Georgia has one sea – the Black Sea, and all the beaches in Georgia are on its coast. The whole Georgian Black Sea coast is split into three regions: Adjara in the south (Batumi, Gonio, Kvariati, Sarpi, Kobuleti), Guria in the middle (Shekvetili, Ureki, Grigoleti) and Samegrelo in the north (Poti, Anaklia). There is no sea in Tbilisi. What locals in the capital lovingly call “the sea” is a reservoir – we have a separate article about it: Tbilisi Sea.

In short:

Which sea: the Black Sea, the coast runs from the Turkish border to the border with Abkhazia.
When to swim: June to September. The warmest water is in July and August, +24…+27 °C.
Pebbles or sand: Adjara has mostly pebble beaches, Guria and Samegrelo have sandy ones.
Cleanest water: Sarpi, Kvariati, Green Cape.
With kids: Ureki and Shekvetili – shallow water, sand, a gentle entry into the sea.
Beaches: all Georgian beaches are free, you only pay for a sunbed and umbrella.

Beach Holidays in Georgia

Georgia is famous for its nature, mild climate and Caucasian hospitality. A beach holiday in Georgia can suit any taste too. The main question before a trip to the Georgian coast is what to choose: Batumi, Kvariati, Ureki or Kobuleti? This article will help you decide where to stay on the Black Sea in Georgia. I’ve gathered the best-known beach spots in the country: what the infrastructure is like, what there is to do and what to see nearby. Each place is good in its own way: bright and noisy Batumi or quiet Gonio, the sand of Ureki and Shekvetili, the clearest water of Sarpi and Kvariati, peaceful Chakvi or the wide sandy beaches of Anaklia.

Which Sea Is in Georgia and When Is It Warm

The swimming season on the Georgian coast runs from June to September. In May the sea is still cool, only the bravest go in. The peak of the season and the warmest sea are in July and August, but that’s also when the beaches are most crowded. You can swim in October too, but by then it depends on the weather of that particular year.

Month	Sea water temperature
May	+15…+18 °C
June	+20…+24 °C
July	+24…+26 °C
August	+25…+27 °C
September	+23…+25 °C
October	+19…+22 °C

Keep in mind that Adjara has a subtropical climate, and it can rain here even in summer.

Pebbles or Sand: Beaches in Georgia

It’s simple: the further south, the bigger the pebbles. The whole south, from the Turkish border to Chakvi, has pebble beaches. The water there is clearer and gets deep almost right away, which is great for swimming but not so good for small kids. In Kobuleti you’ll find both pebbles and sand. Further north, in Guria and Samegrelo, the sand begins: dark, with magnetite, in Shekvetili and Ureki, and lighter in Anaklia. Sandy beaches are shallow and warm, but after a storm the water can get murky.

Where Is the Cleanest Sea in Georgia

I’ll be honest, as a local: when I don’t have time to go anywhere, I swim right in the centre of Batumi. When I do have time, I go to Kvariati – the water there is clean. The water near Green Cape, next to the Botanical Garden, is also often cleaner than in the city.

Why is that? Between Batumi and the Turkish border, the Chorokhi River flows into the sea. After rain it brings muddy water, and the current carries it along the city shore. The beaches near the Turkish border are south of the river mouth, so the sea there is cleaner. And on the sandy coast of Guria the water is naturally less transparent than on pebble beaches – that’s sand, not dirt.

Beach Resorts of Georgia

Below are the best beaches in Georgia and the main places for a beach holiday, from south to north, from the Turkish border to Anaklia. We have a detailed guide to the beaches of Batumi and around: beaches and sea in Batumi.

Sarpi and Kvariati

Sarpi (GPS 41.523708, 41.548094) and Kvariati (GPS 41.547172, 41.562342) are small villages near Batumi, right by the Turkish border, separated by rocks. Sarpi has the border crossing between Georgia and Turkey.

Locals and many tourists know that the air here is great and the sea is the cleanest: these villages are south of the Chorokhi River, which slightly pollutes the Batumi coast. The sea here is deep and clear, and the rocks are great for snorkelling. Sarpi beach is about 500 m long, Kvariati beach about 1 km. You can rent umbrellas, sunbeds, hammocks and sofas on the beaches.

Accommodation and food here are usually more expensive than in the city, and prices change a lot depending on the season. On the other hand, many hotels are right on the seafront, so you can see the sea and the sunsets from your window. There are cafés and mini-markets. Sarpi has a beautiful old church and a couple of 2–5 metre rocks that locals and holidaymakers jump off all summer.

The downside of Sarpi is that the road to the border crossing separates the beach from the accommodation, cafés and shops. There are always lots of cars and trucks on it, sometimes in a long queue.

As for sights, Gonio Fortress is a couple of kilometres from Kvariati, and there’s a waterfall 500 metres from Sarpi that you can walk to. Another plus is the pedestrian border crossing into Turkey, for shopping for example. There’s no entertainment here, but minibuses to the city run often, the ride takes 20–25 minutes.

