What to do in Batumi: 27 essentials

Updated: April 3, 2024

All the most interesting things to do in Batumi, with tips on where to eat and security so you can enjoy this city on the Black Sea.

Batumi is the capital of the Ajaria region, the second most populated city and the third largest in Georgia, where the country's Constitutional Court has operated since 2007.

There is the main Georgian port on the Black Sea and it is one of the Favorite destinations for locals to take a dip in the summer.

On the other hand, it is a destination highly appreciated by Russians who spend their summers and live there.

In addition, Turks are other of the most frequent visitors, first due to proximity and second as destination to visit its casinos, something that is prohibited in Türkiye.

Hence, Batumi, or Batum for the Turks, is known as Black Sea Las Vegas.

Honestly, this last point was what caused me a bit of rejection and little desire to visit Batumi.

However, there were other aspects that made me curious and I have to tell you that even if you don't like going to casinos (like me) This fantastic city has a lot to offer.

I tell you the main places to visit and as always I mark them on the map that you will find below, including some restaurants.

If you have little time and do not want to read the entire article, I recommend this tour of Batumi, book it here, which take you to see the most emblematic places in the city.

A little history

Batumi was part of Colchis (Colchis in English), a former greek colony which existed from the 13th century BC to the 1st century BC

Colchis in Greek mythology was the place where the Argonauts arrived, home of Medea and the Golden Fleece.

At that time the city was called Bathus or Bathys, which It derives from Greek and means "deep water port."

Later, it belonged to the Byzantine Empire, then the Ottoman Empire, the Russian Empire and finally the Soviet Union.

In 1991, with the collapse of the former USSR, Georgia achieved its independence with Batumi as the main coastal city on the Black Sea and summer destination, an honor that the city of Sukhumi had during the Soviet period.

However, since the fall of the Soviet Union, Sukhumi is the capital of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia, recognized by only four countries.

In the eyes of the rest of the world it is part of Georgian territory occupied by the Russians.

Since 2010, a lot of investment has been made in Batumi with the construction of modern buildings and the restoration of old ones.

What to do in Batumi?

1. Boulevard

Batumi Boulevard connects the city with the coast on the Black Sea and it is the main place for relaxation, recreation and meeting.

The meaning of the word boulevard, or in French boulevard, is a wide street or tree-lined avenue, although in Batumi it is much more than that.

The beginnings of the Batumi Boulevard They are attributed to the French gardener Michael D'Alfons when in 1885 he was assigned the task of designing the boulevard in the French style.

Nowadays, a 7 km long boulevard where you will find a statue of the famous gardener sitting at a table with a satisfied smile (marked on the map at the end of the article 📷).

A highly appreciated character, known as the “gentle genius” of Batumi.

The walk along the Batumi boulevard is a real joy, it is a huge green space with some buildings, sculptures and next to the beach.

A visit that you cannot miss if you want to disconnect and enjoy one of the most beautiful areas of Batumi.

It is also a popular place for running and cycling where you will find many interesting things to see.

If you go to Batumi and don't want to complicate things, a good alternative is to visit the city with this link excursion that take you to the most beautiful places, including the Boulevard.

You can check the availability and book here below:

2. Ali and Nino

Ali and Nino are a symbol of the city of Batumi and love.

Is about two steel sculptures 8 meters high and weighing a total of 7 tons.

The work belongs to the Georgian artist Tamar Kvesitadze, initially it was called "Man and Woman".

The current name "Ali and Nino" was given when they decided to settle in Batumi.

Ali and Nino are the central characters of Kurban Said's book, which tells the love story between Ali, a young Azerbaijani man, and Nino, a Georgian princess.

The statues are located in a key location by the sea, in addition They move until they merge into what looks like a kiss. and they walk away again.

The complete revolution takes about 10 minutes and the shine of the metal makes it completely hypnotic.

3.- Ferris wheel

This great 55 m high ferris wheel installed next to the bay and appears on most postcards of the city.

At night it becomes more beautiful when it lights up and from afar it looks like fireworks.

• Opening Hours: 9 a.m. to 1 a.m.
• Price: 3 lari

4. Chacha Tower

The Chacha tower was built with the idea of it being an emblem of the city.

