Welcome to Batumi, one of the most beautiful spots in the Black Sea region!
This is such a unique city where the green and blue of the Black Sea meet. The word comes from the Greek word “batus,” which means deep. While exploring the city, a port city, you’ll notice various architectural features ranging from Ottoman to European styles. In the end, the city was a significant trading centre during the time of the Ottoman Empire.
🍝 Before we take you on a journey to the must-visit places, let us mention that Batumi offers a variety of flavours at the same time. Our recommendation is not to leave here without trying lobio, khinkali, and khachapuri.
Where is Batumi?
Batumi, the southwestern part of Georgia, is on the coast of the Black Sea. Also, it serves as the capital of Adjara, which is an autonomous region within Georgia. Batumi is the second-largest city in the country, following the capital city of Tbilisi.
How to Go to Batumi?
Batumi International Airport (BUS): If you’re coming from an international destination, flying into Batumi International Airport is the most convenient option. The airport is well-connected to major cities in Europe and the Middle East. You can check for flights from your nearest international airport.
Tbilisi to Batumi: You can take a train from Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, to Batumi. The train journey offers scenic views of the Georgian countryside and takes around 5-6 hours.
Ferry: During the summer months, there are ferry services connecting Batumi with various Black Sea destinations, including Ukraine, Bulgaria, and Romania. This can be an interesting option if you’re travelling from nearby countries and want a scenic sea journey.
When to Visit Batumi?
Batumi is beautiful in every season, but our favorite is definitely September and November. During these months, the weather ranges from an average of 12°C to 23°C. Compared to the summer months, we can say that there are far fewer tourists. Also, it would be great if you could catch the Batumi International ArtHouse Film Festival, which is held every September!
Places to Visit in Batumi
6 May Park
We start with Batumi Park, also known as “Central Park”!
This is Batumi’s first public garden. Construction began in the early 1880s, with Prussian landscape architect and gardener Ressler leading the project. Unfortunately, Ressler passed away before completing the project.
Don’t think of this place as a purely “touristic” park because locals in Batumi also frequently spend time at 6 May Park. They enjoy taking walks, walking their furry friends, and coming here with their coffees from nearby cafes to engage in long conversations.
Astronomical Clock
The building housing the Astronomical Clock used to be the old National Bank building. The clock on its tower may appear historical, but it was actually installed here in 2011. The Batumi City Council wanted to enhance the visual appeal of Europe Square and the surrounding area to increase tourist activity, so they decided to add such a clock. The construction of the clock began in Germany in 2010.
The clock was designed inspired by the famous astronomical clock in Prague. If you’ve been to Prague before, you may have already noticed the similarities between the two clocks. However, if you haven’t been to Prague yet, we also have a fantastic Prague audio tour available in the audio travel guide, Piri Guide. So, be sure to download Piri Guide before you hit the road! 😊
Ali & Nino Statue
The story of two lovers who couldn’t be together 💔
The Ali and Nino Statue is approximately 8 meters tall and is made of 7 tons of steel. What makes it extraordinary is that it is a “kinetic sculpture,” meaning this sculpture moves! The male and female figures begin to approach each other every evening at 7:00 PM. Within 10 minutes, they come together and become one body. However, they can never stay that way.
Piazza Batumi
It bears traces of Italian squares, as the name “Piazza” itself means “square” in Italian.
Piazza Batumi boasts the title of “the largest figurative marble mosaic in Europe.” It is said to consist of more than 88 million pieces. The mosaic was created by the Georgian artist Natalie de Pita-Amirejibi. To produce the artwork, she collaborated with a renowned mosaic workshop in Abu Dhabi. The mosaic was manufactured in pieces in Abu Dhabi and then transported to Batumi in 2010. It took a full 10 days to install the artwork in the square, with the artist’s supervision.
If Istanbul is your next destination, check out our Travel Guide to the Historical Peninsula of Istanbul! ❤️
