Sulfur baths, balconies and a wine-loving old town
Tbilisi is Georgia's capital, a hilly city on the Mtkvari river with carved balconies, sulfur bathhouses and a fortress above the old town. Food and wine are central to any visit. It mixes old charm with a lively bar and art scene. Day trips reach monasteries and the Caucasus.
Tap a card to open it. Day trips are marked.
The old town has carved wooden balconies, crooked lanes and churches of several faiths. It sits below the fortress on the river's west bank.
Walking is free; a bath room costs about GEL 50 to 150, 2026 estimate.
Brick domed bathhouses fed by natural sulfur springs, the reason the city was founded. Private rooms can be rented by the hour.
Walking is free; a bath room costs about GEL 50 to 150, 2026 estimate.
An ancient fortress on a ridge above the old town, reached by cable car from Rike Park. The walls give views over the whole city.
Cable car fare with a Metromoney card is a couple of lari, 2026 estimate.
A curving glass and steel footbridge over the Mtkvari river, lit up at night. It opened in 2010.
Free.
A huge Orthodox cathedral completed in 2004 on a hill on the east bank. Its golden dome is visible across the city.
Free entry.
The main national museum, with gold jewelry from ancient Colchis and early human remains. It is on Rustaveli Avenue.
Entry fee in lari, 2026 estimate.
The main boulevard, with the parliament, theaters and opera house. It is lively day and night.
Free.
A flea market near the Dry Bridge, selling Soviet items, art and antiques. It is busiest on weekends.
A hilltop park reached by funicular, with rides and views over the city. A restaurant at the top is popular at night.
Price not verified for 2026; check the official site before you go.
The ancient capital where the Aragvi and Mtkvari rivers meet, with Svetitskhoveli Cathedral and the hilltop Jvari Monastery. It is a UNESCO site.
Free entry for churches.
Everything above is open to read. A Hodolog account lets you build the trip around it.
Choose how many days you have.
Day one old town, day two museums and markets, day three Mtskheta.
Gergeti church under Mount Kazbek.
96 mi · Minibus or tour, about 3 hours
Wine country hill town.
68 mi · Minibus, about 2 hours
Stalin museum and an ancient rock cut town.
53 mi · Marshrutka or tour, about 1h 30
Desert monasteries on the border with Azerbaijan.
43 mi · Tour or taxi, about 2 hours
Mineral springs and a forest park.
99 mi · Marshrutka or tour, about 2.5 hours
Best: May to June and September to October. Warm and dry, with the grape harvest in autumn.
Daily high and average, by month
Typical inches per month
Quiet season. Lower prices, fewer crowds.
Climate normals: NASA POWER (public domain). For your own dates, a trip's Plan tab shows the forecast and the usual weather.
Early October (3 to 4 October in 2026)
City festival with food and wine.
September to October
Harvest season in wine regions.
May
Wineries show new vintages.
May 26
National holiday with parades and fireworks.
Georgia is at US State Department Level 1 (exercise normal precautions); avoid the occupied regions and large protests; petty crime is low.
The old town is walkable but hilly with uneven pavements.
Metro and buses are cheap; pay by contactless card.
The neighborhoods that suit most first visits.
Best for: first-timers, couples
Near baths and fortress.
Best for: couples, food
Leafy streets and old houses.
Best for: luxury
Upscale area with parks.
Best for: families, quiet seekers
Leafy residential districts with parks.
Best for: budget, convenience
Central, with metro access and nightlife.
| Main airport | Tbilisi International Airport (TBS), 11 mi from the center |
| To the center | Bus 337 runs to the center for 1 GEL; a Bolt ride takes about 30 minutes. |
| Around town | Walk the old town; metro and Bolt for longer trips. |
| Ride apps | Bolt, Yandex Go |
Cheese filled bread.
Juicy dumplings.
Nut and grape candy.
Vegetable and walnut pastes.
Wine made in clay vessels buried underground.
| Plugs | Type C and F, 230 V |
| Tap water | Safe to drink |
| Tipping | Rounding up or about 10 percent in restaurants is appreciated. |
| Payments | Cards are widely accepted; keep a little cash for markets. |
| Etiquette | Dress modestly in religious sites and greet people with a simple hello. |
According to legend, King Vakhtang Gorgasali founded Tbilisi in the 5th century after finding hot springs here, and its name comes from the Georgian word for warm. Its position on trade routes drew invaders, and Persians, Arabs, Byzantines, Mongols and Ottomans all held it at times. The Russian Empire annexed Georgia in 1801, and later it became a Soviet republic. Georgia regained independence in 1991.
Researched 2026-10-12. Check official sources and recent changes before you go.