Batumi central boulevard. New boulevard in Batumi. Catholic Basilica of the Holy Spirit
Batumi Boulevard is a wonderful 7 kilometers of boat trips, harmony, relaxation, inspiration and entertainment. Absolutely everyone comes here: locals and tourists, adults and children, couples and groups of friends, athletes and photographers. Everything around contributes to a wonderful holiday, the entire embankment is dotted with benches, sun loungers and hammocks. In addition to the charming natural beauty of mountain views, combined with the bright greenery of various palm trees and the pleasant sound of the waves, the most popular and favorite sights of the city are collected on the boulevard. Statues of Ali and Nino, singing fountains, sculptures with hearts, the Alphabet Tower can rightfully be called the hallmarks of Batumi. Images of these places are on all Batumi souvenirs, advertisements and booklets. They, as a part of a beautiful, hospitable and unforgettable city, are taken home by happy tourists to different parts of the world in order to return again without fail. They take them away with them, leaving a piece of their soul in the warm city.
Information and historical reference
The appearance of the boulevard has changed and improved for more than 100 years. Since 1884, the talented and famous French gardener-decorator Mikhail D'Alphonse has been working on the project, in whose memory a bronze monument was erected on the boulevard. Year after year, the embankment changed. In 1934, for a beautiful access to the sea, a Greek-style colonnade was built.
In 1977, thanks to the architect Erkomaishvili, the first musical fountains appeared. Since 2009, everyone's favorite dancing fountains have been operating on Lake Ardagani. In 2011, Spanish architects pleasantly surprised us with their modern and extraordinary New Boulevard project.
wonder park
The Miracle Park is located at the beginning of the boulevard and covers such interesting sights as the statue of Ali and Nino, the Georgian Alphabet Tower, the Ferris wheel and the lighthouse. The park has a large area where young people ride bicycles, skateboards and rollerblades. Large-scale concerts and exhibitions are held on this square in the summer. Thanks to the magnificent illumination and lighting at night, the entire park is transformed and plays with colorful lights.
is a Batumi masterpiece of modern art. Since 2011, anyone who has been to Batumi at least once could not help but be interested in the statue of Ali and Nino in love. The heroes of the novel of the same name, Muslim-Azerbaijani Ali and Christian-Georgian Nino, inspired the Georgian artist-sculptor Tamara Kvesitadze to create this monument. The seven-meter moving statues symbolize eternal love, which blurs the lines between religions, contradictions, distances, differences and traditions. The figures of a man and a woman approach each other, then merge together and move away. This masterpiece enchants and leaves no one indifferent. Everyone who admires him thinks about something of his own: he rejoices, remembers, hopes, worries, waits, dreams and believes.
alphabet tower was built in the Miracle Park by Spanish architects. It demonstrates and thus has cultural significance. The 130-meter tower is visually very similar to the DNA helix. On the last floor of the tower there is a viewing terrace with a large viewing angle, offering beautiful views of the city, mountains, boulevard and the sea. You can use the elevator (8 GEL) or climb the stairs. In addition to the terrace, there is also a tourist information zone where you can use the services of an online guide and get as much information about Georgia as possible. At the top of the dome, you can relax and eat in the revolving restaurant. The restaurant makes a complete rotation in 60 minutes.
Ferris wheel located next to the Alphabet Tower, riding on it you can see wonderful panoramic views of the coast. A 10-minute trip costing 3 GEL will bring real pleasure and great pictures for memory. At night, the wheel, like the Alphabet Tower, is visible from almost everywhere within the city and beyond. Their bright lights can be seen even from.
Lighthouse is the oldest 20-meter structure in Wonderland Park (1867). In those years, there was no boulevard in this territory yet, the lighthouse towered over the cape, which goes into the sea. The octagonal stone tower still orients sailors with its red light.
PierPier Batumi
There is another meeting place on the hospitable crowded boulevard - the central pier Pier Batumi.
This pier is the longest on the coast, there are cozy cafes on both sides of it, and at the end there is a disco bar. Nearby there are modern attractions for different tastes and ages, a large playground with swings and a couple of boutiques that sell not only things for a beach wardrobe, but also various clothes, bags and shoes. In this large area, you can drink a cup of coffee while enjoying the surf, dance, listen to live music and taste well-cooked fish. Pier Batumi is located near the central musical fountain (GPS 41.656270, 41.633434).
Wedding Palace
Next to the central pier and the musical fountain there is such an amazing building as the Batumi Wedding Palace, which impresses with its architectural sophistication and originality. He entered the 10 most unusual wedding palaces in the world and is the smallest of them. Depending on the flight of fancy, the registry office resembles a shell, a human eye, a dolphin, etc. It fits well into the panorama of a musical fountain and is waiting for lovers around the clock. Tourists should not forget that a marriage concluded in this registry office will be valid only in Georgia.
