What to see and where to go in Tbilisi. Tbilisi and its surroundings: main attractions and unusual entertainments Extreme tourism

I continue my story about Georgia with an article about Tbilisi . In this article I will tell you what we managed to see in the city in a couple of days, and also share our findings in terms of hotels, restaurants, shops, etc.

We arrived in Tbilisi by car By Georgian Military Road. Stunningly beautiful road at an altitude of more than 2000 meters! Read about it in this article). The border was passed in Upper Lars. Along the way we saw enough beautiful mountain panoramas and other attractions. And therefore we approached Tbilisi already in the dark.

It was not very late yet, about 9 pm. And we really hoped that we would still have time to do one important thing - exchange rubles for local lari . All the guidebooks wrote that it is most profitable to do this in Tbilisi, because... in small villages the course may not be very good. The only question was: how long do these exchangers work in Tbilisi? When we saw the big building shopping center Tbilisi mall, we realized that this was our chance: usually such shopping centers are open late, and there is always an exchange office there.

That’s exactly how it turned out, so after 20 minutes we had Georgian lari in our hands (as well as a local Beeline SIM card), and we decided to take a walk around it for the remaining half hour before the shopping center closed.

From the very first minutes it became clear that you shouldn’t count on fabulous shopping in Tbilisi: the assortment in the stores is very standard, the same you will find in any Russian shopping center (in the same SEA-Mall in Sochi), but the prices are perhaps higher, and despite for September, no discounts on summer collections (although you can understand them, of course, it was still +25 outside). The shopping center itself is large, 6 floors, but some pavilions are empty. There is a large Carrefour supermarket, but we didn’t have time to go there.

But we were not upset: now we have money, so we can buy everything in any other supermarket. And all we had to do was get to our place for the night. The navigator showed another 10 km drive.

What tourists should know about Tbilisi

This is exactly what I want to call my story. Because most of the guidebooks that describe the sights of Tbilisi in vivid colors, alas, do not write about how difficult it is to find normal accommodation here, what a hell it can be for you to travel to Tbilisi in your own car, etc.

Where to stay in Tbilisi: difficulties of choice

Despite the fact that we were traveling by car, we had intentions to explore Tbilisi during hiking(in order not to have to worry about parking, or to return to the hotel when you want to relax, you will need to change clothes). And therefore we were looking for a compromise between a good location and the cost of the hotel.

But booking sites - roomguru.ru, booking.com— we were not happy: we were lucky to arrive on Friday evening, and all normal options were simply swept away. In short, after much persuasion of ourselves, we decided to take separate room in the hostel. But right in the center! But in a hostel. But a separate... Do you understand, yes, the reason for our doubts? You can’t count on your own bathroom in a hostel. But we thought that we would still walk around the city, and we could brush our teeth a couple of times a day (morning and evening) in the shared bathroom. The main thing is that it (the bathroom) and the room itself are clean.

This is what the hostel looked like on Mazniashvilli Street:

In general, looking ahead, friends, I will give you some friendly advice: never (!) stay in a hostel if you are over 30 years old, and in normal life you have your own separate apartment. Look for inexpensive hotels (even if further from the center) or guest houses or apartments. But not hostels. Because this is an overnight stay option only for poor and cheerful students, who don’t mind waiting 20-30 minutes in the morning for the bathroom to be free, don’t mind walking into the kitchen in their underwear past strangers, don’t mind... nothing at all.

Check out these hotels in Tbilisi: Harmony Hotel Meidan INN.

But for the sake of fairness, I note: the location of the hostel is really very good. And the interior design is not bad.

There are also comfortable tables and benches on the street, where we sat down that same evening with wine and fruit bought at the store around the corner. And even our car found a place to park. This is where I end my whining about the hostel and move on to the next point.

Sights of Tbilisi

In the morning, we, tired from the previous day on the road, slept shamelessly until almost noon (plus an hour time difference from Sochi). And we woke up exactly at the same time as most of our student neighbors, who had been happily partying all night on those very tables under the window. And so it took us a while to get into the bathroom.

Having breakfast in the same kitchen with half-naked students was out of the question. And so we just decided to go out into the city and have breakfast along the route. We walked for five minutes along D. Agmashenebeli Street - this is where our quiet lane opened up:

And soon we found ourselves on the big beautiful square(Marjanishvili metro station):

Where McDonald's happily welcomed us into its arms:

No, we are not fans of fast food, but we did not see any other cafes during our walk, except for a couple of club-type restaurants that were not yet accepting guests at that hour. McDonald's wasn't particularly happy either. After communicating with the cashier, a young girl who clearly no longer studied Russian at school (so I had to switch to English), we grabbed some burgers and coffee. In general, the breakfast turned out to be so-so: both expensive and tasteless.

Something needs to be changed urgently, we thought. “Bohemian” hostel, burgers - this is not what we came to Tbilisi for! And we opened the navigator and moved towards the embankment, planning to walk to the old city.

