21 Top Things to Do in Tbilisi, Georgia’s Buzzing Capital

 

If you haven’t heard about Tbilisi, the buzzing capital of Georgia, then you need to educate yourself!

And if you have heard of it, but haven’t been, then you need to book a flight!

Yup, that’s how passionately I feel about this fab city at the very edge of Europe

With an electric atmosphere, a charged youthful skip in its step, great wine, friendly people, layered complex history, a great underground arts and culture scene, hidden bars and loads of parks, this place hit the spot for me in every way.

It’s also super safe, incredibly cheap and still under most travel radars… what more could I (or you) ask for?!

So to get you all fired up about this up and coming travel spot too, here’s 21 things to do in Tbilisi, the buzzing capital of Georgia.

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To make this list more easily navigable, I’ve decided to split the guide into geographic sections.

As a large sprawling city, Georgia’s capital can be hard to get your head around at first but, by ordering these top things to do in Tbilisi by geographical area, you can hopefully tick as many of them off your list in as short a time as possible!

 

 

THINGS TO DO IN TBILISI: OLD TOWN

The tourist centre of Tbilisi, the city’s Old Town is a charming mass of cobbled streets, winding lanes and places to eat or drink.

It’s quite compact, but easy to get lost in – although given how photogenic it is, this is usually less of a problem and more of a delight as you stumble upon creaking, crumbling buildings and independent, atmospheric cafes.

 

Staying in the Old Town:

If you’re looking to stay near the Old Town of Tbilisi on a budget, then highly recommended is Pushkin 10 hostel.

This places gets rave reviews from travellers who love its large, clean rooms, little balcony + common room, great staff and top location. Dorms here have persoanl reading lights and power sockets and the guest kitchen + free breakfast mean you’ll stay well fed!

 

#1 Take a Free Walking Tour

One of the best things to do in Tbilisi that centres around the Old Town is a free walking tour.

Run by the great company Tbilisi Hack, these operate twice daily during the summer months at 12pm and 5pm and last over 3 hours, beginning from Liberty Square.

If you want to avoid the summer heat however, then I highly suggest opting for the later one, which will also have you enjoying some elevated sights of the city during that magical golden hour – great for snaps!

As usual, these free waking tours operate on a tip basis, but are a truly super way to learn about this history and culture of this city, making them a great introduction to your Tbilisi time.

 

#2 See all the Churches

Georgia is a Christian Orthodox country, but situated at such an important geographical crossroads, it has always been very tolerant of other religions.

Synagogues, Catholic churches and a mosque can all be found in Tbilisi, as well as a good selection of Orthodox Churches too.

Top ones to see in the Old Town include Sinoi Cathedral – one of the most important places to worship in the whole county thanks to its status as the home of the scared cross of St Nino, who brought Christianity to Georgia from Turkey.

Jvaris Mama Church is another must-see church within the Old Town. Set within a cute courtyard, it has some beautiful frescoes inside.

The Catholic Church along Gia Abesadze Street, Anchiskhati Basilica and Saint George’s Cathedral are also worth a look in and learning about the religious history is certainly one of the best things to do in Tbilisi.

Outside the Old Town, the St Trinity Cathedral, which is beautifully illuminated at night, also makes for a great sight across the other side of the river.

 

#3 Peruse Gallery 27

A beautiful gallery space and cute souvenir shop that support local artists, Gallery 27 is a delightful little place that’s well worth perusing during your wanderings round the Old Town.

Set in a gorgeous old building, with some stunning stained glass windows, Gallery 27 also provides a great insight into how local Tbilisi people live with their shared wooden balcony spaces and open doors!

 

 

#4 Check out the Museums

There’s a great number of small, but interesting museums within the Old Town of this city and taking the time to explore a few is definitely one of the best things to do in Tbilisi.

Top of the list are the Tbilisi History Museum (which is housed within an old caravanserai), the David Baazov Museum of Jewish History in Georgia, the Museum of Illusions and the Tbilisi Antique Archaeological Museum.

Just outside the Old Town, the Art Museum of Georgia, as well as the Georgian National Museum are also rumoured to be very good too.

 

#5 Visit the Wonky Clock

The wonky clock is something of a Tbilisi icon and at 7pm every evening it puts on a short show for tourists and locals alike.

Head here at this time to see the performance and afterwards enjoy a drink in one of the lovely bars and cafes around.

