Las Vegas of the Black Sea
Best Attractions in Batumi
EN
RU
HE
Get all 2022 Tbilisi recommendations for FREE
Travel to Georgia
Written by Reut Gabay
Batumi has become a very attractive destination among travelers from around the world especially during the summer season because of its amazing variety of experiences and activities. On the one hand, Batumi is located on the wonderful Black Sea coast and can suit those who are looking for a summer vacation including some beach time, luxury hotels, great pools, several casinos, special restaurants, night-life scene and sunny weather. Short driving distance from Batumi you can even find a ski resort which operates on most days of the year. Batumi is dedicated for tourists and has undergone extensive upgrading in recent years with extensive construction (too extensive for my taste) on the shoreline with different amazing attractions on every corner throughout the city. Batumi offers a European feel with nice architecture, modern look, wonderful service and fair prices (most of the time).
Here are the best attractions you don't want to miss while visiting Batumi:
Argo Cable Car
The cable car passes over Batumi while the older parts of the city will be exposed beneath you together with all the new and modern construction which took place in recent years. The length of the cable car is 2.5 km (!!!) of pure fun for you and your camera. The cable ends at an observation point about 250 meters above sea level where you can enjoy a woderful view with a nice drink.
Image by tripto.ge
The architecture in Batumi
As you visit Batumi, you can not help but be impressed by the number of unique buildings and beautiful architecture throughout the city. Batumitoday looks a lot different than the way it looked 10 years ago. Massive internal and external investments changed the way the city looks with new modern towers near the coast and a full restoration of Batumi's old town. The government constantly improving all the monuments and sites in the city to attract as many tourists as possible so you won't get bored during the day or night. Some of the buildings have a strange shape or special lighting like never seen before. Two of the most special buildings worth talking about are the revolving wheel building and one of the most beautiful McDonald's branches in the world.
Batumi McDonald's branch has been crowned as the coolest branch in the world. The branch is surrounded by a reflecting pool and is covered with 460 pieces of unique glass that give it its interesting shape. If you thought the outside was cool, wait until you see the inside that will make your jaw fall out. Does anyone want a burger?
Image by commons.wikimedia.org
If you raise your head up, you will see a 35-story building with a giant wheel (scaled down) on the side of the building. The building was built with the aim of serving as a technical university but did not reach the required standard in terms of construction quality. The building is currently inactive and some say it will become a hotel in the future after fixing all technical problems.
Image by hybridtechcar.com
Batumi Boulevard
One of the favorite things travelers love in Batumi is to walk on the boulevard of Batumi next to the seaport. Batumi's boulevard is one of the longest in Europe with a length of about 7 km. The boulevard is wonderfully designed and offers its visitors some nice seating areas, parks, different attractions, lovely shops with snacks or ice cream, many beautiful love statues scattered along the boulevard, an asphalt trail dedicated for bicycles or scooters, and a pedestrian trail with palm trees along the way. The best thing about Batumi's boulevard is the silence, there are no cars around so you can enjoy the sound of the waves and the sea breeze. To get the most out of it, start from Miracle Park which is famous for some of the city's most impressive attractions such as the alphabet tower, the statue of love, the Ferris wheel, and the Cheche Clock Tower (a traditional Georgian alcoholic beverage).
Tip 1 - For those of you who want to explore the entire boulevard, it is recommended to rent a bike/scooter (right on the boulevard) and ride the designated trails.
Tip 2 - Looking for a magical spot? do not forget to visit the Love Bridge on Batumi Pier for a view of the sea, the skyline of the city, and the sunset.
Image by gobatumi.com
Alphabet Tower
An impressive metal tower that is made up of a combination of 2 DNA parts on which the 33 letters of the Georgian language are composed in order to emphasize the significance of the language as part of the people themselves. The size of each letter is over 4 meters. Music is always played around the ground floor of the tower and you can even go up by elevator to the top and get a panoramic view of the area.
