Things to do in Tbilisi

Tbilisi lies along the Mtkvari river, in a valley with ridges on both sides. Tradition credits King Vakhtang Gorgasali with founding it in the fifth century, and the name comes from the word for warm. Sulphur springs still feed the baths.

The old town and the river

Most things to do in Tbilisi start under Narikala. The fortress dates to the fourth century, though most of its walls are 16th and 17th century. A cable car climbs to it from Rike Park, across the river.

• Abanotubani. The bath district, with brick domes over the springs. Metekhi church stands on a cliff facing it across the river.
• Sioni and Anchiskhati. Sioni is a 13th-century cathedral on the site of older churches. Anchiskhati, from the sixth century, is the oldest church in Tbilisi still standing.
• Bridge of Peace. A glass-roofed footbridge of 2010 that joins the old town to Rike Park.
• Dry Bridge. The flea market for Soviet cameras, coins and medals, with the fullest stalls at weekends.
• Mother of Georgia. A 20-metre aluminium figure on Sololaki hill since 1958, with a bowl of wine in one hand and a sword in the other.

Rustaveli Avenue and the hills

• Rustaveli Avenue. 1.5 kilometres of opera house, parliament, theatres and the Janashia Museum of Georgia.
• Mtatsminda. A funicular running since 1905 carries visitors to the hilltop park in five minutes.
• Sameba. The Holy Trinity Cathedral, consecrated in 2004 on Elia hill above the left bank.
• Chronicle of Georgia. Zurab Tsereteli's 16 pillars, dating from 1985 and never finished, above the Tbilisi Sea.

What people book

Walking tours run from three hours to a full day. Some add a tasting of Georgian wine and bread. Day trips leave early for Mtskheta, Gori, Kakheti, Kazbegi, and Borjomi with Vardzia.

Practical

• Weather. July and August days average 32C, with nights near 20C. January days average 7C, and nights hover around freezing. Rain peaks in May and June.
• Museums. The Georgian National Museum halls close on Mondays and open from 10:00 to 18:00 on other days.
• Getting around. Two metro lines serve 23 stations. The airport lies 17 kilometres south-east of the centre. The old town is steep and cobbled, and ride-hailing apps cover the rest.
• Baths. Private rooms are rented by the hour, and the scrub costs extra.
• Money. Cards work almost everywhere in the city, and bills often carry a 10 per cent fee for service.