Batumi has one of the closest airports to any city centre in the region. The trip from Batumi Airport to the city is only about 5 km, so the real question is not how, but what you plan after you land. This post compares taxi, bus and rental car for the short hop. It also covers Kobuleti, Gonio and the Turkish border, and it shows when a car at the airport pays off. To book a car for your Batumi trip, use our car rental in Batumi page; this post compares the ways into the city.
Batumi Airport to the city: the options
| Option | Time to the centre | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Taxi or ride app | 10 to 15 minutes | A beach week in central Batumi |
| City bus | About 20 to 30 minutes | Light luggage and daytime arrivals |
| Rental car from arrivals | 10 to 15 minutes | Day trips, Kobuleti, the mountains, a one-way to Tbilisi |
| Hotel transfer | 10 to 15 minutes | Late arrivals at a resort hotel |
For most people, a taxi from Batumi Airport to the city is the quickest option. Taxis wait outside the terminal, and ride apps work in Batumi too. Agree the price first if you take a street taxi. The bus is cheapest, but it stops often, and it is not practical with big suitcases at night. Check the current routes locally, because they change with the season.
When a rental car from Batumi Airport makes sense
For a week on the boulevard, you do not need a car. Batumi is compact, and parking near the beach is paid in summer. However, most of what makes Adjara special sits outside the city. Waterfalls, mountain villages, Gonio fortress and the botanical garden all need wheels. So if you plan two or more trips out of town, a car from the airport is the easiest choice. It also covers the ride from Batumi Airport to the city on day one.
- Gonio fortress, a Roman fort 10 minutes south of the airport, with quiet beaches around it.
- Kvariati and Sarpi, the clearest water on the coast, near the Turkish border.
- Makhuntseti waterfall and the Queen Tamar bridge, 50 minutes up the Adjaristsqali valley.
- Batumi Botanical Garden, on the headland north of town.
- Kobuleti and Petra fortress, 35 km north along the coast.
Our list of ten places within two hours of Batumi Airport has distances and road notes for each one.
Kobuleti by car
Kobuleti is the long resort beach that Georgian families love. It is about 40 minutes from Batumi Airport by the coast road. We have no separate handover point in Kobuleti. Instead, guests collect the car at Batumi Airport or in Batumi city and drive north. The fee is the same for both Batumi points. On the way, stop at Petra, a Byzantine fortress on a rock above the sea. From Kobuleti, the Kolkheti wetlands and Poti are another 30 to 40 minutes north.
Crossing into Turkey from Batumi
The Sarpi border is 20 minutes from the airport, so the question comes up often. Our cars can cross into Armenia only, with prior notice. They cannot enter Turkey. If you want a day in Hopa or Artvin, park in Georgia and cross on foot, or join a local tour.
What a car from Batumi Airport costs
The Batumi handover fee is $160 per end, at the airport or in the city. Add the daily rate and the $20 service fee. For example, a Toyota Prius for five days with pickup and return at Batumi Airport costs 5 x $35 + $160 + $160 + $20, so $515. A one-way that ends in Tbilisi city centre pays only the Batumi end: 5 x $35 + $160 + $20 = $355.
That is why many guests use a car for the road trip, not for the beach week. They land in Batumi, explore the coast and the mountains, and drive east. The Batumi to Tbilisi one-way page explains the route and the fees, and our cost guide covers every line of the bill.
Coast first, then somewhere else? Many of our Batumi guests go on to Svaneti, Kutaisi or Tbilisi and leave the car there. Message us on WhatsApp (+995 591 89 60 60) and we will plan a custom route with you: the right car for the roads, pickup and drop-off in different cities, and honest advice on driving times.
Pickup at Batumi Airport: step by step
- Add your flight number when you book, so we can track any delay.
- Our colleague waits at the arrivals exit with a sign, at any hour.
- You walk to the car together, check it and photograph it.
- Then you sign the contract and leave the refundable deposit of about $200.
- The whole handover takes about ten minutes, and you drive the 5 km from Batumi Airport to the city in a quarter of an hour.
More details, the fee table and the cars available are on the Batumi Airport and city car rental page.
Which car for Batumi and Adjara
For the coast and the valley roads, an economy car is enough. The Prius at $35 is the favourite of couples. For Mtirala national park or the Goderdzi pass, take a Duster or a RAV4. Families of seven book the Sienna, and groups of eight the Mercedes Vito. Every car has air conditioning, which you will need in a humid Batumi August.
Questions about Batumi Airport to the city
How far is Batumi Airport from the city centre?
About 5 km south of the centre. By car or taxi, it takes 10 to 15 minutes outside rush hour.
Is the Batumi city pickup cheaper than the airport?
No, both cost $160 per end. So choose the place that suits your arrival time.
Can I return the car in Kutaisi?
Yes. One-way rentals between Batumi, Kutaisi and Tbilisi are common. Each end pays its own fee.