Things to Do in Adjara: Batumi, the Coast, and the Green Mountains

Adjara, in the southwestern corner of Georgia — the country in the South Caucasus — is one of the most diverse regions in the country, combining the Black Sea coast, the modern city of Batumi, green forested mountains, and a distinct local culture, all within short distances. You can explore it in very different ways depending on your interests — relaxing by the sea, taking in the city, or heading inland to forests, waterfalls, and remote villages. What makes Adjara stand out is how easily you can combine all of that in a compact area. Here are the things most worth doing.

What are the best things to do in Adjara?

The highlights are exploring Batumi and its seaside boulevard, relaxing on the coast (from lively Batumi Beach to quieter Gonio and Kvariati), and visiting the Batumi Botanical Garden. Inland, the green mountains offer Mtirala and Machakhela national parks, the Makhuntseti waterfall and medieval bridges, and traditional villages. For history, the Roman-era Gonio fortress is a short trip from Batumi — and everywhere, the food, led by Adjarian khachapuri, is a draw in itself.

Explore Batumi

Batumi is the main hub of Adjara and the starting point for most visits — a striking, modern Black Sea city. Its long seaside boulevard, contemporary architecture and public spaces, and lively run of cafés and restaurants make it enjoyable to simply walk and take in, especially in the evening when the boulevard and seafront come alive. It's also the base from which everything else in the region is reachable. (Batumi has its own detailed guide in this series.)

Relax on the Black Sea coast

Adjara's coastline offers a range of beach experiences within a short stretch. Batumi Beach is the lively, central option, right alongside the city and the boulevard. South toward the Turkish border, Gonio is quieter and more relaxed, and Kvariati is known for clearer water and a more natural setting. The beaches here are shingle rather than sand — characteristic of the Georgian Black Sea coast — and the variety lets you choose between an active, urban beach day and something calmer and more low-key.

Visit the Batumi Botanical Garden

Just outside Batumi on a headland above the sea, the Botanical Garden is one of the most scenic spots in the region. It combines extensive, diverse plant collections — drawing on Adjara's mild, wet, near-subtropical climate — with walking paths and wide views over the Black Sea. It's an easy, rewarding half-day visit and a green counterpoint to the city, especially good in spring when the planting is at its most vivid.

Hike in Mtirala National Park

Mtirala National Park, in the hills behind the coast, is a completely different environment — one of the greenest, wettest places in Georgia. Centered on Mtirala mountain (the name means "crying," a reference to the near-constant cloud and rainfall, which can exceed 4,000mm a year), it protects dense Colchic rainforest, rivers, and waterfalls. There are marked hiking trails and nature walks, and an adventure rope park with ziplines and rope bridges for families and the more active. It's about 30 kilometers from Batumi and makes a strong full-day contrast to the coast.

Explore the Adjarian mountains

Driving into the mountains reveals a more traditional side of Adjara — small villages, forested hills, and scenic mountain roads up the river valleys. This part of the region feels far less developed than the coast and gives a real sense of rural Adjarian life: traditional highland houses, small churches, and a working agricultural landscape. It pairs naturally with the Makhuntseti waterfall and the medieval arch bridges of the Acharistskali valley (covered in the Adjara regional guide), and rewards travelers willing to go beyond the beach.

Visit Machakhela National Park

Machakhela National Park, in a long, narrow gorge near the Turkish border, mixes nature with cultural heritage. The valley is lined with dense forest and crossed by centuries-old arched stone bridges, with rivers, waterfalls, and traditional settlements along its length, plus an ethnographic museum showing how Adjara's mountain communities lived. It's less visited than Mtirala, which makes it a good choice for quieter exploration — a calmer way to see the Adjara highlands without committing to a full day of serious hiking.

Visit Gonio Fortress

Gonio Fortress, about 15 kilometers south of Batumi near the coast, is one of the oldest historical sites in the region — a Roman fortification (known in antiquity as Apsaros) built in the 1st century AD, later used by the Byzantines and Ottomans. The well-preserved walls and 18 towers enclose ongoing archaeological excavations, and there's a small on-site museum; the site is also tied to the Greek myth of the Argonauts and the Golden Fleece, with a legend connecting it to Apsyrtos. It's a simple but genuinely interesting historical stop, easily combined with a beach day at nearby Gonio.

Experience local culture and traditions

Adjara has a distinct cultural identity shaped by its geography and its long Ottoman history — visible in everything from the coexistence of mosques and Orthodox churches to the rhythms of village life inland. You feel it most directly through the region's food and hospitality, in the mountain villages, and in local festivals. Engaging with this side of Adjara, rather than only the beach, is what gives a visit here its depth.

Try Adjarian khachapuri

One of Georgia's most famous dishes comes from this region: Adjarian khachapuri (khachapuri Adjaruli), a boat-shaped bread filled with molten cheese, topped with a raw egg and butter that you stir into the filling while it's hot. Trying it in its region of origin, made with the local cheese and bread, is an essential part of any visit — the version here is the original, and most visitors find it hard to beat.

Enjoy seaside dining

Dining in Adjara often pairs food with sea views. Restaurants along the coast serve local dishes — including more seafood than you'll find in most of Georgia, reflecting the Black Sea location — with fresh ingredients and a relaxed atmosphere. A long seaside meal, especially toward sunset, is one of the simple pleasures of a stay on the Adjarian coast.

When to visit

June through September is the best time for the beaches and coastal life, with July and August warmest and busiest. Spring and autumn are ideal for the nature and the mountains — the parks and highland landscapes at their greenest, the crowds thinner, and the sea still swimmable into September. The mountain interior is most accessible from May through October, while the coast stays mild and quiet in winter (with skiing at the Goderdzi resort inland for those wanting to combine coast and snow).

Why Adjara is one of Georgia's most versatile regions

Adjara offers a complete mix in a small area: coast and beaches, a modern city, green mountains and rainforest, and a distinctive food and culture. You can swim in the morning, walk in ancient forest in the afternoon, and eat exceptional khachapuri in the evening — which is exactly what makes it one of the most versatile destinations in Georgia, rewarding visitors who treat it as more than just a beach.