What to do in Tbilisi: 24 must-visit places.

Updated: December 10, 2023

This European city is a true gem, I'll tell you the most interesting things to see in Tbilisi so you can enjoy each of its corners.

The ancient city of Tbilisi is one of the most beautiful in Europe, with a unique mix between western and eastern.

Because it is on the edge where Europe ends, with a lot of Asian influence, especially from its neighbors and thanks to the fact that it was one of the stops on the Silk Road.

Besides, his soviet past It is still very present in the daily life of this very particular city that contrasts with its religiosity.

At the same time you can find old buildings, others super modern and all without losing their traditions and authenticity.

In this article I tell you the most interesting things to do and see in Tbilisi. Below I leave you the Google map with all the places marked.

What to see in Tbilisi?

1. Old Town

The old town is an area full of history, it is the original part of the city that was ffounded in the 5th century AD by King Gorgasali.

Although they have been found archaeological remains of a settlement dating back to 4000 BC.

If you walk through its cobbled streets you will find beautiful centuries-old buildings with classic balconies of wood painted turquoise, as well as the remains of the wall.

In the old town there is also the patriarch's residence, the greatest Orthodox religious representative of a very conservative Georgia.

Furthermore, it is an area where they congregate religious buildings of the most varied, an example of the fusion of cultures, some of the most important are:

• Sioni Orthodox Cathedral Built from the 5th century onwards, although today it is not the largest cathedral in the city, throughout Georgian history it has had great importance and is the main meeting point for the Orthodox faithful.
• Juma Mosque which began to be built in the 7th century, is the largest and most important mosque in the city, where Sunnis and Shiites pray together, something unusual. The building is made of brick and does not stand out too much, except for its minaret that can be seen from other parts of the city.
• Great Synagogue of Tbilisi which dates back to the 19th century, built by Jews from Akhaltsikhe, a city near the Turkish border that is very interesting to visit, which I will tell you about later.

You can also take advantage of greet the statue of the Toast Master, Tamada.

This friendly character is highly respected at Georgian festivities and tables, because with his horn full of wine he is the one in charge of making the toasts.

If you have little time I recommend this one tour of the historic center with wine tasting.

⭐ You may be interested in this article about 25 Curiosities of Georgia, which includes the tamada.

2. Thermal baths

The name of the city, Tiflis, means "hot" in Old Georgian, due to its sulfurous hot springs.

According to legend, King Gorgasali was hunting in the area that was a forest at the time and the pheasants he hunted fell into the water and were poached.

The main thermal baths of the city are located in the old town, there are public sulfur baths and with private cabins.

The most popular and most beautiful sulfur baths among tourists are those with private cabins:

• Orbeliani Baths: It has the most photographed façade in Tbilisi with blue mosaics, looking similar to that of a mosque. Many people confuse them because even the mosque's minaret can be seen right behind the bathrooms.
• Gulo's Thermal Spa: Its brick domes are one of the best-known postcards of the city.

In the old town there are also several public thermal baths, although not all of them have a very good level of cleanliness.

If you want to spend little and have time, I recommend going to the Lisi Lake thermal baths.

The price is 15 lari for the men's bathrooms and 12 lari for the women's, it is quite simple, but it is very relaxing and they are clean.

In addition, the lake area is very beautiful to walk.

📢 Data: to the thermal sulfur baths You cannot wear any jewelry or costume jewelry. to the water area because it can be damaged. Don't forget your swimsuit, especially if you go to a shared room, in general people are not naked. 😉

3. Kartlis Deda, Georgia's Mother

Kartlis Deda is the Georgia's mother, his sculpture is a symbol of the city, it is located at the top of the Sololaki hill, it is visible from various points in the city.

The original statue was from 1958, built of wood for the celebration of the 1500 years of the city. Subsequently, it was covered in aluminum to prevent deterioration. Then, in 1997 it was replaced by the current one.

