This summer, I embarked on my first trip to the Caucasus region. I spent a week in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia. And I fell absolutely, head over heels, in love with the city. Rarely do I ever feel so strongly about cities. Most recently, I felt that way about Kiev. Tbilisi surprised me in all the best ways and I loved having so much time to explore the city in depth.

Wondering what to do in Tbilisi? I’ve got you covered. From attractions, parks, cool bars, pretty churches, and more—here you go. This is a complete guide to the Georgian capital. In no particular order, here are 44 awesome things you must do in Tbilisi!

1) Fabrika

Chances are, you might just be staying in Fabrika and therefore it could probably be your first starting point in the city. Fabrika isn’t just a hostel—it’s a bar, restaurant/café, and community complex all in one. The courtyard is full of small hipster-y shops, bars, cafes, and looks perfect in the evening with the lights strung up. They also have a rooftop terrace! Read my hostel review here.

2) Wine Cellar

On my blog post of the best bars in Tbilisi, I wasn’t exactly sure how to put “some lady’s basement” on it. But if you’re looking for a unique experience, you’ll see the “WINE” signs with an arrow pointing you in the right direction, where you can enjoy homemade qveri wine in this woman’s basement. Look for the signs on Mazniashvili street between Davit Aghmashenebli Avenue and Tsinamdzgvrishvili Street. It’s just around the corner from Fabrika.

3) Davit Agmashenebeli Avenue

One of the places in Tbilisi where people come to see and be seen! Davit Agmashenebeli Avenue is full of restaurants and bars (with a few souvenir shops and ice cream places in between) and makes for a great evening. It’s easy to wander between venues, and almost every place has outdoor seating (in the summer, they have fans to keep you cool). It’s also a very picturesque street, day or night!

4) Bridge of Peace

This ultra-modern bridge is one of the main bridges crossing the Mtkvari River in Georgia. The Bridge of Peace was opened in 2010, and has a curvy, glass canopy full of LED lights. This is one of the symbols of Tbilisi and you simply must see it, both during the day and at night!

5) Baratashvili Bridge

Wanting to get the best photos of the Bridge of Peace? Head to Baratashvili Bridge, slightly north of the Bridge of Peace. You’ll get fantastic photos of the Bridge of Peace with Tbilisi’s Old Town behind it.

6) Rike Park

A central hub in Tbilisi, there’s always something going on in Rike Park. It’s located right by the river, and really comes alive in the early evenings. You can also see the new, modern bank buildings from here as well! (They look like tubes!)

7) Tbilisi Cable Car

One of the main tourist attractions in Tbilisi is the cable car! For just 5 lari (one-way) you can travel over the river and up to the Narikala Fortress, without making the hike up. The views (especially over the Old Town) are phenomenal!

8) Waterfall

Did you know that Tbilisi has a small waterfall in the middle of the city?! Right between Rike Park and Metekhi Church, water cascades over a wall to make a small waterfall! It can dry up though, depending on rainfall.

9) Metekhi Church (and statue)

It’s hard to miss Metekhi Church when you’re in Tbilisi’s Old Town! This beautiful church is perched on the cliff, overlooking the river, the Bridge of Peace, and the Old Town. There’s a large statue of King Vakhtang Gorgasali on a horse. This is one of the best places to photograph the buildings of Tbilisi’s Old Town!

10) Holy Trinity Cathedral

You simply can’t miss a visit to Tbilisi’s main cathedral when in the Georgian capital. It’s the main cathedral of the Georgian Orthodox Church in Tbilisi, and one of the largest religious buildings in the world (by area). It was only finished in 2004, so unlike some of the ancient churches and monasteries in Georgia, it’s quite modern. It’s a massive building and you can see if from all over the city—just follow the glinting gold on the roof! It’s free to visit.

11) Stalin’s Printing Press

One of the best things I did in Tbilisi? Showed up to the Georgian Communist Party Headquarters and got a free guided tour of Stalin’s old Printing Press. Our guide didn’t speak much English, but I managed to translate most of it from Russian. Underground, there are a series of tunnels beneath an old house that housed Stalin’s revolutionary propaganda machine. While there’s no admission fee, it is courteous to leave a donation (we donated 10 lari each)—our guide wouldn’t accept it as a tip. It’s located up a side street in a residential area—make sure to look up the location first. The nearest Metro station is 300 Aragveli.

