City guides
Tbilisi
Tbilisi is a hilly, easygoing capital on the Mtkvari river, with an old town of wooden balconies, sulphur baths and a fortress above it. It is close to Iran, friendly to visitors and cheaper than most of Europe, so it works well for a first trip abroad or a short family break.
Good for
- First trip abroad
- Families
- Food lovers
- Short breaks
- Day trips to the mountains
A good length: 4 days
Plan two days for the city on foot and taxi, then one or two day trips to Mtskheta or Kazbegi, with an easy afternoon in between because of the hills.
Best months
April, May, June, September, October
Per person per day
- Budget
- US$40
- Mid-range
- US$90
- Comfort
- US$220
Per person per day: a bed (dorm or guesthouse, a mid-range hotel, or a 4 to 5 star hotel), three meals, local transport and taxis, and one paid sight. Prices are higher at Nowruz and in summer.
Where to stay and spend time
Old Town and Abanotubani
Stay or visitThe sulphur baths, Narikala fortress, the Bridge of Peace and many cafes are a few minutes apart, so you can see the best of the city on foot.
For: First-timers, couples, short stays
Watch out: Streets are steep and cobbled, and some lanes are noisy late at night in summer.
Open in mapSololaki
Good baseQuiet streets of 19th century houses between Freedom Square and the old town, with guesthouses and good bakeries.
For: Travellers who like old houses and a calm base near the centre
Watch out: Many old buildings have no lift, so ask before booking if you travel with older people.
Open in mapRustaveli Avenue and Freedom Square
Stay or visitThe main avenue is flat, with museums, theatres, shops and two metro stations, and airport bus 337 stops here.
For: Families, older travellers, shoppers
Watch out: Crossing often means an underground passage with stairs; look for the few street-level crossings.
Open in mapVera
Good baseA leafy, lived-in area a short walk from Rustaveli, with apartments, small restaurants and a more local feel.
For: Couples, longer stays, people who want local cafes
Watch out: Some streets climb steeply towards the hills.
Open in mapVake
Good baseA green, well-off district with Vake Park, playgrounds, good restaurants and the Iranian embassy on Chavchavadze Avenue.
For: Families, upscale stays
Watch out: There is no metro in Vake, so you will rely on buses and taxis to reach the old town.
Open in mapMarjanishvili and Aghmashenebeli Avenue
Stay or visitAcross the river from the centre, with a restored pedestrian street, Fabrika, Turkish and Azerbaijani eateries and cheaper hotels near the metro.
For: Budget travellers, young people, food lovers
Watch out: Side streets off the main avenue are less polished and darker at night.
Open in mapSaburtalo
Good baseA modern residential district on the green metro line with supermarkets, malls and lower apartment prices.
For: Long stays, budget apartments
Watch out: It has few sights, so plan on metro or taxi rides each day.
Open in map
Places worth your time
- ViewsFree
Narikala Fortress
Old Town and Abanotubani · 1 to 2 hours
Old walls with the best view over the city. Ride the cable car up from Rike Park and walk down through the old town; the path is steep and uneven.
- Sights
Abanotubani sulphur baths
Old Town and Abanotubani · 1 to 2 hours
Domed bathhouses over hot springs. Families usually book a private room by the hour; book a day ahead for evenings and weekends.
- ParksFree
Bridge of Peace and Rike Park
Old Town and Abanotubani · 1 hour
A glass footbridge over the river leads to a flat riverside park with fountains and a play area, and the lower station of the Narikala cable car.
- Museums
Georgian National Museum
Rustaveli Avenue and Freedom Square · 2 hours
The gold treasury of ancient Colchis is the highlight. Closed on Mondays; it is a good plan for a hot or rainy afternoon.
- With children
Mtatsminda Park
Above Sololaki · 2 to 3 hours
An amusement park on the highest hill with a Ferris wheel and city views. Go up by the funicular in the late afternoon and stay for the lights; the funicular and rides use a separate park card, not MetroMoney.
- MarketsFree
Dry Bridge Market
Old Town and Abanotubani · 1 hour
An open-air flea market of Soviet badges, old cameras, paintings and crafts. Biggest at weekends; bargaining is normal and cash only.
- FoodFree
Fabrika
Marjanishvili and Aghmashenebeli Avenue · 1 hour
A former sewing factory turned into a courtyard of cafes, small shops and street art. Relaxed in the afternoon, busy with young people at night.
- MarketsFree
Dezerter Bazaar
Near Station Square · 1 hour
The big food market for fruit, spices, cheese and churchkhela (nut sweets). Busy and a bit rough; keep your phone and wallet in a front pocket.
- ParksFree
Turtle Lake
Vake · 2 hours
A small lake in the hills above Vake Park with walking paths and cafes. A short ropeway goes up from Vake Park, which is easier than the road on foot.
- ViewsFree
Chronicles of Georgia
Tbilisi Sea · 1 to 2 hours with travel
Huge carved pillars telling Georgian history, on a hill above the Tbilisi Sea reservoir. It is far from the centre, so go by taxi and combine with the lakeside.
- Parks
Tbilisi Botanical Garden
Old Town and Abanotubani · 1 to 2 hours
A large garden in a gorge behind Narikala, with a waterfall and shady paths. Paths are uneven, so wear good shoes.
- Day tripsFree
Mtskheta
20 km north of Tbilisi · Half a day
The old capital, a UNESCO site where two rivers meet, with Jvari hilltop church and the historic town centre. Minibuses leave from Didube station; a taxi or tour is easier with older people.
- Day trips
Kazbegi (Stepantsminda)
Georgian Military Road, about 3 hours north · Full day
A full day through the Caucasus mountains to Gergeti and Mount Kazbek, with stops at Ananuri fortress and the Gudauri viewpoint. Join a group tour or hire a driver; the pass can close in winter snow.
