Heading to Georgia and unsure of the best things to do in Tbilisi? I share my favourite things to do in Tbilisi to inspire you
Stunning mountains, ancient architecture and some of the best wine in the world – who can possibly resist a trip to Georgia? This European country was once part of the Soviet Union and is known for its culture, cuisine, and snowy Caucasus Mountains.
Tbilisi is the capital and you could easily spend a week here, dining at different restaurants, having a sulphur bath or just exploring on foot. The city is a blend of new and old with futuristic-looking structures weaved within its landscape. It’s the perfect place to base yourself and venture out on day trips.
I spent a week solo in the Georgian capital and loved my time here. If you need some help planning your time in the capital. here are my recommended 9 best things to do in Tbilisi. Happy planning!
The Sulphur Baths in Tbilisi
1. Have a Sulphur Bath
If you’re ready for some pampering then the sulphur baths are calling. Tbilisi is known for its sulphur baths and healing mineral qualities. The Abanotubani district is where you’ll find baths ranging from budget to the more luxurious.
Sink into one of the hot baths before being rubbed down on a hot slab by a masseuse who exfoliates your skin. The finale is back in the bath soaking your body until the hour is up. I definitely recommend trying a sulphur bath to unwind before the end of your trip. Be warned though as people can still smoke inside. * Find out more about Sulphur baths
Take a walking tour of Tbilisi
2. Explore The City on a Walking Tour
Tbilisi is quite a size and can be a bit overwhelming when you first arrive. You may not know where to go or how to figure out the metro. Taking a walking tour can be a good way to navigate your way around.
A walking tour starts in Freedom Square and not only takes you to the most well-known sights but you also get to see some of the city’s hidden gems. You’ll see the glass Peace Bridge which is one of the nicest sights in the city. It connects both sides of the river from Rike Park where you can relax in some nature and watch the world go by.
Once you’ve got your bearings you can then head back to the areas that you like such as Freedom Square, or the old town. My tip is to make sure you visit the old town on the hour to see the clock puppet show which springs into action as the clock strikes.
* My Tip – I love this 4-hour Tbilisi walking tour as it gives you an insight into Georgian history and you learn about the winemaking process too!
Get a birds-eye view from the cable car in Tbilisi
3. Get an Aerial View From The Cable Car
There’s only one way to see this city and that’s from above. For the best views of Tbilisi, take the cable car across the river for unprecedented views of the city. When you get to the other side you pass by artists and local sellers on the way to the Mother of Georgia statue, a monument from old Soviet times. (If you want to purchase a souvenir from Georgia, I recommend buying it from here).
Instead of taking the cable car back across to Rike park, you could walk down instead. The picturesque stroll takes you past the castle and the zip line (great for the adventurous GatG). You may be fortunate like I was and come across a local seller who produces his own wine and Chacha , which you obviously need to sample on your way down.
* My Tip – Instead of just soaring to one peak in the cable car, see two peaks instead on this Old and New City 2 Cable Car Rides Tour. You get two different viewpoints of the city!
Walk up to the stunning Holy Trinity Cathedral
4. Holy Trinity Cathedral
You can’t miss this church. As the tallest in Georgia, its golden dome is easy to see from the city. The Holy Trinity Cathedral is the third largest Orthodox Cathedral in the world and is simply stunning. It was built in 2004 and symbolises “New Georgia.”
This 101 metre high building is part of a complex which serves as a monastery and academy. There are nine chapels in the complex. What makes this cathedral even more fascinating is that it was constructed from holy places. The soil came from Jerusalem in Israel and some of the rocks were sourced from the Sion Mountain. It is a bit of walk to get to but is worth the hill climb there. Just follow the golden dome.
* My Tip – You can see the church alone or I recommend joining this Historic walking tour with a guide that not only includes the cathedral but also modern Tbilisi too.
Sample Tbilisi’s nightlife
5. Experience The Tbilisi Nightlife
Tbilisi is known for its vibrant nightlife and growing electronic music scene. This city is bursting with beats and the Shardeni nightlife district is where its at. If you want to sample its nightlife but feel a bit intimidated about going out in the evening by yourself then consider joining a pub crawl. These run on Friday and Saturday nights and are so much fun!
It’s a great way to meet others especially because they play games. All the bars and clubs are less than 10 minutes distance from each other so you don’t have to walk too far if you’re wearing heels! It’s a great way to spend an evening if you’re solo.
* My Tip – I love this Tbilisi City Pub Crawl where you get welcome shots and explore hidden underground bars.
If you prefer a more sophisticated evening that doesn’t involve shots, you could sample the local delicacies of Tbilisi instead and see the bustling markets. This guided tour with tastings is ideal if you love wine and want to learn more about the winemaking traditions on an evening in the city. You can do it during the day too!
