What Museums to See in Tbilisi, Georgia

Are you visiting Georgia for the first time?

We'll give the list of the museums of Georgia that you have to see while planning your next in Tbilisi. Get ready, and explore the culture and art, history and literature of the country.

State Museum of Theatre, Music, and Cinema (Art Palace)

Wouldn’t it be interesting to find out the development way of the Art Palace since its establishment?

Cinema, music, theatre, and choreography has always been a part of the Georgian history and culture for ages.

Museum collects many creative works of the Georgian gifted-persons, which always amaze visitors.

Are you the one who loves the art or the one who wants to explore interesting places in Georgia? Would you like to know more about Georgian culture?

Art Palace is a great place to find out more about the Georgian cinema, music, and theatre.

The Georgian specialist of art Davit Arsenishvili established the Art Palace in 1927. The first exhibition was held in 1928, and since then different kinds of exhibitions have been held in the museum.

The building of the palace itself, where is the main building of the museum, was built in 1985. While the construction was incomplete, German Prince Constantine Oldenburg has purchased the building.

And you know what? The most exciting part of the history of the Art Palace is related to the love story of the German Prince Constantine Oldenburg and the Georgian woman called Agraphina Japaridze.

If you want to explore more about their love story, and how is it related to the art palace, you should visit the museum in Tbilisi. Exploring the museum and listening to the history of the museum together will give you the indelible impressions.

Getting there: State Museum of Theatre, Music, and Cinema is located on the left bank of the Mtkvari (Kura) river, at Kargareteli Street. You can reach the museum by walking from the Metro Marjanishvili. It will only take 10-15 minutes for it.

Tbilisi Open Air Museum of Ethnography

Have you heard that Open Air Museum of Ethnography is the first ethnography museum in the whole Caucasus? The museum where more than 8,000 exhibits are collected.

The museum is called as Giorgi Chitaia Open Air Museum of Ethnography. The Georgian ethnographer, Giorgi Chitaia founded the museum in 1966. It’s a scientific-research institution, which shares the main characteristics of the Georgian ethnic culture.

Tbilisi Open Air Museum is divided into 11 zones. 10 of the zones collect the traditional elements of the Georgian architecture and the last one features the historical-archeological exhibits.

Museum protects the farm and living houses as the monuments from the different parts of the country. The Georgians used to respect the culture and traditions in ancient time. And, the museums make it obvious for the visitors.

The young people are allowed to learn more about traditional forging and ceramic manufacturing technologies in an educational center.

Besides, Open Air Museum of Ethnography hosts Art-Gen Festival annually. Art-Gene Festival showcases modern and traditional folk music. In a nutshell, you can buy handcrafted items and enjoy the music, attend the exhibition and explore the art of the Georgians and not only.

Getting there: Tbilisi Open Air Museum of Ethnography is located at Turtle Lake (Kus Tba). You can go to a museum by walking that will take about 20-25 minutes, or by using a cable car. The cost of the cable car is only 1 Lari, and then you can reach the museum in just minutes.

Museum of Illusions

Imagine an illusion as an exhibit.

Have you ever had a dream to live in the illusion?

The museum of illusion is the place where you can face to illusion, lie to eyes and ask hundreds of questions to the mind.

And, of course, you may always want to take photos freely in the museums. Lucky for you, you can take as many pictures as you want to and save them for the rest of your life.

So, if you’re looking for a place in Tbilisi, where you can have fun with your friends or family members, you can visit Museum of Illusion. We can assure you that this experience will be memorable.

In a short time, Museum of Illusions was established in 2019. It gained massive attention from the locals and tourists.

You’ll have an opportunity to see various types of installations with the information sources. You will be privileged to learn more than you can see and perceive the things that your mind can’t do it without an explanation.

Everyone, regardless the age, can visit the museum. You can play in a smart playroom, train your mind, and enjoy your time. Museum has a smart shop where you can buy memorable toys from this place.

You can plan the group visits, arrange your birthday, or have an event there.

