How to get to Batumi city from the airport plus other essential tips you’ll need when arriving in Batumi by plane.
Alexander Kartveli Batumi International Airport (BUS) is a small airport with direct flights to and from Turkey, Uzbekistan, Iran, and a handful of other locations, plus domestic flights from Tbilisi/Natakhtari.
Unlike in Tbilisi and Kutaisi, Batumi Airport is located very close to the city, around 9 km or 20 minutes by car from the boulevard and old town. This makes it easy and affordable to travel to and from the airport.
In this short guide, I’ll explain exactly how to get to your hotel in Batumi from the airport when you arrive. I’ll also provide details on buying a SIM card at Batumi Airport, and provide an overview of the other services available for those arriving or departing from Batumi.
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How to get from Batumi Airport to city centre
There are currently three options available: City bus (the most budget-friendly option – but with some caveats), taxi booked through Bolt (the mid-range option), and private transfer with GoTrip (the most convenient option).
Looking for a reliable airport transfer? Book a car 24/7 direct to your door via GoTrip. The price is locked-in at the time of booking, and the driver will meet you in the arrivals hall.
Option 1: Batumi Airport to city centre by public bus
The most affordable way to travel to Batumi from the airport is by city bus. There are three city bus routes that go to/from the airport: #10, #10a, and #9. The #10 and #10a are the most convenient as they travel right through the city centre.
At the airport, the bus stand is located directly in front of the arrivals hall – you can’t miss it. There is an electronic board that displays upcoming departure times. Buses are scheduled to depart every 10-15 minutes, with the last bus leaving the airport at 9.55pm according to staff.
Travel time is around 20-30 minutes depending on traffic. The fare is 30 tetri.
Note that the buses in Batumi no longer have coin machines, so it’s not possible to buy a single paper ticket.
However, in January 2023, the system got an upgrade so you can now pay for a single fare with any chipped/contactless bank card, including international cards, or with contactless pay. If you use an international credit/debit card, the fare will be slightly more expensive (around 80 tetri).
If you want to buy a bus card, rechargeable orange transport cards can be purchased at the souvenir shop inside the departures hall (immediately on the left as you enter). The card costs 2 GEL. MetroMoney cards from Tbilisi also work on Batumi buses.
The #10 bus runs along Rustaveli Street, stopping at the intersection of Asatiani Street, behind the State University, and in front of Batumi Mall. It terminates at Batumi Central so if you’re taking the train to Tbilisi, you can ride it to the end of the line. See the full bus route here on Moovit.
Option 2: Taxi booked through Bolt app
It’s always a good idea to use a taxi app in Georgia, especially when you’re travelling to/from the airport.
Bolt is my preferred taxi app. They have a big fleet of cars in Batumi, so there should always be a driver available. Fares are around 12 GEL to the city centre/boulevard, or around 15 GEL to Batumi Central.
Bolt app works on the free airport WIFI and on 4G. You need a local phone number to set up the app, so unless you plan on getting your SIM card at the airport, you’ll need to download and activate Bolt before you leave home.
Batumi Airport is small so it’s very easy to rendezvous with your driver. There is a pick up zone right in front of the arrivals hall.
Option 3: Private transfer with GoTrip (from 13 USD)
If you’re arriving late, have lots of luggage – or you just prefer to have your transport sorted in advance and not bother with taxi apps – a private transfer from Batumi Airport to the city centre is an efficient and affordable option.
As always, I recommend GoTrip.ge. Prices to the city start from 17 USD per car. If you’re not staying in Batumi, you can book a transfer to any other place in Georgia. You can even book a direct transfer from the airport to Mestia, for example.
This service works 24/7. The price is locked in when you book online, and payment is made directly to the driver in cash. When you arrive, the driver will be waiting for you in the arrivals hall. There are several ATMs in the arrivals hall, or you can ask your driver to stop at an ATM/bank/money exchange in the city for no extra charge.
How to get back to Batumi Airport
Transport options travelling back to the airport from Batumi city are the same: City bus, Bolt taxi, or private transfer.
If your flight departs very late or very early, you might want to consider pre-booking a transfer for peace of mind. The bus doesn’t run 24/7 and although Bolt cars are normally available, there’s always a small chance you won’t be able to find a driver.
Otherwise, the bus or a taxi is just fine. Remember to give yourself enough time to get to the airport (I would allow 30 minutes if travelling by bus to be safe, longer during peak hour).
Most airlines recommend you arrive at least 3 hours in advance for international flights.
Buying a SIM card at Batumi Airport
There are multiple phone company desks inside the Batumi arrivals hall that offer tourists a free SIM card. However, there is no Magti. Magti is my preferred mobile provider for coverage and value.
These ‘free SIM’ deals are not necessarily good value for money, so I strongly recommend waiting until you get into the city to buy your SIM from a Magti shop.
The most convenient Magti location is at 5 Irakli Abashidze Street near the piazza and old town. Buying a SIM anywhere in Georgia is very straightforward: Just take your passport into the shop and staff will set everything up for you.
A SIM costs 10 GEL (including some call credit) and data packages start from 5 GEL or 7 GEL for unlimited 4G for 7 days. Download the Magti app to top up easily using a card.
Getting cash out at the airport
There are several ATM machines inside the arrivals hall that you can use to directly withdraw Georgian lari (GEL).There are also a number of exchange desks.