While we were walking, the mood began to improve - because the architecture around us contributed to this:

We went out to the embankment and walked along it:

On the other side of the river, urban architecture was full of new forms:

But today we still had to see this lady - Mother of Kartli - up close:

Having reached the bridge, we decided to cross to the other side of the river, because... all the attractions were located, the ships according to the navigator, exactly there. There is a lively flea market on the bridge:

Fans of rarities and antiques will be able to find more than one thing for their collection at these ruins... And for sure, if you look, you can find something really worthwhile among these endless badges, records, suitcases and sets from the USSR era. But I haven’t yet discovered a craving for collecting (rather, on the contrary - I ruthlessly get rid of old trash, because I don’t tolerate cluttering my home with things). But for those who love and know how to live among eclecticism, they definitely won’t leave Tbilisi without a couple of suitcases of “artifacts” ;-)

In general, Tbilisi is such an explosive mixture of architectural styles and historical eras that even we did not even try to remember in what year this or that temple or bridge was built.

But in general, it will still be useful to know some facts from the history of the city so that the bright puzzles can fit into the overall picture.

History of Tbilisi

The city lies at the crossroads between Europe and Asia, and therefore many peoples and figures have left their traces here. The name of the city translates as “warm spring”, and indeed Tiflis (as the capital was called until 1936) was founded on warm springs, where the sulfur baths are now located.

As the legend says, back in 458, King Vakhtang I Gorgasal was hunting in the forests on the banks of the Kura River and wounded a pheasant (according to another version, a deer), and the animal ran to a sulfur spring and was immediately healed with hot water. The king was amazed by the healing properties of the spring, and decided to build a city on this site.

However, this is still a legend, albeit a beautiful one. But the reality is this: the first written mention of Tbilisi, as a fortress above the river, dates back to the 4th century AD. At that time, a Persian citadel already existed, which would later become the famous Narikala, and the capital of the Georgian kings was in Mtskheta, 20 km from Tbilisi. And the merit of King Vakhtang was that in the 5th century he captured and restored the Persian fortress, and also began construction of the city. At the same time, on the other bank of the Kura River, the Metekhi fortress was erected, where today there is a temple of the same name and a monument to Vakhtang, who founded Tbilisi. This citadel became the residence of all subsequent rulers of Georgia.

Such a treasure, of course, immediately attracted the attention of the conquerors, and raids immediately began on the city: first it was captured by the Persians, then the Arabs took it over. Both the Mongols and the Turks did not bypass Tbilisi. And in the 18th century, Tbilisi became the subject of a large dispute in political battles Russian Empire, Ottoman Empire and Persia. The rulers of Georgia were in a difficult position, not knowing which side to take. As a result, Russia won the negotiations, and an agreement was signed between the rulers of the two states on the accession of Georgia to the Russian Empire.

After this, a new round in the development of Tbilisi began: in the 19th century, the city grew, new enterprises opened, trade developed, and the population increased. The city became the cultural center of the entire Caucasus - famous writers, poets and artists from Russia and Europe often visited here. At the same time, a telegraph appeared in Tbilisi, an opera house opened, and the Transcaucasian Revolution passed through the city. railway. The only tragic event was the earthquake of 1827, which destroyed many houses, and therefore most of Old Tbilisi today is represented by houses of the second half and end of the 19th century.

Of course, the Soviet builders of communism also made their contribution to the architecture of the city. And now Tbilisi has completely become a “testing ground” for unusual design solutions.

This is all we were about to see in the next few hours.

What you can see in Tbilisi: our route around the city

If you are not a fan of amateur activities, then just buy yourself one of the excursions around Tbilisi, since there are a huge variety of them on offer

And if you just want to take a walk around the city, plotting the optimal route, and see everything yourself, then read my article further.

Flower House: Ministry of Justice

We saw this building, which resembles a large white water lily from above, from afar while walking along the embankment:

For some reason it reminded me of our Olympic venues in Sochi.

And right opposite it, across the road, there was a casino:

And what is this beautiful building rising above the river, on the other side? And this is the Presidential Palace:

The construction was initiated by the country's former president Mikheil Saakashvili. Oh, it’s unlikely that he will be able to do something like that in the Ukrainian capital...

Continuing our way along the embankment, we soon saw one of the new “art objects” of Tbilisi - the Peace Bridge.

Bridge of Peace

Glass footbridge across the Kura River was built in 2010 and very quickly became a symbol of the revival of Tbilisi:

Resembling the shell of a giant turtle, the bridge attracts tourists. The architect was Italian, the designer was French. The bridge turned out to be very interesting, although some people don’t like it (they say its popular name is “laying”)... Recently, the new authorities even wanted to demolish this bridge, but for now they seem to have left it.

We take a selfie on the bridge (wow!) We cross to the other side of the river. And we find ourselves in a beautiful park.

Rike Park

Bright greenery (there is no smell of autumn here yet), fountains, benches - the atmosphere is traditional for any city park. But you also come across such extraordinary “exhibits” - a piano in the bushes:

Stylish benches and chairs of different shapes will provide rest to legs tired from walking around the city:

And a drinking fountain will not let you die of thirst even on a hot day :) By the way, prices for an ordinary 0.5 bottle of mineral water, even in the center of Tbilisi, can differ 10 times (in some places we were offered it for 5 GEL, and in others for 50 tetri)

Here, in Rike Park, there is another bright representative of futuristic design, causing aesthetic controversy - Cultural center, also known as the Theater of Music and Drama.

