The modern capital of Adjara is considered one of the best vacation spots on the shores of the Black Sea Bay. The sun, the sea, the beautiful nature of the subtropical paradise, together with new opportunities for active sports entertainment, attract tourists to the country. Excellent service, the sights of Batumi, which have preserved the spirit of Asian and European cultures, allow you to learn the history of ancient Colchis. Each building, street, boulevard of ancient Batumi is filled with the spirit of the centuries-old history of a famous place on the planet. The degree of acquaintance with it will be determined by the time spent in the city. In between relaxing on the beach, sea travel, hiking in the mountains, you can see, first of all, the interesting sights of Batumi from the following list.
Argo cable car
The first passengers passed the road in 2013. Since that time, it has become a landmark of the city, allowing you to admire the beautiful city views, sea surroundings. The mountainous terrain of the city demanded considerable efforts for the inhabitants to use it. Neat artificial terraces with residential buildings, plantings of gardens, vegetable gardens, old cemeteries are clearly visible from the cable car window. The length of the road is about 2600 m, covered in 10 minutes. The total height difference reaches 253 m. 20 cabins with 8 passengers each move along the road.
The movement along the road starts from the lower station located next to the Batumi port at the intersection of Chavchavadze and Gogebashvili streets. Earlier, there was a memorial here, created in honor of those killed in the Great Patriotic War. The cable car operates from 11 am to midnight. A ticket providing descent and ascent costs 10 GEL for adults and 2 GEL for children. The last stop is the top of Mount Feria. An equipped observation deck, dishes of a cozy restaurant will complement the wonderful impressions of Batumi, and make it possible to take wonderful photos.
Botanical Garden
You can feel the atmosphere of the local climate not only among the gentle sea waves, but also in the shade of rare plants in the Batumi Botanical Garden. Appearing on the map of Georgia in 1892, having opened its entrance to visitors since 1912, it has long been considered the largest garden, park, scientific institution in the country. The goal of creating a "garden of acclimatization" of subtropical plants of importance to agriculture has expanded significantly.
It has purposefully turned into a park, a recreation area with all modern amenities (restaurants, cafes, beaches, the Internet, the possibility of walking in special cars). The formation of the landscape design of the garden was carried out by analogy with the famous tiered gardens of Semiramis. Gradually, they were filled with thematic areas of floristry, uniting areas of grasses, flowers, trees growing in different parts of the planet. In one walk, you can breathe in the aroma of mighty eucalyptus, pines, cedar, listen to the rustle of a bamboo grove, examine the thorny thorns of rare cacti, appreciate the aroma of flowering flower beds.
About 6 thousand species of plants grow in the garden, there are five scientific departments. The entire territory of the garden is divided into 20 sectors, a detailed structure, a plan of which is shown on the stand at the entrance through the Lower Park. You can also buy an entrance ticket here.
The cost of a ticket without paying for the services of a guide is 8 GEL for adults. 1 lari for children. Veterans, students, children under 10 years old visit the Botanical Garden without payment. The cost of a subscription for a month is 30 GEL, for a year - 50 GEL. The garden is open to the public every day from 9 am to 5 pm. The easiest way to get to the garden is by minibus No. 31, which starts at the Lower station of the cable car, or by bus No. 15.
Dolphinarium
It was only in the 20th century that humans were able to communicate directly with smiling, marine mammals, dolphins. About 250 dolphinariums have been built in the world today. Various species of dolphins live and work in them. In 1975, such a stationary animal house was built in Batumi. The amphitheater of a modern building appeared in the city in 2011. About 700 spectators are seated under its dome. There are 4 sectors, elevators, wheelchair ramps, original decorations reminiscent of the natural living conditions of animals.