Batumi is improving not only in tourism, but also does not forget about cultural development. In a small resort town there are enough places where you can appreciate the art:. Since 2013, in the center of the boulevard, not far from the central musical fountain, the renovated Summer Theater began to function, where various theatrical performances and concerts are held. Many years ago, the theater was damaged by a fire, but now it has been restored, respecting its old design. It has always been and will be the pride of the boulevard. The wooden building with interesting architecture has no windows, and its ceiling is originally presented as an imitation of the sky. Here you can get acquainted with both Georgian folklore and modern art.
bird nursery
It's no secret that communication with wildlife has a very positive effect. Such a rare, in the modern world, opportunity provides a zoo, located on the boulevard on the street. Ninoshvili (GPS 41.652456, 41.632495). A small cozy lake with majestic swans, funny pelicans and nimble guinea fowl complements the territory of important peacocks. It is very interesting to watch them, each bird lives its own life. Swans, for example, swim gracefully in pairs, and peacocks busily pace back and forth, waiting for mass attention to unfurl their bright, wonderful tail. There are also several large cages with a variety of noisy parrots. By the way, you can feed the birds.
Fountains
The fountains of Batumi captivate the views of the guests of the boulevard, forcing them to stop and admire the real art. Thanks to the play of water and the light of fountains, night Batumi is transformed by grace and romance. Fountains sing, dance, blink, glow, shimmer, inviting everyone walking on the embankment. In the summer, they gather thousands of spectators.
An older fountain, the so-called color-musical fountain, is located in the middle of the boulevard at the central entrance of the embankment. If you go to it from the side of the city, then you need to head along the street. K. Gamsakhurdia. During the day, the fountain refreshes with coolness, sparkles with sunny splashes, and in the evening it turns into a cozy and sweet fairy tale. Here you can have a good time sitting on a bench, watching pictures of water dance and listening to good music.
The new dancing fountain is located on the street. Sh.Khimshiashvili (GPS 41.641155, 41.613833) and occupies one of the leading places in terms of attendance of tourist attractions. This fountain was installed and equipped by French specialists. It is better to walk along the sea along the boulevard to it. It will take about 30 minutes if you move from the center of the embankment. While walking, you can see many art installations, original monuments, sports grounds, breathe in the sea air or eat ice cream. You can also get there by bus (1, 1a, to the House of Justice).
The dancing fountain delights not only with new technologies and special effects. It is surrounded by a large water area of Lake Ardagani, which mirrors the picture and increases the volume of the ongoing light-water dance. Water constantly changes patterns, intersects, maintains rhythm and musical climax, glows with iridescent color transitions. This fountain is also called the Lights of Evening Batumi and is compared with the best singing fountains in Europe. Musical compositions are selected for every taste and mood: Georgian national motifs, rock, classical, jazz, world pop hits, etc.
The fountain begins its life around 9 pm, depending on the season. And around 10 pm, tourists have the opportunity to see a chic 3D laser show, the canvas of which is water. The program of the show briefly tells with its water sketches about the history of Georgia and Batumi, designs the well-known "Swan Lake" and changes hundreds of different geometric patterns. In the summer, the fountain, without getting tired, pleases vacationers for 3-4 hours in a row.
sports entertainment
Those who love outdoor activities will be delighted with the variety and abundance of sports entertainment on the Batumi embankment. The boulevard has several sandy fields for playing football and volleyball. At the height of the season, you can find rentals of everything your heart desires: bicycles, tandems, scooters, scooters, roller skates, scooters and segways. For the convenience and comfort of the riders, there is a wide red bike path along the boulevard. On summer evenings, there are a lot of people who want to go in for sports and the embankment is seething with endless chaotic movement. This adds to the resort positive and good mood. Bicycle rental prices start from 2 GEL/hour. There are many rental points in all tourist places, but Batumi Velo bikes are more familiar and recognizable here. Their stations are located in different parts of the city, and their Info Center is located at the main entrance of the embankment and operates from morning until late evening. Here you can get free maps of the city, find out about the schedule of concerts and events, get important travel tips and information assistance. By paying 10 GEL for a bike rental card (6 GEL remains on the account), you can ride for your own pleasure without tying yourself to the place of departure and arrival.
By the way, for big fans of cycling and professionals, a trip to Batumi is a good opportunity to participate in mass sports races, which are held almost every week in the summer.
Resting on the boulevard, it is not necessary to spend money to participate in the sports life of the city. Going out to the coast, you can easily find a company for running. Many take places in the shade of coniferous trees for yoga and aerobics. Sports grounds are evenly distributed along the entire embankment, where you can come at any time of the day and give your body useful physical activity. What could be better for health than breathing fresh air, looking at the sea and working out at the same time on simulators?