State Theater of Music and Drama

This structure also causes a lot of controversy among the people, but they have not yet come up with an offensive name for it, and most often they call it Two Pipes. Despite the fact that the building looks quite finished from the outside, the interior decoration is not finished at the moment.

In the evening, the fountains in the park dance to the music (wow!). But the evening is still far away, and it beckons us cable car, which takes tourists up the hill to the Narikala fortress.

But we are not the only ones who want to ride the cable car, and before plunging into the cable car, we have to stand in a rather long queue:

Although something tells me that this queue, compared to the summer queues, is just flowers...

The cable car costs 5 lari one way (10 lari there and back, but it’s more interesting to go down on foot, we did that), and it operates from 11.00 to 23.00.

The views from the cable car cabin are simply amazing! For example, these:

And these are:

The entire climb takes less than 5 minutes. And now we are enjoying panoramic views of Tbilisi:

The obligatory stalls with souvenirs and soft drinks are also present here:

And on the other side of the hill lies the Tbilisi Botanical Garden. It’s nice and big, but I didn’t really want to walk around it in such heat.

Here on the hill we took a closer look at the statue Mother of Kartli . This is what she looked like from this angle:

In her right hand, Mother of Kartli holds a sword to greet those who come with war, and in her left hand she holds a cup of wine for guests who come in peace. This monument was built on the top of Sololaki Hill in honor of the 1500th anniversary of Tbilisi. At first it was wooden, then aluminum, and in the 90s it was replaced by the one that towers over Tbilisi now.

In the other direction from the cable car there is a path to the Narikala fortress.

Narikala Fortress

This place is very popular among tourists, and you most likely will not be able to avoid visiting it :-) All postcard views of Tbilisi, as a rule, were taken here:

This defensive structure was built more than 1,500 years ago. Entrance to the fortress is free (as is the case with most fortresses and temples in Georgia, and this distinguishes it very favorably from Abkhazia). Entrance to the temple itself is also free (just throw a scarf over your hair if you are a woman). During our visit to the temple, a wedding ceremony was going on there. Very beautiful bride and groom, elegant guests (mostly young people), everything is just like in the picture.

After the temple we walk up the fortress wall: the views of Tbilisi from here are wonderful both during the day and in the evening, when the lights are turned on. Highest point- near the cross above the fortress, but climbing there is not very convenient - the steps are missing in places, and not everyone can climb what’s left of them...

From above you have a good view of the area Abanotubani - a quarter in the center of Tbilisi, famous for the complex of sulfur baths. The area of ​​sulfur baths is usually the place to end your walk around Tbilisi, so you can take a steam bath after running around the city.

But somehow we were not inspired by this idea, because... on the street it was like being in a bathhouse. I rather wanted a cool shower...

Old town

We go down the hill on foot, along the stairs. The descent takes 10-15 minutes. And now we find ourselves in the same Old town . This is the Tbilisi where the narrow streets climb steeply up the mountain. It’s so cool that I wouldn’t risk leaving the car here with just the handbrake…

Where carved wooden balconies peacefully coexist with modern banners of hotels and restaurants:

Everything here remains almost the same as it was 50 and 100 years ago... We bet that grandmother sitting on the porch will never sit in the cable car flying over her house? But at the same time, these two Tbilisis - new and old - do not interfere with each other.

Let's go to Gorgasali Square , which is another significant tourist place in Tbilisi.

Every tourist who has visited here must have a photo with the letters “I love Tbilisi”.

There are many cafes and restaurants on the square, and at the same time they are all packed to capacity with tourists! There are simply no free tables! And we just want to sit down and eat something. We decide to walk a little further down the street.

Let's pass Zion Square, let's pass Sioni Church and a few more chapels - and there are so many of them in Tbilisi that I stop remembering the names in my twenties...

We notice this excellent wine shop:

But we just want to eat. We buy wine for the evening. Let's move on. However, we didn’t have to go far - turning into one of the alleys, we find ourselves on this street - the whole Food Street. The name of this “edal” street is Sioni street:

Finally, we choose a purely visually cozy table on the street and sit down to eat. Keeping us company is this cute little cat:

In the meantime, they are carrying our order, you can check your email and upload a couple of frames to Instagram:

As for Georgian food - its cost, and why adherents of healthy food in Georgia will have to search long and tediously for something suitable, I already wrote in this article: .

For example, I most often had to be content with approximately the following set of dishes:

Such a modest snack - two salads, two soups, and lavash, without wine - costs us 42 lari (10% service charge was already included in the receipt). I think it's a little expensive. But for tourist center city ​​this price tag is standard.

That little guy on the balcony (on the left in the frame) is forced to inhale the aromas of local restaurants around the clock. And for sure, I’ve already hit more than a dozen lenses... Having been carried away by photographing, I myself didn’t notice the routes I took to reach a large area.

Freedom Square

On this square there once stood a monument - to whom do you think? - Of course, Lenin. Actually, like in many cities of the Soviet Union. Now Freedom Square is decorated with a column with St. George the Victorious killing the serpent.

The city administration and the Marriott Hotel are also located here. We didn't see anything else interesting in this square.

