TOP 10 museums of Ukraine

TOP 10 museums of Ukraine

10 Sep 2024

Museums of Ukraine are very diverse and captivating in different ways. Some were impressed with their resilience, others with their collections, and some with their communication with visitors. However, much of the work remains unnoticed—research, working with materials, effective preservation of exhibits, and the coordination of all processes. It is extremely important when the visual and internal aspects of a museum’s work maintain balance and achieve success in their activities.

In this list of the top 10 museums in Ukraine, we tried to find this balance and highlight these museums.

National Art Museum of Ukraine

namu

The National Art Museum of Ukraine is a gem of Ukrainian culture and art. Founded 125 years ago, this first museum in Kyiv holds over 40,000 works of Ukrainian art, from iconography and folk art to contemporary painting and sculpture.
The building itself, in which the museum is housed, is a marvel of neoclassical style and grandeur. The museum continues to grow and keep pace with the times. The collection is safely stored, while staff constantly organize exhibitions, workshops, and other events.

M.F. Sumtsov Kharkiv Historical Museum

Харківський історичний музей

The Kharkiv Historical Museum is one of the largest historical museums in Ukraine, located in the heart of Kharkiv. It is a leading cultural center of Slobozhanshchyna and Eastern Ukraine. Founded in 1920, it has become a true treasure for researchers and enthusiasts of Ukrainian history.
The museum’s collection includes over 300,000 items covering periods from antiquity to the present day. It bears the name of Ukrainian ethnographer and historian Mykola Sumtsov, highlighting his significant role in preserving national heritage.

D.I. Yavornytsky Dnipropetrovsk National Historical Museum

Дніпропетровський історичний музей

One of the oldest museums in Ukraine, it was founded in 1849 and is now celebrating 175 years! Located in Dnipro, it is named after the prominent Ukrainian historian, archaeologist, and ethnographer Dmytro Yavornytsky.
The collection of the D.I. Yavornytsky Dnipropetrovsk National Historical Museum holds over 250,000 exhibits, ranging from archaeology to modern history, related to the history of the Dnipro region and all of Ukraine. Despite its venerable age, the museum remains vibrant, actively developing educational and cultural projects that help deepen the understanding of Ukraine’s rich history.

Ivan Honchar Museum, National Center of Folk Culture

Музей Івана Гончара

The Ivan Honchar Museum is a unique museum in Kyiv that has become a true treasury of Ukrainian folk culture and traditions. Based on the private collection of renowned ethnographer Ivan Honchar, it has become a center for researching and promoting Ukrainian culture, organizing festivals, exhibitions, and educational programs.
The museum’s collection includes over 27,000 items, featuring folk art, ancient icons, embroidery, ceramics, folk clothing, and household items. The museum has evolved from a small private ethnographic collection to a national museum and an open cultural center in Ukraine.

Lviv Historical Museum

Львівський історичний музей

The Lviv Historical Museum, one of the oldest museums in Ukraine, was founded in 1893. Its collection includes over 370,000 items and attracts more than 400,000 tourists from around the world each year.
Located in several historical buildings in Lviv, the museum offers themed exhibitions and educational programs. It is an important part not only of Ukrainian but also of world cultural heritage. Among its exhibits are manuscripts, old books, ancient maps of Lviv, weapons, furniture, photographs, seals, philately, banknotes, and historical orders from various countries.

Odesa National Art Museum

Одеський художній музей

The Odesa National Art Museum is one of the most important cultural centers of Odesa and Ukraine. The museum’s collection includes over 10,000 works of art, including pieces by prominent Ukrainian and international artists, representing various artistic movements from iconography to modern art.
The museum hosts numerous exhibitions, lectures, and cultural events, inviting visitors to enjoy the world of art in the historical atmosphere of Odesa, making art accessible to everyone.

Museum of Pysanka (Easter Egg Painting)

Музей писанки

 

The Museum of Pysanka is the only museum in the world dedicated to decorating Easter eggs. This unique museum is located in Kolomyia, Ivano-Frankivsk region, and is a true symbol of the Ukrainian Easter tradition.
The highlight of the museum is its unusual building in the shape of a giant Easter egg over 13 meters tall. Inside this symbolic structure are more than 10,000 pysankas from different regions of Ukraine and abroad. Among the collection is a true archaeological treasure—a 500-year-old goose egg pysanka that has survived to this day.

S.P. Korolyov National Museum of Cosmonautics

Музей космонавтики

 

The S.P. Korolyov Museum of Cosmonautics, located in Zhytomyr, is dedicated to space exploration and the renowned Ukrainian scientist and engineer Serhiy Korolyov. Founded in 1970, the museum has become an important center of scientific heritage and Ukrainian achievements in space exploration.
The main exhibition features over 11,000 items, including Korolyov’s personal belongings, models of spacecraft, objects related to the first space flights, and many other materials that reflect the history of space exploration.

M.I. Pirogov National Estate Museum

Музей-садиба Пирогова

The historical and memorial complex is dedicated to the life and work of Mykola Pirogov, a prominent surgeon, anatomist, and founder of military field surgery. It is located in Vinnytsia, where Pirogov lived and worked for the last 20 years of his life.
The complex includes a house museum, an apothecary, a garden, a park, and a church necropolis where Pirogov’s embalmed body is preserved. The estate museum is an important center of medical history and heritage, preserving a special cultural environment from the scientist’s time.

Odesa Archaeological Museum of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine

Одеський археологічний музей

The Odesa Archaeological Museum is one of the oldest archaeological museums in Ukraine, founded in 1825. Located in Odesa, it is a part of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, conducting excavations and expeditions.
The museum’s collection includes over 170,000 items, from the Stone Age to the Middle Ages. Notable are ancient Greek artifacts from the Northern Black Sea colonies, as well as a unique collection of Egyptian artifacts, one of the few in Ukraine.

 


Photo on the cover: National dress from different regions of Ukraine.

Exhibition of the National Center of Folk Culture “Ivan Honchar Museum”