Batumi airport sits right inside the city limits: the center is about 6 km away, the shortest run from plane to sea anywhere in Georgia. You can get there for 70-80 tetri on a city bus, for about 15 GEL by app-hailed taxi, or on a pre-booked transfer with a meet-and-greet in the arrivals hall. Below are all the options with prices, a warning about the private drivers at the exit, and a separate section for those heading not to Batumi itself but to Kobuleti, Gonio, Kvariati or Sarpi.
Table of contents
Options at a glance
| Option | Price | Time to the center | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| City bus | 70-80 tetri | 25-35 minutes | Traveling light and in no hurry: buses run often, but it gets tight with suitcases |
| App-hailed taxi | about 15 GEL | 15-20 minutes | The best mix of price and speed for most arrivals |
| Transfer | 60-90 GEL per car | 15-20 minutes | Groups, families with luggage and anyone landing without mobile data |
City bus
Buses 9, 10, 10a and 16 run from the airport into the city - a dense network for a town this size, so the wait is short. You pay on board: tap your card on the orange validator. The cheapest fare is with a Batumi Card at 70 tetri per ride; Tbilisi's MetroMoney transport card also works in Batumi at the same rate. Without a local card, just tap a regular contactless Visa or Mastercard or a phone with NFC - about 80 tetri, no discount.
Taxi: apps versus private drivers
A ride to the center through Bolt costs about 15 GEL - the app works reliably at the airport, and a car arrives within minutes. For most arrivals this is the optimal way in: fast, cheap and with no negotiations.
The private drivers outside the arrivals hall ask from 50 GEL for the same trip, and their cars are often in such technical condition that the ride-hailing apps will not accept them even for the economy tier. The only scenario where they help is cash-only with no working internet; in every other case, order a car through the app or book a transfer in advance.
Transfer with a name sign
A transfer from Batumi airport costs 60-70 GEL for a sedan and 70-90 GEL for a minivan. The main advantage: the driver meets you in the arrivals hall holding a printed sheet with your name, so you need no connection on landing - no local SIM, no internet, no sign language. It is especially handy when a big group needs a minivan, or when there is so much luggage that you would otherwise be ordering several taxis.
You can book a car in advance online - arrange a transfer on GoTrip: the price is fixed at booking, you pay by card, and the driver tracks your flight on the board and waits even through a delay.
From the airport to Kobuleti, Gonio, Kvariati and Sarpi
The airport stands at the southern exit of Batumi, so Gonio, Kvariati and Sarpi are actually closer from here than the city center, while Kobuleti means crossing the whole of Batumi northward. There is no convenient direct public transport to the resorts - with luggage the working options are the same: an app-hailed taxi or a transfer with a meet-and-greet.
| Resort | Taxi | Transfer: sedan | Transfer: minivan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gonio | 12-20 GEL | 80 GEL | 120 GEL |
| Kvariati | 17-30 GEL | 90 GEL | 150 GEL |
| Sarpi | 20-30 GEL | 130 GEL | 170 GEL |
| Kobuleti | 30-50 GEL | 125 GEL | 175 GEL |
The logic is the same as with the city: solo or as a couple with backpacks, a taxi is cheaper; for a family with suitcases or a group, a transfer meets you at the exit and delivers you to the door of a specific guesthouse with no phone calls in between.
Getting back: from the city to the airport
The same buses, apps and transfers work in the opposite direction, but one factor is easy to underestimate: Batumi slips into traffic jams easily, especially on summer evenings when the whole city drifts toward the seafront. Add a 30-minute margin to the usual 15-20 minutes of driving - missing a plane over an intersection is the most annoying way to do it.
If your flight leaves from Kutaisi rather than Batumi, the road takes 2.5-3 hours - there is a separate page about Kutaisi airport. And for the route to the capital and back there is a guide on how to get from Tbilisi to Batumi - it works in both directions.
Where to stay in Batumi and what to plan
Fifteen minutes from plane to hotel is a solid reason to stay in Batumi itself: morning flight, afternoon on the beach. Ready-made picks for different budgets are here - 5-star hotels, 10 best hotels in the city, budget hotels and hostels.
The full range is easiest to browse on Booking.com: most options can be booked without prepayment.
The trip program is also worth putting together before departure: walking routes around the city are on the what to see in Batumi in 1 day page, and trips to the mountains and around the region are in the Batumi tours catalog. For a first acquaintance, these two are the usual picks:
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest way from Batumi airport to the city?
The city bus: routes 9, 10, 10a and 16 take you into town for 70 tetri with a Batumi Card or about 80 tetri with a regular contactless bank card. An app-hailed taxi costs about 15 GEL - for two or three people with luggage the difference stops mattering.
How much is a taxi from Batumi airport?
Through Bolt - about 15 GEL to the center. The private drivers at the exit ask from 50 GEL, and their cars are often in poor technical condition, so use the app or book a transfer in advance.
How do I pay for the bus from the airport?
Tap your card on the orange validator on board: Batumi Card - 70 tetri, Tbilisi's MetroMoney - the same fare, a regular contactless Visa/Mastercard or a phone with NFC - about 80 tetri.
How do I get from Batumi airport to Kobuleti, Kvariati or Sarpi?
There is no direct public transport, so it is a taxi or a transfer. Taxi guide prices: Gonio 12-20 GEL, Kvariati 17-30, Sarpi 20-30, Kobuleti 30-50. A transfer with a meet-and-greet runs from 80 to 175 GEL depending on the resort and the car.
How early should I leave for Batumi airport?
The drive from the center takes 15-20 minutes, but in summer the city slips into traffic jams easily, so add another 30 minutes. In total, leave so that you are at the airport 2 hours before departure - roughly 2 hours 50 minutes from the center.