Overview
Batumi is Georgia's palm-lined Black Sea resort, where subtropical beaches meet a skyline of quirky glass towers and a cobbled Old Town. It has become a firm favourite with UK travellers after sunshine, low prices and a city break that feels genuinely different. Flights land at Batumi International Airport (BUS), a short hop from the seafront. Use the price charts on this page to see how current fares to Batumi are moving before you book.
Best time to fly to Batumi
The beach season runs from June to September, when the Black Sea is warm and the boulevard is at its liveliest; July and August are the busiest and most expensive. Late May, early June and September bring pleasant warmth with smaller crowds and better-value flights. Batumi is famously green because it is also wet, and autumn can deliver heavy downpours, while winters are mild but damp. Check the When to book chart above to spot the cheaper weeks.
Airlines and routes
There are currently no reliable year-round direct flights from the UK to Batumi, so most journeys involve one connection. The most common routing is via Istanbul with Turkish Airlines or Pegasus, giving a total travel time of roughly 8 to 12 hours from London including the layover. Other itineraries connect through hubs such as Warsaw or Vienna. Many travellers also fly Wizz Air or Georgian Airways into Kutaisi or Tbilisi and continue to Batumi by train or road.
Things to do in Batumi
Batumi packs a lot into a walkable stretch of coast, from Roman ruins to botanical gardens.
- Batumi Boulevard: a long seaside promenade of gardens, cafes and dancing fountains that comes alive at dusk.
- Ali and Nino statue: a moving steel sculpture of two lovers who slowly pass through one another.
- Batumi Botanical Garden: one of the largest in the region, with subtropical planting and clifftop sea views.
- Old Town and Piazza: restored squares, wine bars and Adjaran khachapuri, the local cheese-and-egg boat bread.
- Gonio Fortress: a Roman-era fort just south of the city, close to the Turkish border.
At Batumi International Airport (BUS)
BUS sits about 2 km south of the centre, making it one of the quickest airport transfers anywhere in the region, roughly 10 to 15 minutes by car. City bus route 10 runs into town for a few coins, while metered taxis and the Bolt app are inexpensive and widely used. Most seafront hotels are within a short, cheap ride.
Top tips for finding cheap flights to Batumi
- Book connecting flights around two to three months ahead for summer travel; last-minute peak fares climb quickly.
- Fly midweek and outside school holidays, as Tuesdays and Wednesdays are usually cheaper than weekends.
- Use flexible date search and compare the cost of flying into Kutaisi or Tbilisi as well as Batumi.
- Compare carriers and layover hubs, because the fastest routing is not always the cheapest.
Travel essentials
British passport holders can enter Georgia visa-free for stays of up to one year, so no advance visa is needed for a holiday. The currency is the Georgian lari (GEL); cards are widely accepted in Batumi and ATMs are easy to find, though some cash helps for buses and markets. No special vaccinations are required, but comprehensive travel insurance is strongly recommended, and it is worth checking the latest FCDO advice before you travel.