Restaurants, bars, cafes and clubs
A great evening pastime is definitely an important part of the holiday. And here the boulevard tries to serve its guests. The flow of tourists in the warm season is huge and visitors have completely different tastes. Someone wants to drink wine in a lounge bar by the sea, and someone wants a foamy club party with cool DJs and a pool. Fortunately, the nightlife of Batumi is not boring. It will be difficult for a tourist in a good mood not to go to one of the bars, restaurants or clubs. Walking along the night boulevard, the live sound of musical bands sounds everywhere, every restaurant smells of something very tasty, and clubs beckon with an incendiary beat of new popular tracks. In summer, many waterfront establishments hold concerts and festivals of famous popular singers, musicians and DJs.
Among the popular among tourists are the following clubs:
Mandarin is a beach resort and nightclub. Famous singers, rappers, bands and DJs come here to perform. This club always walks until the morning and does not let its guests fall asleep. GPS 41.656185, 41.641502.
Sector 26 is another beach club that hosts different parties all summer long. The music here will please you with a variety and high-quality mixes of DJs. There is a large swimming pool in the middle of the club. GPS 41.651275, 41.626064.
Soho is a lounge club whose European cuisine is highly praised. There is a relaxation area for daytime relaxation and a private beach. Electronic music is played during weekday nights, and incendiary popular melodies are played on weekends. GPS41.651838, 41.627089
Sun Remo is a large restaurant with excellent sea views and a terrace, located right on the pier. The emphasis of the cuisine here is on fish and meat, which are prepared for guests by excellent specialists in their field. There is always live music in the evening. GPS41.651838, 41.627089
Old Ship is not an ordinary building, but a real ship.
There are two floors, a common room, separate cabins, a summer terrace on the deck and a good assortment of Georgian dishes. GPS 41.656219, 41.635892
Kiramala is a very original upside down restaurant that draws a lot of attention from tourists. Georgian and European cuisine. GPS 41.638365, 41.610366
- a combination of stylish design, high-class live pianist playing and comfort. Delicious and pleasant restaurant. GPS 41.650736, 41.629551
These establishments are located along the boulevard and are within walking distance. The entrance price to the waterfront clubs starts from 10 GEL. In the daytime, noisy establishments calm down and become lounge-relaxation areas with sun loungers, umbrellas and comfortable sofas.
Modern sculptures
The art sculptures of the boulevard are absolutely unique, modern and positive. It should be noted metal structures with hearts scattered along the entire coast in various variations and are a distinctive feature of the boulevard and a favorite place for photography. They have already become a symbol of Batumi and have even taken their niche in printing products. It seems that this city in every possible way sets its guests in a romantic mood and reminds that love rules the world. There are also other popular installations: a huge electronic “@” sign, an unusual couple of lovers kissing on their knees, etc. The modern design of the embankment gives it a bright color and distinguishes it from many other resort embankments.
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The new boulevard in Batumi is another wonder of the world! Incredibly long and divinely beautiful! These are not big words - this is the truth.
The new boulevard arose on the site of the old embankment in Batumi and became the longest embankment in Europe. Its length is 15 km! It starts in the Park of Miracles and stretches beyond the Batumi airport, up to the border with Turkey. The new boulevard is located along the coastline, so from any point on it you will get to the beach.
The construction of the new boulevard began during the presidency of M. Saakashvili, along with other transformations in the city, such as the restoration of the buildings of the old part of Batumi, the launch of the Batumi Velo project, and the development of the city's infrastructure.
Walking along the New Boulevard, all the charm of Batumi nature opens up to your eyes: the gentle sea, mighty mountains, palm trees and an immense amount of beautiful flowers.
Palm trees have been planted on the embankment in Batumi, bike paths, signs, pump rooms and water taps have been made. In summer, shops and ice cream kiosks open. To contemplate the seascape, there are special comfortable stationary sunbeds. In Batumi, the sun sets into the sea, so the sunset is simply unforgettable! If during a walk along the boulevard you want to sit down to rest, there are benches every five meters. Even at the height of the season in the evening there is a free place.
New Boulevard is a favorite place for people leading an active lifestyle. There is running, rollerblading and cycling all year round. Note to single girls: you should look for a handsome Batumi millionaire not in restaurants and casinos, but on Novy Boulevard during a day run. Fields for playing football and basketball were built. Near the central pier of Batumi on New Boulevard there is a cool playground!
The new boulevard in Batumi is decorated with original sculptures.
I would especially like to note the Dancing Fountains on Lake Ardagani! They sing, dance and light up in different colors. Dancing fountains begin their performance after sunset. On the opposite side of the lake from New Boulevard there is a convenient square with benches for contemplating the show of the Dancing Fountains. They work all year round! There are also dancing fountains on the Old Boulevard in the city center; are called the historical fountain of Batumi.
With the most tender feelings, I remember my walks along the New Boulevard in Batumi. In any season, in any weather, walking along the boulevard is interesting.
On a hot summer day, you can ride along New Boulevard with a breeze on a four-seater bike with a roof that will protect you from the sun. The main thing is that it is correct! Check in advance At the height of the summer season, there are many entertainments on the New Boulevard in Batumi. Basically, they are all located in the part of the boulevard that belongs to the city center. There are summer cafes, nightclubs right on the seashore, an amusement park, multi-seat bicycles and children's cars for rent.