One of its characteristics that draws the most attention is that it has in one hand he came to welcome friends and a sword to defend himself against enemies.

It is a sculpture that says a lot about the Georgian people, the city of Tbilisi has been invaded and rebuilt 26 times, hence their warrior spirit, but they are people with a big heart, always willing to help.

4. Narikala Fortress

The ancient Narikala fortress, which reigns on the Tbilisi hill, began to be built in the 4th century with two walled sections.

His original name was Shuris-tsikhe which means "ungrateful fortress."

The current name comes from the time when the Mongols were in the region and called it Narin Qala What does it mean "small strong".

In 1827 it was seriously affected by an earthquake, although it remains a site very visited mainly for its views over the city.

It's a good place to see the sunset.

5. Botanical Garden

The botanical garden was built in 1845 from some ancient royal gardens of the Narikala fort on the slope of the Sololaki hill.

Nowadays covers an area of 98 hectares, that is, the equivalent of 196 football fields.

This garden has a great diversity of plant species (more than 4,500) from different areas of the planet, including the Mediterranean, North America, the Middle East, Asia and of course native species.

It is an immense green space perfect for a walk in nature.

A very beautiful place during all seasons, although during spring its waterfall has a more vigorous fall and the garden is filled with color.

Admission costs 4 lari (1.42 euros) and payment is in cash.

If you like to do climbing in a natural environment, there you will find one great wall on mountain cliff and it is a free place.

6. Bridge of Peace

The Bridge of Peace It is the most modern that crosses the Kurá River and connects the old town area with a newer area of the city.

It is a very interesting fusion between the ruins and buildings that are more than 15 centuries old and this bridge that dates back to 2010 by the Italian architect. Michele De Lucchi.

This pedestrian bridge has a curved metal structure with an elegant shape and a glass roof that allows light to pass through.

It is a bridge that has generated a lot of controversy and has been harshly criticized, even calling it Always Ultra due to its shape, which they say is reminiscent of a feminine pad.

However, it is one of the most photographed places in the city and by the night It gains a certain charm when its LEDs light up.

7. Statue of King Gorgasali

The Peace Bridge is one of my favorite places to take photos. statue of King Vakhtang Gorgasali, the founder of the city, on his horse.

Although you can see it from closer, from the bridge that passes closest or from the other side of the river.

8. Rike Park

Once you cross the Peace Bridge you find an interesting and new park, Rike Park.

It is a green space with a very careful landscaping from where you can contemplate the river and the old part of the city with the mountains in the background.

If you look to the other side, you can see the presidential palace (State Palace of Ceremonies) at the top of the hill.

It is a park popular with locals and foreigners where concerts and other outdoor activities are held.

Some of the attractions of the park are:

• the Dancing fountains;
• he Cableway;
• the Rike concert hall, a space designed to host concerts and exhibitions that has never been used because although it was put up for auction there has been no buyer.

9. Cable car

The cable car located in Rike Park is the one that leads to Sololaki hill, right between Kartlis Deda and Narikala fortress.

Although the route is not very long or high, the views are really very good and makes it worth it to see the river from above, the old town and Rike Park.

Although the integrated transport card cannot be used, It is very economical, it costs 2.5 lari (0.89 euros) for the trip.

Of course, if you don't have the Metro Money transport card you will have to buy it and it costs an additional 2 lari.

Because it is not intended as a tourist attraction, but rather a means of transportation for local people.

Its hours are from 10 a.m. to midnight.

⭐ In this article How to get around Tbilisi and Georgia I'll tell you more about the Metro Money card.

10. Georgian food

With so many visits to this magnificent city, you have to stop to savor its delicious cuisine and recharge your batteries.

