Tbilisi. Pronounced with the T silent. Took me a few embarrassing attempts of pronouncing it wrong, to actually get it right. It's the capital city of Georgia and a name I wouldn't have heard had I not been a Dubai expat. It's an eastern European city which packs a buffet of experiences for travellers. There's a plethora of things to do, places to go to in Tbilisi and I'll be discussing them in this post.
WHY TO VISIT TBILISI
Georgia is also called the balcony of Europe. It has wonderfully imbibed different attributes from each of it's neighbouring countries. Therefore it has a rich heritage of history & culture. What sets it's capital city Tbilisi apart is it's cultural diversity and hospitality. In Tbilisi, there's a saying that every guest is God-sent.
Even in older times, Georgian houses used to have a separate room for guests where they could stay, have a meal and spend a night. People here attach more value to respecting guests than heroic acts. So that makes experiencing this beautiful city an even more lucrative prospect.
WHEN TO GO TO TBILISI
The currency of this country is the Georgian Lari (GEL) where 1 GEL = 0.36USD / 0.32EUR / 26.16INR and the best time to visit Tbilisi is June-August. It's the summer season & temperatures at this time range from 18-30 degree Celsius.
However, if you want to experience snowfall in Tbilisi, then the ideal time would be December-February. I would still advise you to travel in the summer season so that you don't run the risk of certain spots being inaccessible or shutdown.
1. Visit the Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi
It is one of the most famous sites in Georgia and the symbol of "new Georgia". It's also known as the Tsminda Sameba Cathedral. The building sits on the hill of St. Ilya, overlooking the old city of Tbilisi. It's construction started in 1995 and with the contribution from wealthy people in Tbilisi, completed in a period of 9 years.
The church doesn't have lots of history to boast about because it's construction was completed only in 2004. However, what stands out about the Cathedral is it's golden dome which is visible from any point in the city. It also has a huge courtyard where you can sit, relax and soak in the peaceful atmosphere. It's height of 101 metres makes it the tallest church in Georgia and the 3rd tallest orthodox cathedral in the world.
2. Visit the Metekhi church and see the monument of King Vakhtang Gorgasali
This cathedral is not as big as the Holy Trinity but still has it's characteristic presence. It's located on a cliff that overlooks the Mtkvari river. The place has seen a lot of transition. It was once a church and a resting place for the king Vakhtang I Gorgasali but then was invaded and destroyed by Mongols. Later it became a jail for prisoners in the Soviet era and was consequently used as a theatre.
Finally it got operational again as a church in 1988. It's primarily made of brick and stone. If you notice the inner walls of the cathedral, then you'll see inscriptions mentioning dates and names of prisoners in the Soviet era. You'll need to cover yourself if you're visiting this church, so avoid sleeveless tops/tees and shorts. Scarves are provided at the entrance for ladies.
A bronze monument of King Vakhtang I Gorgasali greets you in front of the church. He was apparently the founder of Tbilisi city.
3. Take a Cable car ride to Narikala Fortress & statue of Mother Georgia
Enjoy fantastic panoramic views of Tbilisi city as you hop on a cable car. Be smart to use your metrocard for the ride as it cuts your cost of local transportation as well. It opens at around 10am and costs just 2.5GEL per person each way with the card.
Reach the top of the fortress, spend time there & marvel at the history coming alive in front of your eyes. Preferably go before sunset to see the changing colors in the sky along with mesmerising views of Tbilisi city. Take a guide with you because there isn't any info. available at the top.
Besides that, you can even visit Mother Georgia statue as it's an easy walk to the statue from there. You can buy souvenirs and enjoy a fruit cup or a glass of wine and enjoy your time at the venue.
4. Go to the Sulfur bath houses and take a Sulfur bath
If you're in Tbilisi, then taking a Sulfur bath is a must-do activity. Located in the Abanotubani district of Tbilisi, these bath houses provide an authentic Georgian spa experience. The sulphur rich water treats skin problems like acne, dry scalp and helps with arthritis & digestion problems. Many visitors and locals head to these baths when craving a soak, scrub or a massage.
My suggestions to you would be either the Gulo's Baths or the Orbeliani bath house. The former has clean & spacious rooms with customer-friendly staff and the latter gives you a Turkish feel with a royal mosque-like exterior and well-managed private rooms with top facilities.
You can either book a budget room for an hour that costs anywhere between 30-50GEL or book a luxury room that costs 100-120GEL. Mid-range room with the best of both worlds would be 60-80GEL. You'll generally find company over there, so booking as a group turns out to be cheaper for you. Carry a towel, soap and a bottle of water (to avoid dehydration) to save a few bucks.
5. Enjoy a stroll along the Shardeni street
Fashionable galleries, heartwarming smiles, lovely cafes and a positive vibe that wins you over - Shardeni street is all this & much more. Saunter along the street and get a first-hand experience of Tbilisi's cultural and social life.
You'll be tempted to taste the local cuisine with the overpowering scent of food in the air. Do go to this place called Vinground where you can enjoy a wine tasting as the staff treats you to several varieties of wine and explains you about them.