Although it looks like an old tower, it is a construction from 2012 in similarity to the Izmir Clock Tower in Türkiye.

In March 2012 it was inaugurated in a ceremony led by the Prime Minister, where the its sources from which free chacha flowed.

Chacha is a Georgian liquor that is very elaborately similar to Spanish pomace, but with a alcohol content similar to absinthe that can exceed 70 and 80 degrees.

Although the fountain worked every day for only 10 minutes. Can you imagine the chaos that giving chacha would cause? 😂

The tourist office also functioned in the tower; today the tower is closed and the fountain, as expected, no longer works.

Likewise, it is a beautiful tower to see.

– Views from the Tower

Furthermore, on one of the sides you can access the stairs and go up to its modest 25m high to have views of the surroundings.

Of course, I have to warn you that it is not suitable for sensitive stomachs. Since the tower is abandoned, apparently they use it as a toilet and not exactly for urinating. 💩

5.- Batumi Lighthouse (lighthouse)

This little lighthouse is a historic building built in 1863.

With its light, reaches 14 nautical miles (more than 25 km) has illuminated the entrance to ships for more than 150 years.

6.- Alphabet Tower

The Alphabet Tower is one of the most unique pieces of architecture in the city.

Is a 130 m high metal tower with a spiral on the outside representing human DNA.

Above the spiral is the Georgian alphabet to symbolize that It is found in the DNA of the Georgian people.

There is a television studio for a local channel.

Although, the most interesting thing about the tower are the 360 degree views from your observatory and restaurant, which can be accessed by an elevator that goes up the central part.

• Opening Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Price to go up: 20 lari (7.09 euros)

7.- Summer theater

The Batumi Summer Theater is one of the most striking buildings on the boulevard, built between 1948 and 1949 in wood without any nails and delicately ornamented.

Although fire destroyed it in 1998 and it was rebuilt in 2013.

This building is a true marvel that is worth contemplating.

In summer you can see some of their shows, and other shows and concerts are held outside.

8.- Batumi Octopus

The Batumi Octopus is one of the most impressive sculptures in the city and one of the best things to see in Batumi.

It is an immense Octopus-shaped mosaic from Soviet times.

Was built in 1975 with a cafe and ice cream parlor called "Fantasía" that operated in the part where the octopus's head is.

Today it is still a meeting point for locals.

I have to confess that I didn't expect much from the octopus, sometimes the photos don't do the places justice and it was one of the things I liked most about Batumi.

📸 If you are interested in Soviet mosaics, another of the most beautiful in Batumi is next to the Dolphinarium. It is a wall with mosaics on each side with themes related to dolphins, they are from the year 1974 and they are well preserved. I leave the exact place marked on the map below.

9.- Dancing Fountains

The dancing fountains are a water and light show accompanied by classical music and some more fun pieces of music.

This source It runs every day during the summer, from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m..

The rest of the year it is an immense artificial lake with ducks and other waterfowl.

10.- Flip-flops on eggs

Along the entire Batumi boulevard you will find many interesting sculptures.

Flip flops on eggs is one of the most unique on the walk with a point of grace.

Just as the name says, they are large Havaiana-type flip flops on eggs.

I have to clarify that they are a little far from the center, but They will be passing by if you go to see the planes of the next point.

11.- See the planes land

There are a few places in the world where see the planes passing by at a short distance just before landing, one of them is the Batumi coast.

It is a very popular place among locals and foreigners to Take a photo with the arriving planes.

Although I have to warn you that Batumi is a small city and, therefore, flights are not that frequent.

I recommend you to Before you go there, look at the flight schedules on the website of the same airport, here you have the arrivals link.

I went there by bike, but I spent too much time somewhere else and when the plane passed I was only 600 meters away from reaching the point.

The bad thing is that the next plane arrived 2 hours later and I couldn't stay anymore.

The place is almost 7 km from Ali and NinoExcept for a short stretch that is under construction, the walk along the beach is pleasant.

If you don't want to walk that much I recommend you go with a Bolt that will charge you about 3 lari or rent a bike that you can make stops in other places that I mention in the article.

12. Bike Ride

A good option to explore Batumi Boulevard and enjoy all its corners It is done by bicycle, which is very enjoyable, and there is also a bike lane.

