6 Things to Do in Tbilisi You Shouldn't Miss — Narikala Fortress, Bathhouses, Abanotubani, and the Bridge of Peace

Tbilisi is the kind of city that makes travelers say the same thing — they came for a few days and wanted to stay longer. The Old Town layers Persian, Caucasian, and Russian architecture into something unlike anywhere else, underground sulphur springs gave the city its name, and the nightlife punches well above its price point. Tbilisi is not a perfect city — and that's exactly the point.

#1

📍 On the cliffside above Tbilisi's Old Town

Narikala Fortress

Tbilisi's defining landmark, a fortress that has stood on this cliff since the 4th century. It gives you a 360-degree panorama of the city and the Mtkvari River below. Inside the walls, the rebuilt St. Nicholas Church is worth a look even if parts of the ramparts have crumbled away. The atmosphere — centuries of kingdoms stacked on top of each other — hits harder than any museum. You can reach it by cable car or on foot through the Old Town.

Best time Late afternoon 5–7 pm for the best light, or before 8 am to beat the crowds.

How to get there Cable car from Rike Park (riverside side), or walk up from Metechi Bridge through the Old Town lanes — about 20–25 minutes on foot.

Travel tips

• Take the cable car up from Rike Park — 2.5 lari (around US$0.90) — then walk back down through the Old Town via Abanotubani.
• The 6:30–7:30 pm window is the best light: golden hour hits the stone walls while the city lights below start to come on.
• Entry to the fortress is free at all times — one of the best viewpoints in the Caucasus at no cost.

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#2

📍 Abanotubani district, Tbilisi Old Town

Abanotubani Sulphur Baths

The original sulphur bath district that gave Tbilisi its name — Tbilisi means "warm waters" in Georgian — and has drawn bathers since the 5th century. The onion-shaped brick domes are the city's most recognizable skyline detail. The natural sulphur water flows at 37–43°C and is said to ease joint pain and benefit the skin. Private rooms rent for 15–60 lari per hour; public baths run just 1–2 lari. The Russian poet Pushkin bathed here and wrote that it was the finest bath of his life.

Best time Morning 9–11 am or mid-afternoon 2–4 pm, before the evening rush.

How to get there Walk about 20–25 minutes from Rustaveli Avenue through the Old Town, or take the metro to Abanotubani station and walk 10 minutes.

Travel tips

• Book ahead for a private room, especially on weekends — the price gap between public (1–2 lari) and private (15–60 lari) is wide, so decide before you arrive.
• The sulphur smell is strong on first entry. Give yourself 5–10 minutes in the water before judging it.
• Chreli Abano and Gulo Bath are the tourist favorites, but the lower-profile baths nearby tend to be cheaper and quieter.

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#3

📍 Spanning the Mtkvari River, linking the Old Town and Rike Park

Bridge of Peace

A pedestrian bridge that has become the symbol of modern Tbilisi. Designed by Italian architect Michele De Lucchi and opened in 2010, its wave-shaped steel-and-glass structure connects the Old Town to Rike Park on the opposite bank. After dark, over 30,000 LED lights make it hard to look away. It has its supporters and its critics — some argue the design clashes with the ancient architecture around it — which is itself part of Tbilisi's character: the old and the new always in the same frame.

Best time After 8 pm when the LED lights are at full brightness, or at sunset between 5:30 and 6:30 pm.

How to get there A 5–10 minute walk from the Old Town reaches the eastern end of the bridge, or approach from Rike Park on the western side.

Travel tips

• Cross it once by day for the Old Town views, and again after dark for the LED display — genuinely two different experiences.
• The Rike Park side has a pleasant riverside park with free seating, cafés, and activity spaces.
• From the bridge, you can walk straight to the Narikala cable car without changing transport.

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#4

📍 Along the banks of the Mtkvari River, central Tbilisi

Old Town Tbilisi

The heart of Tbilisi, and the part that stays with you. Georgian-Persian carved wooden balconies hang over winding lanes where a mosque, a Christian church, and a synagogue stand within a few minutes' walk of each other. Natural wine shops, cafés, artists' studios, and old boutique hotels spread through the streets. The half-restored, still-crumbling architecture is not an oversight — it is what keeps Tbilisi feeling real rather than staged.

Best time Early morning 8–10 am for a quiet atmosphere, or 7–9 pm when the shops are open and the streets are lively without being crowded.

How to get there Metro to Abanotubani or Liberty Square station, then walk into the Old Town — 5–10 minutes.

Travel tips

• Wander without a plan on a morning walk. The lanes between Shardeni Street and Leselidze Street tend to hide good spots and art that don't appear on any map.
• Watch your footing on the uneven paving, especially after rain — heeled shoes are a bad idea.
• The Dry Bridge market near the Old Town opens Saturday and Sunday mornings with antiques, souvenirs, and art at negotiable prices.

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#5

📍 Avlabari Hill, east of the city centre

Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi

The largest Georgian Orthodox cathedral in the Caucasus, completed in 2004 at a height of 84 metres. It is now one of the most visible landmarks in Tbilisi, visible from across the city. Inside, the Georgian artists' frescoes, gold leaf, and mosaic work are genuinely impressive. The atmosphere is calm and sacred. Entry is free, but dress code is enforced — women must cover their heads and wear a skirt. The gardens around the cathedral are worth a walk in their own right.

Best time Morning 8–10 am for natural light inside the cathedral and the quietest atmosphere.

How to get there Metro to Avlabari station, then walk uphill about 15 minutes, or take a taxi from the Old Town — around 10 minutes.

Travel tips

• Dress modestly. Women must cover their heads and wear a skirt; scarves and wraps are available to borrow at the entrance.
• You can walk up from the Avlabari district or take a taxi directly — about 5–7 lari from the Old Town.
• Early morning 8–9 am often has a liturgical service. The Georgian polyphonic choral singing is worth hearing even if you're not religious.

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#6

📍 On the cliff above the Mtkvari River, across from the Old Town

Metekhi Church

A 13th-century Orthodox church on a sheer cliff above the Mtkvari River — one of the defining Tbilisi views when seen from Metechi Bridge. The church's brick-red walls against the grey cliff face, with the equestrian statue of King Vakhtang Gorgasali (the founder of Tbilisi) standing out front, is the shot that ends up on every postcard. The interior has restored frescoes, and the place is noticeably less crowded than most other sites in the city — useful if you want some quiet.

Best time Morning 9–11 am, or at sunset when the church facade catches the warm light.

How to get there Walk from the Old Town across Metechi Bridge — about 10 minutes — or take a taxi from Liberty Square, around 5 minutes.

Travel tips

• The best angle for photos is from Metechi Bridge or from the opposite bank in the Old Town, not from inside the church itself.
• From Metekhi Church, you can walk directly down to Abanotubani in about 10–15 minutes.
• Same dress code as Sameba Cathedral — women must cover their heads.

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🏨 That's all 6 spots! Next step — book a top-rated stay in Tbilisi →