The super Gabriadze Puppet Theatre is just next door too and a great place to visit in Tbilisi with kids.

 

#6 Eat & Drink Well

Speaking of which, checking out some of the bars and restaurants in the Old Town is certainly one of the best things to do in Tbilisi.

The Schuchman Wine Bar and nearby Jazz Café are both good options within this area, as are Machakhela and Gorgaslai.

At this last one, you can often see traditional Georgian dancing too if that’s your kinda thing!

Eating and drinking ae definitely 2 of my top things to do in Georgia!

 

#7 Wander Old Town Streets and Walls

Having been conquered, burnt, ransacked and then rebuilt more times than I care to count, Tbilisi’s Old Town really is an emblem of this city’s defiant spirit.

A commercial hub since the Medieval times, this was a popular stopping spot for people journeying from east to west carrying goods, religions and anything else they could find!

Several caravanserais could be found here in days gone by (a place where travellers of the Silk Road could stop for the night) and to this day, the city has both a deeply layered identity and a welcoming approach to strangers.

Wandering around the Old Town around sunset for the famed golden hour is a wonderful time to catch some good snaps in this highly evocative part of it all, where overgrown courtyards, twisting cobbled streets, creaking wooden balconies and crumbling, brick facades really do conjure up an atmosphere of time gone by.

 

#8 Sit in the Sulphur Baths

Hitting up some sort of hot spa / hot spring / mineral bath is always one of my favourite things to do anywhere, let alone when it’s set in the middle of one of my favourite cities!

Yes definitely deserving a place on this list, spending at least 1 evening soaking in some baths here is certainly one of the most relaxing things to do in Tbilisi!

The mineral springs of this city all contain natural sulphur elements, so be prepared for a bit of a smell and some scorching temperatures, although you’ll quickly get used to both!

Men have the option of attending public baths here, while women must book a private room and, in summer especially, it’s advised you do this at least a day in advance.

There are several different bathhouses, as well as rooms, to choose from, but one of the cheapest and nicest are the private rooms at Orbeliani Baths that start from 50 Lari for one hour.

You can then enjoy an exfoliating body scrub for 20 Lari, which much be paid in cash direct to the person scrubbing you.

Take along some flip flops, a towel and some water with you (it gets very hot inside). Swimwear is optional.

 

 

THINGS TO DO IN TBILISI: AROUND THE BOTANIC GARDENS

Next up, I’m going to move just slightly away from the Old Town and uphill a bit to bring you this next section of the best things to do in Tbilisi.

Technically still part of the Old Town, as it’s within the Old City walls, the Botanic Garden area is largely set on a hill overlooking the city and offers great views and some more historical sights.

 

#9 Ride the Cable Car

The first thing to do if you’re heading to the Botanic Gardens and, in my opinion, one of the best things to do in Tbilisi anyway, is ride the cable car up there.

This costs just 2.5 Lari and can be paid for using your Tbilisi transport card, which means enjoying this great activity really couldn’t be easier!

The cable car leaves from Rike Park on the other side of the river and will drop you right by Narikala Fortress on the hill, offering stunning views on the way up.

 

#10 Wave at Mother Georgia

As soon as you get to the top of the hill, make your way a little further along the ridge to take a look at Mother Georgia, who stands proudly over the city here offering protection… and wine… to locals and strangers alike!

Yes you will quickly learn in Georgia wine and hospitality is everything!

A 20m-tall aluminium statue, Mother Georgia is immediately recognisable and a great way to locate yourself from just about anywhere in this city.

 

#11 Scramble Up to Narikala Fortress

Dating back to the 4^th Century, Narikala Fortress sits on the other side of the cable car entrance to Mother Georgia, but you can easily loop back round to see it on your way down the hill.

Originally a Persian Citadel, this now-ruined fortress does still provide amazing views over the whole of Tbilisi however, especially if you scramble up right to the very top.

It’s free to enter and taking the time to visit here is undoubtedly one of the best things to do in Tbilisi.

 

#12 Stroll the Botanic Gardens

Before you do head down the hill however, make sure you take the opportunity to glimpse, or if you have more time, stroll the Botanic Gardens.

The other side from the cable car, looking out over this expansive green space is quite amazing, as it feels like staring at a national park, located just metres from the capital!

With trails and waterfalls housed within it, you could easily spend a few hours wandering here.

