Georgian National Museum Museum

Website: https://museum.ge

The Georgian National Museum is a state museum organisation headquartered in Tbilisi that manages the country’s principal museums and national collections. It brings together archaeology, history, ethnography and art under a single national institution.

Major highlights under the museum’s administration include archaeological and medieval collections, national historical exhibits and the Open Air Museum of Ethnography, which presents traditional rural architecture. Exhibitions cover material from prehistoric periods through the medieval era and into more recent cultural history.

The modern institution was created in 2004 through the merger of several existing museums to centralise curation and conservation of Georgia’s national heritage. Since then it has developed a network of sites and rotating exhibitions across Tbilisi and other regions.

The museum’s main facilities and exhibition spaces are located in central Tbilisi, where they are accessible to visitors by city transport and close to other cultural institutions.

• Organisation: Formed in 2004 by merging several older institutions, the organisation administers major national museums and archaeological collections across Georgia from its headquarters in Tbilisi.
• Collections: Collections include archaeological finds, medieval ecclesiastical art, numismatics and ethnographic material that chart Georgia’s cultural history from prehistory to modern times.

What to See#

• Simon Janashia Museum: The Simon Janashia Museum of Georgia houses archaeology and national history collections, including prehistoric and medieval artefacts and displays on Georgian cultural history.
• Open Air Museum of Ethnography: The Open Air Museum of Ethnography displays traditional rural architecture and cultural artefacts from across Georgia in a park setting on the edge of Tbilisi.

The Georgian National Museum is in central Tbilisi on Rustaveli Avenue. The easiest public-transit route is the Tbilisi Metro Rustaveli station (Akhmeteli-Varketili line); the museum is about a 5-10 minute walk from the station and is also served by numerous city buses that run along Rustaveli Avenue.

From Tbilisi International Airport the museum is roughly 17 km into the city centre; most visitors take a taxi or airport bus to Rustaveli Avenue (taxi ~20-30 minutes in normal traffic).

• Enter from Rustaveli Avenue/Rustaveli metro - the museum is centrally located and easiest reached on foot from the metro and main city tram/bus stops.
• Visit at opening time or late afternoon to avoid school groups and guided tour peaks; set aside 2-3 hours to see the permanent archaeological and national art displays without rushing.
• Check the museum website before you go for temporary exhibitions and any scheduled guided tours or gallery closures so you can target the collections you most want to see.