The spectacular 30 minute show features 8 beautiful dolphins. They perform three dances, play with balls, rings. Observers can take part in a joint game, conduct a therapy session, and swim with them. The dolphinarium is located in the Park "May 6" at st. Rustaveli, 51. The price of the entrance ticket is 15 GEL in the daytime, 20 GEL in the evening. You can swim with them for 150 GEL. Children under 6 years old can visit the dolphinarium without payment. Performances are held daily (except Monday) at 4 pm and 7 pm.
Fortress of Gonio-Apsaros
A popular tourist attraction in Georgia is part of the Museum-Reserve, organized in 1994. The fortress was built in the 1st century to protect the entrances to the gorge of the Chorokhi and Acharistskali rivers. These were strategically important routes of communication between the regions of Georgia and the Black Sea coast. The powerful citadel was the property of three powerful empires that made a specific contribution to its appearance and functionality.
Archaeological excavations have discovered ancient artifacts on the territory of the fortress, confirming the role of the fortress in the life of the ancient city that existed on this site. In ancient times, there was a water supply system created by the Romans to supply hot, cold water to the famous baths. Of the eight water supply systems, only two have survived and are still in operation. A theater and a hippodrome functioned.
Found collections of gold items, coins are on display in the museum "Treasure of Gonio". During an hour-long tour of the fortress, you can hear the ancient legend of the Argonauts, learn different versions of the origin of the name of the fortress, learn the history of the origin of the bronze culture in ancient Colchis. Walk along the walls of the fortress about 900 m long at a height of five meters. Once upon a time, 22 towers towered around the perimeter of the building, there were four guarded entrances. The main entrance and 4 towers have been preserved.
Metal sculpture "Love"
Walking along the Batumi embankment, you can plunge into a philosophical mood, looking at a moving statue of steel. It reflects the strongest sense of the earth, creating, destroying, helping to overcome any obstacles of fate, Love. She will come to life in an original way in the figures of a man and a woman, striving towards each other for centuries. The difficult life path of the characters of the famous work "Ali and Nina", striving for a common life, is realized by the mechanism's capabilities to change the position of bodies every 10 minutes.
The monument was created by the sculptor Tamara Kvesitadze. The sculpture was installed in 2011 at the entrance to the city. It is often given additional meaning. It consists in the historical interaction of the East with Europe. In any case, a monument of contemporary art embodies love, beauty, historical memory, kindness. It leaves the most vivid impression in the evening, when the figures come to life thanks to the mysterious illumination.
Tower of the Georgian alphabet
An impressive 130 meter metal structure, designed by the Spanish architect Domingo Cabo, based on the combination of two eternal factors of life on the planet: the DNA molecule and the letters of the alphabet of the language that helps people communicate. The Georgian language, based on the alphabet, included in the number of 14 ancient alphabets of the world, confirms the value and significance of the culture of the ancient country. Since 2012, a unique statue has been housed on the embankment in the Park of Miracles of Batumi.
At the top of the tower there is a mysterious ball open to tourists.Having bought a ticket, costing 8 GEL, with the help of two elevators you can get inside the ball on the observation deck. There are also benches for relaxation, a small souvenir shop. In the evenings, the gigantic structure is illuminated, the letters of the alphabet become alive, like the ancient language of Georgia, which has been sounding for centuries.
Seaside park
In any city there is a park area that creates comfortable conditions for recreation, entertainment, walks for people of different ages. In Batumi, such a zone is considered the Seaside Park or Boulevard. It is easy to find it by the stylized entrance gate in the form of a snow-white Greek colonnade, the sea breeze, the scent of flowering plants. Palm trees, bamboo, magnolias, southern pines grow on five alleys, running almost 7 km parallel to the sea coast.
In the spaces between the trees, flower beds have been arranged, pavilions, cafes, and a summer theater have been built. The park began life in an abandoned section of the city in 1881. Thanks to the implementation of the ideas of famous gardeners of the world, it has been the most beautiful place in the city for more than a century. Singing fountains, original sculptures made of wood, metal, stone, standing in greenery against the background of the blue sea are considered its decoration.