But turning onto Pushkin Street, we notice such a trench. This is the excavation of an ancient temple:

They were discovered when they decided to restore several buildings located here. However, after seeing these archaeological finds, it was decided to begin large-scale research. The special masonry suggests that these ruins are centuries old. In fact, here you can see several layers of city life.

After the excavations were completed, the road was re-paved. But the ruins of the fortress wall were left open. I had seen a lot of such “tunnels” in the past in Rome. There, too, you walk along the sidewalk, like on the ground, and then you look down, beyond the fence - and there the catacombs go down another 5 meters...

Pushkin Street smoothly turns into N. Baratashvilli Street. There is also something for a curious tourist to look at. For example, here are such funny monuments:

You can also sit in restaurants:

This street will take you to the bridge over the Kura River. But we didn’t go to the bridge, but turned again deeper into the old quarters. Because behind the bridge an ordinary residential area clearly began, and in the depths of that narrow street there could be something interesting lurking.

And as it turned out, our intuition did not let us down. We went straight to the Rezo Gabriadze Puppet Theater.

Puppet Theater Rezo Gabriadze

You may have heard about Rezo Gabriadze thanks to the films “Kin-Dza-Dza” and “Mimino”. He also created a very unusual puppet theater in Tbilisi. In the very center of the city, tourists love to take pictures of a quaint house with a clock tower nearby - this is it.

Every hour, a golden-winged angel appears from the painted doors and knocks on the bell with a hammer. And at 12.00 and 19.00 you can see a mini-performance in the tower - “The Cycle of Life”. We were lucky - we got to the theater right around 19:00. And at first they didn’t understand why such a crowd had gathered in the small nook in front of the tower. And after a few minutes everything became clear.

We returned to the Peace Bridge already at dusk, when Tbilisi began to sparkle with evening illumination:

The bridge itself also shimmered in the night and no longer looked like a turtle shell (and not like an illuminated gasket, no!), but like some kind of cosmic object:

Our day in Tbilisi ended again with Rike Park. The fountains in it were already dancing with might and main:

Across the river, on a hill, the illuminated Narikala shone. And the statue of Mother Georgia.

And we barely had enough strength to walk to our car, parked at that same hostel. By the way, the street next to the hostel in the evening also turned out to be nicely illuminated, it’s just that yesterday we no longer had the strength to walk far along it.

However, that evening we also walked through it very quickly. We were not happy to spend another night in a “student” environment; we wanted banal comfort. That is, your own separate bathroom. And we very successfully booked ourselves during the day Hotel Stal+ somewhere near the Tsminda Sameba Cathedral. It cost “only” 80 lari and - oh, miracle! — this price tag even included breakfast.

After a 9-meter room in a hostel (but separate! and with a double bed), this room with a balcony, its own bathroom and shower seemed to us like heaven on earth:

Yes, it’s completely impossible to get to this hotel without a car (unless by taxi). Yes, the cemetery is across the road (and you know about the Old Believer cemetery in the center Olympic Park in Sochi?). But we were very pleased with breakfast: after catering, any home-cooked food is welcome!

And we, well-fed and satisfied, went to look at the Tsminda Sameba Cathedral.

Tsminda Sameba Cathedral

This cathedral, unlike many others in Tbilisi, is completely new; it was built in 2002 on Avlabari Hill. It can be seen from almost anywhere in the city, especially in the evening and at night - it is beautifully illuminated. The cathedral amazes with its monumentality - almost 70 meters in height. The gilded dome glitters in the sun so much that it can be seen at the opposite end of Tbilisi.

But to get to it by car, we had to (thanks to the navigator!) pretty much get lost along these dead streets:

And then look for a parking space in the narrow streets adjacent to the cathedral: on this Sunday there were a lot of people wanting to get into it...

Finally, having parked the car a block from the cathedral, we go up the street where handkerchiefs and candles are sold and several beggars are sitting. Probably, here they have a better chance of finding a compassionate soul...

We enter the cathedral territory from somewhere on the side:

And therefore, first we go into the temple itself, and only then we go out onto the main alley leading to it. Everything here is very decent - benches, fountains, and drinking water fountains:

Next, according to the plan, we had another visit to the Rike Park area, at Europe Square for a closer look Metekhi Church and Gorgasali statue on horseback (yesterday we only saw them from the funicular). But after looking at what “squiggles” the navigator drew for us, we part with this idea - there is no desire to wander through the labyrinth of intricate Tbilisi streets again. And the heat drives us away from the big city...

In the meantime, I want to summarize our inspection of Tbilisi and... not just to give advice, just to say in a friendly way:

• don't skimp on accommodation. Our first night in the hostel really spoiled our impression of Tbilisi. More precisely, it was not the impressions that were spoiled, but our physical state the next day (in terms of energy, we fell somewhere below the plinth, and it was very difficult afterwards - we spent the whole day recovering);

Recommended hotels in Tbilisi: Harmony Hotel (inexpensive option, in which we planned to live, but the last room was taken right from under our noses), , Meidan INN.

