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A Guide to What Do in Batumi, Georgia
👉 Jump to: Best Things | Food & Drink | Sites & Attractions | Unique
I’m a travel expert who’s extensively explored Georgia and in this guide, I share the best things to do in Batumi.
This seaside city boasts a vibrant atmosphere, delicious food, unique architecture, and much more. It’s one of the best places to visit in Georgia for a unique fusion of new and Old World charms.
This article covers the most popular attractions in Batumi, plus several hidden gems for a variety of interests. Trust me, these are experiences you won’t want to miss! Make sure to also bookmark my guide on where to stay in Batumi.
23 Best Things to Do in Batumi
Batumi Boulevard and Miracle Park
Shops, cafes, and several famous Batumi attractions line this charming pedestrian road.
📍 Google Maps | Website | Hours: open 24 hours | 👉 Recommended Batumi Walking Tour
Batumi Boulevard has to be at the top of this list because nothing else quite matches its charm. The boulevard consists of a park and a 7-km walking path. It’s lined with cafes, restaurants, and recreational sites featuring outdoor ping-pong and pool tables. You’ll also find palm trees and a variety of statues along the boulevard, adding to the cozy, coastal vibes in Batumi.
Miracle Park stands at the northern end of the boulevard and has amusement park attractions including a giant Ferris wheel. Special events often take place here, with booths offering food and souvenirs of all sorts.
The boulevard is just as lively at night as it is during the day, if not more so. It’s the perfect place to go if, like me, you’re a night owl but not much of a clubber (there are several clubs here, though).
👉 Pro Tip: Remote workers will find plenty of cafes and coworking spots in Batumi, including around Batumi Boulevard. This is one of many reasons I recommend Batumi for digital nomads.
Batumi Beach
This rocky beach strewn with multi-colored pebbles is the perfect place to watch the sun go down.
📍 Google Maps | Hours: open 24 hours
The shores here may be rocky but what they lack in softness, they make up for in other aesthetics. The pebbles here at Batumi Beach range in color from rust-hued and sandy yellow to blue-green and more!
You can swim here, but the beaches north and south of the city are a little better for that. There are a few convenient changing and showering stations along the beach, which more remote beaches tend not to have.
Batumi Beach is also a perfect place for a picnic. However, you can’t visit Batumi without sampling Georgian food and wine at its restaurants.
Argo Cable Car and Anuria Mountain
Take in some of the best views of town on this cable car and from its viewpoint.
📍 Google Maps | Website | Hours: 11 am – 8 pm daily | Entrance: ₾ 43 adults, ₾ 29 children 5 – 12
A ride on the Argo Cable Car offers the best views of town hands down. From the lower station near the harbor, cars traverse the 1.5-mile distance to the peak of Anaria Mountain. There’s an observation platform at the top, as well as a restaurant that often hosts Georgian folk dance performances on summer evenings (starting at 8, usually).
The best time to ride the Argo Cable Car is in the evening towards sunset. The sunsets alone make Batumi worth visiting, and each viewing location offers a unique perspective.
📚 Related Reading: 10-Day Georgia Itinerary
The Alphabetic Tower (Alphabet Tower)
This tower is a tribute to the Georgian language and features a fancy restaurant, plus great views of the city.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: +995 514 15 22 55 | Hours: 11 am – 10 pm daily | Entrance: ₾ 20 adults ₾ 5 children 12 and under
The Alphabetic Tower is one of the best places for a special evening in Batumi. The restaurant atop the tower serves fusion cuisine with many modern twists on Georgian favorites (but closes in the winter). There is also a cafe bar on the top floor with fantastic panoramic views of the city.
The letters of the Georgian alphabet lining the tower light up at night. The letters are arranged in a double helix, representing DNA and symbolizing the deep connection Georgians feel with their language. It’s in their blood, so to speak.
Batumi Botanical Garden
This sprawling garden north of Batumi is home to nearly 2,000 different plant species.