David Gareja Monastery (photo @ Mistychoi)
Day Trips From Tbilisi
There are several day trips you can take from Tbilisi. If you don’t feel like carrying your bags all over the country and staying in different destinations you can just base yourself in the capital and take day tours from Tbilisi instead. Here are my two favourite that I recommend:
6. David Gareja Monastery
This monastery complex is said to be one of the most magnificent in the country. The church complex is within an impressive rock face with nearly everything carved out of rock. It was founded in the 6th century by a monk and you can wander around the 13 monasteries and see how the monks live.
If you are planning to travel overland to Azerbaijan, you may be able to tag it onto your itinerary as it is close to the border. The nearest village is Udabno then it’s a steep climb.
Or take a day tour instead (but book in advance to ensure you’re guaranteed the trip). Unfortunately I was unable to see during my visit as there needed to be a minimum amount of people for the tour which only ran on certain days.
If you are here solo, this day trip is available to book as one person and takes you to Rainbow Mountain as well as to David Gareja Monastery. * Check rates & availability: David Gareja Monastery
The mineral rich water source of Borjomi
7. Explore Borjomi & Vardzia
Georgia is known for its mineral water and Borjomi is one of their most popular brands. So where better to try the healing properties than at the very source on a day trip to the resort town? Rich people once built their summer residences here including the Royal family.
Inside Borjomi Park is the Palace of Great Duke and a house at the entrance with turquoise stones. You can do what I did and drink some of the water direct from the source (or buy a bottle) if you are feeling a bit run down. It makes you feel instantly healthier.
As Borjomi is located in the gorge of river Mtkvari more than 150 km from Tbilisi, you can combine a trip here to Vardzia, an old cave city on the bank of Mtkvari River. Here’s my photo of Vardzia below. It’s a stunning place!
Experience Vardzia
Vardzia dates back to the 12th century and is an impressive complex of rock architecture. This cave city site isn’t as old as David Gareja but it is just as majestic. Construction of the underground cave fortress was ordered by Queen Tamar and it is thought that there were once 13 levels in this stunning city.
You can spend hours exploring the cave system and the little chapels. You can see everything including an old pharmacy and even an old wine cellar as you imagine what life was like back then. Inside the church is one of the only 12 paintings of Queen Tamara.
* My Tip – This tour combines Vardzia, Borjomi and Rabati so you get to see three places in one day tour. The Rabati Castle complex is really interesting as it’s home to a Church, Mosque, Minaret and Synagogue!
Take a day trip to Mtskheta
8. See UNESCO Heritage at Mtskheta
Mtskheta is one of the oldest cities in the country. Located at the point where the Kura and Aragvi rivers meet, Mtskheta is only 12 miles from Tbilisi. This city is so historical that its historical monuments are now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Declared the “Holy City” it is home to Svetitskhoveli Cathedral where the robe of Jesus Christ is said to be buried.
This cathedral in addition to the Jvari Monastery are two of Georgias’s most important monuments of Christian architecture. Minibuses depart from Tbilisi Didube and take 40 minutes to Mtskheta or you can take a tour to learn more about this historical city.
* My Tip – This tour combines Mtskheta, Jvari, Gori and Uplistsikhe. Gori is an ancient city which was once part of the Silk Road and one of the oldest cities in Georgia. You also get to visit nearby Uplistsikhe so you can explore the secret tunnels of the fascinating cave system.
9. See Snow at Gudauri
If you don’t have much time in Tbilisi and you would like to see more places, you may prefer to take this tour which goes to Mtskheta, Ananuri, Gudauri, and Kazbegi. This tour is longer and takes 14 hours but you also get to see the ski resort of Gudauri and the greater Caucasus Mountains.
Kazbegi is also included and seeing the ancient Georgian Trinity Church and snow-capped mountains is definitely worth the trip.
Rike Park in Tbilisi
Final Thoughts…
You really do need at least a week here to see everything. Don’t forget to build in rest days too as some of the day tours can be hours long so it can be tiring if you’re constantly sightseeing.
If taking tours feels a bit too much, treat yourself to another sulphur bath or just spend an evening in one of the restaurants trying local Georgian cuisine with a glass of Georgian wine instead! It’s a great city to just walk around the park and relax too. I recommend reading my Solo Travel in Georgia guide to help plan your Georgia trip.
My Verdict
Is Tbilisi good for solos? Yes! I give it 4 out of 5 stars. It feels safe and is relatively easy to get around with the metro. The language can be a bit challenging but you can take day trips with an English-speaking guide.
Read more…
- Solo Travel in Georgia
- Georgia to Azerbaijan
- My Georgia Itinerary
- Things To Do in Batumi
- Things To Do in Baku
- Solo Travel in Azerbaijan
