Almost no trip can do without atleast some shopping. This is not surprising, because most people want to have some kind of reminder of the place they visited, especially when it comes to such a colorful Black Sea city like Batumi. It hardly makes sense to make a separate shopping tour in Batumi, but, being there, one cannot help but buy colorful souvenirs and various unique goods that can be found in Georgia. The market in Batumi is the best option for shopping in this city, especially since there are several good bazaars.
While shopping, you need to consider that paying in Batumi, as well as throughout Georgia can only be done in the local GEL, so all other currencies will have to be changed to local.
Hopa clothing market: clothing, household goods, souvenirs
Perhaps the most famous of all local markets is the Hopa clothing market, which was formed in the early 1990s.
Although this is the largest clothing market in Batumi, vegetables, fruits, sweets and Georgian tea can also be purchased her. But the choice of these products is insignificant, and the prices are on average the same as in city stores, so you should definitely not go specifically go there for them.
As for clothes, shoes and textiles, the bulk of the goods on the “Hopa” clothing market are imported from China and Turkey, and this product is not of the best quality. However, the prices are appropriate, for example, sneakers can be bought for 40-50 GEL ($ 17-20), jeans for 50-60 GEL ($ 20-25), jackets from 50 GEL ($ 20). To choose something really good for an adult, you will have to spend a lot of time. In addition, for people who are used to buying clothes so that they can normally try on and look at themselves in the mirror, there are no conditions at all in this clothing market in Batumi. But children’s clothes, bedding and towels from Turkey are very profitable to purchase here, since these things are quite cheap.
What it really makes sense to go to the “Hopa” clothing market for is a variety of souvenirs. Over there you can find fridge magnets, Caucasian wine horns, gift cups and much more. The choice of such goods is huge – in fact, this is a real flea market in Batumi – and prices are much lower when compared with prices for similar goods in other outlets.
How to get there?
It is quite easy to find the Hopa market in Batumi – it is indicated on the city map on Agmashenebeli Street, closer to New Batumi.
Depending on the departure point, you can get to Hopa as follows:
- From the Goodwill supermarket in the center of Batumi – by bus No. 1i and minibus No. 31;
- With st. Chavchavadze on minibuses No. 28, No. 40, No. 44 and No. 45;
- With st. Gorgiladze (formerly Gorky) on minibuses No. 21, No. 24, No. 26, No. 29, No. 31, No. 46;
- From the village of Makhinjauri on minibuses No. 21, No. 31 and No. 40;
- with BNZ on fixed-route taxis No. 28 and No. 29.
Hopa market in Batumi is open daily from 9:00 to 21:00.
Where to buy fresh fish in Batumi?
There is one unique market in Batumi – the fish market. It is very small and compact, in fact it is a small platform, on which 10 counters under canopies are located in 2 rows. At all times of the year and in any weather they sell fresh fish. For an additional fee, and if you bargain, then just like that, bought fish can immediately be cleaned and cut.
In case you want to try out your fresh purchase, then in a nearby cafe you can immediately get the fish fried – the cost of roasting 1 kg is 5 GEL. The fish cafe, located near the entrance to the market, is original and very colorful, and very often it is impossible to find free space there. The smell of fried fish extends a few meters around the market, the menu is always only seasonal fish, vegetables, corn tortillas, lemonade and beer.
As for the assortment presented on the trading shelves, it may vary depending on the season. They go to the Batumi fish market for flounder, red mullet, mullet, salmon, sturgeon, horse mackerel, hamsa. They sell trout from mountain rivers, smoked mackerel, crayfish and mussels, sometimes you can see valuable beluga and blue pickle or phosphorus-rich garfish.
Prices around the market
Although there is approximately the same product on all counters of the fish market, it is advisable to first examine everything that is offered, and then begin to bargain. Below are listed prices for 1 kg of different products, and for convenience, in dollars:
- Rainbow trout – $ 4;
- Salmon – $ 6-13;
- Mullet – $ 4;
- Sturgeon – $ 10;
- Flounder – $ 21;
- Red mullet – $ 4-6;
- Bulls – $ 2.5;
- Horse mackerel 2-4 $;
- Dorado $ 8-10;
- Slave needle – $ 13;
- Sea bass 10 $;
- Crayfish – $ 13.
