# Tbilisi > gtour.ge — G Tour, Gateway to Georgia. Cite as: GTour desk, gtour.ge. - Canonical: https://gtour.ge/georgia/tbilisi/ - Author: Prof. Giorgi Pkhakadze (GTour desk, Tbilisi) - Published: 2026-09-15 - Updated: 2026-10-16 - Language: en - Russian edition: https://gtour.ge/ru/georgia/tbilisi/ *Guide last checked by the GTour desk on 16 October 2026. Latest news for this region is listed below the guide and updates automatically.* ### Why go Tbilisi sits in a narrow gorge where the Mtkvari (Kura) river cuts through the Caucasus foothills, and the city’s 1,500-year history shows in a single afternoon’s walk: sulphur bathhouses, a hilltop fortress, Persian-style balconies, Soviet apartment blocks and glass footbridges all stand within a few hundred metres of each other. At 450 m elevation, with roughly 1.2 million residents, it is the obvious base for exploring eastern Georgia, and most day trips covered in our [regional guides](/guides/) start and end here. ### When to go - **April to June** — mild days, green hillsides, the best light for the Old Town. - **September to October** — grape harvest in nearby Kakheti, clear air, fewer crowds than spring. - **July and August** — hot and dry in the city centre; many residents head to the mountains, which makes this a good window for day trips out of town. - **Winter** — cold but rarely severe; useful as a base for skiing day trips, with the city itself quiet. ### Getting there Tbilisi International Airport has flight connections across the region and beyond; airport bus 337 runs into the centre as a low-cost option, and Bolt taxis are the standard alternative. Within the city, two metro lines cover the main north–south axis along the river, useful for reaching Rustaveli Avenue, Marjanishvili and the central station. For onward travel to Kazbegi, Kakheti or Gori, check [current road status](/road-status/) before setting out, particularly in winter when the Georgian Military Highway can close. ### What to see **Old Town (Kala) and Abanotubani** - The sulphur bathhouses of Abanotubani, still in daily use - Narikala fortress, reached on foot or by cable car from Rike Park - Metekhi church, on the cliff above the river - Sioni cathedral and the 6th-century Anchiskhati basilica, the oldest surviving church in the city - Leghvtakhevi waterfall, tucked into a side ravine behind the baths - The Peace Bridge, linking the Old Town to Rike Park **Rustaveli Avenue and the New Town** - Parliament building and the Opera and Ballet Theatre - The National Museum, home to the Gold Treasury collection of pre-Christian jewellery **Sololaki and Mtatsminda** - Art-nouveau streets with carved wooden balconies, best explored on foot - Mtatsminda Park, reached by funicular, with views over the whole basin **Markets, cafes and creative spaces** - Vera and Vake, for contemporary cafes and a quieter residential pace - Dry Bridge flea market, for Soviet-era objects and local art - Dezerter Bazaar, the city’s main produce market - Fabrika, a former sewing factory in Chugureti now holding workshops, bars and a hostel courtyard **Parks and water** - Turtle Lake and the Tbilisi Sea reservoir, both popular with locals at weekends - Sameba cathedral, the large hilltop cathedral visible from much of the city **Day trips** - [Mtskheta](/guides/mtskheta) — Jvari monastery and Svetitskhoveli cathedral, about 25 minutes from central Tbilisi - [Kazbegi](/guides/kazbegi) — mountain scenery along the Georgian Military Highway - [Kakheti](/guides/kakheti) — wine country to the east - [Gori and Uplistsikhe](/guides/gori) — a rock-hewn town and the Stalin Museum ### A three-day plan **Day 1 — Old Town on foot.** Start in Abanotubani, climb or take the cable car to Narikala, walk down through Sololaki’s art-nouveau streets, cross the Peace Bridge, and finish at Anchiskhati and Sioni before dinner in the Old Town. **Day 2 — Rustaveli and the newer districts.** Morning at the National Museum and the Gold Treasury, a walk down Rustaveli Avenue, lunch in Vera, and an afternoon browsing Dry Bridge market before taking the funicular up Mtatsminda for sunset views. **Day 3 — Mtskheta and beyond.