Sulphur-bath domes, carved wooden balconies and courtyards that open onto wine bars: Tbilisi is where most journeys begin, and for a practical reason. The main airport and the roads out to every region are here, so the first evening can stay light: a walk, a long dinner, a plan for the morning.
What to do in Tbilisi
The old city rewards walking. Climb to Narikala fortress above the river (there is a cable car up, and a gentle walk down), then drop into the Abanotubani district, where the sulphur-bath domes sit at the foot of the hill. Lunch can be khachapuri and a first glass of qvevri wine, the clay-vessel method Georgia is known for (see the Kakheti wine guide).
Evenings suit a traditional restaurant rather than anything ambitious. Rezo builds the first day around your flight time, so arrival is never a schedule to beat.
Day trip: Mtskheta
About 25 minutes from the city, Mtskheta is the ancient capital and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Jvari Monastery and Svetitskhoveli Cathedral sit above the meeting point of two rivers. It is also the first stop on the Georgian Military Highway north, so many routes visit it on the way to Kazbegi.
How Tbilisi fits a longer route
Tbilisi sits on the Mtkvari river and is the hub for roads east, west and north:
- North to Kazbegi along the Georgian Military Highway.
- East over the Gombori pass to Kakheti, about 85 km and roughly two hours to Telavi.
- West to Kutaisi and Imereti, about 230 km and 3½ hours.
A night in Tbilisi between two long legs (for example between Tusheti and Kutaisi) keeps the driving easy. That kind of sequencing is what Rezo does for every trip; start with Design my trip and he will plan it around you.