Some of the most popular traditional Georgian dishes are:

• Khinkali: They are a kind of empanadilla, ravioli or stuffed dumpling, the most common are meat, but there are also vegetarian ones. If you want to learn how to make them, I recommend this gastronomic visit with a local family.
• Khachapuri: It is a bread filled with cheese that varies depending on the region of origin. The most popular is the Adjaruli khachapuri, which is shaped like a boat and inside it has cheese, an egg, and butter that is stirred to form a delicious mixture.
• Lobio: It is a bean stew that is generally served in a very tasty spiced clay pot.
• Kharcho: a hearty and spicy soup obtained from stewed beef and served with ground walnuts.
• Badrijani: eggplant roll with a walnut-based pate as filling.

They also stand out for their breads such as shotis puri made in traditional clay oven and their desserts like churchkhela made with grapes and walnuts.

A great way to get to know your kitchen is with a gastronomic tour like the one in the link that includes 9 tastings and explanations from the guide.

😋 In this article I talk in detail about the 9 Traditional Georgian Food Dishes and even the best places in Tbilisi or nearby to try them.

11. Georgian wine

To accompany food, what better than a good wine and the Georgians, as they say, are the people who have been making wine the longest.

Archaeological remains have been found in the cave cities of Uplistsikhe, which show that already They made it 8,000 years ago.

⭐ Here you can read more about the Visit to Gori and Uplistsikhe from Tbilisi where I explain everything there is to see and how to get there.

This makes it a country expert in the art of wine making, What to do in buried ceramic vessels, giving the wine a peculiar and excellent flavor.

In the city of Tbilisi you will find a little bar in every corner to do wine tastings or buy some bottles.

Besides, wine in Georgia is super cheap, some joke that it is cheaper than water. If you want to be a greener person and save water, you know, drink wine! 😄🍷

The most popular site is 8000 vintages, is a winery with the widest selection to buy and take away.

This winery has a wine bar where you can drink some wine right there and they serve food (I'll leave it marked on the map below).

Another very good alternative is to do this wine walk, to taste the best wines with an expert, a very fun experience.

🍷 Friend's tip: If you are a lover of good wine, you may be interested travel to Georgia during grape harvest time (more or less in September). Because there are usually events related to wine and it is the best time to visit Kakheti, the main wine producing area of the country.

12. Cathedral of the Holy Trinity

This cathedral is quite new, construction began in 1995 and ended in 2004. The reason was for the celebration of the 1,500 years of the Orthodox Church in Georgia, which was completed in 1989.

Although the real name is Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi, the locals know it as Sameba.

It is one of the largest Orthodox churches in the world, which can accommodate up to 10,000 faithful inside and it is where the main religious festivities of the city are celebrated.

To give you an idea, that's more than half of the people that fit in a basketball stadium. For example, the Wizink stadium in Madrid or the Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona during basketball games can gather up to 15,000 and 17,000 people.

Its construction was done on the land where an Armenian cemetery was, something that caused a lot of commotion at the time.

The visit to this grandiose cathedral in a style reminiscent of other Georgian and Byzantine religious buildings is interesting to see, as is the area of its gardens and the bell tower at the entrance.

13. Public Service Hall

The Public Service Hall is one of the most striking buildings in the city and in Spain the equivalent would be the City Council.

It is the building where most public services procedures are carried out, including weddings, and depends on the Ministry of Justice.

Although the National Bank of Georgia and the Ministry of Energy also operate there.

The building has an organic shape that reminds of a group of mushrooms, with a total of 11 hats. That's why many people call it Mushroom Building (mushroom building).

Both the shape, the white color and its location next to the Kurá River make it very photographable.

One of the best places I found to take photos is from the bridge that is right in front, the Nikoloz Baratashvili Bridge.

If you are interested in photography, its interior is quite striking due to the way in which the hats allow light to pass through, which gives the sensation of a more welcoming space despite the large dimensions.

14. Dry Bridge Trail

In Tbilisi there are several interesting markets, the most curious is the Dry Bridge flea market, which would be translated as Dry Bridge because the river that passed through below was covered and now a road passes through.

