Acquaintance with the sights of Tbilisi is worth starting with a walk around the Old City. It is completely built up with charming two-three-story houses twined with vines.
Each building has its own unique story, and any local resident will be happy to tell it as well as a professional guide. Check liuxers for customs and traditions of Georgia.
In the Old City, on top of Mount Mtatsminda, there is the main attraction of Tbilisi – Narikala fortress, built by the Persians in the 4th century and destroyed by an earthquake in 1827. In 1990, the Church of St. Nicholas was restored here with frescoes depicting biblical scenes and historical events of Georgia. From the top of Mtatsminda, a magnificent view of the city opens up, and at its foot there is a botanical garden – an artificial reserve with an area of 128 hectares.
Going down the unique Bethlehem street-staircase, you can get to Zion Cathedral. It was built in the 6th century, destroyed by the Arabs and rebuilt 6 centuries later. It is here that the main Christian relic of Georgia is kept – the ancient cross of St. Nina.
From the top of Mtatsminda, a magnificent view of the city opens up.
Another amazing place in the Old City is Abanotubani, the area of sulfur baths. Low, squat buildings with neat domes and large glass windows are built in an oriental style and named after their former owners. But the main thing here is not architecture at all: inside, anyone can feel the healing effect of hot sulfur springs, from the discovery of which, according to legend, the centuries-old history of the city began.
The oldest church in Tbilisi is Anchiskhati, built in the 6th century. This is the only building that has survived to this day since the founding of the city.
The Anchiskhati Church got its name in honor of the Anchi icon, deeply revered by Georgian Christians.
A must-see place is the Metekhi region, spread out on the mountain of the same name. One of the oldest settlements on the territory of Georgia, the former royal residence, today it is perhaps the most picturesque place in Tbilisi. The Metekhi Church of the Mother of God, founded in the 12th century, rises above the Kura River. According to legend, it was here that Queen Tamara once prayed.
The main modern artery of the city is Rustaveli Avenue, on both sides of which sprawling plane trees are planted. It is here that tourists go in search of the best restaurants, museums, theaters, fashion boutiques and souvenir shops. The oldest building on the avenue is the Vorontsov Palace, decorated in the style of a Renaissance palazzo and surrounded by a luxurious garden. Here are the Parliament, the National Museum and the State Academic Theater. Shota Rustaveli.
5 things to do in Tbilisi
- Look at ancient Tbilisi from the observation deck of the Narikala fortress.
- For the benefit of the body and spirit, spend time in the sulfur baths of Abanotubani.
- See at once all the architectural wealth of Georgia in the Ethnomuseum on Turtle Lake.
- Try out at least a dozen variations of the “khachapuri plus khinkali” duet.
- Buy an old costume and a real dagger at the flea market near the Dry Bridge.
Tbilisi for children
Mtatsminda Park is famous for its multi-colored castles with “falling” roofs and, of course, attractions: children’s, family, extreme and gaming. In winter, Tovli Babua, the Georgian Santa Claus, lives here. Entrance is free, the cost of attractions is 2-5 GEL.
Mtatsminda Park is located on the highest point of Tbilisi, with an excellent panorama from the observation deck.
The Ethnographic Museum is a real miniature model of Georgia, reflecting its diverse ethnic culture. On the territory there are about 70 traditional residential buildings from different regions of the country. A training center is open for children, where you can practice forging techniques. The cost of an adult ticket is 5 GEL, a child ticket is 1 GEL.
The children’s town “Mziuri”, which means “sunny”, was opened according to the idea of the writer Nodar Dumbadze. Unusual landscapes, sculptures of fairy-tale heroes, themed events – everything you need for an exciting family vacation.
Little guests of Tbilisi will definitely like the local zoo. Endangered species are represented here, all the inhabitants have their own names, some animals can even be stroked. There are 147 species of fish in the giant aquarium. Entrance – 2 GEL, for children under 3 years old – free of charge.
Weather
The climate of Tbilisi is temperate continental, summers are long and hot, autumns and springs are warm and rainy, winters are mild and relatively dry. The best time to travel to the Georgian capital is from early May to mid-October. However, it should be borne in mind that at the height of summer it is very hot here, and prices in the high season increase significantly. An interesting nuance: local weather forecasters often underestimate real indicators, because at temperatures above +40 ° C it is necessary to declare an official holiday in the country.
