Bright and distinctive Tbilisi can surprise a tourist with its rich history, picturesque ancient architecture and extraordinary traditions of hospitality that have been observed here for hundreds of years. The city has another side - this is the boldly looking into the future outlines of the Bridge of Peace and the Theater of Music and Drama, modern amusement parks that meet the highest quality standards, as well as museums with current exhibitions.
After walking through the old quarters of Tbilisi, tourists are happy to taste excellent Georgian wine in restaurants and enjoy spicy dishes of national cuisine. The good nature of the locals is another advantage that speaks in favor of Tbilisi. Guests are always welcome here and will be happy to tell a lot of interesting things from the historical past of the city.
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What to see and where to go in Tbilisi?
The most interesting and beautiful places for walking. Photos and a short description.
Tbilisi old town
The historical part of Tbilisi, located at the foot of Mtatsminda. On the territory of the Old City there are ancient temples, palaces, mansions built in the best traditions of Georgian architecture. Many buildings have been renovated and converted into restaurants, wine tasting rooms, hotels and souvenir shops. However, there is another, non-tourist part of the area, where dilapidated emergency houses huddle, in which people still live.
Rustaveli Avenue
The central alley of Tbilisi, stretching from the square. Freedom to pl. Rustaveli 1.5 km. The street is the center of the city's cultural life, and many attractions are located here. The avenue was laid in the 19th century, the construction took place under the leadership of Prince Vorontsov - the governor of the Russian Empire in the Caucasus. Rustaveli Avenue is always very crowded, as this place is considered one of the best in the city for walking.
Narikala fortress
The first mentions of the fortress date back to the 5th century. Since the 7th century, it has been conquered more than once by the Byzantines, Mongols, and then by the Arabs. For a long time, Narikala was the center of the Georgian kingdom. A powerful fortification rises at the top of a hill surrounded by sheer cliffs, which seriously impeded the enemy's access during a siege. In 1827, as a result of a powerful earthquake, the structure was seriously damaged. Partial restoration was carried out in the 90s. XX century.
Tsminda Sameba
Cathedral of the Georgian Orthodox Church, which was erected in the period 1995-2004. designed by A. Mindiashvili. Given the difficult times in Georgia in the 90s, it was rather difficult to allocate the entire amount from the state budget, so a significant part of the money was collected thanks to voluntary donations. Tsminda Sameba is a whole complex, which includes a monastery, a seminary, the residence of the patriarch and a cathedral.
Metekhi temple
The church is located on the edge of a steep cliff in the center of Tbilisi. It was erected in the XIII century on the site of the palace of the founder of the city Vakhtang I Gorgasali. Over the next three centuries, the building was destroyed several times. A temple built in the 16th century has survived to this day. The architecture of the church is an exemplary example of Georgian temple architecture, which is characterized by laconic forms and the absence of decorative elements.
Anchiskhati Church
The church was built in the 6th century during the reign of Dachi Ujarmeli, the most ancient temple in Georgia that has survived to this day (taking into account the rebuilding and destruction of the 15th-17th centuries). During the Soviet era, the territory of the temple was adapted for a museum of folk crafts and an art workshop. Now one of the best choirs of Georgia is performing in the Anchiskhati church. The building also houses valuable icons.
Zion cathedral
Zion Cathedral was a cathedral until 2004. The first temple on this site was erected in the 6th century, later newer buildings appeared, in which fragments of previous buildings were used. As a result, the facade of the Zion Cathedral turned out to be composed of stone parts belonging to different eras. The most significant shrine of the church is the cross of St. Nino, which converted Georgia to the Christian faith.
Pantheon on Mount Mtatsminda
A necropolis where significant public and cultural figures of Georgia are buried. Scientists, writers, national heroes, famous artists are buried here. The cemetery was formed in 1929 in time for the centenary of A. Griboyedov's death in Iran. The pantheon contains the remains of A. Tsereteli, S. Janashia, L. Gudiashvili, F. Makharadze and other famous personalities. The first Georgian President Z. Gamsakhurdia is also buried here.
Flea market at the Dry Bridge
Flea market and tourist attraction located at the bridge over the Kura River. The flea market is a cult place; every guest of Tbilisi should definitely look here. The variety of goods is amazing - they sell antique porcelain, chandeliers, Soviet posters, cameras and even rare sets of surgical instruments. Some copies can cost up to several thousand dollars.
Rezo Gabriadze Puppet Theater
The theater is located in Old Tbilisi near the Anchiskhati Church. It was founded in 1981 by the playwright, director and artist R. Gabriadze. The stage is chamber, the auditorium is designed for only 80 seats. The troupe constantly takes part in international festivals and has already managed to visit many European countries, the USA and Canada on tour. The performances of the Puppet Theater have always received good reviews from critics.
Georgian Opera and Ballet Theater. Paliashvili
The building of the opera stage is located on the central Rustaveli Avenue. It was erected in the middle of the 19th century and, in the opinion of many contemporaries, was not inferior in beauty to the leading theaters in Europe. In 1874, the theater was destroyed by fire, after which a new building was erected, which now adorns the center of Tbilisi. Throughout the 20th century, the theater was the center of the cultural life of the Georgian capital.
Georgian National Museum
The museum is a whole network of galleries located throughout Georgia. The main branch is located in Tbilisi. The museum was founded in 2004, its funds included the collections of the Museum of the History of Tbilisi, the State Museum of Art of Georgia, the Dmanisi Museum-Reserve of History and Archeology, the Museum of Georgia named after S. Janashia and many others. The extensive exhibition covers the time period from the 4th century BC. until the XX century.
