Smart Self-Managed Tours

City guide · Georgia

Tbilisi

A photograph of Tbilisi
Photograph · Alexey Komarov · CC BY-SA 4.0

Tbilisi spreads along the Mtkvari River, with Old Tbilisi, the sulfur baths and Narikala concentrated around the historic core. Rustaveli Avenue forms the main museum and theatre axis, while the left bank adds Marjanishvili and riverside districts. The city rises sharply on both sides of the river, so plan adjacent sights together and use public transport for hilltop or outer-city stops.

Practical information

Language spoken
Georgian
National practical orientation; regional and minority languages may also be used
Dialling code
+995
International calling code; local area and mobile prefixes still apply
Currency
Georgian lari (GEL)
Use the official local currency; card acceptance varies by place
Emergency number
112
Use only for an emergency; tourist assistance may use a separate number
Plug type
Type C and F · 220 V
Check that chargers support the recorded voltage before using an adapter
Tap water
Not recorded
No verified nationwide visitor drinking-water statement was recorded

Turn this list into a plan

Set your days, your pace and the hours you actually want to be out. The planner works around closing days and travel time, and leaves room to eat.

Plan Tbilisi

Planning a visit

Suggested stay
Not recorded
Getting around
Walk, metro, bus and cable transport
  1. January: viable with meaningful trade-offs
  2. February: viable with meaningful trade-offs
  3. March: good time to visit
  4. April: good time to visit
  5. May: best time to visit
  6. June: best time to visit
  7. July: good time to visit
  8. August: good time to visit
  9. September: best time to visit — current month
  10. October: good time to visit
  11. November: viable with meaningful trade-offs
  12. December: viable with meaningful trade-offs
  • Best time
  • Good time
  • Viable with trade-offs
  • Difficult conditions

Sources

Top things to see

Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.

  1. Abanotubani Sulfur Baths Abanotubani Sulfur Baths
    02 45 min

    Abanotubani Sulfur Baths

    აბანოთუბანი

    Abanotubani is the historic sulfur-bath district in Old Tbilisi, Georgia. Its distinctive brick domes rise from the banks of the Mtkvari River, marking the natural hot springs that have defined this location for centuries.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
  2. National Botanical Garden of Georgia National Botanical Garden of Georgia
    03 45 min

    National Botanical Garden of Georgia

    ეროვნული ბოტანიკური ბაღი

    The National Botanical Garden of Georgia occupies a deep gorge behind Narikala Fortress in central Tbilisi.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
  3. Sioni Cathedral Sioni Cathedral
    04 45 min

    Sioni Cathedral

    სიონის ღვთისმშობლის მიძინების ტაძარი

    Sioni Cathedral is the historic cathedral of Tbilisi, dedicated to the Dormition of the Mother of God. Its local name, სიონის ღვთისმშობლის მიძინების საკათედრო ტაძარი, reflects its deep roots in Georgian Orthodox tradition.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
  4. Freedom Square Freedom Square
    05 45 min

    Freedom Square

    თავისუფლების მოედანი

    Freedom Square, known locally as Tavisuplebis Moedani, serves as Tbilisi's principal civic square and a major urban junction.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
  5. Chronicle of Georgia Chronicle of Georgia
    06 45 min

    Chronicle of Georgia

    საქართველოს მატიანე

    The Chronicle of Georgia is a monumental sculptural ensemble designed by Zurab Tsereteli, situated on an elevated hillside overlooking the Tbilisi Sea reservoir.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
  6. Gorgasali Square Gorgasali Square
    07 45 min

    Gorgasali Square

    ვახტანგ გორგასლის მოედანი

    Gorgasali Square, locally known as Vakhtang Gorgasali Square, is a historic public space in Tbilisi's old town. Also referred to as Meidan, it functions as the central crossroads connecting four significant districts: Kala, Abanotubani, Metekhi Bridge, and Shardeni.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
  7. Orbeliani Square Orbeliani Square
    08 45 min

    Orbeliani Square

    ორბელიანის მოედანი

    Orbeliani Square, locally known as ორბელიანის მოედანი, is a rehabilitated public square in Tbilisi. It forms part of the flower-market quarter and connects nineteenth-century facades with pedestrian lanes at the northern edge of the historic centre.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
  8. Queen Darejan Palace Queen Darejan Palace
    09 45 min

