Tbilisi is an old city with a rich history. That is why tourists love to visit Tbilisi. At any time of the year, in any weather, you can always find here what to do, what to visit. The museums of this city can be roughly divided into several categories.
The first includes those devoted to the history, development of art of the city and country. The second category includes house-museums dedicated to famous personalities. And the third includes contemporary museums that demonstrate contemporary art. And also related to modern science. They demonstrate the laws of physics, chemistry, mathematics and other sciences. Such a demonstration takes place with the help of special devices and machines.
The most interesting museums in Tbilisi
List, photos with names and descriptions of museums worth visiting.
Museum of Georgia named after Simon Janashia
Opened in 1852. It is located on Rustaveli Avenue next to Pushkin Square. At first it was called "Caucasian", later was called "Museum of Georgia". The modern building was built in 1910. Now a large exposition is presented here, which includes archaeological exhibits discovered on the territory of the country in different periods.
Address: Tbilisi, Rustaveli Avenue, 3
Website: museum.ge
National Art Gallery of Georgia
Located on Shota Rustaveli Avenue. The building was built in 1888, but originally it housed a military museum. The gallery's first exhibition was opened in 1920. Despite the small number of halls, a large number of masterpieces are presented here. And for the paintings of the great Niko Pirosmani, a whole hall is allocated. The exposition is periodically updated.
Address: Tbilisi, Rustaveli Avenue, 11
Website: museum.ge
Tbilisi Ethnographic Museum
The museum was opened in 1966, and its creator is Georgy Chitai. All exhibits are located in the open air on 52 hectares. Here are dwellings from different eras and different regions. Therefore, visitors can get acquainted with the life of residents: Svaneti, Guria, Kakheti, Adjara, Abkhazia, Ossetia, Maskhetia, Rachi. All dwellings are original and brought from the respective regions. Household items are presented in the houses.
Address: Tbilisi, st. M. Berdzenishvili, 25
Website: museum.ge
I. V. Stalin Museum
The museum was opened in 1937 and named after I. Stalin, as it was he who contributed to its discovery and development. It is dedicated to an underground printing house that was located here in the late 19th - early 20th centuries. After the discovery, the gendarmes completely burned it down and rebuilt it only in the 1930s. An exact copy of this house was rebuilt. This museum is located next to the station of 300 Aragviians.
Address: Kaspi, 7
State Museum of Art of Georgia
If at the beginning of the 20th century the National Gallery was located here, now the scale has increased significantly. The collection fund contains about 140 thousand priceless paintings and other works of art. Here are collected works of not only Georgian masters. There are collections of masters from Europe, Russia, and the East. The museum displays paintings, items made of precious metals, books, dishes, articles from minting, icons, carpets, shawls.
Address: L. Gudiashvili, 1
Website: museum.ge
State Museum of Theater, Music, Film and Choreography
Located in the palace that previously belonged to the Prince of Oldenburg. The museum itself was founded in 1927 by David Arsenishvili, who at that time was a famous art worker. There is a division into departments: music, ballet, drama, circus, decorative arts. And since the exhibits began to be collected almost 100 years ago, the museum fund is quite large.
Address: Tbilisi, st. Kargaretali, 6
Website: artpalace.ge
Museum of Contemporary Art Zurab Tsereteli
Opened in 2012 as a branch of the Moscow Art Gallery. And it is named after Zurab Tsereteli, the great Georgian sculptor and artist. The museum is located in the building of the former Cadet Corps, which was reconstructed in 2005. Famous architects, engineers and designers took part in this process. Now it is a complex that includes: an art salon, exhibition halls, a children's studio, a library, a cafe and a conference room.
Address: Tbilisi, Shota Rustaveli Ave., 27
Website: tbilisimoma.ge
Museum of illusions
Opened in 2019. And it is located in the old part of the city on Betleti street. 70 exhibits are presented to visitors, which can be conditionally divided into installations, attractions, tunnels, illusions, holograms, "upside-down rooms". Shown here are the real wonders of physics, chemistry, psychology, biology, mathematics. In addition to the museum, guests are invited to visit a souvenir shop and a room where they offer to solve all kinds of problems and puzzles.
Address: Betlemi, 10
Website: museumofillusions.ge
Retro Car Museum
Unfortunately, the museum is located far from the center on Cairo street, but it will be interesting for motorists. There are many cars from the times of the USSR. All of them are in perfect condition, rubbed to a shine and on the go. This collection includes Muscovites, Cossacks, Zhiguli, seagulls, victories, Volga and motorcycles. The collection is private and belongs to Giorgi Mamulashvili, a local businessman.
