GeorgiaOfficial tourism
Tsikhisdziri

Where fortress walls meet Black Sea waves

Tsikhisdziri

Why go

Tsikhisdziri is a sliver of Adjara's coastline where time folds in on itself. The 13th–14th century Petritsoni-Tskhisi Fortress, built by the Byzantine-influenced Georgian nobility, crowns a forested bluff above the shore—its lichen-covered stones once guarding the maritime trade route between Constantinople and the Caucasus. Below, the beach fractures into intimate coves of coarse sand and pebble, reachable only by footpaths through subtropical vegetation. Unlike Batumi's polished promenade 15 kilometers south, Tsikhisdziri offers unscripted solitude: fishermen mending nets, tea plantations climbing the hillsides, and the sound of waves against rocks that have witnessed a thousand years of arrivals.

On the ground See

  • Climb to Petritsoni-Tskhisi Fortress for panoramic views over the coastline and the ruins of its medieval chapel
  • Swim in the small protected cove beneath the fortress, where freshwater springs once supplied the garrison
  • Walk the coastal path north toward Makhinjauri, passing abandoned Soviet-era sanatoriums overtaken by fig and persimmon trees

Practical Know before you go

Best June through September; reachable by marshrutka from Batumi's main station (30 minutes) or taxi; no formal hotels, only family guesthouses—book ahead in peak season.

Last reviewed 25 August 2026 · reviewed quarterly