The Batumi Dolphinarium is the city's main family attraction and one of the few sights that works year-round in any weather: the 887-seat amphitheater is covered. The show costs from 30 GEL, children under 6 enter free, and the bravest can swim with the dolphins. Below are the schedule and prices, the ticket rules (there are traps worth knowing), the aquarium next door and how to get here by city bus.
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Show schedule and prices
The dolphin show runs every day except Monday - the only day off. In summer, at the peak of the season, there are three shows a day, each lasting about 35 minutes:
| Show time | Price |
|---|---|
| 16:00 | 30 GEL |
| 19:00 | 35 GEL |
| 21:00 | 35 GEL |
Children under 6 enter free if they do not take a separate seat. The dolphinarium does not close for winter, but off-season shows run only on weekends - the current schedule for specific dates is published on the official site dolphinarium.ge. Pets are not allowed at the show.
Tickets: online and box office
There are two ways to buy a ticket: online at rune.ge (tickets appear 3 days before a show, with a fee of about 1.8 GEL added to the price) or at the dolphinarium box office, open from 10:00 to 21:30. Reservations simply do not exist: you either buy online or come to the box office early - in season, for the evening shows, do it well in advance.
The main trap to know before paying: purchased tickets are non-refundable and cannot be moved to another date. Miss your show and the ticket burns. So triple-check the date, time and number of seats before buying. At the turnstile it is enough to show the ticket on your phone screen - no printing needed.
What happens at the show
The program is a few dozen acts: dolphin dances, games with balls and rings, tail-walking and tricks that leave the front rows wet. The format is closer to an educational performance than a circus: the trainers talk about the animals as the show goes on. Good news for English-speaking visitors: the show is conducted in Georgian and English, so you get the full commentary - and the dolphins need no translation anyway.
The amphitheater is divided into 4 sectors, with ramps and elevators for wheelchairs. The place has a long history: the city's first dolphinarium opened back in 1975, and the current one has been running since 6 May 2011, after a twenty-year break.
Swimming with dolphins
A separate experience for those who want more than watching from the stands: 15 minutes in the water with the dolphins under a trainer's supervision. The price is 200 GEL, children from age 5 are allowed. Registration is online only (an exception is made for people with special needs); for consultations call +995 595 335 861 - every day except Monday, from 10:00 to 18:00 with a break from 14:00 to 15:00.
The aquarium next door
In the neighboring building (51 Rustaveli St) works the Batumi aquarium - one of the oldest on the Black Sea, opened in 1966. Today it holds around 100 species: Black Sea fish, freshwater species of Georgia and ornamental fish. A ticket costs 5 GEL, children under 6 free - an easy add-on to the show, especially if you arrive early. Open daily except official holidays, from 10:00 to 17:30 with a break from 13:30 to 14:30 - note that the aquarium closes before the evening shows begin.
How to get there
The dolphinarium stands in the 6 May Park, steps from the seafront: 49 Sh. Rustaveli Ave, coordinates 41.647751, 41.623348. The city bus stop is literally called "Dolphinarium" and is served by buses 1, 7, 10 and 10a; pay on board with a contactless card at the orange validator, 70-80 tetri. From the city center and most first-line hotels it is an easy walk along the boulevard. For any questions about shows and tickets call +995 422 221730 (10:00-21:30, break 13:00-14:00).
What's nearby and where to stay
The 6 May Park makes a ready half-day for a family: next to the dolphinarium are Nurigeli Lake, the oldest trees in the city and a free mini zoo - one of the spots from our guide to unusual places in Batumi. The park is part of the "Sea, park and mini zoo" route from what to see in Batumi in 1 day, and the dolphinarium's neighbors on the city's essential list are collected in the top 20 attractions of Batumi - from the Ali and Nino statue to the Argo cable car.
Staying nearby is convenient: the 6 May Park area is the first line on the quieter side of the city. Ready-made picks by budget are here - 5-star hotels, 10 best hotels, budget hotels and hostels.
The full range is easiest to browse on Booking.com: most options can be booked without prepayment.
Tours kids will love
If the dolphins were a hit, the next step suggests itself: outside the city there is just as much for kids. The Mountain Adjara trip brings the Makhuntseti waterfall, where in summer you can stand right under the spray, and an ancient arched bridge, while the "Georgian Bali" tour adds a banana grove, a wooden beach and lunch at a trout farm, where the fish are as fun to watch as in the aquarium:
Both programs are built with rest stops and a comfortable pace - they work with children of any age. The rest of the family-friendly routes are in the Batumi tours catalog.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a ticket to the Batumi Dolphinarium?
The 16:00 show is 30 GEL, the evening shows at 19:00 and 21:00 are 35 GEL. Children under 6 are free if they do not take a separate seat. Buying online adds a fee of about 1.8 GEL.
When is the dolphinarium closed?
Monday is the only day off. On other days in summer there are three shows: at 16:00, 19:00 and 21:00. The dolphinarium works in winter too, but shows run only on weekends.
Does the show go ahead in the rain?
Yes, the shows run in any weather: the auditorium is covered. It is one of the few attractions in Batumi that rain does not affect at all.
Can I return or exchange a ticket?
No, tickets are non-refundable and cannot be exchanged for another date - if you miss your show, the ticket burns. Check the date, time and number of seats before paying.
What language is the show in?
Georgian and English - English-speaking visitors get the full commentary. The program itself is built on tricks and acts that need no translation anyway.
How do I book swimming with dolphins?
Registration is online only; the price is 200 GEL for 15 minutes in the water, children from age 5 are allowed. For consultations call +995 595 335 861 every day except Monday, from 10:00 to 18:00.