Batumi Boulevard is a magnificent 7-kilometer stretch of seaside walkway, offering harmony, relaxation, inspiration, and entertainment. It is a place where absolutely everyone comes: locals and tourists, adults and children, couples in love and groups of friends, athletes and photographers. Everything around contributes to a wonderful rest, with the entire promenade dotted with benches, loungers, and hammocks.
In addition to the enchanting natural beauty of the mountain views combined with the vibrant greenery of diverse palms and the pleasant sound of waves, the boulevard hosts the city’s most popular and beloved attractions. The statue of “Ali and Nino,” the singing fountains, heart sculptures, and the Alphabet Tower can rightfully be called the calling cards of Batumi.
Images of these sites are found on all Batumi souvenirs, advertisements, and brochures. As a piece of this beautiful, hospitable, and unforgettable city, happy tourists take them home to various parts of the world, with the promise to return again. They take a piece with them, leaving a part of their soul in the warm city.
Information and historical background
The appearance of the boulevard has changed and been refined over more than 100 years. Since 1884, the project was worked on by the talented and well-known French landscape architect Michel D’Alphonse, in whose memory a bronze statue has been erected on the boulevard. Year by year, the promenade transformed.
Miracle Park
Miracle Park is located at the beginning of the boulevard and includes interesting attractions like the statue of “Ali and Nino,” the Georgian Alphabet Tower, a Ferris wheel, and a lighthouse. Within the park, there is a large square where young people ride bicycles, skateboards, and rollerblades.
During the summer, this square hosts large-scale concerts and exhibitions. Thanks to magnificent illumination and lighting at night, the entire park transforms and dazzles with colorful lights.
Ali and Nino is a Batumi masterpiece of contemporary art. Since 2011, anyone who has visited Batumi even once cannot help but be intrigued by the statue of the lovers Ali and Nino. The heroes of the novel of the same name, Muslim Azerbaijani Ali and Christian Georgian Nino, inspired Georgian artist-sculptor Tamara Kvesitadze to create this monument.
The seven-meter moving statues symbolize eternal love that transcends boundaries of religion, contradictions, distances, differences, and traditions. The figures of the man and woman approach each other, merge, and then move apart. This masterpiece captivates and leaves no one indifferent. Everyone who gazes upon it thinks of something personal: rejoicing, reminiscing, hoping, experiencing, waiting, dreaming, and believing.
The Alphabet Tower was constructed in Miracle Park by Spanish architects. It features 33 large letters of the Georgian alphabet, thus holding cultural significance. The 130-meter tower visually resembles a DNA spiral. On the top floor, there’s an observation deck offering stunning views of the city, mountains, boulevard, and sea. Visitors can use an elevator (20 GEL) or climb the stairs.
In addition to the terrace, there’s a tourist information zone where you can use an online guide to gain comprehensive information about Batumi and Georgia. At the top of the dome, you can relax and dine in the revolving restaurant, which completes a full rotation every 60 minutes.
However, in recent years, the view from the restaurant has slightly diminished due to the construction of skyscrapers and a dirty dome.
The Ferris wheel is located next to the Alphabet Tower, offering wonderful panoramic views of the coastline. A 10-minute ride costs 10 GEL and provides genuine pleasure along with magnificent photos as memories. At night, the wheel, like the Alphabet Tower, can be seen from almost anywhere within the city and beyond. Their bright lights are visible even from the suburbs of Batumi: Chakvi and Makhinjauri.
The lighthouse is the oldest 20-meter structure in Miracle Park, dating back to 1891. At that time, there was no boulevard in this area, and the lighthouse stood atop a cape jutting into the sea. The octagonal stone tower still guides sailors with its red light.
Wedding Palace
Next to the musical fountain, which I’ll describe in more detail later, you’ll find the remarkable Batumi Wedding Palace. This registry office amazes with its architectural sophistication and originality. It ranks among the top 10 most unusual wedding palaces in the world and is the most miniature among them.
