this beach is generally less crowded. It’s quite peaceful outside the season. There are places where you can rent sunbeds and umbrellas and plenty of beach cafés as well.
A couple of days ago, we visited some shops and cafés to see how the prices had changed. I can say that, compared to prices 2-3 years ago, we noticed almost no change. Maybe due to the fluctuations in the dollar exchange rate, everything seemed a little more expensive. But overall, prices in Batumi remained the same. For example, while market and restaurant prices in Turkey have doubled or tripled in recent years, things in Batumi were quite calm and reasonable.
We walked along the beach towards the old town. On the way, I saw a large hotel called the Riot building. However, according to what I read, this is not just a hotel. It also has apartment units. So, you can buy an apartment and live in this building. I might have misunderstood, but I saw advertisements for investment opportunities. From a distance, we started to see the Alphabet Tower and a structure resembling a chapel. But we continued towards the old town because we planned to stay in Batumi for at least a month. We wanted to visit interesting places every time.
We headed towards a hidden and interesting location, near the dolphinarium. There’s a small aquarium there and you can see goldfish without buying a ticket. While heading to the aquarium, I bought a liter of Borjomi. Borjomi is really delicious in Georgia. It’s not as fizzy or salty as in other countries. Maybe it feels more natural because it’s produced and bottled here. Also, it’s very cheap here. A one-liter bottle costs only 1 dollar. We bought it from a kiosk, but it might be even cheaper in a supermarket.
We reached the area where the aquarium is located. The entrance fee for adults is only 4 lari. However, there is also a place where you can see goldfish for free. At first the colorful bottles seemed like they had been thrown, but they were real goldfish. There were white, pink and purple fish. However, most of them were hiding in the shadows, probably to protect themselves from the sun. I wish we had some bread or bagels with us to feed them.
If you throw a piece of bread, all the fish come right up to you and you can see them up close. Right next to the Riot hotel, there is the Hilton hotel and the dolphinarium. The entrance fee for the dolphinarium is 20 lari per person. There is an evening show at 16:00. Also if you want to swim with dolphins, it costs 200 lari for adults and 150 lari for children. Interestingly I’ve never had a photo with dolphins, but I know many people have had this experience.
Next to the Hilton Hotel and the dolphinarium, there is a lake. It’s really nice to see such a lake in the city. There’s a wonderful park around it. The Japanese garden on the beach is also worth seeing. It’s a very well-maintained place. The bushes are trimmed and everything is orderly. This area is ideal for walking or having a picnic with children. The Japanese garden is one of the most well-kept and impressive places in Batumi. We had been here a few years ago in April and all the trees were in bloom. At that time, the beauty of the park really impressed me.
Another thing that caught my attention in Batumi was the large number of street dogs. The dogs are quite big and sometimes roam in packs, which can be a bit intimidating, especially when they are in a group. One evening, while walking, a big dog came up to us and sat with us. It started growling at people passing by, as if trying to protect us. I think the dog became friendly because we fed and petted it. The good thing is that all the street dogs in Batumi are vaccinated, so the risk of getting bitten or contracting a disease is very low. Still I hope nothing like that happens.
On this lake you can rent pedal boats shaped like swans, which could be a fun activity. We also saw people fishing there. After passing behind the Hilton Hotel, we reached a more well-maintained and organized beach area. The Japanese Garden is located here and everything is lush and well-kept, with trees pruned into round shapes, flowers and palm trees. There's no construction here and everything looks perfect. Compared to the areas with heavy construction, this is a very peaceful place.
You can easily find the Japanese garden on Google maps, marked as Japanese garden. By the way, the structure we had seen from afar wasn’t a chapel as I thought, but actually the Radisson Hotel. Its top is designed to look like a clock, but it’s just a hotel. Such hotels usually have panoramic restaurants on the upper floors. They tend to be a bit pricey, but the views are really impressive.
The garden behind the Hilton hotel is beautiful and remarkable. It has walking paths, well-maintained green borders and interesting trees, especially red-leafed trees and sakuras. This area is great for photo shoots and walks with children. It’s even a perfect place for wedding photos. When I first saw it, I thought it was a Chinese garden because there was a gazebo with an interesting roof design. But after checking Google maps, I found out it’s the Japanese Garden.
