L'Heure du Voyage
Tbilisi old town and Narikala fortress at sunset
๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช Georgia ยท แƒ—แƒ‘แƒ˜แƒšแƒ˜แƒกแƒ˜

Tbilisi: what to see, where to stay, 2026 tips

Georgia's capital of sulphur baths and cobbled lanes, Tbilisi blends a picturesque old town, a hilltop fortress, a buzzing wine and coffee scene and famous nightlife. Here's how to enjoy it in 2 or 3 days.

Tbilisi at a glance

Population

1.2 M

Airport

TBS

Ideal stay

2 to 3 days

Budget / day

โ‚ฌ30-110

Flight Paris

~5h direct

Time diff

+3h

Current climate

Best season

Photo : Denis Arslanbekov / Unsplash

In brief

Tbilisi in brief

  • 1

    A capital you explore on foot

    The old town, the baths and Rustaveli Avenue flow into each other on foot. Plan 2 full days, 3 to slow down.

  • 2

    The sulphur baths are the signature experience

    Abanotubani and its brick domes. Public bath from 5 GEL, private cabin around 50-80 GEL per hour.

  • 3

    A city of wine and specialty coffee

    Cradle of qvevri winemaking, Tbilisi packs natural wine bars and sharp roasters across Fabrika and Vera.

  • 4

    Bolt replaces taxis everywhere

    The Bolt app is everywhere and cheap. The metro at 1 GEL helps on the main axes.

  • 5

    Nightlife that matters in Europe

    Bassiani and the techno clubs draw the whole region. The city comes alive late, mostly Thursday to Sunday.

Must-see

What to see in Tbilisi?

โ˜… #1 ๐Ÿ“

Old Town

Cobbled lanes, carved wooden balconies and colorful facades at the foot of the hill.

โฑ Half-day ๐Ÿ’ฐ Free Must-see
โ˜… #2 ๐Ÿ“

Narikala Fortress

4th-century citadel reached by cable car. Panoramic view over the whole city.

โฑ 1-2 h ๐Ÿ’ฐ Cable car 2.5 GEL View
โ˜… #3 ๐Ÿ“

Abanotubani Sulphur Baths

The brick-dome quarter. Hot sulphur baths, a centuries-old ritual.

โฑ 1-2 h ๐Ÿ’ฐ From 5 GEL Signature
โ˜… #4 ๐Ÿ“

Bridge of Peace

Glass-and-steel footbridge over the Mtkvari, lit up at night. Easy photo spot.

โฑ 30 min ๐Ÿ’ฐ Free Photo spot
โ˜… #5 ๐Ÿ“

Rustaveli Avenue

The main artery: opera, national museum, theaters and cafes. The modern heart of the city.

โฑ 2 h ๐Ÿ’ฐ Free Center
โ˜… #6 ๐Ÿ“

Sameba Cathedral (Holy Trinity)

Huge gilded Orthodox cathedral, completed in 2004. Dominates the east bank.

โฑ 1 h ๐Ÿ’ฐ Free Modest dress
โ˜… #7 ๐Ÿ“

Metekhi Church

Church perched on a cliff above the river, with the statue of King Vakhtang.

โฑ 45 min ๐Ÿ’ฐ Free View
โ˜… #8 ๐Ÿ“

Shardeni & Chardin Street

Pedestrian lanes full of wine bars, terraces and galleries. Best in the evening.

โฑ Evening ๐Ÿ’ฐ Glass 8-15 GEL At night
โ˜… #9 ๐Ÿ“

Fabrika (creative quarter)

Former sewing factory turned creative hub: hostel, studios, courtyard bars.

โฑ 2-3 h ๐Ÿ’ฐ Free Hipster
โ˜… #10 ๐Ÿ“

Kartlis Deda statue (Mother of Georgia)

20m aluminium figure on the hill: a sword for enemies, a wine cup for friends.

โฑ 45 min ๐Ÿ’ฐ Free Symbol

Choose your district

Where to stay in Tbilisi?

Old Town (Kala)

In the heart of the cobbled lanes, steps from the baths and Narikala. Guaranteed charm, sometimes noisy. From โ‚ฌ25/night.

โ˜… Recommended

Sololaki

Art Nouveau district with decorated stairwells. Quiet and central. From โ‚ฌ30/night.

Charm

Vera

Green residential area loved by locals, specialty coffee and good tables. From โ‚ฌ28/night.

Local

Rustaveli / Mtatsminda

Along the main avenue, near the opera and the funicular. Practical and lively. From โ‚ฌ35/night.

