10) Jumah Mosque. My visit to Chiatura was one of the most memorable parts of my first trip to Georgia. Great atmosphere and several bars to choose from. What to do there: To really learn about the cars, take a guided tour. The most parade street in Tbilisi George Nikoladze. The National Botanical Garden of Georgia (Tbilisi Botanical Garden) The Tbilisi Botanical Garden is a 161 Hectare parkland which can be accessed from the top of the Cable Car, departing from Rike Park. Moreover, from here you get a double epic view, Tbilisi Sea on one side and the Soviet suburbs on the other. Your jaw will be on the floor. I personally love Telavi and encourage you to spend the night here if you have time. This blog always tries to encourage independent travel but, if you are short in time, and want to travel comfortably, GetYourGuide offers a wide range of budget tours which can be booked with just one click and are always conducted by professional local guides. Davit Gareja lies on the border with Azerbaijan but is a viable day trip from Tbilisi. Tbilisi is a relatively safe city to visit, but you do need to be careful of crazy, erratic drivers. Book direct and use wanderlush for a 10% discount. If youre craving some fresh air and green space, Borjomi might be the best day trip from Tbilisi for you. Hidden away in this colourful and characterful district, youll find some of the best places to eat in Tbilisi, cool coffee shops, galleries, and an awful lot of cats! Really comfortable and everything is brand-new. Fabrika. Walk Over the Peace Bridge & Rike Park. Mtskheta Georgias ancient capital2. Drivers wait around Svetitskhoveli Cathedral (if in doubt, consult the staff at the tourist information office outside the cathedral). TRAVEL INSURANCE: Insure your trip with HeyMondo, my preferred provider for single-trip and annual travel insurance. Northern Armenia UNESCO monasteries and another stamp in the passport! We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. There are people that want you home in one piece. Youre rightKakheti has a bit of everything! Of course Chiatura isnt really forgotten at all people here are incredibly kind and eager to meet tourists. Sitting on the steep hill between Sulphur baths and the botanical garden, the fortress has earned the name "mother," signifying the deep connection of Georgians to their motherland. 1 offer from $410,00. The high point of a day trip to Mtskheta is visiting Jvari Monastery, one of Georgias most iconic houses of worship. Why its awesome: You can go high street shopping anywhere in the world. Ah yes, people often say Georgia (the country) to avoid confusion. Best places to see during our staying without making the trip hectic as we would love to relax as well. thanks for your kind comment Patrick! One of the most interesting places to visit in Tbilisi, this fort boasts some of the most jaw-dropping panoramic vistas. No, were not wine drinkers but might choose a pretty village feel over a lot of walking But Im only judging from what I can see in photos and yes, I plan to do Uplistikhe another day. Explore the nooks and crannies of the crumbling architecture and step inside Stalins personal bathhouse and former suite. It is named after Georgia's national poet and runs from Freedom Square down to Old Town. From there, its a 2km walk to the start of the canyon via a signed path. Your email address will not be published. 1. If you think the cable car that goes all the way up to Narikhala fortress is too modern, and boring, then I recommend you take the one in Vake that takes you straight to the Turtle Lake. Thanks, Siarra! Your photos are beautifulenjoyed the day trip to David Gareja. 4. I lived in Tbilisi for 7 months. If you happen to be travelling in late autumn, they usually organise special Rtveli wine harvest tours and events. The Javakheti Protected Areas is a chain of national parks and lakes on the plateau. exclusive 5% discount if purchasing via this link, Tbilisi has 2 very distinct faces. Find what to do today, this weekend, or in November. Fresh air and healing waters: Day trip from Tbilisi to Borjomi & Bakuriani. You can also visit Stalins armoured train carriage and see the house where he was born, both of which have been relocated onto the museum grounds. Metekhi (Metechi; Georgian: ) is a historic neighborhood of Tbilisi, Georgia, located (42.92N 44.34E) on the elevated cliff that overlooks the Mtkvari river. If you are interested in a bicycle tour, you will find . On your day 3 visiting Tbilisi, explore the new part of town by walking Rustaveli Avenue all the way to Vake. I am such a dark tourist and the Stalin Museum sound just up my street, plus slightly dangerous cave exploringperfect day trip. The capital of Georgia is the perfect place to get to know the history and culture of this fascinating country. There are two routes to Telavi from Tbilisi: the Gombori Pass takes around 2 hours, so its preferable to find a marshrutka/shared taxi that will follow this route. 