📍 Google Maps | Phone:+995 422 27 00 33 | Website | Hours: 7 am – 11 pm Mon-Fri; 7 am – 8 pm Sat; 10 am – 6 pm Sun | Entrance: ₾ 25 | 👉 Botanical Garden & Mtirala Mountain Tour
Batumi Botanical Garden stands just north of the city and features plant life from across the world. There are over 1900 species, though the collection focuses less on flowers and more on trees. This garden is also one of the largest botanical gardens in the former Soviet bloc, spanning over 266 acres. It’s a great place to get views of town from a distance.
There are designated picnic and camping sites on the grounds. This is a great option in the summer months when the city gets crowded with peak season tourists.
Batumi Archaeological Museum
Trace the history of Batumi from the Stone Age to modern times at this museum.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: +995 577 54 10 30 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 6 pm daily | Entrance: ₾ 6 self-guided tour, ₾ 15 guided tour, ₾ 10 per person group tour
⚠️ Closure Note: Batumi Archaeological Museum is temporarily closed until further notice.
This archaeological museum houses a vast collection of artifacts, from Stone Age tools to intricate golden jewelry and more. Batumi first “boomed” in the Bronze Age due to trade relations with ancient Greece. It’s believed that the abundant gold and the local practice of sifting gold through sheepskins led to the myth of the Golden Fleece.
Food & Drink
Georgian Food and Wine
Drink plenty of wine and deep-six your appetite with this battleship of cheesy, buttery goodness!
Adjara (the region around Batumi) honors its maritime heritage with this local twist on the staple khachapuri (cheese bread). This boat-shaped bowl of bread contains a lake of molten cheese topped with a cracked egg and a slab of butter — yum! Most restaurant menus include Adjarian khachapuri along with other Georgian food favorites. Make sure to come hungry.
Batumi also has many places to sample Georgia’s famous wines. There’s always good wine to be had, even if Adjara is not as famous as regions such as Kakheti when it comes to winemaking. Wine tours offer the best intro to Georgian wine, especially because Georgia does not use the same naming system for its wines as the rest of Europe.
Batumi Old Town
Narrow stone streets and cozy cafes recall the old times before Batumi boomed into the resort city it is today.
A walk through Old Town is one of the best free things to do while visiting Batumi. The narrow, cobblestone streets offer a different atmosphere from the massive steel skyscrapers and posh, luxury hotels elsewhere.
Many of these streets have tons of great restaurants and bars, as well as gift shops. You can even tap into the slowly growing Georgian craft beer scene at some establishments.
Old Batumi is also home to many historical buildings such as the Batumi Synagogue and the Batumi Central Mosque. The Adjara Art Museum is another highlight, featuring art and artifacts from all eras of Batumi’s long history.
Batumi Bazaar (Batumi Central Market)
This bazaar is one of the best places in Batumi to find fresh local produce and much more.
📍 Google Maps | Hours: 7 am – 6 pm daily
A visit to Batumi Bazaar is a must for anyone who loves fresh fruit and vegetables. Local farmers bring their wares here that, despite recent inflation, are still much cheaper than prices in the US or Europe. You can get 100% organic produce here dirt cheap (excuse the pun).
Adjara, the region in which Batumi is located, is also the prime location for citrus in Georgia, especially mandarin oranges. You can also find homemade versions of Georgia’s unique condiments such as tkemali, a savory plum sauce, and adjika, a spicy pepper paste. Trust me when I say the homemade stuff is way better (and spicier!) than the store-bought variety.
Batumi Fish Market
Get the best of what the Black Sea has to offer at Batumi’s famous fish market.
📍 Google Maps | Hours: 10 am – 10 pm Mon-Fri; 9 am – 12 am Sat; 10 am – 12 am Sun
The fish market in Batumi is a great place to sample some of the freshest catches from the Black Sea. You don’t need your own cooking facilities, either. The market includes a “restaurant” section where workers will fry up your selection for you. There’s plenty of seating including a small pier jutting out into the ocean.
