20 best museums in Tbilisi – list, prices 2021, opening hours, map
In recent years, tours to Georgia have become increasingly popular. Mild climate, beautiful nature, delicious cuisine, an abundance of attractions – all this attracts guests from other countries. And, of course, it is impossible not to visit the capital of the country – Tbilisi. When planning your acquaintance with this city, remember – you need to try to see as much as possible. This opportunity is provided by the museums of Tbilisi, which will introduce you to the past and present of Georgia.
National Museum of Georgia Simona Janashia
It was based on the collections of the Caucasian Museum, which was located in this building back in 1825. In 1921, in order to save historical values from the Bolsheviks, they were taken to Europe. When the Second World War died down, they returned back to Tbilisi. In 1991, power changed in Georgia, the building was damaged. After some time, the building had to endure another fire. So this cultural institution has a very difficult history.
Also in the early 2000s, a reorganization took place, the purpose of which was to optimize the work of a number of museums. In 2004, the network was founded: it included 13 cultural institutions, including the one in question
. There is something to see at the National Museum. His main treasure is gold objects. These are coins, jewelry and chasing, which date back to the 2nd century BC. Also here are ancient weapons and utensils.
Guests can see the remains of the oldest representative of the human race, who lived about 2 million years ago. Stones with Urartian inscriptions are also of great interest. In general, it is here that you can get the most complete picture of the ancient culture of the Caucasus. Address: 3 Shota Rustaveli Ave. Opening hours: Tuesday – Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm, closed on Mondays.
Museum of the Soviet Occupation
A very interesting cultural institution and, moreover, very tolerant. Here you will not find accusations against Russia – only a vivid account of the crimes of the communists. But it is interesting that during the period of the most brutal repressions in the USSR, the Georgian Stalin was in power. Meanwhile, his house in Gori remains a place of pilgrimage for tourists. This cultural center is located in the building occupied by the Georgian National Museum, only the entrance is separate. It was opened in 2006, then immediately closed for repairs, and again it opened its doors only in 2011.
Here you can get a lot of interesting information about how the independence of Georgia was proclaimed in 1921, and the national liberation forces of the country fought against the Bolshevik regime. Particularly vividly demonstrates the fact how acute this struggle was, one of the exhibits is the wall of the car, riddled with bullets: on the orders of the Communists, participants in the 1924 uprising were shot. You can see the work desk of the Chekist investigator (and even sit at it), look at thematic photographs, get acquainted with documents from the KGB archives, there are also interactive exhibitions.
Address: 3 Shota Rustaveli Ave. Opening hours: Tuesday-Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm, closed on Mondays.
Museum of Georgian Emigration
It is located in the building of the State University, as the exhibits are of truly scientific value. Here are collected the archives of those outstanding sons and daughters of the Georgian people who, for one reason or another, were forced to leave their homeland. These are handwritten and printed documents, photographs. All this allows you to get the most reliable information about the life and work of emigrants. Many names for tourists from Russia will become a discovery, but after listening to the story about these people, you will not forget them.
Ekvtime Takaishvili moved to France with the goal of preserving the national treasure. 39 boxes containing the treasury and cultural objects found a safe haven in Paris. The collection was returned to their homeland only towards the end of World War II. Ekvtime, having returned to Georgia, died under house arrest. Left their mark on the history of Noah Zhordania, Grigol Robakidze and others. The photographs stored in this scientific and cultural center are truly unique.
Address: Chavchavadze Avenue 1. Opening hours Tuesday-Sunday from 11 am to 5 pm, Monday is a day off.
National Manuscript Center
A very interesting center, which was founded back in 1958. Today, the most valuable written documents are stored here. These are the manuscripts themselves, as well as archives of famous people, the rarest printed books, microfilms or copies of those handwritten works in Georgian that now remain abroad.
There are currently over 10,000 books and over 40,000 documents. In addition, the center presents numerous works made in European languages, as well as in the languages of the peoples living in the countries of the East. Here you can not only come on a tour, but also get invaluable help in writing scientific papers.
Address: st. Aleksidze 1/3. Opening hours: Tuesday – Saturday from 11 am to 5 pm, Monday is traditionally a day off.
Ethnographic open-air museum
A very interesting cultural center, which you can spend the whole day exploring. It is located in Vake Park near Turtle Lake. It was founded by the ethnographer George Reading. His dream was to show different types of dwellings in a relatively small area. Having been here, you will visually imagine how representatives of various strata of society lived in different centuries.