Address: Tbilisi, per. Police, 7 A
Website: automuseum.ge
Museum of Georgian Fine Arts
The museum is named after Shalva Amiranashvili. It is located in three concrete buildings. Now more than 140 thousand exhibits are collected here. The museum displays paintings by famous contemporary artists. One hall - one artist. The collection covers the XX-XXI centuries. There is a cozy cafe on the first floor.
Address: Shota Rustaveli, 7
Museum of Georgian Folk Music and Musical Instruments
The museum was officially opened in 1975, but until then it was a separate exhibition hall in the theater and cinema museum. It became an independent museum after the number of exhibits increased, and the hall was already small. Now the collection consists of musical instruments from different times and peoples. But the real pride of the museum are ancient Georgian instruments from different regions of the country.
Address: Samgebro, 6
Tbilisi History Museum
It is located in the building of the former caravanserai, which was built in 1650. This building itself is already part of the history of the city. Now it is the center of the city, Sionskaya street. The exposition here is rather modest, but it tells about the history of the city of the 19th century. Here you can see dishes, models of houses, typewriters.
Address: Sioni, 8
Website: museum.ge
Museum of dolls
This museum was established in 1937. It was created by Tanatin Tumanishvili, who was a public figure, teacher and writer. It is thanks to the museum and its creator that Georgian national dolls were created. Now there are dolls from different regions of the country and even from other countries. But also here you can see books, things related to Tanatin Tumanishvili.
Address: Tbilisi, Shota Rustaveli Avenue, 6
Website: tbilisimuseumsunion.ge
Museum of Entertaining Sciences "Experimentorium"
It is located in the city center along Ingorokva street. This is an interactive museum and is the perfect place for the whole family to relax. Here children are allowed to run, jump, laugh and touch everything. This is what makes it different from other museums. The collection consists of 100 items. Their work explains the laws of physics, chemistry, mathematics.
Address: Pavla Ingorokva, 17
Website: experimentorium.ge
Tin Soldier Museum
Located in the city center on Sh. Dadiani street. The collection of the museum is one of the best in the world in 40 mm standard. The main attraction is the Time Portal. It is a hand-made model and accommodates 1800 soldiers from different eras and armies. This is the first museum in Transcaucasia that displays military-historical miniatures.
Address: Dadiani, 7
Website: yotaroyal.ge
State Silk Museum of Georgia
The museum began its work in 1892, but at that time it was housed at a silkworm station.And the museum became independent in 2006. The building of the museum was built by the famous architect A. Shimkevich and is a historical monument. The collection has been collected for many years, and part of it was brought from Europe. All stages of obtaining, collecting, processing silk, sewing products from it are presented here.
Address: Giorgi Tsabadze, 6
Website: silkmuseum.ge
Museum of History and Ethnography of Georgian Jews
This museum was opened in 2014. It is located next to Freedom Square, in the building of the former Dome synagogue. It was built in the 19th century, but closed during the Soviet era. Georgia is one of those countries that did not persecute Jews. And this museum is proof of that. The exhibits of the museum show Georgian-Jewish friendship, the contribution of Jews to the history of this country.
Address: Anton Katalikos, 3
Site: facebook.com
Museum of Georgian-Azerbaijani Culture
The museum was opened in 1982 after the appeal of the Azerbaijani intelligentsia. But it received its status only in 2007. Located on Vakhtang Gorgasali Street. The collection is located in 6 rooms. Here you can get acquainted with handicrafts, clothing, interior items, various documents. Now, in addition to the museum, there are courses in music, Azerbaijani language, carpet weaving, drawing.
Address: Vakhtang Gorgasali, 17
House-Museum of Mosse Toidze
The house-museum is located on M. Lagidze street. It was opened in 1968 and is dedicated to Mosse Toidze, a famous Georgian artist. The museum presents not only the master's paintings. Here you can see exhibits that show the artist's life: photos, furniture, personal belongings, documents. Also here is the artist's library. The workshop of the master became the basis of the museum.
Address: Lagidze, 1
Site: facebook.com
Shota Rustaveli Theater Museum
Located on the eponymous avenue. The museum was opened in 1932. Shota Rustaveli is a great Georgian poet who lived in the 12th century and is known throughout the world. In this country, many cultural sites are named after him. In the museum you can get acquainted with the history of the development of the theater, its staff. Here are collected posters, photographs, sketches, books, manuscripts, theatrical costumes, personal belongings of the actors.
