Old City of Batumi

Old Batumi is the historic district next to the boulevard and the port: narrow cobbled streets, houses with balconies, camellias in the courtyards and places of worship of different faiths a block apart. It is free to walk around, there are no ticket offices, and the district is open day and night. Allow 2-3 hours, including Piazza and Europe Square.

What to see in the Old City

European and Eastern architecture stand side by side here, and one walk shows how a port town lived where Orthodox Christians, Muslims, Jews, Armenians and Catholics prayed within a few streets of each other. On the way:

• the Church of the Virgin Mary and a new Gothic-style Catholic church;
• the synagogue and a small Armenian chapel;
• the Orta Jame mosque with its minaret;
• the puppet theatre and Era Square;
• Piazza Square and Europe Square with the Medea statue.

The astronomical clock

The clock is on the National Bank tower, at the corner of Abashidze and Gamsakhurdia streets. Besides the time it shows the position of the sun, the phases of the moon, the meridian and the horizon. A stop here takes 5-10 minutes.

The fountains at the Old Boulevard entrance

At the main entrance to the Old Boulevard, on Ninoshvili Street, there are three coloured fountains built in 1977. They were renovated in 2007 and now play music; figures of the "Salamuri boys" stand around them. The show runs in the evening; check the times on the spot.

How to explore the Old City

The district is best seen on foot: from the sea to Europe Square is only a few blocks, and the lower station of the Argo cable car is close by, a good way to end the walk with a view from above. A ready-made order of stops is in what to see in Batumi in one day, and places for lunch are in our list of where to eat in Batumi.

Tips

• Cover shoulders and knees when you go into churches and the mosque; in Orthodox churches women are expected to cover their heads.
• In summer the streets are more pleasant in the morning or evening; at midday head to the sea and the boulevard.
• The cobbles are uneven: with a pushchair the squares and the boulevard are easier.

The Old City is a convenient base, with the sea, the boulevard and cafes all within walking distance. You can find a hotel in Old Batumi on Booking, some with no prepayment.

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