There are 70 buildings here. These are the homes of the poor and the rich, the inhabitants of the mountains and the plains, hunters, herders, and farmers. Outbuildings, tools, household utensils are also presented. The impression is made by mills and forges, wine cellars, traditional carts, handmade carpets and much more. Here you can not only take a walk and take beautiful photos. It is allowed to go inside the dwellings to look at furniture, clothes, dishes, looms and other exhibits.
In the Kakheti house, bread is baked on weekends and guests are treated. They also offer delicious cheese. Often held in the complex and master classes, during which you can master the basics of ancient Georgian crafts. It is best to come here during the warm season. It should be noted that the ethnographic complex is located at a certain distance from the center of Tbilisi, so you need to allocate time to inspect it.
Address, Kustba Kucha 1. Opening hours: Tuesday – Sunday from 10 am to 8 pm, closed on Mondays.
Baazov Museum of History and Ethnography of Georgian Jews
Georgians believe that their friendship with the Jews has been going on for more than one millennium. And it is not overshadowed by any anti-Semitism. And, of course, there is also a museum dedicated to Georgian Jews in this Caucasian country. After all, a community of representatives of the most ancient people has existed in Georgia since the 6th century BC. This cultural center is located in the building of an old synagogue, closed at the beginning of the last century. It is named after David Baazov, who did a lot to form the community. Here you can see documents testifying to the friendship of the two peoples, old photographs, memorabilia.
Address: st. Anton Katalikosi 3. Opening hours: Monday – Friday from 11 am to 6 pm, closed on Saturday and Sunday.
money museum
Its other name is “Museum of Coins”. It was opened in 2001, was in the capital of Georgia for a long time, and was recently moved from Tbilisi to the city of Kvareli. It is of interest both for numismatists and for all history buffs. Collections of exhibits are stored here, the most ancient of which date back to the 6th century BC. There are coins that were in use under Alexander the Great, you can see the money of Ancient Rome, Byzantium, Venice, and the countries of the East. Today's coins are also presented. Including – the currency of different countries of the world. During the tour you will learn many interesting facts.
Address: Kvareli, st. Shota Rustaveli 10. Opening hours: Monday – Friday from 9 am to 6 pm, Saturday and Sunday are days off.
Tbilisi Historical Museum Karvasla
An idea of the cultural heritage of the country can be obtained at this center. It bears the name of the outstanding son of the Georgian people, the poet Ioseb Grishashvili. It was opened in 1910. Another name that has taken root, namely “Karvasla”, means “Caravanserai”. It was he who had previously been in this ancient building. About 50 thousand interesting exhibits are stored here, starting from the 4th century BC. You can see things used by ancient people, their weapons and jewelry, dishes and household utensils. Following the halls, you will follow the further development of the Georgian people.
Address: st. Seoni, 8. Opening hours: Tuesday-Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm.
Silk Museum
The museum will impress children and adults alike. Back in 1887, N. Shavrov, by order of the authorities, founded a sericulture station in Tiflis, which he subsequently directed for 2 decades. The building itself, where this station was located, is also of interest. Its architect was A. Shimkevich, who graduated from the Academy of Arts in St. Petersburg. The building looks very unusual and stylish. Today, samples of cocoons are presented here, and guests can get an idea of all stages of the process – how silkworm caterpillars are grown, how silk threads are born, how amazing fabrics are made from them.
You will see alcoholized silkworms. You will learn that truly high-quality silk can be obtained only if caterpillars are fattened with mulberry leaves. Otherwise, the threads will turn out to be coarse, and the fabric will come out of poor quality. There is also a scientific library, tools associated with the production of silk, thematic photographs, and magnificent silk products. For several months of the year, during excursions, you can feed the caterpillars with mulberry leaves. This process will especially appeal to children.
Address: st. G. Tsabadze 6. Opening hours: Tuesday-Sunday from 11 am to 5 pm, closed on Mondays.
Museum of theatre, music, cinema and choreography
It is located in one of the most beautiful buildings in the country – the Palace of Arts, which was designed by the famous German architect Paul Stern. Today, more than 200 thousand different exhibits are stored here. During the tour, you will learn how theater and music, cinema and choreography developed in Georgia. Thousands of photographs are collected here – scenes from performances, moments of rehearsals, pictures from tours, tape recordings, Georgian films, costumes of artists, posters of performances, manuscripts and private archives.
