Question 1

How many days do I need in Tbilisi?

Accepted Answer

3-4 days for the core — Old Town walk + Mtskheta UNESCO + Kakheti wine country. 5 days adds Stepantsminda + Gergeti Trinity Church (Mt. Kazbek 5,054m). 7 days adds David Gareja Monastery + a slow café day. Most travelers find 5 days the sweet spot, and few who go 7 days regret it. Combine with Yerevan (3-4 days) for a full 10-day Caucasus trip.

Question 2

When is the best time to visit?

Accepted Answer

April-June and September-October are the sweet spots — 15-25°C, low rainfall, Kakheti grape harvest in September is the canonical wine-country experience. July-August is hot (32°C+) and dusty in the city. December-February is cold (-5 to 5°C) but Stepantsminda mountain landscapes are at peak; Old Town is quiet and hotels are cheap. March and November are unpredictable shoulder months with excellent prices.

Question 3

Do I need a visa?

Accepted Answer

Visa-free 365 days for most passports (Korean, Japanese, EU, US, UK, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand). This is unique — most countries grant 30 or 90 days; Georgia's 365-day visa-free policy is the most generous in Europe + the Caucasus. The 365-day clock resets on each entry — leave and re-enter to extend. Passport must be valid 6+ months.

Question 4

Is Tbilisi safe?

Accepted Answer

One of the safest countries in Europe. Old Town and Rustaveli Avenue are well-policed; solo female travelers report few issues. Watch for pickpockets on the metro and at Sunday's Dry Bridge market. Avoid the border zones with Abkhazia and South Ossetia (Russian-occupied, no consular help possible). Traffic is aggressive — pedestrian rights are weakly enforced, so cross with caution.

Question 5

What language do they speak?

Accepted Answer

Georgian is the official language, written in its own script (Mkhedruli — Tbilisi street signs use it). English is universal in tourism, restaurants, and among younger people. Russian is the older-generation second language and works at the airport, marshrutka stations, and many taxi drivers. Bolt drivers tend to speak English. Older shopkeepers + market sellers often speak only Russian or Georgian.

Question 6

How does Tbilisi compare to other Caucasus capitals?

Accepted Answer

Tbilisi is the cheapest, most cosmopolitan, and most English-friendly — best for first-time Caucasus visitors. Yerevan (Armenia) is similar in price but more religious + monastic in feel, with Mount Ararat views. Baku (Azerbaijan) is more expensive (oil-money modern), more secular, with Soviet-era + futuristic architecture. The classic 10-day Caucasus trip combines Tbilisi (5-7 days) + Yerevan (3-4 days).

Question 7

How much does Tbilisi cost per day?

Accepted Answer

Among the cheapest European capitals. Budget $32/day (hostel + khinkali + walking). Mid-range $75/day (3-star hotel + sit-down meals + occasional taxi). Luxury $210+/day (Stamba Hotel + Cafe Littera + private Kakheti driver + sulfur bath private room). 1 USD ≈ GEL 2.7. Old Town meals GEL 20-60 / $7-22 per person — you can eat full days for under $20.

Question 8

Currency and payment tips?

Accepted Answer

Georgian Lari (GEL) is the local currency, pegged near 2.7 GEL = $1. ATMs everywhere — TBC Bank and Bank of Georgia are most reliable + fee-free for most foreign cards. Cards accepted at hotels, mid-range restaurants, and shops, but cash is essential for hawkers, marshrutkas, and the Dry Bridge market. Bring USD or EUR to convert at Old Town money changers (Gabliani is well-known) — rates are 5-8% better than the airport.

Question 9

Is tipping expected?

Accepted Answer

10% at sit-down restaurants is standard (often added automatically at modern places — check the bill). Hawker stalls and marshrutkas don't accept tips. Mid-range restaurants typically include service. At fine-dining (Barbarestan, Cafe Littera, Shavi Lomi), an extra 5% on top of included service is appreciated. Sulfur bath scrub attendant GEL 5-10 / $2-4. Hotel porters GEL 5 / $2. Bolt drivers don't expect tips.

Question 10

Are restaurants really that cheap?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Khinkali GEL 1.5-3 each at Pasanauri (5-7 per person makes a meal). Khachapuri GEL 8-12 / $3-5 at Retro Café. Lobio GEL 8-15 / $3-6 at Salobie Bia. Mtsvadi (Georgian shashlik) GEL 15-30 / $6-12 per skewer. Modern Georgian fine dining (Barbarestan, Cafe Littera, Shavi Lomi) GEL 50-135 / $18-50 per person — 30-40% the price of Western European equivalents.

Question 11

Hotel costs?

