First Day In Batumi: Photos Of My Continuing Travels In Beautiful Georgia (The Country)

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A one-shot sampling of the wide variety of architectural styles that decorate the skyline of Batumi, Georgia, a seaside resort town now in its off-season.

Just a few days ago, I walked through the streets of Batumi, Georgia, second-largest city in this beautiful country, which straddles the eastern edge of Europe and western edge of Asia, an area of the world often called Eurasia.

Batumi boasts the beautiful Black Sea coastal resorts and the spectacular Caucasus mountains, the tallest mountains in Europe.

It was a quiet Sunday morning, my first full day in Batumi after a 5.5-hour excursion by train from Tbilisi the day before.

The rocky beach of the Black Sea coast in winter

I spent the past three months in Tbilisi, the nation’s capital and largest city, and thought I might have seen the best city Georgia has to offer. So I was skeptical of the hype about Batumi, wondering whether I’d enjoy this city even a fraction as much as I enjoyed Tbilisi.

Cupola or cornice? There are elements of both architectural features in this elaborate corner structure in downtown Batumi

It took just one walk about the center city neighborhood where I booked a room for a month to realize that I was misguided in my skepticism.

My first impression of Batumi is that one of the city’s most distinctive features is its marvelous variety of modern architecture juxtaposed with beautifully restored traditional styles.

The skyline is a visual delight, including more unusually inspired structural designs than I’ve seen before in any one place.

What I’ve seen these first few days is nothing like I imagined it would be. And I’m now looking forward to seeing the rest of this remarkable place I’m now discovering.

So which city do I like best? Let me present some evidence on behalf of the challenger, Batumi.

I’ve assembled these photos from my first few walks through the city’s center that will serve as evidence for at least a tie for my favorite city in Georgia, at least visually, when the final verdict is in. I was that impressed.

I wish I knew the names of these buildings, but I don’t — yet. But this post is only about the images, the style and look of the unique structures, not what they are or who they represent.

Here are a few more.

A quaint cobble-stoned street accented by an ornately decorated throwback-styled clock tower in the city center.
Note the actual ferris wheel installed in the side of the building in the middle, matching the column features on the more traditiional-styled building on the left, juxtaposed with the modern girders-and-glass building on the right with its angled cockiness standing over the smaller, traditional building with a half-octagonal cupola attached to its side. It’s amazing how many delightful architectural manifestations can crowd into a single view in Batumi!
Fantastic revisions of a traditional architectural style softened by the presence of a lone palm tree on the street.
Finally, a view from the park on Batumi Boulevard, which fronts the beaches of the Black Sea, looking toward the snow-capped mountains in the distance as a turbulent sky hovers over the city.

12 thoughts on “First Day In Batumi: Photos Of My Continuing Travels In Beautiful Georgia (The Country)”

  1. I’m sure you’ve done it by now, but the walking tour is a must to learn the history of some of these crazy buildings. Have a great time, and happy holidays to you! We are looking forward to seeing where you land next

  2. I give Batumi a 10/10 for architectural uniqueness! 😀
    That Ferris wheel is innovative – and visually appealing

  7. Recently a friend sent me some walk-through videos of Batumi. It seems to me, you have seen a whole other angle of this place. How refreshing! Thank you for your writing style too. I can feel the honesty, accuracy, efficiency and passion. Also, a pretty refreshing combination. Nice work David H.

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