Things to do in Tbilisi

Things to do in Tbilisi

The complete guide to Tbilisi

Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, is still one of the hidden gems of the region. Located at the crossroads of Eastern Europe and Western Asia, Tbilisi is a diverse city that doesn’t hide its identity. With a population of almost 1,200,000 inhabitants, it’s easy to understand that there are actually lots of things to do in Tbilisi. It was my first time in Georgia, and from the first moment, I had a very welcoming feeling. The locals are charming, and Georgian cuisine is delicious. Apart from that, the Georgian alphabet is one of the most beautiful I’ve ever seen. Do you know how the locals write the word “Tbilisi?” Well, that’s how: თბილისი. Impressive, right?

I wrote this city guide for Tbilisi in order to help the first time traveler to make the most out of his/her stay. As it’s always the case with my travel guides, I prefer to keep them informative, having more text and few photos. Therefore, if you would like to read my impressions and see photos from Tbilisi, you can read my travelogue from the capital of Georgia.

So, here is my guide to Tbilisi. Navigate through the sections and find info about sightseeing, the best things to do in Tbilisi, accommodation proposals, where to eat in Tbilisi, as well as budgeting tips. At the end of this guide, you will also find a few selected tours for Tbilisi and beyond.

*Some of the links are affiliate links.

[tabs]

[tab title="How to go" icon="icon-entypo-info"]Tbilisi is a booming city, and several international flights are landing there. Keep in mind though that -usually- the flights arrive very late at night. My flight from Athens landed in Tbilisi at 4 am. I would also suggest to pre-order a taxi or communicate with the hotel to send a driver: it will save you a lot of trouble in the middle of the night. In my case, I paid approximately 12 euros for the lift.

Check the best prices for flights to Tbilisi here.

If you happen to fly from Athens -which is actually pretty convenient- you can fly directly to Tbilisi with Aegean Airlines. Book your Aegean Airlines flight here.[/tab]

[tab title="Where to stay" icon="icon-entypo-info"]I stayed at the wonderful Garnet Hotel in the heart of Tbilisi, just a few meters away from the Freedom Square. The hotel is brand new, the staff is extremely helpful and the breakfast delicious. The Wi-Fi is totally reliable, and some rooms come with a balcony. Overall, a wonderful experience, therefore, I can highly recommend it.

A tip

If you are a light sleeper, then don’t stay in a room facing the street. Although the windows are really well isolated, there might be some noise -especially early in the morning. For me, it was not an issue, but I can understand that some people might have problems with that.

For other options of accommodation in Tbilisi, just click here or use the interactive map below.

Booking.com

[/tab]

[tab title="Where to eat and drink" icon="icon-entypo-info"]The Georgian cuisine is really one of a kind, and I still think of the food I had there. Actually, whenever I’m traveling to Eastern Europe, I always try to find a Georgian restaurant to eat once. The food in Tbilisi is no exception, of course, and I wish I had more days in the city to try even more local dishes. Honestly, I didn’t have a bad meal in Tbilisi, even though I went to random places. I have followed, of course, the recommendations of the locals (thanks Gvantsa!), and once again, I searched on Foursquare.

So, here are my favorite places for food and drinks in Tbilisi.

1. Linville. A wonderful cafe-restaurant with a vintage atmosphere and delicious food. The music is nostalgic, and this makes the place look even better. Starter, main dish, and a glass of wine for less than 10 euros. In the very heart of the Old town. Check Linville’s FB page here.
2. Dolce Mania. I had a quick stop at Dolce Mania, and I was delighted with the coffee and cake I ordered. Outdoor seating, free Wi-Fi, and good quality coffee. The place offers dining options, too.
3. Barbarestan. High-quality restaurant but not cheap at all. Traditional Georgian recipes after Barbare Jorjadze, a 19th-century princess who wrote a famous cookbook. If you like good food and if your budget can afford it, then try it out.
4. Sofia Melnikovas. Great food and outdoor seating in a nice courtyard. Not so easy to find but definitely rewarding. Delicious khinkali (the Georgian dumplings.)