Accepted Answer

Hostels (Fabrika dorm) GEL 40-100 / $15-37 per night. 3-star hotels (Hotel Citrus, Ibis Styles) GEL 120-250 / $45-95. 4-star hotels (Mövenpick, Astoria) GEL 250-500 / $95-185. 5-star + heritage boutique (Stamba, Rooms Hotel, Marriott, Tbilisi Marriott) GEL 380-1,400 / $140-520. Honeymoon picks: Stamba for design, Rooms for slightly quieter design, Marriott for international brand reliability.

Question 12

Cost of major experiences?

Accepted Answer

Sulfur bath private room GEL 30-100 / $11-38 per hour. Narikala cable car GEL 2.50 / $0.95 each way. Kakheti wine day tour $60-80 per person (includes 2 wineries + Sighnaghi + lunch). Stepantsminda day tour $50-70 per person (13 hours, includes Ananuri + Gudauri + Gergeti Church). Mtskheta GEL 1 marshrutka or GEL 20 Bolt each way. Vino Underground flight GEL 35 / $13 for 5 amber wines.

Question 13

How do I get to Tbilisi?

Accepted Answer

Options: ① Fly direct to Tbilisi International (TBS) from Istanbul (3h, Turkish Airlines + Pegasus), Doha (4h, Qatar Airways), Dubai (3h, Emirates + flydubai), Warsaw (3h, LOT + Wizz Air), Riga (3h, airBaltic), or Bangkok (9h, seasonal direct via Georgian Airways). ② From North America/Europe, transit via Istanbul or Doha (the most common routes). ③ From Asia, Bangkok-Tbilisi seasonal direct is the rare gem; otherwise Istanbul + Doha transit.

Question 14

How do I get around Tbilisi?

Accepted Answer

Bolt (Estonian Uber) is the default — GEL 5-15 / $2-6 per ride across the city, GPS-metered, in English. Walking in the Old Town — most landmarks within 15-min radius. Metro 2 lines, GEL 1 per ride (top up MetroMoney card). Marshrutkas (shared minibuses) GEL 1 for city routes, GEL 1-15 for day trips — they leave when full, no schedule. Yandex Go is the secondary taxi app.

Question 15

How do I get from TBS airport to the Old Town?

Accepted Answer

Three options: ① Bolt GEL 22-30 / $8-11, 20-25 minutes (the easy default). ② Bus #37 GEL 0.50 / $0.20, 30 minutes to Freedom Square (covered, runs every 30 min). ③ Taxi GEL 30-40 / $11-15, 20 minutes (avoid — Bolt is cheaper + GPS-metered). Most travelers Bolt — predictable price + door-to-door.

Question 16

Is the Old Town walkable?

Accepted Answer

Yes — and walking is the way to see it. Old Town is roughly 1 × 1 km with most landmarks within 15 minutes on foot. Narikala Fortress, Mother of Georgia, Sioni Cathedral, Anchiskhati Basilica, Abanotubani sulfur baths, Bridge of Peace, Rezo Gabriadze Clock Tower — all walkable. Cobblestone streets and slopes — comfortable shoes are essential. Bolt back when tired or after dinner.

Question 17

How do I get to Mtskheta?

Accepted Answer

Bolt GEL 18-25 / $7-9 each way, 25-minute drive (the easy default for 2-3 people). Marshrutka GEL 1 / $0.40 from Didube Station, 30-40 minutes — leaves when full, no schedule. Day tour $25-40 per person includes Mtskheta + driver + lunch + Jvari Monastery shuttle.

Question 18

How do I get to Stepantsminda + Gergeti Trinity Church?

Accepted Answer

Day tour $50-70 per person is the easy default — includes transport + Ananuri + Gudauri + Gergeti + lunch + 4×4 shuttle to the church. Marshrutka from Didube Station GEL 15 / $5 each way, 3 hours per direction — you'll have about 3 hours in Stepantsminda before the last marshrutka back. The 4×4 shuttle up to the church is GEL 30 / $11 round-trip on top.

Question 19

How do I get to Kakheti wine country?

Accepted Answer

Day tour $60-80 per person is the easy default — covers 2 wineries (Schuchmann or Khareba + Pheasant's Tears) + Sighnaghi + Bodbe Monastery + lunch. Self-drive rental $35-50/day — possible but you can't drink at the wineries. Private driver $80-120/day for a small group — the right pick for 2-3 people who want a custom pace.

Question 20

What must I eat in Tbilisi?

Accepted Answer

The Tbilisi big five: Khinkali (soup dumplings — Velvet Underground or Pasanauri), Adjarian Khachapuri (boat-shaped cheese bread with egg + butter — Retro Café is canonical), Mtsvadi (Georgian shashlik over grapevine wood), Lobio (slow-cooked bean stew in a clay pot — Salobie Bia), and Saperavi red wine or amber wine (skin-contact white from qvevri amphoras — Vino Underground for a flight). Georgia is the world's oldest wine country at 8,000 years.

Question 21

Where do I drink Georgian natural wine in Tbilisi?

