Open-Air Museum of Ethnography

Tbilisi


This collection of traditional, mostly wooden houses, from all around Georgia, is spread over a wooded hillside with good views, and makes for an enjoyable visit. The most interesting exhibits are in the lower section (near the entrance), where the buildings are kitted out with traditional furnishings, rugs and utensils, and the attendants can often explain things in English.

You can walk up to the museum through large, verdant Vake Park (reachable by bus 61 from Freedom Sq or northbound on Rustaveli), or stay on the bus until the petrol station 200m past the large Iranian embassy, then walk or take a taxi 1.4km up the road opposite.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Tbilisi attractions

1. Mtatsminda Park

2.17 MILES

The amusement park on top of Mt Mtatsminda will interest children, but can also be a lot of fun for adults (check out the enormous Ferris wheel) and the…

2. Mtatsminda Pantheon

2.34 MILES

The national pantheon sits on the slopes of Mt Mtatsminda, on the route of a walking path down from Mtatsminda Park, and is the site of burial for many…

3. Funicular

2.5 MILES

The ride up Mt Mtatsminda on the city's funicular is spectacular, as are the views from the top – and there are a couple of great places to eat or drink,…

4. MOMA Tbilisi

2.59 MILES

This beautiful conversion of the former Tbilisi Cadet Corps building has been given over to displays of work by the museum's founder, Zurab Tsereteli, the…

5. Project ArtBeat

2.76 MILES

This gallery is Georgia's leading contemporary art space, nurturing local talent and giving shows to up-and-coming artists. Pop in to see what's currently…

6. Parliament Building

2.81 MILES

The impressive high-arched Parliament building has seen many momentous events, including the deaths of 19 Georgian hunger strikers at the hands of Soviet…

7. National Gallery

2.82 MILES

For most visitors the highlight here is the hall of wonderful canvases by Georgia’s best-known painter Pirosmani (Niko Pirosmanashvili, 1862–1918),…

8. Kashveti Church

2.84 MILES

The first church on this site is supposed to have been built in the 6th century by Davit Gareja, one of the ascetic ‘Syrian fathers’ who returned from the…

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting:
    {
      "url": "georgia/tbilisi/attractions/open-air-museum-of-ethnography/a/poi-sig/446093/359327",
      "destination": "Tbilisi",
      "continent": "Europe",
      "country": "Georgia",
      "city": "Tbilisi",
      "position": "superzone"
    }