Tbilisi (Georgia) – detailed information about the city with photos. Main attractions with descriptions, travel guides and maps.
Tbilisi (Georgian: თბილისი, meaning “warm spring”) is the capital of Georgia, located in the eastern part of the country on the banks of the Kura (Mtkvari) River. This ancient city, founded in the 5th century, is now home to over 1 million people. Tbilisi is one of the most charming cities in the Caucasus, where amazing landmarks and unique treasures are hidden among narrow atmospheric streets, cozy old courtyards, and curved houses. Despite being destroyed and rebuilt dozens of times during its fifteen-hundred-year history, the old town has preserved its medieval charm and largely its original state.
Tbilisi is located in the center of Eastern Georgia in a basin bounded by the spurs of the Trialeti Range, the Saguramo Range, and the Iori Highlands. The climate is moderately continental with relatively hot summers and cool winters. Thanks to its proximity to warm seas (Black and Caspian) and the large Caucasus Range, which blocks the invasion of air masses, Tbilisi’s climate is warmer than cities at the same latitudes. The average annual temperature is 12.7 degrees. The coldest month is January with temperatures around 0°C. The average summer temperature is over 20 degrees.
The best time to visit Tbilisi is from May to October. July and August can be quite hot. To enjoy the city without tourists, it’s better to come in winter or early spring.
According to legend, Tbilisi was founded in the 5th century CE by the ancient Georgian king Vakhtang Gorgasali. By the 6th century, the city had become the capital of the state. Interestingly, settlements on the site of modern Tbilisi were marked on Roman maps. In the historical center, thermal baths dating back to the 1st century CE were discovered, as well as remains of ancient settlements from the 3rd-4th centuries BCE. The name Tbilisi (formerly Tiflis) translates as “warm,” due to the many thermal springs.
Georgian legend tells that the territory of Tbilisi was once covered with forests where the ruler of the ancient Georgian state, Vakhtang I Gorgasal, hunted. He shot a bird that fell into a hot spring and cooked. According to another version, it was a deer that ran to the spring and was healed. The king considered this a “good” sign and established a city here.
In the 6th century, the capital of the Georgian kingdom was moved from Mtskheta to Tbilisi. In 626, after a months-long siege, the city was captured by the Khazars. In 653, Georgia was subordinated to the Arabs, although Tbilisi maintained some independence for almost a century. In 736, the city was captured by Arab troops. Arabs ruled Georgia until the 11th century. In 1122, it became the capital of a united and independent Georgia.
The flourishing of the Georgian kingdom lasted until the 13th century. In 1226, Tbilisi was devastated by the armies of Jalal ad-Din, and in 1238 it was captured by the Mongols, who ruled Georgia until 1327. In 1366, the great plague reached the city. From the 14th to the 17th century, the city experienced several devastations and destructions:
In 1490 (after the collapse of the Georgian state), Tbilisi became the capital of the Kartli kingdom. In 1578, the city was occupied by the Turks. In 1783, Georgia accepted the protectorate of the Russian Empire. Tbilisi remained the main city of the country. In 1918, the independence of Georgia was declared. The independent Georgian state did not last long, and by the 1930s, the country became part of the Soviet Union. Georgia became independent in 1991 after the collapse of the USSR.
Tbilisi has an international airport — the largest in Georgia. The capital is connected by air with Riga, Rome, Vienna, Minsk, Tallinn, Kyiv, Amsterdam, and other cities around the world. Trains and buses 37/137 run from the airport to the center. The ticket price is 0.5 lari. A taxi costs 20-30 lari. There is railway communication with Baku, Yerevan, Batumi, Kutaisi, Gori, Borjomi. Buses connect the city with most cities in Georgia, as well as cities in Russia, Turkey, Armenia, and Azerbaijan.
Public transport includes metro, buses, and minibuses. A trip on the metro and bus costs 0.5 lari. Minibuses are slightly more expensive.
Avoid shopping and dining in the area of Kote Abkhazi Street. This is a popular tourist area where prices are often highly inflated. A large flea market is located near Freedom Square and is held every Saturday. This is the best place to buy antiques and various interesting items. The main market is located near the Dynamo arena. Mainly, in Tbilisi, people buy: antiques, jewelry, local products (chacha, churchkhela, wine, cheese, mineral water). Shops with these goods are located throughout the historical center.
