The Sarp crossing is a functioning international land border, and Batumi, Georgia's Black Sea resort city, sits close enough beyond it to work as a same-day trip from Artvin. The appeal is the contrast: an Ottoman-Black Sea Turkish province giving way, within half an hour of the border, to a Georgian seaside city with its own Soviet-era and post-2000s architecture, casinos, and a different alphabet and cuisine. This only works smoothly if your nationality doesn't require a Georgian visa in advance - check your own passport's status before planning the day around it.
| Distance | 80 km Artvin to Sarp; Batumi 10 km past border |
|---|---|
| Travel time | 2 hours Artvin to Sarp; 30 minutes Sarp to Batumi city centre |
| Getting there | Bus or dolmuş from Artvin to Hopa (100–150 TRY/$3–4.50, 2 hrs), then shared taxi (marshrutka) or walk to Sarp crossing. Confirm current Georgian visa requirements at mfa.gov.ge before travel. |
| Address | Sarp Sınır Kapısı, 08800 Hopa, Artvin (Turkish side) |
How to get there
- Bus to Hopa + taxi to Sarp + Georgian marshrutka
- Hired car (drive-through crossing; check vehicle cross-border insurance)
Location
Sarp Sınır Kapısı, 08800 Hopa, Artvin (Turkish side)
41.4951, 41.4512 View on map
Highlights
- Batumi Old Town - the historic core with its mix of 19th-century European-style buildings and Georgian street life
- Batumi Boulevard - the long seafront promenade along the Black Sea, the city's main public space
- Europe Square - a central plaza and a natural point to start exploring the old town on foot
- Alphabet Tower - a tall tower spelling out the Georgian script, a distinctive modern Batumi landmark