In this article I will show the most interesting sights of Tbilisi with photos and marks on the map, tell you where to eat and stay.

In our route around Georgia, its capital was both a starting and a destination, we managed to see everything we wanted, we even visited some places twice, thus we studied all the sights of Tbilisi along and across.

We explored both the old historical part and the new districts, walked around the city both on our own and in the company of a classy guide, a historian-philosopher, thanks to which we saw the most diverse Tbilisi - both modern tourist and not quite typical, looked into unusual old courtyards, learned the history of interesting buildings, and visited cafes and restaurants where capital residents like to relax.

Tbilisi is a fairly compact city, and this is very convenient in the sense that you can easily see all the sights of Tbilisi in a couple of days, and if you wish, or for lack of more time, you can enjoy the color and cultural heritage even in 1 day.

In this article I will show which capital of Georgia we saw, along the way I will tell you about all the sights of Tbilisi.

In most cases, any tourist begins his acquaintance with Georgia from Tbilisi, arriving here by plane, even if the main goal is the sea, mountains or skiing 🙂 So, I hope my article will be useful to you!

Tbilisi is the capital and The largest city Georgia, it is located on the banks of the Kura River. The population of Tbilisi is slightly more than 1.5 million people. The old name of the city is Tiflis, it was founded in the 5th century.

I will not delve into history, it is better to study it right on the spot, walking around the Old Town.

Almost all residents of Tbilisi speak excellent Russian, at least our peers and older people. Young people know English well.

Money in Georgia

The currency in Georgia is called lari (GEL), its rate is 2.3 lari per $1.

We are often asked - what currency to take with you on a trip? If you already have dollars or euros, it makes sense to carry them, but it makes no sense to specifically change rubles for dollars in an exchanger in Russia, so that later you can exchange dollars for lari in Georgia, you will lose more on a double exchange.

For many years now, we have been withdrawing local currency from the card at an ATM, and this, as a rule, turns out to be more profitable. This is partly due to the fact that we use a Tinkoff Bank card - they have free cash withdrawals around the world, and the conversion is close to the Central Bank rate. Well, in general, for travelers, this is a very convenient bank, if you do not use their cards yet, we recommend that you apply.

How much does it cost to eat in Tbilisi

Compared to Europe and Russia, it was a surprise for us that almost everything is cheaper in Georgia: transport, housing, food in restaurants, fruits, so relaxing here is a real pleasure =)

A meal for two in a mid-range restaurant cost us 20-40 GEL. Snacks and soups - 5-7 lari, khachapuri, kebabs - 6-9 lari, hot dishes - 9-15, khinkali - 0.5 per 1 pc.

Fruits and vegetables are very cheap - peaches, figs at 1 lari per 1 kg, churchkhella at 2-4 lari.

Transport in Tbilisi

You can get from the airport to Tbilisi by taxi, the cost depends on the area. The normal price to the center is about 30 lari ($12), but many local taxi drivers will double it. If you feel the strength and ability to bargain in yourself, this is a good place to practice =)

In the event that you want to avoid an obsessive offer of services and there is no desire to bargain, you can use a pre-ordered transfer. The price will be about the same as that of taxi drivers before the auction, but on the other hand, a driver with a sign will meet you at the exit and you will not have to spend extra time at the airport. You can order a transfer.

There is also a completely budget option - bus number 37 goes from the airport directly to the center, the fare, like on all city buses and the metro, is 50 tetri (0.5 lari). Travel in minibuses around the city - 80 tetri.

The city has a metro - 2 branches, the fare for the metro is 1 lari. In the metro, you need to buy a plastic card for 2.5 GEL (which can then be returned within 1 month upon presentation of a check), put some amount on it, and then use this card to travel both in the metro and on the bus.

At the same time, 2 people can use one card by swiping it at the turnstile or to the validator on the bus twice.

At the same time, if you use such a card to take the metro, then for another hour you can ride the bus for free, but in this case you need a card for each person.

Where to stay in Tbilisi

Housing prices in Tbilisi start at $15 for a double room in the most basic hotel. For $30-40 you can rent a decent room in a 3* hotel, for $80 you will already get four stars, but this is all away from the center. This choice may be justified if you are coming for a long time, or your budget is very limited.

If you have only a few days in your city and you want to see the sights of Tbilisi to the maximum, then we recommend choosing a hotel in the central part of the city - prices are slightly higher there, but you will not waste precious time on transport.

Most of the sights of Tbilisi (in fact the entire Old City) are located between metro stations Liberty Square (Freedom Square) and Avlabari. On the map below, it is marked with a pentagon, and more detailed map is at the end of the article. It is best to focus on this area.

Slightly cheaper, but also close to the center will be housing in the station area Rustaveli, Marjanishvilli and
300 Aragveli. You can consider the option Station Square, but if you plan to get to the center by metro, we do not recommend choosing stations Tsereteli and Technical University, since they are on a different metro line and you will have to make a transfer. But if you plan to travel by taxi (which is quite inexpensive in Tbilisi), then there will be no problems - it takes literally 10 minutes to go to the center.

We know how difficult it is to decide on housing, especially in the city you are visiting for the first time, so we made a selection good hotels, with an optimal ratio of price, quality and location. You can choose any of them and most likely you will be satisfied.

Hotels 5*

There are only 5 five-star hotels in Tbilisi. Most of them are located in the center, but there is a hotel Hotels & Preference Hualing Tbilisi, which is further away, but it has the highest rating of the five, the best reviews and the lowest price =)

The Radisson Blu Iveria Hotel is remarkable in that it has two pools - indoor and outdoor, but in Tbilisi Marriott Hotel, despite the big name, the reviews are mixed, and there is no pool.

Ambassadori Tbilisi Hotel and The Biltmore Hotel Tbilisi are simply great hotels with a very convenient location and indoor pools.

We indicate approximate prices to make it easier for you to navigate and compare, but keep in mind that depending on the season, they can vary significantly.

4* hotels

• Hotel Rasta – $133
• Kisi Hotel – $131
• Gallery Palace - $116
• Boutique Villa Mtiebi – $112
• Shota @ Rustaveli Boutique Hotel– $108 (very nice, stylish hotel)
• Citrus Hotel - $95

Only two four-star hotels have swimming pools, these are:

• Betsy's Hotel - $ 111
• Holiday Inn - $82

3* hotels

For the price, some three-star hotels are comparable to four-star hotels, a lot depends on the location. For example, the Holiday Inn from the list is located at a distance from the center, and the hotels below are in the very center:

• Hotel Four Brothers – $85
• Hotel Dcorner – $80
• Lowell Hotel – $63
• Nine Hotel - $51
• Renaissance Hotel Tbilisi – $49
• Hotel Mariali – $50

Budget hotels

• Check Point Hotel – $51
• Solo Lucky - $40
• Hotel Zaira – $34
• Bonus Hotel - $34
• Opera Rooms & Hostel Tbilisi – $30
• Like Hostel Tbilisi – $23
• City Hostel Wine Rise – $15

Apartments

If for some strange reason you don't get into Georgian cuisine and want to be able to cook at home, or simply prefer to live at home, there is a good selection of apartments in Tbilisi. Well, in general, in the budget price category, this can be a very good alternative to hotels.

• Puris Moedani Apartments
• Apartment at Grigola Handzeteli
• GTNL Apart Hotel
• Cozy old town studio
• Rustaveli Avenue Apartment
  Apartment Khatuna Tbilisi
• Nilu Apartment

You can also look at housing on Airbnb, there are also many interesting options there.

We stayed at the Holiday Inn (4 *) with a gorgeous view, and at the new, modern Terrace Avlabari By Log Inn (3 *) - it is simpler, but the rooms are very decent, at the top - a stunning terrace overlooking the city and Mtatsminda hill with a TV tower . Both hotels can be safely recommended! Read our detailed reviews here:

Other hotels in Tbilisi can be viewed here.

It is convenient to look for budget flights to Tbilisi here.

Well, now let's get down to the sights of Tbilisi!

At the end of the article you will find a map of all the sights of Tbilisi, as well as our recommendations where you can go from Tbilisi for 1 day.

Rustaveli Avenue

This is the main avenue of the city, one and a half kilometers long, there are many administrative buildings, the Parliament with a fountain, the National Opera and Ballet Theater,

The National Museum and the Museum of Modern Art, yes, and just a lot of beautiful buildings.

There are many restaurants and shops on Rustaveli Avenue, this is a kind of Georgian "Champs Elysees" 🙂

For a tourist who is eager to see not only all the most significant sights of Tbilisi and visit museums, but also just to see the city, just walking along the wide sidewalks of the avenue is also of interest. Here and there on the sidewalk there are bronze sculptures,

photogenic facades of historical buildings, arches,

in which you just want to go deep in order to find those very non-tourist, but truly atmospheric Georgian courtyards,

where children play under stretched, with hanging clothes, ropes from one house to another across the whole yard,

and in the basement there is a "khachapurnya" with a stove where they bake the freshest cakes with Suluguni cheese..

The view of this small square is familiar to all tourists, it is he who is most often found on magnets and postcards, from here the streets lead to the Old Town.

Maidan is a meeting place for both tourists and citizens. There are a couple of pleasant cafes here, where in the warm season you can sit on the open terraces or balconies, make your route according to the map of Tbilisi sights, inhale the aroma of Georgian spices, waiting for your order from traditional national dishes - rich soups, khachapuri and various mushroom appetizers, eggplants and other vegetables, and of course, barbecue, cheese and khinkali, while watching the life of the city along the way.

And probably, thanks to the inscription “I love Tbilisi”, this square is now photographed many times more than before. Although in fact, you can’t call Maidan downright cozy, it’s more like a noisy traffic intersection, in the very center of the city.

From this square it is convenient to start walking around the Old Town!

Old city

The old city of Tbilisi (Kala district) is a tangled string of winding streets leading up and down hills, with many interesting houses with a long history.

Where one wants to look, because even behind the most ordinary doors such fantastic interiors can be hidden.