Don’t miss the sight of the crazy-looking palace of former Georgian Prime Minister and the country’s richest man, Bidzina Ivanishvili either, it’s quite the spectacle.

Entrance to the Botanic Gardens costs 4 Lari and is situated by the public baths I talked about in #8.

 

#13 View the Central Mosque & Leghvtakhevi Waterfall

And then, at the bottom of the hill that the Botanic Gardens sit on, are 2 places you’ll pass on your walk down.

First up is Leghvtakhevi Waterfall, which is a beautiful spot again more reminiscent of a national park setting rather than a capital.

This is a great place to people watch too as local couples can often be found looking smitten in its surrounds.

And just a few minutes from the waterfall is Tbilisi’s Central Mosque.

Amazingly both Shia and Sunni Muslims use this building, exemplifying the tolerant religious attitudes of Tbilisi to a tee.

Non-Muslims are welcome to enter the Mosque outside of Friday prayer time as long as they are appropriately dressed.

 

 

THINGS TO DO: AROUND RUSTAVELI

Moving on now to the more modern area of Tbilisi, Rustaveli is the main avenue that forms the central throughline of Tbilisi’s contemporary side.

This is the area many locals hang out in and there’s plenty of bars and cafes, as well as shops and prolific buildings, like that of the country’s Parliament, to spot in this area.

 

Staying Around Rustaveli:

If you’re looking to stay along Rustaveli on a budget, then I highly recommend Marco Polo hostel.

With some of the friendliest owners ever, this cute places buzzes with a warm atmosphere and the kitchen / common room is a great place to meet other travellers. These guys will also look after your bags too if you head off out of Tbilisi to other spots in Georgia and the free, unlimited breakfasts are superb.

 

#14 Explore Mtatsminda Park

First up on my list of the best things to do in Tbilisi near Rustaveli is visit Mtatsminda Park.

Set on a hill behind this area, with the prominent TV Tower at its helm, this place is the ceiling of the city and unsurprisingly, the scenery from the top is superb.

Take the funicular ride up from Daniel Chonqadze Street and enjoy the views as you quickly ascend this large hill.

A ride on the funicular costs 6 Lari, although you have to buy a separate travel card too which costs 2 Lari.

The way to get around this is to share the card and load numerous tickets onto it (staff normally let you do this). Or stay at Marco Polo hostel, where they have a stack of cards they lend guests for free!

A great time to visit Mtatsminda Park is near sunset so that the colours in the sky, and reflecting down on Tbilisi, are at their best.

There’s also a few bars / cafes / restaurants up here, so you can enjoy a sundowner drink too or, if you’re feeling brave, take a ride on one of the fairground attractions.

 

#15 Discover Delicious Cafes

Another reason I like the Rustaveli area around Tbilisi is because I think it has some of the best food in the city and is where many locals go to enjoy dinner or a drink – getting involved in this is certainly one of the best things to do in Tbilisi.

My favourites include Otakhi Café, Erti Kava Coffee Room and the Hummusbar located very near Rustaveli Metro Station.

An amazing café come restaurant that you have to find as well is Sofia Melnikovas Fantastiuri Duqani. Set just off Revaz Tabukashvili Street, discovering this secret spot is just half the fun – wait until you try the amazing food and see the great prices!

If you’re a vegan, the one plant-based café I found in Tbilisi is located just off Liberty Square along Ivane Machabeli Street, it’s called the Kiwi Vegan Café.

 

#16 Unearth Hidden Bars

Alternatively, there’s loads of other fun little wine bars and cafes also dotted along Ivane Machabeli Street too as well as the streets next to it.

Their crumbling facades, wooden furniture, excellent local selection and blackboards menus are typical of this city and so full of character.

As I may have mentioned Georgian wine is basically a national drink here – a bit like tea for the English.

With a strong viticulture that dates back centuries, the traditional way of making Georgian wine (basically lob the whole grape in a large ceramic urn, bury it underground, wait for it to ferment and then dig it up and drink it) and the modern European method are both in practice here.

Just make sure you know which one you are ordering, as the first can be quite an acquired taste if you’re not used to it!

Want to learn more? Then why not check out this great wine region day trip from Tbilisi!

The Georgians are also partial to a beer (there’s plenty of passable local ones to choose from) and chacha.

