Tbilisi is the capital and largest city of Georgia, a 1,500-year-old city strung along the Mtkvari River between steep hills in the South Caucasus. Its crooked Old Town of carved wooden balconies, sulfur bathhouses, Orthodox churches and hillside fortress sits beside Art Nouveau boulevards, Soviet-era landmarks and a fast-growing café, wine-bar and club scene. Visitors come for Georgian food and natural wine, easy day trips to monasteries and mountains, and some of the lowest prices of any European capital.
Top attractions
The most popular and significant attractions in Tbilisi.
-
1
Narikala Fortress (Narikala)
Tip: Free to enter; the cable car from Rike Park costs about GEL 5 one way and is paid with a Metromoney card. · Arrive before 10:00AM or at the end of the day to avoid tour groups and cable car queues. · Wear sturdy shoes; the stone paths and steps are uneven and slippery after rain. · Cover shoulders and knees when stepping into St Nicholas Church. · Combine with the ridge walk to the Mother of Georgia statue, about 10 minutes away. · Bring water in summer because shade on the walls is limited.
-
2
Mother of Georgia (Kartlis Deda)
Tip: Combine with Narikala Fortress; the ridge path between them takes about 10 minutes. · Go late afternoon for warm light on the city, or after dark to see the statue illuminated. · Entry is free and the site is open 24 hours, but the path is poorly lit at night. · Bring water; there are no shops at the monument. · Wear shoes with grip because the steps and slopes can be slippery. · Carry a light layer, as wind on the ridge can be cool outside summer.
-
3
Tbilisi Cable Car (Rike Park to Narikala)
Tip: Buy or top up a Metromoney card at the station machine; fares are about GEL 5 one way. · Go on weekday mornings to avoid the sunset and weekend queues. · Ride up and walk down through the old town to save a second fare. · Check the schedule locally, since operating hours and wind pauses vary by season. · Sit on the river-facing side of the cabin for the best views. · Combine with Rike Park and the Bridge of Peace, which are beside the lower station.
-
4
Abanotubani Sulfur Baths (Chreli Abano and Orbeliani Baths)
Tip: Book a private room ahead for weekend evenings, when walk-ins are often turned away. · Confirm the hourly room price and what the scrub and massage add before starting. · Skip heavy meals and alcohol beforehand; the hot sulfur water is strenuous. · Drink water during the session and rest in the cooler room between soaks. · Bathhouses differ widely in decor and price, so look at two before choosing.
-
5
Bridge of Peace (Mshvidobis Khidi)
Tip: Visit after sunset to see the lighting, then walk on into Rike Park. · Stand mid-span for the best photographs of Metekhi Church. · Avoid the glass-covered deck in the hot afternoon sun of midsummer. · Combine the crossing with the cable car to Narikala from Rike Park. · Keep an eye on belongings at busy evening hours.
-
6
Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi (Sameba)
Tip: Women should cover head and shoulders and wear a long skirt; wraps are often lent at the door. · Men should remove hats and avoid shorts. · Avoid Sunday liturgy and major feast days if the aim is quiet sightseeing. · Take the Avlabari metro and walk up, or cross the Bridge of Peace on foot. · Ask before photographing inside; rules apply during services.
-
7
Georgian National Museum - Simon Janashia Museum of Georgia
Tip: Arrive at opening on a weekday to see the Treasury with few people. · The museum is closed on Mondays; last tickets sell about 5:30PM. · Ask at the ticket office about English-language guided tours. · Pair with the Art Museum of Georgia, a short walk away. · Allow at least 2 hours if including the Soviet Occupation hall.
-
8
Art Museum of Georgia (Shalva Amiranashvili Museum of Fine Arts)
Tip: Go on a weekday morning, when the small Treasury rooms are least crowded. · The museum is closed on Mondays. · Ask at the ticket desk about guided tours in English. · Combine with the Georgian National Museum on Rustaveli Avenue. · Photography rules apply in the Treasury; check signs first.
-
9
Dry Bridge Market (Mshrali Khidi Flea Market)
Tip: Visit on a Saturday or Sunday morning for the widest selection. · Bargain politely; first prices are usually negotiable. · Carry small lari notes, as most sellers take cash only. · Ask before photographing sellers or their goods. · Check export rules before buying genuine antiques.
-
10
Rustaveli Avenue (Shota Rustaveli Avenue)
Tip: Walk from Freedom Square toward Rustaveli Square, then ride the metro back. · Visit in the evening when the main buildings are lit and the cafes are busiest. · Check opening hours and ticket prices for the museums and theatres individually. · Book theatre or opera tickets in advance for evening performances. · Watch for large gatherings around Freedom Square and Rustaveli Square on public holidays. · Use the pedestrian crossings and underpasses, as traffic on the avenue is heavy.