In the evening, multi-colored lights are lit, creating an incredibly romantic festive atmosphere! In some places on New Boulevard street musicians play, they are surrounded by young people, couples in love, children are dancing nearby.
In the off-season, New Boulevard is very peaceful. Here someone is jogging, cheerful young mothers are walking with children in strollers, lovers are walking in an embrace ... You feel like a person out of time, independent of circumstances. The heart is overflowing with joy. There is a steady feeling of contentment with oneself and one's own life. I just want to say: “Stop, a moment, you are beautiful!”.
From November to March, snow falls in the mountains and they become even more visible from the New Boulevard.
On rainy evenings, multi-colored lights reflect on the wet pavement of the boulevard, creating a fabulous atmosphere. If the sea is stormy, then its “growl” is heard, but it does not frighten, but bewitches. The most unusual sensations are born in the soul when you stand on the pier during a storm. The wind kicks up big waves that crash against the pier and splash in your face. You feel with all your being how the element rages under your feet. Not a soul around. It is worth closing your eyes, as soon as you dissolve in everything that happens. The feelings that are born at this moment in the soul give an understanding of the fragility of existence and open the door to great wisdom.
I love Batumi...
For myself, I decided that the name “New” boulevard does not come from the time of its construction, but from the fact that every walk along the boulevard is like for the first time, it always seems “new”. You will never get tired of walking along it and it is guaranteed that your mood will always rise.
Batumi Boulevard runs along the beach and the entire central part of the city. It is the most popular holiday destination for both tourists and locals. There are a large number of restaurants, cafes, bars, small retail outlets, attractions, sports grounds, equipped places for recreation (with benches, hammocks, sun loungers) and art objects that are symbols and business cards of Batumi.
To date, the length of Batumi Boulevard is about 7 kilometers.
Along its entire length, the boulevard is planted with flowers, palm trees, shrubs, coniferous trees, bamboo, which makes it a very green and beautiful place. In addition, in addition to the beautiful view of the Black Sea and the mountain peaks on the horizon, which opens from the boulevard, in the evenings you can admire the colorful Batumi sunsets from here.
Old and new Batumi boulevard
Batumi boulevard is often divided into two parts: the old and the new boulevard, although in fact it is a single whole. As a rule, Batumi water park is designated as a conditional border: the boulevard to the south-west of it is called the new one, to the north-east - the old one.
The new boulevard is located in that part of the city, which is designated as New Batumi, it has been actively built up in recent years. The number of catering establishments here is still less than in the area of the old Batumi Boulevard, however, in terms of grooming and ennoblement, the new boulevard is not far behind its counterpart in this. Throughout the boulevard is decorated with flowers, greenery, various sculptures, beautiful illuminated fountains, equipped with children's and sports grounds, as well as a special path for rollerblading and cycling.
As a rule, there are fewer people on the new Batumi Boulevard, the atmosphere is calmer, which makes it suitable for secluded and romantic walks, small picnics, and various sports, such as yoga and gymnastics. In addition, the new boulevard is considered the best place for wedding photo shoots.
Along a large part of the new boulevard, there is also Seaside Park, which contains a large number of famous and popular sculptures among tourists: the inscriptions Where and Liberte, "Slates on eggs", a labyrinth of desires, a playground with figures of famous cartoon characters and many sculptures with hearts.
Story
It is believed that the idea of creating a boulevard in Batumi belongs to Governor Smekalov, it was born almost 150 years ago, and construction began in 1881. Since then, the appearance of Batumi Boulevard has been changing and improving all the time: first, German designers worked on the project, then their work was continued by the French gardener-decorator Mikhail D’Alfons, very beloved and famous here. It is him that the locals consider the founder of the boulevard, so a bronze monument was erected here in his honor.
In 1934, a Greek-style colonnade (also called the Batumi colonnade) was built to decorate the access to the sea, the architect of which is Bogdan Kirakosyan.
In 1977, the laying of the first stone of musical fountains took place, which appeared on Batumi Boulevard thanks to the architect Erkomaishvili. Since 2009, dancing fountains have been operating on Lake Ardagani, striking with their grace and beauty.
Throughout its history, the boulevard has been reconstructed many times: the surface was changed, new sculptures and monuments appeared. Today it is a modern and comfortable platform for walking, dates, meetings, sports and attracts a lot of visitors.
What is on the boulevard
Batumi Boulevard is a place where everyone can find something interesting for themselves, absolutely everyone comes here: local residents and guests of the city, adults and children, couples in love and groups of friends, athletes and photographers.
wonder park
In the north-eastern part of Batumi Boulevard there is Miracle Park, on the territory of which there are a number of famous sights of the city:
- Statue of Ali and Nino is a masterpiece of modern art, representing the figures of two lovers (7 meters high) - a Muslim Azerbaijani Ali and a Christian Georgian Nino, moving towards each other. The sculpture symbolizes love, which blurs the lines between religions, contradictions, distances, differences and traditions.
