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Traveling to Batumi in Georgia in the near future? Then don’t forget to visit one of the area’s highlights, the Batumi Botanical Garden which you can find nine kilometers north of the city. In this guide, I will tell you everything you need to know to visit these beautiful gardens, from what to expect, how to get there, and where to stay nearby. Here we go!
Batumi, Georgia
Batumi is a vibrant city located by the Black Sea in Georgia, only 18 kilometers from the Turkisch border. It is known for its pleasant climate and is emerging as one of the top destinations to visit in Georgia.
The city’s impressive architecture boasts a mix of contemporary structures and charming historical buildings, embodying a harmonious blend of past and a futuristic present. Beyond the architectural marvels, Batumi’s seafront promenade invites for leisurely strolls with a cup of Kvasi in the hand, a local drink that is sold from yellow bright tanks at every street corner.
Nine kilometers north of the city you can find the Batumi Botanical Garden!
The Batumi Botanical Garden has its roots tracing back to 1912. Established during the Russian Empire’s rule, the garden’s conception was driven by the vision of Andrei Krasnov, a Russian botanist and geographer. Krasnov recognized the unique climatic conditions of Batumi, located between the Caucasus Mountains and the Black Sea, realizing it was an ideal location for cultivating a diverse collection of plant species.
Over the years, the garden evolved from its initial purpose of acclimatizing exotic plants to becoming a hub for scientific research, conservation, and education. Through periods of political change and cultural shifts, the garden persevered, expanding its plant collections and facilities.
Today, the Batumi Botanical Garden spans over 111 hectares, featuring a wonderful array of plants from various climatic zones.
There are various things to see and do inside Batumi Botanical Garden for botanical lovers, nature enthusiasts, and conscious travelers in general:
The garden is divided into nine distinct phytogeographical departments, each replicating the conditions of different climatic zones around the world.
Batumi Botanical Garden
Explore the Mediterranean, East Asian, Australian, and other departments to witness the diverse flora that thrives in each region. My favorite section was the East Asian department, particularly the Japanese garden for its serene setting with ponds and beautiful greenery.
Hiking/walking is the main thing to do inside Batumi Botanical Garden and you won’t be short on trails here. You can easily spend hours in the park and still discovering a new trail or dirt path to take.
Upon arrival, you will be given a map of the park where you can see the trails and the location of the various departments. However, it is very easy to get lost. I don’t know if it had to do with my map reading or if there was something wrong with the map itself but it is very easy to lose your way in the park!
Nevertheless, it is absolutely worth it to stray of the paved paths and explore the more hidden corners of the park.
If you enter the Batumi Botanical Garden from the South Entrance Gate, you will be rewarded very quickly with one of the highlights of the park which is the Green Cape lookout point.
Black Sea Point
This viewpoint offers a magnificent view over the Black Sea and the beaches north of Batumi. The great thing here is that you can also witness the railway that runs by the beach. It feels really old but it is an active railway and you can see trains passing by.
Both picnicking and camping are allowed inside the Batumi Botanical Garden. The garden offers designated areas where you can enjoy picnics in the middle of the lush greenery. There aren’t any real restaurants inside the park so it’s a good idea to take snacks with you when visiting the park.
Additionally, the garden allows camping in specific sections. This provides a unique opportunity to spend the night immersed in the serenity of the botanical surroundings.
You can put up your tent between 6 P.M. and 10 A.M. the next day. Camping fees are 25 GEL for domestic tourists and 50 GEL for foreign tourists.
Friendly street dogs tend to follow you around inside the park
Before starting your trip to Batumi Botanical Garden, remember that the area is quite large and you can easily spend a whole day here if you want to explore all the different departments.
Batumi Botanical Garden is open every day of the week, from Monday to Sunday, including public holidays. The gates open at 9 A.M. and you should be out again at 5.30 P.M.
Note that, if you want to leave the park to have an outside lunch, you should discuss this with the guys patrolling at the entrances. We didn’t pack any lunch with us and, coming from the Chakvi entrance, we wanted to get out for a while at the South Entrance to have lunch in one of the restaurants in front of the entrance.
They weren’t happy about it but we were granted one and a half hours outside before we were expected back at the entrance for a check of our ticket. It’s best to bring a picnic with you.
There are three ticket offices inside the park and they all charge the same fee. Domestic travelers are charged 10 GEL while foreign visitors need to pay 20 GEL.
Children under the age of six can access the park free of charge.
Here is an overview of the most important facilities inside Batumi Botanical Garden!
Apart from a few snack stands there are no real restaurants inside the park itself. There are however a bunch of places at the south entrance and there’s also a cafe a the Chakvi entrance.
Having eaten lunch at one of the restaurants near the South entrance, I can honestly say that it is better to bring your own snacks or lunch. Most places are tourist traps and charge way too much.
If hiking isn’t your thing, but you still want to see the splendor of this park, then you can opt to take one of the electric buses that ply the main route in the park. Look out for red colored buses after entering the park, a few hundred meters after the south entrance. There’s also a bus stop at the Chakvi entrance.