Dancing fountains
In 1977, the first dancing fountains, designed by an architect from Georgia, appeared in the Seaside Park. Now it is called the Historic Boulevard Fountain. Under musical accompaniment, streams of water draw unique, artful patterns. They dance to the beat of the melodies. The list of musical works includes melodies of classical versions, modern hits of rock of the XX century.
Often, under sunlight, a multi-colored rainbow forms over them. She, too, dances along with water jets flying up into the air. The heat is more easily tolerated here, the air is filled with freshness, emphasizing the natural aroma of foliage and flowers. Since 2005, a fountain created according to a French project has been in operation. It is considered one of the most beautiful fountains in Europe.
Argonauts Square
According to the traditions of the city, its main events are held in a square called Argonauts Square or Europe Square. The monument to Medea, standing in the center of the square, reminds of the ancient legends of the Colchis civilization. It was made in 2006 in the form of a 130 m stele. At its top is the figure of Medea holding the Golden Fleece.
The modern look of the square has been complemented by an original fountain, an antique stylized clock showing the time, the position of the constellations of the zodiac, sun and moon. The square is surrounded by interesting residential buildings built in the 18th century. The routes of all excursions pass through the square.
Astronomical clock
In the historical part of the city there is a beautiful building of the former National Bank of Georgia. Together with the Gothic towers built in the 17th century, it is decorated with a large astronomical clock. Every hour, half an hour, you can hear a melody confirming the exact value of the time displayed on the dial. A special feature of the astronomical clock is the high accuracy of time counting. In any country where such devices function, a lot of money is spent to keep them working.
The complex watch mechanism is expensive, it is made by masters, the number of which is limited all over the world. The clock shows not only the time, but also the position of the sun, moon, zodiac signs. The astronomical clock is one of the attractions of any city. In Batumi, their magical beauty can be seen at night during the original lighting. You can look at the golden clock tower by arriving by buses plying along Rustaveli street (1.7.10.11.12.13.15.) To the stop of st. Gamsakhurdia, 44.
Colonnades
The snow-white marble columns, which have become the hallmark of Georgia, by some magical power attract passers-by of Batumi Boulevard to look inside the space they protect. This impression becomes especially strong at night, when the illuminated columns begin to sparkle with an unusually white color. It seems that, in fact, any wish made in the center of the columns will certainly come true.
Even the sound of sea waves is heard through them with a special melody. The colonnades were built in 1934 based on the idea of the project brought from Sorrento by the doctor Ivane Mchedlidze. The date of the construction of the colonnade is laid out at the foot. Photos with their images are placed in advertisements, brochures, inviting to visit the sunny city of Batumi.
House of Justice
The upside-down bottle-shaped building, sparkling with colorful lights when lit at night, opened in May 2010 and has become a famous landmark in the city. In addition to originality and beauty, it attracts attention with its special functionality. It has the conditions of contact with the state, created according to the principle of one window operation.
Any necessary document in the offices of the building can be obtained quickly, clearly, by paying a specific amount of money to the state, and not as a bribe to employees, as it was before. For example, you can get a new birth certificate in 10 days (the cost of the service is 30 GEL), 5 days (40 GEL), 3 days (50 GEL), on the same day for 65 GEL. The customer service system implemented in the House of Justice (according to visitors' reviews) is considered an example of the absence of a bureaucratic approach in solving any legal issues.
Here you can get a passport, apply for a visa, a residence permit, and register a marriage. Legal procedures are carried out in three rooms: self-service, quick, long-term consideration. Several such houses have now been built in the country. The building is located on Khimshiashvili street, 7. You can get to the building by buses 1, 2. 4. They stop at the stops at ul. Pirosmani, Palace of Justice.
