- Batumi airport (BUS), officially Alexander Kartveli Batumi International Airport, lies ~7 km by road south of the old town, 10 to 20 minutes by car.
- City bus 10 stops outside arrivals and costs about 0.70 GEL on a local card or about 1 GEL on a foreign card in 2026. It stops running in the evening.
- A Bolt to the old town costs about 10-20 GEL ($4-7) in 2026, and a pre-booked private transfer meets any flight for one price per car.
- Istanbul, Tel Aviv, Tbilisi, Yerevan, Minsk and several Russian cities had flights in late October 2026; most Gulf, Central Asian and European routes are summer only.
- The Turkish border at Sarpi is ~12 km south, and bus 10 ends at Batumi Central station, with fast trains to Tbilisi in about 4 to 5 hours.
Batumi airport (BUS) sits unusually close to its city: ~7 km by road from the old town, or 10 to 20 minutes by car. Bus 10 leaves from the kerb outside arrivals for about 1 GEL, and a Bolt costs roughly 10-20 GEL in 2026. The terminal is small, so you are usually outside soon after the bags come off. That makes Batumi an easy first stop on the Black Sea, even after a flight that lands at dawn.
This guide follows your arrival in order. It starts at the passport desk, moves on to money and mobile data, then compares each ride into town with 2026 fares. After that we cover the airlines and their seasons, night landings, the trip on to Kutaisi or Tbilisi and the short hop to the Turkish border at Sarpi. For the city itself, read our Batumi travel guide, and check Batumi weather before you pack. Fares and timetables were checked in October 2026.
Batumi airport (BUS) at a glance
The airport fills the flat ground between the southern suburbs and the mouth of the Chorokhi River. It lies beside the main road to Turkey. The name honours Alexander Kartveli, the Tbilisi-born engineer who designed the P-47 Thunderbolt fighter in the United States. By the entrance stands a sculpture of Fadiko Gogitidze, the first woman pilot from Adjara.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Official name | Alexander Kartveli Batumi International Airport |
| Codes | BUS (IATA), UGSB (ICAO) |
| Location | Southern edge of Batumi, ~7 km south of the old town by road and ~3 km from the New Boulevard hotels |
| Turkish border | Sarpi, ~12 km south; Hopa in Turkey lies ~20 km beyond |
| Operator | TAV Georgia, part of the TAV Airports group, since the terminal opened in 2007 |
| Terminal | One building, extended in 2021 to about 8,000 square metres for 1.2 million passengers a year |
| Traffic | About 1.23 million passengers in 2025, up by roughly 29% on 2024 |
| Hours | Flights at all hours; the information desk is staffed 24 hours |
| Live flights | batumiairport.com |
Traffic in 2025 already matched what the 2021 extension was built for, so passport queues grow in summer when several planes land together. From November to April the hall is far calmer.
Arriving at Batumi International Airport: passport control, cash and SIM cards
- Passport control
An officer checks your passport, photographs you and adds the entry stamp. Foreigners must also be insured for medical care and accidents, with a limit of no less than 30,000 GEL, for each day in Georgia. Have the policy ready on your phone. Our entry requirements guide covers visas and customs. - Bags and customs
Suitcases come out in a small reclaim hall, with the lost-and-found office beside the belt. Most holiday travellers walk straight through the green channel. - The arrivals hall
The hall has a Bank of Georgia branch with an exchange counter, cash machines, car rental and mobile operator desks, and a medical point that never closes. The tourist information centre opens from about 09:00 to 20:00. - Out the door
Bus 10 stops at the kerb in front of the exit, beside a screen with the next departures. App cars use the same forecourt, and taxis line up by the doors.
Cash at the airport
The lari (GEL) is the only legal currency. The cash machines work at any hour, and the bank counter changes foreign cash. Rates are usually better in town, so change only what you need today. Most Batumi shops, cafes and hotels take cards, and the city bus takes no cash at all.
SIM cards and Wi-Fi
Operator desks in arrivals hand out tourist SIM cards with data. They are handy, though not always the best value. In October 2026 Magti, the network locals rate highest in the mountains, had no desk here. Magti, Silknet and Cellfie all have shops in the city centre, and each needs only your passport. The terminal Wi-Fi is free.
Which airlines fly to Batumi airport, and when
Batumi is above all a summer airport. The official list for July 2026 counted 46 routes, and many of them stop in autumn. That July there was no direct flight from the UK, Germany or France, and Wizz Air did not serve Batumi at all.