Another local drink, chacha is much stronger than wine and consumed like a shot. It is essentially a grape-based, clear spirit many people still make in their homes and it’s pretty lethal… you have been warned!

So yes, discovering the hidden bars that lie along and around Ivane Machabeli Street is a great option, and there’s many along Alexander Griboedev Street too – just peek into the alleys between buildings and you’ll find them.

A popular favourite of mine is Keria, because it has a nice outside area and Gribo House is a fun relaxed place as well.

 

#17 Shop at the Flea Market

And finally, last on my list of the best things to do in Tbilisi around Rustaveli is to shop at the great flea market that happens in the park near Saarbruecken Bridge.

Kicking off around 12pm and running until 5pm daily, this is a fascinating place to shop for local artisan products, as well as see some crazy antiques, soviet memorabilia and assorted bits of Georgian history.

 

 

THINGS TO DO IN TBILISI: OTHER SIDE OF THE RIVER

And now we move across the river, away from the centre of Tbilisi to an area known for its more local feel.

Indeed wandering around this part of Tbilisi can often feel like walking through a lot of small villages crammed together, as shared balconies and streetside cafes become important meeting points for neighbours and sellers hustle past shouting out the joys of their local fruits, breads and nuts.

 

Staying on the Other Side of the River

If you’re looking to stay on the east side of the river on a budget, then I highly recommend Fabrika hostel.

The best design hostel in Tbilisi, Fabrika has a seriously cool atmosphere and boasts free walking tours as one of its many offerings to guests. There’s also a bar onsite here, as well as a chill-out loung. Bike hire is available. Guests love the large rooms, roof terrace, great breakfasts and local artist market / pop-up shop that happens here. Seriously trendy vibes!

 

#18 Get Local at the Deserter Market

And sticking with the market theme from #17, one of the top things to do in Tbilisi is to visit the Deserter Market – another must-see shopping spot in the city.

The largest fresh produce market in the capital, and therefore probably the country, this huge spread of stalls runs from the main undercover area into all the surrounding streets for several blocks.

Come hungry, because you won’t be able to turn down the delicious cheese, nuts, dried fruits, fresh fruits, vegetables, breads and pastries on offer here – and that’s without taking into account all the bargain electrical and clothes shops in this area too!

Best visited in the morning, and within easy walking distance from Station Square Metro station, this place is seriously huge, so get here early and allow a few hours to soak it all in!

 

#19 Wine & Dine Along Davit Aghmashenebeli Avenue

It’s a posh street, it’s overpriced (for Georgia) and it can feel very touristy, but heading to Davit Aghmashenebeli Avenue is still one of the best things to do in Tbilisi.

For a start, it’s probably the prettiest street in the city – decked out with fairy lights and brightly coloured buildings – and the atmosphere here during the summer, among all the outdoor seating areas, is hard to beat of an evening.

 

#20 Wander the Peace Bridge & Rike Park

Tbilisi is such a mesh of architectural styles (indicative of its layered history) and never is this typified more than from the view along the Peace Bridge.

A very modern structure, this bridge links the Medieval old town with Rike Park, from which can be seen the grand Presidential Palace (another sort of architectural style) and the crazy, contemporary concert hall tubes, which sadly aren’t in use.

As such, wandering around here is definitely one of the best things to do in Tbilisi, especially if you’re looking to get a feel for how truly eclectic this city is.

And if you wish to explore that a bit further, the amazing old buildings along Mikheili Tsinamdzghvrishvili Street and the surrounding lanes, have some of the best old buildings in Tbilisi.

Not yet preserved, there is a very alternative vibe that surrounds this whole area, with a lot of street art and artists leaving among these atmospheric old structures.

 

#21 Head to the Stalin Underground Printing Press

But if we’re talking about alternative vibes, then it probably doesn’t get weirder than heading to the Joseph Stalin Underground Printing Press.

I won’t say much more, but it’s quite the experience (largely thanks to the guy that runs this place) and has to be seen to be believed!

The last entry on my list of the best things to do in Tbilisi, this is a slice of history we may not agree with, but it makes for a fascinating insight nonetheless.

 

 

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So there you have it, my list of 21 amazing things to do in Tbilisi, Georgia.

Is this city on your list yet?

Are you thinking of travelling there soon?

Don’t hesitate to let me know any questions you may have in the comments below and I’ll do my best to answer!