Some like to call Batumi the ‘Las Vegas of the Black Sea’, others like to call it THE place to be for digital nomads, and still others like to call it ‘staying the night before crossing the border to Turkey’. Whatever your motives for visiting Batumi may be, we’ll show you where to stay in Batumi on a budget.
In our Batumi Hostel guide, we will walk you through how to get to the city center, which neighbourhoods to stay in, which hostels to choose and why staying in a sea view apartment is also a valid choice. On top of that, we will share with you 5 (almost) free activities in and around Batumi.
Key Takeaways
- Back2ME: Great for budget travelers who want a clean, modern hostel with smaller dorms (8 people) and private rooms at affordable prices ($12 dorm, $21 private). We liked the spacious eating and working areas.
- Smash Hostel Batumi: Cheapest option ($10 dorm), with authentic hostel vibe and a very convenient location between Europe Square and Batumi Piazza. Dorms are larger (up to 14 people).
- Harmony Old Town Hostel: Best for female travelers with small dorms starting at $11 and the closest to the beach. Plus, it has a friendly resident cat!
- Orbi City: Ideal for those wanting privacy in affordable studio apartments (~$10/night) with sea views, a bit further from the center but worth it for the sunsets and quietness. We enjoyed the comfort and peacefulness here.
Table of Contents
Where to Stay in Batumi
Got no time to waste? Check out our 3 favourite hostels in Batumi and book the one that suits you the best, from the best location to the best price and the safest for female sole travelers:
Back2ME | Central Location | starting from $ 12 per night | |
Smash Hostel Batumi | Budget Travelers | starting from $ 10 per night | |
Harmony Old Town Hostel | Female Travelers | starting from $ 11 per night |
How to Get to Batumi from Batumi International Airport (BUS)
Before you worry about your hotel, you should figure out how to get into Batumi in the first place. Luckily for you, Batumi has great public transport.
This is how to get into Batumi from Batumi International Airport and other important stations:
- From Batumi International Airport: Just arrived to Georgia? From Batumi Airport, you can simply take Bus 10 or 10A to the center. It stops right outside the airport. You can pay your ticket by card.
- From Batumi Railway Station: Located quite far outside the city, Batumi Railway Station is connected to the center via Bus 3, 8, 10 and 10A. You can catch them on the Main Street.
- From Batumi Bus Station: Located a little closer to the center, Batumi Bus Station is connected to Bus 1 and 1A. Simply walk through the station, exit on the other side and hop on the bus.
- From Turkey: Are you planning to cross into Georgia via the Sarpi border? Hop on Bus 16 after the border crossing and get off anywhere on Tbel-Abuseridze Street (the Main Street, essentially).
The Best Neighbourhoods for Affordable Hostels in Batumi
Depending on the type of traveller you are, there are different neighbourhoods in Batumi we would recommend to you.
These are 4 affordable Batumi neighbourhoods you should consider staying in:
- Old Batumi: Batumi’s old town has the most affordable hostels by far. From here, you are within walking distance of all sites in the center, plenty of cafés and restaurants.
- Batumi Central Park: Walking south from Batumi’s historic core, you will get to Batumi Central Park. Around here, you can find some more hostels and a much calmer atmosphere.
- Orbi City: Keep walking south and you reach Batumi’s new urban development, above all Orbi City’s three sea-facing apartment blocks. Here, you will find cheap apartments instead of hostels.
- Gonio: Not a city person? Skip Batumi and stay in Gonio instead, where cows roam the beaches and elders sell wine in plastic bottles. Don’t worry, you can still get into Batumi whenever you want
The Best Hostels in Batumi as of 2027
There are at least a dozen hostels in Batumi that offer overnight stays from as little as $ 10 per night, sometimes even including breakfast. The price tag isn’t the only factor you should be looking at though.
After staying in Batumi twice, these are the best hostels in Batumi we would recommend staying at:
Back2ME
Offering overnight stays for a flat rate of just $ 12 per night, the Back2ME hostel is the most popular choice for budget travellers in Old Batumi. A huge plus for us: The dorms are for 8 people only, so no rounds of sardines win a 16-person dorm.
Even a private room won’t break your bank at Back2ME, with a price of $ 21 per night, making it a family-friendly hostel, too. The hostel’s interior is modern and clean, and features ample space for eating and working outside of dorms, making it approved for digital nomads as well.
Name | Best for | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
Back2ME | Central Location | starting from $ 12 per night |
Smash Hostel Batumi
Even cheaper than Back2ME, the Smash Hostel Batumi comes in at just $ 10 per night. The catch: The dorms host up to 14 guests and the facilities are a little older in general. Then again, this hostel might have the most authentic hostel flair that we know and love.
Located half-way between Europe Square and Batumi Piazza Square, this hostel might be the most conveniently located in Old Batumi. From there, you are just a few steps away from Old Batumi, within walkings distance of Batumi Boulevard and just 5 blocks away from Batumi Central Park.
Name | Best for | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
Smash Hostel Batumi | Budget Travelers | starting from $ 10 per night |
Harmony Old Town Hostel
Beating the other hostels in Batumi on the price front, the Harmony Old Town Hostel offers overnight stays in 8-person dorms starting from just $ 11 per night. If you prefer smaller dorms, there are 4-person dorms, too, for just $ 1 more.
