Batumi in winter and at New Year: weather, prices, what to do
Updated 4 November 2026
Batumi in winter is mild and wet: about 10–15 °C by day, rain on 12–14 days a month, and a sea too cold for swimming at 9–16 °C. You come for an empty boulevard, low prices, mandarins, the New Year square and a quiet month by the sea, not for the beach. A clean studio costs from about $40 a night from November to March, against two to three times that in July and August. Below are the months, what is open, New Year and skiing, as of November 2026.
| Month | Day, °C | Night, °C | Sea, °C | Rain, mm (rainy days) | What it's like |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November | 15 | 8 | 16 | 310 (12) | mild and rainy, mandarin harvest begins |
| December | 12 | 5 | 13 | 280 (13) | wet and quiet, the New Year square opens |
| January | 10 | 3 | 10 | 230 (14) | cool and wet, the quietest month |
| February | 10 | 3 | 9 | 180 (13) | cool, the sea at its coldest |
| March | 13 | 5 | 9 | 160 (13) | spring begins, sea still cold |
Averages, rounded; rainfall is the long-term norm for the Batumi airport station. The full year is in Batumi weather by month.
Batumi in December
December brings about 13 rainy days and about 107 hours of sun: expect some bright days between the rain rather than constant drizzle. It is rarely cold, about 12 °C by day and 5 °C at night, so a waterproof jacket does more than a heavy coat. Mandarins are in season, and in 2025 the New Year square opened on 22 December.
January and February
These are the quietest and coolest months, about 10 °C by day and 3 °C at night, with about 100 hours of sun a month. Snow falls in most years, but it is usually light and rarely lasts; deep snow is rare. On a dry day the boulevard is empty and the mountains behind the city are white. This is the time for a long stay, remote work or skiing at Goderdzi.
What is open in winter
| Place | Hours | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Argo cable car | 10:00–21:00, closed in strong wind | 39 ₾, ages 5–11 9 ₾ |
| Dolphinarium show | 16:00 daily except Monday, in any weather | 30 ₾ |
| Aquarium, same complex | 10:00–18:00, closed on public holidays | 5 ₾ |
| Botanical Garden | from 9:00, closes about 17:30 in winter | 20 ₾ |
| Alphabet Tower | 10:00–00:00 | 5–20 ₾ |
| Gonio Fortress | 10:00–17:00 | 15 ₾ for foreign visitors |
No seasonal hours were listed for the cable car, the dolphinarium or the tower, so check on the day. For rain, the malls have shops, cafés and children's play centres, and the Cavea cinema is in Grand Mall.
What closes. The aquapark works only in season, and the outdoor beach season ends with the warm weather. For the dancing fountains the sources differ: georgia.travel says every night, while other guides give May to October. We could not confirm winter shows, so do not plan an evening around them.
New Year in Batumi
In 2025 the main tree on Europe Square was lit on 22 December, together with a New Year Village of food stalls, children's entertainment and concerts. The city announced a gala concert to welcome the New Year and a Christmas concert on 7 January to close the holidays (Georgia Today). The programme for 2026/27 had not been published on 4 November, so check closer to the date. We found no official confirmation of fireworks, so treat them as a possibility rather than a plan.
Restaurants and hotels sell New Year dinners with a set table. Past listings on GoBatumi ranged from about 80 ₾ to 200 ₾ a person, without a stated year, so use them only as a guide and book early.
Georgians keep the holiday going: gozinaki and churchkhela on the New Year table, Orthodox Christmas on 7 January with the Alilo procession, and Old New Year on 14 January.
Mandarins and the winter table
The Adjara mandarin harvest starts in November and runs for about four months, with the peak in mid-November (FreshPlaza, 2025). Look for them at the bazaar. Adjarian khachapuri and hot soups suit the weather, and our restaurant guide lists places with thousands of reviews.
Skiing at Goderdzi
Goderdzi, about 120 km from Batumi, is the nearest ski resort. The resort says lifts run from late December to the end of March, with the opening date announced in December. There are three lifts and 8.4 km of runs between 1,724 and 2,366 m, open 10:00–16:00 on weekdays and until 17:00 at weekends.
The drive takes 2.5–3 hours, or 3.5–4 hours in snow. Winter tyres are required, a 4×4 is recommended, and the last 15 km can be icy. A private transfer is from about 350 ₾ per car, and a day pass was 30 ₾ in 2025/26; the new prices had not been published in November 2026. It can be done in a long day from Batumi, though a night up there is more comfortable.
Other winter trips
Kutaisi and Prometheus Cave work in winter as a long day. For the mountain valleys choose a dry day. Flights thin out in winter too: Istanbul, Tel Aviv and Moscow were on the airport board in November, while many other routes are summer-only. See how to get to Batumi.
What to pack, and what to ask
Bring a waterproof jacket, an umbrella and shoes that do not mind puddles. Ask how any apartment is heated before you book: not every flat in Batumi is built for winter, and travellers have written about cold rooms with air conditioning as the only heat.
Our studios in winter
Our two studios are on the 33rd floor of Blue Sky Tower, across the street from Black Sea Mall. The climate system heats as well as cools, there are radiators, and the bathroom has a heated floor with its own thermostat. There is a work desk, Wi-Fi up to 65 Mbps and a washing machine, and monthly rates apply automatically from 28 nights. You book directly with us on this site: see the studios.
More from our Batumi guide: weather by month, prices in Batumi and Batumi with kids.
Questions and answers
Is Batumi worth visiting in winter?
Yes, if you want quiet, low prices and a mild climate, and no, if you want a beach. Expect about 10–15 °C by day and rain on 12–14 days a month. It suits a long stay, remote work, New Year and a ski trip to Goderdzi.
What is the weather like in Batumi in December?
About 12 °C by day and 5 °C at night, with rain on about 13 days and about 107 hours of sun. The sea is about 13 °C, too cold for most swimmers.
Can you swim in Batumi in winter?
Not for pleasure: the sea is 9–16 °C from November to March. The swimming season runs from June to October.
Does it snow in Batumi?
In most winters, but usually lightly, and it rarely lasts. The mountains behind the city stay white for much longer.
What happens in Batumi at New Year?
In 2025 the main tree and a New Year Village opened on Europe Square on 22 December, with a gala concert announced and a Christmas concert on 7 January. The 2026/27 programme had not been published on 4 November 2026.
How cheap is Batumi in winter?
A clean studio costs from about $40 a night from November to March, and the same flat costs two to three times more in July and August. Everyday costs are in prices in Batumi.
Can you ski near Batumi?
Yes, at Goderdzi, about 120 km away: 2.5–3 hours by car with winter tyres. The lifts run from late December to the end of March, and a day pass was 30 ₾ in 2025/26.
Sources: Wikipedia — Batumi climate (WMO normals 1981–2010, NCEI), Georgia Today — Batumi's New Year tree, December 2025, Madloba — New Year in Georgia, GoBatumi — New Year events, Argo cable car — tickets, Batumi Dolphinarium, Visit Ajara — Alphabet Tower, Visit Ajara — aquapark, georgia.travel — Europe Square, FreshPlaza — Adjara mandarin harvest, Goderdzi resort, Goderdzi — ski pass, T—J — Batumi, a traveller's notes. Checked in November 2026.