Batumi Dolphinarium: Shows and Visitor Information

The Batumi Dolphinarium is one of the most visited family attractions in Batumi, on the Black Sea coast of Adjara in Georgia — the country in the South Caucasus. Located in a park near the city center, it has operated dolphin shows since 1975, when it opened as the first dolphinarium in the former Soviet Union, and it remains a long-established fixture of the city's tourism. It draws large audiences in the summer months when Batumi is at its busiest, and for families traveling with children it's one of the more straightforward indoor-style activity options the city offers.

What is the Batumi Dolphinarium?

The Batumi Dolphinarium is a marine-mammal venue near central Batumi (at 51 Rustaveli Avenue, by 6 May Park) that has run dolphin shows since 1975. Performances feature bottlenose dolphins and California sea lions and last around 30–45 minutes, with two or three shows on a typical day and an adjacent aquarium of around 100 species. Show tickets are inexpensive (roughly 20–25 GEL); a separate, higher-priced swim-with-dolphins option is also offered. It's a popular family attraction, busiest in July and August, and advance booking is advisable in peak season.

Bottlenose dolphins leaping in a row during a show at the Batumi Dolphinarium, with trainers and the city skyline behind, Georgia — A dolphin show at the Batumi Dolphinarium — bottlenose dolphins performing a synchronised leap in front of trainers, with Batumi's high-rises and the hills of Adjara beyond.

The shows

Performances run for roughly thirty to forty-five minutes and follow the established format of marine-mammal shows — trained dolphins and sea lions performing routines of jumps, synchronized movements, ball-and-hoop acrobatics, and interactions with trainers, with some segments bringing the animals close to the audience (front rows can get splashed). Commentary is in Georgian and English, and the show is built to be accessible regardless of the viewer's age or language. There's an aquarium beside the dolphinarium displaying around 100 species, mostly Black Sea and Georgian freshwater fish, which can be combined with the show.

A freshwater aquarium tank of goldfish with green plants and rocks, on display inside the Batumi Dolphinarium, Georgia — One of the aquarium display tanks at the Batumi Dolphinarium, its goldfish among planted greenery under the hall's blue dome.

Two to three shows typically run on a given day during the season, with the schedule reduced in the shoulder and winter months; published times have included midday and afternoon performances with an added evening show in peak season. The specific timetable changes seasonally, so it's worth checking current show times before planning a visit, particularly outside the peak July–August period.

A dolphin balancing a pink ball on its nose during a show at the Batumi Dolphinarium, with trainers along the poolside, Georgia — A bottlenose dolphin pushing a pink ball during the show at the Batumi Dolphinarium, one of the games the dolphins perform for the amphitheatre crowd.

Swimming with dolphins

The dolphinarium also offers a swim-with-dolphins option, separate from the standard show and priced considerably higher (sources have cited around 150–200 GEL, lasting about fifteen minutes), with limited places per session and advance booking required. Travelers considering this should be aware that experiences involving captive marine mammals — and swim-with-dolphin programs in particular — are a subject of ongoing animal-welfare debate, and a number of international travel companies have moved away from selling them. It's a personal decision worth making with that context in mind.

Practical considerations

The dolphinarium is most crowded in July and August, when shows can fill to capacity, so arriving early and booking tickets in advance is advisable in that period. Buying from the official channels (the venue or its official website) rather than informal street sellers is wise, as resellers have been reported charging inflated prices. Children under a certain age are generally admitted free if they don't need a separate seat.

The surrounding park is pleasant for a short walk before or after a visit, and the central location near the Batumi boulevard means it can be combined naturally with time on the seafront or other nearby attractions.

Practical information

Location: 51 Rustaveli Avenue, Batumi, by 6 May Park (central, walkable from the boulevard; reachable by bus, minibus, or taxi).
Founded: 1975 (the first dolphinarium in the former Soviet Union).
Animals: Bottlenose dolphins and California sea lions; adjacent aquarium (~100 species).
Shows: ~30–45 minutes, in Georgian and English; two to three daily in season (schedule reduced off-season).
Tickets: Show tickets roughly 20–25 GEL; swim-with-dolphins priced separately and much higher. Available at the venue and online via the official site.
Best to know: Front rows may get splashed; busiest in July–August; buy from official channels only.

It's a marine-mammal venue near central Batumi, at 51 Rustaveli Avenue by 6 May Park, that has run dolphin shows since 1975 — it was the first dolphinarium in the former Soviet Union. Shows feature bottlenose dolphins and California sea lions and last about 30–45 minutes, and there's an adjacent aquarium. It's one of Batumi's most popular family attractions, especially in summer.

It's at 51 Rustaveli Avenue, next to 6 May Park, a fairly central location reachable on foot from the boulevard area or by bus, minibus, or taxi. Parking is available nearby. It's easy to combine with time on the Batumi seafront or other central attractions.

Two to three shows typically run on a given day in the summer season, with a reduced schedule in the shoulder and winter months; times have included midday, afternoon, and an added evening show in peak season. Show tickets are inexpensive (around 20–25 GEL). Because the schedule and prices change seasonally, it's best to check the venue's official website before visiting, and to buy from official channels rather than street resellers.

Yes, a swim-with-dolphins option is offered separately from the standard show, with limited places and advance booking required, at a considerably higher price (cited around 150–200 GEL for roughly fifteen minutes). Note that programs involving captive marine mammals are a subject of ongoing animal-welfare debate, and many international travel companies no longer sell them — worth considering before booking.

It's one of Batumi's most popular family attractions, and the shows are designed to be accessible to all ages, with commentary in Georgian and English. Younger children under a certain age are usually admitted free if they don't need a separate seat. Note that front-row seats can get splashed during the show, which children often enjoy but is worth knowing in advance.