What is it? A 130-metre tower on the Batumi seafront, opened in the early 2010s, with the Georgian alphabet running up a double-helix structure.
Where? Near the port and Miracle Park, at the southern end of the Boulevard, beside the Ali and Nino sculpture.
Can you go up? There is an observation level and a restaurant in the upper sphere. Access and opening arrangements have changed several times — check locally before making a trip specifically for it.
Is it worth going up? The view is good. The tower is more impressive from the ground than the view from it is unique — the cable car gives a wider panorama.
Best time to see it: after dark, when the letters and the helix are lit.
Cost: free to look at. The observation level and restaurant are paid.
The Double Helix and the Alphabet
The tower's structure is deliberate: the two spiralling bands reference a DNA double helix, and the letters running along them make the point explicit — the Georgian alphabet as part of the national genetic code.
Whether that reads as elegant or heavy-handed is a matter of taste. What is not in dispute is that the Georgian script deserves the attention. It has three historical forms, of which the modern Mkhedruli is the one on the tower, and the whole system is recognised by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage.
If you have been in Georgia for a few days and the letters have started to resolve from decoration into something you can almost read, the tower is more interesting than it first appears.
Going Up
The upper part of the tower holds a glass sphere containing an observation area and a restaurant, reached by lift.
Two honest notes. First, arrangements have changed repeatedly since the tower opened — periods of closure, changes of operator, varying access rules — so anything published online about hours and prices should be verified on the day rather than trusted in advance. Second, the view is good but not the best available in Batumi: the cable car up to the hills gives a wider view of the whole city, the coast and the mountains behind, and costs less.
The case for going up is the position — you are directly above the port and the seafront, looking down the line of the Boulevard — and the restaurant, if you want dinner with a view rather than a viewpoint on its own.
When to See It
At night. The tower is lit, and the helix and letters read much more clearly in the dark than in daylight. From the Boulevard it is one of the defining shapes of the Batumi skyline.
At sunset. Photographed from the seafront path with the sea behind, this is the best light.
In the day. Perfectly fine but flatter. The tower is silver-grey against a sky that is often the same colour.
What to Combine It With
The tower sits in Batumi's cluster of modern seafront landmarks and takes ten minutes on its own. It belongs in a longer walk:
- Ali and Nino — the moving sculpture directly beside it, best after dark.
- Miracle Park and the Ferris wheel — the surrounding leisure area.
- The port and the old seafront — walking north from here brings you towards the Old Town in about 20 minutes.
- The Boulevard — the promenade that connects all of it.
The standard evening route through this whole area is in Batumi at night.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is the Alphabet Tower?
Approximately 130 metres.
What are the letters on the Alphabet Tower?
The 33 letters of the modern Georgian alphabet (Mkhedruli), repeated in sequence along two spiralling bands.
Can you go inside the Alphabet Tower?
There is an observation level and a restaurant in the sphere near the top, reached by lift. Access arrangements have changed several times, so check locally before travelling specifically for it.
Is the Alphabet Tower free?
Looking at it from the seafront is free. The observation level and restaurant charge.
Where is the Alphabet Tower?
On Batumi's seafront near the port and Miracle Park, at the southern end of the Boulevard.
Is it worth visiting?
As part of a seafront walk, yes — it is one of the defining structures of modern Batumi. As a destination in its own right, less so; the cable car offers a better view for less money.
For the story behind the rest of the skyline, the Batumium: Discover the Essence of Batumi self-guided audio tour covers the seafront and the Old Town, explaining how the port and different communities shaped the city.
Start the Batumium audio tour →