Attractions by category
Explore by your interests.
Landmarks
Narikala Fortress
Ruined hilltop fortress dating to the 4th century that overlooks Old Tbilisi
Mother of Georgia (Kartlis Deda)
20-metre aluminium statue of a woman holding a wine bowl and a sword, raised in 1958
Bridge of Peace
Glass and steel pedestrian bridge over the Mtkvari River, lit by LED at night
Freedom Square
Central square at the start of Rustaveli Avenue and the main metro interchange
Rustaveli Avenue
Tbilisi's grand boulevard of theatres, museums and the Parliament
Museums
Georgian National Museum (Simon Janashia Museum)
Treasury of Georgian gold, archaeology and the Soviet Occupation exhibition
Art Museum of Georgia
Georgian medieval cloisonne enamel, icons and metalwork in a 19th-century seminary building
Open Air Museum of Ethnography
Relocated traditional houses from every region of Georgia on a wooded hillside
Rezo Gabriadze Marionette Theatre
Puppet theatre with an eccentric leaning clock tower built by artist Rezo Gabriadze
Nature
Tbilisi Botanical Garden
Ravine garden behind Narikala with a waterfall and walking paths
Turtle Lake and Vake Park
Hillside lake and parkland on the western edge of the city
Rike Park
Riverside park joining the Bridge of Peace and the cable car
Religious
Holy Trinity Cathedral (Sameba)
Georgia's largest Orthodox cathedral, consecrated in 2004
Sioni Cathedral
Medieval cathedral that holds the cross of St Nino
Anchiskhati Basilica
Tbilisi's oldest surviving church, with 6th-century origins
Metekhi Church
13th-century church above the river with a statue of Vakhtang Gorgasali
Jumah Mosque
Mosque in Abanotubani used by both Sunni and Shia worshippers
Experiences
Tbilisi Cable Car
Two-minute ride from Rike Park up to Narikala
Abanotubani Sulfur Baths
Domed historic bathhouses fed by natural hot sulfur springs
Mtatsminda Park and Funicular
Hilltop amusement park reached by a funicular, with city views
Dry Bridge Market
Open-air flea market of Soviet memorabilia, art, and antiques
Practical information
What you need to know before you go.
- Hours
- Most museums open Tuesday-Sunday 10:00AM-6:00PM and close on Mondays; churches are generally open daily around 8:00AM-7:00PM; open-air landmarks are accessible round the clock
- Fees
- Major museums cost about GEL 20-40 ($7.60-15); churches, parks, squares, bridges and viewpoints are free; the cable car is about GEL 5 ($1.90) and the Mtatsminda funicular about GEL 10-12 ($3.80-4.60) one way
- Best Times
- April-June and September-October for mild weather; mornings for museums and sunset for Narikala, Metekhi and Mtatsminda views
- Booking
- Gabriadze Theatre tickets sell out, so reserve through the box office on +995 322 98 65 90 several days ahead; museum tickets are bought at the door, and the Georgian National Museum also sells tickets on biletebi.ge
Tips for visiting attractions
Make the most of your sightseeing time.
Cover shoulders and knees before entering any church; women are lent headscarves at the door of Sioni and Sameba
Buy a Metromoney card at a metro station for the metro (about GEL 1 or $0.38 per ride), buses and the cable car
Use the Bolt or Yandex Go ride-hailing apps for Turtle Lake, the Open Air Museum and the Tbilisi Sea; fares are low and fixed in the app
Museums close on Mondays, so schedule churches, the baths and Narikala for that day
Carry small GEL notes for the baths, the Dry Bridge Market and small ticket offices, as many do not take foreign cards
Walk the steep Narikala and Mother of Georgia paths in comfortable shoes; stone steps are slippery after rain
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need to see Tbilisi's main attractions?
Two full days cover Old Tbilisi, Narikala, the sulfur baths, Rustaveli Avenue and the Georgian National Museum; a third day adds Mtatsminda Park, the Open Air Museum and Turtle Lake
Are there free attractions in Tbilisi?
Yes. Narikala Fortress grounds, Mother of Georgia, the Bridge of Peace, Rike Park, Freedom Square, Rustaveli Avenue, the Dry Bridge Market and all the main churches are free
How much does the Tbilisi cable car cost?
About GEL 5 (about $1.90) one way at the Rike Park station, paid with a Metromoney card
What is the best time of year to visit Tbilisi?
April-June and September-October offer mild weather; July and August are hot, often above 35 degrees C, and winter can be cold and grey