Things to Do in Batumi, Georgia: A Complete Guide

Batumi is Georgia’s second largest city and the glitzy capital of Adjara, the province in the south-west of Georgia. With a stunning Black Sea coastline and significant investment in hotel and casino chains, it attracts both domestic and international tourists. With the Turkish border just 15km away, Batumi is especially popular with visitors from Turkey, where gambling is illegal.

While Batumi is sometimes called the ‘Las Vegas of the Black Sea’, there’s actually plenty more to see beyond the casinos. I’ll highlight everything you won’t want to miss, to help you plan your trip to this culturally diverse city.

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Map of Things to do in Batumi

I’ve included some of the best things to do in Batumi on a map to help you plan your trip.

Things to see and do on Batumi Boulevard and Harbour Area

If you only do one thing in Batumi, it will be to walk along part, if not all, of the seafront Boulevard. Sometimes cited as the longest Boulevard in Europe, and even the world, this ‘truth’ is questionable, but at around 7-8 km, it is certainly long. It’s an ongoing project that may extend things further.

The Batumi Boulevard was created in 1881 by a French gardener. It’s beautiful, especially on a sunny day. There’s plenty to see, with beautiful green parks with fountains, modern sculptures, and several tourist attractions along the way. You won’t be short of a place to stop, relax, and refuel with plenty of cafes, stalls, and places to eat, and a popular pebbled beach where people sunbathe. Sea swimming is popular from May through to September.

Currently, it starts in the north, around the Ali and Nino statue. You can then follow it south to the area around the Lech and Maria Kaczynski Park and Flip-flops on eggs (yes, you read that right!) statue.

So let’s start at the northernmost end at Miracle Park, home to many of Batumi’s most iconic sites, including the Ali and Nino statue and the Alphabetic Tower. Then we will work our way down.

1 Explore Miracle Park

Miracle Park is a lively hub next to the sea and the harbour. It’s the essence of Batumi, and if you were to find a postcard of Batumi, chances are it would be taken from here. It’s a chance to wander under palm trees, stop to rest on the benches scattered across the square, or hop on a rented bike or scooter to chase the sun along the boulevard. It’s the place for seasonal celebrations, especially in summer, and it transforms at night with lights and music.

Don’t miss a trip to the top of the Alphabetic Tower and a ride on theFerris Wheel for the best bird’s-eye views of Batumi. Both offer 360° close-up views, making it arguably better than those from the cable car.

2 Watch the Ali and Nino statue

Many may be familiar with the story of the ill-fated lovers – Romeo and Juliet. The Story of Ali and Nino is a similar tragic tale, and it’s also much loved, so much so that it’s Azerbaijan’s national novel. Ali and Nino was first published in Austria in 1937, under the pseudonym Kurban Said, with the true author disputed. A lifetime together wasn’t to be for Ali, an Azerbaijani Muslim, and his lover, Nino, a Georgian princess. They were separated during the 1st World War, where Ali ultimately lost his life.

The statue, created by Georgian artist Tamara Kvesitadze, depicts two giants made of metal segments. They move towards each other, only to be separated again after slipping through one another. This happens every 10 minutes.

We saw Ali and Nino and their moving performance during the day. At night, the statues may be lit up with bright, changing colours for a more colourful effect.

3 Take the glass lift at Alphabetic Tower

The 130-meter Alphabetic Tower (also known as Alfa Tower) is a double-helix steel structure that represents a DNA strand. It’s decorated with 33 letters of the Georgian alphabet, which is known as one of the world’s oldest alphabets. Each aluminum letter stands 4 meters tall. The Alphabetic Tower is an apt metaphor for how deeply the Georgian language is woven into Georgia’s DNA. We saw it during the day, but at night it’s lit up in green, making it even more striking.

If you make a point of visiting Alphabetic Tower early on in your trip, it will help orient you, as you pick out the city’s landmarks from high up. The glass lift is fun too, as you see everything as you rise to the top. The restaurant at the top is a great place to linger with a drink and take in the view of Miracle Park, immediately beneath you and beyond to the rest of Batumi too.

Here’s the video going to the top. You can see the Batumi Hotel, which has a Ferris wheel stuck on its side.

There’s a charge for the lift (10 GEL). I’d make sure Atmosphere Restaurant is open at the top before going up for the best experience.

4 Ride the Ferris Wheel

At 55 metres, you’ll also get a fantastic view of Miracle Park and beyond from the big red Ferris wheel next to Ali and Nino. The wheel usually opens around 10 am and is 10GEL too.

This Ferris Wheel is not to be confused with the Ferris wheel on the side of the Meridian Hotel (Batumi Tower), near the top of the skyscraper.

5 Find Batumi Lighthouse

Spot the photogenic white lighthouse next to the Ferris wheel. It’s a working lighthouse, so you can’t go in it or up it, but it’s one of the park’s most striking landmarks.

