This cover picture is the the eye-catching, love-it-or-hate-it Peace Bridge. A zig-zagged pedestrian glass-and-steel bridge made by Italian architect Michele De Lucchi. As you may have guessed it opened recently, in 2010, and draws a stark comparison to the rest of Old Tbilisi.
Tbilisi by Foot!
Tbilisi, Georgia is best traveled by foot. This is not a city to simply pass through, because it is rich with cafés, galleries, museums, bars, churches, and mosques. It is known to be the Rome of the Caucasus region as it is very charming yet equally eccentric.
Quick Facts:
- Tbilisi is the capital of Georgia
- Has a complicated history under Persian rule and Russian rule
- Main Religion in the country is Eastern Orthodox
- 1 U.S. Dollar equals 2.94 Georgian Lari (GEL)
Food to Try
I am going to start with almost everyone’s favorite topic, food! What can you eat in Tbilisi? Along with the standard meals you’d find in the Western world, Tbilisi has Georgian special dishes like the below:
Khinkali – Dumplings filled with meat and spices.
Khachapuri – Is a sensational Georgian cheese stuffed bread.
Other notable mentions include, badrijani nigvzi (roasted eggplant), Lobio (bean soup), qababi (kebabs), and matsoni (Georgian yogurt). There is so much taste in Georgian food as it is a hybrid of flavors from Greece and the Mediterranean.
Places to See in Tbilisi
Now onto how to burn the calories. I mean places to see in Tbilisi!
When you walk through the maze-like narrow streets of the Tbilisi, you will be in awe of every wooden home, bohemian bar, tempting cafe, and ancient stone church you pass by. A travel bloggers dream!
Old Town Tbilisi
All of Old Town Tbilisi is, of course, best explored by foot. Here are just some of the many things you can do in Old Town Tbilisi by foot.
- Liberty Square, the sulphur baths and Narikala Fortress. Built on the side of the hill leading up to the fortress, with steep rises and stairs leading up to spectacular views.
- There are churches, vintage shops, recently-restored houses fresh with colorful paint right besides crumbling facades with rickety spiral staircases and rusting cars in the courtyard.
Taking the cable car to Narikala Fortress is definitely one of Tbilisi’s top things to do!
Rustaveli Avenue, the city’s most trafficked street, which is lined with some incredible early 20th century buildings. These buildings include the Biltmore Hotel, the Georgian National Museum and the Rustaveli Cinema. Also check out the Flea Market on Dry Bridge (officially called the Saarbruecken Bridge) near Dedaena Park.
Bank of Georgia Headquarters
The building is located south of the city centre, on the way to Mtskheta, and it is made with 5 separate cube-shaped modules layered on top of each other.
It looks like… a Transformer? A crazy Lego jumble? A failed game of Jenga? You tell me.
Fabrika Hostel & Suites
This is an odd one to include on your list, as you might be thinking why would I want to go to a hostel. What’s so special about it? This is not your typical hostel. It is a cute urban style cafe/bar, that has art studios, shops, educational institutions, a co-working space, and of course a hostel. It also includes an open space courtyard that hosts a plethora of events.
Museums + History
- The National Museum of Georgia – From pre-historic civilizations that inhabited the region to the invasion of the USSR, the National Museum of Georgia showcases all the layers of history of modern day Georgia.
- Georgian Museum of Fine Arts – A private family collection that includes over 3500 paintings by over 100 Georgian artists. Most of the work dates back to 1945 – though there are some earlier works. The mission of the family is to unite and promote Georgian soviet and post-soviet art in ultimately one art institution.
As you can see, there is just so much to do in this historic city. And the amazing part is that it can all be done by foot! Its must-see attractions are largely grouped together, and feature some fascinating architecture that captures modern and old styles.
I hope you enjoyed this Tbilisi by foot guide. Comment below if you’ve ever been to Tbilisi and what was your favorite thing to do!
For other top Caucasus region locations check out our Yerevan articles
Georgia has never been on my radar but it is so pretty! The food looks amazing too!
Hannah | http://hannahonhorizon.com
I have always fascinated about visiting Tbilisi in autumn, for no particular reason. These pictures are totally making me want to visit the country right away! Georgia is one of the top countries in my bucket list to cross off.
One day I will hope to make it to this city! It sounds like an incredible place and the architecture looks so beautiful! Thank you for sharing
I have taken special interest in visiting Georgia after an acquaintance who had travelled there told me she had loved it. I hope I can visit soon. 🙂
I’ve seen so many good things about Tbilisi lately! This post definitely makes me want to go even more especially the food.
Wow the architecture here is just beautiful, I loved seeing your pictures.
The photos in your post are amazing!!