Batumi Boulevard: Where to Walk, What to See and How to Follow the Seaside Route

Batumi Boulevard is the easiest place to understand Batumi without a guide. On one side there is the sea; on the other, palms, old alleys, towers, cafes, sculptures, bicycles, children with ice cream and people who came out “for ten minutes” and returned two hours later.

If you are deciding what to do in Batumi, start here. The boulevard connects the main seaside landmarks: Ali and Nino, Alphabet Tower, the Colonnades, beaches, fountains, cafes and the New Boulevard. It is not one single attraction, but a long route you can shape around your mood.

🌊 What Batumi Boulevard is and why everyone goes there

Batumi Boulevard is a 7-kilometre seaside promenade along the Black Sea. It has old historic alleys, a bike lane, sculptures, fountains, beach zones, cafes, playgrounds and quiet spots where you can simply sit facing the water.

Its popularity is easy to explain: the boulevard works for almost everyone. Tourists come because Batumi’s most recognisable places are here. Locals come to walk, run, ride bikes and meet friends. Families come for the sea, benches and easy entertainment. Couples come because sunset can make even an ordinary bench look suspiciously cinematic.

The boulevard is usually divided into the old and new parts. The Old Boulevard is closer to the centre, port, Ali and Nino, Alphabet Tower and the Colonnades. The New Boulevard stretches farther south, toward modern high-rises, wide promenades and more spacious seaside areas.

For a quick evening walk, choose the old part. For a longer and calmer route, head toward the New Boulevard.

🗺️ How to walk the boulevard without chaos

For a first visit, the easiest route starts near the port and follows the water toward the New Boulevard. This way you see the main sights in a natural order: the port, Ali and Nino, Alphabet Tower, the lighthouse, the Colonnades, old alleys, the central part of the boulevard, fountains and then the newer stretch near modern hotels.

You can walk in the opposite direction too, but for a first impression the route from old Batumi to new Batumi reads better. The city seems to show how it changed: from the port and old seafront to glass towers, wide promenades and evening lights.

For a short walk, the section from Ali and Nino to the Colonnades is enough. For a proper evening, add the fountains. For a long walk, continue toward the New Boulevard and return by taxi or bike. If you want to ride instead of walk, check bike rentals in Batumi before you go.

🗿 What to see on Batumi Boulevard

Start with Ali and Nino. It is a moving sculpture by the sea: two figures slowly approach, pass through each other and separate again. During the day it is interesting; in the evening, with lights and dark water behind it, it feels stronger.

Nearby stands Alphabet Tower, a 130-metre tower with Georgian letters wrapped around its spiral structure. It is visible from far away, so it also helps you navigate the old boulevard.

Then come the lighthouse, Colonnades, old alleys, sculptures, benches, cafes and beach exits. The old part is best explored without staring at the map. Almost every turn gives you a decent frame: sea through trees, palms, old lamps, cyclists, dogs, tourists and street musicians.

For views from above, add Batumi observation decks to your plan. Rooftop restaurants and towers work especially well in the evening: after a seaside walk, going up is a logical ending to the day.

🌴 Old Boulevard and New Boulevard: what is the difference?

Old Boulevard is postcard Batumi: shady alleys, the Colonnades, old sculptures, benches, the lighthouse, Ali and Nino, Alphabet Tower. It has more history, more visitors and more places you will want to photograph.

New Boulevard is more spacious. The paths are wider, the old resort mood is weaker, and there are more modern buildings, hotels, cafes and open areas. It works better for a long walk, jogging, bikes, scooters or an evening without dense crowds.

You do not need to choose one. For a first visit, start with Old Boulevard and slowly continue toward the new section. This way you see both versions of Batumi: the old seaside city and the modern resort with towers.

⏰ Best time to walk on Batumi Boulevard

Morning is for quiet walks. There are fewer tourists, softer light, runners, dogs, cleaners, cafes opening for the day and the sea before it becomes the background for a hundred selfies.

Daytime is not ideal in summer. It is hot and humid, shade is not everywhere, and the beach areas get busier. If you walk during the day, take water, wear a hat and use the alleys instead of staying on open paving by the sea.

Evening is the most popular time. Sunset, lights, music, fountains, couples, children, groups of friends, street food and photos near the sculptures. Yes, there are more people. But evening is when Batumi becomes the Batumi many visitors came for.

After the walk, choose Batumi restaurants, cafes or Batumi bars near the seafront. In summer, book ahead if you want a window table or terrace.

🚲 Walking, cycling or riding a scooter

Walk through the old part of the boulevard. There are too many reasons to stop: sculptures, benches, sea views, old alleys, cafes and photos. A bike can be annoying here because of crowds and constant stops.

Bikes and scooters work better on the longer New Boulevard route. It is more spacious and easier to keep a steady pace. But remember: there are always children, dogs and people who suddenly cross the path for a good photo.