• don’t try to see in two or three that's all, that's all, that's all! We even half interesting places didn’t look in Tbilisi , as I understand it. But who needs these records? You can purposefully walk around Tbilisi in the places listed above, or you can just wander randomly - both options work in the capital of Georgia;

• automobile in Tbilisi itself you don’t really need it - you can see the main attractions in the center of Tbilisi without it. But if the boundaries of your interests extend outside the city limits , then it will be very inconvenient to get to most of them without a car. Rent a car on the website Myrentacar
• if you don’t like “assembling construction sets” (i.e. planning a route, booking hotels yourself), but just want to come to Georgia and see the sights, take ready-made tour to Georgia. You can select and order a tour >>here<<

Definitely, Tbilisi is a very interesting and beautiful city. But somehow there was no direct brain explosion. I realized for myself: natural attractions inspire me much more.

But if they ask me whether it’s worth coming to Tbilisi, would I go back there again? — I’ll answer without hesitation: OF COURSE, YES!

See you on the blog, and have a wonderful trip!

In this article you will find the best routes to the most interesting sights of Tbilisi, and also find out what to see in Tbilisi first, in 1 or 2 days. In other words, everything is mentioned here that will make you fall in love with the capital of Georgia and its people and then return here again.

Where to live in Tbilisi?

Without a doubt, one, two or even three days are not enough to get to know such a colorful and charismatic city. But, unfortunately, it also happens - our vacations are short and we want to have time to see something else besides the capital of the country, or a person simply came to Tbilisi on a business trip and wants to see the city at the same time.

For a deeper immersion into the unique atmosphere of the Georgian capital, I would recommend not staying in typical monotonous hotels with their buffets and IKEA furniture, but renting an apartment somewhere in the Old Town in a real Tbilisi house with high ceilings and an authentic courtyard and wide endless stairs, and at least for a couple of days feel like a local resident.

I can confidently recommend this one wonderful apartment in Avlabari area overlooking Tsminda Sameba, cozy modern apart-hotel in the very “heart” of the Old Town - the Kala district, excellent apartment with terrace in the historical district of Abanotubani (this is where Tbilisi was once born) and wonderful apartment with a very warm and hospitable hostess in the very center of Tbilisi, near Freedom Square.

If you are planning your independent trip to Georgia or just a weekend trip to Tbilisi, be sure to check out my selections and - they contain only the most valuable information from personal experience of numerous trips to Tbilisi over several years.

What to see in Tbilisi in 1 day

If you are interested in a specific area of ​​Tbilisi, you can click on the name and go straight to its description and coordinates.

1. Freedom Square

The main square of the capital of independent Georgia is notable for its “golden” statue of St. George (the heavenly patron of Georgia, which explains the English name of the country - Georgia), which in the early 90s replaced the statue of Lenin in the central square of Tbilisi.

Freedom Square coordinates: N41.69336, E44.80152.

2. Sololaki district

If you only have a few hours to explore Tbilisi, I would recommend heading straight here to the residential areas of the Old Town. Everything else: bridges, churches, avenues - there are many places, but narrow curved streets, twined with grapes and shaded by the famous Tbilisi balconies (many of which are the size of a room in a typical Moscow apartment) are found only in Tbilisi and nowhere else.

Sololaki, house of the Mailyan brothers

In my opinion, this is the most suitable place to choose a hotel or apartment - if your goal is to feel the spirit and atmosphere of the real old Tbilisi.

3. Kldisubani area

If Rustaveli Avenue is the “core” of Tbilisi, the Sololaki district is its “heart”, then the rocky area of ​​Kldisubani is its “semantic beginning”. The place where, in time immemorial, a previously ordinary settlement began to turn into one of the most interesting cities in Europe.

It is in Kldisubani that the most ancient and unique temples are located (among which there is even a sanctuary of fire worshipers), steep staircase streets, stunning viewpoints - and houses hang above the streets, sometimes contrary to the laws of physics.

4. Meydani Square

The historical center of the Old City, where all its roads converge: along Kote Abkhazi Street from here you can get to Freedom Square, along Tumanyan (Tumaniani) Street - to Kldisubani, along Gorgasali Street - to the Abanotubani sulfur baths area. Well, the Metekhi Bridge will take you to the left bank, where the Avlabari and Metekhi districts extend.

Meydani Square coordinates: N41.68993, E44.80908.

5. Kote Abkhazi Street

“Stanovoi Ridge” of Old Tbilisi, Kote Abkhazi street meanders through the Qala district from Freedom Square to Meydani Square. The sights and excellent cafes/restaurants on this street alone would be enough for a small regional center: Georgian and Armenian churches, a synagogue, one of the few surviving Tbilisi caravanserais - and in the alleys there are the legendary Tbilisi courtyards, which have not yet been reached by long (and, often, crooked) hands of restorers.

6. Charden District

Unofficially named area Chardin, formed by two streets (they could be called parallel, if they did not bend in two graceful arcs between Meydani Square and Abkhazi Street) Shardeni and Bambis Rigi.

The street and the area got their names in honor of the French traveler Jean Chardin, who visited Tbilisi on a Catholic mission in the 19th century and colorfully described the city in his notes.

Chardin is an approximate analogue of Moscow's Arbat with its pedestrian zone and the former Red October factory with its current abundance of various drinking establishments.

