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.
Tbilisi is a safe, welcoming capital for visitors, with low violent crime and a strong tradition of hospitality. The main concerns are petty theft and taxi overcharging, occasional political demonstrations around Rustaveli Avenue, aggressive driving, stray dogs, and the occupied regions that must be avoided. Travelers must also carry health and accident insurance for the whole stay since January 2026. With ordinary precautions, solo travelers, including women, generally report trouble-free visits.
Current safety advisory
Low
Essential safety tips
Practical advice that applies everywhere.
Tbilisi has low violent crime for visitors; the most common problems are overcharging by unmarked airport taxis, bill padding at a few Old Town venues, and occasional pickpocketing on crowded metro trains and at the Dry Bridge market
Since 1 January 2026, foreign visitors must carry valid health and accident insurance for the whole stay, with cover of at least 30,000 GEL / approx $11,450; keep a printed or digital copy of the policy ready for border officers
Political demonstrations have been regular on Rustaveli Avenue near Parliament since late 2024; they are usually concentrated in the evenings, so visitors should avoid the area during rallies, follow local news, and expect traffic and metro closures around Freedom Square and Rustaveli
Use Bolt or Yandex Go, which show the price before the ride; an unmarked white car offering a flat airport fare has been reported charging around 100 GEL / approx $38 for a trip that costs about 25 GEL / approx $9.50 in the app
Cross streets with care: drivers in Tbilisi rarely yield at crossings, pavements are uneven and sometimes blocked by parked cars, and many Old Town streets are steep and cobbled
Tap water is generally safe in Tbilisi, but visitors with sensitive stomachs often use bottled water, which costs 1-2 GEL / approx $0.38-0.76 per bottle; mineral waters such as Borjomi and Nabeghlavi are widely sold
Stray dogs are common and usually calm, but avoid petting or feeding strays at night in parks, and keep distance from packs on the outskirts and around Turtle Lake and Mtatsminda
Do not travel to the occupied regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, and avoid the administrative boundary lines, where detention and landmine risks exist; day trips from Tbilisi to Gori should stay on main roads
Summer heat from late June to August regularly exceeds 35 C / 95 F, so carry water, wear a hat, and schedule outdoor sightseeing for the morning or evening
Common scams to avoid
Recognise and sidestep tourist-targeted scams.
Airport taxi flat-fare overcharge
Unmarked white cars and touts in the Arrivals area at Tbilisi airport quote or run a meter at several times the real price; a 2026 scam report describes a meter reading around 105 GEL / approx $40 for a ride that costs about 26 GEL / approx $9.90 in an app
How to avoid: Order a Bolt or Yandex Go ride before leaving the terminal, or use the official airport taxi counter and agree the fare before getting in; bus 337 costs only 1 GEL / approx $0.38
Menu and bill padding
A few Old Town and Sololaki restaurants serve items that were not ordered, add unlisted service charges beyond the usual 10 percent, or quote wine and meat dishes by weight without stating the price
How to avoid: Ask for a printed menu with prices, confirm per-weight prices before ordering, and check the itemised bill; Georgian restaurants normally add a 10 percent service charge, which should be shown on the bill
Friendly stranger bar invitation
A stranger approaches in Old Town or Rustaveli, makes friendly conversation, and suggests a nearby bar or club, where drinks arrive with a very large bill and the venue refuses card disputes
How to avoid: Decline invitations from strangers to unfamiliar venues, check prices on the menu before ordering, and choose bars from reviews or a trusted listing
Currency exchange shortchanging
Some small exchange booths near Freedom Square and the Dry Bridge market show a good headline rate but add commission or count the money quickly
How to avoid: Use bank branches or ATMs for cash, count banknotes before leaving the counter, and avoid changing money with street offers
Pickpocketing on metro and in crowds
Pickpockets work crowded metro trains at Station Square and Rustaveli, the Dry Bridge market, and busy Old Town squares on summer evenings
How to avoid: Carry phones and wallets in front pockets or a zipped cross-body bag, and stay alert when boarding and leaving packed trains
Health considerations
Staying healthy on your trip.
- Vaccinations
- No vaccinations are required for travelers from most countries; routine vaccines should be up to date, and hepatitis A and tetanus are commonly suggested by travel clinics
- Water
- Tbilisi tap water is considered safe by many residents, but visitors with sensitive stomachs usually drink bottled water; Borjomi and Nabeghlavi mineral waters are sold everywhere
- Food
- Food safety in restaurants is good; the main risk is stomach upset from rich, heavily spiced meals and from raw salads in the summer heat, so choose busy places with high turnover
- Facilities
- Tbilisi has good private hospitals and clinics, including MediClub Georgia, Aversi Clinic, American Hospital Tbilisi, and Evex; pharmacies (aptiaqi) are plentiful, open late, and marked with a green cross, and many medicines are sold without a prescription
Safety for specific travellers
Tailored advice for different groups.
Emergency contacts
Numbers to know before you go.
- Police
- 112
- Medical
- 112 (ambulance)
- Fire
- 112
- General Emergency
- 112 (single emergency number, works from all phones, free of charge, and operates 24 hours)
- Main Hospital
- American Hospital Tbilisi, 17 Ushangi Chkheidze Street, Tbilisi, +995 32 2 009 009
- Embassy Us
- US Embassy Tbilisi, 11 George Balanchine Street, +995 32 227 7000 (after-hours emergency line +995 32 227 7724)
- Embassy Uk
- British Embassy Tbilisi, 20 Frederic Joliot-Curie Street, +995 32 227 4747