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.
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”[5] 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.
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.[6] 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.[7][8] 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.