Tbilisi walking tour & city guide
Sulfur baths, carved balconies and a fortress above the river.
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Tbilisi spreads along the Mtkvari river in a valley below steep hills. Its old town of crooked houses with carved wooden balconies, domed sulfur baths and churches sits beside bold modern architecture, and the city is known for its food, wine and lively nightlife.
The Old Town and the sulfur baths
Abanotubani, the bath district, is a cluster of brick domes over natural hot sulfur springs, the reason the city was founded here in the 5th century; its name comes from the Georgian word for 'warm'. The colorful tiled facade of the Orbeliani Bath is the most photographed.
Above the baths, the walls of Narikala Fortress crown the hill, next to the statue of Mother Georgia, holding a sword for enemies and a cup of wine for friends. A cable car glides from Rike Park up to the fortress, passing over the old town.
Rustaveli Avenue and the Bridge of Peace
The glass-and-steel Bridge of Peace crosses the river to Rike Park, linking the old town with the modern districts. Rustaveli Avenue, the city's main boulevard, runs past the Opera, the Parliament and the Georgian National Museum to Freedom Square.
The old Sololaki district has grand 19th-century houses with painted entrance halls, and Fabrika, a former Soviet sewing factory, has become a creative hub of cafés, bars and street art.
Around Tbilisi
Mtskheta, the ancient capital and spiritual heart of Georgia, with the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral and the hilltop Jvari Monastery, is half an hour away. The Kakheti wine region and the Georgian Military Road to Kazbegi in the High Caucasus are easy trips from the capital.
Top sights in Tbilisi
- 1
Abanotubani
The domed sulfur bath district.
- 2
Narikala Fortress
A hilltop fortress reached by cable car.
- 3
Bridge of Peace
A glass footbridge over the Mtkvari.
- 4
Rustaveli Avenue
The main boulevard of the city.
- 5
Holy Trinity Cathedral
The huge Sameba Cathedral on a hill.
- 6
Fabrika
A former factory turned creative hub.
Food markets & where to eat in Tbilisi
Dezerter Bazaar
A huge, lively market for spices, cheese and churchkhela.
Old Town
Traditional restaurants and wine bars.
Fabrika courtyard
Street food and bars in a converted factory.
Food to try in Tbilisi
Khachapuri
Cheese-filled bread; the Adjarian version has an egg on top.
Khinkali
Soup dumplings filled with spiced meat.
Churchkhela
Strings of nuts dipped in thickened grape juice.
Qvevri wine
Wine fermented in clay jars buried underground.
Opening hours and prices change often. Please check with each place before you visit.
Plan your trip to Tbilisi
Enjoyed the walk? Here is everything you need to see it for real.
- Hotels in TbilisiCompare places to stay and prices.
- Tours & ticketsWalking tours, museums and day trips in Tbilisi.
- eSIM for GeorgiaStay online from the moment you land.
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