Every seaside resort deserves to be seen from above, and Batumi is no exception. The city is so unusual, colorful, romantic and modern at the same time that you really should see the full picture. There are plenty of ways to do it: the cable car, sky bars on the top floors of the best hotels, panoramic restaurants, the Ferris wheel and the Holy Trinity (Sameba) church on top of a mountain. In the daytime you can study the city like a map, photograph the sea and the mountains, and watch Batumi’s rhythm and movement. At night the views are unforgettable: the city breathes with lights, flickers and wraps you in romance. Walking around town, you admire the Ali and Nino statue, the cozy Piazza square, the fountains, the parks and the beautiful hotels. From above you see them all at once, and they come together into a stunning panorama. To get the most out of Batumi’s views, come to the viewpoint of your choice in the early evening: you will catch the bright sunset over the city and then enjoy Batumi’s night lights.
In short: how much it costs to go up (2026 prices)
- Argo cable car: 39 GEL return for adults, 9 GEL for children aged 5–11. There are no one-way tickets; it runs every day until midnight.
- Ferris wheel on the boulevard: 15 GEL.
- Alphabet Tower: 20 GEL for the elevator ride.
If you have only one evening in Batumi, here is what I would do: ride the Argo up for the sunset, then go down to the boulevard to the Ferris wheel and the Alphabet Tower. They stand next to each other by the lighthouse, and night Batumi looks especially beautiful from above.
Argo cable car
The cable car is a relatively new attraction in Batumi. It was designed and built by the Austrian company Doppelmayr, one of the world leaders in quality and technology in this field, and opened in 2013. The Argo cable car starts on Gogebashvili Street by the sea, between the cargo and passenger ports (GPS 41.647417, 41.645570), and takes visitors up Mount Feria (GPS 41.625481, 41.656208).
It is about 2,600 meters long, reaches almost 260 meters above sea level and is said to be the longest cable car not only in Georgia but in Europe. At the top of the mountain there is a church, an observation deck, a wine shop, a souvenir shop and a cafe. Almost every tourist who comes to Batumi for the first time goes up here, if only to see the scale of the city. The cable car has 9 cozy cabins with six seats each. It runs every day until midnight. Tickets are sold only as a return trip: 39 GEL for adults and 9 GEL for children aged 5 to 11.
The ride takes about 10 minutes and leaves impressions for a long time. Both kids and adults love it. The cabins are fully glazed, which gives you a 360-degree view. As the cabin climbs, it leaves behind the cars below, the embankment and the coastal blocks, then passes over the small village of Feria with scattered private houses and finally arrives at the most popular viewpoint in the city. The panorama is truly unforgettable, and so are the photos you take here. You can stand on the deck for ages looking at the city, the sea and the mountains of Adjara. The view of the city in the embrace of the sea is so mesmerizing that time seems to stop. You want to keep looking into the distance and breathing the fresh mountain air. The view is interesting at any time of day, each time in its own way, but it is especially good at sunset and at night. Sunsets in Batumi are special because the sun sets right into the sea. The clouds turn every shade of red and scarlet and take on bizarre shapes. From the deck you can’t take your eyes off it. At night the city starts twinkling with lights, and from a distance it is especially romantic. A good plan is to come here in the evening, sit in the cafe with something tasty, catch the sunset and stay for the colorful night. In season, music and dance groups perform here.
There is also the church of the Great Martyr Catherine at the top, but it is behind the fence of the deck and unfortunately you can’t get in. Besides the cafe with coffee, drinks, ice cream and Georgian dishes, there is a souvenir shop and a wine shop. Wine and souvenirs here are much more expensive than in town. There is also a big telescope: for a small fee you can zoom in on the views you like.
If you are fit, you can also walk up the mountain. It is healthier, but you will miss the joy of the cable car ride.