Parts of the fortress wall have been preserved here, amazingly decorated with bright colorful balconies.

Many historically valuable houses are in a deplorable state, they are being restored.

One of the most popular tourist areas of the Old City is Chardin and streetShardeni(named after a French traveler who once visited here, after which he made sketches of it).

Pedestrian street, consists of many cafes and restaurants,

so that during the season there are practically no places on the summer terraces, spicy smells are raging, and a variety of languages ​​​​of the world are heard, and everyone is probably talking about delicious Georgian cuisine.

But in truth, Tbilisi residents themselves rarely dine and dine here, they say that the food is more focused on tourists, the place is very accessible, so the price tag is a little higher, and they don’t really care about the quality of food and service here.

At the end of the article, I will give a couple of recommendations for cafes that the locals advised us, and where we ate ourselves, it really is very tasty and pleasant in Georgian! Even here on this street there is a funny statue-monument "Tamada" - a seated man with a horn of wine and with shiny knees. Every second tourist wants to sit down on the toastmaster's knees to take a picture 🙂

Another street with cafes in the Old Town - Shavteni street, there are also cafes and an unusual "crooked" architectural object - the clock tower of the Puppet Theater. And this is a sculpture of "Cheerful Georgians",

it is at the beginning of Baratashvili street, 3 minutes walk from the Puppet Theatre. Right next to it is the Lamplighter.

In general, there are many different sculptures in Tbilisi, not far from Avlabari Square there is a monument to the heroes of the film "Mimino", so you can easily get a disease-mania - be sure to take a picture of all the sculptures you meet.

But for me, the very color of the streets is much more interesting to photograph than the monuments.

Yes, yes, it was this unusual twisted tower that I mentioned in the paragraph above - this is the Puppet Theater. If you have time, then look at the performance, it was also recommended to us by the capital's residents, but alas, the performances are not held every day, so we did not get there.

In general, during the tourist season, tickets are quickly sold out, you may not get it. All performances at the Puppet Theater are in Georgian with English subtitles.

At 12:00 and 17:00 on the clock tower you can catch a mini-puppet show 🙂

Also in the center there is another theater, and also of an unusual appearance, here the building itself in the form of a ship already attracts attention.

Well, if you have already seen all the sights of Tbilisi, why not spend an evening at the theater 🙂

Sulfur baths

The famous Tbilisi Sulfur Baths undoubtedly belong even more to the sights of Tbilisi than to SPA entertainment, because they were built back in the 17-19 centuries, only a lazy Georgian did not advise us to look into them 🙂

The Sulfur Baths are located in the historical district of the Old City - Abanotubani (in translation, it will be the “bath” district), it is very close to the Maidan. There are both public and individual steam rooms. In the summer, we didn’t want to get out of the heat into even more heat, so we don’t know how it is inside.

We only know that the baths were built in the Persian style - they themselves are underground, and only vaulted domed roofs stick out on the surface, probably this also plays some role in the supply and distribution of steam 🙂 If you have been inside these baths, write about your impressions in the comments!

Next to the baths there is a pleasant green square, and on the opposite side of the river there is a beautiful mosque.

The ancient fortress of Narikala, which is more than 1500 years old, has become calling card city, and belongs to the main sights of Tbilisi.

Perhaps, any tourist who comes to the city definitely climbs to the fortress on foot from the Old Town or by cable car from Rike Park.

By the way, from the embankment in the evening opens great view on the Narikala fortress in the backlight.

From the walls of the Narikala fortress, a panorama of the city opens up, from which it is already breathtaking, the entire Old City is at a glance!

There are telescopes along the walls, so you can see the city below in detail.

I liked the sunset here the most!

At this time, you can stick around the walls of the Narikala fortress for a particularly long time 🙂

Tbilisi Botanical Garden

Directly behind the Narikala fortress is the Botanical Garden. If you like flowers, greenery, then from spring to autumn you will especially like it here. There are pleasant alleys in the Botanical Garden, there is a greenhouse "Greenhouse" at the end of the garden there is a waterfall, there are gazebos and viewing platforms.

The park is open from 9:00 to 19:00, but from 18:30 the ticket offices are closed, and no one is allowed in, the greenhouse, alas, is not open every day.

Tickets cost 2 lari, children - 50 tetri (0.5 lari).

Zoo

If you are traveling in Georgia with a child, you might like the idea of ​​visiting the Tbilisi Zoo. Tigers, elephants, deer, zebras live here, everything is as it should be.

The cost of adult / children's tickets: 2/1 GEL, respectively, children under 3 years old - free of charge.

Canyon in Tbilisi

If you want to admire the canyon from above, then look into the Botanical Garden, the garden is large, so you can also get to the canyon itself, to the waterfall.

We just went along the gorge-river, which is next to the Sulfur baths, and somehow imperceptibly ended up at the bottom of the canyon,

where along the paved path we reached the waterfall.

In the summer, in the heat there, you can cool off a little under its spray, well, or climb under the jets and cool down to the fullest.

We climbed back to the Old City in a different way - from the canyon we crossed the bridge and climbed the iron spiral staircase, from where we came to the Maidan through winding streets.

Thus, several roads / streets lead to the canyon with a waterfall at once. If you get confused, do not be shy, ask passers-by, they will definitely tell you, and most likely, in Russian 🙂

I really, really liked this place, despite the fact that we were there during the day in the sweltering heat.

Not only natural views open from the canyon, but also a view of typical Georgian multi-level houses, which I am ready to photograph millions of times, they are so photogenic!

Temples of Tbilisi

To be honest, we are not fans of temples and cathedrals, most often we visit them, of course, but rather for show, so I don’t even always take pictures of them. At the same time, we definitely visit unusual cathedrals and churches, for example, in the Gothic style or located in a stunning place with picturesque views, or if a nature trail leads to this church, then the main idea of ​​visiting the temple comes down to trekking 🙂

So all the most interesting churches in Georgia turned out to be outside of Tbilisi for us (these are the old Gergeti Trinity Church in Kazbegi and the Jvari temple in Mtskheta).

If you are interested in seeing exactly Tbilisi in its religious aspect, or if you just love such architecture, then I advise you to look into the following temples.

This is the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity - a huge and beautiful, fairly new temple with only 10 years of history, built with the money of a billionaire and philanthropist, the former Prime Minister of Georgia - Bidzine Ivanishvili.

Now this is the main temple of Georgia, and due to its size (height from the foundation, including the cross - 97.5 m), it can be seen from many observation platforms, and simply the streets of the city.

The temple of Tsminda Sameba is installed on the site of the old Armenian cemetery on the hill of St. Elias.

Of the interesting things - in the church of Tsminda Sameba you can see real gems - emeralds and sapphires.

Church of Kashveti on Rustaveli

This temple of St. George (Kashveti) is deeply revered by the locals, there are always people inside.

Metekhi Temple

The Assumption Church (Metekhi Temple) is hard to miss, it stands on the rocky bank of the Kura River in the very center of Tbilisi, is clearly visible from Maidan Square. The church was built in the 13th century, for some time it was a fortress-castle, there was also a prison, and later an art museum. Near the temple of Metekhi there is a monument to the founder of the city - Vakhtang Gorgasali.

It is worth climbing the hill, if not even because of the church itself and the monument, then at least in order to just look at the city from a bird's eye view. The bridge and the area next to the church has a similar name - Metekhi.

Church of Tabori

Another temple on the hill of the same name is the Tabori Church, it is visible from different parts of the city, including from the Narikala fortress.

Church of Anchiskhati

Anchiskhati - the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, the oldest church in Tbilisi that has survived to this day.

The bell tower is not so old, it belongs to the 17th century. The Anchiskhati Church and the bell tower are located next to the Puppet Theatre.

The Church of St. George is the oldest Armenian church of Surb Gevorg, it is impossible to confuse it with any other temple, the church has a new sky-blue dome.

The old one collapsed in 2009, damaging the altar as well, as a result, an Armenian businessman was found who founded the fund for the restoration of the church, the restoration was completed in 3 years, now the church of St. George pleases residents and guests of the city.

The church is clearly visible from the walls of the Narikala fortress,

you can look there on the way to this very fortress, if you climb from the Old Town on foot, and not by cable car.

Jvaris Mama Church

Jvaris Mama - a small Georgian church of the 16th century, stands next to the Armenian Norashen. Inside the cathedral, beautiful frescoes have been perfectly preserved.

Armenian Church of Norashen

There are constant disputes about the Church of Norashen (Church of the Annunciation of the Virgin) - either it is recognized as Armenian (the inscription at the entrance is in Armenian), or it is considered Georgian (since 2 decades ago it was consecrated by Georgian Orthodox, Georgian tombstones appeared on the territory of the church). Due to wrangling and tense situation between Georgians and Armenians, the worship hall is now closed.

In the photo - on the left is the Norashen Church (with a dark dome), on the right - the Zion Cathedral on the embankment of the Kura River (with a light dome), in the foreground - Jvaris Mama (with a reddish dome).

Zion Cathedral

The oldest church in Tbilisi, the building dates back to the 6th century, it was destroyed many times. Sioni Cathedral is famous for its relic - the cross of St. Nino, it was the first cross in Georgia, St. Nino made it from a vine. Until recently, this cathedral was the main temple of the country. Here it is right on the embankment, in front of the glass Peace Bridge.

This 20-meter statue rises on the Sololaki hill in the district of the same name.

Mother Kartli (or Mother Georgia) is visible from many points of the city, and has long become a symbol of Tbilisi, you can walk along the path from the Narikala fortress to it.

In one hand, the “mother” has a cup of wine to greet friends, which speaks of the hospitality of the Caucasian people, and in the other, a sword with which she is ready to protect her people from enemies at any moment, the composition symbolizes the Georgian national character.

The monument "Mother of Kartli" was built for the 1500th anniversary of the city, at first the statue was wooden, a little later it was replaced with an aluminum copy, and even later the monument was finalized - modern decor elements of the dress and headdress were added.