Gonio

Gonio is another popular village 10–12 km from Batumi, surrounded by eucalyptus groves (GPS 41.568018, 41.565595). There’s not much entertainment, apart from cafés and beach bungalows with live music, but the sea and the air are very clean. As everywhere, you can rent umbrellas and sunbeds on the beach, and there are cafés and drink stalls. The road separates the residential area from the beach, so if you want to find a room in a private house, look a bit further from the road. There’s a wide choice of accommodation: guesthouses, small hotels, cottages, villas and private houses. Nearby you’ll find springs, waterfalls and the Roman Gonio Fortress (Apsaros). And if you feel like some fun, noisy Batumi is only 15 minutes away. If you’re choosing between Kvariati or Gonio: Kvariati is smaller and quieter, while Gonio has more places to stay and eat.

Batumi

The main beach in Batumi stretches along the whole coastline for about 7 km. Few seaside cities can boast such a long and wide beach – about 30–50 m. And importantly, the beach, like all beaches in Georgia, is completely free. Want to soak up the morning sun, tan during the day, watch the sunset or go on a date by the sea? The beach is always there for you. There’s accommodation for any budget, from hostels to five-star hotels. If you’re looking for an apartment close to the sea, here are my apartments in Batumi. Sunbeds and umbrellas are rented by the hour or for the whole day. And for the less demanding, the pebbles themselves will do – a free foot massage guaranteed.

The city is laid out so that from almost any district (except remote private neighbourhoods) the nearest stretch of beach is close by. It’s busiest in July and August, but even then there’s room for everyone.

Read also: Things to do in Batumi

Of course, in the central part of the beach, closer to the fountains and the Alphabet Tower, the infrastructure is better than in the remote areas. There are cafés and restaurants, cold drink stalls, ice cream kiosks and small shops with beach stuff. Many cafés have their own sunbeds, sofas and umbrellas, and they’ll bring drinks and snacks right to your lounger. There are showers and changing cabins on the beach.

There are lots of attractions on and around the beach, including ones for kids. On the second line, in the shade of pine trees, there are free sports grounds with exercise equipment, swings and slides for children, and hammocks.

On summer nights the Batumi seaside boulevard never sleeps. Lounge bars and chill-out zones turn into night clubs: you can dance, have a cold cocktail, sing karaoke and listen to live music.

The yacht club offers trips on double-deck boats, sailing and speed yachts. The view of the coastline from the open sea is stunning, and in the evening, when the lights of the promenade come on, it’s simply magical. Other sea activities include jet skis and parasailing behind a boat. In the past there were also hang-glider pilots on the beach who took people for flights over the sea.

For independent trips, public transport runs regularly from here to other cities and beaches. So getting to the black sands of Ureki or to the beaches by the Turkish border is no problem. In short, there’s everything here for a full holiday, and most tourists head right here. It won’t suit only those looking for solitude and a break from the big city.

Green Village of Chakvi

Chakvi doesn’t have developed infrastructure, but it’s a very picturesque place buried in greenery (GPS 41.737678, 41.733319). It’s known above all for the Dreamland Oasis complex. Georgia doesn’t have many closed resorts with full infrastructure, a private beach and all-inclusive, like neighbouring Turkey does, and the Oasis is the closest thing to that: hotels, apartments, pools, bars, restaurants, landscaped grounds and its own beach with sunbeds. It’s very close, north of Batumi – you can even see it from the Batumi promenade – and the minibus ride takes about 15 minutes.

From here it’s easy to get to Mtirala National Park, where you can walk among subtropical greenery, waterfalls, lakes and mountain rivers.

Kobuleti

Kobuleti is a small town in Adjara stretched along the shore of the Black Sea (GPS 41.830083, 41.774424). It’s almost as popular as Batumi: it’s close (21 km) and cheaper. Minibuses run all the time, and in half an hour you’re in the centre of Batumi. The town is known for its clean sea and special air: here you breathe the sea mixed with pine. Locals say the air is very good for the heart thanks to the pine and cedar forests around the town. There are mineral springs in the area.

In 2010 the Georgian government passed the law “On the Kobuleti Free Tourist Zone” to attract investors to build hotels.

Many people prefer Kobuleti to Batumi for its clean sea and calm atmosphere. Another plus is that besides pebbles there’s sand too. The beach stretches for 10 km, so there’s plenty of room even in high season. Above the beach, along the entire coast, runs a pedestrian promenade – you can walk along it slowly for 3–4 hours in one direction. Most of the hotels, cafés, restaurants and shops are on the promenade, and people jog here in the morning and evening.

Finding a place to stay is easy: hotels, guesthouses and private apartments that invite guests with ads and signs. There’s everything you need for a full holiday, just cheaper and calmer than in Batumi: cafés, restaurants, clubs, attractions and parks with benches.

