Tbilisi: where to stay and what to see, areas and routes

Tbilisi is convenient for a short trip of 3-4 days: the center is compact, the main places are close together, and the metro and cable cars take care of the climbs up the hills. Here is which area to stay in, what to see first and how not to lose time on the road.

How the city works

The historic center lies on both banks of the Kura river, most of it on the right bank. In the southwest it ends at Meidan Square, and in the northeast it reaches Freedom Square. Between Kote Apkhazi street and the river is the best-kept part of the Old Town. To the west the center turns into Sololaki, and on the left bank is Avlabari. Almost all the rest of the development is from the Soviet era, so museums and theaters are strung along Rustaveli Avenue.

Where to stay: five areas

The Old Town and Abanotubani. Narrow streets, balconies, sulfur baths and restaurants. Plus: everything is within walking distance. Minus: it is noisy in the evening, and the climbs to the fortress are steep.

Sololaki. Pre-revolutionary houses, quiet streets, cafes and galleries. A good choice for a calm holiday, about 10 minutes on foot to Freedom Square. Minus: many stairs on the slopes.

Rustaveli Avenue. The Freedom Square and Rustaveli metro stations, theaters, museums and shops. The best option for a first visit when you want to reach everything by metro.

Avlabari. The left bank, calmer and often cheaper. The Avlabari metro is close, and you walk across the bridge to the Old Town. Minus: you have to go down and cross the river to reach the center.

Vake. A prestigious area with parks and expensive shops. Suitable if you come for a long stay or with children. Minus: you need transport from the Old Town.

If you are choosing between areas for the first time, take Sololaki or Rustaveli: both give you the metro and walks without transfers.

What to see on day one: the Old Town

• Narikala Fortress. Ruins with a view of the city. You can walk up or take the cable car from Rike Park (opened in 2012 and, according to Wikivoyage, running from 10 to 22).
• The Botanical Garden. In the gorge under the fortress, with the entrance from Botanichuri street.
• Anchiskhati Church. According to the guide, the oldest church in the city, founded in the 6th century.
• The sulfur baths in Abanotubani. You can spot them by the small domes at ground level. There are several baths of varying comfort, and at popular hours you may be asked to wait for a free pool.
• Metekhi Church. Stands on a cliff above the Kura, by the Avlabari metro.

Day two: Rustaveli and the museums

Rustaveli Avenue begins at Freedom Square. Here are the Georgia Museum, the National Gallery, a Moorish-style opera house and the National Theater. For two or three hours a walk along the avenue with a visit to one museum is enough. You can continue at the Dry Bridge: a flea market with antiques, paintings and souvenirs, where bargaining is customary.

Day three: the hills and surroundings

• Mtatsminda. A park on the mountain with a Ferris wheel and a view of the whole city. You can go up by funicular from the Rustaveli metro: according to Wikivoyage, the fare is paid only with the park card, and an ordinary transport card does not work.
• The Mtatsminda Pantheon. Next to Mamadaviti church, where Georgian writers and public figures are buried.
• Mtskheta and Uplistsikhe. One-day trips from the city. For other routes in the country see Batumi: when to go and what to see.

Getting there and getting around

Rustaveli airport is about 17 kilometers east of the center. Bus 337 runs via Avlabari, Freedom Square and Rustaveli to the railway station, taking about 50 minutes according to Wikivoyage, with a fare of 1 lari. It is easier to call a taxi through an app: the price is known in advance.

In the city there are two main ways:

1. The metro. Two lines, running from 6 am to midnight. You need a card: it costs 2 lari, and one ride is 1 lari. The same card can pay on buses, minibuses and cable cars.
2. Cable cars and the funicular. Climbs to Narikala, Mtatsminda and Vake Park. At weekends there are queues in Vake Park.

Money and safety

Tbilisi is an inexpensive city: shawarma and pastries cost little. The Samgori and Isani markets by the metro stations of the same names are cheaper than the central market by the station, and toward evening prices for unsold fruit and vegetables fall even lower. Good pastries are available five minutes on foot from almost anywhere in the city, and prices differ only slightly from the center to the outskirts.

Take out travel insurance before the trip, and keep your ticket terms.

More on Georgia

• To see when to go, read Tbilisi: when to go.
• For the sea and beaches, see Batumi: areas, beaches and where to stay.
• Prices for the nearest dates are in the HotTrip flight search.

Frequently asked questions

How many days do I need for Tbilisi?

Three days is enough for the center: the Old Town and the fortress, Rustaveli Avenue with the museums, and Mtatsminda. One more day can be kept for Mtskheta or Uplistsikhe.

Where is the best place to stay the first time?

In Sololaki or on Rustaveli Avenue: both areas are near the metro and within walking distance of the Old Town.

How do I get from the airport?

By bus 337, with a fare of 1 lari and about 50 minutes on the road, according to Wikivoyage. Another option is a taxi through an app.

How do I pay for the metro and cable cars?

With a transport card. The card costs 2 lari, and one metro ride is 1 lari. For the Mtatsminda funicular you need the park card.

What do I do in bad weather?

The museums on Rustaveli: the Georgia Museum and the National Gallery. The cable car in Vake Park may not run in bad weather, according to the guide.

Cover: photo by Nesrin art on Pexels