Sameba (Holy Trinity) Church
The Sameba (Holy Trinity) church stands on a mountain about 400 meters high and can be seen from the center of Batumi (GPS 41.631928, 41.693963). From the coast it looks like a toy model that fits perfectly into the mountain landscape. It’s hard to judge the distance by eye, and it seems quite far away, but the road from the center of Batumi to the church is only about 10 kilometers.
Don’t use private drivers and overpay for dubious “excursions”. They charge several times more than a regular city taxi, which will take you there and back for just 15–20 GEL, including 20 minutes of waiting at the top. The taxi stops at a metal fence, and from there it’s a couple of minutes’ walk up to the church. The budget option is a marshrutka (minibus), but from the last stop you’ll have to walk about a kilometer uphill. The serpentine road up to Sameba feels short and interesting: tangerine and persimmon trees grow along it, and cows and sheep graze on the slopes. Women in short clothes or without a head covering and men in shorts are not allowed into the church grounds. At the entrance there are scarves and skirts on a wooden stand for visitors.
The church was built in the 19th century on the site of a former cemetery. Sameba was one of the two churches in Batumi that worked in Soviet times; in the 1930s it was turned over to household use and services stopped for a while. After the Second World War, the faithful asked the Patriarch of Georgia, Kalistrate, to help reopen the country’s churches, including those in Batumi. Services resumed in 1947. The parishioners restored Sameba themselves, as the church had great historical importance for the city. In 1976 it burned down completely in a fire. It was rebuilt in three years, and services resumed in 1979 and continue to this day. Its final restoration took place recently, when the new tourist Batumi was being built and decorated.
The church is built of light carved stone and looks golden and warm in the sun. The stone ornaments are variations of carving that has existed in Georgia for many centuries. Sameba is a basilica, with a bell tower next to it. The front facade is decorated with a large icon of the Holy Trinity and massive metal doors inlaid with biblical scenes. As you climb the stairs to the main entrance, you can see mosaics of saints and of the Virgin Mary holding her veil. In front of the church there are neat geometric lawns with trimmed bright green grass and bushes.
At the very top, at the foot of Sameba, in the ringing silence under the endless blue sky, you feel closer to something higher, and your heart fills with peace. The noisy city and the bustle stay below. The view from here is breathtaking: majestic mountains, the vast sea merging with the deep blue sky, and the city at your feet. If you look at the sea and the city, on the neighboring mountain to the left you can see a convent where 6 nuns live. A little further is the bishop’s residence.
Skybar Nephele
The bar on the 20th floor of the Hilton is one of the most fashionable and stylish places in Batumi (GPS 41.649284, 41.625747). Its height lets guests fully enjoy the city panorama. Batumi is in the palm of your hand from here: the sea, the boulevard, the Sheraton, the Alphabet Tower, the Ferris wheel. People mostly come here for cocktails, desserts, hookah or sushi. The menu is international, from sushi to khachapuri. It is not the best choice for a hearty dinner, but you can definitely spend a pleasant evening with a glass of real Georgian wine and a good snack, admiring the views. Prices at Skybar Nephele are above average, the service is very good and friendly, the furniture is comfortable, and the music is calm and relaxing. The bar hosts themed and music parties. At night it’s especially cozy to sit on the open terrace wrapped in a blanket with a cappuccino, watching the city lights. The bar is open from 3 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Where to eat in Batumi: unusual and interesting cafes
Koshki (Tower) Restaurant
A place many people know for its beautiful views and great food. It stands on the Black Sea shore, and if you walk along the boulevard you can’t miss it (GPS 41.639718, 41.610824). The building is very charming: a small red-and-white spiral tower with its stairs visible through the open arches. It always attracts tourists who love taking photos in picturesque spots. Anyone can climb to the top of the tower and enjoy the sea breeze and the views of the boulevard, the three impressive Sea Towers and Lake Ardagani. In the daytime all this is flooded with sunlight, and in the evening it turns into a colorful fairy tale of lights. The patterns of the singing fountains look especially impressive from this angle. The restaurant has a summer area, a banquet hall and a terrace on the second floor. Prices are reasonable, there are European and Georgian dishes, the portions are large and everything is very tasty, especially the shashlik and the house beer. Couples and big groups both like it here, as there is live music and a chance to dance your heart out. In Georgian the place is called Koshki (from the Georgian “koshki”, tower), which is easier for tourists to remember than other tricky Georgian words.
