Kobuleti
A relaxed beach town 28 km north of Batumi, with a long pebble beach, family guesthouses and protected peat bogs on its edge.
KobuletiPhoto: AlexandreAssatiani, CC BY 4.0Kobuleti is Adjara's second beach resort, a long, low town spread along the coast 28 km north of Batumi. Instead of towers it has guesthouses, small hotels and old Soviet-era sanatoriums behind a pebble beach that runs for several kilometres. Summer is busy with families from across Georgia and many Armenian holidaymakers, but the mood is quieter and cheaper than in Batumi. The seafront is lined with cafes and simple restaurants, and outside July and August the town is very calm.
On the edge of town, the Kobuleti Protected Areas safeguard the Ispani peat bogs, rare sphagnum mires that are part of the Colchic Rainforests and Wetlands World Heritage Site. Inland, the Kintrishi valley leads to forest trails and medieval arched bridges, and Petra Fortress is 9 km south. Trains from Tbilisi stop in Kobuleti before Batumi, so it works well as a base for a beach holiday with day trips along the coast.
What to see and do
- Kilometres of pebble beach with family-friendly swimming
- Seafront cafes and guesthouses at lower prices than Batumi
- Ispani peat bogs in the Kobuleti Protected Areas
- Day trips to Petra Fortress and the Kintrishi valley
How to visit
Getting there
Kobuleti is 28 km north of Batumi, about 35 to 40 minutes by car or minibus. Trains between Tbilisi and Batumi stop here, and Kutaisi airport is about 2 hours away by road.
When to go
June–September for swimming. Plan 1–3 days here.
- The beach is pebbly, so bring water shoes.
- Book guesthouses early for July and August.
- Outside summer many cafes and hotels close.
- Stop at Petra Fortress and the Botanical Garden on the way to or from Batumi.
Kobuleti: FAQ
Is Kobuleti better than Batumi for a beach holiday?
Kobuleti is quieter and generally cheaper, with guesthouses rather than high-rise hotels, which suits families. Batumi has far more restaurants, nightlife and sights.
Is Kobuleti beach sandy?
No, like most of the Adjarian coast it is mainly small pebbles. For sand, head north to Ureki or Shekvetili in Guria.
Nearby places
Straight-line distance from Kobuleti.