It's also one of the hot and happening nightlife spots in the city. Live music, bars, nightclubs and girls on streets that wink at you (beware, you're not a player and they are out there to rip you off your money) are a common sight. Exercise caution when in nightclubs and make sure you don't have anything they force you to as a "free drink". You will end up paying a lot otherwise. Have a stable head & enjoy yourself.
6. Explore the Meidan Bazaar
Exercise your shopping cells as you walk through this underground arcade selling carpets, souvenirs, spices, trinkets & decorative antiques. The place has an earthy smell that almost shifts you back to the times when merchants and traders used to carry out their business here in the form of barter system.
The things can be a bit pricey so do try haggling as they generally give tourists a discount. The Bazaar is almost like a secret cave and you'll love the old-world rustic feel to it. My favourite section in the Bazaar however, was the wine section. The Bazaar boasts of a collection of Georgian wines that is second to none. Located underneath the Gorgasali Square, it's one of the oldest bazaars and is open till 8pm.
7. Witness the Leghvtakhevi gorge
Leghvtakhevi is a gorge that's part of the river Tsavkisistskali. The word Leghvtakhevi means "gorge of figs" in English. Located behind Tbilisi's renowned sulphur baths, this is a cool resting spot for people. It's a picturesque waterfall where people come to relax on hot summer days to escape the heat.
It could earlier be accessed only through Botanical gardens but now a series of pathways and bridges behind the baths have made visiting the waterfall easier. Surprisingly not many locals know about the place.
8. Walk along the Dry Bridge & spend time at the Agmashenebeli Avenue
Dry Bridge is your flea market where connoisseurs of old and antique things will have a gala time shopping. It's called "Dry Bridge" because the bridge it is based on used to run over a river but now runs over a road.
Items like paintings, clothes, kitchenware, old maps, Soviet swords, knives, antiques, carpets, badges, gramophone records, porcelain items, jewellery etc are available on sale. The smaller items may seem to be cheap but still don't forget to bargain for an even better price. After browsing through the items in the market, continue walking to reach the Agmashenebeli Avenue.
Agmashenebeli Avenue is a nice place to sit, enjoy a glass of wine or traditional Georgian "cha cha" and have a bite of the traditional food items. Coffee lovers can find quaint little cafes to suit their tastes. Since the pedestrian pathways and the area itself have recently been refurbished, walking along this avenue is a delightful experience.
You won't be able to help but fall in love with the Art Nouveau buildings around that have been renovated recently as well. A variety of restaurants line up the street which means you can spend your evening here enjoying a mix of local and international food.
9. Breathe in a bit of Christian history at the Sioni Cathedral
Sioni cathedral is one of the oldest orthodox churches in Tbilisi. The most important Georgian relic - the cross of St. Nino is kept here. St. Nino was the person who'd established Christianity in Georgia and so this place naturally holds a lot of significance. It's a small but beautiful church and by just spending a bit of time within it's premises, you can absorb the ages of Christian history that the place has witnessed.
The frescoes on the inside are magnificent and you'll find yourself venerating every corner of this medieval Georgian architectural creation. Do have a look at the paintings that adorn the walls and if you're lucky with your timing, witness the performance of the choir.
10. Walk across the Bridge of Peace and chill at the Rike Park
If you want to enjoy the best views of Tbilisi at sunrise or sunset, then the Bridge of Peace is where you'd want to be. It's a bow shaped steel & glass pedestrian bridge with an outlandish architecture that provides a contrasting sight as compared to the rest of Tbilisi. It sits royally over the Mtkvari river and you'll find boys asking you for a boat tour along the river while walking across the bridge.
Interestingly, it has been brought from Italy in the form of 200 unassembled components. It's 156 metres long and with it's built in LED bulbs is a sight to savour at night. A walk across this bridge leads you to the Rike Park. Rike Park is one of the newest hangouts in Tbilisi and one of the most preferred picnic spots for both locals and tourists. Relish sitting at the lush green grass banks while witnessing the spectacular dancing fountains.
Things like a climbing wall, mega chessboard, giant piano and children's maze ensure that your kids have a gala time in the park. There are a number of bars and restaurants here for you to spend some quality time chilling your heels. The paid car park underneath the park also acts as the starting point for the cable car ride to Narikala Fortress and Mother Georgia statue.
11. Visit the National Museum of Georgia
This museum is a 4-floor building that can be easily identified due to it's old Georgian style of architecture. Located at the Rustaveli Avenue, the museum provides an interesting insight into the Georgian history and culture.
The basement floor has an elegant collection of Georgian treasures - valuables from the Bronze Age along with other artefacts.
- The first floor depicts the ancient history of Georgia. It consists of items discovered from archaeological excavations - coins, weapons, works of artists, jewellery, ceramics etc.
- There's a section in the museum that exhibits the "evolution of hominids". It's fascinating as it gives you an idea of your forefathers and what they looked like.
- The best section of the museum is the top floor that depicts the Soviet Occupation. It's shown as a separate location on Google Maps but it's part of the same building. This exhibit is such magically orchestrated that it touches an emotional chord with you on knowing the plight of the Georgians. The stories of killings, deportations of Georgians during the World Wars are gut wrenching and numbing.
