Spotting in Batumi

On the horizon over the sea, a twinkling point emerges. Within a minute, it transforms into a thin line, and another minute later, the fuselage and wings of an airplane are distinctly visible. A few more minutes pass, and overhead, a massive airplane roars by, its wings covering half the sky. Seconds later, the noise subsides, and the whine of the landing gear can be heard in the distance on the runway. This is what spotting looks like – observing planes as they take off and land at the Batumi International Airport.

Batumi offers a variety of interesting activities and beautiful places. Plane spotting in Batumi expands the spectrum of experiences in this resort city on the Black Sea coast. And doing so is quite simple – the observation deck is located just 5 km from the city's tourist hub, easily reachable by a stroll along the promenade. Most importantly, the viewing platform is situated right by the shore, offering a breathtaking view of the planes coming in for a landing!

The runway at Batumi Airport is positioned in such a way that planes can only take off and land towards the sea, as mountains rise on the other side. With just 250 meters between the start of the runway and the sea shore, planes fly overhead at an altitude of 15-20 meters. Similar spotting locations are found at only two other airports in the world: Mai Khao Beach near Phuket Airport in Thailand, and Maho Beach on the island of Saint Martin in the Caribbean Sea at Princess Juliana Airport.

For spotting in Batumi, all you need is to know the departure and arrival times. This can be done by checking the flight schedule on the Batumi Airport website, as well as tracking flights in real time through the Flightradar24 service.

Spotting Tips for Batumi

Landings are more spectacular! Pilots aim to touch down as early as possible on the runway to have extra distance for braking. During takeoff, they lift off the ground right after reaching the necessary speed. Therefore, during a landing, the plane will be directly above you, while on takeoff, it might already be at 100 meters, especially if it's a small plane. We recommend timing your observation for the landing of a large airliner.

Evenings are prettier! Watching the sunset over the sea in Batumi is a delight, and combining it with spotting is doubly so. Noon is good for bright sunny selfies, but sunset offers stunning photo opportunities as well. During the day, the platform is hot and lacks shade. Though, in the evening, there's a downside - mosquitoes might appear. However, usually, during peak season, 15-20 people come for spotting in Batumi during the day, while in the evening, planes attract 100 spectators or more.

Stock up on water and snacks! The spotting platform is on the outskirts of Batumi, with no shops nearby. Since flights can sometimes be delayed, waiting can take 30 minutes or more, though you might be lucky to see several takeoffs and landings within an hour. For a comfortable wait, it's better to bring a bottle of water and some snacks. But note, there are no toilets nearby - the closest one is half a kilometer away.

Use burst mode and practice! You'll have no more than 5 seconds to take super shots – the plane will fly over you at a speed of over 200 km/h. Choose your angle, how you will move the camera, and how you will pose when being photographed. It's better to practice in advance, otherwise, you'll have to wait a whole hour for the next flight.

If you're in Batumi, definitely try going spotting; it will become one of the brightest memories of the city. Afterwards, you can leisurely walk back to your hotel along the promenade, which is bustling with life in the evening.