Batumi airport is small, manageable, and — compared to Tbilisi — refreshingly uncomplicated. One terminal, one arrivals hall, and a city centre that is 15 minutes away. For travellers arriving on the Black Sea coast to start a Georgian road trip, or finishing one before a flight home, Batumi airport is a straightforward entry and exit point.
This guide covers how car rental at Batumi airport actually works, what to expect, and how to avoid the common mistakes.
Batumi airport does not have the rows of international rental desks you find at Tbilisi. The airport is small enough that the process is simpler — and for direct bookings with a local operator, significantly faster.
StarCar delivers to Batumi airport with advance booking. The process works as follows:
Book at least 24 hours in advance. Contact StarCar via the website or WhatsApp with your flight number and estimated arrival time. The operator tracks your flight and adjusts if it is delayed.
Clear arrivals. Batumi airport arrivals is a single hall. Your StarCar operator will be waiting at the exit with an A4 board showing the StarCar logo. There is no desk to find, no shuttle bus, no queue.
Sign the contract on the spot. The operator completes the paperwork at arrivals. Terms are explained, fuel level noted, keys handed over. Standard process takes around 10 minutes.
Drive. The car is at or near the airport. You leave immediately.
For last-minute arrivals without advance booking — contact via WhatsApp on arrival. Delivery to Batumi airport is possible, but vehicle availability cannot be guaranteed without advance notice, particularly in peak summer season.
Batumi International Airport (IATA: BUS) is located approximately 15 km south of the city centre. The drive into Batumi takes 15 to 20 minutes on the coastal road.
The airport is served by Turkish Airlines, Pegasus, FlyDubai, Wizz Air, and a range of seasonal charter flights from European cities. In summer the airport handles significant tourist volume — the arrivals hall gets busy on peak days.
There is an ATM in the arrivals area. A Georgian SIM card (Magti or Geocell) is available from a small kiosk in arrivals — useful for navigation and keeping WhatsApp contact with the operator during your trip.
The coastal road from the airport into Batumi passes the port and runs along the seafront — a good introduction to the city if you are arriving for the first time.
The international rental desks at larger airports operate on a different model from direct local booking. At Batumi, the gap is significant on several points.
Security deposit. International companies and OTA bookings typically block €200 to €500 on your credit card at pickup. StarCar does not require a security deposit. Nothing is blocked on your card.
Minimum age. Most international brands set the minimum driver age at 23 or 25, with a daily surcharge for younger drivers. StarCar accepts drivers aged 20 and over with no surcharge.
Mileage. Some rental listings in Georgia include a daily mileage cap. StarCar has no mileage limit on any rental.
Price. Direct booking cuts the OTA commission layer — typically 15 to 25% of the rental value. That saving is passed on directly.
Batumi sits on the Black Sea coast in the Adjara region, at the southwestern corner of Georgia. From the airport, you are well-positioned for western and central Georgia.
| Destination | Distance | Drive Time | Recommended Car |
|---|---|---|---|
| Batumi city centre | 15 km | 20 min | Any |
| Kobuleti (Black Sea coast) | 30 km | 35 min | Any |
| Kutaisi | 150 km | 2.5 hours | Sedan or crossover |
| Borjomi | 180 km | 2.5 hours | Sedan or crossover |
| Tbilisi | 300 km | 4 hours | Sedan or crossover |
| Mestia / Svaneti | 250 km | 4.5 hours | Crossover (SUV for Ushguli) |
| Goderdzi Pass | 120 km | 2.5 hours | Crossover (4x4 in winter) |
Browse the full fleet at starcar.ge/cars and confirm the right vehicle for your route when booking.
Batumi is one of the three StarCar pickup and drop-off points. One-way rentals between Batumi, Tbilisi, and Kutaisi are available with no drop-off fee.
Common one-way itineraries starting or ending in Batumi:
All of the above carry no drop-off fee. Confirm the route when booking.
Batumi city itself is walkable — the seafront boulevard, the old town, and the botanical garden above the city are all manageable without driving. Where the car becomes useful is on excursions from the city.
Kobuleti is 30 km north along the coast — a quieter beach town that many families prefer to Batumi's busier centre. The drive takes 35 minutes on the coastal road.
Ureki is a black magnetic sand beach 50 km north of Batumi. Families with children visit specifically for the sand, which is claimed to have therapeutic properties. An easy half-day excursion.
Goderdzi Pass is the highland route east from Batumi through the mountains of Adjara — a remarkable drive through subtropical forest that rapidly gives way to highland plateau at 2,025 metres. Accessible in a crossover in summer and autumn. In winter, 4x4 required and conditions vary significantly.
Khulo and inland Adjara — the villages of upper Adjara, accessible by a winding road north from Batumi, are among the least-visited parts of Georgia and worth a full day if you have the time and a crossover or SUV.
Vardzia — the cave monastery carved into a cliff face in the Mtkvari valley, around 2.5 hours east of Batumi via Akhaltsikhe — is one of the most impressive historical sites in Georgia and a natural full-day excursion from a Batumi base.
Does StarCar deliver to Batumi airport?
Yes — with at least 24 hours advance notice. The operator meets you at arrivals with a name board. For same-day requests, contact via WhatsApp on arrival — delivery is possible but depends on availability.
Is there a deposit required at Batumi airport?
No. StarCar does not block any amount on your card. Payment is in cash at pickup — EUR, USD, or GEL.
Can I pick up in Batumi and drop off in Tbilisi or Kutaisi?
Yes — one-way rentals between Batumi, Tbilisi, and Kutaisi are available with no drop-off fee. Confirm when booking.
What is the minimum rental period?
Three days. If you need a car for one or two days, the three-day rate applies.
How far is Batumi airport from the city centre?
Around 15 km, roughly 15 to 20 minutes by car on the coastal road.
No queue. No deposit. Your operator is at arrivals when you land.
Book direct at starcar.ge or message on WhatsApp 24/7. Full fleet at starcar.ge/cars.
Pickup also available at Tbilisi airport and Kutaisi airport.
Free cancellation · 24/7 support · Unlimited mileage
Book your rental car today.
Free cancellation available
