Batumi, Georgia: Former Soviet-era Black Sea beach resort with an art deco soul

I’ve already written about our wonderful vacation last summer in Georgia and Armenia. While staying in the western Georgia city of Kutaisi, we took some enjoyable trips, including to Batumi on the Black Sea.

Batumi was a well-known beach resort during the Soviet era – and you can see why. This was a great place to enjoy warmer climes and to soak up the sun and splash in the gentle Black Sea waves.

But Batumi’s art déco core show that it was a famous coastal watering town well before the birth of the USSR.

The corniche, now dotted with luxury high rises, was first laid out in 1884, and it’s a pleasant space with piers, a long boardwalk and free beaches.

Along the corniche, you can find the alphabet tower – boasting all the letters of the Georgian alphabet, which can be climbed for views over the coast – and the Ali and Nino statue, the protagonists of a popular novel about the love story of a Christian girl and an Azerbaijani Muslim boy.

I loved the belle époque old town. Europe Square is the focal point, and it’s filled with restaurants, cafés and crowds. This was constructed in the late 1800s and early 1900s, with whimsical, elegant architecture. It’s wonderfully picturesque and is a popular gathering point throughout the day and into the night.

On the square is a statue of Medea – the figure in Greek mythology married to Jason, of the Golden Fleece (disturbingly, Medea is also known for having killed her children, but that seems to be less important in this symbolism of Georgia’s ancient roots). The Golden Fleece (also celebrated in the Kutaisi fountain) symbolizes the glory of the Kolkheti Kingdom of Ancient Georgia – and solidifies Georgia’s important role in ancient European culture.

For us, Batumi was only a short day trip, but if you base yourself here longer, you can also take advantage of the proximity to Turkey, which is only 17 kilometers south of Batumi. Buses run daily, and you could easily explore the Turkish side of the Black Sea during your stay.

Like all Georgian towns, there are plenty of cable cars available to whoosh you up to panoramic points. We didn’t have time on this trip to Batumi – but next time.

This is a pleasant beach resort, with some lovely art deco architecture to add to its charm. If you’re in Georgia, be sure to enjoy some beach days in pretty Batumi.