Out of the three hostels we are presenting today, it is also located closest to the beach – and it features its very own resident cat, though we were told it’s actually the neighbours’ cat. Still though, make sure to say hello to it, if you happen to pass by Harmony Old Town.
Name | Best for | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
Harmony Old Town Hostel | Female Travelers | starting from $ 11 per night |
Prefer Privacy? Stay in Orbi City for the Same Cost
When staying in Batumi, the city center is usually the cheapest when it to affordable hostels. However, it is not the only place to find budget-friendly accommodation in general.
A little south of the city center, Orbi City is yet another great option for budget travelers. Let us elaborate. Located just a few meters off Batumi Boulevard, Orbi City is a fairly recent urban development, that is still partly under construction today, consisting of three sea-facing skyscrapers.
Many apartment owners at Orbi City, especially those with sea-facing apartments, don’t stay there themselves but rather rent them out on AirBnb and Booking.com. Outside of high season, you can find studio apartments there for as little as $ 10 per night. Well, that’s what we did.
On AirBnb we found a studio apartment in Orbi’s C Block, featuring a comfortable bed, a private bathroom, a fully-equipped kitchen, a flat-screen TV, free Wifi, table and chairs for work and a balcony with stunning views of the Black Sea, all for just around $ 10 per night.
While walking distances to the city center are a little longer from Orbi City, we would say that it’s still 100% worth it, especially because of the beautiful sunsets you get to see over the Black Sea.
5 Things to Do in Batumi, Georgia
Online, one might see Batumi being all quirky skyscrapers and casinos with the odd historic building mixed in there. And while this is certainly a part of Batumi, there is much more to explore in-between.
These are five things to do in Batumi, that are (almost) free:
Stroll along Batumi Beach
First and foremost, Batumi is a beach town. People, Georgians, Russians and Turks above all, come here to enjoy the sun, the beach and the sea. So what better way to start exploring Batumi than strolling along Batumi Boulevard and taking in the atmosphere of the Black Sea coast?
Our recommendation: Stop at the Tolia stand (a blue hut) for a soft-serve ice cream, a Georgian classic and somewhat reminiscing of Costco ice cream.
Check out the Old Town
Most of the city’s attractions such as Europe Square, Batumi Piazza, the Astronomical Clock, and many of the city’s historic churches and mosques are located in Old Batumi. Go for a stroll in the centre and will be able to easily catch most of them, along with some great coffee in one of its side streets.
Talking about coffee, we rated the best cafés in Batumi for digital nomads. Check out the full list here: The Best Cafés in Batumi.
Ride the Argo Cable Car for the Best Views
Starting from the city center, the Argo Cable Car takes you up a nearby hill for a beautiful panoramic view of Batumi. Tickets for the cable car start from 19 GEL and the ride is especially worth it for the golden hour. Just make sure to ride it on a day with clear skies.
Explore Gonio Fortress
While Batumi does have a historic core, the city isn’t really renowned for its history, since most of its development is recent. Located a few minutes outside of Batumi, Gonio Fortress is a 1st century fortress complex featuring not only well-preserved defence towers but also some antique wine amphorae. The entrance is free and the bus ticket there just 0.70 GEL.
Hike to Gonio Cross
Since we are escaping the city already, we should use our time and touch some grass. Starting in the village of Gonio, this hike takes you through rolling hills and lush forest all the way to Gonio Cross, a 14-meter concrete cross. From there, you will have the best sunset view over the Black Sea.
Our recommendation: Bring along a flashlight, if you are doing the hike for sunset, since the walk down through the forest can be a little intimidating without.
The Bottom Line
Whether you are passing through en-route to Turkey, looking for a beach getaway, or planning your next workation, Batumi is the ideal location for an affordable accommodation. For cheap hostels, look no further than Old Batumi. For cheap private rooms, check out the offers around Orbi City.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Batumi cheaper than Tbilisi?
Yes, Batumi is generally cheaper than Tbisili, though it depends a lot on the season you are travelling in. During the summer months, Batumi becomes more expensive than Tbilisi due to the influx of seasonal tourists.
Is Batumi expensive to live?
No, Batumi is not considered expensive to live in for digital nomads. You can find studio apartments in Orbi City, for as little as $ 10 per night plus utilities. Public transport is very accessible and costs just 0.70 GEL per ride and food and drinks are also very affordable.
Is it safe to swim in Batumi?
Yes, Batumi’s waters are generally safe to swim in, from a sanitary standpoint. They do, however, get quite rough at times, so always pay attention to the indications of the lifeguards onsite. Also, bring along swimming shoes since Batumi’s beaches are pebbly rather than sandy.
Do they speak English in Batumi, Georgia?
Yes, many Georgians speak English. However, English is not the most-widely spoken language in Batumi. Most people in Batumi speak Georgian, closely followed by Russian, Turkish and then English. While you can generally get by speaking English in Batumi, you will encounter many old people that speak Russian and Turkish rather than English.
Hey! We are glad you are curious about travelling the Middle East.
We are Nancy & Elias.
Over four years of backpacking and digital nomading made us fall in love with the Middle East. We have lived on the Red Sea coast in Egypt, lived in a Bedouin Camp in Jordan and travelled 6+ Middle Eastern countries overland.
As we continue to travel, we share our battle-tested travel advice on this blog, from travel reports and transfer guides to accommodation recs and saving hacks.