In this market you can find the most unusual objects, many belonging to the Soviet era such as helmets and gas masks.

They also have other types of antiques such as instruments, cameras and swords used by Georgian warriors.

Although many swords, wine chalices and horns are replicas, recently mass-produced products, but they look great (photo below).

Then there is another area with new items where the paintings, crafts and woolen items of good quality.

But I have to warn you, that although it is a flea market, the items are quite select, so the prices are not the cheapest as could happen in a flea market in Spain.

Likewise, it is a visit that you cannot miss, at least to browse for a while.

Then, in the park area there is a cute little bar where you can stop and have a coffee.

⭐ In this other article you can read more about all the 16 Best Markets in Tbilisi.

15. Liberty Square

Freedom Square is the central point of the city and where people gather for celebrations and demonstrations.

It was even the place that hosted the celebration of Georgia's independence from the former USSR.

More than a square, it is a roundabout where cars circulate with a pillar in the center, formerly crowned by the statue of Lenin.

Today the statue of Saint George with dragon made of granite and gold, a symbol of Georgian freedom.

🎥 Fun fact: Various chase scenes from the film Fast and Furious 9 They were filmed in Tbilisi, including Rustaveli Avenue and in one image you can clearly see Freedom Square, minute 1:09 in the trailer below. The following video is from Tbilisi filmed with a drone.

16. Rustaveli Avenue

Shota Rustaveli Avenue is the main avenue in the city where you can see the daily hustle and bustle of people and the fusion of modern and old buildings.

The area that is most worth a walk is the one between Freedom Square and the Shota Rustaveli monument next to the Rustaveli metro stop.

Some of the most notable buildings are:

• Monument to Shota Rustaveli: a Georgian poet of the 12th century, the greatest medieval poet. His main work is the epic poem is The knight in the skin of the tiger.
• Tbilisi Opera and Ballet Theater: a unique building from 1851 and the oldest of its kind, notable for its neo-Arabic style.
• Parliament of Georgia: During the 12th century, the idea of limiting royal power by creating a kind of parliament was already conceived, although the current form of parliament has been in operation since 1906.
• National Museum of Georgia: It is a museum that includes several museums with different themes (history, ethnology, Soviet occupation, etc.). Some of the exhibits include artifacts, instruments and accessories belonging to the Bronze Age, as well as paintings by international and Georgian artists.
• National Gallery: This gallery is to promote Georgian fine arts with exhibitions highlighting medieval Christian art and ancient gold and silver jewelry.

Along the avenue you will also find small and friendly sculptures, one of them is next to the Opera House. 😉

17.- Opera and Ballet Theater

The National Opera Theater was founded in 1851 and is one of the oldest in Eastern Europe.

This theater is one of the most striking buildings on Rustaveli Avenue with its neo-Arabic style. If you can, also visit its beautiful interior, which is a fusion of this style and the European style.

To visit him, you can take the opportunity to go see the opera or ballet, which in countries of the former Soviet Union, such as Georgia, ballet and opera usually have very affordable prices within reach of most people.

To give you an idea of the prices, for example, see the opera Carmen the prices of the tickets start at 10 lari (3.55 euros). An absolutely ridiculous price to see an opera.

I went to see he Swan Lake in March 2023 and bought the most expensive tickets that They cost 80 lari (27.68 euros), incredibly cheap and the Georgian dancers are very good, because it is part of their culture.

If you are going to the ballet or the opera, keep the following in mind:

• Depending on the event, tickets can sell out quickly. For example, when I wanted to buy tickets to see Swan Lake In 2022, there was a month left and there were no more tickets left. That's why, buy tickets in timeYou can buy them on this website Tkt.ge, which also sell tickets to other events such as concerts and sports.
• Have dress codeThere is no need to dress up, with casual clothes and even jeans you can enter, but avoid clothing that is too sporty or beachy. That is, with what you would go out at night you will be well dressed.
• During the summer (July and August) there are no performances.

