Batumi, Georgia
The seaside city Batumi is the second largest in Georgia & the gateway to skiing the powder of Adjara at Project X & Goderdzi. Batumi is not really our kind of city. Occasionally referred to as the 'Georgian Dubai', its ever-expanding skyline of glass towers is anathema to the snowy delights in the mountains not far away.
Batumi airport generally receives flights via Istanbul (IST) and can be a convenient entry point to Georgia for resort & cat skiing at Goderdzi or catskiing at Project X (or even Bakhmaro), provided the schedule and weather are in your favour!
Skiing & Snowboarding near Batumi
Goderdzi should be the most efficient place from which to travel to the incredibly snow-laden Lesser Caucasus mountains of Adjara and cat skiing at Project X & Goderdzi. If your flights get in, then it can be. If not, then you shoulda flown into Kutaisi a few hours drive up the road.
The most adventurous cat skiing in the country is close to Batumi. A few hours by car and then snowcat will eventually get one to , Project X for a week of catskiing for advanced and expert riders.
Further east into the mountains, Goderdzi ski resort & cat skiing is just as snowy as Project X but has gentler terrain and a few ski lifts too. From Batumi the drive is about 3hr Most visitors to Goderdzi will ride the lifts for a day, indulge in the 5-star hotel spa, as well as go cat skiing in the fabulous glades.
[AdListings collection="Georgia" category="Georgia Batumi" subcategory="Batumi Tours"]
Snow & Weather
Situated at sea level beside the Black Sea, Batumi rarely experiences snow during winter, but it does become wet & windy when a winter storm rolls though. Average temperatures through winter are above freezing and relatively mild in comparison the rest of the country. The palm trees lining the boulevards provide the hint that Batumi's climate is far removed from the deep snow not far away in the mountains! Whilst it can be nice when the sun shines, Batumi is incredibly drab on many winter’s days.
Where is Batumi, Georgia?
Batumi is located in the far southwest of Georgia between the Black Sea & the foothills of the Lesser Caucasus mountains. The border with Türkiye is just 10km couth of the airport. The city is 150km (about a 2hr drive on a good day!) southwest of Georgia's third largest centre, Kutaisi. The capital Tbilisi is around 350km to the east of Batumi, or about 5hr drive on a good day. There are reasonable train services linking Batumi with the outskirts of Kutaisi and all the way into Tbilisi.
Batumi (BUS) airport serves flights mainly from the middle-east, central Asia and Russia, with the most useful exception being Istanbul. If contemplating flying to Batumi via Istanbul, we do not recommend using Pegasus Airlines.
The ski resort and cat skiing base of Goderdzi is just 106km by road to the east of Batumi, but due to the condition of the road, that 106km takes around 3hr in winter (on a good day!). The road is slowly improving; slowly being the operative word.
If you are not on an organised tour, a good way to get around can be by hiring a private driver. Use our partner DayTrip for private transfers in and around the city, or to Kutaisi, Tbilisi or Goderdzi.
[AdListings collection="Georgia" category="Georgia Batumi" subcategory="Batumi Transfers"]
Batumi Accommodation
Batumi is one of the few places in Georgia where we suggest staying in a higher-end hotel. There are so many of them within walking distance of the coast & main city centre, and most are reasonably priced during winter. A favourite of the one of our tour partners is the Tapis Rouge Design Boutique Hotel. Anything downtown is likely to be good. We think the pick of them though is the impressive Hotel Indigo Batumi, Hotel Monarch, Ramada Plaza Hotel are all highly rated and yet absolute bargains. For sheer outrageous, the 5-star Sheraton Batumi Hotel might be to your taste (or not as the case may be!). For something central, but smaller & cozy, the highly rated Hotel Park could be your answer.
Search & book a place to stay via the Batumi Accommodation Listings.
Reviews & More Info
The Powderhounds visited the airport & city of Batumi in 2023 having crossed into Georgia via the land border with Türkiye. The city was undergoing an extraordinary period of expansion and modernisation, but in our eyes, lacked any real charm or appeal. The airport is convenient, but only if your friend's flights come in, which in our case they did not. Strong winds and low visibility are a curse for anyone flying into Batumi from Istanbul or elsewhere. Click on the review link in the left column (or top of the page if on a mobile) to read the latest inciteful & droll postulations!
Follow Powderhounds Europe on Instagram to see where we are currently skiing. Follow our main Powderhounds page on Facebook to stay in touch with up-to-date info, tours, and discussions.
If you have a question about skiing & snowboarding in Georgia or elsewhere in Europe, CONTACT US.