South: Gonio, Kvariati and Sarpi

  • Gonio-Apsaros fortress, 13 km. The Roman writer Pliny the Elder mentioned it in AD 77. Its walls, about 5 metres high and guarded by 18 towers, still enclose a rectangle of 222 by 195 metres, and excavations inside have uncovered Roman baths and military buildings.
  • Kvariati, 16 km. A pebble beach under wooded hills, with water clear enough for snorkelling.
  • Sarpi, 20 km. The last village before Turkey, home to the Laz community, with a pebble beach about 3 km long right beside the border post. The car can't go any further: see our Sarpi guide.
  • Machakhela National Park, 32 km. Set up in 2012 to protect the forests of the Machakhela valley, south-east of the city, it has fortress ruins, old arched bridges and stone wine presses. Its visitor centre stands in Acharisagmarti.

In summer, free parking by the sea is scarce, so set off early.

North: the Green Cape to Kobuleti

An easy coastal day that works in changeable weather.

  • Batumi Botanical Garden, 9 km. Founded by the botanist Andrei Krasnov and opened in 1912, it covers about 108 hectares of hillside above the sea at the Green Cape (Mtsvane Kontskhi). Its plants are grouped by region of the world, from the Himalayas to New Zealand. The garden spreads over hills and ravines, so allow a few hours and wear proper shoes.
  • Chakvi, 14 km. Georgia's old tea-growing centre, with terraced plantations and a tea museum.
  • Petra fortress, 22 km. The 6th-century fortress at Tsikhisdziri stands on a rocky headland above the sea. Byzantines and Persians fought over it, and it has been a museum since 1989.
  • Kobuleti, 27 km. A resort town with a beach of sand and pebbles about 10 km long, and a calmer alternative to Batumi's seafront.

From the garden it's 15 km to Petra and 5 km more to Kobuleti; on summer weekends, allow extra time on the coast road.

Inland: Makhuntseti and the wine cellars of Keda

A full day up the Acharistsqali valley on the Sh1, a paved mountain road.

  • Makhuntseti waterfall, 35 km. A 36-metre cascade a short walk from the car park, with cafés and picnic spots around it. Nearby, a medieval stone bridge named after Queen Tamar arches over the river.
  • Keda, 44 km. Adjara's wine route runs through the Keda area, where village cellars make the two local wines, dry white Tsolikouri and Chkhaveri. Some welcome visitors; call ahead, and let someone who isn't drinking take the wheel: Georgia's limit is 0.3 per mille.
  • Further up the valley. Past Keda the road winds more tightly. Khulo, about 87 km from Batumi, with its stone houses and terraced fields, is the sensible place to turn round.

Allow about an hour each way to Makhuntseti in normal traffic.

Into the rainforest: Mtirala National Park

  • Visitor centre at Chakvistavi, 28 km. Turn inland at Chakvi and follow a narrow, winding paved road for 15 km. Mtirala's name means "crying": rainfall here often tops 4,000 mm a year, feeding a dense Colchic rainforest added to the UNESCO list in 2021. The Tsablnari waterfall, more than 28 metres high, lies about 2 km from the visitor centre. The tourist season runs from May to October.
  • In autumn, look up. The coast here is a bottleneck for migrating birds of prey: more than a million raptors of 35 species pass through.

Leave these for a tour

Beyond Khulo, the road climbs past the Goderdzi ski area to the Goderdzi Pass, where the way to Green Lake begins. The route over the pass is banned in the rental terms, parts of it were still unsealed in September 2026, and Green Lake itself is reached from the pass by four-wheel drive or on foot. See them on a tour or with a local driver from Khulo.

Kutaisi (152 km) and Tbilisi (357 km) are on the main highway, but they suit a longer route rather than a day trip.

Tips for every route

  • Keep some lari for tickets and village shops.
  • Pack rain gear, even in summer, especially for Mtirala.
  • Fill up in Batumi before heading up the valley.
  • Stick to paved roads: the rental terms don't cover dirt tracks. More in our driving and parking guide.

Find a car for your trip, or arrange hotel delivery for the night before you set off.

FAQ

How long is the drive from Batumi to the Makhuntseti waterfall?

About 35 km, roughly an hour each way on the paved Sh1 road up the Acharistsqali valley. The Queen Tamar bridge is close to the falls.

Can I see Gonio fortress and Sarpi in one trip?

Yes. Gonio is 13 km from the centre and Sarpi 7 km further south, so both fit into half a day, with time left for a swim.

Is the road to Mtirala National Park paved?

Yes. From Chakvi, a narrow, winding asphalt road climbs 15 km to the visitor centre at Chakvistavi. Bring rain gear: it's one of the wettest places in Georgia.

How far is Kobuleti from Batumi?

About 27 km, around 40 minutes by car. Allow longer on summer weekends, when the coast road is busy.