Open Air Museum of Ethnography, Tbilisi

The Open‑Air Museum of Ethnography offers visitors a living panorama of Georgia’s folk heritage. Founded by the ethnographer Giorgi Chitaia in 1966, and since 2004 integrated into the Georgian National Museum, this cultural gem showcases authentic vernacular structures relocated from across the country.

Spanning approximately 52 hectares and organized into 11 ethnographic zones, the museum is home to around 70 buildings and over 8,000 artifacts. Wander among darbazi-style stone dwellings of Eastern Georgia, elegant wooden homes from the West, Svan and Khevsureti watchtowers, Kakhetian wine cellars, Kartlian water mills, and more.

Inside these historical homes, you'll encounter a vivid array of household items-embroidered clothing, pottery, carpets, traditional furniture, and tools-that bring to life everyday customs and craftsmanship. Added highlights include an early Christian "Sioni" basilica from Tianeti and a 6th–7th‑century familial burial vault complete with sarcophagus.

Since 2004, it has hosted the annual Art‑Gene festival, founded by musician and folk culture advocate Zaza Korinteli, which spotlights traditional arts, crafts, music, and dance amidst the museum’s rustic backdrop. Guided tours in multiple languages breathe further life into the experience, with passionate staff sharing insights about each region and style.