Museums of Batumi: what to visit to get acquainted with the culture

Dive into the world of history, art and culture. Learn about the main museums of the city, their unique exhibits and why they have become a must-visit for every guest of Batumi.

In Batumi you will find both classic historical and archaeological museums, and modern ones dedicated to technology and ethnography. We have compiled a list of the main museums for you, which will help you learn more about the history, life and culture of Batumi.

Contents of the article:

1. State Museum of Adjara named after Kh. Akhvlediani
2. Archaeological Museum
3. Museum of Art of Adjara
4. Nobel Brothers Museum of Technology
5. Ethnographic Museum
6. Museum of Religion

1. State Museum of Adjara named after Kh. Akhvlediani

If you want to truly understand the culture and history of Adjara, start your acquaintance with Batumi right here - at the Khariton Akhvlediani State Museum of Adjara. This is not just a museum, but a real journey through the centuries, where ancient legends, traditions and nature of this amazing land come to life.

A bit of history

The museum was founded in 1908 as a small school exhibition at the Pushkin City School. Over time, the collection grew, and in 1930 the museum moved to the former treasury building, built in 1883, where it remains to this day. Since 2005, the museum has been named after Khariton Akhvlediani, a famous scientist, historian and educator who headed the museum for almost half a century and made a huge contribution to the development of archeology and the popularization of the cultural heritage of the region.

What to see

The museum contains more than 180,000 unique exhibits related to the history, culture and nature of Adjara. The exhibition occupies two floors and is divided into four sections:

• Nature: Here you will see rare specimens of flora and fauna, minerals, fossils and even an 18-metre whale skeleton that can be found in the courtyard.

• Archaeology: a unique collection of finds from the 12th century BC to the 2nd century AD: bronze axes, engraved belts, antique figurines and coins.

• Ethnography: traditional costumes, household items, models of houses and weapons workshops, national jewelry and wedding dresses

• History: documents, photographs, weapons collection, manuscripts and artifacts related to key events and personalities of Adjara.

Useful information

Museum address: st. Khariton Akhvlediani 4, Batumi

Opening hours: the museum is open daily from 10:00 to 18:00

2. Archaeological Museum

Photo: Aleksey Mukhranoff / Wikimedia

* The museum is temporarily closed for reconstruction.

If you want to get acquainted with the ancient history of Adjara and look into the past of the region, then the Batumi Archaeological Museum is a place that is definitely worth visiting. It contains unique artifacts that tell about the life and culture of the peoples who inhabited this territory thousands of years ago. 

A bit of history

The Batumi Archaeological Museum was founded in 1994 and has since become one of the city's main cultural centers. The idea to create the museum arose due to the wealth of archaeological finds discovered in the region. Adjara is a place where trade routes and cultures crossed, so each exhibit in the museum holds a piece of ancient history.

The museum's collection contains more than 23,000 exhibits, spanning the period from the Bronze Age to the Middle Ages. Here you can see how civilization developed on the territory of modern Georgia and what treasures our ancestors left us.

What to see

The museum's exhibition is divided into several thematic zones, each of which tells its own unique story.

• Ancient artifacts from the Bronze Age.
  The exhibits feature tools, jewelry, and household items that people used thousands of years ago. Of particular note are the bronze daggers and axes, which look as if they were just made.

• Antique treasures.
  This section tells about the period when the territory of Adjara was part of the Colchis Kingdom. You will see ceramic vessels, coins and jewelry that were used in everyday life and religious ceremonies.

• Gold jewelry.
  One of the pearls of the museum's collection is the gold items found in burials. These ornaments are striking in their delicacy and elegance - true works of ancient art.

• Medieval artifacts.
  This section features items that tell us about life in the region during the feudal era. Here you can see weapons, ceramics and even architectural elements.

• Archaeological finds from excavations in Adjara.
  Many of the museum's exhibits were found during excavations in the region. This makes the collection especially valuable, as it shows the unique history of this particular part of Georgia.

Useful information

Museum address: st. Chavchavadze 77, Batumi

Opening hours: the museum is open daily from 10:00 to 18:00. Closed on Monday.

3. Museum of Art of Adjara

Photo: Yasuhiro Kojima / Freepik

If you want to feel the creative atmosphere of Batumi and get acquainted with the cultural heritage of Adjara, be sure to visit the State Museum of Art. This museum is a real treasure trove of works of art that reflect the spirit of the region and its connection with global trends.

A bit of history

The State Museum of Art of Adjara was founded in 1998 and has become one of the main cultural centers of the region. Its goal is to preserve and popularize the rich artistic heritage of Adjara, as well as to present the works of Georgian and foreign masters.

The museum is located in the heart of Batumi. The building itself is an architectural monument built in the early 20th century. It combines elements of classical and modernist styles, making it one of the most beautiful buildings in the city.

What can you see?

The exhibition is located on two floors and covers different eras - from ancient times to modern times. At the same time, the museum is compact and convenient to visit: getting to know its collection will take only 20-30 minutes, which makes it easy to include it in any route.

Currently, the museum houses about 400 exhibits:

• Painting: Works by famous Georgian artists such as Pirosmani, Gudiashvili and Kakabadze. Their paintings reflect the rich culture and history of Georgia.