I always suggest using an ATM to withdraw GEL. If you prefer to exchange currency, I recommend waiting until you get into the city centre. Rico Credit is a reputable company with offices around Batumi.
Hiring a car at Batumi Airport
There are a couple of car rental desks inside the airport. As always, I recommend using a website such as Local Rent to hire from a local agent – the rates are much better, and you can organise to pick up your car at your address in the city (or ideally at a rendezvous point outside the city).
Read my tips for driving in Georgia and check out my Georgian road trip itinerary from Tbilisi to Batumi or vice versa.
Batumi Airport departures: Shops, restaurants & other services
When departing from Batumi Airport, be aware that the dining situation is very grim indeed! Unless you fancy a plastic-wrapped cheese sandwich for 27 GEL, bring your own snacks – or ideally, eat in the city.
Once you go through immigration, food options in the departures area are just as dire: 30 GEL for a khachapuri and 6 GEL for a bottle of water. There is one fancy-ish restaurant near the gates, but it’s very expensive. The same goes for the souvenir shop.
There is plenty of seating in the departures area, and a few power outlets too. The rest of the airport is pretty basic.
There is no luggage storage at the airport, only a lost and found.
Suitcase wrapping is available for 25 GEL.
Where to stay in Batumi
I recommend staying close to the waterfront and Batumi Old Town. Nice accommodations can also be found at the opposite end of the seafront on the New Boulevard. For more information, see my detailed guide to the best areas to stay in Batumi.
Here are my top picks:
TOP CHOICE: Kartuli Hotel (⭐ 9.1). Located on the 37-38th floors of a skyscraper on the New Boulevard, Kartuli commands spectacular views of the sea and city. Rooms are minimal and beautifully designed. Kartuli is one of the coolest hotels in Georgia!
BOUTIQUE: Mariinsky Boutique Hotel (⭐ 9.0). This cute apart-hotel has spacious rooms, modern ensuites, and an outstanding rooftop terrace. The location three blocks back from the Boulevard, close to Batumi Old Town, is perfect for getting around on foot.
SELF-CONTAINED: Banana Apartments (⭐ 9.7). Banana Apartments offers three stylish, self-contained studio flats that sleep up to three people. Each one has a full kitchen, new bathroom, and water views.
BUDGET: Hostel 47 (⭐ 9.8). Located near the museum, this popular hostel is walking distance from both the beach and the Old Town. There are three dorms to choose from (mixed or female-only) plus a shared kitchen-laundry and several outdoor common spaces.
SPLASH OUT: Radisson Blu (⭐ 8.5). Located footsteps from both the main part of the boulevard and Batumi Old Town, this hotel offers polished rooms with great views, an outdoor pool, and an outstanding buffet breakfast.
Things to do in Batumi
- The definitive guide to Batumi – the best things to do, see, eat & drink
- Batumi street art guide & map
- The best day trips from Batumi
- Guide to visiting the Batumi Botanical Garden
- Guide to the Gonio Cross trail, Batumi’s best sunset hike
- Guide to visiting Kolkheti National Park, an adventurous day trip from Batumi
- Cycling from Batumi to Sarpi and the Turkish border
- Guide to visiting Machakhela National Park from Batumi
- My favourite hotel in Batumi: Kartuli Hotel
Georgia essentials
Here are the websites and services I personally use and recommend for Georgia. Check out my full list of travel resources for more tips.
FLIGHTS: Search for affordable flights to Tbilisi, Batumi or Kutaisi on Skyscanner.
TRAVEL INSURANCE: Insure your trip with HeyMondo, my preferred provider for single-trip and annual travel insurance (get 5% off when you book with my link).
SIM CARD: Magti is my preferred provider, with prices starting from 9 GEL/week for unlimited data. See this guide for all the details about buying a Georgian SIM card.
AIRPORT TRANSFERS: Most flights into Georgia arrive in the early hours. For ease, pre-book a private transfer from Tbilisi Airport to your hotel (from $17) or from Kutaisi Airport to Tbilisi (from $90) with my partners at GoTrip.ge.
ACCOMMODATION: Booking.com is the most widely used platform in Georgia. Use it to find family guesthouses, private apartments, hostels and hotels around the country.
CAR HIRE: Find a great deal on a rental car in Georgia – use the Local Rent website to book through a local agent (prices start from $20/day).
DAY TRIPS & CITY TOURS: Use Viator or Get Your Guide to browse a range of day trips and city tours. For off-beat programs, I recommend Friendly.ge (use the promocode wanderlush for 10% off). For in-depth day trips to Georgia’s wine regions, I recommend Eat This! Tours (use the promo code wanderlush for 5% off).
PRIVATE TRANSFERS: GoTrip.ge is a terrific service for booking a private professional driver and car for the day. Use it for A-to-B transfers, a customised round-trip itinerary, or a multi-day trip. You can stop wherever you like for as long as you like without the fixed price going up.
NEED SOME HELP?: Need feedback on your itinerary or personalised travel tips? I offer a one-on-one consultation call service for Tbilisi and Georgia. More information and bookings here.
Hi Emily, thanks for your helpful article. Having read your article, I came to Batumi Sep 1, and I found a place to buy Butumi’s orange transportation card: when you exit the arrival hall,
you see that the departure hall is located behind the bus station. Inside the hall, just on the left of the entrance, is a souvenir shop that sells the orange car for 2 Laries. It is enough charged for two trips by bus or can be used for two people.
Thank you so much for the excellent tip, Behzad! This is really helpful to know!