Georgian cuisine is delicious, inexpensive, and versatile. In Tbilisi, you can eat well and cheaply. Traditional Georgian dishes: puri (bread), khachapuri (flatbread with cheese), chvishtari (corn pastry), jonjoli (pickled flowers of some plant), badrijani (eggplant rolls), pkhali, khinkali, dolma, mtsvadi (shashlik), lobio, chashushuli (stewed veal), chakhokhbili (meat with spices), churchkhela, chiri (dried persimmon). Meals are accompanied by chacha, a glass of Georgian wine, and a glass of mineral water.
Old Town — the heart of Tbilisi. This area is located between Freedom Square, the ancient ruins of Narikala Fortress, and the Kura River. Despite the city being devastated several times throughout its history, the historical center has been preserved remarkably well and has maintained its special atmosphere and charm.
Old Tbilisi is an area of narrow streets lined with ancient churches, old houses with lovely wooden balconies, and quiet courtyards. This ancient architecture somewhat resembles the architecture of the Renaissance and Italy. In the old town, you can also see a number of eclectic landmarks and modern architectural elements. The historical center of Tbilisi is full of hidden treasures and interesting places that can be discovered during a simple walk.
Narikala — one of the symbols of Tbilisi, an ancient Persian fortress built in the 4th century and expanded in the 8th century by Arabs. The fortress is located on a high hill and consists of two parts. In the lower part, the Church of St. Nicholas was built in the 1990s, located on the same site where an ancient church from the 13th century once stood. Most of the fortress was destroyed during an earthquake in 1827. The main reason tourists come here is for the stunning views of the old town and the Kura valley. You can climb up to the fortress by funicular, which departs near the Metekhi Church.
Metekhi Church or the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin — one of the main attractions of Tbilisi. This ancient 12th-century church is located on a cliff above the Kura. Nearby is an equestrian statue of the legendary Georgian ruler Vakhtang Gorgasali. The first temple on this site was built in the 5th century. It is likely that the royal palace was also located here. Therefore, this place is one of the oldest in Tbilisi. The old church was destroyed by the Mongols. The current temple dates from the end of the 13th century. The building was damaged by fire at the end of the 18th century during the Persian invasion. The temple grounds were used as a prison in the 19th century, and the temple itself was almost demolished during the Soviet era under Stalin.
Mother Georgia or Kartlis Deda – a 20-meter aluminum statue near Narikala Fortress. It is a symbol not only of Tbilisi but of the entire country. The sword in her hand is for enemies, and the bowl of wine is for friends.
Sioni — the former cathedral of Tbilisi, which until 2004 (until the construction of Sameba) was the main religious building of the Georgian capital. The first church on this site was built at the end of the 6th century. The temple was rebuilt several times, destroyed by Arabs and an earthquake in 1668. The Arabs damaged the ancient frescoes and iconostasis. The current structure largely dates from the first half of the 19th century.
Holy Trinity Church or Sameba — a grandiose cathedral completed in 2004. It is the largest religious building in Tbilisi, standing 84 meters tall with a beautiful gilded dome.
Kashveti — an early 20th-century church on Rustaveli Avenue.
Rustaveli Avenue — the central street of Tbilisi, named after the national Georgian poet. It starts from Freedom Square.
Freedom Square — one of the central squares of Tbilisi, located in the old town. It is mostly surrounded by monumental architecture from the 19th century. In the center stands a tall statue of St. George.
Gabriadze Theater — a puppet theater located in the heart of Tbilisi. It is one of the most beautiful buildings in the city with a fairy-tale clock tower. The facade of the tower has hundreds of handmade tiles created by Gabriadze himself. Every hour, an angel comes out of the door at the top and strikes the bell with a hammer, and at noon and 7:00 PM, you can watch a small puppet show called “The Circle of Life”.
Anchiskhati — the oldest church in Tbilisi, built in the 6th century during the reign of King Dachi Ujarmeli. The building was destroyed and restored several times. The brick bell tower was built in the 17th century. The building is made of tuff and is a three-nave basilica with horseshoe-shaped apses.
Bridge of Peace — one of the first modern architectural landmarks of Tbilisi, a glass-steel structure designed by Italian architect Michele De Lucchi. It is a pedestrian bridge across the Kura.
Abanotubani — one of the most charming districts of the Georgian capital, known for its baths on natural sulfuric thermal springs. In this area, you can find many budget hotels, walk along the old canal, and admire Narikala Fortress.
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