A few months ago, I moved to Tbilisi… so I’ve spent most of the year exploring the city, its attractions, its outskirts, and all the best things to do.
In this guide, I’ve humbly and helpfully put my infinite expertise in one place, and brought you my suggested-3 day itinerary for Tbilisi. I’ve featured tours, food, hikes, hills, markets, Mother Georgia, unusual antiques, outlying oddities, and lots of tips and tricks.
Come join the party, you silly boys and girls: here’s my 3-day itinerary for Tbilisi!
Where to Stay in Tbilisi
For your first time in Tbilisi, you definitely want to stay in (or close to) the city’s Old Town.
The labyrinthine center of the city, and the most interesting part of Tbilisi by far, the Old Town is where you’ll spend a lot of your time, and it’s where you’ll find the city’s most famous attractions.
My #1 pick for a mid-range hotel is Courtyard By Marriott… which is in Liberty Square, giving you easy access to the Old Town, the Metro, lots of main streets, and some great places to eat and drink.
New and modern, it’s surprisingly affordable… it offers all the typical Marriott perks, but without the typical Marriott prices.
If you’re on a tighter budget, I recommend Theory Hotel, which is in the same area. It’s arty and unusual, with both an a la carte breakfast and a buffet breakfast… and a coffee machine in every room!
For something a little different, check out Castle in Old Town, the only privately-owned castle in the entire city. Close to Narikala Fortress, it’s right in the middle of the city, it offers great views, it has an excellent infinity pool, and it’s an unusual and interesting place to stay.
Considering how interesting and unique the place is, it’s weirdly affordable.
If you’re a solo traveler, I recommend staying in Fabrika, the most sociable (and famous!) hostel in the city. One of the city’s most well-known hangout spots, it’s way more than just a hostel, and you can’t possibly fail to make friends there.
Best Things to Do in Tbilisi on a 3-Day Trip
Okay, I’m going to give you a big fat disclaimer here.
I’ve tried to cram a lot into this itinerary, because Tbilisi has a lot to see and do. I genuinely recommend trying to squeeze in as much as you can. That said, you’re free to have a lay-in and miss off some of the things I’m suggesting (I’m not judging you*).
*I actually am, obviously.
I’ve included more than 20 ideas for things to do, but some of the highlights included in my upcoming 3-day itinerary of Tbilisi include:
For much more information on these highlights and more, wander over to our guide on the 26 best things to do in Tbilisi.
How to Spend 3 Days in Tbilisi? The Perfect Tbilisi Itinerary
Okay, here we go. Strap yourselves in and grab a drink—things are about to get busy! Here’s my 3-day itinerary for Tbilisi…
Like I said, I’ve included a lot of stuff (maybe too much for some people). But if you’re productive and motivated and don’t lie in bed like a big fat baby, it’s totally possible to get this all done in three days.
Day 1: the Old Town and the City Center
Today, you’ll be exploring the city center, the Old Town, and pretty much all of Tbilisi’s most famous attractions.
I’ve given you some self-follow instructions below… but if you want to make best use of time, switch your brain off, and get some information and insights along the way, here’s a great walking tour which covers pretty much all the things I’ve mentioned (along with a few other spots). I massively recommend it.
Alternatively, if you want to see all these Tbilisi highlights along with some parts of Mtskheta (the nation’s ancient capital, which is only a 35-minute drive north of Tbilisi), here’s a tour that gives you exactly that! Mtskheta is definitely worth visiting, especially if you’re interested in history and heritage.
Breakfast on Day 1
For your day 1 breakfast, you need to be pretty selective—Georgians live late, so it can be difficult to find a place that opens early (and you’ll need one, cos you have lots to do today).
You can of course eat at your hotel, but if you don’t get breakfast there (or you don’t want to eat it) here are my top recommendations:
After breakfast, in the following order, you’ll be moving to…
Mother Georgia and Narikala Fortress
Right beside one another, you have two of the most iconic sights in the city. While 20-meter (65.5-feet) Mother Georgia was built back in 1958, the history of Narikala Fortress dates all the way back to the 4th century.