    Queen Darejan Palace

    დარეჯანის სასახლე

    Queen Darejan Palace is a surviving royal residence situated on an elevated position above the Avlabari district of Tbilisi. The structure is historically significant as one of the remaining palaces associated with Georgian royalty.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
  9. Juma Mosque Juma Mosque
    10 45 min

    Juma Mosque

    ჯუმა მეჩეთი

    Juma Mosque is Tbilisi's sole surviving mosque, standing as a significant expression of the old town's religious diversity. Located beside the bath district and botanical-garden gorge, it represents the historical coexistence of faiths in Georgia's capital.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
  10. Kashveti Church Kashveti Church
    11 45 min

    Kashveti Church

    ქაშვეთის წმინდა გიორგის სახელობის ტაძარი

    Kashveti Church is a stone church dedicated to Saint George, located on Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi, directly opposite the Parliament of Georgia building. Its local name is ქაშვეთის წმინდა გიორგის ეკლესია.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
  11. Armaztsikhe Armaztsikhe
    12 45 min

    Armaztsikhe

    არმაზციხე-ბაგინეთი არქეოლოგიური ძეგლი

    Armaztsikhe is an archaeological site near Tbilisi, Georgia, associated with the ancient kingdom of Iberia. The local name არმაზციხე-ბაგინეთი არქეოლოგიური ძეგლი identifies it as the Armaztsikhe-Bagineti archaeological monument.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
  12. Mtatsminda Pantheon Mtatsminda Pantheon
    13 45 min

    Mtatsminda Pantheon

    მთაწმინდის პანთეონი

    Mtatsminda Pantheon is a burial ground and memorial complex on Mtatsminda hill in Tbilisi, Georgia. The local name is მთაწმინდის პანთეონი. It serves as a national pantheon where notable Georgian cultural and public figures are interred.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
  13. Betania Monastery
    14 45 min

    Betania Monastery

    ბეთანიის ყოვლადწმინდა ღვთისმშობლის შობის მონასტერი

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
  14. Great Synagogue
    15 45 min

    Great Synagogue

    დიდი სინაგოგა

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
  15. Georgian Parliament Building
    16 45 min

    Georgian Parliament Building

    საქართველოს პარლამენტი

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
  16. Bank of Georgia headquarters Bank of Georgia headquarters
    17 45 min

    Bank of Georgia headquarters

    საქართველოს ბანკის სათავო ოფისი

    The Bank of Georgia Headquarters is a landmark of late-Soviet modernist architecture in Tbilisi.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
  17. Kartlis Deda
    18 45 min

    Kartlis Deda

    ქართვლის დედა

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
  18. Mshrali Bridge
    19 45 min

    Mshrali Bridge

    მშრალი ხიდი

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
  19. Svetitskhoveli Cathedral Svetitskhoveli Cathedral
    21 45 min

    Svetitskhoveli Cathedral

    სვეტიცხოვლის საკათდრო ტაძარი

    Svetitskhoveli Cathedral is a Georgian Orthodox cathedral located in Mtskheta, the ancient capital near Tbilisi. Its local name is სვეტიცხოვლის საკათედრო ტაძარი.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
  20. Lurji Monastery
    22 45 min

    Lurji Monastery

    ლურჯი მონასტერი

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
  21. Orbeliani Palace
    23 45 min

    Orbeliani Palace

    ორბელიანების სასახლე

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
  22. Freedom Monument in Tbilisi
    25 45 min

