Things to do in Tbilisi: top sights and where to go
Old Tbilisi fits into one walk: the Abanotubani sulphur baths, Narikala fortress on the ridge above them, the glass Bridge of Peace over the Mtkvari and Rike Park are all within ten minutes of each other, and a cable car lifts you from the park to the fortress. Spend the first day in the old town and on Rustaveli Avenue; keep Mtatsminda, the Open Air Museum of Ethnography and the Chronicle of Georgia for a second day.
Sights
Abanotubani Sulphur Baths
Tbilisi, Georgia
1 h 30 min≈ Private room ≈ 50–250 GEL/hourhistorywaterwalks
Tbilisi itineraries
Tbilisi travel guide
Before you go: the old town and sulphur baths, where to stay, the airport, weather by month, food, wine and day trips.
Tbilisi on your own: the essentials
- How many days
- 3–4 days, plus a day for Mtskheta or Kazbegi
- When to go
- April–June and September–October
- Visa
- Visa-free for many passports, often up to a year
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Money
- Georgian lari; cards widely accepted
- Airport
- Tbilisi (TBS) ≈ 17 km — bus and taxi
- Where to stay
- Old Town and Sololaki — everything on foot
- Transport
- Metro and buses with a Metromoney card or contactless
- Time zone
- UTC+4 all year
officiali
Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Key facts
Sourcei
Wikipedia, “Tbilisi”Sourcei
Wikipedia, “Tbilisi”Sourcei
Wikipedia, “Narikala”Sourcei
Wikipedia, “Bridge of Peace”Sourcei
Wikipedia, “Mtatsminda”Things to do in Tbilisi
Tbilisi’s heart is the Old Town: Narikala fortress, the Abanotubani sulphur baths, the Bridge of Peace and Rike Park. Beyond it are Rustaveli Avenue, Sameba Cathedral, the Dry Bridge flea market and Mount Mtatsminda. Every place with its YesGo score is in the list above; the “Map” button shows them on a map.
| Old Town | Narikala, Abanotubani | ½ day |
|---|---|---|
| The river | Bridge of Peace, Rike Park | 1–2 h |
| Avlabari | Sameba | 1 h |
| Centre | Rustaveli, Dry Bridge | ½ day |
| Views | Mtatsminda | ½ day |
| Outskirts | Chronicle of Georgia, Ethnographic Museum | ½ day |
Rather not plan it yourself? The list above has ready itineraries for 1–2 days, with places in a sensible order.
Where to stay in Tbilisi
For a first visit, stay in the Old Town or Sololaki: Narikala, the baths and the Bridge of Peace are on foot. Vera and Vake are quieter and greener; Marjanishvili has restaurants and lower prices.
| Old Town | First visit, everything on foot | Steep lanes, noisy at night |
|---|---|---|
| Sololaki | Old houses, cafés, central | Uphill streets |
| Marjanishvili | Restaurants, metro, good value | Metro to the Old Town |
| Vera, Vake | Quieter, parks, coffee shops | Further from the sights |
Tbilisi airport to the city centre
Tbilisi Airport (TBS) is ≈ 17 km from the centre. The cheapest way in is bus 337 to Freedom Square and the station; a taxi via an app is quicker, about 25–30 minutes.
| Bus 337 | Freedom Square, station | ≈ 40–50 min |
|---|---|---|
| Ride-hailing app | City centre | ≈ 25–30 min |
| Transfer | To your hotel | ≈ 25–30 min |
Metromoney cards for the metro and buses are sold in arrivals; book taxis via an app — kerbside fares are higher.
Tbilisi weather by month
The best time to visit Tbilisi is April–June and September–October — warm but not hot. Summer days pass 30 °C and feel stuffy. October is about 20 °C and brings the grape harvest (rtveli). Winter is mild, about 7–8 °C by day, with rare snow.
°CiLong-term averages, °C: day and night air, sea water near the shore, rain — rainy days a month. Any given year can be warmer or cooler. Tap a month for details below. | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day | 7° | 9° | 14° | 19° | 24° | 29° | 32° | 31° | 27° | 20° | 13° | 8° |
| Night | -1° | 0° | 4° | 8° | 12° | 17° | 20° | 20° | 15° | 10° | 4° | 0° |
| Rain | 5 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 13 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 |
Warm — 20 °C and above by dayBest time to go: April–May and September–October
- day ≈ 7°
- night ≈ -1°
- rain 5 days
Cool, about 7°. Perfect for the sulphur baths and museums.