18. Graffiti

Graffiti and urban art is something that I am passionate about and I think it says a lot about a city.

In Tbilisi you will find graffiti in much of the city, including the center and the old town.

One of the most prolific artists is Goshaart (link to her Insta), is a Ukrainian who lives in Tbilisi.

His works are generally quite simple, but with a fun touch, you will find them on walls and sometimes urban elements.

As I have seen on his Insta he has tours, but I have not done it.

If you like graffiti there are several places throughout the city where a large amount is concentrated.

My favorite place is the underpasses of the Heroes Square, where all the walls are painted.

19. Mtatsminda and Turtle lake – hiking

Georgia is paradise for lovers of nature, hiking and trekking.

As Tbilisi is in a valley, you have the possibility of hiking just a few minutes from the city center.

The place Most popular and closest is Mtatsminda park, there you will find many routes with levels between easy and moderate.

They are all characterized by having very good views of the city.

Among the routes in the park I leave you 2, but you will find more on wikiloc:

1. Passing through Turtle Lake, continue through the park to the amusement park. In total there are 18 km and a difference in altitude of 896 m, here is the route of wikiloc.
2. Another shorter alternative is just to do Turtle lake of only 8 km and a positive elevation gain of 400 m, which you can see in wikiloc.

If you don't want to walk too much, turtle lake It's a nice place to take a walk, you can get there with the cable car which is in the Vake park and leaves you a few meters from the lake.

Next to the lake there are restaurants, bars, an ice cream parlor and a seating area where you can have a picnic.

There is even a zip line across the lake and another that goes down the mountain to the Vake park, perfect for a shot of adrenaline.

20. Sunset and views from a terrace

In Tbilisi there are several hotels and restaurants in the center and the old town with views over the city perfect to see a sunset and then the illuminated city, where the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity stands out.

One of the best places to see the sunset is from the Funicular restaurant that is in the mtatsminda park and the Tbilisi TV antenna.

This restaurant is the perfect place to eat with the best views. In addition, you can combine it with the hiking route that I mentioned in the previous point.

Alternatively, you can take the funicular directly to the restaurant.

Restaurant prices are a little more expensive than in the rest of the city, but the views are worth it.

If not from the amusement park area and near the restaurant you have the same views but for free.

21. Paragliding over the Tbilisi Sea

If you like adventure sports in Georgia you can go paragliding at a good price.

The cheapest place is flying over the sea of Tbilisi, which is an immense reservoir almost 12 km long and a maximum depth of 45 m.

The price of paragliding in Tbilisi is only 60 lari (21.29 euros), the duration is variable because it depends on the environmental conditions, it can be between 20 and 40 minutes.

Although if you are looking for spectacular landscapes, the Gudauri mountainous area is the most beautiful for paragliding which is to the north, very close to the border with Russia.

It is a very popular area for its ski slopes, here is a link to reserve a paragliding flight.

⭐ In this article about the Visit to Kazbegi and Ananuri I tell you everything there is to do in the area, including paragliding in Gudauri and skiing.

22. Soviet buildings and mosaics

Georgia belonged to the USSR for 69 long years, but even before that, at the beginning of the 19th century, it had already belonged to the Russian Empire.

In Tbilisi, it is something that they want to erase little by little, but it is still very evident not only in architecture, but in everyday life, with a great influence on the arts, cuisine and even transportation.

Throughout the city you can find buildings belonging to the Soviet brutalist architecture.

You can also buy souvenirs from that Soviet past at the Dry Bridge flea market that I mentioned before.

Or visit unusual buildings Soviet Modernist style belonging to the last period before the end of the USSR and contemplate the colorful soviet mosaics in different corners of the city.

If you are interested in Soviet architecture and the urbex, I recommend this tour which includes the visit to the printing press that I tell you about in the next point.

