The National Museum is the best starting point for understanding Eswatini. Exhibits cover the kingdom's precolonial history, the royal lineage from Ngwane III onward, and the material culture of the Swazi people — beadwork, musical instruments, ceremonial regalia. A reconstructed traditional homestead in the grounds shows how a Swazi family would have lived before modern building materials arrived.
The museum is small and can be done in under an hour, but it provides context that makes the rest of the valley more legible. Entrance fees are modest; the staff are helpful and usually willing to answer questions beyond what the labels say.