Batumi Sights: 25 Landmarks and Routes

One of the favorite destinations among tourists in Georgia is the beautiful city of Batumi in Adjara. It boasts an incredible blend of old and modern buildings, architectural masterpieces, and numerous cultural heritage sites. The city boasts a Botanical Garden, Dolphinarium, museums, ancient ports, boulevards, squares, and streets. You can stay in high-class hotels with the best views and dine in Georgia's finest restaurants. Batumi is an incredible city, blending Georgia's history and modernity.

If you're planning a visit to Batumi and don't know what to do, here are 25 of the city's best attractions.

Boulevard

Batumi Boulevard is unique for its numerous small and cozy cafes, dancing fountains, children's attractions, and beautiful views from the port. Here you can walk 10 kilometers along the seashore, exploring sculptures, monuments, and the city's architecture.

An evening stroll will be enjoyable for both parents and children; there's something for everyone.

Alphabet Tower

The Alphabet Tower is unusual in that it resembles a giant structure of our DNA. At a height of 130 meters, at the very top, there is a cozy tourist area with restaurants, open terraces, and an observatory. The views of Georgia's natural landscape are breathtaking.

Panoramic Wheel

The Panoramic Wheel is a symbol of the city. It rises to a height of 55 meters. This is the perfect place to admire the beautiful views and architecture. This short ride is a delight for everyone.

The Ali and Nino Statue

The Ali and Nino Statue is located at the beginning of the Boulevard and is designed in a futuristic style. What makes this statue unusual is that every 10 minutes, the figures move toward each other, eventually uniting. One figure is male, the other female.

Argo Funicular

The Argo Funicular is part of an entertainment complex offering stunning views of Batumi. A ride on the funicular is an unforgettable experience, offering views of the Black Sea and mountains. The complex also offers a wide variety of entertainment: restaurants, cafes, shopping centers, open-air lounges, and rooftop terraces open to the public.

ChaCha Tower

This is the name of the fountain at the beginning of the boulevard. Free chacha is distributed here at specific times; you can check the schedule on site. Locals swear that genuine chacha can flow from the fountain at any time once a week. The tower is at its most beautiful in the evening, when the lanterns are lit and the soft music of street musicians plays. While the tower is currently in need of repair, it remains unique.

Colonnades

For over 80 years, the city has been graced by the Colonnades, a landmark known as Batumi's calling card. The Colonnades are located on Batumi Boulevard and can be seen on brochures, postcards, and advertisements. The snow-white building, designed in the Greek style, attracts everyone's attention. After passing the Colonnades, you can reach the tourist beach.

Wedding Palace

Even if you're not planning to tie the knot, you should still take a look at this unusual building. From the outside, it resembles a shark's eye and is considered the most modern wedding palace. Nearby is a square with fountains and bridges.

Statue of Medea

Princess Medea is a heroine from Greek mythology. The statue is located near Freedom Square and the statue of Neptune. According to legend, Medea is the daughter of a king who fell in love with a man and ran away with him, helping her lover steal the city's most treasured possession, the Golden Fleece. The statue depicts a ship—the ship on which the lovers escaped.

Astronomical Clock

The clock is another symbol of the city. It's unusual in that instead of displaying the usual time, it displays astronomical figures. For those who study the stars and are fascinated by the universe, this clock will be especially intriguing. Studying it reveals a wealth of information that many tourists don't understand (the clock shows the positions of the sun, moon, and planets). For added interest, you can also see which zodiac sign is currently in the sky.

Neptune Fountain

This landmark was installed in 2010 and is the square's focal point. The fountain consists of five sections. A gilded figure of Neptune adorns the center. Besides Neptune himself, the fountain features figures of mermaids, from whose breasts the water flows. Many residents complain about the fountain, saying it's not only inappropriate, but also located in the very center of the city.

Piazza

If you've ever wanted to visit Venice but never made it, you'll love this square. It's an exact replica of Venice's Piazza San Marco. It also houses restaurants and shops. Musicians perform here every evening. This unique square is located near City Hall and opened recently, in 2010. This place is steeped in romance, which is why it's a favorite destination for couples. This Venetian corner blends perfectly with Georgia's architecture and covers approximately 6,000 square meters.

Dolphinarium

This is the perfect way to spend time with children. The Dolphinarium offers a fascinating program, including a dolphin encounter in a pool. You can swim and play with them yourself. The show runs every day except Monday at 4:00 PM and is short, lasting only 30-40 minutes. Admission is 350 rubles; children under 6 are admitted free. Please familiarize yourself with the visiting rules in advance to avoid any unpleasant situations.