Many outstanding artists donated their awards here. A marble mask from the times of Antiquity is also kept here. This is the oldest exhibit, which is of great interest. The collection is constantly updated. After all, art does not stand still. Many exhibits were brought here by residents of Georgia.
Address: st. Kargareteli 6. Opening hours: Tuesday – Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm, Sunday and Monday – days off.
car museum
Its creator is a real enthusiast, businessman Gia Mamulashvili. He began collecting his collection of retro cars a few years ago. First there was the old Moskvich, which had to be restored for a long time, then other exhibits began to be added to it: Volga, Zhiguli, Cossacks. For those who lived during the years of the USSR, one of their appearance will cause bright nostalgia. It is interesting that all of them are superbly restored (this process takes up to 9 months) and are on the move. Some funny story is connected with the acquisition of almost every exhibit, which will be told to you during the tour.
For example, one of the cars was simply dug out of the ground. Cheerful colors of cars were familiar to the Soviet era. Now people are trying to buy vehicles of strict shades. There are also especially interesting cars here – for example, an armored car, which carried General Secretary Konstantin Ustinovich Chernenko. Gia dreams of putting in her museum the Mercedes in which Eduard Shevardnadze was sitting at the time of the assassination attempt. Beautiful photos can be taken next to vintage convertibles.
Address: Varketili, st. Cairo 79. Opening hours: every day from 10 am to 8 pm.
Underground Printing House Museum
It will be interesting to visit those who are loyal to Stalin and the Communists. When Lenin was in exile, he continued to spread revolutionary ideas. And he also offered his Georgian followers to build an underground printing house to print leaflets. It was built in a very difficult way. They bought a place, built a house, equipped a spacious basement, in which they put a printing press, and the descent into the basement was carried out through a well.
If there was danger, the mistress of the house called – and work in the basement stopped, when the threat was over – the prearranged call was heard again, and the workers again began to print leaflets. In 1906, the printing house was declassified, the house was destroyed. But Joseph Vissarionovich kept fond memories of him. By order of Stalin, in the 1930s, the house was rebuilt and a museum was opened here. You will see not only many interesting exhibits, but you will also be able to go down to the basement, where the very machine stands. True, pretty rusty.
Address: st. Kaspi 7, there is no specific work schedule, excursions are conducted by representatives of the Communist Party.
Museum of Arts. Sh. Amiranashvili
Located in a historic building next to Freedom Square. Previously, there was a theological seminary where young Joseph Dzhugashvili (Stalin) studied. The museum bears the name of Shalva Amiranashvili, who headed it for more than 3 decades, and did a lot to replenish the fund. In total, the exposition includes approximately 140 thousand exhibits.
Here you can see ancient coinage of the Middle Ages, admire the golden cross that belonged to the same fatal queen Tamara, see the ancient icon of the country – the face of the Savior Not Made by Hands. Also here are paintings and other works of art made by masters of the countries of the East and West. Of great interest is the collection of paintings by the great Georgian artist Niko Pirosmani.
Address: st. Gudiashvili 1. Working hours: Tuesday – Sunday from 11 am to 4 pm, Monday – day off.
National Art Gallery of Georgia
Another name for it is the Blue Gallery. The building where it is located was built at the end of the 19th century, while the gallery itself was opened in 1917. A great merit in this is the artist Dmitry Shevardnadze. After the restoration work that took place here relatively recently, the gallery received his name. Today, about 3 tens of thousands of paintings, sculptures, works of arts and crafts and photographs have been collected here. Most of the works belong to artists of the 20th century. Two halls are occupied by permanent exhibitions, the rest regularly host new exhibitions. Here you can listen to tours in several languages, including, of course, in Russian.
Address: 11 Rustaveli Ave. Opening hours: Tuesday-Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm, closed on Monday.
Theater Museum. Shota Rustaveli
The name of an outstanding Georgian poet who lived in the 12th century has been given to many cultural sites in the country. The Rustaveli Theater Museum was opened back in 1932. During the tour, you can get acquainted with the history of the development of the creative team. The personal belongings and costumes of actors, numerous photographs, manuscripts, sketches of scenery, posters, programs are stored here. Of course, publications are also collected here – books and newspapers that talk about the theater, about directors and artists. Having been here, you will get very interesting information, because Georgia is the birthplace of many outstanding actors.