6 Take a photo at ‘Me, You and Batumi’

A popular bronze statue of a man and a woman at a table. There’s a spare chair, which is a message to visitors from the people of Batumi that they are welcome. It’s a popular spot for photos. It’s located between the Alphabetic tower and our next stop, the beach. You’ll also find one of the ‘I love Batumi’ signs here, too.

7 Walk to the Cable Car via the Marine Base Station

Just beyond Ali and Nino, you’ll find a harbour area. Here you’ll find yachts and jet skis, plus pirate ships and boats taking people around the coast, plus stalls selling souvenirs and food, alongside amusements.

When you get to Batumi Marine Base Station, you’ll find some beautiful mosaics in the entrance.

Carry on to the Cable Car base station. Here, gondolas will take you to the top of Anuria mountain, offering views of the Black Sea & the city. We opted to take the lift to the top of the Alphabetic Tower for a 360° view instead.

8 Relax on Batumi Beach

Once you’ve enjoyed the attractions of Miracle Park, it’s time to head to the beach and then further south to discover more of the Batumi Boulevard.

Swimming is popular at Batumi beach from May onwards; there are plenty of water sports options, too. We visited in May, and while the Boulevard and parks were busy, there weren’t many people on the pebbly beaches or in the sea.

You can spot plenty of sculptures along the Boulevard, including these dolphins and the butterfly lady, next to the dancing fountains. My favourite on this stretch was an oversized pair of shoes, and another I love the Batumi sign, this time in Georgian.

9 From Dancing Fountains to ‘Flip-flops on Eggs’

Carrying on further south, you’ll pass the dancing fountains. They didn’t dance that high when we were there, but the display is best viewed in the evening, with the accompanying light show.

Continuing south on the Batumi Boulevard, there’s plenty more to see. I’ve marked everything on the map. We ran out of time to walk the whole 8Km, but here are a few of the sights we are sorry we missed. Maybe you will have more time than we did?

Explore Batumi Old Town

Now that we’ve explored the seaside area, including Batumi Boulevard, it’s time to go further inland to the heart of Batumi’s old town, starting with the expansive and aptly named Europa Square.

10 Admire Europa Square

There’s no doubting this is a distinctive and classy square. Lined with 19th and 20th-century European-style buildings, it feels very different from anything else I’ve seen in Georgia. There’s also a fountain and plenty of cafes and restaurants where you can sit and relax. Even the McDonald’s in the centre feels a cut above your typical McDonald’s elsewhere.

Don’t miss:

• Statue of Medea: A central, dramatic statue featuring Medea holding the Golden Fleece. It represents Georgia’s ancient Greek connections.
• Astronomical clock: Built atop a striking Art Nouveau building in the eastern corner of Memed Abashidze Avenue. Don’t miss this.

11 Visit Batumi Piazza Square

Another stunning European-style square, Batumi Piazza, is a little more hidden and enclosed than Europa Square. With the feel of an Italian Piazza, it’s definitely a place you’ll want to stop for and take it all in. And there are plenty of options for a drink or something to eat.

The main events are a beautiful clock and a huge floor mosaic, made up of 88 million, 1 sq cm marble pieces collected from 15 countries. It’s thought to be the largest of its kind in Europe. It has a mermaid theme in the centre – an obvious link here to Batumi’s maritime position and heritage.

The square also has some interesting golden statues, including an angel on a fountain with gold feet and a gold lady in front of the beautiful Art Deco Hotel Oleg. Galogr

Find more Striking Architecture around Batumi.

When it comes to buildings, Batumi certainly makes a statement, whether it’s new skyscrapers or older art-nouveau and classical buildings; there’s plenty to spot as you explore Batumi.

12 Spot the Quirky Skyscrapers

I’ve already mentioned that a trip to the top of the double helix, inspired by the Alphabetic Tower, should be on your list for your visit to Batumi. But you may have already worked out that there are quite a few other weird and wonderful buildings, as well as some beautiful Art Deco and neoclassical architecture.

Don’t miss Batumi Tower with Ferris Wheel, a 200-meter skyscraper built alongside the Meridien Hotel. It features a small, functional Ferris wheel installed towards the top. The second close-up picture was taken while ascending the glass elevator in the adjacent Alphabetic building – I’ve included a whole video. This Ferris Wheel is not to be confused with the large red Ferris wheel in Miracle Park.

More distinctive skyscrapers include Orbi Sea Towers and even a stylish McDonald’s!

13 Seek out the Art Deco and Neoclassical buildings

As you visit both Europa Square and Batumi Piazza, and walk between them, you’ll spot plenty of interesting and more classical architecture. Here’s the Batumi Teaching Art University and a few more you might want to find:

More things to do in Batumi

By this time, we were running out of time, so here are a few more things we did and other activities we ran out of time for.

14 Visit Batumi’s Places of Worship

Batumi is a religiously diverse city. It’s primarily Georgian Orthodox Christian, but with a border so close to Turkey, there’s also a significant Sunni Muslim minority.