Accepted Answer

Vino Underground (Old Town cellar bar) is the canonical primer — a flight of five amber wines (GEL 35 / $13) with staff explaining each producer's village + grape + skin-contact technique. g.Vino is the more polished alternative on the same street. 8000 Vintages (Vake) carries the widest range for take-home bottles. Ask for amber wine (qvevri-fermented white with skin contact) — the canonical Georgian style most travelers haven't tried.

Question 22

Is Barbarestan worth the reservation?

Accepted Answer

Yes if you can book a week ahead. Barbarestan revived 19th-century recipes from a found cookbook by Barbare Jorjadze (the family ancestor) — eight-course tastings of pre-Soviet Georgian dishes you won't find anywhere else. $28-50 per person. The Prince family of twelve siblings still runs it. For modern Georgian without the reservation pressure, Shavi Lomi in Vera is the next-best alternative.

Question 23

What about Kakheti wine country day trips?

Accepted Answer

Kakheti is 90 minutes to 2 hours east of Tbilisi — most travelers do a day tour ($60-80 per person, 9:00-19:00, includes 2-3 wineries + Sighnaghi + lunch). Pheasant's Tears in Sighnaghi (American-Georgian winery on the Alazani Valley ridge) and Schuchmann Wines in Telavi (German-Georgian estate + boutique hotel) are the most-visited stops. The 8,000-year qvevri method is UNESCO Intangible Heritage 2013.

Question 24

Are there Michelin restaurants?

Accepted Answer

Georgia is not in the Michelin Guide yet, but Barbarestan (18th-century recipe revival), Cafe Littera (Writers' House garden), and Shavi Lomi (Vera) are all Michelin-level in technique + sourcing. Tbilisi's restaurant scene punches above its price point — $30-50 per person here would be $90-150 in Western Europe.

Question 25

Cost of a typical meal?

Accepted Answer

Hawker-priced meals GEL 5-25 / $2-9 per dish (khinkali, khachapuri stand). Mid-range tavernas (Salobie Bia, Pasanauri, Velvet Underground) GEL 20-60 / $7-22 per person. Modern Georgian fine dining (Barbarestan, Cafe Littera, Shavi Lomi) GEL 50-135 / $18-50 per person. Kakheti winery lunch GEL 60-200 / $22-75 per person. Tbilisi is one of the cheapest European capitals for food.

Question 26

What plug type and voltage?

Accepted Answer

Type C and Type F (220V, 50Hz) — same as continental Europe. US travelers need a plug adapter; UK travelers need a plug adapter (no voltage converter — most devices are dual-voltage). Hotels usually have USB ports at the bedside but bring your own adapter for laptop chargers.

Question 27

Is tap water safe to drink?

Accepted Answer

Yes — Tbilisi tap water is safe and clean. Most locals drink it straight. It's snowmelt from the Caucasus Mountains, channeled through the city's reservoir system. Bottled water is widely available (GEL 1-2 / $0.50) for travelers who prefer it. At restaurants, ask for 'tap water' explicitly if you don't want sparkling or bottled.

Question 28

Do I need travel insurance?

Accepted Answer

Strongly recommended. Georgia's healthcare system is functional in Tbilisi but limited outside the city — the medical evacuation costs from Stepantsminda or Kakheti are non-trivial. World Nomads, SafetyWing, and Allianz cover Georgia. Cost $30-60 for a 1-week trip. Most hotels can call an ambulance (ambulance #112) but you'll need insurance for the bill.

Question 29

What's the church dress code?

Accepted Answer

All Georgian Orthodox churches (Sioni, Anchiskhati, Sameba, Svetitskhoveli, Jvari, Gergeti Trinity) require: women cover heads with a scarf (free at most church entrances), shoulders and knees covered for both genders. No flash photography. No talking during liturgy. The dress code is strictly enforced at Sameba and Svetitskhoveli — looser at smaller neighborhood churches.

Question 30

Are there any cultural taboos?

Accepted Answer

Never refuse hospitality, especially wine or bread — Georgians take it personally. At a supra (feast), drink with the tamada's toast (don't sip throughout). Don't compare Georgia to Russia — Georgia fought a war with Russia in 2008, and the Russian-Ukrainian war has heightened sensitivities. Religion is taken seriously — the Orthodox Church is woven into national identity. Toasting culture is structured — wait for the tamada to lead; informal cheers are uncommon.

Question 31

What about Wi-Fi and SIM cards?

Accepted Answer

Wi-Fi is universal in cafés, restaurants, and hotels — free and fast. Local SIM cards GEL 5-15 / $2-6 with 10-20GB data from Magti, Geocell, or Beeline — sold at the airport arrival hall and at any TBC + Bank of Georgia branch. Most travelers stick with eSIM (Airalo $5-10 for 5GB) for convenience. Coverage is excellent in cities + along the Georgian Military Highway + Kakheti.

Tbilisi Travel FAQ