- alphabet tower is a modern construction that embodies the love of Georgians for their language: over the entire height, which is 130 meters, it is wrapped in ribbons with 33 letters of the Georgian alphabet, resembling DNA. At the top of the tower there is an observation terrace with excellent views of the sea and the city, as well as a revolving restaurant.
- Lighthouse- the oldest building in the park, it was built back in 1863. The lighthouse has an octagonal stone tower and still orients sailors with its red light.
Pier Batumi
The central pier of Batumi is the longest and most visited on the coast. There are cafes and restaurants on both sides of it, and at the end there is a disco bar. Nearby there are various attractions, playground. The pier is a great place to eat with a beautiful view of the sea, dance and listen to live music.
Fountains
Fountains are an integral part of Batumi Boulevard. There are enough of them here. They dance to the music, glow, shimmer, attracting the attention of passers-by, especially at night.
One of the oldest fountains of Batumi Boulevard - color-musical - is located at the main entrance to the embankment. Another, more modern dancing fountain, which is also called the Lights of Evening Batumi, is located on Lake Ardagani. It impresses with its beauty and special effects: the water constantly changes patterns, moves to the rhythm of the music, glows in different colors, and the surface of the lake reflects the picture and increases the volume of the ongoing light-water dance.
sports entertainment
Along the entire Batumi Boulevard there is a wide variety of sports facilities, including: several sandy fields for playing football and volleyball, open areas equipped with exercise equipment, bike rentals, roller skates, scooters, segways and other vehicles.
At any time of the year, but especially in summer, with its proximity to the sea and good equipment, the boulevard attracts a large number of sports fans: people come here to run, ride a bike, do aerobics, gymnastics and yoga, play volleyball and much more.
Colonnade marking the entrance to Batumi Boulevard - panorama on Google Maps
How to get to Batumi Boulevard
Since the boulevard runs along the entire central part of Batumi, it is convenient to get here from almost any part of the city. This can also be done on foot, just moving towards the sea.
From public transport, you can get by buses and fixed-route taxis, for example, passing through the stops "University" or "Service Center for Household Appliances".
If you plan to come by private car, then you can focus on such streets as Rustaveli Avenue, Sheriff Khimshiashvili, Lekha and Maria Kachinsky - they all go along the boulevard.
In addition, you can get to Batumi Boulevard by taxi, especially since their services are very developed in the city. To call a car, you can use, for example, mobile applications of such companies as Yandex.Taxi, Gett, Maxim.
Video: Batumi Boulevard from a bird's eye view
Vladimir Dergachev
The antique colonnades on Primorsky Boulevard, built in 1934 on the Black Sea coast, symbolized the entrance to the Embankment. During their construction, the coastline was much closer, so they harmoniously fit into the seascape. The colonnades are one of the hallmarks of Batumi.
Seaside Park-Boulevard stretches for 8 km along the Batumi beach, consists of five parallel alleys separated by classic lawns. The Batumi seaside park was founded at the beginning of the 20th century on the site of a waste dump, and the coast was unsuitable for recreation. The project of the boulevard was developed by the famous German gardener Ressler, and another famous gardener D'Alfonso brought it to life. The contribution to the improvement of the garden was made by the Georgian gardener-decorator Iason Gordeziani, who took an active part in decorating the London Botanical Garden.
In the park you can relax, visit numerous cafes and clubs, there are also a large number of playgrounds and attractions for children. The famous singing fountains are adopted in the park, there are tennis courts. The park offers a beautiful view of the sea.
Marine Station on Primorsky Boulevard 
The flags of Georgia and Adjara welcome the cruise ships that will call at the port during the summer season 
In the meantime, Batumi fishermen are catching horse mackerel on the pier. Good bite. 
A bike path stretches along the boulevard 
One of the main attractions of the city is the famous city pebble beach "Batumi Beach". Its length is about 5 kilometers with a width of 30 to 55 meters. On the beach with a developed infrastructure, discos are organized in the evenings, where famous foreign DJs work.
Main entrance to the beach pier 
Reminder to be careful when taking a sea bath 
Numerous red hearts remind tourists that the beach season is also a time of love, sometimes short-term. 
Among the sights of Primorsky Boulevard is the seven-meter sculptural group "Ali and Nino". The steel figures remind of the fate of two literary heroes in love, who either separated or reunited with each other, until one day they parted forever - Ali died in the war. The composition of a man and a woman was created by the Georgian sculptor Tamar Kvestidze under the influence of Kurban Said's novel "Ali and Nino". The statues are made of steel and every 10 minutes they begin to move towards each other, and then merge into a single sculpture, pass through each other, and then diverge again. It is most charming to watch this at night. 
