City: Tbilisi
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What to do and see in Tbilisi, Georgia: The Best History Museums
Tbilisi (English: /təbɪˈliːsi, təˈbɪlɪsi/ tə-bih-LEE-see, tə-BIL-ih-see; Georgian: თბილისი [tʰbilisi] ( listen)), in some countries also still named by its pre-1936 international designation Tiflis (/ˈtɪflɪs/ TIF-liss), is the capital and the largest city of Georgia, lying on the banks of the Kura River with a population of approximately 1.5 million people. Founded in the 5th century AD by Vakhtang I of Iberia, since then Tbilisi served as the capital of various Georgian kingdoms and republics. Between 1801 and 1917, then part of the Russian Empire, Tbilisi was the seat of the Imperial Viceroy, governing both Southern and Northern Caucasus.
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1. Georgian National Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 831 reviews
Reviewed By CalissaT
This is a compact and well-curated museum that combines elements of typical a historical museum, an art museum, and a natural history museum into one roof. Plan for ~2 hours visit. The highlight for me was the exceptional exhibit on ancient hominids (humans and their ancestors) which includes fossil skulls found all around the world, explanations of the current scientific consensus on human evolutionary history, and reconstructions of what these hominids might have looked like. This topic is very relevant to Georgia, as some of the oldest human remains found outside of Africa were recently found in Dmanisi, Kartli region (1.8 million years old). There is also a nice section on the fauna of Georgia, consisting of large and small animals found all over the country. The bulk of the museum focuses on artifacts of Georgian civilization from tens of thousands of years BC to the present. The state of preservation of some of these objects is truly astonishing! My favorites were the intricate gold jewelry, a 4000-year old wooden carriage, and the national costumes of different regions. When we visited, there was also a temporary exhibit about Stalin's purges of artists and intellectuals in Georgia. Overall, this museum is a must-see while visiting Tbilisi!
2. State Museum of Georgian Folk Music and Musical Instruments
3. Tbilisi History Museum
4. David Baazov Museum of History of the Jews of Georgia and Georgian-Jewish Relations
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 20 reviews
The Museum is situated in the old side of Tbilisi.The building of the Museum, which beautifies Old Tbilisi, erected in place of the former synagogue constructed in 1914 year. The Museum is a treasure-house of centuries-old history of the Jews life in Georgia and a unique scientific center studying Georgian-Jewish relations.
5. Tbilisi Antique Archaeological Museum
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 7 reviews
Reviewed By EricM22 - Funchal, Portugal
This is a new museum in Tbilisi, with all the artifacts having been found onsite. It's only 1 lari entrance fee, and the manager is very passionate about explaining all the objects. They're still doing excavation work, and are currently in the process of uncovering a bath house that's more than 1000 years old! Ask the manager to show it to you. Highly recommended for a quick visit!