On the same boulevard there is companies specialized in renting bikes to tourists and other less tiring alternatives such as electric cars.

My favorite is rent bikes from BatumVelo, is a very popular bike rental company among locals because it is very cheap.

The price of using the bikes is 0.08 lari per minute. That is, you can use a bike for an hour for only 4.8 lari (1.70 euros) and to rent it you will need to download the application and register.

👍 Friend's tip: when returning the bike, you have to anchor it manually, lowering the lever under the saddle (photo below), otherwise they will continue to charge you like what happened to me. 😅 Then, verify that the bike was returned in the application.

13. Batumi Beaches

Batumi's beaches are one of its main attractions, regardless of what time of year you go.

In summer, it is the most popular place for Georgians to go to cool off on its coasts bathed by the Black Sea.

At night the bars liven up the atmosphere with good music where you can have a few drinks and have fun.

The rest of the year, Batumi beach is a haven of tranquility where you can relax.

It's also a great place to go to see the sunsets and hopefully some dolphins jumping.

Important: the vast majority of Batumi beaches have pebbles, if you want to walk and swim I recommend taking some water shoes like the ones in the link.

14. Views from a terrace (sky bar)

Batumi has many restaurants and bars with terraces from where you can enjoy views of the city or a sunset.

Some of them are found in hotels with access for anyone, you don't need to stay there.

My favorite is the sky bar at the Radisson Hotel on the 18th floor and it is called Clouds Bar & Restaurant, it is not exactly the highest, but it has 360 degree views.

Another interesting thing is its open terrace where you can take photos without the reflection in the crystals that you would have inside.

There you can have a beer or a coffee, it's A little more expensive than other places in the city, but the views are worth it.

It also has a fairly extensive menu, mainly with Asian food at a reasonable price.

They don't have a dress code, but it's better that you don't even wear very beachy or sports clothing, with casual clothing It's enough.

Another restaurant with a view very popular is the 360 Sky Bar at the Sheraton, although a little more expensive.

Then as an alternative there is the Kartuli Hotel which has its terrace at much higher height. But I haven't tried it because it has bad reviews on Google Maps for its bad service.

15. Batumi University of Technology

Batumi is a quite eclectic city with a mix of old buildings, modern buildings that look old, and other very curious super-modern ones.

One of the most interesting modern buildings in Batumi is the Technological University, which is known as Batumi Tower.

This is the tallest skyscraper in the city and Georgia, with its 35 floors and 200 m high.

A building draws a lot of attention for the small golden ferris wheel on the upper floors.

The university never opened there. and the building is empty waiting for an investor to perhaps one day transform it into a hotel.

16. Batumi McDonald's

Don't be scared by this subtitle, I am not going to recommend going to eat at this fast food chain. 😅

If you are interested in curious and modern buildings, in Batumi even McDonald's has a super modern building, it is the one on Sherif Khimshiashvili Street.

It's a glass building shaped like a spaceship and with a sloping interior garden on the upper terrace.

The good thing about it being a fast food restaurant is that you can go in and browse without consuming.

17. Cable car

The Batumi Cable Car (Argo Cable Car) is one of the main attractions of the city, with its station between the old town and the port area.

The arrival station is at Anuria mountain, 250 m tall, with fabulous views over the city and the Black Sea.

The line has a total of 2586 m long and it takes about 10 minutes to walk, making it a quite pleasant walk.

At the top there is a souvenir shop and a restaurant that in summer usually has Georgian traditional dance performances on his terrace.

I think that the price is expensive for Georgia, 30 lari, for example in Tbilisi the cable cars cost 1 or 2 lari, Kutaisi 1 lari and in Chiatura only 0.5 lari.

The only thing that can justify the price is the long distance it takes, and it is also exclusively for tourists instead of a means of public transportation.

A cheaper alternative is to go visit the Sameba Cathedral, which is higher up.

You can get there with a Bolt paying between 7 to 10 lari, negotiate to bring you back if not you may have to walk.

On the map at the end of the article, I have marked the cable car stations below and above, as well as the Cathedral.

• Opening Hours: 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
• Price: 30 lari (10.64 euros)

18. Europe Square

Batumi's Europe Square is a meeting point of the city and where concerts, festivals, the Christmas market and other events are held.