👉 Local Tip: Georgians often pair fish with beer, even if wine is the culture’s favored libation. The selection is often limited to lagers and pilsners, but they tend to be distinctly better than American macrobrews. There are unique soda flavors in Georgia, too, such as pear or tarragon!
Batumi McDonald’s
This is quite possibly the world’s most architecturally unique McDonald’s.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: +995 422 24 70 76 | Hours: 9 am – 12 am daily
McDonald’s isn’t something we often associate with words like “unique” or “original.” Batumi, though, combines opposites, with this futuristic fast food establishment made of glass and steel.
Add in a few reflecting pools around the building and you have something that looks much more sophisticated than any other McDonald’s. It’s worth taking a look at, even if you don’t intend to get anything. Coming here is also a good idea if traveling with kids (or adults) who want something a little more familiar for lunch.
Sites & Attractions
Europe Square
An eclectic collection of monuments, new buildings, and ancient stories makes Europe Square the center of town.
📍 Google Maps | 👉 Book a Batumi Walking Tour
Europe Square is to Batumi what Times Square is to New York City. It stands at the heart of the downtown area, bustles with activity, and hosts festivities on major holidays.
There are several famous monuments here, too. The Medea Statue pays tribute to Medea, the princess of Colchis (ancient western Georgia). She helped Jason and the Argonauts win the Golden Fleece in the ancient Greek myth that bears their name.
The dancing fountain is a great place to cool off in the summer. The Astronomical Clock tells not only the time, but also the location of the moon and the sun.
Batumi Cathedral
This rare example of Gothic architecture in the Caucasus Mountains serves as the main Orthodox church in the city.
📍 Google Maps | Website | Hours: 8:30 am – 7 pm daily
No trip to Georgia would be complete without hearing the unique polyphonic sacred music traditions in person. The best place for this is the Batumi Cathedral. Services are held around 5 pm on Saturday and on Sunday at 9 am.
The church once served as a place of worship for local Roman Catholic immigrants (hence the Gothic architecture). Upon coming to power, the Soviets closed the church, using it instead as a laboratory. The local Catholic population dwindled over the decades and the church was transferred to the Georgian Orthodox Church after the fall of the Soviet Union.
Dancing Fountains
Admire these urban attractions around town and catch a free evening show near Batumi Boulevard.
📍 Google Maps | Website | Hours: open 24 hours, “performances” run from 9 pm to 2 am
There are several dancing fountains across town, but the ones near Batumi Boulevard are easily the best. The fountains synchronize with classical music and colored lights at night, offering a lively, free performance. There is also an X-shaped bridge that you can cross mid-show if you feel so inclined.
Ardagani Lake
This is a stellar place to take in local landmarks and impressive skyscrapers, especially after dark.
Ardagani Lake is one of the best places to go at night in Batumi. Restaurants and luxury hotels line the shores and light up in a variety of colors. The conspicuous cylindrical tower of the Batumi Public Service Hall is another local landmark and a vital place to visit if you’re in Batumi as a digital nomad.
There’s another set of dancing fountains in the middle of the lake, playing music and even projected movies in the summer.
Roman Fortress at Gonio
This fortress just south of the city serves as a testimony to the time when Rome ruled the Black Sea Coast.
📍 Google Maps | Website | Hours: 10 am – 5 pm Mon-Fri; 10 am – 6 pm Sat & Sun | Entrance: ₾ 15 | 👉 Gonio Fortress & Waterfall Tour
This fortress near the Turkish border has stood since the days of the first caesars. Many of the walls are still intact and a visit here is a must for history buffs. A shrine in the center of the courtyard marks the place where, according to tradition, Matthias, one of the Twelve Apostles, is buried.
Gonio is also worth visiting for its beaches if old stone forts aren’t your thing. They tend to be less crowded than the beaches in Batumi and are sandy instead of rocky.
