Фотогалерея ‒ Tbilisi, Georgia

Guide to Tbilisi

A virtual tour of Tbilisi

For centuries, the ancient city of Tbilisi, also known as Tiflis, has been a cultural and economic center of the region. Today, the capital of Georgia fully embodies the rich culture of the country. In its center, numerous ancient buildings have been preserved, and from the hilltops near the fortress walls, one can enjoy breathtaking views of the city of Tbilisi.
Visitors to the capital are often led first to the Old Town, where medieval brick buildings, ancient churches, winding cobblestone streets, and hills create an atmosphere of antiquity. The sulfur thermal springs and the bathhouses of Abanotubani are worthy of special attention. According to ancient legend, it was these springs that led to the foundation of the city, which is now called the "warm" city—derived from the Georgian word "Tbilisi."
However, exploring ancient structures is not the only highlight. For example, Rustaveli Avenue deserves attention, as it has witnessed significant political events in the country in recent years. Alongside the Parliament building, you will find the Opera and Ballet Theater, the National Museum, the Academy of Sciences, and other cultural institutions.
Naturally, no city tour is complete without a visit to local restaurants and cafes. Georgian cuisine is worthy of special attention and exploration. It's no wonder that gastronomic and wine tours are often organized in Tbilisi, allowing visitors to indulge in the delights of the local cuisine.

Tips for tourists

1. If you plan to visit South Ossetia or Abkhazia in the future, you must do it through Georgia. Foreigners who enter or leave these territories outside the state borders of Georgia will be fined or imprisoned when visiting this country in the future.
2. We recommend carefully avoiding any illegal drug transactions. The penalties for these crimes are very severe. In addition to them the practice of depriving the offender of certain rights is used.
3. It is recommended to refrain from traveling to Georgia during election campaigns, as the overall situation in the city becomes unstable.
Population
1 113 000
Time zone
UTC+4
Language
Georgian
Currency
Georgian lari

Tours to Tbilisi

One and a half thousand years does not age the forever young and beautiful capital of Georgia. The best hotels of this city, restaurants and cafes, all modern tourist infrastructure only underline its charm.

Holidays in Georgia can be both budgetary and quite expensive. Everything depends on you and your choice. Tbilisi prepares a luxurious vacation for any guest with any budget.

Cheap hostels with quite decent service, delicious cuisine and magical wine do not burden the guests' pockets. Yes, and upscale rooms can be quite inexpensive if booked in advance.

On average, the cost of a last-minute tour in Tbilisi ranges from 300-400 USD. And for this money you will be able to see the ancient walls of the fortress, temples, theaters, museums of the capital. Author's routes and unusual excursions are organized here, revealing the secrets of the city.

The price of the ticket may fluctuate and depends not only on the time of year, but also on the program. Some options include excursions to the surroundings, neighboring cities, sightseeing of natural attractions.

Before the New Year holidays and in the summer, tours become more expensive by 100-200 USD. But if you book in advance, you can easily save. It's easy to find a hot ticket. The main thing is to follow the updates and news.

Tbilisi has a place to swim, and shady groves give coolness in hot weather. No less comfort can be found in the city's coffee houses and wine shops. Wine excursions have become a local "trick".

Interesting places in Tbilisi

The ancient capital of Georgia is rich in various iconic places. The main sights of Tbilisi are concentrated in its historical center - the Old Town. Old and new churches, fortresses, entire blocks of historical buildings - you can go through all this with a city tour. But it attracts tourists not only for this. Hiking routes around Tbilisi include visiting museums, viewing platforms. You can relax on the shore of the Turtle Lake or in the shade of the Botanical Garden.

One of the goals of any trip to Tbilisi is the inimitable Georgian cuisine. In cafes and restaurants of the city, chefs boast not only world-famous, but also less popular dishes. Their lack of popularity is not reflected in the taste, especially if you try them with Georgian wine.

