GeorgiaOfficial tourism
Makhinjauri

Where tsars once waited for trains

Makhinjauri

Why go

Makhinjauri sits at the edge of Batumi, where the Black Sea meets the foothills of the Lesser Caucasus. Its railway station, opened in 1906 as the terminus of the Batumi-Tiflis line, was built to serve the oil barons and Russian nobility escaping to the coast—its ornate ironwork and platform canopy still stand. Below lies a quieter stretch of pebble beach than Batumi's central strip, backed by the Makhinjauri Botanical Garden, a 70-hectare collection of subtropical flora established in 1912. This is where Georgians come when they want the sea without the casino lights.

On the ground See

  • The historic Makhinjauri railway station platform with its original cast-iron canopy and 1906 station building
  • The Makhinjauri Botanical Garden's coastal section, featuring ancient magnolias and Japanese camellias planted over a century ago
  • The pebble beach at Makhinjauri Bay, where the Tsikhisdziri River meets the sea and creates calmer swimming conditions than central Batumi

Practical Know before you go

Best visited May through October; reachable via Batumi's city buses (37, 31) or the restored commuter train from Batumi Central to Makhinjauri station itself.

Last reviewed 25 August 2026 · reviewed quarterly