| Region | Airlines and cities (July 2026) | On the airport board, mid to late October 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Turkey | Turkish Airlines to Istanbul (17 a week) and Pegasus to Sabiha Gokcen (5 a week) | Yes, all year |
| Israel | Israir, El Al and Arkia to Tel Aviv, about 40 flights a week between them | Yes |
| Georgia | Georgian Airways to Tbilisi, about 45 minutes, since June 2026 | Yes, at weekends at least |
| Caucasus | Azerbaijan Airlines to Baku (7 a week) and Flyone Armenia to Yerevan (5 a week) | Yerevan yes; Baku seen in mid-October |
| Russia and Belarus | Red Wings and Azimuth to Moscow, St Petersburg, Sochi and over a dozen other cities; Belavia to Minsk | Yes, on fewer routes |
| Gulf and Jordan | flydubai to Dubai, flynas to Riyadh and Jeddah, Jazeera to Kuwait, Jordan Aviation and Fly Jordan to Amman | Mostly summer; Jazeera was still flying |
| Central Asia | Air Astana, SCAT and FlyArystan from Kazakhstan; Centrum Air and Uzbekistan Airways from Tashkent | Summer only |
| Rest of Europe | airBaltic from Riga (weekly) and Flyone Moldova from Chisinau | Riga summer only; Chisinau seen in mid-October |
From western Europe, most people change in Istanbul, which has Batumi flights all year, or fly Wizz Air to Kutaisi, about 2 hours up the coast. Our Kutaisi airport and Tbilisi airport guides cover those two gateways, and our guide to flights to Tbilisi compares all three. On a round trip, flying into Tbilisi and home from Batumi saves the drive back east.
Batumi airport to city centre: every option compared
Whatever you choose, the trip is short. The table compares the options for a ride to Europe Square and the old town in 2026.
| Option | When it runs | Time to the old town | Approximate cost (2026) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bus 10 or 10a | Early morning to late evening, every 10-15 min in the daytime | 20-30 min | About 0.70 GEL by local card, about 1 GEL by foreign card | Daytime landings with light bags |
| Bolt or Yandex Go | 24 hours | 10-20 min | About 10-20 GEL ($4-7), more at night | Most travellers with data or Wi-Fi |
| Taxi at the exit | 24 hours | 10-20 min | Agree the fare first; often far above the app price | No phone data and no app |
| Private transfer | Any flight | 10-20 min | One fixed price per car, roughly 40-55 GEL ($15-20) on the market | Night landings, families, onward trips |
Booked into one of the tall hotels on the New Boulevard? You are only ~3 km from the terminal. Even the old town, near Europe Square and the Piazza, is rarely more than 20 minutes away outside the summer rush.
Batumi airport bus: the bus 10 stop, fare and route
Three city lines serve the terminal: 10, 10a and 9. Most visitors want the 10 or 10a, which head into the centre. The stop is on the kerb in front of arrivals, beside an electronic board. Buses come every 10 to 15 minutes in the daytime and take 20 to 30 minutes to the old town.
Fare and payment
The buses have no ticket machine and take no coins. Hold a contactless card, or a phone with a payment app, against the validator by the door. In 2026 a ride cost about 0.70 GEL (well under $1) with a local card and about 1 GEL with a foreign one.
Staying a week? The orange Batumi transport card costs a few lari at the souvenir shop in departures, and Bank of Georgia payboxes top it up. A Tbilisi Metromoney card works too. Or buy the Batumi Discount Card at a tourist information centre: about 15 GEL (about $6) in 2026, cash only, with 4 rides, 1 GB of data and discounts at sights.
Route and the last bus
Both lines run north through the New Boulevard district and on along Rustaveli Avenue, past the old town. Bus 10 carries on to Batumi Central railway station, the end of the line, which suits anyone catching a train east.
Evenings are the weak point. Sources put the last departure anywhere from about 20:00 in the low season to midnight in summer, and staff quoted 21:55 in 2026. After about 21:00, plan on a car.
Batumi airport taxi: Bolt fares and the rank outside
Bolt has a large fleet in Batumi, and Yandex Go also works. Order once you have your bags, walk to the pick-up area in front of arrivals and check the number plate. In 2026 a ride to the old town or the boulevard costs about 10-20 GEL ($4-7), and about 15 GEL ($6) to Batumi Central station. Fares climb at night, in heavy rain and when several planes land at once.
Ordinary taxis wait by the exit day and night. Drivers who approach you in the hall may ask 30 to 50 GEL for the same short ride, so settle the price before your bags go in the boot.
Private transfer and car rental at Batumi airport
With a private transfer, the driver follows your flight, waits at the exit with a name sign and carries the bags. One fixed price covers the whole car, so four people pay what one would. Across the Batumi market, a car to the old town costs roughly 40-55 GEL ($15-20) in 2026. Our own fares by vehicle type sit on the transfers page; ask for child seats when you book.
A transfer pays off most when you are heading somewhere else. Approximate drives from the terminal, without stops:
| From Batumi airport to | Distance | Drive time |
|---|---|---|
| Gonio Fortress | ~7 km | about 15 min |
| Sarpi border | ~12 km | about 20 min |
| Kobuleti | ~35 km | about 45 min |
| Kutaisi airport | ~130 km | about 2 h |
| Kutaisi | ~155 km | 2.5-3 h |
| Mestia | ~270 km | about 5 h |
| Tbilisi | ~375 km | 5.5-6 h |
Renting a car
Rental firms have desks in the terminal, and local companies also deliver to hotels. In the city you hardly need a car, but it opens up the Adjara hills, from Makhuntseti waterfall to the Goderdzi Pass. Our page on car rental in Batumi lists cars, 4x4s and summer scooters. Most contracts forbid taking a Georgian rental car into Turkey, so ask first.
