Georgia
Tbilisi
Tbilisi is built around warm springs — the name comes from the Old Georgian word for "warm" — and it has been rebuilt around them for fifteen centuries. Persian balconies, Orthodox domes and Soviet concrete stand within one view.
A short history
Tbilisi has been fought over and rebuilt for 1,500 years. Sitting where Europe and Asia meet, it passed through Persian, Ottoman and Russian control before Georgian independence in 1991. The result is an old town where Persian-style balconies sit beside Orthodox churches and Soviet-era blocks, all within walking distance of the Narikala Fortress, which has watched the city since the 4th century.
Why travellers love it
Wine and mountains, at prices well below most of Europe. Georgia has been making wine for 8,000 years, and the Kakheti region is an easy day trip from the city. The old town is small enough to wander without a plan, which is the best way to see it.
Before you go
Georgia is visa-free for a long list of nationalities, often for a full year — one of the most generous policies anywhere — but confirm your own before you book. Marshrutka minibuses reach the wine country cheaply; a hired driver for the day is not expensive and saves a lot of waiting.
Highlights
- Narikala Fortress and the cable car
- Abanotubani sulfur baths
- Kakheti wine region day trip
- The Peace Bridge at night
Complete your trip
Two things worth sorting before you fly.
- Mobile data in GeorgiaAn eSIM you set up before you fly, so you are online the moment you land. Via Airalo.(opens in a new tab)
- Things to do in TbilisiTours, attraction tickets and airport transfers, booked ahead. Via Klook, in English.(opens in a new tab)
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Flights to Tbilisi
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