- day ≈ 9°
- night ≈ 0°
- rain 6 days
Cool, first sunny days. Few tourists.
- day ≈ 14°
- night ≈ 4°
- rain 8 days
Spring, about 14° by day. Almond and fruit trees in bloom.
- day ≈ 19°
- night ≈ 8°
- rain 10 days
Warm and green. A great time for walking.
- day ≈ 24°
- night ≈ 12°
- rain 13 days
Warm, with showers. Good for Mtskheta and the mountains.
- day ≈ 29°
- night ≈ 17°
- rain 10 days
About 29°, the heat begins. Evenings on Mtatsminda.
- day ≈ 32°
- night ≈ 20°
- rain 7 days
The hottest month, over 30°. Baths and museums by day, walks at night.
- day ≈ 31°
- night ≈ 20°
- rain 6 days
Hot and dry. The city in the morning, shade by day.
- day ≈ 27°
- night ≈ 15°
- rain 6 days
Warm, about 27°. The wine season begins.
- day ≈ 20°
- night ≈ 10°
- rain 6 days
Rtveli — the grape harvest, about 20° by day. The best month.
- day ≈ 13°
- night ≈ 4°
- rain 6 days
Cool, about 13°. Wine, baths and museums.
- day ≈ 8°
- night ≈ 0°
- rain 5 days
About 8°, festive markets on Rustaveli.
“Rain” counts days with precipitation. Summer is hot and dry; spring has more showers.
What to eat in Tbilisi
Tbilisi is a city of khinkali houses, wine bars and bakeries, and eating out is good value. Try khinkali and khachapuri away from the main streets, and wine by the glass in Old Town wine bars.
- Khinkali — eaten by hand, holding the knot; leave the knot on the plate.
- Khachapuri — Adjarian with an egg, Imeretian round with cheese.
- Wine — made in qvevri clay jars; saperavi is the classic dry red.
- Bakeries — shoti bread from a tone oven and lobiani with beans for very little.
- Tipping — often already on the bill as a 10–18% service charge.
Tbilisi ticket prices
The Old Town, the Bridge of Peace, Rike Park and Sameba are free. You pay for the cable car to Narikala, the Mtatsminda funicular, the sulphur baths and museums.
| Abanotubani Sulphur Baths | 57 | 1 h 30 min | Private room ≈ 50–250 GEL/hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mtatsminda Park | 46 | 2 h 30 min | Free entry, funicular ≈ 10–12 GEL |
| Open Air Museum of Ethnography | 29 | 2 h | ≈ 20 GEL (unofficial) |
Free — 7 places: Bridge of Peace, Rike Park, Narikala Fortress, Holy Trinity Cathedral (Sameba), Dry Bridge Market, Chronicle of Georgia, Rustaveli Avenue.
Day trips from Tbilisi
The favourite day trips are the ancient capital Mtskheta, the Georgian Military Road to Kazbegi, and Kakheti’s wineries.
Tips
- Ride the cable car from Rike Park up to Narikala, then walk down to the baths.
- At the sulphur baths, book a private room for an hour — the public halls are cheaper but busy.
- Exchange money in town — rates are better than at the airport.
FAQ
Is Tbilisi worth visiting?
Yes: a characterful old town with sulphur baths and balconied houses, great food and wine at low prices, and easy day trips to the mountains and wine country.
What to do in Tbilisi in one day?
The Old Town with Narikala and the sulphur baths, the Bridge of Peace and Rike Park, Rustaveli Avenue and sunset from Mtatsminda.
Do I need a visa for Georgia?
Citizens of many countries, including the EU, UK and US, can stay visa-free, often for up to a year. Check the current rule for your passport before you travel.
Is Tbilisi safe?
Tbilisi is generally considered safe for visitors, including at night in central areas; take the usual care with valuables and use ride-hailing apps.
What is the best time to visit Tbilisi?
April–June and September–October; October adds the grape harvest. Summer is hot, winter mild and quiet.
How do I get from Tbilisi Airport to the city?
By bus 337 to Freedom Square in about 40–50 minutes, or by ride-hailing app in 25–30 minutes.
Sources and fact-check
- Wikipedia, “Tbilisi”; “Narikala”; “Bridge of Peace”; “Mtatsminda”; Tbilisi climate (1991–2020 normals)
- Tbilisi International Airport — official website
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia — visa-free entry