    Freedom Monument in Tbilisi

    თავისუფლების მონუმენტი

    • High
    • Historic monument
  23. Wedding Palace
    26 45 min

    Wedding Palace

    ქორწინების სახლი

    • High
    • Historic monument
  24. National Youth Palace
    27 45 min

    National Youth Palace

    თბილისის მოსწავლე ახალგაზრდობის ეროვნული სასახლე

    • High
    • Historic monument
  25. Queen Tamar Bridge
    28 45 min

    Queen Tamar Bridge

    თამარ მეფის ხიდი

    • High
    • Historic monument
  26. Writers' House
    29 45 min

    Writers' House

    მწერალთა სახლი

    • High
    • Historic monument
  27. Saint Gevorg of Mughni Church
    31 45 min

    Saint Gevorg of Mughni Church

    წმინდა გიორგის მუღნის ეკლესია

    • High
    • Historic monument
  28. Armaziskhevi Complex
    32 45 min

    Armaziskhevi Complex

    არმაზისხევის კომპლექსი

    • High
    • Historic monument
  29. Gabashvili's house
    33 45 min

    Gabashvili's house

    თავად ვასილ გაბაშვილის სახლი

    • High
    • Historic monument
  30. First Republic Square
    35 45 min

    First Republic Square

    პირველი რესპუბლიკის მოედანი

    • High
    • Historic monument
  31. Agarani Fortress
    36 45 min

    Agarani Fortress

    აგარანი

    • High
    • Historic monument
  32. Church of the Red Gospel
    38 45 min

    Church of the Red Gospel

    თბილისის შამქორელთა ღვთისმშობლის ეკლესია

    • High
    • Historic monument
  33. Lower Bethlehemi Church
    39 45 min

    Lower Bethlehemi Church

    ბეთლემის ქვედა ეკლესია

    • High
    • Historic monument
  34. Metekhi bridge
    41 45 min

    Metekhi bridge

    მეტეხის ხიდი

    • High
    • Historic monument
  35. Bust of Pushkin in Tbilisi
    42 45 min

    Bust of Pushkin in Tbilisi

    ალექსანდრე პუშკინი

    • High
    • Historic monument
  36. Konstantin Leselidze
    43 45 min

    Konstantin Leselidze

    კონსტანტინე ლესელიძე

    • High
    • Historic monument
  37. Shavnabada
    44 45 min

    Shavnabada

    შავნაბადის წმ. გიორგის ეკლესია

    • High
    • Historic monument
  38. Titsian Tabidze
    45 45 min

    Titsian Tabidze

    ტიციან ტაბიძე

    • High
    • Historic monument
  39. Vakhtang Gorgasali's statue
    46 45 min

    Vakhtang Gorgasali's statue

    ვახტანგ გორგასლის ძეგლი

    • High
    • Historic monument
  40. Armazi Castle
    48 45 min

    Armazi Castle

    არმაზის ციხე

    • High
    • Historic monument
  41. Church of John the Apostle
    49 45 min

    Church of John the Apostle

    წმინდა იოანე ღვრთისმეტყველის სახელობის რუსული ეკლესია

    • High
    • Historic monument
  42. Church of Saint Nino
    50 45 min

    Church of Saint Nino

    წმინდა ნინოს ეკლესია

    • High
    • Historic monument

Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata ·

How the city is laid out

Old Tbilisi occupies the compact area below Narikala, including Abanotubani, Metekhi and streets near Freedom Square. Rustaveli Avenue runs northwest through the modern centre. Across the river, Aghmashenebeli Avenue and Marjanishvili create a second walkable cluster. Mtatsminda, the Chronicle of Georgia and the open-air ethnography museum require separate uphill journeys rather than being folded into an old-town walk.

Checked 2026-08-26

Getting around

Walk within Old Tbilisi and the Rustaveli corridor, then use metro, bus or cable transport for longer links and steep approaches. The official Georgia Travel guide identifies Old Tbilisi as a compact two-square-kilometre core, but the wider visitor map extends well beyond it. Group river crossings and hillside attractions carefully because short map distances can conceal substantial elevation changes.

Checked 2026-08-26

Common questions

How many days should I spend in Tbilisi?

A fixed official stay length is not recorded. Build the visit around Old Tbilisi and Rustaveli first, then add hilltop viewpoints, museums or outer districts according to available time.

What is the best time to visit Tbilisi?

No single official best-month range is recorded. Check current weather and event information, then plan the steepest outdoor routes for comfortable conditions.

Is central Tbilisi walkable?

Yes. Old Tbilisi and the Rustaveli corridor are practical walking zones, although slopes and river crossings make public transport useful between separate clusters.

Which area should I explore first in Tbilisi?

Start with Old Tbilisi around Abanotubani, Metekhi and the streets below Narikala. It contains the city’s densest group of historic visitor sights.

Should hilltop attractions be grouped together?

Plan them as separate transport-assisted blocks. Mtatsminda, the Chronicle of Georgia and other elevated sites are not efficient additions to a continuous old-town walking route.