Address: 17 Rustaveli Avenue. Opening hours: Tuesday-Saturday from 11 am to 6 pm, Sunday and Monday are days off.
Museum of Opera and Ballet Theatre. Zakaria Paliashvili
The opera house in Tbilisi appeared in the middle of the 19th century. Outwardly, it resembles a Moorish palace. Here are both classical works, such as The Nutcracker or Sleeping Beauty, as well as the creations of Georgian authors. For example, the play “Abesalom and Eteri”, which is based on an ancient legend, opens every theatrical season. Next to the theater building, in the square, is the grave of Zakaria Paliashvili. There is also a House-Museum of this great composer in Tbilisi. It opened in 1959. The atmosphere in which Paliashvili lived is recreated here, his belongings, manuscripts, notes, books are presented. You can also see many paintings and sculptures here.
Address: st. Bakrazde 10. Opening hours: Wednesday – Saturday from 11 am to 5 pm, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday – days off.
Museum of the Tbilisi State Conservatory
Residents of Tbilisi love their conservatory very much. In 1997, her museum was opened. It can be said with full right that the musical heritage of a great people is kept here. Here are private collections, manuscripts, notes, photographs and documents. All of them tell about the creative path the conservatory and its creative team have gone through. But you can come here not only for excursions. The museum constantly hosts various events. Musical evenings, creative meetings and live communication with famous artists – all this becomes a real holiday for residents and guests of Tbilisi.
Address: st. Griboedova 8. Opening hours: Monday – Friday from 11 am to 5 pm, Saturday and Sunday are days off.
Museum of Musical Instruments
Created on the basis of the Museum of theatre, music, cinema and choreography. Here you can see very interesting musical instruments, not only Georgian, but also Russian and European ones, more than 5 thousand exhibits in total. Antique pipes, accordions, bagpipes and their cases, decorated with precious metals and stones, are real works of art. Also here are collected the rarest audio recordings made at the beginning of the 20th century. You can see here gramophones and sound recording devices. The collection also includes national instruments of the countries of the East, among which there are many very unusual ones.
Address: st. Samgebro 6. Opening hours: Tuesday-Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm, Monday is a day off.
House Museum of Titian Tabidze
It is located in the house of the poets Galaktion and Titian Tabidze. Here you can see both personal items and furnishings that have been preserved since that time. As well as paintings and sculptures by famous artists. Galaktion is the author of the most famous poems, his works are read all over the world. Titian, in addition to poetry, wrote essays and miniatures. He was friends with the poet Paolo Yashvili, who was considered disgraced during the period of Stalinist repressions, and committed suicide while awaiting arrest.
Beria himself invited Titian to recognize his friend as a spy, and in return guaranteed him his patronage and a comfortable life. Tabidze refused, was arrested and soon shot. Boris Pasternak provided great assistance to the Titian family. He repeatedly came to Tbilisi. Nina Tabidze was his true friend, she was next to the great poet in the last days of his life.
Located in the village of Chkvishi. Opening hours: Tuesday – Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm, Monday is a day off.
House-Museum of M. Javakhishvili
Mikhail Javakhishvili is another Georgian writer with a tragic fate. In his youth, he was forced to drop out of school because the robbers killed his family. He worked at a copper smelter, at the beginning of the 20th century he took up journalism. Since in his articles he criticized tsarism, he had to go into exile. Mikhail traveled all over Europe, visited the USA. After the revolution he returned to Georgia, wrote books. But he also did not agree with the new government, he was a member of the National Democratic Party.
In the 1920s, he was arrested and sentenced to death; the intercession of Ordzhonikidze helped to escape. In the 30s, the writer's books were published, but were subjected to severe criticism from the ruling authorities. In 1937, Mikhail was arrested on the orders of Beria, he was tortured until he was forced to “confess” to criminal activities. Very soon he was shot. The writer was acquitted after Stalin's death in the 1950s. At the same time, his books began to be published again. The house contains things, manuscripts, books and photographs of the writer.
Address: st. M. Javakhishvili 21. Working hours: Monday-Friday from 11 am to 5 pm, Saturday and Sunday are days off.
Only the most famous and interesting museums are described here. In fact, there are many more of them in Tbilisi. Therefore, before traveling to the capital of Georgia, it is worth making a plan of what you need to visit, where these cultural centers are located, what hours they work. The more you have time to see, the more complete impression you will have of Georgia and the rich history of its wonderful people.