Cathedral of the Most Holy Theotokos
Walking along Chavchavadze Street, one cannot help but stop looking at the beautiful Gothic cathedral, which appeared as if from the Middle Ages. One of the most beautiful cathedrals in Georgia is recognizable by its three domes, ornaments made in the neo-Gothic style of blue and gold shades. The famous stained glass windows, comparable in beauty to the French Gothic stained glass windows. Snow-white stone walls decorated with patterns of red stones. Statues of Catholic saints are installed in niches near the central entrance.
The beautiful church was erected in 1902 for the services of local Catholics at the expense of wealthy Georgian industrialists. Now the Cathedral belongs to the jurisdiction of the Orthodox Church of the country, its Laz and Batumi dioceses. Since 2011, it has been included in the lists of protected monuments of the heritage of the history of Batumi. It regularly hosts services that you can attend. At the same time, feel the atmosphere of the interior decoration of the cathedral. It is formed by the unusual energy of numerous icons and paintings.
Church of the Holy Christ the All-Savior
More than 8 thousand Armenians living in Batumi treat the church built in 1887 with special warmth and respect. In the old, simple inner hall of the church, the traditions of the culture of the Armenian people are carefully continued. Divine services and other church events are held here. The church has a Sunday school for children, a youth center, 2 music groups. Interesting events related to the life of Armenians are often held in the courtyard of the church.
A small temple called by the Armenians Surb Prkich, which has a central tower, a cone-shaped dome, is revered by the Armenians, is considered a landmark of the city. The church is located in the old town on Gamsakhurdia street. You can visit it for free every day, arriving by bus, minibus, taxi.
Here you can order a taxi from Batumi airport to the hotel for 1093 rubles.
Adjara Museum of Local Lore
Founded in 1908 on the basis of a small school exposition collected by teachers and schoolchildren, the museum gradually became a unique repository of important artifacts related to the history and culture of the people living in this ancient place.Now he is in the mansion of the former treasury, located on Jincharadze Street. It contains almost 180,000 exhibits, systematized on the stands of several departments (historical, archaeological, ethnographic, nature).
Rare books, manuscripts written in different languages, art samples, archaeological treasures, flora and fauna samples make up the invaluable wealth of the two floors of the museum. The ethnography department presents the dwelling of local residents. In the courtyard of the building, you can see the skeleton of a real whale or a model of the first tractor of the Stalingrad plant, which worked in the fields of Georgia. You can visit the museum on any day of the week, except Monday, from 11 am to 6 pm. The entrance ticket price is 3 GEL.
Chacha Tower Fountain
The original building was opened in the city in 2012 with the aim of attracting tourists and popularizing Georgia's grape vodka. It is a tower 25 m high. There is a large clock at a height of 18 m. Once a week, not water flows from a special device, but vodka. This "pleasure" lasts only 15 minutes. There are countless people willing to take part in it. Among the long queue, the main percentage are local residents. It is difficult to say whether the tower helped increase the number of tourists, but the fact itself is interesting.
Anyone who wants to will receive a free treat, for example, as a souvenir memoir. Drinking from the fountain is strictly prohibited. There is ordinary water there. Chacha from the tower is of high quality, worthy of advertising from different manufacturers. There is a fountain (Chacha Tower) on the embankment along Gogebashvili Street, 3. You can get there by buses No. 11. 2, 4, 10.
Makhuntseti waterfall
The outskirts of Batumi are filled with natural, man-made sights. If you have time, you can see them together with excursions, independent travel. For example, you can come to the Makhuntseti waterfall by private car, use a paid parking lot by paying 1 lar. Or by minibuses heading towards the municipality of Keda. The name of the waterfall comes from the village of the same name, located at an altitude of 335 m above sea level.
Among the beautiful mountain slopes, a silver stream glistens, flying down at high speed. Tourists, local people like to come for a picnic, rest in this place, considering the cool water of the fountain healing. At the same time, walk along the ancient arched bridge of Queen Tamara, visit the Adjarian Wine House. The list of sights in Batumi can be extended endlessly.
In Batumi, GuruTurizma recommends the following hotels:
