მესტიის ისტორიულ-ეთნოგრაფიული მუზეუმი
Upper Svaneti's main museum with 10th–12th century icons and Georgia's oldest manuscripts
The Svaneti Museum of History and Ethnography is the region's principal museum, founded in 1936. Since 2004, it has been part of the Georgian National Museum system. In 2013, a new building designed by architect Gaga Kiknadze opened – a modern two-storey structure with climate control that fits seamlessly among the medieval Svan towers. The collection holds over 4,000 items.
The museum is centrally located in Mestia at 7 Avtandil Ioseliani Street – 3 minutes' walk from the central square. Look for the modern building with a medieval-style stone fence.
Entry is 20 GEL (~$7/€7). Allow 1–1.5 hours. Guided tours available in Georgian and foreign languages. On-site café, media library, and souvenir shop.
The exhibition begins in the Shota Chartolani Archaeological Hall, displaying coins from the 5th-century BCE Colchian tetri to medieval specimens. Next is the Christian treasury: 10th–12th century icons (a 10th-century icon of the Saviour, a 12th-century icon of the Forty Martyrs), engraved and painted images of the Mother of God from the 9th–10th centuries. A separate section houses manuscripts: the Adishi Gospels of 897 (one of the oldest dated Georgian New Testaments), the Mestia Tetraevangelion of 1033, and the 10th-century Jerusalem Canon. All exhibits are originals, preserved thanks to the region's isolation.
The ethnography hall contains 19th-century photographs of Svaneti, household objects, weapons, armour, and jewellery – a picture of daily life in mountain villages before modernisation. Syrian and Byzantine art is also represented: 6th-century bronze censers, 10th–11th century reliquaries, and a 13th-century Venetian cross.
The building meets international standards: climate control, professional lighting, and English-language descriptions throughout. There is a media library with books on Svaneti's history, a café with Wi-Fi, and a bookshop. Temporary exhibitions are held in a dedicated space.
Collection – over 4,000 items: icons, manuscripts, coins, weapons, jewellery
Adishi Gospels – New Testament dated 897, one of the oldest dated Georgian manuscripts
10th–12th c. icons – engraved and painted works including Byzantine and Syrian examples
Building – modern museum opened 2013 with climate control, designed by Gaga Kiknadze
National Museum – part of the Georgian National Museum system since 2004
The museum was founded in 1936 using the collection from the Church of St. George in Seti as its basis. During the Soviet period, the collection expanded with archaeological finds and ethnographic materials from across Svaneti. The 1980s building was designed in Soviet modernist style – massive concrete forms. In 2004, the museum joined the Georgian National Museum system.
In 2013, a new museum building opened, reconstructed to modern standards: a redesigned exhibition, climate control, lighting, and media library. An educational centre was added in 2015. Today, the museum is Upper Svaneti's main cultural institution, also responsible for preserving the region's architectural heritage, including the towers of Ushguli on the UNESCO list.
Entry tickets:
Adults – 20 GEL (~$7/€7)
Students – 1 GEL
Schoolchildren – 0.5 GEL
Children under 6 – free
Museum staff, ICOM members, visitors with disabilities – free (with ID)
Guided tours:
School groups – 10 GEL
In Georgian – 25 GEL
In foreign languages (overview, ~1 hour) – 45 GEL
Tickets at the on-site counter.
Photography in the exhibition – check at the counter (rules may vary). Backpacks and large bags must be left at the cloakroom near the entrance. Air-conditioned interior – comfortable in any season.
On site:
Café with Wi-Fi and sofas
Bookshop and souvenir shop
Media library (200+ books)
Cloakroom
Educational centre
Accessibility: Modern building, generally adapted for visitors with reduced mobility. Check details at the entrance.
Connectivity: Free Wi-Fi in the café. Stable 4G.
In Mestia:
7 Avtandil Ioseliani Street – 3 minutes' walk from the central square (Seti Square). Modern building with a stone fence.
Getting to Mestia:
- From Tbilisi: marshrutka 50 GEL (~$18, 8–10 hrs), Vanilla Sky flight 90 GEL (~$33, 1 hr)
- From Zugdidi: marshrutka 30 GEL (~$11, 3 hrs)
- From Kutaisi: marshrutka 40 GEL (~$15, 5–6 hrs)
Hours: Tuesday–Sunday, 10:00 AM–6:00 PM. Closed Mondays.
Time of day: Morning – fewer tourists. On rainy days, the museum is a perfect alternative to trekking.
Duration: 1–1.5 hours for the exhibition. With a foreign-language guided tour – up to 1.5 hours.
Tip: Visit early in your trip – the exhibition provides context for everything you'll see across Svaneti.
Practical answers about visiting, routes and time on site.
Adults – 20 GEL (~$7). Students – 1 GEL. Children under 6 free. Foreign-language guided tour – 45 GEL.
1–1.5 hours. With a foreign-language guided tour – up to 1.5 hours.
Yes, all exhibits have English labels. Guided tours in foreign languages are available (45 GEL, ~1 hour).
Tuesday–Sunday, 10:00 AM–6:00 PM. Closed Mondays.
Yes. There is an educational centre with programmes for children and teenagers. Free entry for children under 6.
The Adishi Gospels of 897 – one of the oldest dated Georgian New Testaments. 10th-century Saviour icon and 12th-century Forty Martyrs icon. 6th-century Syrian bronze censers.
Photography rules may vary – check at the ticket counter upon arrival.
Margiani House Museum – 10 minutes' walk, an authentic Svan house with tower. Svan towers – right around the museum. Chalaadi Glacier – a 3–4 hour trek.
Yes, free Wi-Fi in the museum café. There is also a media library with books on Svaneti's history.