The sakuras were still in bloom when we visited, although some trees were starting to shed their leaves. Some trees resembled small bushes. The beauty of the garden was very striking. We hadn’t noticed this place during our previous visit, but this time we found it by chance on Google Maps and decided to visit. I highly recommend it for anyone who wants to take great photos.
While walking through the garden, we stumbled upon a mini zoo, which is free to enter. It had swans, peacocks and various bird species. There was also a turtle quietly eating in the greenery. This mini zoo is marked as Birzu on Google Maps and is located within the park. It’s a relatively new addition, as we didn’t see it during our earlier visits.
The park also has areas where you can play billiards and table tennis outdoors. These activities add a fun dimension to the park's atmosphere. The overall design of the park complements the Japanese garden, with carefully arranged trees and plants at every corner.
As we continued walking, we came across a Bamboo Forest. At first, I thought it was a palm grove, but when we got closer, I realized it was a dense collection of bamboo. It created a tropical forest feel in the middle of Batumi. The park is quite large and you can walk around for hours enjoying the peaceful environment. This part of the park is particularly clean and well-maintained.
However, in the Orbi area where we stayed, the situation was a bit different. The construction work was quite intense, which could be somewhat annoying. This park, on the other hand, offers a peaceful and refreshing atmosphere. Finding such a place in Batumi was a pleasant surprise.
Behind the bamboo trees, there’s a huge fountain. Nearby, there’s a tall building and the famous Alphabet Tower, which is easily recognizable by its globe at the top. However, this area also has ongoing construction work. It’s located along Batumi’s coastline and most likely, new apartment projects are being developed. The fountain is one of Batumi’s most popular spots and it’s said to be designed by the French. It’s considered one of Europe’s best fountains. Every evening, a light and music show is held here. I remember watching this show before, but I don’t recall all the details.
If you’re looking for a place to stay in Batumi and want everything within walking distance, the area around Alphabet Tower might be a good choice. It’s close to many major tourist attractions like the Ferris wheel, fish market, cable car, old town and Piazza Square. However, accommodation here tends to be more expensive because the area is entirely geared towards tourists. For more affordable options, you might want to consider areas like Hero Avenue or Orbi City. For example, the tall building next to the Radisson Hotel is quite popular because you can rent apartments with views of the Alphabet Tower and the sea. The views from the upper floors are amazing, but the prices are also high, around $1500 per month.
Another notable building is the Meridien hotel. This hotel has a Ferris wheel on its top floor, which is unique in the world. The yellow cabins are easily recognizable, but it seems like the Ferris wheel is not in operation at the moment. I’ve seen many videos about this hotel and Ferris wheel, so I know it’s quite popular. If you stay here, you’ll have one of the most iconic views of Batumi.
The name of the Alphabet Tower comes from the Georgian alphabet letters that are placed along the tower. There’s a restaurant at the top, which you can visit for an additional fee. However, the reviews about the restaurant aren’t very positive. It’s said that the prices are high, but the food is average. You can stop by for tea, coffee or ice cream, but don’t expect too much.
This area is generally very well-maintained and clean. The fountain, Neptune fountain and surrounding small parks are beautifully arranged. However, as you walk a bit further, you start to see traces of old Batumi. The old colorful buildings in red, blue and green stand next to the modern skyscrapers, clearly showing the contrast between the city’s past and future. When walking toward the old town, you’ll notice the Batumi City Theater right next to the Neptune fountain. There’s a small park here where people sit and relax and even dogs can be seen resting in the shade. The Ferris wheel can be seen from a distance. I used to think it was just decoration, but it’s actually a real Ferris wheel.
Every time we visit Batumi, we’re greeted by such a pleasant atmosphere. I really love Georgian cuisine. The food is incredibly delicious. Also, the Georgian people are very warm and hospitable. Whenever you have a question, they’re always ready to help and sometimes they even offer discounts. You always feel at ease in Georgia. Everything is beautiful and orderly. This city and country really bring me a lot of joy.
