Open Air Museum of Ethnography
A wooded hillside near Turtle Lake with about 70 traditional houses, towers and wine cellars brought from all over Georgia.
Open Air Museum of EthnographyPhoto: Jonathan Cardy, CC BY-SA 3.0The Giorgi Chitaia Open Air Museum of Ethnography covers more than 50 hectares of wooded hillside on the western edge of the Vake district, just west of Turtle Lake. Around 70 traditional buildings from across Georgia have been moved or reconstructed here and grouped by region: watchtowers from Svaneti, Khevsureti and Pshavi, Kakhetian wine cellars, wooden houses from western Georgia, and the semi-underground darbazi houses of eastern Georgia with their stepped wooden domes. Many of them are furnished with tools, carpets, weapons and household objects, from a collection of more than 8,000 items.
It is the easiest way to see Georgia's regional architecture in one visit, and a good introduction before travelling to the mountains. Paths run up and down the slope between the houses, so wear comfortable shoes. Look out for an early Christian basilica from Tianeti and a 6th–7th century family burial vault. Combine the museum with Turtle Lake, about a kilometre away, which you can reach by ropeway from Vake Park.
History
The museum was founded on 27 April 1966 by the ethnographer Giorgi Chitaia to preserve Georgia's vernacular architecture and rural way of life. Houses, granaries, towers and churches were brought from villages around the country or reconstructed on site, and the collection is now arranged in eleven zones representing the historical regions. It is part of the Georgian National Museum.
What to see and do
- Step inside a darbazi house with its stepped wooden dome
- See defensive towers from Svaneti and Khevsureti
- Visit Kakhetian wine cellars and their qvevri
- Find the early Christian basilica from Tianeti
How to visit
Getting there
The museum is on the Turtle Lake road on the western edge of Vake, about 15–20 minutes by taxi from Rustaveli Avenue. You can also take the ropeway from Vake Park to Turtle Lake and walk about 1 km to the museum.
When to go
Spring and autumn. Plan 1.5–2.5 hours here.
- Wear walking shoes; the site is spread across a steep hillside.
- Bring water in summer, as shade is patchy between the houses.
- Combine with Turtle Lake on the same afternoon.
Open Air Museum of Ethnography: FAQ
Is the Tbilisi ethnographic museum worth visiting?
Yes, especially if you will not reach the mountains. It shows traditional houses, towers and wine cellars from every region of Georgia in one place, set in a quiet wooded park.
How do I get to the Open Air Museum of Ethnography?
Take a taxi up the Turtle Lake road from Vake, about 15–20 minutes from the centre. Alternatively, ride the ropeway from Vake Park to Turtle Lake and walk about 1 km to the museum.
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Nearby places
Straight-line distance from Open Air Museum of Ethnography.