• Graphics and sculpture: fine engravings, expressive sculptures and installations that allow us to see different facets of art.

• Contemporary Art: Exhibitions of young Georgian artists who demonstrate new approaches and fresh ideas.

• International works: the collection includes works by foreign masters such as Sommer, Vogel, Aivazovsky.

Useful information

Museum address: st. Zurab Gorgiladze 8, Batumi

Working hours: The museum is open daily from 11:00 to 18:00.

4. Nobel Brothers Museum of Technology

If you want to delve into the industrial history of Batumi and learn how the city became an important center for oil trade, be sure to visit the Nobel Brothers Technology Museum. This museum is a real find for those interested in science, technology, and history, as its exhibition tells about the key role of the Nobel brothers in the development of the region.

A bit of history

The Technological Museum was opened in 2007 to preserve the memory of those times and to show how technology has changed the life of the region. The museum is located in the same building that housed the Batumi Office of the Nobel Brothers Oil Production Partnership a century ago.

At the end of the 19th century, Batumi became an important point on the oil transportation route from Baku to Europe, and it was the Nobel brothers who played a key role in this process. They founded an oil terminal here and made a huge contribution to the development of the city's infrastructure.

What can you see?

The museum's exposition is dedicated not only to the activities of the Nobels, but also to the general development of the economy and culture in Batumi.

The museum contains more than 2,000 items:

• Rare photographs and documents telling about the activities of the Nobel brothers in Batumi.

• Models of vintage equipment used in the oil industry.

• Technological developments and achievements that were made in Batumi in the late 19th – early 20th centuries.

• Exhibits related to the development of tea culture and trade in Georgian wines.

Useful information

Museum address: Leselidze st. 3, Batumi

Opening hours: the museum is open daily from 10:00 to 18:00, closed on Mondays.

5. Ethnographic Museum

If you want to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of local life and traditions of a century ago, then the Ethnographic Museum "Borjgalo" is a must-see. This museum has become one of the main attractions of the region, attracting tourists and locals with its warm atmosphere, realistic models and authenticity.

A bit of history

The Borjgalo Museum was opened in 2016 by the talented Georgian artist and sculptor Kemal Turmanidze.

Turmanidze began collecting exhibits for the museum long before its official opening. His passion for Georgian culture and the desire to preserve traditions inspired him to create a museum where visitors could learn about the life and customs of Georgians in the past. Most of the exhibits were created by Kemal Turmanidze himself: he hand-made wooden sculptures, reconstructed ancient household items and craft tools.

The museum opened not so long ago, but has already managed to win many awards, and its exhibits have been exhibited in the USA, Australia, and European countries.

What can you see?

The museum will delight both adults and children with its realistic models, which are made with love.

• Reconstruction of a traditional Georgian village.
  The museum is a small village where you can see how Georgians lived in the past. On the museum grounds there are houses, farm buildings, mills, forges and other elements of traditional rural life.

• Wooden sculptures.
  One of the main features of the museum are the wooden sculptures created by Kemal Turmanidze. These sculptures depict scenes from the everyday life of Georgians: artisans, farmers, musicians, families at work and at rest.

• Hand-made exhibits.
  Most of the exhibits in the museum were created by hand, which makes them unique. Here you can see traditional tools, furniture, utensils, musical instruments and much more.

Useful information

Museum address: Kakhaberi village, st. M. Sharashidze 14, Batumi

Opening hours: the museum is open daily from 10:00 to 18:00

6. Museum of Religion

If you want to gain a deeper understanding of the cultural and spiritual diversity of Batumi, be sure to visit the Batumi Museum of Religion named after David Komakhidze. Here you can see how different religions and cultures coexisted over the centuries, leaving their mark on the history of Adjara.

A bit of history

The museum was founded in 2004 and became the first museum of its kind in Georgia. It was named after David Komakhidze, the son of Georgian writer and publicist Teimuraz Komakhidze. The Komakhidze family made a great contribution to the development of the museum by providing some exhibits from private collections.

The museum building itself was built in the 19th century and was previously used for religious gatherings. It has retained its original architecture, which combines elements of Georgian and European styles.

What to see

The museum's exhibition includes:

• Immersion in the history of religion in Batumi - Orthodoxy, various Christian movements, Islam, religious books of Judaism, Buddhism and Catholicism, rituals.

• Objects and clothing, rare photographs of the past, various Orthodox icons, bas-reliefs made using the author's technology, enamel.

It is important to note that the museum displays exhibits reflecting the history and culture of all Catholic communities in Georgia. If you want to learn how the destinies of different peoples and faiths intertwined in Adjara, feel free to include this museum in your route.

Useful information

Museum address: Tamari district, Tamar village, Batumi

Opening hours: the museum is open daily from 10:00 to 18:00

Batumi museums are not just repositories of history and art, but real portals to the past and present of the region. Each of them is unique: be it the Adjara Art Museum with its rich collection of paintings and sculptures, or the archaeological museum revealing the ancient secrets of the Black Sea coast.

If you want to not just see Batumi, but really get to know it, be sure to take the time to visit museums. This is a great opportunity to discover the city from a new side, immerse yourself in its multifaceted culture, and dive into the world of art, history, and science.