Tbilisi Ethnographic Museum
An open-air museum, which houses traditional Georgian houses and buildings collected from all regions of the country. The exposition was founded in 2004 thanks to the serious work of the ethnographer G. Chitai. The museum is located on a vast area of 52 hectares; its collection includes more than 70 houses and about 8 thousand historical artifacts. In addition to residential buildings, there are mills, wineries, a family tomb and an old temple on the territory of the museum.
Sulfur Baths (Abanotubani)
The attraction is located in the Abanotubani area, which stretches along the bed of the Kura River. Baths were erected on the site of ancient sulfur springs discovered during the reign of King Vakhtang I Gorgasal, the founder of Tbilisi. Bath water is supplied directly from the ground. The buildings are built of red brick and topped with round domes with windows through which ventilation is carried out. Inside the baths are lined with tiled tiles.
Freedom Square and Monument
The architectural ensemble of the square began to form in the middle of the 19th century, when the active development of Tbilisi began.During the Soviet era, dilapidated buildings were demolished and the square was renewed in accordance with the architectural traditions of that time. Nowadays, Freedom Square is the place where administrative and government buildings are concentrated. In the middle there is the Freedom Monument in the form of a 30-meter column and the statue of St. George, created according to the project of Z. Tsereteli in 2006.
Monument to the Heroes of the Movie Mimino
The monument was created by the famous sculptor Z. Tsereteli, it was installed in Tbilisi in 2011. on the territory of the Avlabari region. Initially, it was assumed that the sculptural group was to take place at the Patriarch's Ponds in Moscow. The monument symbolizes the friendship of the Georgian, Armenian and Russian peoples. This is exactly what the Mayor of Tbilisi spoke about at the opening of the monument in the presence of a large number of citizens.
Monument Mother of Kartli
The monument is a symbol of the national character of Georgia, in which many features are intertwined. The figure of Mother Kartli symbolizes hospitality and, at the same time, readiness to defend against enemies. The statue was created in 1958 by the sculptor E. Amashukeli to celebrate the 1,500th anniversary of the founding of the Georgian capital. The first monument was made of wood; in 1963 it was replaced with an aluminum copy.
Monument "History of Georgia"
The monument is located 13 km. from Tbilisi on the bank of the Tbilisi reservoir. It is a group of 16 columns 353 meters high. Each column depicts a certain plot related to the history of Georgia or biblical scenes. Also in the sculptural group is the cross of St. Nino, a church and statues of sages who contributed to the spread of Christianity. The sculptor Z. Tsereteli worked on the monument for almost 20 years.
Tbilisi Botanical Garden
The park was laid out in the middle of the 19th century in the place where the gardens of the Georgian kings were located - along the Legvta-Khevi river. After the territory was taken over by the Academy of Sciences, the planting area was significantly expanded. At the moment, the Botanical Garden occupies an area of 128 hectares. The plant diversity is represented by several thousand species, which are collected from all over the world and from different regions of Georgia.
Turtle lake
The reservoir is located at the northern slope of Mount Mtatsminda, about 3 km. from Tbilisi. Previously, turtles lived in these places, which is why the lake has such a name. For residents of the city, the reservoir is a popular place for outdoor recreation; on weekends, a lot of people come here. By itself, Turtle Lake is small in size and depth, it is located at an altitude of 686 meters above sea level.
Rike Park
City park on the left bank of the Kura River, opened in 2010 next to the Bridge of Peace. On its territory there are many entertainments for the whole family: children's labyrinths, a climbing wall for sport climbing, restaurants, a musical fountain. A grandiose futuristic structure of the Theater of Music and Drama was built in the park, created in the form of a giant mirror tube, reminiscent of the powerful turbines of a spaceship.
Tbilisi funicular
A cable car connecting the city center with the park on Mount Mtatsminda. The system was built at the beginning of the 20th century by invited Belgian engineers. In 1990, the cable was broken, as a result of which 15 people died. In 2000, there was another incident with a broken rope, after which the funicular stood abandoned until 2013. The renovated cable car is now operational again. On the way to the top, the funicular makes one stop at the Pantheon.
Mtatsminda amusement park
The park is located on the top of the mountain of the same name. Since the 19th century, this place has gained popularity among the townspeople; numerous taverns have appeared here. In the 30s. XX century on the mountain a square was laid out to them. Stalin, which became the prototype of the modern amusement park. On the territory there are attractions, water slides, original sculptures, models of ancient castles, cafes and green recreation areas.
Cable car
The cable car was built in 2012, it connects the Old City with the Narikala fortress. The design is made taking into account the most stringent safety requirements. During the ride in the cabins with glass floors, you can enjoy the picturesque views of Tbilisi stretching right under your feet. The cable car quickly gained popularity among tourists and entered the list of the main attractions of Tbilisi.
Bridge of peace
The modern bridge over the Kura River, built in 2010 by the Italian architect M. de Luca and lighting designer F. Martin. The structure connects the old and new parts of Tbilisi, symbolizing the transition from a glorious past to a promising future. The bridge is 156 meters long and about 5 meters wide. The building is made in high-tech style. The bridge is equipped with a powerful illumination system and is covered with a glass dome resembling a fishing net.
