Hospitable Tbilisi is a one-day route through the most remarkable places of the capital.
The shortest route in Tbilisi, Georgia! We have written in an article on madloba all the sights of the local places that are definitely worth visiting, as well as important tips and recommendations. The capital of Georgia is full of sincere and kind residents, so be sure to visit Victoria — Pizzeria "Palermo". Any of your choice of establishments will make you come back here more than once because of the interesting and centuries-old culture.
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Tbilisi is a city with a long history, because it was founded in the 5th century. Like Georgia itself, it attracts tourists from all over the world. And meets very hospitably, these are the ancient traditions of the country.
There are many interesting places in the capital that are worth visiting. But what to do if there is only one day?
We offer a short route that will show the most remarkable places of Tbilisi. It will take 9-10 hours, healthy curiosity, a desire to touch the history of the Georgian capital, get acquainted with the local flavor and traditions.
Let's take a look at some cafes, because you will definitely want to get acquainted not only with the sights, but also with the delicious Caucasian cuisine.
We suggest starting the route from the cathedral Cathedral of Tsminda Sameba (Holy Trinity) on the left bank of the Kura, It stands on the hill of St. Elijah, therefore, is visible from afar, it is easy to find him. Getting here is also quite simple: Avlabari metro station or bus stop, route No. 122 and No. 91.
The cathedral was built recently, the consecration took place in 2004, although the first service in the unfinished church was held in 2002.
The Sameba Temple looks very majestic. Its height is 101 meters, and about 40 meters more — underground. The interior of the temple will not leave you indifferent. There are paintings and frescoes on the walls, the marble floor is decorated with mosaics. Each icon is provided with a brief description, the name is indicated.
Tsminda Sameba is a whole complex of buildings: a belfry, a monastery, a theological academy, 9 chapels, a hotel.
The cafe "Lagidze Waters" is also part of the temple complex. Khachapurnya with this name has been known in Tbilisi since the 19th century. They sold soft drinks with the addition of berries and fruits. These lemonades were of such high quality that they were delivered to the Russian capital, to the court of the emperor.
Now the cafe offers 4-5 types of lemonade, the menu includes delicious khachapuri.
The cafe is located on the right, in front of the exit from the temple complex, opens at 10:00.
A little to the left of the entrance to the temple territory, L'Angolo Cafe has settled on the street Samreklo str., 16. Come here if you want coffee. Visitors believe that it is the best in Tbilisi here, desserts are also wonderful, for example, dogwood cakes are very popular.
The cafe is small, but very cozy, with an interesting design. After all, his mistresses are also designers. They created a "delicious" establishment with a soulful atmosphere.
From Tsminda Sameba we descend to the Kura, go to the Metekhi temple, next to it is a monument to Vakhtang, the king–founder of the Georgian capital.
The temple was built on a rock above the river. Historians suggest that the first temple appeared here during the reign of Tsar Vakhtang, and his palace was located nearby. But written sources first mention the cathedral in the 12th century. At the same time, the territory of the temple was fortified, it was part of the fortress of the same name.
Since then, the temple has been rebuilt many times, but some elements of the exterior decoration of the 13th century have been preserved. In 1816-1819, the fortress walls were destroyed and a prison was erected in the vacant place. Its remains were dismantled only by the middle of the 20th century. The church was returned to the church in 1988 .
From the temple we go out to Rike Park. This is a modern park where locals and tourists like to walk. There are many beautiful flower beds, walking paths wind between them, cute benches are installed, there are playgrounds for children.
Perhaps, an unusual structure that is popularly called "two pipes" immediately attracts attention. It really looks like huge pipes. It is a cultural center.
If you stand with your back to the river, the Presidential Palace is visible on the left (1 Abdushelishvili Street), you can get closer to it and examine it.
A pedestrian bridge of the World connecting the banks of the Kura River was built next to the park in 2010. The glass and metal structure has already become one of the most popular attractions of the capital, its image is found on postcards, magnets and other Tbilisi souvenirs.
We are now interested in the lower station of the cable car, it is based in Rike Park. From here we go up to the Narikala fortress, the fare is 1 GEL. Admire the views from the cabin windows. Here are Metekhi, where you have just visited, and the old districts of the city. After leaving the trailer, you can stop at the observation deck and see the Old Town, it's all in front of you.
Narikala is an ancient fortress complex on the rocky shore of the Kura. It is assumed that the fortress was built in the 4th-5th century. But the main preserved defensive fortifications date back to the 16th and 17th centuries.
In the lower fort of the fortress is the Church of St. St. Nicholas, erected in the 12th century.
In the 19th century it was adapted for an armory. An explosion occurred, and the church was destroyed, only the foundation was preserved. At the end of the 20th century, a new church was built on this foundation, while recreating the original appearance of the church.
Along the paths and stairs, along Botanic Street, we descend from the fortress to the Abanotubani district, we head to the sulfur baths. The name of Tbilisi translates as "warm spring", there really are hot sulfur springs here. This water from the springs enters the baths, that's why they are "sulfur.
If you want to visit the baths, it is better to book a separate room in advance, the payment is hourly. The right option is to go to the baths in the evening to completely relax and enjoy your vacation. In the meantime, just look at the interesting buildings and move on.
The path at the end of the bathing quarter will lead to a waterfall, small but pretty. At the end of Abano Street, the Legvtakhevi Gorge (Fig Tree) begins, and the canyon ends with a waterfall. Pedestrian paths and bridges over the Tsavkisistskali River lead to it. Such an unusual attraction for a big city. It's not far to go, take a walk. This is especially pleasant in summer, in hot weather.