In addition to bars and clubs, Chardin is known for his unusual sculptures: for example, the famous figure of the “Toastmaster”, four images of the actress Sofiko Chiaureli, a grinning Sergei Parajanov falling at you from the wall, and a very big-nosed character who has been waiting for a horse-drawn horse near the Sioni Cathedral for several years.

7. Sioni Cathedral

Sioni- one of the most important Georgian religious shrines. Before the Tsminda Sameba Cathedral was built on the opposite bank of the Kura, Sioni was the main Orthodox church in all of Georgia.

Currently, it is in Sioni that the cross of St. Nino is kept - the first Christian cross in Georgia, made by her personally from a grapevine, intertwined with her own hair. During enemy raids, the relic was taken for storage to a remote mountain, but when the danger had passed, it was returned.

Sioni coordinates: N41.69133, E44.80753.

8. Avlabari and Metekhi districts

Avlabari- this is the Armenian past and the Georgian present, embodied in a very original mix.

An extremely picturesque and colorful area of ​​the city - this is where the tallest church in Georgia, Tsminda Sameba, and two Armenian temples rise (and one of them is half blown up, with a crack from the roof to the foundation), the palace of Queen Darejan (Sachino) rises on a rock, looking at passers-by the heroes of the film “Mimino”, the cozy Rike Park and the famous Peace Bridge await their guests - as well as much, much more.

Monument "Mimino" in Avlabari

Metekhi district notable above all for its famous church Metekhi— it is located on the very bank of the Kura River, not far from Rike Park, and is one of the most ancient and revered churches in Tbilisi and throughout Georgia.

Metekhi Church and monument to King Vakhtang Gorgasali

9. Tbilisi cable car

The cable car is one of the most interesting (and, importantly, inexpensive) entertainment in Tbilisi. In a few minutes of time and 0.5 lari of money, the cabin will take you to the foot of the Mother Georgia statue, towering over the city.

View of the city from Narikala

The cable car cabins fly over the most picturesque areas of the city - somewhere in Rome or Paris they would charge at least ten euros for such an attraction. But in Tbilisi this is an ordinary public transport (you can pay for travel with a metro card).

Coordinates of the lower cable car station: N41.69194, E44.81065.

10. Narikala fortress and the statue of “Mother Georgia”

The ruins of an ancient fortress tower over the Old Town and invariably attract views. They look especially impressive at night thanks to skillful lighting:

The fortress in this place was mentioned back in Byzantine times, but it became truly impregnable during the four-century rule of the Arabs: they learned how to build fortresses from the Crusaders, and learned them well.

Narikala fortress coordinates: N41.688, E44.80846.

Statue "Mother Georgia"(Kartlis-deda) is a symbolic monument located just above the fortress. This is not a monument to any specific Georgian mother, but rather a material embodiment of the character of the nation: in one hand the statue holds a cup of wine - for friends, and in the other clutches the hilt of a sword - for enemies.

Coordinates of “Mother of Georgia”: N41.68807, E44.80471.

Two roads lead down from the upper station of the cable car: one winds between the ancient houses and carved balconies of the Kldisubani district and leads to Meydani Square, and the second (essentially an inconspicuous path-staircase) leads exactly to the upper entrance to the Botanical Garden, located on the other side Sololaki ridge.

11. Tbilisi Botanical Garden

An amazing place for a leisurely stroll on a sultry summer day. However, at other times of the year in Botanical Garden it won't be boring.

Coordinates of the lower entrance to the Botanical Garden: N41.68704, E44.80908(the upper one is located near the upper cable car station).

12. Abanotubani (“Bath area”), gorge and waterfall

The city of Tbilisi once arose in this very place, where warm sulfur springs come out of the ground and where the famous sulfur baths of the region are now located Abanotubani.

The legendary pheasant and hawk in Abanotubani - in the background is the facade of the Orbeliani bathhouse

What does a pheasant have to do with the founding of Tbilisi, how to walk from the city center in 10 minutes to a real gorge, why Sunnis and Shiites pray in the same mosque, what is a sulfur bath and how to go to it correctly - you will find answers to all these questions in

Tours of Tbilisi from local residents

For curious and sociable travelers who want the most... O To fully experience the unique atmosphere of Tbilisi and get to know its residents better, I recommend paying attention to “first-person” tours of the city - your guides will be local residents, journalists, historians, artists and simply experts in their native places. Below is a selection of the most interesting and popular excursions in Tbilisi according to traveler reviews. To see all available options, click View All. At the booking stage, you will only need to pay 20% of the excursion cost online - the rest of the amount is given to the guide before it starts.

Mtatsminda district —

1. Tsminda Sameba Church

At the moment it is the main Orthodox church in Georgia. Built with the active assistance and partly with the money of the country's former president Bidzina Ivanishvili, the bulk of the new cathedral, rising in the middle of the historical buildings, still causes considerable controversy among the residents of Tbilisi.

Tsminda Sameba coordinates: N41.6975, E44.81664.

2. Presidential Palace

The favorite “toy” of former President Saakashvili and an excellent object for ridicule of his desire to “be a Europe greater than Europe itself.” Built in 2009, the “Avlabari Residence” was initially built according to the design of a local architect, but it was completed by an Italian, which led to the appearance of this building on the map of Tbilisi:

Coordinates of the Presidential Palace: N41.69561, E44.8111.

