The 11 best things to do in Tbilisi

Hop on a cable car from Rike Park and take in the skyline as you soar to Sololaki Hill, which overlooks Tbilisi. Here you’ll find the gargantuan Mother of Georgia (Kartlis Deda), a 20-metre-tall aluminium sculpture of a woman in national dress. She holds a sword in one hand, to fight enemies, and a cup of wine in the other, to welcome guests. It’s considered the symbol of the city. Up here you’ll also find Nariakala, a massive fourth-century fortress built by Vakhtang I Gorgasali, the Iberian King who founded Tbilisi. Catch a ride back down on the cable car, or if you’re feeling energetic, follow a narrow hiking path down past Leghvtakhevi Waterfall.

Tbilisi’s Old Town is an immensely interesting and easily walkable area. Start with checking out the gorgeous architecture in Sololaki, an area crowned one of Time Out’s coolest neighbourhoods in 2021. Cut through the newly renovated Gudiashvili Square and go down to Shavteli Street to visit the Gabriadze Theatre, with its famous crooked clock tower, and Anchiskhati Basilica (the oldest church in Tbilisi, built in VI century AD). Head down to the Mtkvari River, making sure to check out the undulating Bridge of Peace, and stroll along the bank toward Metekhi Cathedral and Queen Darejan’s Palace. For a well-organised and informative tour, search for a local company organising walking tours. Do keep in mind that if a tour is advertised as free, it’s tip-based and you should have some cash on hand.

A must-see for first-time visitors (or returning visitors who skipped it), the Georgian National Museum is home to some of the country’s most important historic artefacts. From a display of prehistoric skulls, including the Dmanisi hominins – the most complete hominid skull ever found – to an exhibition that takes a deep dive into the Soviet occupation, this is the place to develop an understanding of Georgia’s long history.

Niko Pirosmani is arguably Georgia’s most famous painter. Even if you’re not into art, visiting his exhibition on the second floor of the National Gallery is a must. The main characters of Pirosmani’s primitivist art are everyday people, and his paintings can be a better window into the past than any history book. The permanent exhibition area also displays works of other seminal artists like Lado Gudashvili, David Kakabadze and Iakob Nikoladze. And keep an eye on the schedule at The National Gallery for their exciting roster of temporary exhibitions.

Hidden away near the Zara store on Rustaveli Avenue, you’ll find a set of stairs decorated with 2000 painted tiles. They lead up to the beautiful Tbilisi Art Academy, an 1850s building that blends European Neo-Baroque and traditional Persian architecture. Its Mirror Halls, with carved walls and ceilings decorated with glinting mirror shards and Qajar masters’ paintings, is one of  Tbilisi’s most overlooked gems. One word of advice – the academy building is closed to visitors during the exam and holiday seasons, so do check it's open before visiting.

Georgia is regarded as the cradle of wine, boasting an 8000-year history of winemaking – so even if you’re only in Tbilisi for a day, this one is a must. While most Georgian restaurants will have wine on the menu, it’s the small wine-focused restaurants and bars with selections of natural wines you should pay attention to. Luckily, there are plenty of them in the city centre. Try Flags Wine Bar on Akhvlediani, a no-frills venue that offers an affordable selection of wines from small independent wineries. If you’re looking for some food to soak up the wine, Ghvinis Kurdebi in the old Wine Factory offers traditional Georgian dishes that can be paired with delicious local wines.

The Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi, which the Georgians call simply Sameba (Trinity), is the main spiritual centre of the Georgian Orthodox Church and one of the largest Eastern Orthodox cathedrals in the world. Architect Archil Mindiashvili’s design blends traditional Georgian and more lavish Byzantine styles, making it much more opulent than typical Georgian churches. The massive complex, built between 1995 and 2004, is perched on top of Elia Hill, only adding to the grandeur. Its interior, decorated with frescoes and mosaics, is just as impressive.

Located away from the most popular tourist attractions near the Tbilisi Sea, it’s worth going out of your way to see the Chronicle of Georgia. The sculptor and architect Zurab Tsereteli started working on the massive 16-pillar structure in 1985, but was never able to finish it due to political tensions and the subsequent fall of the Soviet Union. Each of the monument’s massive 35-meter-tall pillars depicts important events in Georgian history, starting from St Nino converting King Mirian III to Christianity. Due to the height and scale of the structure, it’s sometimes cheekily referred to as the ‘Georgian Stonehenge’. 

Sulfur baths are one of Tbilisi’s biggest draws. In fact, according to legend, they’re the entire reason the city was built in the first place. Most of the baths are located in a neighbourhood aptly named Abanotubuani (‘Abano’ means ‘bathhouse’ in Georgian) and are easily recognisable with their brick and tiled domes popping out of the ground. Nowadays many bathhouses have been refurbished to cater to tourists. Usually, you’ll rent a private room to steam on your own or with friends. If you do decide to visit and soak, don’t leave without a kisa scrub.

At 770 metres above sea level, Mtatsminda Park is the highest point in Tbilisi. Covering more than 100 hectares, the area houses a theme park, numerous cafes and bars, and the Tbilisi TV Tower. Locals, however, come here for three things: the breathtaking views of the city, a ride on the 65-metre-tall Ferris wheel, and the many festivals hosted annually at the park – including wine, cheese, honey and ice cream fairs. For the full experience, catch a ride on the funicular cable railway from Chonqadze Street and enjoy the views on the way up.

Karvasla Event Hall (not to be confused with the shopping centre) is an old caravanserai (a type of roadside inn) near Sioni Cathedral in Tbilisi Old Town. The top floor serves as an exhibition hall for modern and experimental art, while the ground floor houses the Tbilisi History Museum’s collection of archival photos, historic clothes, furniture, carriages and dioramas of heritage buildings. But the best thing to see here is the Wine Museum in the underground chambers. It’s a capsule of Georgia’s 8000 years of winemaking, displaying various wine-related ephemera, including Qvevri (a large egg-shaped earthenware vessel unique to Georgian winemaking) and Satsnakheli (a wine press made from either wood or stone).