** Mtskheta is a 25-minute drive, making it easy to combine with a half-day at Jvari and Svetitskhoveli and still return by early afternoon; those with a full day can continue toward Gori and Uplistsikhe, roughly 1.5 hours further, or take a longer excursion into Kakheti. See [organised tours](/tours/) for guided versions of either route. ### Where to stay - **Sololaki and the Old Town** — walkable to the main sights, a mix of boutique hotels and guesthouses in restored townhouses. GTour’s own base, the Castle in Old Town, is on Gogebashvili Street. - **Vera** — quieter, close to Rustaveli, good for longer stays with cafes nearby. - **Vake** — residential, leafy, better value for larger rooms or apartments, a short taxi ride from the centre. - **Marjanishvili** — on the metro line, a working neighbourhood with a growing number of small hotels and a direct connection to the Old Town and Fabrika. GTour’s verified register lists hotels and guesthouses for the region below, checked directly rather than drawn from aggregator listings. ### Eat and drink - **Khinkali** — boiled dumplings, eaten by hand, found everywhere from market stalls to sit-down restaurants. - **Khachapuri** — cheese-filled bread, with regional variants including the boat-shaped Adjaran version topped with egg and butter. - **Pkhali** — cold vegetable pâtés made with walnut paste, usually served as a shared starter. - **Wine** — the wine bars of Sololaki offer a reasonable introduction to Georgian qvevri (clay-vessel) wine before a longer trip into Kakheti itself. ### Practical notes - **Money** — the Georgian lari (GEL) is the local currency; cards are widely accepted in the centre, though markets and small guesthouses may prefer cash. - **Connectivity** — local SIM cards are inexpensive and easy to buy on arrival; wifi is standard in hotels and cafes. - **Getting around** — the metro covers the main axis of the city; Bolt is the standard taxi app; the Old Town’s steep lanes are best covered on foot. - **Roads out of town** — mountain routes toward Kazbegi and the border can close in winter weather; check [road status](/road-status/) before day trips in that direction. - **Safety** — Tbilisi is generally safe for visitors; usual city precautions apply around markets and late-night nightlife areas. ### Quick answers **How many days are needed for Tbilisi itself?** Two full days cover the Old Town, Rustaveli and the main museums comfortably. **Is Mtskheta worth a half-day trip?** Yes, it is about 25 minutes from the centre and can be combined with a later activity the same day. **Which neighbourhood suits first-time visitors?** Sololaki or the Old Town, for walking distance to the main sights. **Is the metro useful for tourists?** Yes, particularly along the Rustaveli–Marjanishvili axis, though the Old Town itself is best explored on foot. **When is the heat least of an issue?** April to June and September to October both avoid the peak summer heat. **Can Kazbegi be done as a day trip?** Yes, though it is a long day; check road conditions in advance. ### Latest news for Tbilisi [New Openings #### Hotel Sunset Terrace: A Zugdidi Base for Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti 31 October 2026 · Mariam Lomidze](https://gtour.ge/hotel-sunset-terrace-a-zugdidi-base-for-samegrelo-zemo-svaneti/)[Weather & Roads #### Georgia today, Saturday 31 October: weather, roads and the lari 31 October 2026 · Nino Gelashvili](https://gtour.ge/georgia-today-saturday-31-october-weather-roads-and-the-lari/)[Travel guides #### UNESCO World Heritage in Georgia: Mtskheta, Gelati, Upper Svaneti and the Colchic rainforests — and the tentative list 30 October 2026 · Mariam Lomidze](https://gtour.ge/unesco-sites-georgia-guide/)[Travel guides #### Cave cities of Georgia: Vardzia, Uplistsikhe and David Gareja — history, visiting rules and how to combine them 30 October 2026 · Mariam Lomidze](https://gtour.ge/cave-towns-vardzia-uplistsikhe-davit-gareja/)[Festivals & Events #### Garikula: a quiet wine and sculpture stop in Shida Kartli 30 October 2026 · David Kiknadze](https://gtour.ge/garikula-a-quiet-wine-and-sculpture-stop-in-shida-kartli/)[Safari News #### Beyond the Myth: Spotted Hyenas Reclaim Their Status as Apex Hunters 30 October 2026 · Safari News — Africa Calling Safaris](https://gtour.ge/beyond-the-myth-spotted-hyenas-reclaim-their-status-as-apex-hunters/) Plan your Georgia Tell us your dates and what you love. 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