In the evening, the statue is illuminated.

Europe Square and Rike Park

Rike is a modern pleasant park with beautiful lawns, unusual sculptures (there is even a sculpture - a white piano) and dancing fountains, with stunning night illumination. Rike is translated as "flat bank", the park itself is located on the left gently sloping bank of the Kura River.

The fountain, by the way, is not at all simple; with the help of Morse code, it “dances” the elements of the periodic table, thereby proclaiming universal equality and unity.

There is some kind of futuristic masterpiece in Rike Park modern architecture- 2 glass-metal pipes - either the building of the Theater of Music and Drama, or the Philharmonic / Concert Hall, the Georgians themselves still do not really know what exactly will be here, the object has not yet been completed.

Next to the park is Europe Square, directly opposite the Mekheti Bridge.

cable car

The Ropeway to the Narikala Fortress starts from Riki Park, this is a relatively new attraction in Tbilisi, the road was opened in 2012.

The cabins go pretty fast, 5 minutes, and you are already at the top near the fortress walls, from where there are gorgeous views of the city!

The fare is only 0.5 GEL (you will need a plastic metro card to pay).

The glass building in Rike Park is the starting point of the cable car.

If you have never ridden on such a lift, then an enthusiastic effect is guaranteed!

Funicular

Apart from cable car there is a funicular in Tbilisi, once upon a time, after 100 years of existence, there was an accident, and for a long time the funicular was under reconstruction, it was reopened only in 2013.

A trailer rides with one stop in the middle, near the church of St. David, the Pantheon is located here, the place is also called the cemetery of writers, because. various cultural figures are buried here, including many poets and writers.

You can take a walk to the Church of St. David, and from there take a funicular or, if you are ready for physical exertion, completely climb up on foot!

And the main destination of the funicular, of course, is on the top of the hill - this is an observation deck and the Mtatsminda amusement park.

To go up to the very top (and go down too), in addition to the ticket, you need to buy a plastic card (2 GEL), on which trips are coded. Alas, the card that is for the metro is not suitable, this one cannot be handed over, but you can use it an infinite number of times and for as many people as you need.

By the way, if you do not want to buy a card, there is a small life hack - ask someone in line to simply code the trip for you. But in any case, the cost is not too high. Card - 2 GEL, travel 1-2 GEL, depending on the number of stops and time of day.

The funicular runs until 2 am.

The ultimate goal of the funicular is just the Mtatsminda park,

this is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Tbilisi. It is also at the same time the highest observation deck in the city, and even with a restaurant and an amusement park at the top.

So you can kill two birds with one stone - admire the gorgeous views of the city and get a dose of adrenaline on the slides and carousels, well, in the summer you can also hide from the sultry heat in the shade of the trees.

Most of the swings in Mtatsminda Park are for kids, and adults will definitely enjoy the giant Ferris wheel!

In the evening, there is amazing illumination, both in the park and in the city, which is perfectly visible from the site.

From here opens, and the truth, the coolest view in the city!

The funicular works until late, so you can ride the carousels in the park to your heart's content, and have time to enjoy a late dinner in the restaurant!

The restaurant in Mtatsminda Park has 2 floors, on the first floor there is mainly Georgian cuisine, the prices are reasonable, but it is too crowded and noisy, at least on Sunday there were practically no empty seats. On the second floor - European cuisine with a high price tag, this restaurant is considered one of the best in the city, not only because of the amazing view 🙂

Peace Bridge

Another futuristic object next to Ricky Park is the Peace Bridge, modern, stylish.

Someone will say that the bridge has spoiled the historical appearance of the city, and someone will admire the smoothness of the lines and be sure to take a few pictures as a keepsake.

We belong to the second category of people, in particular, I really like this interweaving of modern projects and antique objects, if they look organic, why not? Informally, the bridge is also called the Bridge of Lovers or Crystal.

There is another comic name - "always gasket", for the characteristic curve of the glass roof of the bridge.

It is best to come to the Peace Bridge at sunset, the backlight is simply amazing!

House of Justice and embankment

Well, in continuation of futuristic architecture, I will show unusual House Justice, it seems to be decorated with rose petals instead of a roof 🙂

A not quite typical pedestrian bridge also leads to the House of Justice, on which we met freelance artists selling their paintings.

Dry Bridge

Another notable bridge in Tbilisi is the Dry Bridge, this bridge will appeal to all lovers of flea markets, you should definitely look here to find unusual gizmos for decor, especially if you are a fan of retro style and hunt for such rare things in any country.

So you will certainly find something new for your collection of antiques here! The Dry Bridge Market is open until 3 pm. And don't forget to haggle, it's a market 🙂

From the Bridge of Peace, as well as from the embankment of the Kura River, you can see not only the Narikala fortress, it is worth looking at the opposite side to see the real Berlin Diechstag Presidential palace. The palace was built under Mikhail Saakashvili, the building is located in the historical area on a hill.

It seems to me that the Presidential Palace, as well as the Peace Bridge, is best photographed at dusk, at which time its glass dome is illuminated. By the way, the Georgians owe the appearance of the dome to the Italian architect, who completed the construction of this palace, begun by the Georgians.

It turns out that you can get into the glass dome, we found out about it too late. To do this, you need to leave an application in advance on the official website of the palace, if it is approved by your arrival, you will find yourself in the holy of holies, a place where tourists very rarely find themselves 🙂

Oh, and the view from there, probably opens ..

Freedom Square and the statue of George the Victorious

The central bank, administration building, luxury hotel Marriott and many boutiques. As well as a monument column with a golden statue of the heavenly patron of Georgia - St. George on a horse (that's why, by the way, Georgia sounds like Georgia in the English version). Nearby is the Pushkin Square with a fountain.

Freedom Square conditionally divides Tbilisi into Old and New Towns.

We dined here once at the Samikitno restaurant, under the same brand that operates on Maidan Square, mm yummy!

It is best to go to the Old Town from the square along cozy street Afkhazi.

Turtle Lake and Open Air Museum

If parks and gardens in Tbilisi seem a little to you, then not far from the city there are turtle lake surrounded by coniferous forest. Here you can walk along Ethnographic Museum under open sky, the ticket price is 3 GEL (we just walked in such museum-parks in autumn in Stockholm, Riga and Tallinn), the museum is open from 11 am to 5 pm and is closed on Mondays.

Well, in the summer you can take a boat or a catamaran and ride on the lake. We saw Turtle Lake only through the window of the plane 🙂

Deserter Market

If you want to buy home various spices, adjika, tkemali, cheeses, nuts, fresh fruits, churchkhela, all this can be done in one place and at affordable prices. The Desertirka market is huge, it is located next to the railway station (Vokzalnaya Square metro station).

Also a good selection of products and their prices on the market near the station. metro Didube, from where buses and minibuses depart to different regions of Georgia (Batumi, Kutaisi, Kazbegi, etc.), we drove from there to. And don't forget to bargain!

If markets are not your thing, then don't despair, there are Carrefour stores in the city, there is also a good selection of cheeses, spices, wine, fruits and more.

Churchkhella can be bought in the Old Town, the main thing is to check that it is soft and without white bloom (it means fresh).

Have a great trip!

If you have not bought tickets to Georgia yet, you can select the flights that are suitable for the date and price here:

Find a hotel in Tbilisi

Excursions in Tbilisi

Of course, you can walk around the city and see many sights of Tbilisi on your own. But if you want to really get to know the city, see it from an unusual side and learn the history of Tbilisi firsthand from the locals, we recommend booking a tour with a professional guide.

The price tag here is very humane, especially compared to Europe, so read the descriptions / reviews and choose exactly what you like!

All sights of Tbilisi on the map

Where to eat in Tbilisi

Georgian cuisine is worthy of a separate article, so here I will simply list a few restaurants in which we ourselves were, or which we heard about from locals.

It is located on the banks of the Kura (Mtkvari) River. Population - 1,152,500 people (2010).

It got its name because of the warm sulfur springs (translated from Georgian, “tbili” means “warm”).

Founded in the 5th century AD by Vakhtang Gorgasali, the king of Iberia, and became the capital in the 6th century, Tbilisi is the most important financial, industrial, transport and cultural center Georgia.

The strategic location at the crossroads between Europe and Asia has repeatedly made Tbilisi a bone of contention between various forces in the Caucasus.

Story

The history of Tbilisi as the capital of Georgia begins around the 5th century. During its 1500-year history, Tbilisi has been an important cultural, political and economic center in the Caucasus. It was located at the crossroads of important trade routes and was occupied about twenty times by external enemies.

From 1918 to 1921 - the capital of the Georgian Democratic Republic.

In 1921 Georgia became Soviet, and Tbilisi became the capital of the Georgian SSR.

Since 1991, the capital of independent Georgia.

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Last changes: 04.09.2011

Transport

Tbilisi operates subway. It was put into operation on January 11, 1966 and became the fourth in a row in the USSR after Moscow, Leningrad and Kyiv.

Since 2000, when the last station at the moment was opened, it has 26.3 km of lines and 22 stations located on two lines - Akhmeteli-Varketil and Saburtalo.

In 2011, the Tbilisi Metro became the first in the former USSR, where station names are regularly announced, in addition to the state (Georgian) language, also in English.

Trolleybus and tram networks operated in the city until 2006 (they do not work now).

Tbilisi is home to Georgia's main airport - Tbilisi International Airport.

The city is the most important railway junction of the Georgian Railway.

Last changes: 04.09.2011

Sights of Tbilisi

In the south-eastern part of the city, on both banks of the Kura, there is its historical core - with narrow streets that have preserved the features of medieval buildings. It occupies approximately the territory that Tiflis occupied in the 12th century. The streets in this area are narrow, the buildings have retained the features of medieval buildings.

Here you can see the ruins of the Narikala citadel, completed in the 16th-17th centuries, the stone church of Anchiskhati, the Metekhi church, the Sioni Cathedral and the baths of King Rostom.