Depending on one’s imagination and angle of view, the registry office resembles a seashell, a human eye, a dolphin, or even a piggy bank. It fits well into the panorama of the musical fountain and awaits lovers around the clock. Tourists should remember that a marriage registered here is only valid in Georgia.
Summer Theatre
Batumi is enhancing not only its tourism sector but also prioritizing cultural development. In this small resort city, there are plenty of venues to appreciate the arts, including puppet, opera, and drama theaters. Since 2013, the renewed Summer Theatre has been operating in the heart of the boulevard, near the central musical fountain, hosting various theatrical performances and concerts.
Many years ago, the theater was damaged by fire, but it has since been restored, maintaining its original design. It has always been and will continue to be a pride of the boulevard. The wooden building, with its intriguing architecture, has no windows, and its ceiling is uniquely designed to mimic the sky. Here, visitors can experience both traditional Georgian folklore and contemporary art.
Bird nursery
It’s no secret that interaction with living nature has a very positive effect. This rare opportunity in the modern world is offered by the zoo corner located on the boulevard along Ninoshvili Street. A small cozy lake with majestic swans, amusing pelicans, and nimble guinea fowls is complemented by an area for proud peacocks. Watching them is quite fascinating, as each bird leads its own life. Swans gracefully swim in pairs, while peacocks strut back and forth, waiting for an audience to display their bright, magnificent tails. There are also several large cages with various noisy parrots. By the way, you can feed the birds.
Fountains
The fountains of Batumi captivate the eyes of boulevard visitors, encouraging them to pause and admire true artistry. Through the play of water and light, Batumi at night transforms with elegance and romance. The fountains sing, dance, twinkle, glow, and shimmer, inviting all those strolling along the promenade. In the summer, they gather thousands of spectators.
The older, so-called color-music fountain is located in the middle of the boulevard at the central entrance to the promenade, right next to the Wedding Palace. If you’re coming from the city side, you should head down K. Gamsakhurdia Street. During the day, the fountain refreshes with a cool breeze and sparkles with sunny sprays, while in the evening, it transforms into a cozy and charming fairy tale. Here, you can spend pleasant time sitting on a bench, watching the water dance and listening to good music.
The new dancing fountain is located on Sh. Khimshiashvili Street and ranks among the most visited tourist attractions. This fountain was installed and equipped by French specialists. It’s best to take a stroll to it along the sea via the boulevard. This will take about 30 minutes if you start from the center of the promenade. Along the way, you can see numerous art installations, unique monuments, sports grounds, breathe in the sea air, or enjoy some ice cream. You can also reach it by bus (routes 1, 1a, 10, 10a to the House of Justice).
The dancing fountain impresses not only with its new technologies and special effects. It is surrounded by the large water area of Lake Ardahan, which reflects the scene like a mirror and amplifies the volume of the light and water dance. The water constantly changes patterns, intersects, maintains rhythm and musical climax, and glows with rainbow transitions of colors. This fountain is also called the Lights of Evening Batumi and is compared to the best singing fountains in Europe. The musical compositions are selected to suit all tastes and moods: Georgian national motifs, rock, classical, jazz, global pop hits, and more.
The fountain comes to life after sunset, depending on the season. In summer, it tirelessly delights visitors for 3-4 hours straight.
Sports entertainment
Those who enjoy active recreation will be thrilled by the variety and abundance of sports activities along the Batumi promenade. The boulevard features several sandy fields for playing football and volleyball. During peak season, you can rent anything your heart desires: bicycles, tandem bikes, scooters, mopeds, rollerblades, kick scooters, and Segways. For the convenience and comfort of riders, a wide bike path runs along the boulevard. On summer evenings, there are many eager to engage in sports, and the promenade buzzes with endless chaotic movement. This adds positivity and good vibes to the resort.