Sights

Travel budget

Flight ticket prices

From major European cities like Paris, London, or Berlin, you can find direct flights to Tbilisi operated by various airlines. For example, Air France offers direct flights from Paris with a duration of approximately 4 hours and ticket prices starting at around 400 EUR. British Airways provides direct flights from London with a similar travel time and prices starting at around 350 GBP. From Berlin, Lufthansa operates direct flights to Tbilisi with a duration of around 3 hours and ticket prices starting at approximately 250 EUR. It's important to check with airlines and travel agencies for the most up-to-date flight schedules and prices, as they may vary depending on the season and demand.

The best hotels in Tbilisi

Georgia is one of the popular tourist destinations, so the infrastructure here is constantly developing. Today, tourists who are accustomed to the highest class of service are invited to stay in one of the three five-star hotels in the city: Hotels & Preference Hualing, Radisson Blu Iveria, Tbilisi Marriott. The cost of living in them ranges from 776-1550 GEL per night.

<br>Surprisingly, the prices for four-star hotels in the city are sometimes an order of magnitude lower. You can rent a room in them for 151 GEL, but the average price is still 256 GEL. The best among them are Hotel City Avenue, Citadines Tbilisi City Centre, Tiflis Palace.

<br>In three-star hotels, rooms are rented for 45–256 GEL, so there will be plenty to choose from. Among this category of hotels, Log Inn Luxury, Sharden, Tiflis are popular.

The cost of vacation

Although the ancient city of Tbilisi has a rich history, numerous landmarks, and other interesting reasons to travel to this area, the cost of staying there is affordable even for the most budget-conscious tourists. Of course, if desired, one can stay in a five-star hotel and dine in high-end restaurants. In that case, the trip is unlikely to be modest in terms of cost. However, if one doesn't prioritize a luxurious vacation, it is possible to have a fulfilling and interesting experience for a fairly modest amount of money. These statements are financially justified. Below, we present the main expenses during a visit to Tbilisi.

The budget for a trip to Tbilisi
Visa - Flight 250 USD
Accommodation From 45 GEL (20 USD) per day Average bill in a restaurant 43 GEL (19 USD)
Transport fare 2 GEL (1 USD) Excursion 107 GEL (50 USD)
Total: 500 USD for three days

Tbilisi: tips for tourists

For a trip to Georgia to enjoy only pleasant surprises, it is advisable to think through all the nuances of the vacation in advance. About the most important of them, which you will certainly face during the trip, read below.

Visa to Tbilisi

EU citizens do not need to apply for a visa to Georgia - there is a visa-free regime between the countries. All you need to enter the country is valid passport.

Airport

Tbilisi International Airport bears the name of the famous Georgian poet of the Middle Ages Shota Rustaveli. After the reconstruction in 2007, which was carried out using the latest technologies, the main air gates of Georgia increased their capacity, began to meet all international standards. Today, their terminal is able to serve a millionth flow of guests.

Transfer

The possibilities of transferring from Shota Rustaveli Airport to Tbilisi have significantly expanded after its reconstruction. The distance of 15 km that separates the city from the air gate can be overcome by shuttle train, bus, car. The train departs from the station near the airport twice a day and delivers to the city's railway station in half an hour and 0.50 GEL. For the same price, bus number 37 will take you, which operates from 7:00 to 23:00. You will have to pay about 25 GEL for a taxi.

Transport

Public transport in the city consists of the metro, regular and shuttle buses. To ride the subway, you need to purchase a Metromoney card, which you can replenish with the required amount of money. The metro fare is 2 GEL. Keep your receipt for the purchase of the card. Then, upon presentation of it and a passport, you can return it, receiving back the money spent on the purchase, including those that remained on the account. You can also pay with this card on buses.

Car rental

You can book a car rental in Tbilisi both in the city center, hotels, and upon arrival at the airport. The cheapest you can get is a Nissan Micra or a similar car. You will be asked for a daily rent of approximately 123 GEL, excluding airport tax of approximately 53 GEL. To arrange a rental, you will need a passport, a payment card and a driver's license that is valid for at least three years.

Safety

If you do not start political disputes with Georgians and do not go to the haunted places of the city, security in Tbilisi should not worry a tourist. True, you should always be wary of pickpockets in bazaars, train stations and in crowded places. It is also recommended to postpone the trip to Tbilisi if it falls during the period of the election campaign. At this time, the city is usually restless.

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