For an active route, check bike rentals in Batumi in advance. If you are with small children or elderly relatives, choose a shorter walking route and do not try to cover all 7 km in one go.

👨‍👩‍👧 Batumi Boulevard with children

With children, the boulevard is convenient: no complex logistics, the sea is nearby, there are benches, ice cream, playgrounds, attractions and places where “let’s walk nicely” can quickly become “let the child run around”.

There are two details to remember. First, the distance. The boulevard is long, and children do not have to admire architecture every 300 metres. Second, bikes and scooters. In busy areas, keep an eye on the paths, especially in the evening.

For a family walk, choose a short section: Ali and Nino, Alphabet Tower, the Colonnades and nearby alleys. If the child is small, do not go too far into the New Boulevard without knowing how you will return. Taxis in Batumi often help, but in summer evenings waiting can take longer.

For greener areas and playgrounds, check gardens and parks in Batumi. The boulevard is good for a seaside walk, but sometimes children need shade and a playground more than another sculpture.

🍽️ Where to eat near the boulevard

There are many cafes, restaurants, bars and beach venues on and near the boulevard. But do not choose only by the sea view. In tourist areas, pretty seating does not always mean good food, and a table by the water may cost more simply because it is by the water.

For breakfast, look for cafes closer to the centre. For dinner with a view, choose seaside restaurants or high-floor venues. For a louder evening, go to bars near the promenade. It is easier to check Batumi cafes, Batumi restaurants and Batumi bars before you get hungry and start choosing by the first sign you see.

If you want a panorama rather than just a promenade table, look at Batumi restaurants with a view. After a long boulevard walk, a view from above can feel better than one more table near a noisy path.

⛲ Fountains, evening lights and photos

The dancing fountains are best seen in the evening, when the lights turn on. During the day they are just a water feature; after sunset they become a proper pause point, especially if you have reached the central or new part of the boulevard.

Good photo moments: sunset by the sea, Ali and Nino in the evening, Alphabet Tower against blue sky, the Colonnades in the morning, palms in old alleys and reflections after rain. Batumi in the rain often looks better than expected. Wet pavement, neon, sea, wind — a little dramatic, but without the plastic resort shine.

For drinking water on a long walk, save drinking fountains in Batumi. In summer, this is more useful than it sounds.

🏛️ A little history without museum dust

The story of the boulevard began in 1881, when Batumi planned a proper seaside walking area. Landscaping work started later, in 1884. The first plans were created by Prussian gardeners Ressler and Reyer; after Ressler’s death, French gardener Michel D’Alfons continued the work.

D’Alfons is sometimes called the “good genius of the Batumi coast” in historical sources. It sounds theatrical, but his role was real: he brought rare plants and shaped the look of the seaside park. Later, gardener and decorator Iason Gordeziani developed the boulevard further, updating plantings and expanding green areas.

The Colonnades appeared in the 1930s and still remain one of the main symbols of the old part of the boulevard. The Summer Theatre, fountains, sculptures and New Boulevard are later layers of the city. This is why the walk is more interesting if you look not only at the sea, but also at how Batumi added itself layer by layer.

🧭 What to see nearby after the walk

After the old part of the boulevard, it is easy to walk into central Batumi: Europe Square, old streets, cafes and restaurants. If you want more views, go to an observation deck or choose a high-floor restaurant.

If you walk toward the New Boulevard, combine it with the beach, modern neighbourhoods and dinner by the sea. For a beach stop, save Batumi beaches and choose where to pause after the walk.

If you want to leave the city for greenery, the natural continuation is Batumi Botanical Garden on Green Cape. It is no longer an urban promenade, but a large walk among subtropical greenery and sea views.

Final choice

Batumi Boulevard is the best place for a first evening in Batumi. Not because it is “the most beautiful” or “mandatory”, but because it quickly shows how the city works: the sea is close, the walk is long, old and new stand side by side, and the mood changes every 500 metres.

For a first visit, walk from the port to the Colonnades and then to the fountains. For a second visit, rent a bike and head toward the New Boulevard. For a quiet morning, return to the old alleys while tourists are still sleeping. For evening, wait for the lights near Ali and Nino.

And do not try to “finish” the whole boulevard at once. It is not an exam. It is exactly the kind of place where you should walk, stop, look at the sea and forget about your step count.

Now it is your turn

Have you walked along Batumi Boulevard? Share which part you liked more: Old Boulevard near Ali and Nino, the Colonnades, the fountains or New Boulevard. Fresh details are especially useful: where it is better to walk with children, where it is less crowded in the evening, which cafes are worth stopping at and which spots are best for photos.

Information about the route, sights and infrastructure is current as of June 3, 2026. Before visiting, check the opening times of individual venues, cafes, fountains and attractions through recent reviews and official pages.

Read also

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• Batumi Colonnades: Greek-Style Gateway to the Boulevard since 1934
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