Georgian National Museum
Georgian National Museum in Tbilisi
Discover Georgia’s Story from Prehistory to the Soviet Era
The Georgian National Museum in Tbilisi is one of the best places to understand the country’s long and complex history. Its collections take visitors from prehistoric human settlements and ancient kingdoms to Soviet occupation and the restoration of Georgia’s independence.
The building most visitors refer to as the Georgian National Museum is officially the Simon Janashia Museum of Georgia. It stands at 3 Shota Rustaveli Avenue, only a few minutes’ walk from Freedom Square.
The museum is a particularly good choice for first-time visitors, history enthusiasts and anyone who wants more context before travelling to Georgia’s archaeological sites and historic regions.
Georgian National Museum or Simon Janashia Museum?
The Georgian National Museum is an umbrella organisation that includes several museums, galleries and research institutions across Georgia.
The central museum building on Rustaveli Avenue is the Simon Janashia Museum of Georgia. This is where visitors can see the Archaeological Treasury, prehistoric discoveries, natural history collections and the exhibition dedicated to the Soviet occupation of Georgia.
Therefore, if you search for “Georgian National Museum Tbilisi” on a map, this is usually the museum you are looking for.
What to See at the Georgian National Museum
Archaeological Treasury
The Archaeological Treasury is one of the museum’s main highlights. It contains remarkable gold and silver objects discovered at archaeological sites across Georgia.
The collection includes jewellery, ceremonial objects, vessels and ornaments associated with ancient Colchis, Iberia, the Trialeti culture and other civilisations that developed in the South Caucasus.
Many of these objects date from the third millennium BC through Late Antiquity. Their craftsmanship demonstrates that the territory of modern Georgia was connected to important cultural and trade networks thousands of years ago.
The Dmanisi Hominin Discoveries
Among the museum’s most internationally significant exhibits are the prehistoric human remains discovered at Dmanisi, approximately 85 kilometres southwest of Tbilisi.
Dating back around 1.8 million years, the Dmanisi fossils represent some of the earliest known evidence of human ancestors outside Africa. The discovery changed scientific understanding of early human migration across Eurasia.
Georgian Archaeology
The archaeological displays follow the development of communities in Georgia from the Stone Age through the ancient kingdoms of Colchis and Iberia.
Visitors can see ceramics, tools, weapons, ornaments and objects connected to burial traditions, agriculture, trade and early winemaking. Together, these artefacts reveal how societies in the South Caucasus developed over thousands of years.
Soviet Occupation Exhibition
The Soviet Occupation Exhibition explores one of the most difficult periods in Georgia’s modern history.
Through documents, photographs, personal belongings and archival materials, the exhibition presents the Soviet invasion of 1921, political repression, resistance movements and the experiences of people who lived under the Soviet system.
It also helps visitors understand the historical background to Georgia’s declaration of independence in 1991. This section can be emotionally intense, but it provides important context for understanding modern Georgian identity and politics.
Natural History Collection
The museum also preserves material related to the geology, wildlife and environmental history of Georgia and the wider Caucasus.
The displays demonstrate the remarkable natural diversity of a country that contains high mountains, forests, wetlands, semi-desert landscapes and subtropical regions within a relatively small territory.
Temporary Exhibitions
The Simon Janashia Museum regularly hosts temporary archaeological, historical and cultural exhibitions. Their subjects and availability change throughout the year, so check the Georgian National Museum’s official website before visiting if you are interested in a particular exhibition.
Practical Visitor Information
Official name: Simon Janashia Museum of Georgia
Part of: Georgian National Museum
Address: 3 Shota Rustaveli Avenue, Tbilisi
Opening hours: Tuesday–Sunday, 10:00–18:00
Last admission: 17:30
Closed: Mondays and official public holidays
Recommended visit time: 1.5–2.5 hours
Telephone: +995 32 299 80 22
Official website: museum.ge
Opening hours and access to individual exhibitions can occasionally change. Checking the official website before your visit is recommended.
Georgian National Museum Ticket Prices
Current admission prices listed for the Simon Janashia Museum are:
- Foreign adult visitor: 40 GEL
- Foreign student or school pupil: 15 GEL
- Georgian citizen: 20 GEL
- Georgian student or school pupil: 2 GEL
- Children under six: free admission
- Visitors with disabilities and one accompanying person: free admission
- ICOM members: free admission
Visitors using a discount or free-entry category should bring a valid supporting document.
Ticket prices may change, so confirm the latest information on the museum’s official ticket page.
How to Get to the Georgian National Museum
The museum has a very central location at the beginning of Rustaveli Avenue.
From Freedom Square Metro Station, walk towards Rustaveli Avenue. The entrance is approximately three to five minutes away, close to the Parliament of Georgia.
The museum is also within easy walking distance of Pushkin Park, Galleria Tbilisi, Kashveti Church and the Art Museum of Georgia.
Photography and Visitor Rules
Photography for personal use is generally permitted in permanent exhibitions without flash or a tripod. Photo and video recording may be restricted inside temporary exhibitions.
Large backpacks, travel bags and umbrellas may need to be left in the museum’s free cloakroom. Food, drinks, sharp objects and oversized items are not allowed inside the exhibition halls.
Visitors should keep their admission ticket until the end of the visit.
Explore Soviet History Beyond the Museum
The Soviet Occupation Exhibition provides an excellent historical overview, but many traces of the Soviet period can also be found throughout Tbilisi.
The Soviet Tour of Tbilisi by Tbilisi Free Walking Tours approaches this history through city locations, discussion and a Georgian perspective. The experience includes places such as Stalin’s Underground Illegal Printing House, the Tbilisi Metro and buildings connected to Georgia’s Soviet and post-Soviet history.
The museum and the tour complement each other well: one presents preserved objects and archival evidence, while the other connects the history to real locations and contemporary Georgian society.
Is the Georgian National Museum Worth Visiting?
Yes, especially if this is your first trip to Georgia.
The museum brings together prehistoric discoveries, ancient gold, archaeology and recent political history in one central location. Even visitors with limited time can focus on the Archaeological Treasury, the Dmanisi discoveries and the Soviet Occupation Exhibition.
Allow at least 90 minutes for the main highlights and closer to two or three hours if you want to explore the collections in detail.
FAQ
Is the Georgian National Museum the same as the Simon Janashia Museum?
The Georgian National Museum is a network of museums. The Simon Janashia Museum of Georgia is its main historical museum on Rustaveli Avenue and is commonly called the Georgian National Museum by visitors.
How long do I need at the Georgian National Museum?
Allow approximately 1.5 to 2.5 hours. A quicker visit focusing on the Archaeological Treasury and Soviet Occupation Exhibition can take around 90 minutes.
Is the Soviet Occupation Museum inside the Georgian National Museum?
Yes. The Soviet Occupation Exhibition is located inside the Simon Janashia Museum building on Rustaveli Avenue.
Is the museum suitable for children?
Older children interested in archaeology, prehistoric humans or ancient treasures may enjoy the museum. The Soviet Occupation Exhibition contains serious and potentially upsetting historical material.
Can I take photographs inside?
Personal photography is generally allowed in permanent exhibitions without flash or a tripod. Different rules may apply to temporary exhibitions.
Is the museum close to Freedom Square?
Yes. It is located at 3 Shota Rustaveli Avenue, approximately three to five minutes on foot from Freedom Square and Liberty Square Metro Station