Things to Do in Batumi — 10 Ideas for Your Stay

Batumi is more than a beach. The city blends historic architecture with the buzz of a southern resort, and one day is not enough — plan at least two or three.

In short: a seafront full of sculptures, Europe, Theatre and Piazza squares, churches of different faiths, the Botanical Garden, the Argo cable car and Makhuntseti waterfall in the mountains of Adjara.

Seafront sculptures and monuments

1. Ali and Nino. A moving sculpture inspired by the novel of the same name: over 10 minutes a woman’s and a man’s silhouettes meet, pass through each other and part. Best at sunset and at night when it’s lit up.

2. “Me, You and Batumi”. A bronze composition in Miracle Park, unveiled in 2012, has become a symbol of the city — everyone takes a photo here.

3. “Rotation” and the House of Justice. The sculpture by the House of Justice symbolises the changing seasons, and the bottle-shaped building itself is another landmark of Batumi’s skyline.

4. Boulevard fountains. The “Lady with a Dog on a Bicycle” seems to glide across the water — jets of water turn the wheels. Along the promenade, look out for “Shoes”, “Golfer” and “Couple in Love”.

Old town squares

5. Europe Square. The heart of the resort, with the statue of Medea holding the Golden Fleece, an astronomical clock and historic buildings all around.

6. Theatre Square. One block from Europe Square — the Neptune Fountain, a copy of the one in Bologna. A good starting point for a walk along Rustaveli Street.

7. Piazza Square. Georgia’s little Italy: mosaics, stained glass, cafés and mechanical figures that appear as the clock strikes. The square is pedestrian-only, so it’s quiet.

Tip: at Piazza it’s hard to tell which café a table belongs to — just sit down and wait for a waiter.

Places of worship

8. Cathedral of the Mother of God, St Nicholas Church, the synagogue and Orta Jame Mosque. The Gothic cathedral with its sculptures and stained glass was built as a Catholic church and became Orthodox in 1989. St Nicholas is the oldest surviving church in the city. The synagogue near the Museum of Local History is open to visitors, and Orta Jame Mosque is tucked away in the old “Turkish” quarter.

A day of nature and fun

9. Botanical Garden and Argo cable car. The seaside garden just outside town is one of the most beautiful places in the region, and the Argo cable car shows you the whole city and the sea.

10. Mountainous Adjara. Makhuntseti waterfall and Queen Tamar’s arched bridge are an hour from Batumi. On our “All of Georgia” tour we go there with a lunch of fresh river trout.

Between walks, try churchkhela and Georgian ice cream — cheap and delicious.