Although the term "Old Tbilisi" has long been used to refer to the historical part of the city, the district with this name was formed only in 2007 from the streets and quarters previously included in three other districts of the city.

Anchiskhati(Anchiskhati Church) - the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, the oldest church in Tbilisi that has survived to this day. It belongs to the Georgian Orthodox Church and dates back to the 6th century.

The church was destroyed and rebuilt several times from the 15th to the 17th centuries due to the wars of Georgia with the Persians and Turks.

In Soviet times, the church was converted into a museum of handicrafts, then it housed an art workshop. From 1958 to 1964, restoration work was carried out (under the guidance of the architect R. Gverdtsiteli), which returned the appearance of the church to the 17th century. In 1989, the church became active again.

Initially, it was built from blocks of yellow tuff, during the restoration of 1958-1964 brick was used. The building has exits on three sides, but today only the western exit is in use. All icons date back to the 19th century, except for the altarpiece, created by order of Catholicos Nikoloz VI (Amilakhvari) in 1683.

Metekhi(Metekhi) - the historical district of Tbilisi on high rock hanging over the bank of the Kura River. It is believed that the area was inhabited during the reign of Vakhtang Gorgasal, who built his palace here, and in the 8th century on the Metekhi rock, as legend has it, St. Abo Tbilisi. The modern name of the quarter appeared in the XII century and means "around the palace."

The main attraction of Metekhi is the Assumption Church, picturesquely set on the crest of a rock, built in 1278-84 under King Demeter II. In the 19th century, the church was rebuilt as the barracks of a Cossack regiment, and almost demolished under Beria (the artist Dmitry Shevardnadze paid with his life for the protests against its demolition). Since 1988, the church has been functioning again (at one time, Zviad Gamsakhurdia went on a hunger strike, demanding the return of the church to the Georgian Church).

In the 17th century, the territory adjacent to the church was turned into a fortress, and on the other side of the river, the mosque of Shah Abbas appeared. With the accession of Georgia to Russia, the need for fortifications disappeared, a prison was set up in their place. Under Stalin, the prison was closed, but at the same time, part of the old building of the quarter was demolished (which was motivated by the construction of a bridge across the Kura). In 1961, the platform in front of the temple was decorated with an equestrian statue of Vakhtang Gorgasal.

(Tbilisi Sioni Cathedral) - one of the main temples of Tbilisi, nicknamed in honor of Mount Zion, consecrated in the name of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It stands on the banks of the Kura River in the historical center of the city. Before the construction of the Tsminda Sameba Cathedral, there was a chair of the Georgian Catholicos here.

It was originally built in the sixth and seventh centuries, then it was destroyed several times.

In 1112, David IV the Builder, having liberated Tbilisi from the Arabs, built a new cathedral in the city, which was repeatedly destroyed and restored. Particularly significant work was required after the invasion of Jalal ad-Din Mankburn and the earthquake of 1668.

In September 1795, the cathedral was badly damaged by the invasion of Aga Mohammed Khan. The wooden choirs and the iconostasis were burned, the frescoes were covered with soot and soot. The cathedral was soon restored.

After the restoration in 1980-1983, the Sioni temple, despite the complex construction history, retained its medieval appearance. Away from the cathedral there are two bell towers - one is an old, three-tiered building of the 15th century, destroyed by the Persians and restored in the 20th century, the other is a typical example of Russian classicism (built in 1812).

Frescoes by the Russian artist G. G. Gagarin have been preserved in the interior of the temple. The first place among the temple relics is occupied by a very ancient cross of St. Nina.

(Sameba Cathedral) - the main cathedral of the Georgian Orthodox Church; located in Tbilisi, on the hill of St. Ilya (left bank of the Kura). There are 13 thrones in the cathedral; the lower temple is the honor of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos; the belfry stands separately.

The height of the upper temple is 105.5 meters (without the dome cross 98 meters and the cross 7.5 meters); length from east to west - 77 meters, from north to south - 65 meters; total area- more than 5000 square meters.

The temple was founded on November 23, 1995; construction was carried out on donations from ordinary citizens and big businessmen. The first service in the cathedral under construction was held on December 25, 2002.

Narikala(Narikala fortress) - a fortress complex of different eras in Old Tbilisi. Exact time the foundation of the fortress is unknown, but in the 7th century it already existed and was called Shuris-Tsikhe.

Under David the Builder, the Arab fortress was fortified and expanded. The modern name was given to it, as it is believed, the Mongols. It acquired a close to modern look in the 17th-18th centuries, but the earthquake of 1827 caused irreparable damage to it.

In the 1990s attempts were made to restore Narikala, in particular, the church of St. Nicholas, which existed on the territory of the fortress in the XII century.

Pantheon Mtatsminda(Mtatsminda Pantheon) is a necropolis in Tbilisi where many of the famous writers, artists, scientists and national heroes of Georgia are buried. It is located on the territory around the church of St. David "Mamadaviti" on the slope of Mount Mtatsminda and was officially opened in 1929.

The first significant burial in this place was the burial of the famous Russian writer Alexander Griboyedov (1795-1829) and his wife, Princess Nino Chavchavadze (1812-1857). The Pantheon was officially opened in 1929 on the 100th anniversary of the tragic death of Griboyedov in Iran. Since that time, many prominent Georgians have been buried or reburied here.

The cemetery is managed by the Tbilisi municipality and is one of the city's most famous landmarks.

Rustaveli Avenue(Rustaveli Avenue) - the central avenue of Tbilisi, named after the medieval Georgian poet Shota Rustaveli. The total length of the avenue, stretching from Freedom Square to Rustaveli Square, is about 1.5 km.

There are a large number of government, public, cultural and commercial buildings on the avenue, including the Parliament of Georgia, the Church of Kashveti, the Academy of Sciences of Georgia, National Museum Georgia, the Opera and Ballet Theatre, the Shota Rustaveli Theater, the Tbilisi Russian Drama Theater named after A. S. Griboyedov and others. Plane trees are planted on both sides of the avenue.

The bloody events of 1989 took place on Rustaveli Avenue, as well as anti-government protests in 2007 and 2011.

Freedom Square(Freedom Square) - located in the central part of Tbilisi. On the square are the bodies of the city administration of Tbilisi, as well as the central branch of the Bank of Georgia and the Marriott Hotel.

The square has repeatedly become a place of mass demonstrations, in particular, during the Rose Revolution, as well as in Soviet times - for the independence of Georgia from the USSR.

In Soviet times, a monument to Lenin stood on the square. On November 23, 2006, the Freedom Monument created by Zurab Tsereteli was opened - a monument depicting St. George slaying a dragon.

Peace Bridge(The Bridge of Peace) is a pedestrian bridge on the Kura River in Tbilisi, located between the Metekhi and Baratashvili bridges. The bridge connects Irakli II Street and Rike Park.

The bridge consists of a 156-meter steel frame covered with glass. The whole structure rests on 4 powerful supports. You can get to the bridge both from the side of Irakli II Street and Rike Park, and from the embankments of the boulevards.

The bridge was built on the initiative of Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili. The customer was the Tbilisi City Hall. The bridge was officially opened on May 6, 2010.

(Tbilisi Botanical Garden) - located in the historical center of Tbilisi, south of the Sololaki ridge, in the valley of the Tsavkisistskali River.

The history of the Tbilisi Botanical Garden has about four hundred years. Georgian and world flora is widely represented in the garden (about 3500 taxonomic units). There are three bridges across the Tsavkisistskali River on the territory of the Botanical Garden. Especially noteworthy is the arched bridge over a large waterfall, built in 1914.

The main entrance to the botanical garden is located at the end of the botanical street at the base of the Narikala fortress. In 1909-1914, a tunnel was dug in the Sololaki ridge and a second entrance to the botanical garden was made from Lado Street.
Asatiani. The tunnel was open until 2004, then closed and converted into a nightclub.

Currently, the area of ​​the botanical garden is 128 hectares.

- the capital and at the same time the largest city of Georgia, located on the banks of the Kura River in the Tbilisi Basin. Noisy, cheerful, true to traditions and at the same time actively developing city with one and a half million inhabitants - this is what the modern capital of Georgia looks like in the eyes of travelers.

Tbilisi is particularly attractive due to its rich history, rooted in the depths of centuries. You can endlessly wander through the quarters of the old part of the city, inhaling the exciting aromas of national pastries and admiring the ancient architecture of the local buildings. For more than one and a half thousand years of existence, Tbilisi has managed to acquire so many historical sights and cultural heritage that they would be more than enough for several ordinary cities.

Video: Tbilisi

History of Tbilisi

Officially, the history of Tbilisi is usually counted from the 5th century. The city was founded by the king of Iberia Vakhtang Gorgasali. An ancient legend tells that during the hunt, the formidable monarch shot a pheasant. The dead bird fell into one of the thermal reservoirs and boiled. This fact impressed Gorgasali so much that he ordered to found a city on this place and call it the Warm Spring (in the local dialect - Tbilisi). Historians are skeptical about this version, preferring to correlate the emergence of the settlement with the ancient Roman era. During archaeological excavations in this area, the remains of ancient baths and mosaic fragments were found, indicating that the first settlements arose here in the first centuries of our era.

Since 626, Tbilisi has been subjected to regular invasions by the Arab armies. Enemy troops robbed the local population and ravaged the city. Only in 1122, with the coming to power of King David the Builder, relative calm reigned in Georgia, which lasted a little more than a century. A short lull was again replaced by military invasions: for several centuries the city was alternately besieged by either Arab, Mongol or Turkish conquerors.

From 1801 to 1917 Georgia was part of the Russian Empire. During this period, Tbilisi gained the long-awaited stability and patronage of a more powerful power. The city has seriously grown in economic terms, acquired numerous commercial and industrial enterprises. After the October Revolution. Tbilisi became the capital of independent Georgia, which it was until 1926. After the collapse Soviet Union the city regained its former status of an administrative and cultural center.