They concentrate on it old, modern and some old-style buildings Who knows if they really are or just seem that way.

The most notable thing about the square is:

1. Statue of Medea: Medea was the daughter of the king of Colchis and in Greek mythology she is the one who gives Jason the golden fleece that this statue holds. The Golden Fleece is today a symbol of Georgian prosperity. It is a sculpture by the Georgian artist David Khmaladze from 2007.
2. Astronomical Clock Tower: This tower belongs to the building that was the National Bank. He building is from the 19th century, but the Astronomical clock was installed in 2010. This fabulous clock shows the time and various astronomical events such as the moon phase, sunrise and sunset. The watch was made in Germany inspired by the Prague astronomical clock.

19. Coffeetopia Batumi

Coffeetopia is the most beautiful cafe in Batumi, with exquisite ornamentation on the walls and ceiling made of plaster.

But like many things in Batumi, it is not original, but It was built imitating the famous Leila cafe in Tbilisi.

Likewise, it is worth stopping by to have a drink there, especially if you like coffee.

Even though the cafe's prices are higher than other places in the city.

As far as tea is concerned it is rather average.

But They have a wide selection of coffees and different brewing options (chemex, French, cold brew or Turkish).

20. Batumi Theater and Neptune Statue

Another of the squares that attracts attention is the one in front of the Batumi Drama Theater, with its low labyrinth-shaped hedges and the fountain in the center.

At the top of the fountain is the statue of Neptune plated in gold and four mermaids surround him below.

As it could not be otherwise, the fountain built in 2011 is a replica, the original is the Fountain of Neptune from the 16th century, which is in Bologna, Italy.

Be careful, although in the article I mention places that are replicas, but they are all done with good taste and I mention them because I think they are worth seeing.

By the way, if you go up to the Radisson's sky bar you will have beautiful views of the square from above.

21. Apollo Cinema

The Apollo cinema is another of the Batumi's most iconic buildings with their art deco facade which opened its doors in 1910.

The current building is a rehabilitation of how it originally looked and is the only operating cinema in the city with screening of films in Georgian and original language.

If you feel like watching a movie, I'll tell you that on Wednesdays they have discounts with tickets for 5 lari (1.74 euros) and Thursdays are the day of the premieres.

22. Church of St. Nicholas

The church of San Nicolás is one of the oldest and most beautiful religious buildings in the city.

Originally, It was built as a Catholic church from the year 1865.

It was the Greek community living in Batumi that requested authorization from the sultan, who agreed in exchange that the bells would never be rung.

At the moment, functions as an orthodox church with services in Georgian and Russian.

The whole building It attracts attention with its dome and bell tower.

Then, inside, the frescoes on the ceiling, just like the 3 icons of the Virgin Mary, Saint Nicholas and Saint George, gifted in the 20th century by the Greeks of the island of Chios.

Outside, where the sidewalk is, be sure to admire the two mosaics with Saint Nicholas, one on the left side of the entrance and another in the corner.

23. Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary

The Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary is part of the historical and artistic heritage of the city.

Was built in 1898 during the Russian Empire as a Catholic church financed by donations from the believers themselves.

During the Soviet Union It functioned as an archive and then as a high voltage laboratory for power supply testing.

In 1989 it passed into the hands of the Georgian Orthodox Church., consecrated by the patriarch, who also officiated 5,000 baptisms there that day.

– What to see there?

The cathedral is quite striking, it is neo-gothic style with two large towers at the main entrance with statues of saints.

The building is made of white stone and with rich red stone ornamentation which with different climatic conditions seems to change color giving it greater mysticism.

Inside, the frescoes on the ceiling of the coronation of the Holy Mother and that of the Twelve Apostles.

Other of the most significant paintings are those of the life and passion of Christ.

Finally, don't stop appreciating its beautiful and colorful stained glass, something unusual in Georgian churches.

If you can, visit it on a sunny day so that they look even more beautiful, the day I went it was almost dusk and they lost a lot of their charm.

24. Batumi Central Mosque

The name of this mosque is Orta Jame and it was built during the Ottoman period in 1866.

In this mosque what draws the most attention is its golden dome, white minaret and ornaments carved into the wood of the doors and windows.