At the beginning of May, the sea has not yet warmed up, there are few tourists and bike rental on the boulevard is waiting for its customers. 
Sheraton Batumi***** hotel tower and summer theater in Seaside Park 
Peacock in Seaside Park welcomes visitors 
Small business waiting for tourists 
What to see in Batumi in 1 or 2 days. Routes on the map, coordinates, photo. Major attractions and non-tourist places.
Where to live in Batumi?
Batumi is an ancient city with a long history (it was mentioned by Aristotle and Pliny) and in the Old City history is literally in every brick and in every stone of the cobblestone pavements. In order to fully experience the unique Batumi atmosphere, and in addition, to have a good rest on the beach, which literally “encircles” the historical part of the city, I would recommend renting an apartment or apartments in Batumi for a day - fortunately there is no shortage of them - and at least for a while feel like a local resident.
From myself I can safely recommend these amazing apartments in the very "heart" of old Batumi (Gorgasali street), where we lived for two weeks in September 2018, and also apartments in one of the most beautiful mansions in the city where I stayed for a few days in December of that year.
If you are planning your independent trip to Georgia or just a seaside vacation in Batumi, be sure to check out my selections and here is only the most valuable information from my personal experience of numerous trips to Batumi over the course of several years. In addition, in the article about apartments you will find a detailed story about how Old and New Batumi differ in terms of living, as well as what nuances you need to pay special attention to when looking for and renting an apartment “on the spot”.
What to see in Batumi in 1 day
For the convenience of readers, the article contains scalable maps of walking around Batumi - the numbers of attractions on the map correspond to their numbers in the table of contents and in the article itself. If you are interested in a specific place in Batumi, you can click on the name and immediately go to its description and coordinates.
I suggest starting a walk through the most interesting places of the Old Town of Batumi from a busy intersection Chavchavadze streets And Gogebashvili, where one of the most popular city attractions is located: cable car "Argo". By the way, almost next to its lower station is one of the most suitable places to get acquainted with Georgian and Adjarian (Laz) cuisines: cafe "Samikitno Machakhela".
1. Cableway Batumi "Argo"
The lower station of the cable car is located near the Batumi port on Gogebashvili street. In the old days, a memorial to those who died in the Great Patriotic War was located on this site, but under Saakashvili, on the wave of “de-Sovietization” of Georgia, it was dismantled - however, they promised to restore it in another place. The upper station of the cable car is located on Mount Anuria, from where wonderful views of Batumi, the Black Sea and the Adjarian mountains open up.
The Batumi cable car is equipped with brand new cabins of the Austrian company Doppelmayr, well known to all skiers. There are only nine cabins, each can accommodate up to eight passengers, the total length of the cable car is 2586 meters.
Lower station coordinates: N41.64754, E41.64548.
2. Turkish Quarter and Orta Jame Mosque
Orta Jame Mosque- a material symbol of what, in fact, Adzharia at one time received autonomy as part of Georgia. In general, ethnically Adjarians are the same Georgians who converted to Islam under the influence of the Turks. That is why Mikheil Saakashvili was able to relatively easily return Adzharia "to Georgia" - because there was no tough ethnic confrontation, as in the case of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
The best way to get to the mosque is Kutaisi street from the center of Batumi Old Town. In this case, the minaret sticking into the sky will be visible at the very end of the street, and the city itself will be very similar to something Turkish or Arabic.
Orta Jame mosque coordinates: N41.64871, E41.64383.
A special flavor of this part of Batumi is given by a huge number of Turkish food with doners, lahmajuns, kokorechs and Allah knows what else. In general, Kutaisi street is one of the most picturesque places in the city.
3. Piazza
Piazza- such a pretentious "Italian" place, the result of the restoration of the city, which took place during the time of Saakashvili.
It is very similar to crafts "under Italy" in Las Vegas and Chinese Macau. That is, from afar it seems like it, but close up it looks like a dummy. However, neither this nor the somewhat clumsy name (piazza means “square” in Italian) prevented Piazza from becoming one of the main tourist attractions of the Old Town of Batumi.
Coordinates: N41.6495, E41.64112.
4. Church of St. Nicholas
Church of St. Nicholas very similar to Orthodox churches somewhere in Greece or Cyprus, which is not surprising - it was built 150 years ago by the Pontic Greeks.
It is one of the most beautiful temples in Batumi, the service is conducted in two languages: Georgian and Russian.
Saint Nicholas Church coordinates: N41.65026, E41.64137.
5. Armenian Church of Christ the All-Savior
Two communities - Armenian and Jewish - were registered in Batumi in the 1880s, but the Armenians managed to build their church before the synagogue.
In Soviet times, the church had a planetarium, but with Georgia's independence, it was closed and the church returned to its original functions. Located at the intersection of streets Noah Jordania And Gamsakhurdia, coordinates N41.6497, E41.63911.
6. Batumi circus
If you come to rest in Batumi with children, this place will definitely help you entertain them. Performances usually start at 20:00, in the summer mainly touring troupes perform.
