Batumi is an old city with centuries of history. This blessed land has long been the subject of wars and disputes. The Persians, Turks, Arabs, and Russians all tried to claim it.
Today, it’s a city of contrasts, with both modern and old architecture reflecting a wide variety of styles and movements. Empire and Art Nouveau, Gothic and Neoclassical, Rococo and Romanesque buildings coexist here, alongside new glass-and-concrete constructions in Cubist and Functionalist styles with minimal décor or finishes.
In Batumi, you’ll see fantastical buildings in every possible shape. The spirit of the old city comes from structures whose historical age exceeds 150 years. They’re noteworthy not only for their architectural value but also for their cultural significance. In the center of the old town, nearly all these buildings have been restored.
The architecture of Batumi is a unique, one-of-a-kind mixture of different eras and styles, and the old town is no exception. You can see for yourself as you walk around this beautiful and very hospitable city.
Piazza Square
Piazza Square has become one of the most visited tourist spots in Batumi. This little piece of Italy blends harmoniously into the heart of old Batumi. On all four sides, it’s framed by buildings with beautiful architecture, housing cafes, restaurants, bars, and a hotel. Tourists often compare Piazza Square to St. Mark’s Square in Venice and the Piazza della Signoria in Florence.
Around the stone-paved square, you’ll find buildings in the Romanesque style, featuring arches, stained-glass windows, stucco decorations, and columns. A tall tower with large musical clocks, complete with figurines appearing at 12:00 and 15:00, has become a signature landmark of Batumi. There’s also a small fountain with a cherub, a favorite backdrop for visitors’ photos.
The intoxicating aroma of fragrant coffee wafts through the air, inviting passersby to step in and linger a while at the outdoor tables, admiring the exquisite architecture and mosaics, and soaking in the unique atmosphere of the place. It’s always busy here, with soft, pleasant music creating a festive and comfortable ambiance. In the evenings, there’s live music as well.
Around the square, there are many restaurants and cafés. Along with a cup of fragrant coffee, you can choose from a variety of delicious desserts and pastries. Restaurants offer European, Irish, and local cuisine. And what Italian spot would be complete without pizza and various Italian pastas! The service here is highly professional, with attentive and very polite staff. On a cool evening, they’ll offer you warm blankets.
At night, Piazza is illuminated in colorful lights, enveloping it in a sense of romance and mystery. It’s a must-visit spot—very atmospheric and romantic. The “Mimino” restaurant here serves wonderfully tasty khinkali.
Batumi is a multicultural city, and although most of the population is Georgian, all major religious preferences are represented here—Orthodox Christian churches, an Armenian church, a Catholic church, an Islamic mosque for Muslims, and a synagogue for Jews. Many of these are located right in the old part of the city.
Central Cathedral
When exploring the sights of the old town, you’ll inevitably notice the functioning Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Built in the Neo-Gothic style, it stands out architecturally from the surrounding buildings. Initially constructed by Italian architects as a Catholic church, it was transferred to the Georgian Orthodox Church in 1980.
It’s impossible to pass by this majestic structure made of beautiful light-colored stone, featuring huge stained-glass windows and spires that soar into the sky. The color of the stone facade changes depending on the weather and the sunlight.
Inside, the cathedral’s interior is crafted from red stone, with a blue-and-gold ornamental design. You’ll find numerous Orthodox icons and frescoes. The place has a powerful energy, filled with an atmosphere of peace and spirituality.
Armenian Church
In Batumi, there are about 8,000 Armenians, and the Holy Christ the All-Savior Church is the main place of worship for the city’s Armenian population. It’s a typical Armenian church made of light-colored stone, featuring a central tower and a conical dome.
The church of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Batumi was built with the funds of the Armenian community in 1887, based on a design by the Austrian architect Robert Marfeld. During the Soviet era, the church building was used as a warehouse and later as a planetarium. Only in 1995 did the church resume its original function.
The Holy Christ the All-Savior Church is located in the center of the old town, surrounded by greenery. The church grounds are adorned by a large, beautiful magnolia tree, planted in 1889 by the famous seascape painter of Armenian origin, Ivan Aivazovsky. From afar, the building’s architectural features and lovely grounds draw the eye.
In Armenian churches, there are fewer icons, but nearly all the walls are covered with inscriptions, and there are stained-glass windows depicting saints. An essential element of any Armenian church is the carved stone cross known as a khachkar. There are two khachkars on the grounds of the Armenian church in Batumi.
The church also operates a Sunday school, a youth center, and two music groups, which sometimes participate in religious events held on the church premises.
St. Nicholas Church
Opposite Piazza Square stands an active Russian Orthodox church dedicated to St. Nicholas. Built around 150 years ago with Greek architectural features, it’s one of the oldest and most revered churches in the city. The funds for its construction were collected from parishioners.
The exterior is uniquely clad in beige and red stripes, and it has two gilded domes, one of which serves as a bell tower. Within the church’s yard, there is a large mosaic depicting a drowning sailor being saved by St. Nicholas.
The church is small, yet it carries a strong sense of spirituality and harmony. It’s so comforting and peaceful inside that you won’t want to leave. Visitors often remark on the feeling of tranquility, comfort, and inner peace they experience here.
Mosque and Turkish quarter
For about five centuries, Batumi was under the rule of the Ottoman Empire, with its Muslim traditions and faith. Once, there were three mosques in Batumi; today, only one remains. However, given Turkey’s growing influence on Batumi, it’s possible there may be more mosques in the future.
Orta-Jame Mosque, built in 1866, is located on Kutaisi Street—this is Batumi’s Turkish quarter. The mosque stands out primarily for its tall minaret, from which the adhan, performed by a muezzin, is periodically heard. It’s a call inviting believers to the obligatory prayer. At night, the minaret is beautifully lit in various colors and can be seen from far away.