Ponds and beekeeping at Batumi Botanical Garden
The buses go all the way from the South entrance to the Chakvi entrance making stops at important spots along the way. The price for a seat for a domestic traveler is 5 GEL while foreign travelers need to pay 10 GEL.
The price for a private bus for up to 5 people costs 100 GEL.
No need to worry about finding a toilet inside Batumi Botanical Garden, there are plenty of them. The toilets are generally clean and have toilet paper.
If you want to dive deep into everything there is to know about the park, then you can hire a guide for 80 GEL. This includes a guided one-and-a-half-hour walk but it’s not clear if this is a group tour or a private tour.
If you want a guide to accompany you on an electric bus, this costs 40 GEL for a 40-minute ride.
Getting to Batumi Botanical Garden is relatively easy by public transport whether you’re coming from Batumi or seaside towns in the north like Chakvi, Tsikhisdziri, or Kobuleti.
Bolt is available in Batumi but not in the smaller towns.
Three microbuses pass through Batumi in the direction of the Batumi Botanical Garden, more specifically buses number 15, 31 and 40. Be aware that they all go to different entrances of the park.
Batumi Botanical Garden
bus number 15 stops at the ticket office somewhere in the middle of the park. From the bus stop it’s a 100 meter walk to the ticket booth. If you want to enter to the park through the main, most touristy entrance, then it’s best you take bus 31, which stops 50 meters from the main entrance.
Alternatively, you can also take bus 40 which stops 300 meters from the Chakvi entrance. This is a very quiet entrance with almost no people around.
It’s hard to know where the exact bus stops are in Batumi. However, a little walk out of the center, you can find a large bus stop near the Church of the Holy Spirit. Buses to Batumi Botanical Garden pass by here.
A one-way ticket costs 50 Tetri and you are expected to pay this when you get off the bus.
Batumi-bound marshrutkas are easy to catch on the road that goes all the way from the north Black Sea coast to the south. There are bus stops to be found on the main route but you can also just hail them if you are not standing near a bus stop. The Chakvi entrance is the most convenient and closest one to enter coming from this direction.
A ticket shouldn’t cost you a lot, normally also around 50 tetri if you are coming from Tsikhisdziri but scams are possible. We were charged various prices, once even 2 GEL/person for the route from Tsikhisdziri to Batumi.
If you are staying in Chakvi, you can also walk by the beach to a hidden beach entrance to the park at Botanikuri Baghi Railway Station. It is guarded and the guards will direct you to the official Chakvi entrance booth to pay the entrance fee.
Black Sea Viewpoint
If you like to stay in cities near a lot of action then Batumi is obviously your best bet. However, if you like a more intimate vibe near the Black Sea I can highly recommend staying in Chakvi or Tsikhisdziri to experience Georgian Coastal life off the beaten path.
Here are a few accommodations worth checking out in Batumi ranging from basic to boutique quality.
Hostal 47: If you are looking for a hostel in Batumi then nothing can beat Hostal 47. This hostel offers both mixed and female dormitory rooms and is hosted by a great owner named Lika.
Batumi Wonderland Guesthouse: A 15-minute walk from the city center is a quiet residential area, you can find this quirky guesthouse run by Lia. The Deluxe studio with a kitchenette is a great choice.
Kartuli Hotel: Looking for a place with a minimalistic design, yet all the comfort you need? Look no further than Kartuli hotel which is located on the 37th and 38th floor of a skyscraper.
Cabo Verde Boutique Hotel: If you don’t mind staying outside of the city center in Batumi then this boutique hotel only 1.5 kilometers from the south entrance of Batumi Botanical Garden is a gem.
Chakvi is a town located on the other side of Batumi Botanical Garden which makes it a convenient place to stay since you can just walk to the entrance gate of the park.
Guesthouse Achi: If you like to experience genuine Georgian hospitality, consider staying at Guesthouse Achi, located not far from Chakvi Beach. The hosts don’t speak any English but their children do. We were offered free wine and baked goods and had the time of our lives here.
Guesthouse Georgi: In Tsikhisdziri village, you can discover this guesthouse, which feels more like a homestay than a guesthouse. If you like to stay with a kind local Georgian family in a room with outstanding mountain views, don’t hesitate to book this guesthouse. If you do, say hi to Tedy from me (the dog)!
There you go! I hope you enjoyed this guide to Batumi Botanical Garden and that you feel prepared for your trip.
Let me know in the comments below if you have any questions or drop me a message through my contact page.
Also, don’t forget to check out my resources page with my favorite booking platforms and tips to start planning your trip. Additionally, have a look at my favorite travel gear if you want to pack more consciously!
ENJOY!
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Hi! I am Annelies and this is Travelers & Dreamers, a blog about conscious travel which means traveling in a more mindful way, with a positive impact on the world and yourself!
On this website, I cover different topics like slow travel, plant-based food guides, responsible travel, sustainable packing, eco-travel, and more!
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