Districts of Tbilisi: where tourists should go first

The Kura River is not only geographical feature, but also the water border, which divides Tbilisi into two parts. Officially, the city is divided into districts: some of them are rich in various architectural monuments, and some are typical residential areas that are not popular with tourists.

The record for the number of attractions is the Old Town, which is also the historical center of the capital. By the way, it is on its territory that the legendary “sulfur baths” are located, which the locals are so proud of. From this part of Tbilisi, it is within easy reach to the area with the sonorous name of Sololaki. The place is ideal for hiking, during which you can admire the features of the local architecture. There is something to see in Avlabari. Historians suggest that it was from here that the construction began. future capital. The Tsminda Sameba Cathedral, the palace of Queen Darejan and the ruins of an Armenian temple are located on the territory of the quarter.

Another boring area is Mtatsminda. There are few truly ancient buildings here, but there are plenty of entertainment venues, shops and restaurants. Chugureti will be of more interest to pilgrims who come to Tbilisi to pray and bow to religious shrines. Most of the Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant churches are located here. People usually go to Ortachala to visit the ruins of the former city wall and the temple of St. Nicholas.

Sights of Tbilisi

Overwhelming majority tourist routes starts from the Old City (Qala). It is divided into two parts: Zamakala - Upper Town and Kvemokala - Lower Town. Today it is the most romantic district of Tbilisi, which has preserved its ancient monuments and is not disfigured by modern faceless buildings. Narrow streets paved with bricks, clay houses twined with grapes, impregnable walls of the castle of Queen Darejan - all these are integral features of the historical character of the quarter. It is in the Old City that the subtle spirit of the mysterious East hovers. Arabic motifs shine through in architectural bas-reliefs and ancient frescoes, carpet patterns and aromas of dishes generously seasoned with tart spices...

Abanotubani is a place worth visiting, if not for the purpose of treatment, then at least for the sake of mental relaxation. Tbilisi sulfur sources have been known since the 16th century. Over time, the underground keys were covered with stone domes made in the Arabic style. So healing springs turned into health baths.

Rustaveli Avenue

Rustaveli Avenue is not the most ancient, but has managed to become a legendary place in Tbilisi, which is definitely not to be missed. The one and a half kilometer avenue planted with plane trees is decorated with a fountain, next to which it is easy to find a monument to Pushkin, as well as the building of the Rustaveli Theater. The National Museum of Georgia is also located here, which deserves a visit because of its scandalous and controversial exhibition dedicated to the “Soviet occupation”.

Walking along Rustaveli Avenue, you can look into the Vorontsov Palace. An exquisite white building in the Renaissance style appeared here in 1868 and was originally intended for the royal governor in the Caucasus. By the way, the last resident of the palace was the mother of I. Stalin - Ekaterina Dzhugashvili.

Another interesting object of Rustaveli Avenue is the profitable house of Melik-Azaryants. The gigantic structure was built before the revolution and is equipped with the latest technology. In the basement floors of the house there were cozy coffee houses and entertainment establishments. On the wall bas-reliefs of the building, one can trace the tragic events in the life of the owner. For example, the plaster wreaths of the facade remind of the death of a rich man's beloved daughter. The fate of Melik-Azaryants himself is sad. After the October Revolution, the building was nationalized, and the former owner was given a tiny closet in it. Today, this luxurious symbol of Tbilisi is gradually falling into disrepair. This is especially noticeable if you look at the house from the courtyard.

The avenue ends with Freedom Square. The place is known for the fact that it is here that all kinds of political battles take place from time to time. If you are visiting the city for the first time, it would be useful to look into the building of the former City Hall. It houses a tourist information center where you can get the necessary information about local attractions and a map of Tbilisi.

The oldest Orthodox church in Tbilisi that has survived to this day is the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary (Anchiskhati is the second name). The laconic, austere building, made in the form of a basilica with three naves, was repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt. The most ancient part of the interior decoration of the temple is the altarpiece, which was created in 1683.

Metekhi

One of the oldest settlements on the territory of modern Tbilisi is located on the banks of the Kura, on a steep, sheer cliff. The Metekhi region was born under the first Georgian king Vakhtang Gorgasal, who erected his residence in this very place. The very word "metekhi" in those ancient times called the area around the palace.

For several centuries, the main decoration of the quarter was the Metekhi Church of the Mother of God. According to legend, Queen Tamara herself came here to pray. A difficult fate awaited the church: in the 19th century, the building was given over to the soldiers' barracks. He also contributed to the destruction of the Soviet period. The last internal partitions of the church were demolished already in 1974, and an experimental theater was located in the building itself. Only in 1988 the temple was completely restored and again returned to the Orthodox Church.

Narikala fortress

It is still unknown when exactly this large-scale fortress complex arose on Mount Mtsatminda. What is clear is that already in the 4th c. the walls of the Shuris-Tsikhe fortification (the first name of the structure) successfully held back the onslaught of enemy troops. For almost one and a half thousand years, the fortress was periodically occupied by either Arab or Mongol armies, which could not but affect the appearance of the buildings. Today, travelers can see only the remains of the former greatness of Narikala. Unfortunately, most of the fortification has been irretrievably lost. But on its territory, the church of St. Nicholas, built in the 12th century, was completely reconstructed.

Georgian Betania

Founded in the 11th century monastery Betania is one of the most successful examples of Georgian temple architecture. The building has miraculously been preserved in its original form. What is interesting: the monastery remained active even in the Soviet era, although officially the monks were listed as caretakers of the church museum. It is necessary to go to Betania to look at the ancient frescoes, icons and unique carved decorations of the altar part of the monastery church.

The majestic temple appeared on the banks of the Kura in the 6th century, having received its name in honor of Mount Zion. Later, the church building was destroyed by the Arab army, after which it was rebuilt. One of the main shrines of the Georgian Orthodox Church, the cross of St. Nina, is kept in the Sioni Cathedral.

The Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, the highest church in the country and the national symbol of modern Georgia, is located in the Avlabari region. This is a new building in Tbilisi, around which scandalous rumors still do not subside. There is an opinion that the temple was erected on the site of an ancient Armenian cemetery. The territory of the ancient necropolis was cemented, and the remains and tombstones were simply disposed of.

The first church on the site of the modern temple appeared in the 6th century. Six centuries later, the first cathedral was built here, named after St. George, which in the middle of the 18th century. replaced by a new building. Today's temple is the result of restoration work in 1910. Inside the building is decorated with unique frescoes.

Atsruni caravanserai

The oldest "shopping center" in Tbilisi was built in 1818. It housed more than two dozen shops, as well as numerous warehouses. Today, a modest museum exposition operates in the building of the caravanserai, acquainting guests with the history of the city. The rest of the area, as before, is occupied by retail outlets.

Botanical Garden

A reserve with rare and exotic plant species appeared in Tbilisi at the end of the 19th century. Today, the area of ​​the garden is 128 hectares, on which more than three and a half thousand representatives of the world of flora grow. Convenient paths are laid out on its territory, there are several artificial reservoirs. Those who wish can take a break and relax on the benches located in different parts of this unique park.

A 156-meter suspension bridge across the Kura River connects the Old City with the districts of modern Tbilisi. In the evenings, incredible transformations take place with the construction. A multi-level lighting system turns the building into a fantastic installation shimmering with a million multi-colored lights.

Food and drink: what to try in Tbilisi and where to do it

Hiking, trips, excursions and recreation on fresh air- all this satisfies the cultural hunger, but, unfortunately, does not fill the stomach. But local cafes do an excellent job with this problem. Traditional dishes of Tbilisi, which can be ordered at any establishment, ranging from a tiny eatery to a status restaurant, are khachapuri and khinkali flatbread.

There are many catering points in the Georgian capital, but far from all deserve authority among visitors. Among the locals, for example, the Kakhelebi restaurant is very popular. A small establishment famous for its fragrant pastries and huge portions. Don't be embarrassed by the fact that the restaurant is quite small: the food here is excellent. Celebrities also like to visit Kakhelebi, so don't be surprised if a "face from the cover" flashes at the next table. Excellent national cuisine and amazing atmosphere await travelers at Gabriadze Cafe.

You can try traditional Georgian dishes prepared according to recipes of the 19th century at Barbarestan. The institution is interesting for its authentic interior and high quality service. For a pleasant pastime, it is recommended to go to Tsiskvili. Restaurant with interesting menu, intricate interior and rich entertainment program is located away from the city center, on Beliashvili Street.

Dine in a Tbilisi restaurant and not order wine is a sign of bad taste, especially since the wines here are really wonderful. And if the drink is also served to the table in a clay bottle, you can consider that you have chosen the right place. Although it is better to get acquainted with the local wine list in special cellars, like Vinograund or g.Vino. You can eat "cheaply and cheerfully" in the so-called dukhans - small taverns that the residents of Tbilisi adore themselves. You should not expect a special atmosphere from such establishments, but here you can try real home cooking: simple and satisfying.

An option for those who want not only delicacies, but also live communication is the Deserter Market. Hang around the food stalls, take a look at the mouth-watering pyramids of churchkhela, mountains of candied fruits, cheeses, nuts and spices, and then buy what you like. By the way, it’s not forbidden to try the goods “by the teeth” and bargain, so don’t be shy!

shopping

A rare tourist will allow himself to return from a trip without gifts and souvenirs, especially since it is incredibly difficult to refuse shopping in Tbilisi. For standard shopping, large shopping centers are suitable, for example, East Point or Tbilisi Mall. Enough in the city and boutiques of European brands. Prices in them are usually too high, so it is worth shopping only during the period of seasonal sales.

Those who are interested in authentic souvenirs can take a walk through the flea market near the Dry Bridge. It is easy to get hold of unusual interior items, antique icons or old Georgian daggers (which in fact may not be so old) here. An interesting souvenir shop is located on Rustaveli Street. The quality of the goods in the shop is significantly different from the market "analogues", as are the prices.

