Batumi has surged in popularity among Israeli travelers, rising from sixth place last summer to second place in the ranking of Israelis’ most sought-after summer destinations for 2026, while the average flight price to the Georgian city has fallen by about 3%, according to new data from the travel website lastminute.co.il.
The data, based on thousands of searches and bookings recorded on the website through July 10 for flights during July and August, shows that the average price per passenger to Batumi dropped from $523 in summer 2025 to $506 in 2026, excluding baggage.
Tbilisi has also strengthened its position in the rankings, though more moderately. The Georgian capital climbed from eighth place to seventh, but unlike Batumi, the average flight price increased from $452 to $494, representing a rise of about 9%.
The figures point to two parallel trends: Batumi is strengthening its position as a summer vacation destination, offering beaches, hotels and family-oriented leisure options, while Tbilisi continues to attract Israelis seeking an urban getaway throughout the year.
Georgia becomes significantly cheaper during the Jewish holiday season
Looking ahead to the Jewish holiday season, the gap between the two cities becomes even more apparent. During Rosh Hashanah, both destinations have seen significant price drops: The average flight price to Batumi is about 29% lower than last year, while Tbilisi is about 20% cheaper.
During Yom Kippur, prices are closer to those of the previous year, with an increase of about 1% for Batumi and a decrease of about 4% for Tbilisi.
During Sukkot, however, the picture changes completely. The average flight price to Batumi is 22% lower than last year, standing at about $490, while flights to Tbilisi have become 38% more expensive, with the average price reaching $479 compared with $347 last year.
Batumi attracts attention, but bookings tell a different story
Israeli interest in Batumi has also increased ahead of the holiday season. The city rose from 12th place last year to fifth place in search rankings for the 2026 Jewish holidays. However, in actual bookings, it remains outside the top 10. The gap between search volume and completed bookings may indicate that some of the interest in the destination is still at the stage of research and price comparisons.
Tbilisi, by contrast, ranks ninth both in searches and actual bookings for the holiday period.
At the same time, direct flight options to Georgia have expanded. According to the data, the increase in flight availability alone does not explain the price changes, but it may increase competition and allow airlines to respond to growing demand.
"The story of Georgia is not only about growing demand, but about a maturing market," said Asaf Grinberg, vice president of marketing at lastminute.co.il. "Batumi and Tbilisi are no longer competing for the same type of vacation: Batumi competes with destinations such as Greece and Cyprus, while Tbilisi competes with European vacation cities."
According to Grinberg, the data indicates that Israelis’ choices regarding Georgia are becoming more diverse, with each city attracting different audiences depending on the season and flight availability.
For travelers, this means that it is worthwhile to consider not only the destination itself, but also the timing of the trip, the type of vacation and the overall cost. The decision of whether to book a flight and hotel separately or as a package may also affect the final price.