To find the Batumi fish market, it is not necessary to know the address – it is enough to know that it is located outside the port, almost at the exit from the city, next to the Shallow Sea stop.
How to get there
You can get from Batumi to it by any city transport that goes towards the botanical garden and the village of Makhinjauri, for example:
- On buses No. 2, No. 10, No. 13, No. 17,
- Minibuses No. 21, No. 28, No. 29, No. 31, No. 40.
You need to get off in front of the bridge and turn onto Nonshvili Street, at the Shallow Sea stop (see map at the end of the page). The driver can be told in advance to stop at the fish market.
From the village of Makhinjauri you can go to:
- fixed-route taxis No. 21, No. 31, No. 40,
- and from the BNZ to No. 28 and No. 29.
Batumi fish market is open daily from 9:00 to 21:00.
The largest selection of products – in the central food market
Market “Parehi” or market “Boni” are the names used for the central food market. People go there to feel the national color of hospitable Georgia in full force and buy oriental goodies for themselves or as a souvenir.
Market structure
The central food market in Batumi is divided into two parts: open and indoor. In the open area there are mainly stalls with fruits, vegetables, herbs, cereals, tobacco, and other trifles. Immediately at the entrance there are flower merchants offering a wide variety of bouquets.
In the open area there is a small fish pavilion located in an annex near the bridge-crossing through the marshalling yard – it can be found by a specific smell. Although the assortment is not as diverse as in the specialized fish market of Batumi, you can still choose a good fish.
The covered pavilion of the central market is a spacious two-story building. On the left side of the ground floor there are vegetable and meat departments (mainly selling pork and beef), on the right are traders with fresh homemade herbs, pickles, different types of beans. In the center of the first floor there are counters with coffee, spices, homemade sauces.
On the second floor, visitors are offered dried fruits of various types, raisins, candy, nuts, honey, wine. And over there the real kingdom of churchkhela is arranged: this sweet is offered with different fillings, of different sizes and shapes. There is also a dairy department with an incredibly diverse assortment of homemade cheese. It also sells basturma, sausages, homemade chicken, large yellow eggs.
It should be noted that the central market of Batumi (Boni or Parehi) has several currency exchange points on its territory with a quite acceptable exchange rate.
Parekhali market prices
As for the prices in this bazaar, they are slightly lower than in stores. Both expensive and cheap products can be found there. In the market you can find high quality prodcuts at the same price as you would find medium quality products in the city. Below are some prices, again in dollars:
- A whole chicken – $ 5.5 per kg;
- Pork – about $ 6 per kg;
- Beef meat – $ 6 per kg;
- Smoked fish – $ 1.2-1.7 per piece;
- Potatoes – 0.4 $ per kg;
- Cucumbers – $ 0.5-0.8 per kg;
- Tomatoes – $ 1-2 per kg;
- Apples – $ 1.2 per kg;
- Grapes – $ 0.5-5.5 per kg;
- Tangerines – 0.4 $ per kg;
- Leaf lettuce – $ 1-2 per kg;
- Eggplant – 0.8 $ per kg;
- Sweet cherry – 2.2-3 $ per kg;
- Strawberries – 1.1-4 $ per kg;
- Walnuts – $ 10 per kg;
- Wild nuts – $ 5.5 per kg;
- Unpeeled hazelnuts – $ 62.4 per kg;
- Coffee – $ 1-3.2 per 100 g (depending on grade).
Prices on the page are for fall 2017.
If you need to save money, you should go shopping There after 15.00, when most merchants agree to sell everything at half price. And be sure to bargain, especially if you buy a lot.
Where is it and how to get there?
The central market in Batumi, marked “Boni” or “Parehi” on the map, is located near the old bus station. The main entrance to its territory is from Mayakovsky Street. It is convenient to get there from almost any corner of the city, since there are many public transport routes to the market:
- With st. Parnavaz Mepe (formerly Telman) are minibuses number 24, number 26, number 32, number 46;
- With st. Chavchavadze can be reached by minibuses No. 20, No. 40, No. 44, No. 45;
- From the village of Makhinjauri and BNZ – on the minibus number 20.
You can also go not to the central entrance of the market, but to the marshalling yard, and then cross the railroad tracks on a foot bridge.
The central food market in Batumi is open all days of the week , except Mondays, from 8:00 to 16:00.
Whatever market you go to in Batumi, remember one thing: you must bargain, there it is always welcome!