3. Definitely! A round-trip transfer to Rabati and Vardzia starts from $100. He also happened to be a film director, painter, and graphic artist. Thanks Alousie! From the first pre-historic civilizations that inhabited the region until the invasion of the USSR, the National Museum of Georgia showcases all the layers of history of todays Georgia. There are local tour companies in Tbilisi that are notorious for pushing their drivers to the limit, overfilling vans, and cutting corners. Reply. They tend to be busy but the food is average compared to the restaurants from the list, so dont go there. Top choice: I recommend this full-day trip with Gamarjoba Tours to the monasteries and Alaverdi town. I have highlighted 3 of them on the above map but you can check all the locations on this link. Its very picturesque, especially when viewed from above from the church tower. Just 15 km away is Mtskheta, believed to be one of the oldest continually inhabited cities in the world and the former capital of Georgia.One of its highlights is the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral.Jvari Monastery is also nearby, giving breathtaking views of the Caucasus. Visit the Bridge of Peace. Free Walking Tour In Tbilisi. Weve tested countless day packs over the years, and now weve found our absolute favourite: the traveller-approved Osprey Daylite Plus. Heres the best neighbourhood in Tbilisi: These are the BEST Places to Visit in Tbilisi! This day trip is ideal for anyone whos on a tight itinerary that only covers Eastern Georgia. Still, don't be afraid to use the metro as it helps, especially when getting to/from the train station. They offer a few pre-designed itineraries or you can write to them for a customised day trip tailored to your needs. But even for the shortest trips, make sure you have our list of the best places to visit in Tbilisi at hand. A guided tour from Tbilisi to Telavi will give you a more in-depth look at the regions history while visiting smaller wineries that are difficult to get to without a guide. Otherwise, I recommend visiting this area separately and spending at least two nights in Kutaisi. I cant imagine that Stalin museum. I could happily spend a lifetime walking Tbilisis charming streets and hopping between cafes and restaurants. To get to Likani from Borjomi, take a minibus from the main street (look out for vans with Likani on the front). The capital of Georgia has undergone many invasions and been burnt and restored a couple of times, but despite that it still displays turbulent history and rich culture. For in-depth day trips to Georgias wine regions, I recommend Eat This! Drew and I loved strolling through Old Tbilisi's labyrinth of old cobblestone streets, spotting the dome-shaped sulfur baths, and admiring the beautiful homes . Vardzia & Rabati Fortress (Akhaltsikhe) Cave cities and castles13. I do not recommend visiting these places on a day trip from Tbilisi: Khevsureti, Tusheti, Vashlovani National Park. (Then again, you might not locals call Gergeti The Bride because shes often enveloped in a veil of fog.). There are two lines and they go to pretty much all the places I mentioned in the Tbilisi itinerary. Kashveti. All Rights Reserved. However you plan to travel, I highly recommend you avoid travelling after dark whenever possible, avoid very long day trips (4 hours on the road is the maximum distance covered here), and consider private cars or tours for longer journeys and more challenging roads. Sighnaghi itself is all charm: Cobbled streets, outdoor cafes and sweet museums. It was where all the politicians bought and built their huge houses. The church looks directly over the confluence of the Mtkvari and Aragvi rivers that meet in a mix of turquoise and inky blue waters, perfectly framing Svetitskhoveli and the rest of the city. In reality you can visit any combination of the wineries and monasteries mentioned here from either Sighnaghi or Telavi. Why its awesome: Wondering how to see Tbilisi from above? There is a museum to its most famous son, which has many interesting exhibits chronicling, East of Tbilisi is the Kakhetia wine region and definitely worth visiting to sample, Saperavi, Mukhuzani and other famous Georgian wines. As well as the TV Tower, theres also a dinosaur park and a fairground. Its essentially a long-distance Uber you use the website to book a transfer (one-way or return) with multiple stops, and you have a 24-hour window to complete the trip, meaning you can make as many pit stops as you like. Guides are great, group sizes are small, and it includes a delicious Armenian meal for lunch. What are the travel tips for Georgia? Marshrutka services are limited and there are no day tour offerings to Paravani at present so to travel to this part of Georgia from Tbilisi, your best option is to either hire a car or organise a driver for the day. Tours is a boutique company that works with small, family owned wineries and sommelier-guides to offer in-depth, immersive wine tours from Tbilisi. It is kind of where the open-minded Georgians and expats hang out. It's also very affordable as most things are in Georgia. These two sites combine to make an ideal day trip for anyone whos interested in Georgian history and culture. Why its awesome: Turns out there are a hell of a lot of viewpoints around Tbilisi! Note: Since the diamond bridge at Dashbashi Canyon opened in summer 2022, the feel of this place has changed a lot. 2022, The Broke Backpacker. Let me help you find an EPIC travel job. Take advantage of the amazing Georgia holiday packages and enjoy some of the best days in the beautiful country. Many attractions