Getting around
From the airport
Bus 337about 45 min
The city bus stops in front of the arrivals hall and runs via Rustaveli Avenue and Freedom Square to Station Square. From the airport it runs from about 7:00 to 23:00. Tap a contactless Visa or Mastercard on board, or buy a transport card at the Bank of Georgia Express desk at the airport and top it up with cash.
about 1 GEL with a transport card plus 2 GEL for the card, or about 1.5 GEL with a bank card (2026)
Bolt or Yandex Go taxiabout 25 min
Order in the app after you leave the terminal and choose cash as payment. The price is fixed before you get in; check the plate number in the app.
about 20 to 35 GEL (2026), more at night and in rain
Hotel or booked transferabout 25 min
Many hotels send a driver for a fixed price. Worth it for night arrivals, older travellers and families with lots of luggage.
a fixed price per car agreed with the hotel, usually higher than the app price
In the city
MetroMoney card
Buy it for 2 GEL at a metro ticket desk or the lower Narikala cable car station, top it up with cash, and tap on the metro, buses, minibuses and the Narikala and Turtle Lake cable cars. A ride is 1 GEL with free transfers for 90 minutes, and two or three people can share one card by tapping once for each person. The Mtatsminda funicular needs its own park card.
Metro
Two lines meet at Station Square and run from about 6:00 to midnight. Useful stops are Liberty Square, Rustaveli, Marjanishvili and Didube for minibuses out of town. Stations are deep, with very long escalators.
City buses and minibuses
Buses reach areas without metro such as Vake. Use Google Maps or the TTC website for routes; pay with the same card and press the stop button before your stop.
Taxis and ride apps
Use Bolt or Yandex Go and choose cash in the app; a short ride in the centre is about 5 to 8 GEL (2026). Street taxis have no meter and ask tourists much more, so agree the price first. At the airport, ignore drivers who approach you inside the hall.
On foot
The centre is compact but hilly, with cobbles in the old town and many underground crossings with stairs. Rustaveli and the riverside are flat and easy; for older people, take a taxi up the hills and walk down.
Food
Halal food: Halal food is easy to find but not everywhere. Turkish, Azerbaijani, Arab and Iranian restaurants cluster around Aghmashenebeli Avenue, Marjanishvili and the old town near the Jumah mosque in Abanotubani. Georgian dishes often use pork, including many khinkali dumplings, so ask before you order.
Persian food and community: Tbilisi has a sizeable Iranian community and many Iranian visitors, so Iranian restaurants and Persian-speaking travel agents are found in the old town, Sololaki and along Aghmashenebeli Avenue. Around Nowruz you will hear Persian everywhere on Rustaveli Avenue.
- Try khachapuri (cheese bread), lobio (bean stew), badrijani (aubergine with walnut) and pkhali, which are meat-free.
- For khinkali, ask for beef or lamb filling, or choose the cheese or mushroom kind.
- Portions are large; one dish per person plus a shared salad is usually enough.
- Many restaurants add a 10 to 18 percent service charge to the bill, so check before tipping.
- Bakeries sell hot shoti bread and cheap pastries all day, good for a quick breakfast.
Money and phone
Cash: The currency is the Georgian lari (GEL). Bring clean US dollars or euros and change them at the many exchange booths in the city, where rates are good; airport rates are worse, so change only enough for the first day there. Booths near Rustaveli and Dezerter Bazaar are popular for their rates.
Cards: Iranian bank cards do not work in Georgia. Plan to pay for everything in cash, and bring a spare amount for emergencies. A Visa or Mastercard issued outside Iran, for example from a relative abroad, works in shops, ATMs and taxi apps.
SIM and internet: Magti, Silknet and Cellfie have counters at the airport and shops in town. Bring your passport; a tourist data package costs about 15 to 35 GEL (2026). City shops often have more choice than airport kiosks.
What travellers say
Advice that travellers from many countries repeat, chosen for Iranian visitors.
- Order taxis by app instead of hailing them; it saves money and arguments.
- Wear shoes with good grip: old town streets are steep and slippery after rain.
- Take the cable car up to Narikala and walk down through the old town to the baths.
- Book a private sulphur bath room ahead for evenings and weekends.
- Visit Dry Bridge Market at the weekend, when most sellers are out.
- July and August are hot, often above 35 degrees; plan museums and rest in the afternoon.
- Day trips run from Didube minibus station, but tours and private drivers are more comfortable for families.
- Carry small notes; small shops and drivers often say they have no change.
For Iranian travellers
- For entry rules for Iranian passports, see the Georgia visa page on this site, and carry your hotel booking and return ticket at the border.
- Iranian cards do not work: bring all your spending money in cash, plus a reserve.
- Nowruz is the busiest time for Iranian visitors; hotel prices rise, so book weeks ahead.
- The Iranian embassy is at 80 Chavchavadze Avenue in Vake.
- Many Georgians speak Russian, younger people speak English, and Azerbaijani Turkish is widely understood, which helps Turkish-speaking Iranians.
- Women cover their hair and men wear long trousers when visiting churches; scarves are often lent at the door.
- Wine is part of every meal here, but nobody minds if you order tea, juice or the local lemonade instead.
Stay safe
- Emergency number: 112 for police, ambulance and fire.
- Avoid strangers who invite you for a drink at a bar they choose; some visitors have been handed huge bills.
- Watch for pickpockets in the metro, Dezerter Bazaar and crowded old town lanes.
- Traffic is fast and drivers do not always stop at crossings; use underpasses or lights, especially with children.
- Stray dogs with ear tags are vaccinated and usually calm; do not feed or tease them.
Checked 7 November 2026