Tamar Lortkipanidze

The capital of Georgia – a small country straddling the borders of Europe and Asia – Tbilisi is a fascinating hodgepodge of cultures sitting right at the heart of the historic Silk Road trading route. It’s a place where ancient history sits side-by-side with slick new developments, sometimes on the same street. Ultra-modern glass-covered highrises neighbour medieval churches almost as old as the city itself, while blocky Soviet-era industrial buildings, with their strict utilitarian design, are being repurposed all over the place. A factory is now home to stylish cafes and shops; a print house is now a modern hotel and restaurant; a deserted swimming pool under a stadium is now a nightclub that regularly gathers over 1,200 people. Tbilisi is a place to indulge, whether that’s in history, architecture, nightlife, food, wine – or everything all at once, it’s up to you. Aside from the wine. That’s a must. Tamar Lortkipanidze is a travel writer and Tbilisi native. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines and check out our latest travel guides written by local experts.  RECOMMENDED:🌇 Europe’s best city breaks⛱️ The best alternative Mediterranean beach breaks