Batumi (/bɑːˈtuːmi/; Georgian: ბათუმი pronounced [ˈb̥a'tʰu.mi] ^ⓘ), historically Batum or Batoum, is the second-largest city of Georgia and the capital of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara. Located on the eastern shore of the Black Sea, about 20 kilometres (12 mi) north of the Georgia–Turkey border, Batumi lies at the foot of the Caucasus Mountains in a humid subtropical zone. As one of the country’s principal urban centers, it serves as a major seaport, commercial hub, and cultural gateway between Europe and Asia.

The city has played a significant role in the history of the south-eastern Black Sea region due to its deep-water harbor and strategic position along regional trade routes. Over the centuries, Batumi has been ruled by the Kingdom of Georgia, the Ottoman Empire, the Russian Empire, and the Soviet Union, each leaving distinct cultural and architectural imprints. Its economy historically relied on maritime trade and oil transit, particularly following the construction of the Baku–Batumi pipeline in the early 20th century. Today, it remains a key transit point for Caspian energy exports and regional commerce.

Since the early 2000s, Batumi has undergone rapid modernization, with large-scale investments in tourism, high-rise development, and transport infrastructure. It is often referred to as the “Las Vegas of the Black Sea” for its gambling industry, modern hotels, and nightlife, while also being known for restored 19th-century architecture and public spaces. As of 2025, the city has a population of about 187,000 and hosts major cultural events, educational institutions, and one of Georgia’s busiest ports, making it both a leading tourist destination and a vital economic center in the South Caucasus.

 Lazica (to 780)
Kingdom of Abkhazia, 780–1010
Kingdom of Georgia, 1010–1455
Kingdom of Imereti 1455–1703
Ottoman Empire, 1703–1878
Russian Empire, 1878–1918
British Empire, 1918–1920
Dem. Rep. of Georgia, 1920–1921
USSR (Adj. ASSR in G.SSR) 1921–1991
Adjara (de facto independent, de jure part of Georgia) 1991–2004
Georgia (AR of Adjara), 1991 (2004)–present

Batumi’s strategic location on the Black Sea coast near mountain passes into the Caucasus interior made it an important trade and military point from antiquity. Archaeological excavations at Pichvnari conducted by the Batumi Archaeological Museum alongside the University of Oxford indicate that the Adjara region was inhabited as early as the 5th century BC, with imported amphorae and other evidence of Greek maritime presence. The ancient settlement is commonly identified with the Greek trading post known as Bathus or Bathys (Greek: βαθύς λιμήν, bathys limēn, “deep harbor”), a toponym recorded in classical sources. During the reign of Hadrian (c. 117–138 AD), the area featured a Roman fortification. In the 6th century, the Byzantine Empire redirected its regional military focus to the fortress of Petra (modern Tsikhisdziri), reducing Batumi’s strategic importance.

After the fragmentation of the Kingdom of Georgia, the area came under the rule of the Princes of Guria. In the 15th–16th centuries, Batumi was intermittently occupied by the Ottoman Empire. Following the Battle of Sokhoista (1545), it fell under Ottoman control.

In the 15th century, during the reign of Prince Kakhaber Gurieli, the Ottoman Empire briefly seized Batumi and its surrounding district but failed to maintain control. A century later, the Ottomans returned with a stronger military presence, inflicting a decisive defeat on Georgian forces at the Battle of Sokhoista in 1545. Batumi subsequently changed hands several times: it was retaken in 1546 by Prince Rostom Gurieli, lost soon afterwards, and again reclaimed in 1609 by Mamia II Gurieli.

In 1703, Batumi was permanently incorporated into the Ottoman Empire as part of the Sanjak of Lazistan. Over the next century and a half, it developed into a small but active provincial port serving the empire’s eastern Black Sea hinterland, facilitating trade in timber, tobacco, and other regional products.