How to get from Batumi airport to the city and where to exchange money on arrival?

Taxi drivers outside the airport will accept USD if you don't want to deal with currency exchange at all — just negotiate the fare directly with the driver.

If you need to exchange money at the airport, do it before passport control — there's one exchange point there with a rate slightly below city rates but acceptable. After passport control the rates are much worse.

Book via Yandex Taxi with cash payment. On the way into the city, ask the driver to stop at a currency exchange on the airport highway — rates there are reasonable.

If the airport Wi-Fi is unreliable and you can't open Yandex Taxi, ask any nearby person to share their mobile hotspot — people usually agree. App-based taxis are significantly cheaper than street taxis.

The best exchange rates in Batumi are near the cable car station — worth going there once you've settled in.

Taxis in Batumi are very affordable — a cross-city ride costs around 17–20 GEL. Many passengers round up the fare, and drivers still try to give change back.

Check the estimated fare in Yandex Taxi before your trip so you know what to expect. The airport does have a currency exchange, but the rate is poor — change only the minimum needed for the taxi ride.

For a local SIM card, the Magti office at 10 Rustaveli Street is the most convenient option.