Staying a few days without a car? Our private Adjara Highlands Day Trip collects you from your Batumi hotel on any date you choose.
From Batumi airport to Kutaisi and Tbilisi
Plenty of visitors land in Batumi and then travel east. The cheap ways start in town, not at the terminal.
- Train: ride bus 10 to its last stop, Batumi Central. Fast double-deck trains reach Tbilisi in about 4 to 5 hours, from about 35 GEL ($13) in 2nd class in 2026, and call at Kutaisi Airport station after 1.5 to 2 hours. Book ahead in summer.
- Minibus or coach: minibuses to Kutaisi run through the day for about 15 GEL ($6) and take 2.5 to 3 hours. Buses to Tbilisi need 6 to 7 hours.
- Plane: Georgian Airways reaches Tbilisi in about 45 minutes, four times a week in summer, and still flew at weekends in late October 2026.
- Private car: door to door at any hour, with time for Petra Fortress, the Guria beaches or Gelati Monastery on the way.
Our Batumi to Kutaisi and Tbilisi to Batumi route pages list the stops, kilometres and car prices. For trains, minibuses and roads across the whole country, see getting around Georgia.
Rather see the country on the way? From the Mountains to the Sea links Kazbegi, Borjomi, Vardzia and Kutaisi with Batumi in eight days, and East to West crosses from Tbilisi and Kakheti to the coast in six. Both run as private trips, on dates you pick, for groups of any size. Fly into Tbilisi and home from Batumi, or ask us to run the route the other way from Batumi airport.
Batumi airport to Sarpi and the Turkish border
The terminal stands on the road to Turkey, and the Sarpi crossing is only ~12 km further south, about 20 minutes by car. It is Georgia's busiest land border: the national tourism administration counted about 1.2 million visitor arrivals there in 2025, more than twice the number who flew into Batumi. The post is open around the clock, and you can walk across.
City bus 16 and minibuses for Gonio and Sarpi use the main road beside the airport, and a Bolt covers the hop in minutes. On the Turkish side, Hopa is ~20 km on, with buses towards Rize and Trabzon. Check Turkey's entry rules for your passport, keep it to hand, and never photograph the checkpoint.
Night arrivals and flying out of Batumi airport
Batumi has fewer night flights than Tbilisi or Kutaisi, but some land in the small hours. In late October 2026, flights from Minsk, Moscow and Saratov were due between about 04:00 and 06:00, and several more arrived after 21:00. The information desk and medical point work 24 hours, the cash machines never stop and Bolt runs at any hour. The bus does not.
Flying home
The airport asks you to arrive 2 hours before an international flight and 1.5 hours before a domestic one. From the old town, give the bus at least 30 minutes, more in summer traffic. A wrapping machine on the departures floor seals a suitcase for about 25 GEL (about $9) in 2026.
The souvenir shop sits in the departures hall before security. Past the checks you find ATU duty free, a paid Primeclass lounge upstairs and a cafe, but food is limited and expensive. The airport has no left-luggage room. Batumi Central station has one, which helps on a late flight after checkout.
Batumi airport: frequently asked questions
How far is Batumi airport from the city centre?
The old town and Europe Square are ~7 km away by road: 10 to 20 minutes by car or 20 to 30 minutes on bus 10. The New Boulevard hotels are only ~3 km from the terminal.
How do I get from Batumi airport to the city?
Take bus 10 or 10a from the stop outside arrivals (about 0.70-1 GEL in 2026), order a Bolt for about 10-20 GEL, or book a private transfer. After about 21:00, use a car.
How do I pay for the Batumi airport bus?
Use a contactless card, a phone wallet or the orange Batumi transport card at the validator. Drivers take no cash. In 2026 a foreign card paid about 1 GEL a ride.
How much is a Batumi airport taxi?
Through Bolt, about 10-20 GEL ($4-7) to the old town in 2026, a little more at night. Drivers at the exit may ask 30 GEL or more, so agree the fare first or use the app.
Is Batumi International Airport open 24 hours?
Yes. Planes use it at all hours, and the information desk and medical point never close. City buses stop in the evening, so after a late landing take Bolt or a booked car.
Which airlines fly to Batumi in winter?
In late October 2026: Turkish Airlines and Pegasus from Istanbul, Israir, El Al and Arkia from Tel Aviv, Georgian Airways from Tbilisi, Flyone Armenia, Belavia and several Russian airlines. Most flights to the Gulf, Central Asia and the rest of Europe stop after the summer season.
Can I go from Batumi airport to Turkey?
Yes. The Sarpi crossing is ~12 km south, about 20 minutes by car, open around the clock and easy on foot. Hopa is ~20 km beyond, with buses towards Rize and Trabzon.
What is the best way from Batumi airport to Tbilisi?
Ride bus 10 to Batumi Central for the fast train, about 4 to 5 hours. You can also fly with Georgian Airways in about 45 minutes, or cover the ~375 km by private car in 5.5 to 6 hours.