3. Rike Park

Rike Park is located on the left gentle bank of the Kura, the name “Rike” itself can be translated as “flat bank”. According to the organizers, the outlines of Rike Park repeat Georgia as it is visible on the map. True, the country’s borders have changed somewhat since the opening of Rike Park, although officially Georgia naturally does not agree with these changes.

Smiling Ronald Reagan in Rike Park

The area of ​​Georgia is only 69,700 km², but the relatively small territory has a high concentration of attractions: ancient cities, historical sites, unique landscapes and miraculous masterpieces. You can see all the most interesting things in a couple of weeks, but even those with limited time will be able to have a fun and eventful time. In this article I will tell you where you can go from for one day.

Georgian Military Road

One of the brightest places we visited in Georgia was the Georgian Military Road. The route passes through the main Caucasus ridge and connects cities such as Vladikavkaz and Tbilisi. For tourists, the Georgian Military Road is attractive with numerous attractions, observation platforms and, of course, amazing mountain scenery.

Ideally, to truly enjoy the surrounding beauty, you need to come here for at least a couple of days, but one day will be enough to walk through the alpine meadows and visit several interesting places.

• Duration of the trip is 10-14 hours;
• You can organize an excursion along the Georgian Military Road either on your own, by taking a bus or taxi, or by purchasing a tour at one of the agencies in the capital;

Uplistsikhe + Gori

One of the main attractions of Georgia is the cave city of Uplistsikhe. In addition to its unique architecture and centuries-old history, the complex gained tourist popularity due to its close location to the capital (85 km). In one day you can see not only Uplistsikhe, but also the Stalin Museum in Gori, and if you plan the route correctly, you will also be able to visit Mtskheta.

The duration of the trip is 4-6 hours. If you go to Gori, then another + 2-3 hours.

Mtskheta + Jvari Temple

Mtskheta is the ancient capital of Georgia and the holiest city in the country. Its main attractions are temples and monasteries. Despite the fact that I am not a particularly religious person, I like Mtskheta and I highly recommend including a visit to it in your program. For what?

• The tunic of Jesus Christ is kept in the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral. The very clothes in which he was crucified;
• From the observation deck of the Jvari temple there is a beautiful panorama of the confluence of two rivers;
• The first worship cross in Georgia was installed here. It is believed that it was from here that Christianity spread throughout the country;

Mtskheta is 30 km away. from Tbilisi. To see the city and the Jvari temple, you need 4-6 hours, including travel time.

Sighnaghi

A trip to Sighnaghi is a good idea for those who want to get away from the capital for one day. Cobblestone roads, tiled roofs, pastel-colored building facades—this is how the city greets visitors after major reconstruction. Why go to Singhahi?

• Walk along quiet paths and admire the views of the Alazani Valley;
• Visit the Bodbe Monastery, where the relics of St. Nino rest;
• Rent an apartment in Sighnaghi or for a couple of days and explore from here;

You can take a one-day tour from Tbilisi, which includes not only a walk around Sighnaghi, but also a visit to several cathedrals and. As a rule, such an excursion lasts 10-14 hours, depending on the program.

Report from our trip: sights and impressions.

David Gareji is a complex of ancient monasteries on the border of Georgia and Azerbaijan. The object is notable for its landscape and centuries-old history. It consists of numerous temples, cells and caves. Unfortunately, we were never able to visit David Gareji, but our friends were here and were delighted with the excursion. I can’t tell you more about it, but I know one thing for sure – the trip is worth it!

Tbilisi has been explored, time to move on. Of course, before going to Georgia you will read dozens of articles about what to see in Tbilisi and where you can have time to travel from the capital for 1 or 2 days. A detailed plan for spending time in Tiflis, so in this article you will find several ideas for one or two day trips from the city.

***To plan a trip to Georgia, it will be more effective to study all my articles on this topic and place emphasis:

Where to go from Tbilisi for one day

First, decide how you will move. There are 3 options: renting your own car, renting a car with a driver-guide, public transport. I will leave several of my passwords at once for easy organization of the transfer.

Travel options

Car rental

Kazbegi, Stepantsminda

150 km from the city

What is this?

Traveling along the Georgian military road to the great Kazbek is the most popular one-day destination from Tbilisi. Firstly, because the road itself will force you to stop every few kilometers for a photo (you will find a large guide to stops on the Georgian Military Road). Secondly, because the road leads to the most beautiful mountain village of Stepantsminda, in which there are 2 attractions - the Gergeti Church and the hotel (by clicking on the link you will find an excellent description of the hotel).

Georgian Military Road View of Kazbegi from Rooms Hotel Kazbegi Gergeti Church

How to get there?

You can get there by your own car or with a driver ($50 one way, $100 round trip + bargaining and connections!), you can take a group excursion for $25 at an agency in Tbilisi, or you can take a minibus from Didube station for 10 lari ($2 ,5). Getting back is cheaper - local horsemen take you to Tbilisi in good cars for 10-15 lari per person (provided the car is filled with 4-5 people). Feel free to go, bargain and gather onlookers - foreigners who also need to go to Tbilisi. The ascent to Gergeti is best done in local jeeps (very picturesque), fixed price 60 GEL / $24, again, fill the car to capacity with those who wish.

