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.
Family activities
Engaging experiences for travellers of every age.
Mtatsminda Park and Funicular
Hilltop amusement park above the city with a Ferris wheel and rides, reached by a funicular from Chonkadze Street, with panoramic views of Tbilisi
Duration: Half day
Rike Park to Narikala Cable Car
Short aerial tramway from Rike Park to Narikala Fortress and the Kartlis Deda statue, with river views and a lovely walk down through the Botanical Garden
Duration: 1-2 hours
Rike Park
Riverside park by the Peace Bridge with playgrounds, a large chess-board, fountains and the Music Theatre and Exhibition Hall building
Duration: 1-2 hours
Gabriadze Marionette Theatre and Clock Tower
Puppet theatre of the late Rezo Gabriadze, with a quirky clock tower next door that performs a small figure show on the hour; shows are best for school-age children and up
Duration: 1.5 hours
Turtle Lake
Forest lake with a walking path, pedal boats, cafes and a cable car up to Vake; good for a picnic, turtles in the water, and an easy family walk
Duration: Half day
Vake Park
Large green park with playgrounds, a small lake, shaded paths and cafes; a good place for children to run and a relaxed afternoon after sightseeing
Duration: 2 hours
Open-Air Museum of Ethnography
Wooded hillside of traditional houses brought from every Georgian region, where children can run between wooden barns, mills and homes; folk festivals take place here
Duration: 2-3 hours
Mziuri Park
Terraced park on the Mtatsminda slope with playgrounds, a pond and walking paths, close to the funicular route
Duration: 1-2 hours
Tbilisi Botanical Garden
Shaded gorge garden behind Narikala Fortress with a waterfall, bridges and plant collections; links with the cable car for a one-way trip
Duration: 2 hours
Abanotubani Sulfur Bath District walk
The domed brick bathhouses and waterfall of Abanotubani are a fascinating short walk for older children; a family private room is allowed in some bathhouses
Duration: 1 hour
Family-friendly hotels
Accommodation designed with families in mind.
Tbilisi Marriott Hotel
Central Rustaveli Avenue hotel with family rooms, an indoor pool and a short walk to Freedom Square
Family features: Family rooms, indoor pool, cribs on request, central location
Radisson Blu Iveria Hotel
Tall riverside tower on Rose Revolution Square with views, an indoor pool and a children-friendly buffet breakfast
Family features: Pool, family rooms, buffet breakfast
Sheraton Grand Tbilisi Metechi Palace
Hotel on the Metekhi cliff with large rooms, a pool and old-town views
Family features: Large rooms, pool, easy walk to Abanotubani and Rike Park
Dining with kids
Eating out as a family.
Georgian restaurants welcome children warmly; khachapuri (cheese bread) and khinkali (dumplings) are favourites with young diners
Order mild dishes such as lobiani (bean bread), plain khachapuri, lavashi and grilled chicken (shkmeruli is garlic-heavy, so ask for tabaka instead)
Many restaurants provide high chairs; ask on arrival
Tap water in Tbilisi is generally treated, but most visitors prefer bottled water; Borjomi is a local mineral water
Dining is late; families can eat from noon, and kitchens are quietest before 18:00
Family travel tips
Practical advice for stress-free family trips.
Cobbled Old Tbilisi streets and steep stairs are hard with strollers; use a carrier
Use Bolt or Yandex Go with a child seat on request where available; taxis rarely carry car seats
Pharmacies (aptiaqi) are plentiful; a pharmacy chain such as GPC or PSP is open late
The cable car and funicular are good ways to avoid uphill walks