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What markets are there in Tbilisi: Dezerter, Lilo and others?

Food at Dezerter, antiques and paintings on the Dry Bridge.

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Short answer

The main Tbilisi markets for visitors are the Dezerter Bazaar near the central railway station (4 Sanapiro St.), and the flea market and Painters Market on the Dry Bridge. Dezerter sells local and imported food, while the Dry Bridge has antiques, souvenirs and paintings. Check the hours and route to the Lilo market separately.

Markets, bazaars and fairs in Tbilisi faq-cover-shopping-and-souvenirs.png

Why

  1. The Dezerter Bazaar works as a food market: villagers from around the capital sell vegetables, fruit, nuts, homemade dairy and spices.
  2. The Dry Bridge flea market has operated in its current form since the 1950s, when locals began selling their old belongings.
  3. The Painters Market works next to it on the Dry Bridge and sells paintings, graphics, pottery and handicrafts.

Details

The Dezerter Bazaar covers about 2,000 square metres, a typical day there starts around 07:00, and it is liveliest in late summer and autumn. You can taste products before buying. The stalls include cheeses, churchkhela, tklapi, spices and tkemali; for sauces, see What is the Georgian plum sauce tkemali called and what other sauces are there.

The Dry Bridge flea market has more than a hundred vendors, with vintage goods, coins, Soviet items, medals and jewellery. The Painters Market is open daily from 10:00 to 17:00, and simple paintings start at roughly GEL 20 to 30. You can reach the Dry Bridge by metro, bus or minibus; for the metro, see How to use the Tbilisi metro and how much a ride costs. Markets in Batumi are covered in What markets are there in Batumi.

Tip

Visit the food-oriented Dezerter Bazaar in the morning, and on the Dry Bridge compare prices from several sellers before buying.

What may differ

Hours and prices depend on the season and the seller; check the Dezerter Bazaar closing time and the Dry Bridge hours separately. Check the hours and route of the Lilo market separately.

Common misconception

The Dezerter Bazaar is a souvenir and antiques market.

What actually happens

The Dezerter Bazaar is primarily a food market (vegetables, fruit, cheese, spices), while antiques and paintings are sold on the Dry Bridge.

People also ask

  • How to get to the Dezerter Bazaar in Tbilisi?
  • Why is it called the Dezerter Bazaar?

Sources

Opening hours and prices at markets change; the data was checked on 10 November 2026.

Markets, bazaars and fairs in Tbilisi

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    Batumi's popular shopping destinations include Batumi Mall, Batumi Plaza, Metro City and Batumi Central, with clothing, cosmetics and jewellery stores and boutiques of Georgian and international designers.

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    McDonald's operates in Georgia and has an official Georgian website, so check addresses and opening hours with the chain itself.

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  • Which Georgian souvenirs should you bring home?

    Visitors usually bring home churchkhela, spices, dried fruit, wine, kantsi drinking horns, clay tableware, carpets, traditional hats, minankari enamel jewelry and fridge magnets.

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