Bike rental prices start at 10 GEL per hour. There are numerous rental points at all tourist spots.
Moreover, for avid cycling enthusiasts and professionals, a trip to Batumi is a great opportunity to participate in mass sports rides, which are held almost every week during the summer.
While relaxing on the boulevard, it’s not necessary to spend money to engage in the city’s sports life. By heading to the coastline, you can easily find a group for running. Many people take spots in the shade of pine trees for yoga and aerobics. Throughout the entire promenade, sports grounds are evenly distributed, where you can go at any time of day to give your body a beneficial workout. What could be better for your health than breathing fresh air, looking at the sea, and exercising on fitness equipment?
Restaurants, bars, cafes and clubs
A great evening pastime is definitely an important part of any vacation, and the boulevard strives to cater to its guests. The influx of tourists during the warm season is immense, and visitors have a wide variety of tastes. Some want to enjoy wine in a seaside lounge bar, while others seek a lively club party with top DJs and a pool.
Fortunately, Batumi’s nightlife is anything but dull. It’s hard for a tourist in good spirits to resist entering one of the bars, restaurants, or clubs. As you stroll along the night boulevard, you’ll hear live music bands everywhere; each restaurant gives off enticing aromas, and clubs lure you in with the electrifying beat of new popular tracks. In the summer, many establishments along the promenade host concerts and festivals featuring popular singers, musicians, and DJs.
Among the popular clubs and restaurants for tourists are:
Sector 26 – a beach club where various parties are held all summer long. The music here pleasantly surprises with its variety and quality DJ mixes. In the middle of the club, there’s a large pool.
Soho – a lounge club whose European cuisine is highly praised. It features a relaxation zone for daytime leisure and its own beach. At night, electronic music plays on weekdays, while on weekends, lively popular tunes take over.
Sun Remo – a large restaurant with excellent sea views and a terrace, situated right on the pier. The cuisine focuses on fish and meat, expertly prepared by skilled specialists. In the evenings, there’s always live music. In 2023, it was demolished to make way for a new restaurant set to open in 2025.
There is also not an ordinary building, but a real ship.
These establishments are located along the boulevard and are within walking distance. During the day, the noisy establishments calm down and become lounge-relaxation areas with sun loungers, umbrellas and comfortable sofas.
Modern sculptures
The art sculptures along the boulevard are absolutely unique, modern, and uplifting. Notably, the metal structures with hearts, scattered along the shore in various forms, are a distinctive feature of the boulevard and a favorite spot for photography. These sculptures have already become a symbol of Batumi and have found their place in printed materials. It seems that this city is intent on setting its visitors in a romantic mood, reminding them that love rules the world. Other popular installations include a huge electronic “@” symbol, an unusual pair of lovers kissing while kneeling, and more. The modern design of the promenade adds vibrant color and distinguishes it among many other resort promenades.
New Boulevard
The boundary where the New Boulevard begins is often considered to be the dilapidated water park. Or the Lech and Maria Kaczynski Park, located very close by.
Batumi sunsets
One could endlessly talk about the Batumi Boulevard, but anyone who has witnessed a sunset here knows one thing. Such a spectacle makes you forget everything else, becoming the happiest and most inspired person for a few moments. Every evening, the sunset is always completely different and uniquely beautiful. There are plenty of spots along the 7 kilometers of the boulevard to take in the view and enjoy the masterpieces painted by the sky.
It’s impossible not to love Batumi!
More about Batumi and Georgia:
Best hotels in the mountains of Georgia
Souvenirs – what to bring from Georgia as a gift
The Best Adjarian Khachapuri in Batumi. Top 5 Places
Shekvetili Dendrological Park (48 km from Batumi)
My name is Vitaly Kibitlevsky, I am a tour guide and creator of unique quests in Batumi. If you want to walk around the city with a fascinating storyteller or plunge into an exciting adventure, write to the mail: vitkibit@gmail.com
Find out more about me and my projects here