You should not leave Tbilisi without taking a couple of bottles of wine with you. To avoid possible disappointments, buy a drink in specialized stores, some of which are located on the street. Leselidze. Fans of national jewelry are recommended to visit the Tbilisi Gold Exchange. It is here that the famous minankari can be found. Well, for those who are concerned about the search for an original carpet, a direct road to the Caucasian Carpets Gallery.

Where to stay in Tbilisi

The issue of housing in Tbilisi is solved simply. If your travel budget is unlimited, then you can afford a luxurious vacation in five-star hotels like Ambassadori, Hotels & Preference Hualing Tbilisi, Radisson Blu Iveria Hotel. A standard double room in them will cost from 415 to 540 GEL / day. For those looking for more modest deals, three-star options await: Flamingo Group Hotel, Rustaveli Hotel, Diamond Hotel. The cost of a double room in such places ranges from 62-125 GEL. Fans of reasonable savings will have to opt for hostels and guest houses, such as Envoy Hostel, Guest House Chubini, Blue Palm, etc.

Sometimes travelers prefer not to waste time looking for a suitable hotel and simply rent accommodation from the local population (a whole apartment or a room). This option has its advantages: you can always bargain with the owner of the house and bring down the price a little.

When choosing a place to stay, it is worth considering that in Tbilisi, as in any other tourist place, the most expensive housing is located in the historical center of the city. Sometimes at a cost hotel room even a beautiful view from the balcony is included. At the same time, a room facing the courtyard will cost significantly less.

Transport

Tbilisi has its own metro, which has two branches. To use its services, you will have to get a Metromoney smart card and, if necessary, replenish its balance. The second common form of local transport is buses and fixed-route taxis. You can take the first ones at official stops, but you will have to stop the minibuses on your own, with a wave of your hand. The main thing is to have time to do this in advance, until the car swept past you.

In Tbilisi, the names of all bus stops and metro stations are written strictly in Georgian, without Russian transcription. So, when going on an independent trip around the city, it is better to check the route with the locals. The second option is to first learn the Georgian alphabet.

An option for those who can afford to fork out a little is a taxi. By the way, it is not accepted here to equip a car with a meter, so it is better to agree on payment in advance. Feel free to bargain and argue: most of the drivers are locals who just earn extra money as a private cab.

Travelers who do not want to depend on public transport can rent a car. The service is provided by several rental companies at once (Geo Rent Car, Avis, Hertz, Luxury Car Rental), whose offices are located at the airport, as well as large hotels. On average, renting a car will cost from 116 GEL. By the way, traffic jams in Tbilisi are a common phenomenon, and parking is mostly paid (2-3 GEL / day).

To get to know scenic views opening from Mount Mtatsminda, it is better to use the funicular. This vehicle appeared in Tbilisi back in 1903 and is a kind of landmark of the city.

How to get there

There are two ways to get to the capital of Georgia - by plane and by bus. Tbilisi is connected with Moscow by regular direct flights from Vnukovo, Sheremetyevo and Domodedovo. Transportation is carried out by Georgian Airways, Aeroflot and S7. On average, the flight takes just over two and a half hours.

Connecting flights (with transfers) are offered by the Russian S7, the Latvian Air Baltic, the Greek Ellinair and the Belarusian Belavia. You can go to Tbilisi not only from Moscow, but also from St. Petersburg. Flights from the northern capital are operated by Aeroflot, LOT Polish Airlines, Belavia and S7. Travel time is 6 hours or more.

Once a week a bus leaves from Moscow to Tbilisi. The trip takes about 36 hours, excluding stops.

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History of Tbilisi is a sequence of events on the territory of the city of Tbilisi from its foundation in the 5th century to the present day. Approximately 1500 years old. This is a really big and rich story, and it left many traces behind. There are cities rich story which exists on its own, without affecting the present, but in Tbilisi this is not the case. A lot has changed in 1500 years, a lot has died, and modern Tbilisi is 90% Soviet buildings, but still there are some hints of the past in it - and there are many of these hints. We do not know much - for example, we do not know what Tbilisi looked like in the 10th century. But it is already possible to draw some conclusions about its condition in the XII - XIII centuries.

Tbilisi before its founding

Many cities in eastern Georgia were founded during the late Bronze Age, immediately after maps tribes settled on the plains from the Borjomi Gorge to the Gombori Range. But Tbilisi is an exception, it arose in the era of late antiquity. On its territory, even before the moment of foundation, someone definitely lived. An ancient settlement was found in the Didube quarter and some settlements were excavated in the southern part of the Digomi region. There is an opinion that someone lived on the Metekhi rock in ancient times.

Tbilisi before its foundation is just a narrow gorge. The Sololak ridge (a spur of the Trialeti ridge) stretches here to the east and rests on the Kura River with its tip, on which the Narikala fortress now stands. From the north, the foothills of the Caucasian ridge gently descend and one spur of this ridge - Mount Makhata - also rests against the river with a rock known as Metekhi. Between the Metekhi rock and the Sololak ridge there is a narrow gorge through which the Kura River once broke through to the east. This is a kind of gate to the interior of the country, and this gorge-gate was previously strengthened by the canyon of the Tsavkisistskali River. To get through this bottleneck, the traveler had to make a loop around the canyon, cross it in the area of ​​the modern entrance to the Botanical Garden, and then go around the mountain on which the Narikala fortress stands. Therefore, the appearance of the city in such a strategically important place is quite understandable. Another thing is not clear: why it appeared so late.

Founding of Tbilisi

It is believed that Tbilisi appeared in 458, during the reign of King Vakhtang Gorgasal. In addition to Tbilisi, Vakhtang founded several more cities, but all in Kakheti. History did not save the details. Chronicles write briefly: he built a city. People's consciousness has preserved a more vivid picture of what is happening: there is a well-known legend about how King Vakhtang hunted a pheasant here and discovered sulfur springs. This story is so famous that it even entered the bestseller of the early twentieth century, Kurban Said's novel "Ali and Nino":

Once upon a time in ancient times, a certain padishah releases his falcon into the sky. He pounces on the black grouse. The padishah waits, but the falcon does not return. Then he starts looking for his bird and wanders into a small forest. And in this forest beats a sulfur spring. The padishah sees that both the falcon and the black grouse are drowning in the water. As soon as the padishah saw this source, he immediately decided to found Tiflis on this place. The grouse bath is here, and now Tiflis stands instead of the forest. Tiflis began with sulfur, and it will end with sulfur.

Bulat Okudzhava wrote a verse about this in 1988:

The beast of prey fought and writhed under your arrow.
Eternal darkness has risen to eyes.
The star lit up. The hunting day is over.
And then a pheasant appeared from the bushes.

Oh, how brightly his plumage burned!
But the arrow sang - extinguished the fire ...
And then, as if on the first night of creation,
"Let Tbilisi arise!" You extended your hand.

This story has many visual implications. At the sulfur baths there is now a statue of a falcon with a pheasant in its claws. The pheasant can be seen on the Tbilisi logo and on street hatches. The restaurant "Maidani" has a signature dish "Pheasant Gorgosali". In 1961, an equestrian statue of Vakhang Gorgasal was erected on the Met rock in 1961, which, as it were, makes a decision on the founding of the city. Restaurant "Gorgasali" near the baths with its name hints at the same events.

Unfortunately, the dating of this event is somewhat arbitrary and we do not know against what historical background this happened. Therefore, it is difficult to guess what exactly Vakhtang was thinking about when creating a new city. He could, for example, build it as a fortification on the outskirts of Mtskheta. And he could strengthen an already existing settlement that arose on sulfur springs.

The first buildings of the new city appeared, apparently, on a rocky shore, on a cape between Kura and Tsavkisistskali. Now on this place stands the temple of the Forty Sebastian Martyrs, and on the site of the Tsavkisistskali canyon, Aliyev's square is green. In 2012, foundations were found near the temple of the martyrs, which were identified as the remains of the palace of King Vakhtang.

Name

Why was the city called "Tbilisi"? It is easy to guess the word თბილი in its name ( tbili) meaning "warm". But this is a late-formed word, in Old Georgian it looked like ტფილი ( tpili), and the city was called Tpilisi. Moreover, this name is found in the XIX century.

Coin of the era of Nicholas I with the inscription TPILISI

It is believed that the word TPILI comes from the proto-Kartvelian root TEP, which in turn comes from the Nostratic language, from which it also got into the Indo-European ones. Hence, by the way, the Slavic "Heat" and "Heat". So the initial letter "T" in the words "Warm" and "Tbilisi" is not a coincidence.

The name Tpilisi turned out to be unpronounceable for the Greeks, who do not have TP combinations in their language. They remade it for their own convenience, inserting the letter "I", and so the Greek "Tiflis" was obtained. From Greek it got into Arabic, where it turned into "Tiflis". A direct transformation of Tpilisi into Tiflis is unlikely, since the Arabs have no problem pronouncing the sounds TP or TB. They still officially call the city Tbilisi (تبليسي). The name "Tiflis" remained in the Turkish language, which, like Greek, does not allow combinations of TB.

It is interesting that instead of the word "warm" they could take the word "hot" (tskheli) as a basis and the city would be called Tskhelisi. And if Mingrelians or Lazians lived here, it would turn out to be Tubulsi. And if the Svans had lived, it would have been Tebidsi.

Dark Middle Ages

Vakhtang died in 502, and his kingdom perished even earlier, and synchronously with the deposition of the Roman emperor Odoacer and the end of the history of the Ancient World. In those years, the Middle Ages began in Europe, and in Georgia, the gloomy era of Persian occupation. Vakhtang was succeeded by his son Dachi or Darchil (522-534), who lived mainly in the fortress of Ujarma. It was he who committed a historic act: he finally moved the capital from Mtskheta to Tbilisi. What for? Nobody remembers anymore. It is significant that in principle he did not live in Mtskheta. Maybe the Persians destroyed Mtskheta, or maybe there were too many Persian observers there.

Dachi did something else important: he built in Tbilisi (or near Tbilisi) the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary (Anchiskhati), which to this day remains the oldest surviving building in the city. Little has survived from this temple: both the vaults and columns were rebuilt in later eras, and only the walls in some places are still the same, remembering Tsar Dacha.

