Two Days in Tbilisi – Day 1

Next on your 2-day Tbilisi itinerary, stop at the large box building that houses the Georgian Museum of History and the Soviet Occupation Museum, to better understand the country’s old and recent history. At the premises, there are also temporary art and history exhibitions. The local tourist office is also located here and you will be able to get city maps and other information.

After deepening your knowledge about Georgian history, you should continue to Freedom Square, where you will see a large obelisk with a statue of Saint George, the country’s patron saint. After you pass the obelisk, turn left on cobbled Kote Afkhasi street, which will lead you to Old Tbilisi.

Turn onto any of the side streets and allow yourself to lose in this part of town. Enjoy the decadent beauty of leafy piazzas and old two and three-storey balconied houses painted in colours ranging from pink to light shades of green.

Some are faded by time and lack some maintenance, but still hold a lot of charm and character. But since 2017, many of these buildings were refurbished. Find your way back to Kote Afkhasi street, and visit Jvaris Mama church and Tbilisi Great Synagogue, both just a few metres from each other.

From here you can stop for a coffee or lunch on the busy Meydan area, which offers a number of cafes and restaurants serving traditional local cuisine, most of them with free wifi.

From Meydan, walk up the steep hill to Narikhala Fortress and Saint Nicholas Church. Built in the 4th century and extended by the Umayyads in the 7th century, it is currently partly damaged. You’ll see that it’s a steep walk, so take your time. You can also visit the Armenian church on your right, before walking uphill.

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You may want to climb the walls, but be extra careful, as there are no handrails. Having said that, once you’re up there, you will be able to enjoy jaw-dropping views of the whole of Tbilisi.

Next to the fortress is the 20-metre statue of Kartlis Deda (Mother Georgia), overlooking Old Tbilisi, which is on the tentative list to become a UNESCO Heritage Site. On one hand she carries a bowl of wine, to show hospitality, and on the other a sword, just in case… 🙂

You may be tempted to descend on the cable car, but don’t give in to temptation. Walk back downhill to enjoy a stroll at the Botanical Gardens, right in the Tsavkisis-Tskali Gorge with a large collection of plants. It is especially pleasant in autumn/fall, when the plants turn into different shades of yellow, orange and red.

From here, walk down Botanical Street and turn right to the area called Abanotubani, the Bath District, which is the city’s oldest neighbourhood and without a doubt, one of the top places to visit in Tbilisi. In fact, the name Tbilisi means warm location, after this place. On the square there are a number of bath houses, which you will recognise by the many domes coming from the ground.

Venture into one of them and go for a warm sulphur bath. Some of the venues offer private baths only, but the public ones are more fun and I suggest you have one of the attendants give you a good scrub.

There’s no more relaxing way to finish your day exploring Tbilisi and to get ready for a nice dinner in one of the many traditional Georgian restaurants nearby. Oh, and did I say many bars are open 24 hours? Be sure to check out my other post on what to do in the city on your second day.