Among the sights are the Kintrishi Nature Reserve in the mountains, the Chakvistavi and Kintrishi waterfalls, the Ispani reserve with its unique sphagnum bogs, the ancient Petra Fortress near the village of Tsikhisdziri, and old churches and bridges.

Sandy Beaches of Shekvetili

Shekvetili lies between Kobuleti and Ureki, already in the Guria region (GPS 41.926057, 41.766592). It has a 5 km black sand beach with pine trees along the shore. Pine forests on one side, mountains on the other. It’s a place for a quiet, calm holiday away from the bustle: cosy, peaceful and very green. The pine forest together with the sea air is believed to be good for breathing, so people often come here just to breathe and take a break from the city.

There are hotels and family guesthouses, many in the shade of pine groves, as well as shops and cafés.

The sea in Shekvetili is shallow and clean – a great place for a family holiday with kids and for those who can’t swim. Fresh air, soft sand and the view of the sea and mountains make this place more and more popular.

Shekvetili is home to the big Tsitsinatela park, 14.5 hectares: rides, cafés, playgrounds, a musical fountain and arcade machines. And next to it is the Shekvetili Dendrological Park.

Ureki and Magnetiti Beach

The village of Ureki is home to Magnetiti beach (GPS 41.985969, 41.759288). From Batumi you can get here by minibus in about an hour. Many call this place Georgia’s black pearl. The beach got its name from the magnetite in the black sand, which is why it’s also called the black beach.

The beach in Ureki is about 5 km long, the sand is fine and black, with magnetite that creates a weak magnetic field. The magnetic sand is believed to be good for the joints, the nervous and cardiovascular systems, but this hasn’t really been proven scientifically. There are also contraindications, so if you’re going specifically for treatment, talk to a doctor first.

Eucalyptus and pine trees grow along the shore, so you can hide in their shade on a hot day. The beach is wide, and the sea stays shallow for hundreds of metres, which is why many people come here with children. There are playgrounds, rides and cafés with ice cream on the shore, and you can rent umbrellas and sunbeds.

Ureki has some infrastructure, but fans of an active holiday will be bored here. Most people come for a calm seaside holiday and the magnetic sand. There are also sanatoriums with treatment programmes.

Grigoleti and Poti

A little north of Ureki, about 16 km from Poti, is the village of Grigoleti. The beach is wide, the sand is grey with small pebbles, and the entry into the water is gentle. There’s no entertainment at all and few cafés, so many people rent accommodation with a kitchen or with meals. It’s quiet and peaceful – a place for those who just need the sea. If you’re torn between Ureki or Grigoleti: Ureki has more infrastructure, Grigoleti is quieter. Poti itself is a port city, people don’t usually go there for the beach.

Anaklia

Anaklia is the northernmost of Georgia’s seaside resorts, near Zugdidi, by the border with Abkhazia (GPS 42.389929, 41.568031). It sits at the mouth of the Enguri River. It rains less here than in Adjara.

Anaklia was built as a big tourist project, but it was never finished, so there are fewer tourists here than in Batumi or Kobuleti. The promenade stretches for 5 km, and in season it has cafés, small shops, bungalows and stalls with popcorn, ice cream and candy floss. The sandy beaches in Anaklia are wide, up to 100 m.

Sights include an old fortress, about 300 years old, and a church. There are several large hotels on the coast with pools, restaurants and spas, and simpler guesthouses too.

Which Seaside Resort in Georgia to Choose

What you need	Where to go
City, restaurants, nightlife	Batumi
Clear water	Sarpi, Kvariati, Gonio
Holiday with small kids	Ureki, Shekvetili
Calm and inexpensive	Kobuleti
Closed resort by the sea	Chakvi
Sand and silence, no entertainment	Grigoleti, Anaklia

How to Get to the Sea in Georgia

The closest airport to the sea is Batumi: from there the city beach and the southern beaches are very close. Another option is Kutaisi airport, which has many low-cost flights, but the drive to the sea from there is longer than from Batumi. If you fly into the capital, you can get to the coast by train, bus or car – all the options are covered in the article how to get from Tbilisi to Batumi.

FAQ About the Sea in Georgia

Does Georgia have a sea?
Yes, the Black Sea. The whole coast is in the west of the country: Adjara, Guria and Samegrelo.

Is there a sea in Tbilisi?
No. Tbilisi only has a reservoir called the Tbilisi Sea. To reach the real sea you have to cross the whole country.

Which sea is in Batumi?
The Black Sea too. Batumi’s beaches are pebbly and the water gets deep almost immediately.

When is the sea warm in Georgia?
From July to September, the water is +23…+27 °C. You can swim in June and October too, but the water is cooler.

Where are the sandy beaches in Georgia?
In Shekvetili, Ureki, Grigoleti and Anaklia. Kobuleti has both pebbles and sand.

Depending on your budget and taste, now you can choose what suits you best. Whatever you choose, you’ll love the nature, the hospitality of the locals, the wonderful Georgian food, the amazing sunsets and the gentle sea of Georgia.