The ticket costs 10 GEL. Address: st. Baratashvili, 23. Coordinates N41.64983, E41.63715.
7. Square of Europe and the statue of Medea
On the edge of Europe Square there is a house with a "fabulous" tower and an astronomical clock:
Previously, the National Bank was located in it, but now the tower is empty, and the first floor is occupied by the Batumi "Children's World". The clock on the tower, in addition to time, also shows the sides of the horizon, the phases of the moon, the signs of the zodiac and much more.
Opposite the tower, on the corner of Konstantin Gamsakhurdia Street, there is a red-brown brick building (“Palace of Labor”) - before the “Rose Revolution” and the reintegration of Adzharia back into Georgia, the residence of the local “specific prince” was located here Aslana Abashidze, at that time the ruler of virtually independent Adjara. Interestingly, after his overthrow, Abashidze fled to Russia, and not to Turkey, mentally and religiously close to Adzharia.
Next to the former residence of Abashidze is Government House of the Republic of Adjara(a little closer to the Theater Square), and opposite - constitutional Court.
Statue of Medea
In fact, a paradox: in the center of Europe Square there is a statue of the heroine of the myth about the Argonauts, Medea, holding the Golden Fleece in her hands. The same fleece that was skillfully “squeezed out” by a gang of thieves from the same Europe, after which the square is named.
Apparently, the sheepskin stolen by the Greeks from the Georgians is an allegorical symbol of the result of Georgia's integration into the European Union.
Medea statue coordinates: N41.65122, E41.63643.
Excursions in Batumi and Adjara from local residents
For inquisitive and sociable travelers who want to get to know Batumi and its residents even better, I recommend ordering a city tour from the “first person”. Your guides will be local residents - journalists, photographers, historians and just connoisseurs of their native places. Below is a selection of the most interesting and popular excursions in Tbilisi according to traveler reviews. To view all available options, click View All. At the booking stage, you will need to pay online only 20% of the cost of the tour - the rest of the amount is given to the guide before it starts.
8. Memed Abashidze Street and Apollo Cinema
The street is named after the Georgian politician and public figure Memeda Abashidze, repressed and shot in 1937.
In front of the cinema, old photographs are placed on special stands, where you can see what Abashidze Street looked like before the revolution.
If you are puzzled about what to do in Batumi in the evening: there are many casinos in the city, but if you are not a gambler, then you can just go to the cinema. Sessions at Apollo are in both Georgian and Russian - for example, in December 2018 there were two sessions in Georgian and three in Russian.
Opening hours of "Apollo": the first session at 12:00, the last at 22:00. Ticket prices: 8.9 and 10 GEL. Address: st. M. Abashidze, 17. Coordinates N41.65153, E41.63836. Information - www.kinoafisha.ge.
9. Era Square (Theater Square)
On the east side of the square is theatre. Chavchavadze, because of him the area began to be called Theatrical.
In the center of the square there is a gilded copy Neptune statues from Italian Bologna. Before Neptune, a monument to Chavchavadze stood at this place, but now it has been moved behind the theater building.
Neptune statue coordinates: N41.65258, E41.63765.
10. Batumi Marine Station
An imposing building in the classic "Soviet-resort" style, with its silhouette evoking memories of similar buildings in the Crimea and Sochi.
Batumi seaport coordinates: N41.65213, E41.64373.
11. Chacha tower
Clock tower in the Ottoman style was built according to the design of the French architect Raymond Charles Pera - it looks like a small mosque with a clock and a yellow dome.
chacha tower
The most intriguing thing about it is that, in fact, it is a fountain: once a week, in accordance with a strictly classified schedule, chacha (strong Georgian grape vodka) flows from four pillars on the sides of the tower for 15 minutes - absolutely free. Some tourists and locals try to calculate the time of the "tea eruption", but, as a rule, without success.
Chacha Tower coordinates: N41.6528, E41.64267.
12. Seaport of Batumi
At present, only a harbor for boats and yachts remains on the site of the old seaport, and the coastal area has become part of the Batumi tourist walking area. The cargo and passenger port was moved to the north - to the area of the Batumi oil refinery and the new railway station.
Seaport coordinates: N41.6537, E41.64308.
13. Miracle Park
Actually, this is not even one attraction of the old city of Batumi, but several: batumi lighthouse, Ferris wheel, alphabet tower(or Alphabet tower), moving sculptural composition "Ali and Nino".
Stone chairs in Wonderland Park
Coordinates of the lighthouse in Wonderland Park: N41.65594, E41.6411.
14. Tower with a mini Ferris wheel
Nautical motifs are guessed in this building: the Ferris wheel at the very top is the steering wheel, above it is a stylized sail, and the high spire is the mast. Apparently, the architect drew inspiration from the myth of Jason and his ship "Argo".