Getting there: Museum of Illusions is located in the Old Tbilisi, at Betlemi Street. You can reach the museum in about 5-10 minutes from the Metekhi Bridge.

Georgian National Museum

Georgian National Museum is the place where the history, culture, ethnography and tradition are combined in a single space.

Would you like to see the whole and rich Georgian history from different sides? Would you like to explore the national treasures? Would you like to see the indelible marks of the Georgian history?

You’ve come to the right place. Georgian National Museum collects the exhibits from the B.C. III-II millennium to today.

The president of Georgia decreed to build the National Museum in 2004. It’s the common union of the active museums of Georgia. This union collects national treasures from the museums.

So, the main goal of the Georgian National Museum is to run the one system which entirely collects and protects all the national exhibits of Georgia. This system is supposed to run the main cultural, educational, and scientific activities or events within the museums.

As for the today, one of the oldest National Museums is Simon Janashia Museum of Georgia. Simon Janashia Museum of Georgia was established in 1852 and had been called as Caucasian Museum until 1919.

The museums collect the exhibits which describe the way of life and culture of the Caucasian and Georgian people. The archeological and ethnographical exhibits are gathered together in the museum.

You’ll have an opportunity to see the monuments of the god-work, Georgian and foreign old coils, epigraphic monuments, the exposition of the archeological subjects.

Getting there: The National Georgian Museum is located at Freedom Square. You’ll need about 5 minutes to go to a museum from the Metro Freedom Square.

Mose Toidze House-Museum

Mose Toidze House-Museum was built in 1968. The house-museum has been a part of the National Museum since 2005.

Want to find out the environment where one of the prominent Georgian artists, Mose Toidze used to create the artworks?

The house-museum preserves 132 exhibits, and a lot of them are the works by Mose Toidze. Mose Toidze used to create the artworks in his house, and every piece of them is the significant cultural heritage.

Mose Toidze was a prominent painter, graphic artist, and the founder of the new education studying in painting. You’ll be able to see the painted canvas, graphic designs, and personal stuff of the artist.

You’ll find out about the artist more in his paintings. Mose Toidze used his talent and creative mindfulness to create unique artworks. At least, his paintings display the way of the development of the artist and his works.

The house-museum collects the publications, letters, of the artists, and the photos of the theatre actors, artists and other Georgian figures.

Getting there: Mose Toidze house-museum is located at Laghidze Street. You can reach house-museum by walking via Rustaveli Avenue in 15 minutes from the Metro Freedom Square.

Elene Akhvlediani House-Museum

How were the graphic illustrations of the landscape of the old Tbilisi streets, the main covers of the books “The man who laughs” by Victor Hugo and “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” by Mark Twain? How does the Georgian scenography look like in the artworks of Elene Akhvlediani?

You’ll get the answers to these questions as soon as you get in the house-museum and see the main artworks of Elene Akhvlediani.

Elene Akhvlediani was the great Georgian woman painter and one of the founders of new Georgian art. Her works were admired not only in Georgia but in Europe.

Her artworks were exhibited often in Italy and France, which always tended to become a subject of criticism for the Italian and Franc critics.

Elene Akhvlediani used to draw the landscapes of the cities. In a lot of her works, you’ll find the old Tbilisi landscapes. Elene Akhvlediani created these paints with love and emotions that she had toward Tbilisi.

The House-Museum of Elene Akhvlediani was founded in 1976. At first, it was her studio-home until his death. The house-museum often hosted the meeting of the famous Georgian artists, poetry nights, and mini-concerts.

The House-Museum preserves more than 3 thousand exhibits. You can see the main works of Elene Akvlediani: Illustrations of the books, graphic designs, painted canvas, or even the decorative items.

Getting there: Elene Akhvlediani house-museum is located at Leo Qiacheli Street. You can go to house-museum by walking in 15 minutes and by driving a car in about 5 minutes.