At night the mosque is illuminated, giving it a unique appearance.

– mosque interior

The interior is very simple.

If you go in you will find a patio, to the right is the ablution area, that is, the washing that Islamists do before praying.

Then on the right side there is two entrance doors to the mosque, the main one is where men enter. To the right of that door there is another smaller one where women enter.

As soon as you enter you will have to take off your shoes to be able to access the large room where they pray.

25. Batumi Piazza

This square full of restaurants and bars is the meeting point for local people and tourists when night falls, especially in summer, where there are also outdoor concerts.

The square is surrounded by beautiful buildings built in the likeness of some Italian squares, hence the name Square.

One of the most notable buildings is the clock tower.

Then, in the center of the square, don't miss to admire the largest marble mosaic in Europe, with marble that was brought from 15 different countries.

The mosaic represents the movement of the sea with its waves and in the center they are the goddesses of the sea with different colored clothes that reflect the character of each one.

In the photo below you can't see how beautiful it is.

26. Fish Market

Batumi is the main port of Georgia on the Black Sea and its fish market is where it arrives. all the catch of the day, in addition to the fish that is imported.

In the market you will find a wide variety of super fresh fish and seafood to take them to cook or as an alternative You can buy it and have it cooked for you in one of the restaurants which are next to the market.

The option of buying fish at the market and then going to a restaurant should be the cheapest, but If you don't speak Georgian or Russian, they will most likely try to scam you. like it happened to me.

My recommendation is that you go eat at one of the restaurants next to the market, they all have similar prices.

I went to Fishlandia, which has an extensive menu and had been recommended to me by local people.

The fish usually comes accompanied by some vegetables and They give you options of how you want it cooked (grilled or fried). Mine was delicious. 😋

To get there you can take bus 10 or marshrutka 31 that stop in front of the cable car station.

27. Botanical Garden

The Batumi Botanical Garden is one of the largest and richest in terms of flora in the world, Therefore, if you have time I recommend you visit it.

Although it is outside the city, located about 9 km, you can easily get there with bus 10 or marshrutka 31 that leave you right at the door.

The Botanical Garden It covers almost 108 hectares, it is divided into 22 areas with flora from 9 areas of the world well differentiated.

Furthermore, they have exotic species, an exclusive area of rose bushes and another with immense bamboos.

In the garden there is 12 routes including 3 hiking routes, the longest are 3 km long, but if you link routes you can spend an entire morning or afternoon walking there.

One of the biggest attractions of this great park is that It is on a mountain next to the coast, with some cliff areas where there are viewpoints towards the Black Sea.

From other viewpoints you can spot Batumi in the distance.

To get there you can do it with the same buses that pass through the train station, numbers 10 and 31.

• Price of admission: 20 lari (7.03 euros)
• Opening Hours: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Batumi Map

* To check the legend for each place, click the button in the top left corner of the map. To view this map on your phone or computer, tap the star on the right side of the title. Then go to Google Maps, select "Your Places" and "Maps" from the menu.

When to visit Batumi?

Most tourists visit Batumi in summer for its beaches. But I warn you that it is a time that can be very overwhelming due to the amount of people there are and the traffic.

From my point of view, both spring and autumn are the best times to visit the city.

Although you may not be able to do the part about bathing on its beaches, unless you are one of the brave ones who bathe even when it is cold.

But if you are looking for tranquility by the sea, like this and its lush green areas, it is best to avoid Batumi's peak season in summer.

Is Batumi safe?

Yes, broadly speaking, It's a safe city, even if you are a solo female traveler like me.

- Travel alone

But probably because of the Turkish influence, In Batumi it is normal for women to receive more male attention.

They may stare at you intensely to the point where it's impossible to feel more uncomfortable.

This is a big difference I've noticed with the rest of Georgia, that the same thing isn't happening.

– Taxi drivers and other scams on tourists

Besides, Attempts to scam tourists are more frequent. Well, to tell the truth in Georgia, in the time I have lived, it has not happened to me that they want to scam me, except in Batumi.

Just upon arriving in Batumi a taxi driver tried to scam me, He wanted to charge me 10 times more with the excuse that he didn't speak English well. Furthermore, even though I asked him several times to turn on the taximeter, he didn't do it.