We visited the Orthodox Cathedral, Holy Virgin Nativity Cathedral, an early-20th-century neo-Gothic church with 3 spires & vibrant stained-glass windows. The interior is adorned with decorated columns, frescoes, and chandeliers, and is well worth a peek. It’s open to visitors during the day.

Batumi Central Mosque is also known for its beautiful interior and is open to visitors if you have time. There’s a Catholic church and a synagogue, too.

15 Learn about the history of the Ajara People

We were blessed with perfect weather on our trip, and didn’t visit any museums. But with Batumi’s reputation for torrential rain, it’s good to have some more things to do if walking the Batumi Boulevard is less than appealing. Here are some options:

• Museum of the State of Ajara: The first place to go to learn about the Ajara people. Housed in a heritage building, it traces the social history and includes artefacts such as art and old photos.
• Batumi Archaeological Museum: Explore two floors of finds from digs around Adjara. Displays include pottery, coins and jewellery. Some dated back to the 5th Century.
• Nobel Brothers Batumi Technological Museum: There’s an archive of printing and photography, and an opportunity to learn more about the legacy of the Nobel Brothers and Alexander Mantashev.
• Museum of Art: An opportunity to view works by prominent Georgian painters in a small art gallery
• Ethnographic Museum Borjgalo: A family-friendly museum with costumes, woodcarvings and displays showing how the Ajara people have lived through the ages.

16 Visit Batumi’s Markets

These are the main markets you might want to visit:

• Fish Market: Along the harbour, beyond the cable-car station, you’ll find the fish market. Fish is delivered fresh every day. If you want to eat fish, you can ask for it to be prepared for you. Then take it to the restaurant next door, and they will cook it for you.
• Batumi Bazaar: This is the central market in Batumi and the place to go for all sorts of produce and local souvenirs.

17 Batumi Botanical Garden

The Batumi Botanical Gardens look exceptional and are very well reviewed. It’s a little way north out of the city centre on the coast. You’ll want to set aside about half a day to visit and hike some of the trails.

Food and Drink in Batumi

Khachapuri is a Georgian staple. It’s a rich ‘cheese bread’, in an oval shape, with molten cheese, butter, and oozing egg on top.

We chose to try the local Adjarian Khachapuri, the most famous version of the dish, at Acharuli Khachapuri House, a place recommended to us and genuinely authentic. A carb-fest for sure, it was delicious, but I’m glad we opted to share one.

Handily, Batumi’s craft beer bar, Hop Hut, was close by, to wash down the carbs with some more!

If you haven’t tried it, the other Georgian favourite is khinkali, a pretty dumpling offered with different fillings, including more cheese! We had eaten rather too many in Tbilisi, so we skipped them in Batumi, but we were recommended Khinkali Ludi as the best place to try them. Here’s a picture of some we tried while in Georgia, so you know what I’m talking about.

Here are some other Adjaran Georgian dishes to try in Batumi:

• Borano: Another cheese dish involving hot, melted cheese. This time it’s combined with melted butter. A fondue-type dish.
• Sinori: Thin dough baked with cottage cheese and butter
• Badrijani Nigvzit: Fried aubergine with walnut paste and pomegranates.
• Mtsvadi: Grilled meat on skewers, usually pork or lamb

There are also plenty of fish and seafood options, thanks to Batumi’s Black Sea location.

For more restaurant options, the Heart of Batumi is highly rated for traditional Georgian cuisine, and the Batumi Piazza has some good options, too.

Go on, judge me! We were drawn to the German Hofbräu Beer house and enjoyed a fine schnitzel, washed down with the house beer, in a characterful, ‘very German’ restaurant.

Where to stay

We stayed at a hotel close to the railway station because we arrived late on the first night and left early on the second night. I’m not sure that was the best plan. Bolt is easily available and a very good value. I’d stay somewhere central. Here’s a map of some live options.

How to Get to Batumi

Here are some options. If you are not arriving by car,

By Train from Tbilisi: We arrived in Batumi by train from Tbilisi, leaving daily. 17:10 – 22:45. Booking in advance is recommended.

By Bus from Kutaisi: We used Citibus between Batumi and Kutaisi. It’s a fast service taking 2 hours 15 minutes on a modern coach, operating around 3 times a day. Be aware that the coach stops in Batumi, and the one in Kutaisi is not very central. There are also minibus services that take a little longer.

By Air: Key destinations from Batumi International Airport (BUS) include Istanbul (Turkey), Tel Aviv (Israel), Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), Minsk (Belarus), and various Russian cities, such as Moscow and Mineralnye Vody. 

Where to Next?

This guide is the first of my articles on Georgia. Expect more over the next month, including Kutaisi, Tbilisi, the underground city of Vardzia and the Chronicles of Georgia. I will be sending out a monthly newsletter with updates on this and other articles, and would love it if you’d like to join.

I hope this guide to things to do in Batumi has been useful. Are you planning to visit Batumi, or have you been? Let me know in the comments.

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