Georgia's Black Sea coast
Georgia's Black Sea coast runs from Poti in the north to Sarpi on the Turkish border, with beach resorts from Ureki to Kobuleti and Batumi, and each stretch is different.
Batumi is the city by the sea, with its boulevard and botanical garden. North of it are the long pebble beach of Kobuleti, the tea-plantation hills of Chakvi and the beach under the cliff at Tsikhisdziri; south of it, Kvariati and Sarpi have clear, deep water under green hills. Further north, in Guria, Ureki, Shekvetili and Grigoleti have black magnetic sand, shallow warm water and pine forest along the shore. Poti, at the mouth of the Rioni, is the way into Paliastomi Lake and the Kolkheti wetlands.
The swimming season runs roughly from June to September, and the sea is warmest in July and August.
Most people fly into Kutaisi or Batumi airport and go straight to the coast, or come from Tbilisi in one long drive with a stop on the way. A stop is free; you pay only for any extra distance. Once you're there, day trips from Batumi go to the Mtirala rainforest and up into mountain Adjara. Before you book, you see your driver, the car and one fixed price for the whole car.
Day trips from 75 ₾ per carTransfers from 65 ₾ per car
Places to go
2–4 daysAdjara
Batumi
The Black Sea city: boulevard, botanical garden and subtropical evenings.
5 h 10 min from TbilisiViewfrom345 ₾
2–4 daysGuria
Ureki
Black magnetic sand and shallow warm water — with Grigoleti's pine coast next door.
4 h 35 min from TbilisiViewfrom290 ₾
3–5 daysAdjara
Kobuleti
A long pebble beach with the Ispani marshes behind it, half an hour north of Batumi.
5 h from TbilisiViewfrom315 ₾
2–4 daysGuria
Shekvetili
Quiet magnetic-sand coast beside the Dendrological Park's giant transplanted trees.
4 h 30 min from TbilisiView
2–4 daysAdjara
Kvariati
Clear deep water under the hills — the last calm bay before the Turkish border.
5 h 35 min from TbilisiView
1–2 daysAdjara
Sarpi
The border village: a pebble bay, water you can see the bottom of, and Turkey across the fence.
5 h 45 min from TbilisiView
1–2 daysSamegrelo
Poti
Georgia's port town at the mouth of the Rioni — the way into Paliastomi Lake and the Kolkheti wetlands.
4 h 40 min from TbilisiView
2–4 daysAdjara
Chakvi
The tea-plantation coast between Batumi and Kobuleti — green, and quieter than both.
5 h from TbilisiView
2–4 daysAdjara
Tsikhisdziri
A beach under the cliff, below the ruins of Byzantine Petra, reached by steps down from the road.
5 h from TbilisiView
2–4 daysGuria
Grigoleti
Pine forest, magnetic sand, and the Kolkheti wetlands starting at the edge of the village.
4 h 15 min from TbilisiView
Tours that go there
Old Batumi: Half-Day Tour with a Driver
The Boulevard, Europe Square and Piazza, the Alphabet Tower and the cable car to Anuria, with a driver who waits while you walk.
From Batumi11 km · 30 min drivingViewfrom75 ₾
Mtirala National Park
A short drive from Batumi into the Colchic rainforest above Chakvi, with marked trails, a waterfall and more rain than almost anywhere in Georgia.
From Batumi60 km · 2 h drivingViewfrom150 ₾
Mountain Adjara from Batumi
Up the Adjaristskali valley from Batumi to Makhuntseti waterfall, an old arched stone bridge, mountain villages and the cable car at Khulo.
From Batumi159 km · 3 h 20 min drivingViewfrom215 ₾
Goderdzi ski day
A day at the Goderdzi resort near the pass at about 2,000 metres in mountain Adjara, known for heavy snow and good freeride.
From Batumi216 km · 5 h 20 min drivingViewfrom230 ₾
Transfers there
From the airports
- Tbilisi International Airport → Batumifrom 350 ₾
- Kutaisi International Airport → Batumifrom 220 ₾
- Batumi International Airport → Batumifrom 65 ₾
- Batumi International Airport → Kvariatifrom 65 ₾
- Batumi International Airport → Sarpifrom 70 ₾
From Tbilisi
- Tbilisi → Batumifrom 345 ₾
- Tbilisi → Kobuletifrom 315 ₾
From Kutaisi
- Kutaisi → Batumifrom 220 ₾
- Kutaisi → Potifrom 170 ₾
From Batumi
- Batumi → Urekifrom 95 ₾
- Batumi → Kvariatifrom 65 ₾
From other places
- Zugdidi → Batumifrom 235 ₾
Show all 32 transfers
From the airports
- Batumi International Airport → Chakvifrom 70 ₾
- Batumi International Airport → Kobuletifrom 80 ₾
- Batumi International Airport → Shekvetilifrom 90 ₾
- Batumi International Airport → Urekifrom 115 ₾
- Kutaisi International Airport → Urekifrom 150 ₾
- Kutaisi International Airport → Shekvetilifrom 170 ₾
- Kutaisi International Airport → Potifrom 170 ₾
- Kutaisi International Airport → Kobuletifrom 175 ₾
From Tbilisi
- Tbilisi → Urekifrom 290 ₾
From Kutaisi
- Kutaisi → Urekifrom 150 ₾
- Kutaisi → Kobuletifrom 190 ₾
From Batumi
- Batumi → Sarpifrom 70 ₾
- Batumi → Kobuletifrom 80 ₾
From other places
- Kvariati → Batumifrom 70 ₾
- Sarpi → Batumifrom 70 ₾
- Kobuleti → Batumifrom 80 ₾
- Ureki → Batumifrom 90 ₾
- Goderdzi → Batumifrom 220 ₾
- Borjomi → Batumifrom 260 ₾
- Mestia → Batumifrom 355 ₾
Questions
- Which beach town is closest to Kutaisi airport?
- Ureki and Shekvetili in Guria, then Poti and Kobuleti. Each card on this page shows the current drive time.
- When is the swimming season?
- Roughly from June to September, with the warmest sea in July and August.
- Can I get from Tbilisi to the coast in one go?
- Yes. Book a transfer from Tbilisi or Tbilisi airport straight to Batumi, Kobuleti, Ureki or another town on the coast. It's a long day, so add a stop on the way when you book: the stop is free, and you pay only for any extra distance.
- Sand or pebbles?
- The beaches of Guria (Ureki, Shekvetili, Grigoleti) have black magnetic sand and shallow water. In Adjara (Batumi, Kobuleti, Kvariati, Sarpi) they are mostly pebble.
- What can we do from the coast for a day?
- From Batumi there are day trips to the Mtirala rainforest, up the valley into mountain Adjara, and a half-day tour of Old Batumi with a driver.