They’re both interesting insights into the character and history and Georgia and its people, and they both offer great views of the city. Fire up that Instagram, cos you’ll be wanting it.
Aside from the excellent tour I’ve already recommended, this other walking tour also visits both locations (along with many more). It even offers some tasty snacks!
Tabor Monastery
Southeast of both Mother Georgia and Narikala Fortress, Tabor Monastery is one of the city center’s most interesting locations, but it’s often overlooked.
Quiet and laid-back, it offers brilliant panoramas of the city, and an interesting insight into the austere religious existence that many people still live in various parts of Georgia.
The Sulfur Baths
A nice idea for a mid-day relaxation session, Georgia has lots of sulfur baths. Lots of the best of them are concentrated in one small area of Tbilisi’s Old Town. Known as Abanotubani, it’s brimming with lots of places to chill out, both touristy and traditional.
If you want a tourist-heavy place with lots of modern flourishes, check out Orbeliani (also known as Chreli-Abano). But if you’re on the hunt for a much more local experience, head to No.5 Sulfur Bathhouse.
All of the baths offer various treatments, baths, massages and more. They’re similar to Turkish bathhouses, but with some regional differences that I’m too ignorant to really understand.
When you’re done at the baths, quickly wander over to city-center Leghvtakhevi Waterfall, just inside the baths district. It’s nothing special, but it’s pretty cool, and it’s very close-by.
Take a selfie, cos everybody else does.
The Tbilisi Clock Tower
Only a quick stop, but a big favorite among tourists, the kooky and quirky Tbilisi clock tower is stuck onto the side of a puppet theater. Purposely wonky and weird, it’s one of the city’s strangest attractions.
While you’re at the clock tower, you should visit nearby Anchiskhati Basilica. It’s not the most impressive site in the city, but it’s close-by, it’s a nice example of a typical Orthodox church, and it has some cool frescoes inside.
Again, you can visit this Clock Tower (and much more!) on the comprehensive walking tour we’ve already recommended. And as a nice juicy bonus, they’ll also give you much more information than I have here.
Get Lost for a While
All of Tbilisi’s Old Town’s highlights are great. But for me, the real appeal is just wandering around the maze-like mess of steep streets and hidden alleys.
So give yourself an hour or two to wander aimlessly, and discover some weird and wacky stuff that even lifelong locals have probably never stumbled upon.
A hodgepodge mixture of various different styles, influences and architecture, you can only fully appreciate the strange diversity of Tbilisi’s Old Town by getting lost in it. Luckily for you, you won’t have to try very hard to do that, cos it’s all a big mess.
Holy Trinity Cathedral
Over the river from the Old Town, the Holy Trinity Cathedral (or ‘Sameba,’ as it’s also known), is the third-biggest Orthodox cathedral on the planet… and one of the most impressive and significant religious buildings in the whole of the Caucasus.
High above the city, it’s visible from miles around. The views of it are great, the views from it are great, and if you’ve never before seen an Orthodox cathedral, expect to be massively impressed.
Where to Eat on Day 1
There are a huge number of places to eat in and around Tbilisi’s Old Town, but they’re of course of variable quality. So some of my recommendations are:
Evening Activities for Day 1
Day 2: Hidden Highlights
Today, you’ll be moving away from the well-known stuff, and exploring some of my favorite
under-the-radar highlights. Attractions today include war relics, odd antiques, a strange monument, an outdoor museum, a big ol’ lake, and lots of local food and drink.
Again, I’m forcing you to wake up early… but with all the stuff I’ve got lined up for you, it’s definitely worth it. Peel open those eyes and come join the fun.
Breakfast on Day 2
My breakfast recommendations for today are:
Open Air Ethnography Museum
I’ll be honest, I have absolutely no interest in museums (even this one). Anyone who says they like museums is lying—and that includes you.
But if you’re only going to visit one museum in the city, the Open Air Ethnography Museum should be the place you choose. It’s interactive, engaging and outdoors, so at least it’s not your typical educational bore-fest. With costumed characters, old buildings, and some traditional dance and sculptures, it’s a pretty immersive place.
