When visiting Georgia, many tourists wonder which museums they should see to get acquainted with the culture and history of the country. A website named Georgia Starts Here prepared a list of top 10 most important museums of Georgia that one must definitely visit. It is noteworthy that the list provides helpful tips not only for the newcomers, but to locals as well.
Go through the list by clicking next button below

1.Museum of Georgia (Georgian National Museum)

The Museum of Georgia, the Museum of Fine Arts and the National Gallery are located in the center of Tbilisi – on Shota Rustaveli avenue. All three museums are integrated in Georgia’s major museum network – the Georgian National Museum. The major museum of network is probably Museum of Georgia. The Museum of Georgia is located in Tbilisi city center – on the Shota Rustaveli Avenue. Museum is easily accessible by public transportation (bus or metro costs less than 1USD) or taxi (2USD from central districts, 5$ from suburbs). The museum houses an outstanding collection of archaeological treasury – local and imported ancient objects, which date back from the 3rd millennium BC. Visitors can also enjoy two permanent exhibitions: the one, describing natural history of Caucasus, and Georgia’s Soviet Occupation exhibition. The entry fee is around 2$ and children under 6 can enter for free.

Working hours: 10:00 – 17:45 daily; closed on Mondays. The Natural History Exhibition is open on Tuesdays and Fridays from 10 am to 4 pm.

2.Museum of Fine Arts (Georgian National Museum)

The Museum of Fine Arts, situated in the heart of Tbilisi, is housed in the building of former theological seminary. The museum displays Georgia’s medieval history – collection of Christian Treasury is a must-see for those interested in Georgian arts and culture. The Museum is open daily from 10 am to 6:45 pm. Closed on Mondays. The entry costs 2$ and children under 6 enter for free. Guided tours are offered in English and Russian and cost 8-10$.

3. National Gallery (Georgian National Museum)

The National Gallery is also located in a so called museum area, on Shota Rustaveli Avenue. The entrance of the gallery is hidden under the shadows of the trees in Emperor Alexander’s Park (today’s Park of 9 April). Visitors of the National Gallery can enjoy fascinating collections of Georgian paintings and sculpture; among them is the largest collection of Niko Pirosmani’ works, which is equally interesting and amusing for adults as well as for children. Guided tours are offered in Georgian, Russian and English languages. The place is a wonderful destination for lovers of terrace cafes – you can enjoy your drink on a terrace, overlooking the green massive of 9 April Park and then have a walk/rest in the pleasant green area of the city centre.

Visit to National Gallery costs between 2-3$; free entry for children under 6.

4. Tbilisi History Museum (Georgian National Museum)

Obviously, when you decide to travel to Tbilisi, you cannot avoid visiting its historical centre. Exactly there, in a pedestrian district of narrow medieval streets, is located the Tbilisi History Museum. This former caravansary building, which is surrounded by dozens of open-air cafes, is tourists’ favorite attraction: some find interesting the city history on display; others enjoy visiting small, fascinating studios and shops of local arts & crafts and souvenirs. Visitors can access museum by public transportation (city buses, which cost less than 1 USD) or by taxi.

Entry fee is 2 USD; free for children under 6.

5. The State Silk Museum

Georgia is one of the countries along the historic Great Silk Road. Silk farming here has a long history since the ancient times. The State Silk Museum is unique among the Silk museums across the world, being one of the oldest ones and with its diversity of collections. The exceptional collection kept in the museum ranges from samples starting from mulberry seeds ending with the final silk products and covers the last two centuries. The museum is part of the former Caucasian Sericulture Station complex built in 1887-1891 by Polish architect Alexander Szymkiewicz, who also designed the furniture of the museum and its library, the museum building is on the list of the Cultural Heritage Monuments.

6. Svaneti Museum and Margiani Tower (Georgian National Museum)

By all means, everyone who comes to Georgia, should go up to Svaneti Mountains. Throughout centuries Svaneti was the safe-keeper of Georgia’s treasury – kings sent their riches to mountains during invasions. Nowadays these treasures are gathered in the collections of Svaneti Museum in Mestia and make up one of the most important collections, stored in Georgian museums. Apart from displaying unique masterpieces of local and imported arts and crafts, Svaneti museum is an important regional social space with its new mediatheque, adapted lobby and a roof-terrace (in summer). A cup of tasty coffee in a cafe with panoramic view on Svaneti towers and Tetnuldi peak will improve your mood and supply with new energy before you continue your journey further, upper to Ushguli – which is considered Europe’s highest permanently settled village.

The museum is open daily except Mondays from 10 am to 6pm. Entry will cost you 2$ (children under 6 free); additional guided tours (offered in Russian and English) cost 12$.

Mestia can be reached by regional buses from Zugdidi (10-15$) and Tbilisi (15-20$). Museum is on a walking distance from Mestia center (taxi available).

7. Dadiani Palace and Museum in Zugdidi

The Dadiani Palace is located in a small town Zugdidi, West Georgia (361km/224miles from Tbilis). It is the major attraction in Samegrelo province. The centuries-old building complex with its huge surrounding park and garden is the favourite rest-place for both locals and visitors. The museum, which is housed in the Dadiani Palace, displays private collections of Dadiani family; later in the 20th century, the collections of the museum were enriched with local archaeological findings. Visit to Dadiani Palace will be a nice, unforgettable trip for the whole family to mix indoor and outdoor activities in spring & summer months.

The site can be accessed by taxi from Zugdidi train station (5-7 USD); entry fee is 1 USD for adults, children need half-price ticket. Entry to the park and garden is free.

8. Sighnaghi Museum (Georgian National Museum)

Kakheti is the Georgia’s most famous region for wine-making. It is the best must-see and must-experience touristic destination almost all year round. Kakheti hosts many museums, but three of them are worth to visit, and first worth mentioning is located in Sighnaghi – the city of love. The Tamada (Georgian feast chairperson) statue meets you in the entrance of Sighnaghi museum. The museum displays regional arts and crafts collections; most interesting of them are gatherings of wine-vessels of all sizes and scales. An eye-catching view of Alazani valley and Caucasus mountains opens from the museum terrace.

9. Tsinandali Museum

Next is probably the Tsinandali museum is located in a house of Georgian poet and nobleman Alexander Chavchavadze. The museum hosts various pieces of furniture, fine and decorative arts, books and manuscripts from Chavchavadze’s collections. The house-museum also has a marvelous 19th century garden and a wine cellar, built in 1835. Sighnaghi and Tsinandali can be reached by regional buses regional buses (5-15$ from Tbilisi) or taxi (40-50 USD from Tbilisi). Museums are on a walking distance from stations, though taxi ride is also an option (5 USD).

Entry fees vary between 3-8USD and all museums offer Russian and English guided tours. Children under 6 enter for free.

10. Pirosmani Museum in Mirzaani

A small, one-store house in Kakhetian village Mirzaani is a home to Georgias’ most beloved artist – Niko Pirosmani. Today his birthplace is transformed into a museum, which hosts artist’s second largest collection (after National Gallery in Tbilisi). Also, the yard of Pirosmani museum with its enormous trees is children’s favorite place to play hide-and-seek.

Mirzaani museum is accessible by taxi (15-20 USD) or by car (22 km from Sighnaghi). It is open every day from 10 am to 6 pm except Sundays and Mondays; free entry.

Source: Georgia Starts Here

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