After Dacha, several more kings lived in Tbilisi: Bakur II, Farsman V, Farsman VI and Bakur III, but the latter lived in Ujarma, and at that time there was already a Persian garrison in Tbilisi. In 580, Bakur died, and the Persians abolished royal power as such.

Just during the years of the crisis of royal power, the Assyrian fathers came to Iberia and settled near Mtskheta. From there, they then dispersed throughout the country, and David, the future David of Gareji, settled in a cave on a mountain (Mtatsminda) near Tbilisi. Once a week, he went down the mountain along the path (now Besiki Street) to approximately the modern Marriott Hotel, and from there the city went for food. At that time, quite a lot of Zoroastrian Persians already lived in Tbilisi. The conflict with them led to known history with the trial of David and the appearance of the temple of Kashveti on the site of the trial. After that, David went to Gareji, but his cave on the mountain and the spring near the cave remained sacred and revered places. And even the path to the cave itself has become something of a pilgrimage trail.

At this time, the endless Iranian-Byzantine wars dragged on and the Iranian armies probably often passed through Tbilisi. In 591, the Byzantine-Iranian Peace Treaty (Ctesiphon) was concluded. Part of Iberia, with its capital in Mtskheta, went to Byzantium, and part, with its capital in Tbilisi, went to Iran and became the center of Iranian-controlled Iberia. It was probably at this time that a Zoroastrian temple appeared in Tbilisi, which has come down to us in a heavily rebuilt form and is known in the city as "Ateshga".

As early as 588, the emperor Mauritius sent to Iberia as a ruler a certain Guram, a descendant of Vakhtang Gorgasal. Guram died in 590 and his son Stephanoz became the ruler, who ruled Iberius at the time of the conclusion of the Treaty of Ctesiphon. Mtskheta was probably his capital, but then Stefanoz made friends with Iran and moved the capital back to Tbilisi. This man went down in history by building the famous Jvari temple over Mtskheta.

Stefanoz's reorientation led to the invasion of the Byzantine army under the personal leadership of Emperor Heraclius II. The Khazar army came to the aid of the emperor, and the Persians sent a detachment of 1000 people to the aid of Iberia. The Byzantines laid siege to Tbilisi and the siege lasted about two months. Then Heraclius left towards Iran, and the siege lasted for some more time and as a result the city was taken. Stefanoz was removed, and Adarnase, a distant descendant of Vakhtang Gorgasal, was put in his place. He died in 642 and his son Stefanoz II became the ruler, during which, in 645, the army of the Caliphate approached Tbilisi. The Arabs concluded a treaty of friendship with the city and left.

Emirate capital

The treaty of 645 made Iberia part of the Arab Caliphate. At first, kings still lived in Tbilisi, who paid a small tax to the Arabs. This went on until 735, when the Arabs suspected Georgia of collaborating with the Khazars, and Mervan the Deaf passed through the country as a punitive expedition. Tbilisi was burned to the ground - this is the first recorded case of its complete burning. Mervan established the Tiflis emirate in Transcaucasia and left. The kings still existed as pale shadows, imperceptible to history, until they disappeared in 775. Tiflis emirs began to rule the city. How exactly power passed from the kings to the emirs is unknown.

Under the Arabs, Tiflis became part of the Arab single economic space and rapidly grew into a large trading center. He became big city with mosques, baths, palaces, madrasahs and caravanserais. But the emirs decided to show separatism, and in 853 another punitive invasion took place. The commander Bugha Al-Kabir turned the flourishing city into a heap of ashes. For the second time in its history.

Tbilisi remained the capital of the emirt until the end of the 9th century, and the entire X, and the entire XI, and the beginning of the XII. In the 10th century, the relics of St. Shushanik were reburied on the Metekhi rock - right on the most prominent place in the Muslim city. Apparently, the Tbilisi Christian community had many rights. Would like to know how much.

In 1795, the last destruction of Tbilisi took place: on September 12, the army of Aga Muhammad Khan razed the city to the ground as a punishment for Georgian-Russian negotiations. Stone buildings were almost not damaged, but all private buildings burned to the ground. From this devastation, the city was then restored for thirty years.

Capital of Tiflis Governorate

In 1802, the Kingdom of Georgia was liquidated and Tbilisi became the capital of the province and the main base of the Russian army. Since the anti-Russian uprisings did not reach Tbilisi, the situation in the city was stable. We started building something. Count Knorring, the first "chief in Georgia" built the first simple house for the commander in chief. They built an arsenal and a gymnasium. In 1802, the fortress walls and towers began to be demolished, so the modern streets of Pushkin and Dadiani began to form. In 1804, the royal baths were converted into a mint.

In 1807, 16,000 people already lived in Tbilisi.

Tbilisi recovered very slowly after the defeat of 1795. The Russian administration built little. In 1816, General Yermolov demolished the royal Metekhi castle and began to build a prison in its place. In 1824, the building of the Headquarters of the Caucasian Corps was built. In 1827, lightning struck the Narikala fortress and the explosion demolished the church of St. Nicholas, built under Tamara, if not earlier. Only by 1818 local merchants were able to build a large stone building: the Artsruni caravanserai.

In May 1829, Pushkin arrived in Tbilisi. It was something like the arrival of a fashion blogger in a still unhyped resort. For the first time in Russian history, someone other than the military learned about Tbilisi. Pushkin lived in house number 5 on Pushkin Street, in a house with windows on the headquarters of the Caucasian Corps and could see the construction of the Zubalashvili caravanserai, which began back in 1827. There seem to be no photographs of his house, but a drawing from about 1895 is known:

Capital of the Confederation

In January 1918, the Bolsheviks dispersed the Constituent Assembly, which in the end did not have time to decide the fate of Transcaucasia, so the entire region was left to itself. Transcaucasia has become an independent federation, and Tbilisi has become its capital. The Transcaucasian Seim in the building of the Vorontsov Palace became something like the parliament of a new federal republic. Tbilisi maintained this status throughout January, February, March, April and May. In May, the federation collapsed. On May 26, Georgia declared its independence. Tbilisi has become the capital of the Republic of Georgia. The pen used to sign the declaration of independence is now on display at the National Museum.

On June 10, the allied German army entered Tbilisi. Rustaveli hosted a joint Georgian-German parade. On the same day, the Turks tried to break through to Tbilisi, but were stopped by the Germans. In December 1918 the Germans left and in January 1919 the British army entered the city. But in July the British also left.

Visually, nothing has changed in Tbilisi, the events took place exclusively in the political sphere. In May 1920, the Bolsheviks decided to seize Georgia: on May 3, the Bolsheviks mutinied in Tbilisi and seized the officers' school. But the war with Georgia was lost near Kyiv: on May 7, the Poles took Kyiv and on the same day the Bolsheviks signed a peace treaty with Georgia. But this only delayed the war for one year.

Battle for Tbilisi

In February 1921, the Red Army entered Georgia from three sides, in particular, from Baku in the direction of Tbilisi. On February 18, the 11th Army approached the outskirts of Tbilisi: on the left bank of the Kura to the village of Karadzhala and on the right to the village of Soganlug.

On February 19, the first attacks began in the area of ​​​​the Soganlug station and near the Shavnabad monastery. The left flank of the Red Army began to bypass the city from the west and attacked the Kodzhor heights. All of these attacks were repulsed. On February 24-25, a second offensive began with the involvement of tanks and aircraft. The defenders of Tbilisi managed to repel all attacks on the Kodzhor and Shavnabad heights, but the Red Army detachments bypassed the Georgian positions farther and farther. On the night of February 25, Soviet tanks broke through to the Navtlug station.

On the morning of February 25, it was decided to surrender the city. Soviet armored trains entered the Tbiissky railway station. The infantry units occupied the Kodzhor Heights and entered the city, descending along Sololakskaya Street to Freedom Square. On the same day, the Bolshevik government from Shulaveri moved to Tbilisi.

Capital of the Republic

The first years of Soviet power changed little in Tbilisi. The Soviet leadership gathered in the same Vorontsov Palace, the Metekhi prison remained a prison, and perhaps it added more work. Until 1931, the Soviet Georgian leaders were not radical enough and they would all be shot in 1937. But in November 1931, Beria headed Georgia, and here the appearance of Tbilisi began to change: so Tbilisi experienced not only Vorontsovization, but also "Bereization".

Last days The Soviet era was remembered for a terrible catastrophe: on June 1, 1990, a break occurred on the cable car line (Rustaveli-Mtatsminda), the lower station was damaged, and one cabin fell on a residential building. About 20 people died.

On October 28, 1990, a milestone event took place. In the elections to the Supreme Council, the Communist Party won only 64 seats out of 155. On November 14, the chairman of the Supreme Council, Irakli Abashidze, left the post and Zviad Gamsakhurdia was elected in his place. The Soviet era in Georgia is over.

dogwood flag

In November 1990, Zviad Gamsakhurdia became president of the country, and for a whole year nothing happened in the history of the city, and then a terrible thing happened: in December 1991, the National Guard rebelled and besieged the president in the Parliament building. The month of fighting for parliament began. Nearby neighborhoods burned almost all. The Oriant Hotel burned down. The First Gymnasium burned to the ground. The Marriott also burned down. Almost burned down "Communication House". Miraculously, the Kashveti temple survived, although it was covered with traces of bullets. A few years after that, the city center looked like Stalingrad after the surrender of Paulus.

On January 6, Parliament fell. The triumvirate Kitovani-Ioseliani-Sigua came to power in Tbilisi. But the provinces turned against Tbilisi: in this case Megrelia. Thus, for the first time, the split of Georgia into Tbilisi and the province began. This war with fading continues to this day. Tbilisi in this war took the thankless role of the capital of the post-Soviet dictatorship. Samegrelo revolted in January, March and July 1992. And again in September 1993. Tbilisi won the first war with the province.