Image by forum.dji.com
The Ferris Wheel
It is worth getting on the Ferris wheel both during the day and in the evening after the sunset and enjoy a panoramic view of the city, the beach, and the lighthouse that surrounds the Ferris wheel. During the night, the wheel is full of lights in mesmerizing colors so you will probably find yourself getting there.
Image by travelsofabookpacker.com
Ali & Nini Statue of Love
The unique statue, created in 2010 by the artist Tamara Kvesitadze and consists of 2 figures, rises to a height of 8 meters and tells an interesting love story based on Ali and Nino and written by Kurban Said. The story is about a Muslim Azerbaijan named Ali and a Georgian Christian princess named Nino who fell in love in the years 1918-1920 in the capital city of Azerbaijan named Baku. The families on both sides opposed their love due to the cultural and religious differences between the two. When the couple finally found a way to be together, World War I broke out, and Ali was killed during the Soviet invasion. The statues move towards each other during the day until they become one and then move away again as the story goes.
Image by klook.com
Image by georgianjournal.ge
Chacha Clock Tower
Chacha is a traditional Georgian alcoholic beverage extracted from the grape residues left behind during the wine production process. The purpose of the local government was to create a fountain but instead of using water, they would use chacha to give everyone (locals and tourists) the opportunity to taste the drink. The clock tower rises to a height of about 25 meters and its operating hours vary so that in fact, it is quite difficult to capture the moment that the chacha clock tower fountain in Batumi operates.
Image by he.advisor.travel
Europe Square
The most beautiful square in Batumi when it comes to architecture is European Square. When you reach the square there is a feeling that you are entering a fairytale as a magical atmosphere surrounds you. The architecture in the area is very reminiscent of the architecture in major capitals in Europe while during the evening, the square is full of lights that highlight its beauty(in general Georgians love to illuminate everything with excessive lighting). Great place for lunch or a light meal during the day.
Image by geolivetour.com
Piazza Square
A small and wonderful square in a central location in the city with several cafes, boutique shops, restaurants, and even live music. There is an Italian/Spanish atmosphere around it while the most special part of it is actually the floor beneath your feet. 106 sqm of figure painting mosaic which considered the largest in Europe. Another great location for a lunch break or dinner.
Image by pinterest.com
The Dancing Fountains
When the sun goes down on Batumi, you will find 2 dancing fountains offering a show of stunning lights, rock/pop/classic music, and amazing different fountains. The first one is located in the park in front of the Love Bridge and the second is on Ardagani Lake, about a 30-minute walk from the Love Bridge.
Image by planetparadise.ge
Batumi Botanical Garden
Georgians love botanical gardens and the proof is that you can find one almost in every city. The only difference is that Batumi is home to one of the largest and most impressive gardens in the world, created by Russian botanist Andrey Nikolayevich Krasnov. Batumi botanical garden, officially opened in 1912, is divided into 9 parts featuring plants and vegetation from all over the world and divided by continents. The part we loved the most was the Japanese Garden. The garden is located about 12 km north of the city on a hill from which there is a great view of the Black Sea.
Tip - You can take a golf cart to the end of the gardens to avoid the hill and return by foot.
Image by pinterest.com
Image by afar.com
Batumi Fish Market
The pier of Batumi is full of local fishermen with small boats that go out every morning to fish and provide the consumption of the city. Those small boats in the pier offer fishing tours if you're looking for something different. If fishing is not your thing, you can enter Batumi's fish market and buy fresh fish or seafood that is 100% fresh. If you want, you can even pick your favorite fish at the market and go to a small restaurant next to it that will prepare the fish you bought a moment ago.
Image by Tbel Abuseridze
6th May Park
The park is one of the oldest public parks in Georgia. This is the first public park that was established in Batumi. The park offers a visit to a small zoo, an aquarium, and a dolphinarium (Admission fee applies). The lake in the park is called Nurigeli. A nice place for a morning walk or a picnic in the middle of the day. Do not expect anything too unique in the park as it is a lovely place where you can spend an hour or two if the weather allows it.
Image by mapio.net
Might Interest You