After a bit of wandering, we arrived at Europe Square. This is one of Batumi’s most popular spots and a meeting point for young people. Every evening, live music is played here and there are many cafes and restaurants around. The buildings around the square are built in European architectural styles. For example, there’s a McDonald's here, but the architecture of the building is so elegant that I thought it was a church when I first saw it. Around the square, you’ll also find KFC, cafes, restaurants and wine cellars. It’s easy to understand why young people love this square. They first visit a wine cellar, buy their wine and then sit here and spend time.
While walking around Batumi, you can smell the flowers everywhere. Another striking feature of Europe Square is the astronomical clock. Right next to it is a very famous wine cellar: Winery Khareba. Here, wines are sold both by bottle and by bulk. The atmosphere of the wine cellar is impressive. When we went down to the basement, the smell of wine and the wooden barrels greeted us. You can also taste wines here. The prices are quite reasonable. Bulk wines range from 10 to 25 lari per liter. For example, white dry wine costs 10 lari, while the semi-sweet red Kindzmarauli costs 25 lari. However, we know of another wine cellar with even cheaper prices. There, prices are almost half the price. For example, white dry wine costs 4 lari and Kindzmarauli costs 15 lari. It’s really rare to find such affordable wines in Batumi.
We walked a bit and arrived at this affordable wine cellar. It is right next to a park and is called Kahan Traditional Wine Market. The atmosphere here is also very nice. You can do a wine tasting and even sit in the park to enjoy your wine. Inside, there are also Georgian-themed photo areas where you can take pictures, for example, wearing traditional Georgian hats. The prices of the wines are quite reasonable. For example, dry white wine costs 3 lari, Mtsvane is 6.5 lari and Kindzmarauli is 15 lari. There is also a space where wine is poured from large barrels and the environment is very authentic.
From here we continued walking towards the old town. Along the way, we encountered beautiful cafes, Piazza Square and a small chapel, among other tourist spots. We were getting excited to try Georgian cuisine. We were planning to sit at a restaurant to try shashlik, khinkali and other Georgian delicacies. Just thinking about these dishes was making me hungry 😊
Right across from the chapel, known for its bell, there are many interesting cafes. You can find everything here, from Turkish baklava to Georgian sweets like churchkhela. You can enjoy your tea or coffee in this warm atmosphere. There are also many souvenir shops, especially magnets, which are usually priced around 5 lari. There are also cheaper ones available, but the widest selection is definitely in the old town area.
As we walked from the old town towards Europe square, we reached Piazza Square. The chapel's bells ring every half hour and the square has a unique atmosphere. Piazza Square is one of Batumi's most important tourist spots. In the middle of the square is one of Europe's largest mosaics. This mosaic is made of small pieces and depicts fish, people and various patterns. It is very old and quite impressive. If you come to Batumi, I highly recommend visiting this square.
The cafes and restaurants around the square are quite stylish, but prices can be a bit high since it’s a tourist area. You can use platforms like TripAdvisor to find a more affordable place. We chose to have dinner at a restaurant called "Cafe Adjara" in the Old town. The restaurant offers both indoor and outdoor seating. We chose one of the outdoor tables because it was more enjoyable to sit outside. The inside of the restaurant somewhat resembled a wine cellar. The atmosphere was nice, but the music was a bit loud.
As for our orders, we tried a few different Georgian dishes. We ordered a dish called Adjakhuri, which had potatoes, pork, vegetables and spicy peppers. It was quite a filling portion. We also tried shashlik (kebabs) and Pkhali, a Georgian appetizer made with vegetables, walnuts and spices. There were different varieties of Pkhali. One was made with beets and the other with eggplant and greens. The flavors were very unique and delicious.
The shashlik was absolutely perfect. The meat was tender and juicy. However, we forgot to order the famous Georgian sauce Satsebeli to go with it. Still, the shashlik was very tasty on its own. Adjakhuri became my favorite. The combination of meat and potatoes was wonderful.
As for the prices, we paid a total of 45 lari (about 15 euros). It was a bit surprising that the vegetable-based appetizers were almost the same price as the shashlik. Also at the restaurant, you have to order a minimum of 10 khinkali (Georgian dumplings), which might be a bit too much. Overall, the food was delicious and the prices were reasonable. If you skip the appetizers, you can reduce your expenses even further.
After the meal, we decided to take a walk along the coast. The weather was quite warm and we enjoyed the sunny day. At this point, I’ll end my post. I hope you enjoyed reading it. See you soon.