12) Abanotubani Baths (Chreli Abano)

Another one of my favorite things in Tbilisi was relaxing at a sulfur bath for the day! Well, just for an hour. There are lots of different bathhouses, but the main one (with the most beautiful exterior for all those Instagram shots!) is Chreli Abano. We paid for a private room for 1 hour with a bottle of water and it was 61.50 lari total. We had our own hot bath, shower, and separate seating area with a toilet. It absolutely reeks of eggs (it is sulfur, remember!!) but it was so worth it. I left with my skin feeling the softest it’s ever been, and so relaxed. It can get busy, so you may have to book in advance or wait. Towels, flip-flops/slippers, etc. all cost extra.

13) Abanotubani area

Whatever you do in Tbilisi, you can’t miss seeing this crazy beautiful area with all the sulfur baths in the Old Town. The rounded domes of the baths make it look like it’s a different world altogether!

14) Mosque

Right in the Old Town, on the way up to Narikala Fortress, is where Tbilisi’s Mosque is located. I didn’t go inside (as I think it was prayer time when I was there), but the exterior is beautiful!

15) Botanical Gardens

If you want to get your greenery fix in Tbilisi, this is a great place for it. Lush plants and gardens surround the area, and you can wander through to your heart’s content! It’s located right behind the Narikala Fortress.

16) Narikala Fortress

This fortress is located on top of the hill, looking down on all of Tbilisi. Some of the best views of the city are from here! There’s a church in the middle, and plenty of viewpoints to explore. The fortress is free to enter.

17) Mother Georgia (Kartlis Deda)

If you’ve been to other former-Soviet capitals (Kiev and Yerevan, for example!), you’ll know about the giant statue of a woman, overlooking the city. Mother of a Georgian is the official name, but it’s mainly known as Kartlis Deda. It’s a bit of a trek (even after hiking up to Narikala Fortress!), but this is another of the main symbols of Tbilisi. Don’t miss it!

18) Wander through the Old Town

Tbilisi’s Old Town is full of sights to keep you busy. One of the best ways to see the Old Town (like so many Old Towns in Europe!) is to ditch the map and just wander through, discovering the hidden gems. Tbilisi’s Old Town is perfect for strolling, so make sure you give yourself enough time to get gloriously lost here!

19) Puppet Theater (Rezo Gabriadze Theater)

The Puppet Theater in Tbilisi’s Old Town is one of the most famous icons of this city. It’s easy enough to find (follow the crowds, generally!), and is a beautiful theater with clock tower on a small square. You can book tickets to see a puppet show if you’d like, otherwise make sure to be here on the hour to see the angel come out of the clock and ring the bell.

20) Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary Anchiskhati

One of the many beautiful churches in Tbilisi’s Old Town is the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary Anchiskhati. It’s right around the corner from the Puppet Theater! Make sure you’re dressed appropriately before entering the church.

21) Sioni Cathedral

Another of the old churches in the Old Town is Sioni Cathedral. This is slightly larger than the Church of the Nativity, and much easier to photograph. Again, it’s one of the main attractions in Tbilisi’s Old Town.

22) Shavteli Street

It took me ages to figure out what the name of this street is. But it’s the main thoroughfare in the Old Town, with lots of cafes and restaurants (nearly all with outdoor seating!). It’s small and cobbled, and one of my favorite streets in the city. Make sure to take a stroll when in Tbilisi.

23) Café Pavilion

Speaking of cafes and restaurants on Shavetli Street… I have to say, Café Pavilion was one of my favorites! I actually ate here twice, it was that good! Their khachapuri was simply to die for. It’s really nice to sit and people watch on a quieter street, and there was a pianist playing tunes in the evening. I really recommend this place if you’re looking for good food in the Old Town!

24) Erekle II Street

I dubbed this street “the leafy street,” and is something Instagram dreams are made of! It is also one of the main streets in the Old Town, and is full of bars, restaurants, cafes, and shops. I ate at three different restaurants here (all were amazing!), and it also makes great people watching. Come in the early evening, right when they turn the lights on.

25) Great Synagogue

Tbilisi’s main Synagogue was built in 1903, and is tucked away in a maze of streets around the Old Town. Unfortunately, I missed going inside (it was closed when I found it!). But the interior looks spectacular!

26) Freedom Square

Sometimes called Liberty Square, this is the main area of Tbilisi (not far from the Old Town). It is essentially a giant roundabout, with a large freedom monument in the middle. This should not be missed on a visit to Tbilisi.