Tbilisi History Museum

How has been the development of the history of Tbilisi since B.C IV millennium? What have been the main successes and failures of Tbilisi since it was founded?

You’ll be able to find out everything you need to know about the history of Tbilisi. You can see the photos, read historical and informative resources, or explore the old treasures of Tbilisi.

Tbilisi History Museum was established in 1910. The building was known as Tbilisi History-Ethnography Museum until 1943. However, the name of the museum has changed as Ioseb Grishavshvili Tbilisi History Museum since 1965. Ioseb Grishashvili was the prominent Georgian public figure and poet. He used to create the works with love related to his homeland and Tbilisi.

Tbilisi history Museum collects the archeological, ethnological, documentary photo-materials. The museum preserves more than 500 000 exhibits. You can see the clays, documents, and artworks from the Bronze and Feudal Ages.

Tbilisi History Museum consists of “Art Gallery” that promotes modern art and artists in Georgia.

Getting there: Tbilisi History Museum is located at Sioni Street, alongside with Sioni Cathedral.

State Museum of Georgian Folk Songs and Musical Instruments

Georgian folk music is a part of the Georgian culture. The Georgian old folk songs are still popular in many parts of the country, and folk songs often become the inspiration for modern ones.

Want to know of what kind of instruments are preserved at this museum?

State Museum of Georgia Folk Songs and Musical instruments houses the old Georgian musical instruments, audio-video records, and photo-materials.

The museum was founded in 1975. At first, it was known as State Museum of National Instruments until 1984, and then it was called as Museum of Folk Songs and Musical Instruments until 1989.

You can see the oldest Georgian musical instruments, listen to the old records of the Georgian folk songs from the various Georgian regions and quadraphonic records of the Georgian and Eastern folk songs from the XX century. Doesn’t it sound interesting to you?

Getting there: State Museum of Georgian Folk Songs and Musical Instruments is located in the old Tbilisi, at Samghebro Street, on the way to Narikala Fortress. You can get there in 5 minutes from the Metekhi Bridge.

Georgian Museum of Literature

The history of Georgian literature started in the V century, and since then, it has been developing for ages. Georgian Museum of Literature was founded in 1929 at Mtatsminda. The grand opening of the museum was in 1930 with the decision of Georgian writers. The first name was Museum of Mtatsminda Writers and was called as State Literature Museum in 1938.

Georgian public figure and writer Giorgi Leonidze, director of the museum has changed a lot of things. Giorgi Leonidze has collected significant works of the Georgian writers. Shortly after his death, Museum has become known as Giorgi Leonidze State Museum of Literature.

Georgian Museum of literature has been collecting exhibits of the Georgian writers. The museum collects the works of Dimitri Kipiani, Akaki Tsereteli, Ilia Chavchavadze, and many works of other Georgian writers.

And today, the museum houses more than 120 thousands manuscripts of the Georgian writers. They are important treasures for the Georgian literature.

The museum often hosts cultural events and supports the development of the Georgian literature.

If you want to learn more about the Georgian literature, see the works and manuscripts of the Georgian writers, visit the museum.

Getting there: Giorgi Leonidze State Museum of Literature is located at Gia Tchanturia Street, near to 9th of April Park.

Iakob Nikoladze House-Museum

Are you eager to learn more about the Georgian sculptures? How has Ikob Nikoladze founded the new sphere of the Georgian and realistic sculptures?

The house-museum was founded in 1924. It was the home-studio for Iakob Nikoladze where he used to create the sculptures.

Iakob Nikoladze was one of the founders of the Georgian Art Academy and the prominent Georgian sculptor. Iakob Nikoladze has got an education in Russia and France.

You can see the sculptures made of bronze, marble, and stone. Iakob Nikoladze has worked on portraits, figures, and busts.

You’ll be able to explore more than 100 exhibits in the house-museum. Part of his works is preserved in the National Georgian Museum.

Getting there: Iakob Nikoladze House-Museum is located at Rodin Street. You can get there in about 15 minutes from Metro Rustaveli.