Roof Terrace
Not every tourist, or even every local, knows about this cozy cafe, because it is tucked away in the narrow streets of the old town. Roof Terrace is on the top floor of the Old Town hotel and has a superb view (GPS 41.649844, 41.642936).
Ferris wheel
Admiring the city from restaurants and bars is wonderful, but riding a Ferris wheel is a completely different feeling. Deep down we are all children, and rides are like forgotten pictures from childhood. The small open cabins rise to 55 meters and give you 10 minutes of delight (the ride costs 15 GEL). That’s enough to take a good look at the embankment, the Miracle Park and the streets of hospitable Batumi and take photos. Although a second or third round will fix the emotions even better, especially in good company. Grab a cup of coffee or some ice cream on your way. The wheel is at the start of the boulevard next to the Ali and Nino statue (GPS 41.655276, 41.642756).
Clouds bar and restaurant
Another very interesting panoramic bar and restaurant is Clouds. Today it is called Umami at Clouds and serves Pan-Asian cuisine. It is in the city center, on the 19th floor of the Radisson, and looks both ways along the embankment, taking in the Alphabet Tower, the Ferris wheel, the lighthouse, Europe Square, the Sheraton, the boulevard, the sea and the mountains. The design is restrained, stylish and modern. Prices are above average, but on weekends guest DJs and bands create a festive atmosphere. You can have fun, dance and eat well. Umami at Clouds is open from noon to 1 a.m., and until 3 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Guests also praise the quality and variety of the cocktails.
Georgian Alphabet Tower
Georgian writing appeared around the 5th century, and the Georgian Alphabet Tower was built by the Spanish architect Alberto Domingo Cabo in 2011. The 33 Georgian letters spiral around the 130-meter tower, which attracts visitors and is a national pride of the locals. This monument shaped like a DNA molecule can be seen from almost anywhere in the city. It stands on the boulevard near the lighthouse and the Ferris wheel (GPS 41.655973, 41.639450). There is a glass elevator (the ride up costs 20 GEL) and stairs if you want to walk. At the top there is an information area for tourists with old and new photos of Georgia’s sights, an online guide and a souvenir shop. You can enjoy the views of the boulevard and the Black Sea from the comfortable chairs of the info center or from the small glazed restaurant. The restaurant at the top of the tower is now called Atmosphere and is open from 11:00 to midnight. Tourists love it because while tasting Asian and European dishes you don’t need to look for places in the city: the restaurant makes a full turn in 1 hour. You can take a mini tour without hurrying: see Batumi from all sides, eat and have tea or coffee with dessert.
A 360-degree panorama shot above the Alphabet Tower. Drag the picture to look around:
360 Sky Bar restaurant (formerly Veronika)
In the very center of the city, on the 20th floor of the popular Sheraton hotel, there is a good panoramic restaurant. It used to be called Veronika; today it is 360 Sky Bar and Restaurant (GPS 41.650706, 41.630179). You watch the busy city from a height of 110 meters with a 360-degree view. It’s a great place to spend an evening watching the sun set into the sea and the lights of the Batumi night come on. Today it is a steakhouse serving steaks and sushi. It is open every day from 12:30 to 01:00.
You may also be interested in:
Where to stay in Batumi: apartments for daily rent by the sea
Best hotels in the mountains of Georgia
All beaches of Batumi and Adjara
See also: Hopa market in Batumi.
Hello!
I am Victor, the founder of this site and its main, but not the only author.
Traveler and photographer. Visited more than 60 countries.
Born and raised in Batumi. I love to travel in Georgia.
More about me here.