Lively

Marjanishvili / Fabrika

Creative left bank around Fabrika, more affordable and young. From โ‚ฌ18/night.

Budget

Getting around

Getting around Tbilisi

๐Ÿš‡

Metro

Two lines covering the main axes. Rechargeable Metromoney card, fast and deep.

๐Ÿš

Marshrutka & bus

Very cheap minibuses and city buses. Handy but routes signed in Georgian.

๐Ÿš–

Bolt

The dominant ride-hailing app in Georgia. Cheap, card or cash, everywhere in town.

๐Ÿš 

Cable car & funicular

Cable car to Narikala from Rike Park, funicular up to Mtatsminda. Superb views.

Climate & crowds

When to visit Tbilisi?

Ideal Fair Avoid

01

Jan

02

Feb

03

Mar

04

Apr

05

May

06

Jun

07

Jul

08

Aug

09

Sep

10

Oct

11

Nov

12

Dec

Spring

Apr to June ยท 15-26ยฐC, green hills ยท Ideal, the finest season alongside autumn

Summer

July to Aug ยท 30-35ยฐC, hot and dry ยท Fair, hot by day, pleasant evenings

Autumn

Sep to Oct ยท 18-27ยฐC, grape harvest ยท Ideal, soft light and wine season

How much

Tbilisi budget (per day)

Backpacker

โ‚ฌ30

per day

  • ๐Ÿจ Dorm: โ‚ฌ10
  • ๐Ÿฝ๏ธ Local canteen: โ‚ฌ8
  • ๐Ÿš‡ Metro + Bolt: โ‚ฌ3
  • ๐ŸŽซ Public bath + 1 visit
Recommended

Comfort

โ‚ฌ70

per day

  • ๐Ÿจ 3-4โ˜… hotel: โ‚ฌ40
  • ๐Ÿฝ๏ธ Mixed restos: โ‚ฌ18
  • ๐Ÿš– Bolt: โ‚ฌ6
  • ๐ŸŽซ Private bath + visits

Premium

โ‚ฌ160

per day

  • ๐Ÿจ Boutique hotel: โ‚ฌ110
  • ๐Ÿท Tastings & dining: โ‚ฌ35
  • ๐Ÿš– Private driver
  • ๐ŸŽซ Private guided tours

Our tested itinerary

Tbilisi in 2 days

Day-by-day program.

1

Day 1, old town & hills

  • 9am Breakfast then old town on foot
  • 11am Cable car to Narikala and Kartlis Deda
  • 1pm Khinkali lunch in Sololaki
  • 3pm Abanotubani sulphur baths
  • 6pm Wine on Chardin Street and the lit Bridge of Peace
2

Day 2, modern city & wine

  • 9am Rustaveli Avenue and national museum
  • 12pm Sameba Cathedral and Metekhi Church
  • 2pm Lunch and specialty coffee in Vera
  • 4pm Fabrika: studios and designer shops
  • 8pm Georgian dinner and a natural wine bar

Around

Day trips from Tbilisi

Jvari Monastery above the river confluence at Mtskheta ๐Ÿ“

Mtskheta

30 min away ยท Former UNESCO capital

๐Ÿ“

Kazbegi (Gergeti)

3h away ยท Gergeti church and Mount Kazbek

๐Ÿ“

Sighnaghi

2h away ยท Wine town of Kakheti

๐Ÿ“

Ananuri Fortress

1h15 away ยท Lakeside castle

FAQ

Tbilisi FAQ

How many days to visit Tbilisi? +
Two full days cover the must-sees: old town, Narikala, sulphur baths, Rustaveli Avenue and Sameba Cathedral. A third day lets you add a trip to Mtskheta or the Kakheti wine region.
What's the best neighborhood to stay in Tbilisi? +
The old town (Kala) to walk everywhere, Sololaki for quiet Art Nouveau charm, Vera for the local vibe and cafes. Marjanishvili and Fabrika are more affordable and young.
Is Tbilisi a safe city? +
Yes, Tbilisi is one of the safest capitals in the region, including at night. Watch the slippery cobbles of the old town and always book rides through the Bolt app rather than an unmetered taxi.
Do you need to book the sulphur baths in advance? +
Not for the public bath, where you just show up. For a private cabin on a weekend evening, book earlier in the day. Expect 50 to 80 GEL per hour depending on the bathhouse.
Do you need a visa for Tbilisi? +
No for French and most Western nationals: Georgia allows visa-free stays of up to 365 days. See our Georgia visa guide.

Marie Laurent โœ“

ยท

Southeast Asia specialist

Last updated: June 6, 2026.

View profile โ†’