Address: Tbilisi, Rustaveli Ave., 17
Website: rustavelitheatre.ge
House-Museum of Niko Pirosmani
The museum was opened in 1960 and is dedicated to the great Georgian artist Niko Pirosmani. And since 2008 it has been a member of the National Center for the Protection of Cultural Heritage. In addition to the master's works of art, here are his personal belongings, many photographs dedicated to different periods of his life. In total, the museum has about 200 exhibits that introduce the life and work of the great artist.
Address: Niko Pirosmani, 29
Website: georgianmuseums.ge
State Museum of Georgian Literature
Located in the Mtatsminda area along G. Chanturia street. It was opened in 1930, and the initiator of its creation was David Arsenishvili. At this time, it was headed by the poet Georgy Leonidze. It is in his honor that this museum is now named, and a bust is installed at the entrance. In the collection of the museum you can see: manuscripts, manuscripts, books, paintings, sculptures, graphic works, photographs, newspapers.
Address: Chanturia, 8
Website: literaturemuseum.com
House-Museum of Elena Akhvlediani
The museum is dedicated to Elena Akhvlediani, who is a great Georgian artist. It was opened in 1976 in her apartment. Therefore, the museum is located in an ordinary residential building on the second floor. The furnishings remained the same as during the life of the master. The collection presented here includes not only the artist's canvases. After all, Akhvlediani has been collecting objects of fine art from all over the world for many years.
Address: Leo Kiacheli, 12
Website: museum.ge
Georgian National Center for Manuscripts
The center was opened in 1958. The initiator was Professor Ilya Abuladze. The center is an international organization for the development of Kartvelology. Visitors are invited to familiarize themselves with handwritten books, documents of different directions, archival funds, rare printed publications. In addition to exhibits in Georgian, you can see manuscripts in Russian, Armenian, Persian, Ethiopian, Mongolian.
Address: Aleksidze 1/3
Website: manuscript.ge
Gallery "Wanda"
Located in the Sololaki area. This gallery was founded by Wanda Mujiri, an artist and art critic, with her associates. Now "Wanda" enjoys success not only in Georgia, but also abroad. There have already been held about 400 exhibitions in different directions. In addition, presentations, charity evenings and concerts are held here. As well as various international festivals.
Address: Tbilisi, Daniela Chonkadze street, 14
Website: vandaart.gallery
Money Museum of Georgia
The museum is located in the building of the National Bank of Georgia, on Georgy Leonidze Street. The opening was dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the country's independence. The museum is based on the rich numismatic collections of the Georgian SSR. Here are exhibits dating from the 6th century BC. The collection includes banknotes not only of Georgia, but also of other countries.
Address: Leonidze, 3/5
House-Museum of Nariman Narimanov
In 2008, the old building was demolished, but a new building was erected in 2017. At the same time, the area of the house-museum was increased, Georgian balconies were built, and a bust was installed in front of the building. Now the museum is the property of Azerbaijan. Nariman Narimanov is a party, statesman and writer. Bolshevik since 1905 and a prominent revolutionary.
Address: I. Grishashvili, 41
House-Museum of Nikoloz Baratashvili
The museum was opened in 1982 in a 19th century mansion. Located on Chakhrukhadze Street. The opening was actively promoted by the writer Nodar Dumbadze. It shows the life and work of the famous Georgian poet Nikoloz Baratashvili. The exposition of the museum is personal belongings, furniture, manuscripts, photographs. The rooms recreate the atmosphere that surrounded the poet during his lifetime.
Address: Chakhrukhadze, 17
Website: tbilisimuseumsunion.ge
House-Museum named after Yakob Nikoladze
A museum in honor of Yakob Nikoladze was opened in 1956. It is located along the street Rodin. Jacob Nikoladze is a famous Georgian sculptor, whose name is known far beyond the borders of the country. The museum displays the works of the master, which depict famous writers, scientists, political figures. There are also sketches, figurines of his works, personal belongings, photographs.
Address: Roden, 6
Website: museum.ge
Exhibition Hall of the Central State Archives of Georgia
The archive is located on Vazha Pshavela street and is divided into five subdivisions of different directions. And the exhibition hall is located in the same building as the archive. It often hosts exhibitions on various topics. For example: "Georgia and Turkey", "Georgia and Germany". Also, exhibitions dedicated to famous people are often held here. At the same time, archival documents are shown that are of particular interest.
Address: Tbilisi, ave. Vazha Pshavela, 1
Website: archive.gov.ge