and civic landmarks still bear his moniker, including the Stalin Museum, which is dedicated to chronicling his life (albeit quite selectively). This pre-designed itinerary includes Bodbe, Sighnaghi, Winery Khareba and Gremi church, and costs $70 per car including transfers to and from Tbilisi. Its fast-paced, but if you only have a day in Kakheti, it could be the best option for you. Vans to Tsalka (for Dashbashi Canyon or Manglisi) depart from Central Bus Station (Ortachala) at 9am and cost 13 GEL. Being the capital city, Tbilisi has been witness to all the downfall and glory of the beautiful region where the Caucasus mountains stand tall. At the Sighnaghi National Museum youll find a permanent display of artworks by Georgias national painter, Pirosmani, who was born nearby. Joseph Stalin was born in Gori in 1878. The Chronicle of Georgia, often called the "Tbilisi Stonehenge", is a monument close to the Tbilisi sea. If you have your own car, make a detour to nearby Sabaduri Forest on the way. Required fields are marked *, document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a68c98c5d24a064cfde7d4cf50c5863d" );document.getElementById("g1a5e7aece").setAttribute( "id", "comment" );Comment *. Today they can be enjoyed by all. The tallest church in Tbilisi, the Holy Trinity Cathedral (Tsminda Sameba) is an unmissable feature of the Tbilisi skyline: its golden dome rises out from Elia Hill and is visible from almost any point in the city. The sky-high monasterys sole inhabitant, monk Maxime, recently passed away after spending a quarter of a century atop the pillar in solitude. One of the most famous is the Battle of Stalingrad. It was built by the Persians but it has served similar purposes for the Umayyads, several Georgian Kings, and the Mongols. Soviet city planning at its finest: Day trip from Tbilisi to Rustavi, 11. We paid 300USD for a 1-bedroom apartment in Sarbutalo. In summer there are a limited number of tourist vans that stop at Gudauri and Ananuri but again, its not a comfortable journey and youll have limited time in Kazbegi. Dive Bar This is like an institution in Tbilisi. VisaWhere to stayToursBest places to visit, Tbilisi off the beaten trackTransportationWhere to eatWhere to drinkBest cafs for digital nomadsMore information, Get travel insurance for trekking in GeorgiaI strongly recommend IATI Insurance as it provides coverage for a very big bunch of adventure activities.Get an exclusive 5% discount if purchasing via this link. Get travel insurance for trekking in Georgia I strongly recommend IATI Insurance as it provides coverage for a very big bunch of adventure activities. Read more about the initiative and my visit to Pankisi here. More information. You should explore the beautiful Old Town when you visit Tbilisi on day 1. I like it . The entire area around Chiatura and Katskhi is lush and verdant a total contrast to Eastern Georgia. But if your aim is to see a lot in one day, its an option. I offer a one-on-one consultation call service for Tbilisi and Georgia. Design your own itinerary and book a car using GoTrips Trip Planner. Top of the list are the Tbilisi History Museum (which is housed within an old caravanserai), the David Baazov Museum of Jewish History in Georgia, the Museum of . Q4. The metro in Tbilisi consists of those very deep metro stations characteristic of the Soviet Union. The river that goes through the middle of Tbilisi is called the Mtkvari river (or Kura), and it flows 1,500km river from Turkey to the Caspian Sea, in Iran. Anyways, what a great guide to Tbilisi. It follows the traditional route, Located about 15 kilometres southwest of Tbilisi is the mediaeval Kojori Fortress (also known as Agarani or Azeuli Fortress). There are more than enough places to visit in Tbilisi in 3 days, in fact, you may find theres enough to do for a week. This is a very old Soviet electric train its not very comfortable, and tickets can only be purchased from the machine on the train. What to do there: Theres really not much to go into the building for, since its the headquarters of a bank. Budget-friendly group tour: Over the course of 12 hours, this full-day tour with Gamarjoba Georgia includes a ride on the Kukushka train and a visit to Borjomi Central Park. Pankisi Valley is a great alternative day trip from Tbilisi. See the top 20 things to do in Pankisi here. This isnt an organised tour theres no guide, and when we travelled, the driver didnt speak English. Best Super Budget Hostel Pushkin 10 Hostel A cheaper option than Fabrika, this hostel is just outside the walls of the Old City. Another stamp in the passport: Day trip from Tbilisi to Northern Armenia, Pankisi Valley, an alternative day trip from Tbilisi, Oni (racha), mountain scenery & Jewish history, Rkoni village, hiking & biking near Tbilisi, Half-day tour of ancient Mtskheta with Friendly.ge, Kazbegi & the Georgian Military Highway with Gamarjoba Georgia Tours, Javakheti lakes, Gorelovka & Dashbashi Canyon, David Gareja Monastery & off-roading in Udabno, Day trip to Armenia with Gamarjoba Georgia. Sounds like somewhere I really should visit. A collection of historic tombstones decorate the church yard. What would you do in your opinion: short trip to Mtskheta only or a longer one to include Uplistsikhe too, given the short time we have in Tbilisi?