A personal tip

There are loads of bakeries in Tbilisi, and I couldn’t resist trying out a few of them. It actually seems that there are bakeries in every corner of the city. If you feel convinced by what you see -I bet you’ll be- just order whatever seems more pleasing to your eye. You won’t regret it. Plus, you will be among the locals, therefore, you can observe daily life and habits.[/tab]

[tab title="Sightseeing" icon="icon-entypo-info"]Strolling around Tbilisi is a pleasure, and I highly recommend to take long walks around the city. The narrow streets and the vintage feeling make Tbilisi a joy to wander around and explore the different neighborhoods, especially the ones in the Old Town. I found Tbilisi to be totally safe, and I don’t think that you will run into any problems. The main avenues are full of people during the day, but Tbilisi is a city that has an enjoyable nightlife too. 

Rustaveli Avenue is definitely a must if you want to feel the vibe of the city. This is the main boulevard of the city, named after the iconic Georgian poet Shota Rustaveli (check his Knight in the Panther Skin here). Actually, Rustaveli Avenue reminded me of the major avenues of Athens, and I had a delightful feeling exploring it while observing some cool street art too. This is the place to see and be seen in Tbilisi. For the street photographers among us, the avenue is full of attractive faces and incidents, so you will definitely have the chance to capture the way life unfolds. Plus this is the main shopping artery of the city, therefore you can buy souvenirs or whatever you might need. Last but not least, on Rustaveli Avenue you can also visit the Georgian National Museum and learn more about the country.

Equally recommended is a visit to the Dry Bridge Market, a big outdoor bazaar where you can find everything. There you will see a wide variety of USSR objects, but apart from that, the Dry Bridge Market is also a historical place. In Soviet times, people would come here to sell their belongings to make some extra cash. Even if you don’t buy something, you will enjoy being among locals, and you will also have the chance to see various objects from the USSR. For me, the visit to the Dry Bridge Market is one of the best things to do in Tbilisi due to its atmosphere and the local feeling. It’s open daily from 10:00 to 17:00.

Don’t also miss the chance to wander around the Botanical Garden. This is a mesmerizing place where you can immerse yourself in the wonder of nature and feel the vibe of old Georgia. The Botanical Garden of Tbilisi occupies more than 160 hectares. The visit to the Botanical Garden of Tbilisi can actually be combined with a visit to the Narikala fortress. The ancient Narikala fortress overlooks both the city and the Mtkvari River, offering stunning views. The fortress stands there since the 4th century, so as you can easily imagine, this is one of the oldest and most historic places in Tbilisi. Since 2012, a cable car connects Rike Park on the left bank of the Mtkvari river with Narikala Fortress.

Of course, Tbilisi’s absolute gem is its Old Town. The Old Town of Tbilisi is actually a spectacular maze of narrow streets, houses made by brick, and wooden balconies. This sort of vintage atmosphere is something that you won’t find easily in other Eastern European countries because here you can observe a mixture of Russian and European architecture blended with Arabic and Asian elements. The result is stunning, and during my time in Tbilisi, I tried to reach the Old City of Tbilisi as often I could.

In the Old Town, you will also find the famous sulfur baths of Tbilisi, also known as Royal Baths. The name “Tbilisi” actually has a direct connection to the sulfur baths: it means “warm place.” You can find them in the Abanotubani district, and taking a bath there is a memorable experience. Apart from the folklore, the sulphur baths help with problems like digestion, insomnia, and arthritis. You can get some extra info here.

Now, no visit to Tbilisi is complete without visiting the Mother Georgia statue. The Kartlis Deda is actually a monument on top of the Sololaki hill. It stands there since 1958, and it was erected for the 1,500th anniversary of the city. Mother Georgia is a 20-meters tall aluminum statue portraying a woman in a traditional Georgian dress. The woman holds a bowl of wine on her left hand to welcome those who come as friends, and a sword on the right one, to punish the ones coming as enemies.