⭐ You may also be interested in this other article about Soviet architecture in Tbilisi: 16 best buildings and mosaics

23. Stalin's clandestine printing press

In a building that doesn't say much from the outside, in its basement, is the printing press used by Joseph Stalin to start printing the bolshevik propaganda.

There he printed pamphlets and magazines in Russian, Georgian and Armenian. from 1903 to 1906.

To get to this clandestine printing press you have to go down some narrow tunnels.

Upstairs, in the house, there was always someone acting as a lookout, ringing a bell to warn of the police's arrival to turn off the printing press and not be discovered.

In 1906, the printing press was discovered and destroyed. But during Stalin's government it was rebuilt as a museum, which is what can be visited today.

This is a little-known site worth visiting that during Soviet times was the Headquarters of the Communist Party of Georgia.

The man who guards the museum also shows you around. His English is very basic, but he is very nice and tries his best to explain everything he can.

He calls himself Soso, just like Stalin's nickname, because he is a fervent follower of the Soviet regime.

• Entry Fee::10 lari (3.69 euros)
• Opening Hours: The schedule is not fixed, I went at 11:30 and Soso was there to receive me.

24. Bunkers

During the Cold War, the Soviet Union prepared for possibility of nuclear attacks and built bunkers.

In Tbilisi, it is estimated that there are more than 450 bunkers in its bowels, one of them with a huge control panel to maintain communication with other bunkers in other Georgian cities.

Personally, I have searched for the bunkers and have only found 3, in other words, I am terrible at finding bunkers, haha. Keep investigating.

Apparently most are controlled by the government and entry is not allowed.

Tbilisi map

* To check the legend for each place, click the button in the top left corner of the map. To view this map on your phone or computer, tap the star on the right side of the title. Then go to Google Maps, select "Your Places" and "Maps" from the menu.

How many days to spend in Tbilisi?

I think that to see the most interesting places in Tbilisi and enjoy it well, it is necessary to dedicate 3 days to it. But it all depends on what you are interested in seeing.

If you have little time, a very good alternative is to make a Tbilisi tour, like this link that takes you to see the most interesting places with a guide in spanish.

Also, Tbilisi is a good starting point for many 1-day excursions, then you can alternate the tours and explore the city.

Also from here you can continue your trip through the Caucasus and visit Armenia or Azerbaijan.

⭐ In this other article you can read more about What to do in Yerevan: 14 best plans.

Where to stay in Tbilisi?

If you are coming on vacation and staying for a short time, I recommend staying in a central area, such as the old town or nearby areas.

That way you can reach many places on foot, and most of the excursions leave from the center.

These are the best hotels in Tbilisi for different budgets:

• Cheap: Apartment Panorama, are small apartments in the old town.
• Half: Graf Hotel, the best in terms of quality and price, is a modern hotel located in the center and has very comfortable rooms.
• Luxury: Castle in Old Town It has a beautiful fusion decoration of old and modern, and its breakfasts are fabulous.

🔝 If you want to know the best of the Caucasus without worrying about anything, book this All-inclusive trip to Georgia and Armenia, which costs less than 150 euros a day.

Final Thoughts

As you have seen in this article, there are many things to see in Tbilisi, a fantastic city with plans cultural, relaxation and nightlife.

You can continue reading more of my articles about this fascinating country in this Georgia Travel Guide travel on your own, they are organized there.

If you have any questions, leave me a comment below and if you found the article useful, share it with other fellow travelers. 😘

More about Georgia and the Caucasus

• 21 Tips for Traveling to Georgia
• 11 ideas of What to see in Borjomi, Georgia
• What to bring to Georgia?
• Visit to Rabati Castle in Akhaltsikhe
• How to Get from Tbilisi to Yerevan: Fast, Cheap, and Comfortable
• What to do in Yerevan: 14 best plans
• 22 cheapest destinations in Europe – including Tbilisi 😉