Arch of Friendship on the Georgian Military Road

What to see in Stepantsminda?

This is a fantastic place, where you can go overnight, but you can also go there and go back and forth. One of the disadvantages of a one-day trip is that the weather in this area is very changeable, so if you go for 1 day, you risk not seeing Kazbek in all its glory. And of course, the chic interiors, fireplace, rooms, pool Rooms simply cannot be missed when in Georgia (by the way, they have expanded the spa area there and are building cedar barrels in the open air). The price (about $150 for a room with a luxurious breakfast) is completely justified. But even if you don’t stay there, just stop by for a coffee; the Rooms veranda really offers the best view of Kazbek.

Morning at Rooms Hotel Kazbegi
Rooms Hotel Kazbegi is always so cozy
Pool Rooms Hotel Kazbegi At Rooms Hotel Kazbegi, even bad weather is perfect!

In the village itself, you can go up to the Gergeti Church (on foot or in a jeep for 60 GEL / $24 per car), walk, watch the life of the locals, hang out in a pleasant Cafe 5047m (despite the gnarly external veranda, inside you can find echoes of a vintage Tbilisi apartment). But this is for those who are not ready for complex natural challenges. For advanced travelers, I recommend renting ATVs (they are only available at the Rooms hotel, unfortunately, at a high price of about $50 per hour) or going on one of the trekking trips around.

View of the Truso Valley

What to see around Stepantsminda?

For a long time I tormented the hotel staff about their favorite place in the area and everyone answered unanimously - the Sno Valley, where the village of Juta and Mount Chaukhi are. When I got there for the first time, it was a delight! Wild horses, mountain streams, a couple of trendy camps that can be reached on foot from the village and unreal views of Chaukhi. You can find a detailed report about this place. Let me just say that this is one of my favorite places in the world and I will definitely go back there for trekking through the pass with tents (as there are magical blue lakes in the valley!).

Juta and view of the Chaukhi pass

Therefore, if you have time and want to go somewhere from Stepantsminda, I recommend the Gveleti waterfall (by car + 1-2 km on foot), the Truso valley (it is better to take a one-day excursion from the village) and a light hike to the Sno valley. From Stepantsminda, take a jeep (40 GEL if you bargain well), drive through the stone heads of the Sno valley to the village of Juta. Leave the driver/car there and spend 2-3 hours walking through the mountains to Zeta Camping or 5th seasons. Guaranteed, if the weather is good, it will be the brightest impression of Georgia.

By the way, tracking in this place can be organized through the person Tato Makiashvilli (+995 599 92 84 70). He gave me the best price of all the guides: $680 for 2 nights 3 days route Stepantsminda - Juta - overnight at Zeta Сamping - Chaukhi pass - overnight in tents near the blue lakes - Rozhko - transfer to Tbilisi. And all this with a porter horse, food and all the necessary equipment.

As an idea on the route Tbilisi - Kazbegi - be sure to try Paragliding! This is a paragliding flight with an instructor right over a mountain gorge! Book only with Fly Caucasus, preferably without prepayment, since the weather is very changeable and you risk simply “forgetting” your deposit. They fly from two places - near the Annanuri fortress and after the Gudauri ski resort. Prices are reasonable, starting at $60.

Fly Caucasus flies from two points - Annanuri and Gudauri

Kakheti - the wine region of Georgia

The entire route is about 300 km.

This is a wine region east of Tbilisi. I was there on my 23rd birthday and was absolutely amazed by the coziness of this region. Before buying a standard excursion, I studied ALL the places that the guides offer and created my own route around Kakheti.

In Kakheti you can hug sheep!

Ideally, Kakheti should be given 2 days to stop and spend the night at some winery or in a castle hotel (by the way, you can just have a very tasty dinner by the fireplace there) or in a hotel with an infinity pool by the lake - or the top Kakheti Lopota Lake Reasort&Spa. Yes, these are the three best hotels in Kakheti, do not ignore them.

But it’s also not bad if you go in one day. There are many inexpensive excursions that do not need to be booked in advance - you can buy them at agencies on the spot, but it is best to find a suitable driver for the day (the best price you can negotiate is $60 - but this is completely for your own). In this case, you should use my map - route around Kakheti.

Several descriptions in addition to the map (places along the route):

Vardzia + Rabat

The entire route is about 500 km.

This can be considered the southern part of Georgia. I only got to it on my third visit, but it is no less a beautiful part of nature that is worth paying attention to. Usually seen in this region are the huge (eight-story!) cave city of Vardzia (not to be confused with Uplistsikhe) and the restored beautiful Rabat fortress, licked for tourists.

Rabat Fortress at sunset

Vardzia is an ancient city from the time of Queen Tamara in a rock the size of an eight-story building

But most of all I liked the non-tourist road Tbilisi - Tsalka - Vardzia. Be sure to start your route clockwise (Tbilisi - Tsalka - Vardzia - Rabat - Tbilisi) to catch the perfect daylight views along lakes Paravani and Sagamo. This is not a tourist road at all, so there will be no stupid cafes and gas stations and “grandfathers on the highways” along it, only an ideal route along the lush hills of the Algeti National Park, only horses and sheep of wild villages.