12. Explore the Rustaveli Avenue
Starting from Freedom Square, the Rustaveli Avenue is a 1.5 km stretch that you can enjoy exploring in the evening. It's the most famous street in Tbilisi and has a number of cafes, restaurants, institutes, museums, souvenir shops, stores of local and international brands, operas, theatres etc.
The street has a 60's feel to it with cultural and government buildings on either side. It's a pleasant hub where you observe the daily lives of Georgian people. Musicians and street performers are a common sight in the area as they entertain people during the evenings. Do your souvenir shopping from here as the stores are reasonably priced and tourist friendly.
13. Watch the puppet show at the Clock Tower
This one-of-a-kind clock tower adjacent to Rezo Gabriadze Marionette theatre in old town is a cute little tourist attraction. Built by artist and puppeteer Rezo Gabriadze in 2010, it's a much revered part of Tbilisi's cultural spectrum. The area has an unmistakable scent of coffee appealing to your senses and the cozy cafe next to the theatre is a hub for coffee lovers.
Every hour a little mechanical angel comes out to ring the bell with a hammer. However, the striking feature of the place is the puppet show called "Circle of Life" that you can see twice a day - in the afternoon & evening. It's a small, entertaining story that shows the various stages of human life - boy & girl meeting, marrying to childbirth and finally death.
14. Enjoy a thorough wine tasting at the Old Cellar Wine Bar
Wine Lovers rejoice! Because I present to you one of the BEST places to taste a wide variety of Georgian wines - The Old Cellar Wine Bar. David is the proprietor of the wine entity and Maryam the wonderful host at the cellar. Their knowledge about wines is tremendously deep and refined.
Firstly they greet you with a warm welcoming smile and ask you regarding your wine experiences and tastes. Then they take you to their cellar and make you taste atleast 8- 10 different kinds of wine. You learn to appreciate different kinds of Georgian grapes and learn so much about the finer nuances of wine making from the masters themselves. White, Red, semi-sweet, dry - these are all terms I only truly understood after having visited the place.
The superstar of the wine tasting is this particular Georgian grape vodka called "Cha Cha". Interestingly there's a method to sipping it wherein first you inhale, then take a sip and gulp it after which you exhale and feel the kick of the drink. We ended our tasting with Cha Cha shots.
Infact it's only after visiting Georgia, that I cultivated a taste and liking for wine. You can purchase your quota of wine/liquor from this place as the drinks are moderately priced and of the best quality in the entire city. The Cellar is located at Leselidze Street in Tbilisi.
15. Taste the local Georgian dish "Khachapuri"
Visiting Georgia and not tasting Khachapuri is an absolute crime. Khachapuri is the national dish of Georgia. Most of the traditional Georgian food has meat and cheese in it in some form or the other. However, for vegetarians like me Khachapuri is the perfect meal that comes to the rescue.
Khachapuri is basically bread with oodles of cheese. It is a fluffy bread item that has cheese in the middle of the bread, with a crust which is ripped off to dip in the cheese and eat. Some places put molten cheese at the top while others put an egg so state your preferences while ordering the dish.
16. Visit the Mtatsminda Park to enjoy lovely views of Tbilisi
This is a great place for families & couples alike. You can take a funicular tram up to the amusement park. It has various rides and attractions for kids. The giant Paris Wheel and TV tower are fascinating to see up close. It's one of the highest points in Tbilisi from where you can enjoy the most stupendous views of the city.
Children can enjoy the dinosaur exhibit, indoor bowling alley and a huge slide. It's a humble little park so don't go there expecting a Paris-like Disney World. Go there for the exhilarating panoramic views of the city and the experience of being at the highest point in Tbilisi.
So that's my detailed guide for exploring Tbilisi city in Georgia. If you have time & want to explore neighbouring Armenia, then I'd recommend you to visit it's capital city Yerevan.
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PICTURE CREDITS
1. Cable Car ride to Narikala Fortress - from Wikimedia Commons by Alexxx1979
2. Sulfur bath houses in Tbilisi - from Wikimedia Commons by Marcin Konsek
3. Shardeni street - from Tripadvisor by Ali A
4. Meidan Bazaar - from Tripadvisor by shalika999
5. Leghvtakhevi gorge - from Wikimedia Commons by Saskia Heijltjes
6. Agmashenebeli Avenue - from Tripadvisor by chepaddy
7. Sioni Cathedral - from Wikimedia Commons by Colchis
8. National Museum of Georgia - from Tripadvisor by MirkoSpino
9. Rustaveli Avenue - from Wikimedia Commons by Henri Bergius
10. Rezo Gabriadze Clock Tower - from Flickr by Dage (Looking for Europe)
11. Old Cellar Wine Bar - from Tripadvisor by Old Cellar Wine Bar Management
12. Traditional Georgian Cha Cha drink - from Tripadvisor by Burgio Management
13. Georgian Khachapuri - from Wikimedia Commons by Turzh
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