The different buildings are from different places and periods, but they’re all interesting insights into various aspects of Georgian life. Inside each building, you’ll find a guide—and each guide usually speaks Georgian, Russian, and English.
Turtle Lake
Right beside the Ethnography Museum, you’ve got Turtle Lake.
Tbilisi has lots of outdoor areas with open-air adventures, both big and small. Of them all, this is one of the most accessible and family-friendly.
So while it’s nothing special, it’s a decent place to sit for an hour while you have some food or a quick drink.
And if you have kids, there’s a zipline, some small rides, and lots of places to buy drinks and snacks.
From the south side of the lake, you get great views of the city, which is reason alone to visit.
But here’s another reason I’m recommending it… the place has rudimentary old-school cable cars that run from the lake to the city.
Riding these ramshackle rustbuckets is a fun experience… and it won’t be long before they’re replaced, so try them while you still can!
The Chronicle of Georgia
The Chronicle of Georgia is quite far from Vake, where the Turtle Lake cable car drops you off. So book a taxi, zoom to the other side of the city, and make sure you don’t miss out on this place.
Built in 1985, this weird monolithic structure was never actually completed, but it’s still worth seeing… and it’s both beautiful and strange.
Packed with carvings of historic Georgians, biblical figures, and other important people, it largely represents the history of Georgia, and the significant folks who’ve helped to shape it into what it is today.
Measuring in at a lofty height of 30 meters (98 feet), it sits high on a plateau overlooking Tbilisi Sea, so you get great views from in and around it. If you have time (though you probably won’t), you should explore the shores of Tbilisi Sea. I think the prettiest places are on the south side.
The Dry Bridge Market
One of Tbilisi’s strangest attractions, this on-bridge no-frills, old-school market is brimming with oddities, antiquities, war relics, Soviet souvenirs, stuffed animals, retro kids’ toys, and a whole load of bizarre stuff.
If you like rifling through unusual things, you’ll love it. It sits on the western side of the Dry Bridge (the one that runs from Marjanishvili to Dedaena Park).
I’m not usually interested in all these junk markets, but even I find this place compelling—so if it can convert a miserable cynic like me, it can definitely entertain you. Give yourself an hour or so to look at the various things, and don’t be shy about getting involved (the vendors like hands-on customers).
You want to be here by 3pm at the latest, because the market starts winding down at around that time. You’ll probably spend between 30 and 60 minutes wandering around. Most of the interesting stuff is on the bridge, but you’ll also find some cool art stalls just north of the western bank of the bridge.
Marjanishvili
After the Dry Bridge Market, wander to nearby Marjanishvili.
One of the city’s prettiest and most popular districts (and where I currently live), Marjanishvili is the middle-eastern enclave of Tbilisi. It’s pretty different to the rest of the city, both atmospherically and architecturally.
There’s nothing hugely special to do here, but a wander along the main street is great—so head to Davit Agmashenebeli Avenue, and just go for a stroll. Low-rise, pretty and pastel-hued, it’s a busy area, and it feels very different to Tbilisi’s Old Town. It’s at its best in the evening, so this is the top time to wander down it.
Where to Eat on Day 2:
For dinner, here are my three recommendations:
Evening Activities for Day 2
Day 3: Lisi Lake, Some Friendly Dogs, and Lots of Lovely Hiking
For pretty much all of today, you’ll be hiking around Lisi Lake, the most beautiful outdoor spot in the center of the city.
But while most people only explore the pretty but unadventurous perimeter of the lake, there’s way more on offer in and around this area. So get prepared to explore it, cos I’m taking you on a mega tour.
Oh, and get ready to meet some friendly dogs—but I’ll get to all the furry-faced details very soon.
Breakfast on Day 3
You’ll need a big breakfast (and a packed lunch), because you’ll be burning some calories today. Here’s what I recommend for breakfast on day 3:
D.O.G. (Dog Organization Georgia)
I honestly can’t fully articulate how much I love this place (even though that’s meant to be my job).