From the baths we go to the Maidan Square, which is near the Metekhi Bridge. The place is very picturesque, various cultures and religions are intertwined here, there is a Sioni temple and a synagogue nearby, and a minaret can be seen a little further away.
It is interesting to wander around the square, look into the shops, sit in a cafe. Have a snack at the Samikitno cafe (44 K. Abkhazi Street). The food is delicious, and the prices, by the standards of the Old Town, are not very high.
We walk along the ancient streets to the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Sionsky). It was the main temple of Georgia before the construction of Tsminda Sameba was completed.
The history of Sioni begins in the 6th century. It was then that a church was built on this site, but it was destroyed by the Arabs, who later settled the territory of Eastern Georgia.
Liberation was brought by David IV the Builder, who also ordered the construction of a new temple, which has been destroyed and restored more than once. The original appearance of the church was acquired during the restoration of 1980-1983 .
Orthodox shrines are kept in the church:
- cross of Saint Nino, educator of Georgia;
- miraculous icon of the Theotokos of Zion;
- the holy head of the Apostle Thomas.
There is another place in this part of the capital, on Shavteli Street, where you need to visit — the Puppet Theater, created by Rezo Gabriadze. Many have seen the films "Mimino", "Kin-dza-dza", "Do not grieve!" or at least heard about them. So, the author of the scripts for these films is Rezo Levanovich Gabriadze, a magician and a great hoaxer.
He created the Puppet Theater in 1891. The theater enjoys great success in Georgia, tours around the world. Yes, it's a puppet theater, but for adults. The interior of the theater and the dolls are the work of Master Rezo himself.
It is difficult to get to the performances, because there are only 80 seats in the hall, you need to buy tickets in advance. Even if you didn't get to the performance, you should come here. A clock tower was built next to the theater building in 2010, again, according to the project of Gabriadze. It is decorated with painted tiles, slightly skewed and tilted, sometimes it is called dancing.
Every hour an angel appearing in the opened door marks with a hammer blow on the bell. And twice — at noon and at seven o'clock in the evening, the shutters open on the tower, and the dolls show a mini-performance called "The Cycle of Life". There are quite a lot of spectators in front of the tower, everyone is watching with interest the change of periods of human life: birth, childhood, and so on — until death.
At the theater, to the left of the tower, there is a cafe Gabriadze. It was created and decorated again by Rezo Gabriadze. Here is such a multifaceted person — Rezo!
The guests are greeted by a bronze sculpture of a Chizhik-Pyzhik, a copy of the one that stands on the Fontanka in St. Petersburg. The interior is very bright and memorable. It's just interesting to come here and look around.
The Easter niche is lined with colored ceramics. There is a ceramic panel on the bar at the bottom. On the shelves above the counter there are bottles of Georgian wine, labels for them were drawn, of course, by master Rezo. And he painted the furniture in the hall himself, depicted scenes and plots of his films and performances. There are tables of different configurations, for example, a table for lovers — in the shape of a heart. The design is thought out to the smallest detail, all the details are in the same style.
Very tasty coffee is brewed here, and the institution was originally conceived as a coffee shop.
As Rezo himself says: "... so that one coffee bean is roasted there all the time and the smell spreads through the theater ..."
The menu includes traditional Georgian dishes and a large selection of local wine. The prices are quite high, but there are always a lot of visitors here.
Maybe you will sit down at a table to take a break after a long walk, have a cup of coffee or dinner, enjoy the atmosphere of this cozy cafe.
This is how the day of acquaintance with Tbilisi ends, he gave a lot of pleasant impressions, helped to form his own idea of this wonderful city.
If you stay in the capital for a few more days, take a walk in the Botanical Garden, climb Mtatsminda Mountain — it is interesting for both adults and children here, there are many attractions and playgrounds in the park. Children will also like the Tbilisi Zoo.
Tips and recommendations
Everyone who comes to Georgia takes Georgian wine home. You can buy it at any store. But we recommend you to look into the store "Wine Therapy", which is on Abano Street, 21. This is in the center, when you walk and look at the sulfur baths, you will surely see it.
Tastings are held here, friendly hosts and staff will tell you everything, show you, the purchased bottles will be packed so that you can be transported by any type of transport and the longest distances. After visiting this shop, the mood will be great, despite the money spent.
The choice of accommodation in Tbilisi is rich and diverse: hotels, hostels. Guest houses, etc. Many prefer apartments in order to feel like a local for a while. There are also many such accommodation options in the Georgian capital. And the hosts are usually wonderful: friendly and hospitable.
Let's name only one address that has been checked more than once: apartments on Baratashvili Street, 12. The owner's name is Sandro, he is very attentive to guests, tries to create all imaginable amenities for them, all household details are thought out. The apartment is large, with a terrace overlooking the Presidential Palace. There are many flowers that the owner asks to water. After all, it's not difficult, right?
In addition to the hotel's characteristic set of furniture, the apartment has a fully equipped kitchen and a washing machine, which is very convenient if you don't come for a couple of days. And there is even a grand piano!
The location is excellent: all significant and notable places of the city are nearby.
In guest reviews of this place, the words "excellent" and "magnificent" are most often found.
Finally, about "eating". Yes, there are a lot of cafes and restaurants in Tbilisi, where they serve delicious food. But I want to find a place where I feel like visiting my mother. Is this familiar to you?
Then go to Vika — Pizzeria "Palermo" on K. Tsamebuli Street, 11. The atmosphere here is sincere, truly family. Despite the fact that the word "pizzeria" is in the name, there are many dishes of Georgian cuisine on the menu.
The hostess greets the guests, tells about the best dishes and homemade wine, helps to make a choice.
Enjoy your acquaintance with Georgia and its capital!
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