Then, I had another scam attempt at the fishermen's market.

Despite these scam attempts that you may encounter, the city is safe. You just have to be alert.

In general it is good and you will enjoy it a lot.

Where to eat in Batumi?

I have marked all the restaurants on the Google map above.

• Fishlandia: It is next to the fish market and is one of the most recommended to eat fresh fish at a good price.
• Khinkali Ludi: It is a small traditional restaurant that specializes only in khinkali. Their khinkali are the tastiest and are super cheap. Oh, and don't be guided by the look of the restaurant.
• Cafe Adjara: It is a chain of restaurants with Georgian food at a good price, the best is the one on Kutaisi Street.
• Baklava House: If you have a sweet tooth, be sure to visit this baklava paradise. They are specialists in small Turkish dessert made of puff pastry, honey and dried fruits. In addition, they have them at a very good price, 1 large baklava costs 1.8 lari (0.63 euros), they are three times larger than those sold in Tbilisi. They also have other more typical Georgian pastries. Even though I took a photo in the store, the baklava doesn't look too good, I think my brain was only thinking about eating. 😂

😋 In this article you can read more about 9 Traditional Georgian Food Dishes including khinkali and how to eat them.

Where to stay in Batumi?

If you are traveling to Batumi for the first time, I recommend that you stay in the old part of the city or nearby, so you can reach the most interesting places in the city on foot.

These are the best hotels in Batumi for different budgets:

• Cheap: Apartment On Tavdadebuli It is a small, clean and well located apartment.
• Half price: Boulevard Hotel Batumi It is a boutique hotel with modern interiors and an exceptional location.
• Luxury: Radisson Blu Hotel Batumi It has rooms with unbeatable views, a good spa and the outdoor pool is great.

How to get to Batumi?

From Spain

You can reach Batumi directly through its international airport.

Although there are no direct flights from Spain, you will find several European and Turkish airlines that fly with a stopover.

Another alternative is to fly to Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia or Kutaisi. This last city is where there are cheap direct flights with WizzAir from Barcelona and Madrid.

To find cheap flights to Georgia, I recommend this search engine.

⭐ Check out this article for further insights on How to get from Kutaisi Airport to Batumi and other areas of Georgia.

From Batumi Airport to the city

• By Bus: It is bus number 10 that takes you from the airport to the city, it has several stops including where the Argo cable car is, the price is 30 tetris (0.30 lari).
• Transfer: the comfortable alternative is to go with a private transfer at a good price like this one.

From Tbilisi and other places in Georgia

• Train: It is the best alternative to go from Tbilisi to Batumi, because the trains are modern, comfortable and cheap. There are 3 daily trains going and 3 returning trains, in summer they usually add a few more. In this article of How to get from Tbilisi to Batumi You will find all the details of the trains, schedules, prices, where to buy tickets and other transportation alternatives.
• Marshrutka and bus: This is the best alternative to go from other nearby cities, such as from Kutaisi.

How to get around Batumi?

• Driving: The best way to see Georgia is by driving. However, the center of Batumi has very narrow cobblestone streets and in summer it can be torture to drive there with so many cars. To rent a car in Georgia, on this website you will get the cheapest prices.
• Taxi: Avoid them like the plague, as I mentioned above, they are big scammers in Batumi. 😅
• bolt: works like Uber and is the best alternative to order a car. Yes indeed, do not put your bank card in the application and pay in cash, there have been many double charging problems and Bolt washes his hands of it.
• Buses and Marshrutka: It has a good bus network to get around the main places and it costs cheap. To find out the route, use the Yandex map application, it also shows the schedule, but in my experience that is not very reliable.

Final Thoughts

These are the best things to do in Batumi, a city with a lot of charm and varied activities.

If you have any questions, leave me a comment below and if you found the article useful, share it with other fellow travelers. 😘

More about Georgia and the Caucasus

• What to do in Tbilisi: 24 must-visit places.
• 11 Best Tours from Tbilisi
• How to get from Tbilisi to Batumi: all the alternatives
• What to bring to Georgia?
• Soviet architecture in Tbilisi: 16 best buildings and mosaics
• 17 Tips for traveling to Armenia