Unique Landmarks
Batumi Piazza
This classy square offers a little taste of Italy in Georgia.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: +995 322 60 15 37 | Hours: open 24 hours | 👉 Recommended Batumi Walking Tour
Batumi Piazza was designed as a tribute to Italian piazzas. Several restaurants and cafes line the edges of the square, offering delicious food and drinks. Live music events often take place here, especially in the summer. Its location near the Old Batumi area also makes it one of the best places to stay in Batumi for overall convenience.
Ali and Nino Statues
This tribute to a tragic love story is one of the most famous attractions in Batumi.
📍 Google Maps | 👉 Book Suggested Batumi Walking Tour
These moving statues depict the main characters of Kurban Said’s novel Ali and Nino. The story is a sort of Romeo and Juliet, set in the Caucasus. An Azeri man, Ali, falls for a Georgian woman, Nino, but their love is forbidden due to hostilities between their respective nations. The Ali and Nino statues portray this tragic tale by coming together, yet passing through each other.
Chacha Tower
This tower once flowed with Georgia’s trademark distilled spirit and now stands as a unique landmark.
Chacha Tower stands near the Batumi harbor and was intended to have a chacha fountain. Chacha is the Georgian national spirit, a grape-based distilled beverage ranging from 40-60% alcohol (and sometimes stronger!).
The plan has since gone by the wayside which, as you can imagine, is probably for the best. But there are plenty of bars and restaurants to sample chacha at. The tower may seem a little disused at the moment but it’s still worth a look, even if in passing.
Batumi Octopus and Soviet Mosaics
Get a glimpse of Batumi’s rich heritage and history from the many mosaics around town.
Georgians have a knack for vibrant, unique art, so going on a mosaic scavenger hunt is one of the best free activities in Batumi. The Batumi Octopus (pictured above) is the most distinctive by far. The Batumi Piazza also has fine mosaics.
There are more mosaics near the Batumi Dolphinarium, as well as near the lower cable car station at the harbor. These are just a few suggestions to get you going on the hunt, though.
Batumi Summer Theatre
This remarkable wooden theater hosts plays and dance performances in the summer months.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: +995 422 29 45 24 | Hours: varies by performance | Entrance: contact for ticket prices
Georgians are a deeply artistic people and their flourishing theater programs bear witness to this. This stunning wooden theater sees many events in the summer months. It’s worth seeing even in the off-season for its architectural beauty alone. The Batumi Summer Theatre is a stone’s throw away from the Batumi Boulevard Dancing Fountains.
St. Nicholas Church
This small, but beautiful example of Byzantine architecture stands right next to the Piazza.
📍 Google Maps | Hours: 10 am – 5:30 pm Mon – Fri; 10 am – 6 pm Sat; 9 am – 5:30 pm Sun
This small, but stunning church was built in the Byzantine fashion in 1865 and was a place of worship for Batumi’s Greek population. Its initial congregation dispersed during Soviet times due to persecution, similar to that of Batumi Cathedral. The interior displays a stunning combination of Byzantine and Georgian sacred art traditions.
👉 Local Tip: Greek, Russian, and Georgian Orthodoxy are the same faith. The only differences lie in aesthetics and administration. Georgia’s neighboring nation of Armenia, however, belongs to a superficially similar, but doctrinally different group that split from the main body of Orthodox Churches in the 5th century.
Batumi Tower
This is one of the most prominent examples of Batumi’s unique collection of modern architecture.
You can’t miss Batumi Tower, a prominent part of the local skyline. It was intended to house Batumi’s Technical University but that plan has since gone by the wayside. Other investors planned to put a hotel in the tower. Their plans didn’t work out, either.
Still, it’s a memorable sight and an easy landmark to help you navigate around town. And, yes, that is a Ferris wheel (or at least would have been) adorning the face of the tower.
👉 Want to get outside the city for a day? Check out my guide to the best day trips from Batumi.
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Thanks for reading my guide on things to do in Batumi! Next, check out our article on the best things to do in Georgia.