27) The bank that Stalin robbed (Bank of Georgia)

In June 1907, a young Stalin (among others) robbed a bank in a huge heist to fund his Bolshevik revolutionary activities. The bank still exists, located right on Freedom Square! Freedom Square was originally known as Yerevan Square, then Lenin Square, and finally changing to Freedom Square. Today, the stunning Art Nouveau building still exists, occupied as a normal branch of the Bank of Georgia. It’s located behind an unobtrusive door, and you can certainly pop in for a few minutes. They don’t allow photos though.

28) Kashveti Church

Tbilisi is home to many beautiful churches. Kashveti Church, located just off the main drag on Rustaveli Avenue, is certainly one of them! It looks beautiful lit up at night as well.

29) Dry Bridge Flea Market

Want to buy some glass cookware? Soviet memorabilia? Mariott Hotel slippers? Old film cameras? Head to the Flea Market on the Dry Bridge for all your random needs. I never bought anything, but I loved walking through and seeing everything that was for sale!

30) State Opera House

One of the most noticeable buildings on Rustaveli Avenue is the State Opera House. It was originally opened in 1851, and is still a working theater and venue today. The exterior is stunning, but if you get a chance try to see the inside—it looks amazing!

 

31) Iveria Hotel

A lot of people will see and walk past this hotel without thinking twice. But the Iveria Hotel was a former luxury hotel, that was turned into a refugee camp due to the conflict in Abkhazia. Up to 800 refugees lived here for years, and it wasn’t until 2004 that they were permanently relocated to Tbilisi’s suburbs. In 2008, it became a luxury hotel again: it’s now called the Radisson Blu Iveria.

32) Mtatsminda Park

For great views over Tbilisi, head up to the amusement park on the hill: Mtatsminda Park. You can take a funicular up to save you the hike. It’s located at 770 meters, the highest point in Tbilisi!

33) Rooftop bars

If you’re visiting Tbilisi, you simply must get up to the rooftop bars dotted around the city. Tbilisi has loads of cool bars to check out! The views over these are amazing. Exploring the rooftops was one of my favorite parts of visiting Tbilisi! My favorites would be Amodi, Art Café, Carpe Diem Café, and Point Terrasse.

34) Didube Marshrutka station

Now I’m sure you’re wondering: why is there a bus station on this list?! Well, the truth is that you can’t visit Georgia and not take a marshrutka. And for an example of the most chaotic bus station I’ve ever been, I give you Didube Station. There seems to be no rhyme and reason to this station/market. You have to just wander around asking people, “Gori?” and pointing. They’ll then point you in another direction, where you’ll walk for 2 minutes before asking for your destination again. You’ll go on a wild goose chase and hopefully you’ll find the marshrutka you need. It is an EXPERIENCE, and a wild Georgian one at that. Don’t miss it.

35) Museums in Tbilisi

Tbilisi is home to several museums that are certainly worth a visit. There’s the Museum of Georgia (with the Soviet Occupation Exhibition Hall), the National Gallery, the Tbilisi History Museum, and the State Silk Museum. Just to name a few.

36) Chronicles of Georgia Monument

One of my favorite places in all of Tbilisi is the Chronicles of Georgia Monument! This awe-inspiring structure, located far out of the center near the Tbilisi Sea, has very little information about it online, and lots of taxi drivers didn’t even know where it was. This monolithic monument, located on top of a hill, shows scenes from Georgia’s history and some biblical stories. Even with pictures on our phone, it took us a while to get a taxi driver who knew where to go (and that’s only because he had a friend google it first). We agreed on 25 lari for him to drive us there, wait for us, and take us back to Tbilisi.

37) Tbilisi Sea

News flash: this isn’t actually a sea. But it’s a large reservoir, and if you’re wanting to go swimming or relax at the beach in Tbilisi in the summer, this will be your best bet! It’s also located outside of central Tbilisi.

38) Gallery 27

Another of Tbilisi’s Instagram hotspots is Gallery 27. The gallery is actually really small, but has a lot of really nice locally made souvenirs to buy. The main draw is the colorful staircase you walk up to get to the gallery. Just remember that real people do live in this building, so do be respectful!

39) Europe Square

This large square is right by Rike Park, the cable car, and Metekhi Church. This is where I think you can get the best views of the old and new architecture in Tbilisi!

40) Parliament of Georgia

While the official Parliament is currently located in Kutaisi, the old building in Tbilisi is definitely worth a visit. It’s located right on Rustaveli Avenue, so it’s hard to miss. You can’t go in, but you can admire it from the outside!