Water Park

Who doesn't love a water park in hot weather? A huge selection of water attractions and slides will provide a fun time for everyone. While adults relax and sunbathe, children enjoy the pool.

To visit the water park, you must reserve seats and purchase tickets in advance. The line to enter the water park, especially in the summer, can be very long. If you plan to visit the water park, be sure to purchase tickets several days in advance.

Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary encompasses a diverse range of architectural features. The building is a national cultural heritage site. It was built in the late 18th century, specifically on February 20, 1781. Unfortunately, on December 27, 1791, the cathedral burned down due to an accident, after which the landmark lay abandoned for a long time. It was only in 1999 that the decision was made to restore the cathedral. First, the bells were recast. Today, the cathedral delights tourists with its magnificent appearance.

St. Nicholas Cathedral

The cathedral was built in the 19th century, during the Ottoman rule. It is one of the main landmarks not only of the city but of all of Georgia. The cathedral is dedicated to Nicholas I, hence its name, "St. Nicholas." Recently, the president of the republic visits the cathedral every December 6th, the day the nation celebrates Independence Day.

Holy Trinity Cathedral – Sameba

The Holy Trinity Cathedral is located 8 kilometers from the city center. It offers incredible views of the city and the sea. Construction of the cathedral was planned in 1989, the day that celebrated the 1500th anniversary of autocephaly (the administrative independence of the church) and the 2000th anniversary of Christianity. The cathedral is over 60 meters high, over 130 meters long, and has a total area of ​​5,000 square meters.

The cathedral's foundation stone was laid in 1995 and it opened on December 25, 2002.

Lake Nuri

Lake Nuri is a natural body of water. It is located in the very center of the city, near the dolphinarium and the Black Sea coast. A park with numerous entertainment and recreational areas has been built around the lake. A tragic legend surrounds the lake: locals say that a girl named Nuri once drowned here. Afterward, her mother came to the lake every day calling for her. The lake was named after this child.

Lake Argadani

The lake is located within the new boulevard. It is adorned with a fountain featuring a figure of a dancer. In the evening, you can enjoy a laser show performed by the figure. These were once two lakes that eventually merged into one. Two small islands are located in the western part. Unfortunately, access to the lake is closed in winter for tourist safety. Access is limited to a small bridge, after which you'll encounter a high fence.

Dancing Fountains

The fountains represent a singer and a musician. They are located on the boulevard. The fountains' program includes "Swan Lake" and other masterpieces by great composers. Tourists who have visited this place have nothing but positive memories of it.

Port

The port of Batumi is one of the oldest in the world. Here you can take yacht and steamboat rides and admire the views of Batumi. The port is located in the southeastern part of the city. In the 20th century, it was the main port for oil shipments. The total area of ​​the port is over 20 hectares, almost all of which is open to the public. You can learn about the port's operations and watch ships being loaded and unloaded at any time.

Botanical Garden

The Botanical Garden is located not in the city itself, but 9 kilometers outside it. It is home to over 1,000 plant species. There are no similar gardens in the world, and it is currently the only place where such a vast array of plants can be studied. It was founded by the great geographer and botanist Andrei Nikolaevich Krasnov. The garden comprises five main areas: plant introduction, floriculture and ornamental gardening, subtropical plant breeding, plant physiology and biochemistry, and botany.

Gonio Fortress

Gonio Fortress is a historically significant part of Georgia. A nature reserve was established there in 2010. The fortress was first mentioned in the 1st century BC. By the 2nd century AD, the fortress had become an entire settlement. Today, the fortress is less popular among tourists due to the large number of open recreation parks and beaches. Tourists prefer to visit these areas.

Petra Fortress

The fortress was built by order of Emperor Justinian in 536 AD. "Petra" means "rock" in Greek. Some sources refer to the fortress as Kajeti. The fortress has not survived in its entirety, but most of the ruins indicate that it is a Byzantine landmark. At one time, the fortress was a fairly large city, which was captured by the Persians. There was a long struggle for control of the fortress, and after their victory, the Byzantines destroyed their own fortress.

Black Sea Resorts

One of the most enjoyable types of vacation is a Black Sea resort. Here you can enjoy the tranquility, have fun, and relax. The most popular resorts are Gonio, Kvariati, and Sarfi.

A visit to Batumi is a delight for every tourist. Here you'll find a wide variety of entertainment, experience the culture, and make new friends.

Photo source: blackseatower.com

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