It’s worth taking a moment to talk about the Turkish quarter. It’s a very vibrant area. Along Kutaisi Street and the surrounding territory, you’ll find Turkish shops, cafes, restaurants, hotels, stalls, teahouses, poker clubs, beauty salons, and homes where Turkish people live.
You’ll hear the loud Turkish language everywhere, along with distinctive Turkish music and the aroma of shawarma being prepared. As is customary in the East, men sit at tables outside. They chat, drink tea from small, tulip-shaped glasses, or play backgammon or dominoes. In the cafes and restaurants, you’ll be offered dishes from traditional Turkish cuisine.
Be sure to walk through the Turkish quarter and you will briefly find yourself in a small Istanbul. However, not all Batumi residents living on Kutaisskaya are happy with such a noisy neighborhood. Loud music and noise coming from gambling establishments, bars and discos at night cause a lot of problems for people living in the Turkish quarter.
Europe Square
Europe Square is a small square in the center of Batumi, but it amazes with the originality of its modern architecture. In the center of the square is a large monument to the Colchian princess and sorceress Medea, who extends the Golden Fleece to the ancient Greek Argonauts. A relief image of the ship “Argo” is on the front side of the pedestal of the Medea monument.
There is also a large fountain here, notable for allowing you to walk beneath its streams without getting wet. Children are especially delighted by this, and their laughter is often heard in the area. Your attention will certainly be drawn to a fairy-tale palace with turrets, arched windows, and spires, as well as beautiful buildings decorated with mosaics, colorful stained-glass windows, and a large astronomical clock.
Its dial is designed to look like a celestial sphere with zodiac constellations, and the clock hands feature images of the sun and moon moving around it. The Earth is in the center. In addition to this, the clock allows you to determine the moon phases, horizon, meridian, sunrise and sunset times, the moon’s position in the zodiac circle, and the placement of zodiac signs. These astronomical clocks are multifunctional. People passing by can set their watches according to them. Not every city can boast an astronomical clock. As you walk around the square, you’ll also see a monument to Memed Abashidze, a well-known Georgian politician and writer.
The landscape design around the square is striking. The lawns have bright green, precisely trimmed grass, and colorful flowers planted in intricate patterns. Well-tended palms and magnolias, decoratively shaped bushes, and various sculptures are found among all this splendor. Along the square, there are plenty of benches for resting while you take in the view. Despite the large crowds of people strolling here, the area remains impeccably clean.
In the evening, like much of Batumi, the square is transformed. All the buildings are illuminated, the streetlights cast a warm glow, and the fountain shimmers like gold. You could spend a long time admiring the square and taking photos for memories. Each building has its own unique charm.
As befits the status of a city’s central square, Europe Square hosts celebrations, fairs, concerts, festivals, and impressive events, as well as film and music video shoots. Europe Square is lovely at any time of day and in any weather.
Chacha Tower
(demolished in September 2024)
This tower was built in an Eastern style using light-colored stone, featuring numerous arches and carved elements, with golden domed spheres and small pools surrounding four fountains. Large clocks adorned the facade of the tower.
Chacha flowed from one of the fountains for only 15 minutes, once a week, each time from a different one. In the evening, like almost all buildings in the old town, the Chacha Tower was beautifully illuminated with colorful lights. Thanks to its height, the tower was visible from afar.
A park and a skyscraper are planned to replace it.
Theater Square
Walking along Rustaveli Avenue, you will inevitably find yourself at Theater Square. It owes its name to the Batumi State Drama Theater named after I. Chavchavadze. The building is made of light-colored stone in the late Classical (Empire) style, characterized by strict lines, straightforward forms, significant volume, minimal decoration, and elements of axial symmetry.
The facade of the building is adorned with eight columns featuring molded cornices, covered with a layer of gilding. On the pediment, you’ll see the comedy and tragedy masks, also gilded, which are traditional for theaters. The Batumi State Drama Theater is arguably one of the main cultural landmarks of Batumi.
A monument to the prominent Georgian writer, publicist, and social figure Ilia Chavchavadze—who fought for Georgia’s independence—stands in front of the theater. Performances are held in the Georgian language and include both world classics and Georgian drama.
A bit farther from the theater, at the center of the square, there’s a magnificent fountain. It’s worth noting that this Empire-style fountain is an exact replica of one located in Bologna, Italy. Atop a tall pedestal of light-colored stone stands a statue of Neptune holding a trident. The statue is gilded, making it visible from afar. At the feet of the ancient Greek god of the sea are mermaids with fish tails, supporting the pedestal. The pedestal is adorned with intricate elements and sculptures. This spot is always bustling, day or night. It’s a favorite place for photo shoots and a must-visit stop on all walking tours, as well as a popular resting place for people of all ages.
Undoubtedly, we couldn’t cover all of Old Batumi’s attractions in this article. If you’d like to get to know the city more intimately, learn the stories of its famous residents, and discover its secrets, we recommend going on a private tour with Vitaly Kibilevsky. Through his tour, you’ll learn more about the city than many locals. His knowledge of Batumi, its history, and his love for the Old Town are simply astonishing.
Every tourist city has an area known as the “old town.” You’ll be captivated by Old Batumi, its uniqueness, multitude of faces, diverse architecture, and beautiful landscape design. Of course, the old town is not all there is to Batumi, but it’s certainly a part you must visit to take away a piece of its warmth, beauty, and love.
Map of Batumi attractions
The map shows about 50 interesting places in the city, and several dozen locations in Adjara. In order to see the attractions of Batumi, enlarge the map by clicking on the plus several times.
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