41) Drink chacha

Georgia’s national drink is chacha, sometimes called “wine vodka” or “grape vodka.” It’s a fruity kind of liquor/brandy, absolutely delicious, and available everywhere. You can’t come to Tbilisi and Georgia and not have any chacha. My favorite places for drinking chacha are at Chacha Corner (where you can buy some for yourself!), and at Warszawa, where a shot of watermelon chacha is only 2 lari.

42) Daytrip to Mtskehta

One of the most popular daytrips from Tbilisi is to the neighboring town of Mtskehta. It’s one of the oldest cities in Georgia, and home to some truly historic and stunning monasteries. It’s easy (and cheap) to get here: it cost 1 lari for a marshrutka from Didube, and just 0.50 lari for a marshrutka from Mtskehta back to Didube. Don’t miss seeing the view from Jvari Monastery!

43) Daytrip to Gori (and Uplistsikhe)

Where else in the world can you go to see Stalin statues? (Well, Budapest suburbs, Lithuania, and Gorky Park in Moscow to name a few!) Gori is the birthplace of Stalin, and one place you shouldn’t miss in Georgia. Marshrutkas cost about 3 lari from Didube, and take around an hour one way. Make sure to visit the cave city of Uplistsikhe, just outside of Gori! You can read my whole post on this daytrip here!

44) Daytrip to Kazbegi

Of all of my favorite daytrips from Tbilisi, my daytrip to Kazbegi along the Russian Military Highway was one of the best. The scenery is amazing, and it is simply one of the most spectacular regions I’ve ever visited. I cannot recommend this enough! Read all about my daytrip here!

There’s a whole lot more you can do in Tbilisi if you have the time. But I think for now, these 44 things should keep you busy on a trip to Tbilisi!

Tbilisi, Georgia: The Basics

Georgia is located in the Caucasus region, between Russia and Armenia. The official language is Georgian, which has its own alphabet. A lot of people speak Russian, and most young people and those in the tourism industry will speak English. Georgia has a population of roughly 3.7 million, with about 1 million living in Tbilisi. The official currency is the Georgian Lari (GEL), which is very affordable for those with dollars, pounds, and euros. Georgia currently allows certain tourists (including Americans and Brits) to visit for up to 1 year without a visa!

Getting Around Tbilisi

There is a Metro with two lines that runs throughout the city. You can buy a card (2 lari) and you’ll need to put money on before you go (1 lari per ride). There are also plenty of marshrutkas with set routes throughout the city, although deciphering these can be difficult as a non-Georgian or non-Russian speaker. Taxis are generally cheap, but make sure to haggle for a bit and always decide on a price before you get in.

Where I Stayed in Tbilisi

I stayed in two different places for my 6 nights in Tbilisi. At the beginning, I stayed at Fabrika Hostel in a 6-bed dorm for 3 nights. I also stayed at this Airbnb for 3 nights. I would absolutely recommend both, although keep in mind that Fabrika is one of the most expensive hostels in town. The Airbnb was fantastic, and unbelievably affordable! It cost £19 per night for a studio apartment with its own bathroom and small kitchen (no oven) in a perfect location off Liberty Square. I definitely recommend switching neighborhoods if you’re in Tbilisi for a longer stay. It felt like a totally different city staying in a different area! I’d recommend both as accommodation options. But if you want homemade khachapuri and wine as a welcome to your own private place, David’s Airbnb was top-notch. His mom also let us stay and take a shower all day after we checked out, before we caught our night train to Yerevan. You can read my full review for Fabrika here. Sign up for Airbnb and get £25 (or US Dollars equivalent) off your first booking here! Book hostels on Hostelworld here, or you can also search for hotels on Booking.com here.

Tbilisi is one of my favorite cities in the world. I absolutely loved my time here. The city made me feel so alive, and there was always something going on or something happening. This is the perfect city for budget travelers, and shows off a vibrant and beautiful culture. If you haven’t been to Tbilisi yet, now is your time to go!

Have you ever been to Tbilisi or to Georgia? What were your favorite things?

Check out my other Georgia posts:

How Much Does It Cost To Travel The Caucasus And Istanbul For 2.5 Weeks?

The Best Viewpoints In Tbilisi, Georgia

A Daytrip To Gori From Tbilisi: Stalin And Caves

Hostel Review: Fabrika Hostel, Tbilisi

A Daytrip To Kazbegi And The Russian Military Highway In Georgia

The Best Bars In Tbilisi, Georgia

9 Things To Do On A Trip To Kutaisi

The Tbilisi To Yerevan Night Train

20 Photos To Convince You To Visit Georgia

Like this post? Pin it for later!