There are lots of stray dogs, street dogs, and uncared-for pets in and around Tbilisi. Most of those strays and street dogs live harmoniously with the human population, who feed them, care for them, and make best friends with them.
But when pets and street dogs get sick or injured, there’s usually no-one who can (or will) look after them.
That’s where Dog Organization Georgia (or D.O.G. for short) come in. They rescue these dogs, care for them in their rural sanctuary on the outskirts of the city, and give them a nice quality of life.
And get this: anyone can visit the sanctuary, which is typically open during daylight hours, 7 days a week.
On a visit, you can pet the dogs, feed them, and take them on walks. Most people just take the dogs on a short walk around the perimeter of the lake, but there are endless places surrounding the area… so just go for an exploratory wander when you visit.
But if you’re visiting in warm weather, be careful about how hot the dogs might get on a longer walk.
A Long Hike Up and Along Lisi Ridge
Whether you take the dogs with you or not, there’s a massive ridge on the northern side of Lisi Lake—and you should explore it.
It stretches for a long while, offering various adventures of varying challenges, but no matter how far you follow it, it’s easy to find…
From the lake, look north, and you can see two ridges. You want to head to the highest of these two ridges, for loads of varied walks and wanders.
When you reach the ridge, walk west to at least to the first crucifix, which offers great views of the city and its surroundings. It’s around 4 miles (6.5km) from the lake to the crucifix, and this is enough for most people. It’s pretty impressive even though it’s easy and accessible.
If you want to push on further, there are much better adventures on offer. You can visit villages and towns including Dzveli Vedzisi, Kvemo Lisi, and Didgori, while little Chili Lake is also an option. You’ll also see lots of viewpoints, crucifixes and mountains, most of which you can clamber up. Use maps.me to check what’s possible—there are loads of routes.
But my favorite hike is this: head all the way along the ridge until you hit Tsodoreti. From here, walk through the village and along the road until you reach a forest to your south. Go uphill through that forest, and you’ll eventually hit the peak of Natlismtsemeli mountain, which measures in at around 1,400 meters (4,600 feet).
From up here, you get incredible views. Come down the other side of the mountain, through the small town of Mskhaldidi, an Azerbaijani settlement on the outskirts of Tbilisi.
Where to Eat on Day 3:
When you get back to the city, celebrate with a gigantic meal. I recommend:
Evening Activities for Day 3
Tours and Activities to Try in Tbilisi
Aside from all the city-center stuff we’ve already mentioned, there are way more tours you can take in the heart of Tbilisi. Here are 4 options for something a little different:
Getting Around in Tbilisi
Tbilisi’s public transport is surprisingly good, and you can easily get around most of the city by using nothing but that.
First up, they have a fast, reliable and regular Metro system—it’s not extensive (with only two lines) but it’s surprisingly good.
Aside from the Metro, you also have buses and minibuses (which, in this part of the world, are known as ‘marshrutkas’). They run around the entirety of the city, and Google Maps has information on when and where they run. But because the timetable information is sometimes inaccurate or outdated, just ask some friendly locals for help instead.
All forms of transport cost 1 lari per ride, and you pay using a transport card (which you can buy in most Metro stations). You can’t pay for inner-city transport with cash, so it’s essential to get one of these cards.
If you want to make best use of your time, and reach some of the city’s harder-to-reach places, taxis are very inexpensive. Download Bolt or Yandex, which work just like Uber. Taxis are readily available at all times, so they’re the best way to get around economically and speedily.
For getting from the airport to the city center, it’s possible to use both public transport and taxis.
But both of those things can be a headache when you’ve only just arrived in a city, so it’s a good idea to book a reputable, trusted and affordable private transfer from the airport right to the door of your accommodation.
It saves time and hassle, it’s super affordable, and it’s way less stressful than your other options.
Day Trips from Tbilisi
If you want to spend one of your Tbilisi days on a day trip outside of the city, there are a huge number of popular options. But some tours and destinations are way better than others, so here are my top four recommendations:
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