Is it better to rent/use a car in Batumi, or just get around by taxi?

A recent practical takeaway: in Batumi it was easier to leave the car parked and use Yandex Go. App-based taxis were cheap enough that travelers did not even bother figuring out how to top up a public transport card.

If you use taxis, booking through the app is the better option: according to a traveler report, street taxis were asking roughly double the Yandex Go fare.

Driving in Batumi and around Georgia requires extra caution: local drivers can be aggressive, honking is common, and pedestrians are not always given priority. For visitors, this can be much more stressful than using taxis.

Another downside of having a car is parking: travelers specifically mentioned paid parking zones and hefty fines for non-payment. Because of that, they preferred to look for free spots or avoid using a car in the city altogether.

For anyone still planning to drive around the region: budget for fuel and mandatory car insurance in advance, and note that exchanging money is usually more favorable in Tbilisi or Batumi than at the border.

For budget car rental, participants noted that small rental companies may be cautious even with cars around $40/day, because insurance may not cover higher-risk situations.

There was also a question about leaving a car parked roadside after paying for a month, including for Belarusian plates. This suggests that if you are bringing your own car, it is worth checking Batumi parking rules in advance rather than trying to figure them out on arrival.