Last but not least, if you are spending an adequate amount of time in Georgia, do consider visiting the countryside. The routes are beautiful, and there are loads of authentic little towns on your way. At the end of this post, you will find some links to selected tours for day trips outside Tbilisi.

[/tab]

[tab title="How to budget" icon="icon-entypo-info"]Tbilisi is still a relatively cheap destination. A double room downtown won’t cost you more than 40 euros per night unless if you are after some luxury. The metro costs 30-40 cents per ride and gives you access to almost every place of interest. The food is priced moderately, and you will hardly spend more than 12-15 euros per person, drinks included. Usually, you’ll spend less.

Overall, Tbilisi is not expensive at all, and if you like to keep an eye on your budget, then you will definitely spend less than 100 euros for four days (accommodation excluded, of course). During my stay in Tbilisi, I stayed well beyond the 70 euros limit per day, which includes everything: accommodation, food, tickets, etc.[/tab]

[/tabs]

Selected tours and activities in Tbilisi and beyond

While Tbilisi will keep you occupied for a couple of days, the countryside of Georgia is where the true beauty of the country lies. I visited a few more places in Georgia, and I can highly recommend spending at least one day outside of the capital. There are several tours to choose from, but here I tried to compile a shortlist with the best ones. Some of them are tours in Tbilisi, while others will drive you out of the city. So, here are some of the best activities in Tbilisi and beyond.

• Tbilisi Walking Tour with Cable Cars, Wine Tasting, and Traditional Bakery. In my opinion, this is one of the finest (and cheapest) tours in Tbilisi. As its title betrays, you will walk around Tbilisi with a guide, and you will explore the fortress, the waterfall, and the ancient theater. Plus, you will do some wine tasting. Believe it or not, Georgia has excellent wine production and you should bring a bottle of wine back home if possible. Book your walking tour here.
• Mtskheta-Jvari Gori-Uplistsikhe. This is actually a full day tour from Tbilisi, where you can enjoy the Unesco World Heritage Site of Mtskheta as well as the Jvari Gori, also known as Jvari Monastery, a 6th century Orthodox Monastery in the Eastern part of Georgia. Recommended for travelers that can only have one day out of the city and want to make the most out of it. Book here the Mtskheta-Jvari Gori-Uplistsikhe tour.
• 9-Tastings: Food-walk through historical Tbilisi. This private tour is definitely a must for food lovers. You will explore the historical Sololaki district in downtown Tbilisi, and you will taste nine different dishes. The food tasting tour offers a wide variety: from bakeries to diners, and from vintage Georgian taverns to a modern gallery cafe. Check the prices for the 9-Tastings here.
• Private Day Trip to Gudauri and Kazbegi from Tbilisi via Jvari and Mtskheta. Last but not least, this is the tour that offers, somehow, Georgia in a nutshell. I think that you can’t ask for anything more from a day trip. Not only you’ll visit the Unesco World Heritage Sites of Mtskheta and Jvari Monastery, but you’ll also discover Gudauri and Kazbegi. It’s definitely pricier than other tours, but it also offers the most rewarding experience. Book this private day trip here.

So, this was my city guide to Georgia’s capital, including the best things to do in Tbilisi and a bunch of selected activities in nearby places. Do let me know in the comments if you have already visited Georgia and what did you think about it.

More about Tbilisi & Georgia: A monk above the clouds & Chiatura, a modern dystopia? & A stream of hope in Tbilisi

Booking.com

*Get my FREE Travel Writing Course*

Buy the camera I use | Book your hotel

The best prices for renting a car

Pin it for later

Please share, tweet, and pin if you enjoyed reading The things to do in Tbilisi. Your support keeps this website running and all the info up-to-date. 🙂

Last Updated on May 19, 2020 by George Pavlopoulos