With this victory, the most eventless era in the history of the city began. Something was rebuilt: for example, the Parliament, the Gymnasium and the Marriott. But everything else gradually fell apart. The restaurant on Mtatsminda was closed and was completely abandoned. On June 21, 2000, the funicular fell into disrepair due to a cable break. Hotels "Adzharia" and "Iveria" in 1995 were given to refugees and turned into terrible slum skyscrapers.

In November 2003, Tbilisi's second war against the provinces began: protests began in the city against electoral violations. Residents of Megrelia and Imereti came to the aid of the protesters. The main protest rally took place on Freedom Square. A parallel rally of loyalists gathered in front of the Houses of Parliament. On November 20, Shevardnadze fled parliament. The province defeated Tbilisi. This event went down in history as

Tbilisi (Georgia) - the most detailed information about the city with a photo. The main sights of Tbilisi with descriptions, guides and maps.

City of Tbilisi (Georgia)

Tbilisi is the capital of Georgia, located in the eastern part of the country on the banks of the Kura (Mtkvari). This is an ancient city founded in the 5th century, which is now home to more than 1 million people. Tbilisi is one of the most charming cities in the Caucasus, where amazing sights and unique treasures are hidden among the narrow atmospheric streets, cozy old courtyards and crooked houses. Despite the fact that Tbilisi has been destroyed and rebuilt several dozen times over its 1500-year history, Old city retained its medieval charm and largely its original condition.

Geography and climate

Tbilisi is located in the center of Eastern Georgia in a basin bounded by the spurs of the Trialeti Range, the Saguram Range and the Iora Highlands. The climate is temperate continental with relatively hot summers and cool winters. Due to the proximity to the warm seas (Black and Caspian) and the Great Caucasian ridge, which blocks the intrusion of air masses, the climate of Tbilisi is warmer than in cities at the same latitudes. The average annual temperature is 12.7 degrees. The coldest month is January with a temperature of about 0. The average summer temperature is over 20 degrees.

Best time to visit

The best time to visit Tbilisi is from May to October. July and August can be quite hot. To enjoy Tbilisi without tourists, it is better to come in winter or early spring.

Practical information

1. The population is 1.1 million people.
2. The area is 720 square kilometers.
3. The language is Georgian.
4. Currency - Georgian lari.
5. Time - UTC +4.
6. A visa is not required for a stay of up to 360 days.

Story

According to legend, Tbilisi was founded in the 5th century AD by the ancient Georgian king Vakhtang Gorgasali. Already in the 6th century the city became the capital of the state. Interestingly, the settlement on the site of modern Tbilisi was marked on Roman maps. Baths dating back to the 1st century AD, as well as the remains of ancient settlements dating back to the 3rd-4th centuries BC, were discovered in the historical center. The name Tbilisi (formerly Tiflis) is translated as "warm", due to the many thermal springs.

Georgian legend tells that earlier the territory of Tbilisi was covered with forests, in which the ruler of the ancient Georgian state Vakhtang I Gorgasal hunted. He shot a bird that fell into hot spring and welded. According to another version, it was a deer that ran to the source and was healed. The king considered this a "good" sign and founded a city here.

In the 6th century the capital of the Georgian kingdom was moved from Mtskheta to Tbilisi. In 626, the city was taken by the Khazars after a months-long siege. In 653 Georgia was subjugated by the Arabs, although Tbilisi retained some independence for almost a century. In 736, the city was captured by Arab troops. The Arabs ruled Georgia until the 11th century. In 1122, Tbilisi became the capital of a united and independent Georgia.

The heyday of the Georgian kingdom lasted until the 13th century. In 1226, Tbilisi was ravaged by the troops of Jalal-ad-Din, in 1238 it was captured by the Mongols, who ruled Georgia until 1327. In 1366, a great plague reached Tbilisi. From the 14th to the 17th century, the city experienced several devastation and destruction:

• In 1386, Tbilisi was captured by the hordes of Timur.
• In 1444, the city was destroyed by the troops of the Kara-Koyunlu state.
• In 1536 Tbilisi was captured by the Iranian army.

In 1490 (after the collapse of the Georgian state) Tbilisi became the capital of the Kingdom of Kartli. In 1578 the city was occupied by the Turks. In 1783 Georgia becomes a protectorate of the Russian Empire. Tbilisi remains the main city of the country. In 1918, the independence of Georgia was declared. The independent Georgian state did not last long and already in the 30s of the 20th century the country became part of the Soviet Union. Georgia became independent in 1991 after the collapse of the USSR.

How to get there

Tbilisi has international Airport- the largest in Georgia. The capital of the country is connected by air with Moscow, Riga, Rome, Vienna, Minsk, Tallinn, Kyiv, Amsterdam and other cities of Russia, the Near and Far Abroad. Trains and buses 37/137 run from the airport to the center. Ticket price - 0.5 GEL. Taxi costs 20-30 GEL. Rail connection Tbilisi has with Baku, Yerevan, Batumi, Kutaisi, Gori, Borjomi. Buses connect the city with most cities in Georgia, as well as cities in Russia, Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Tbilisi public transport - metro, buses and minibuses. A trip by metro and bus costs 0.5 GEL. The routes are a bit more expensive.

Shopping and shopping

Avoid shopping and going to restaurants in the Kote Abkhazi street area. It is a popular tourist area where prices are often highly inflated. A large flea market is located near Freedom Square and is held every Saturday. This is the best place to buy antiques and various interesting things. The main market is located near the Dynamo arena. Basically, in Tbilisi they buy: antiques, jewelry, local products (chacha, churchkhela, wine, cheese, mineral water). Shops with these products are located throughout the historic center.

Food and drink

Georgian cuisine is delicious, cheap and versatile. In Tbilisi, you can eat hearty and inexpensive. Traditional Georgian dishes: puri (bread), khachapuri (cheese cake), chvishtari (corn pastry), jonjoli (pickled flowers of some plant), badrijani (eggplant rolls), pkhali, khinkali, dolma, mtsvadi (kebab), lobio, chashushuli (stewed veal), chakapuli (meat with spices), churchkhela, chiri (dried persimmon). Meals are accompanied by chacha, a glass of Georgian wine and a glass of mineral water.

Abanotubani District

Attractions

The old city is the heart of Tbilisi. This area is located between Freedom Square, the ancient ruins of Narikala fortress and Kura. Despite the fact that Tbilisi has been devastated several times throughout its history, the historical center has been remarkably well preserved and has retained a special atmosphere and charm.

Old Tbilisi is an area of ​​narrow streets, where ancient churches, old houses with cute wooden balconies and quiet courtyards are located. This ancient architecture is a bit reminiscent of the architecture of the Renaissance and Italy. The old town also features a number of eclectic landmarks and modern architectural elements. Historical Center Tbilisi is full of hidden treasures and interesting places to discover with a simple walk.

Narikala is one of the symbols of Tbilisi, an ancient Persian fortress built in the 4th century and expanded in the 8th century by the Arabs. The fortress is located on a high hill and consists of two parts. In the lower part, in the 90s of the 20th century, the church of St. Nicholas, which is located on the same place where the ancient church of the 13th century was located. Most of the fortress was destroyed in an earthquake in 1827. The main reason why tourists come here is stunning views of the old town and the Kura valley. You can climb the fortress by funicular, which leaves near the Metekhi temple.

The Temple of Metekhi or the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is one of the main attractions of Tbilisi. This ancient church of the 12th century, located on a rock above Kura. Nearby is an equestrian statue of the legendary Georgian ruler Vakhtang Gorgasali. The first temple on this site was built in the 5th century. Presumably, the royal palace was also located here. Therefore, this place is one of the oldest in Tbilisi. The old church was destroyed by the Mongols. The present temple dates from the end of the 13th century. The building was damaged by fire at the end of the 18th century during the Persian invasion. The territory of the temple was used as a prison in the 19th century, and the temple itself was almost demolished in Soviet times under Stalin.

Mother - Georgia or Kartlis Deda - a 20-meter aluminum statue near the Narikala fortress. It is a symbol not only of Tbilisi, but of the whole country. The sword in her hand is for enemies, and the cup of wine is for friends.

Sioni is the former cathedral church of Tbilisi, which until 2004 (before the construction of Sameba) was the main religious building of the capital of Georgia. The first church on this site was built at the end of the 6th century. The temple was rebuilt several times, destroyed by the Arabs and by an earthquake in 1668. The Arabs damaged the ancient frescoes and the iconostasis. The existing structure dates for the most part from the first half of the 19th century.

Church of the Holy Trinity or Sameba is a grandiose cathedral completed in 2004. This is the largest religious building in Tbilisi, 84 meters high with a beautiful gilded dome.

Kashveti is an early 20th century church on Rustaveli Avenue.

Rustaveli Avenue is the central street of Tbilisi, named after the national Georgian poet. Starts from Freedom Square.

Freedom Square is one of the central squares of Tbilisi, located in the old city. For the most part surrounded by monumental architecture of the 19th century. Installed in the center tall statue St. George.

The Gabriadze Theater is a puppet theater located in the heart of Tbilisi. It is one of the most beautiful buildings in the city with a fabulous clock tower. On the facade of the tower there are hundreds of hand-made tiles created by Gabriadze himself. Every hour an angel comes out of the door upstairs and strikes the bell with a hammer, and at noon and at 19.00 you can watch a small puppet show called "Circle of Life".

Anchiskhati is the oldest church in Tbilisi, built in the 6th century under the king Dacha Ujarmeli. The building was destroyed and rebuilt several times. The brick bell tower was built in the 17th century. The building was built of tuff and is a three-aisled basilica with a horseshoe-shaped apse.

The Bridge of Peace is one of the first modern architectural sights of Tbilisi, a glass-and-steel structure designed by the Italian architect De Luci. Is an footbridge through Kura.

Abanotubani is one of the most charming neighborhoods Tbilisi, famous for its baths on natural sulfur thermal springs. You can find many budget hotels in this area, take a walk along the old canal and admire the Narikala Fortress.