Tradition and modernity :-)
In Batumi, many modern attractions are somehow connected with this ancient Greek myth: for example, the statue of Medea on Europe Square, or the Batumi cable car, which is called “Argo”. Initially, the building with a mini Ferris wheel was built for the Technological University, then they decided to place a business center in it, and now they have completely stopped work - and the construction has already been completed.
Tower coordinates: N41.65414, E41.63674.
15. Batumi Seaside Boulevard
From Miracle Park for several kilometers to the southwest extends Seaside boulevard- perhaps the main attraction of Batumi, containing a dozen smaller sights. This is not an avenue or street in the traditional sense, but rather an ennobled piece of land between the beach and residential areas.
16. Batumi Beach
The beach in Batumi is truly gigantic - it stretches from the lighthouse and the statue of Ali and Nino to the southwest and borders almost the entire city.
The most "bathable" places are located opposite and, the cleanest water is not far from the San Remo cafe at the junction of the Old and.
17. Rustaveli Avenue
The avenue runs parallel to the sea and the Batumi pedestrian Boulevard, built up with solid buildings with respectable cafes and restaurants on the ground floors. By the way, you can read more about where to eat in Batumi in my.
Rustaveli Avenue is notable for its palm trees - they were once presented to the city of Batumi by the Arab sheikh Nahyan Mubarak and they were planted on both sides of the roadway.
18. Church of St. Barbara
It was erected in 1888 with the support of Emperor Alexander III on the territory of a military hospital. In Soviet times, the church was used as a warehouse - in the 90s, the hospital building was demolished, and the church was transferred to the Georgian Orthodox Church, and since then services have been conducted in the Georgian language. In 2015, another Georgian-style church was erected nearby - New Varvarinskaya.
Coordinates of the Church of St. Barbara: N41.65093, E41.63149.
19. May 6 Park, Dolphinarium and Zoo
May 6 Park is located southwest of the Seaside Park, behind Melikishvili Street - there is a colonnade-entrance on it.
Park entrance coordinates: N41.64838, E41.62973.
20. Museum of Adjara
Museum of Adjara (Batumi Museum of Local Lore), st. Dzhincharadze, 4, coordinates N41.64728, E41.63324. The entrance ticket costs 3 GEL.
21. Museum of Art
Address Z. Gorgiladze, 8, coordinates N41.64857, E41.63395. The entrance ticket costs 2 lari. Opening hours of the Museum of Art: Tue-Sun 11:00-18:00, closed on Mondays.
If you do not want to go to the museum, you can simply relax on the square with a pleasant square opposite, at the intersection of Asatiani and Gorgiladze streets.
22. Municipality of Batumi
The building faces this square with its end Municipality of Batumi- in Georgia, at the suggestion of Saakashvili, these institutions began to be called City Hall.
Coordinates: N41.64835, E41.63517.
23. Batumi synagogue
The synagogue was built in 1904 by the architect S. Volkovich, who took the Amsterdam and The Hague synagogues as a basis. In 1923, it was converted into a sports club - only in 1992 the synagogue was returned to the Jewish community of Batumi.
Address: st. Vazha Pshavela, between the streets of Gorgiladze and King Parnavaz. Coordinates N41.64735, E41.63449.
24. Old railway station
At the beginning of this century, the "fathers of the city" decided that the station in the very center of Batumi was not needed, and they built a new one, in the north-eastern part of the city, and the branch of the Tbilisi Bank was located in the old building:
Coordinates N41.64506, E41.63614.
25. Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The main Catholic church of Batumi was erected in the Neo-Gothic style in 1903 at the expense of the Zubalashvili brothers.
In the Soviet years, the church housed a laboratory for the study of high voltage electricity, whose experiments gradually destroyed the building. Many representatives of the Georgian intelligentsia advocated the termination of research (among them, for example, was Konstantin Gamsakhurdia, father of the first president of Georgia, Zviad Gamsakhurdia).
—1. New Batumi
The second day in Batumi, I propose to start with a tour of the so-called "New Batumi" - a part of the city, which conditionally starts from cafe "San Remo"(address Rustaveli, 34 - approximately in this place Rustaveli Avenue turns into Sherif Khimshiashvili street) and stretches south to about the sculpture Where, against the background of which everyone who gets to this part of Batumi is sure to take pictures.
It is about this part of the city that one can rightly say “Batumi is a city of contrasts”. Here, super-modern skyscrapers coexist with panel Soviet 9-story buildings, and the creations of the world's most fashionable architects are interspersed with wastelands.
View of New Batumi from Tower Restaurant
2. Catholic Basilica of the Holy Spirit
It is located between the city center and the seaport (Gogebashvili street, 54). It was built in the late 90s and visually very much resembles the modernist temples of South America by Oscar Nemeyer and his followers (there are especially many of them in Brazil).
Straight lines, spacious and bright interior space - the light enters through the giant stained-glass windows. Located at the northern entrance to the city (from Makhinjauri). Coordinates N41.64569, E41.64996.
