Things to Do in Tbilisi
Discover 8 activities and experiences in Tbilisi, Georgia — from outdoor adventures to cultural events. Curated from real traveler recommendations.
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Sulfur Baths
The bath district is called Abanotubani and is on the south side of the Metekhi bridge. It is easy to spot with its small domes on ground level. There are several small baths offering different levels of comfort. The baths are relatively small, and you may have to wait for a pool to become available. English service is not guaranteed. Massages are available; however, they are more like a washing, but well worth it for the experience. You should bring your own towel and beach sandals but also they are available for a small fee. Some travelers have suggested the Royal Baths is a much better alternative to Sulfur Baths (they are next to each other). Sulfur baths tend to double the price at the end of the massage and bath in spite of your original agreed price. (As of 2014, Sulphur Bath is closed for renovation). Other public bath in the area is called Public Bath No. 5. You can find sulfur baths in other districts, for example close to the metro station Marjanishvili, around the corner of hostel Green Stairs, there is an old, characteristic bath. (#4 Kiev Street). Upstair is a men's sauna for 7 lari but also a gay hangout. In the evening you can get a private bath for 10 lari and an additional towel is 2 GEL.
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- Bath Street (აბანოს ქუჩა)
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- Public Pool: 3-4 GEL; Private Pool: 10–80 GEL per hour; Massage 5–20 GEL
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Turtle Lake (Kus Tba)
This lake is located in the hilly outskirts of Tbilisi. A popular weekend getaway for families, the lake offers pedal-boat rentals as well as swimming (deckchairs optional) for reasonable prices (swimming entry, without deckchair, is about 3 Lari). Alright for a hot summer day, and offering views of both the mountains and the city below. Snackbars, restaurants and fruit cocktail shakers are available overlooking the lake. It's about an hour's pleasant walk from the Saburtalo district along country roads, passing the Ethnographical Museum, or a ten-to-fifteen minute (5–10 lari) cab ride from the center. While the lake itself isn't particularly nice, the views from the hike up to the lake makes it a worthwhile excursion.
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HeidelbergCement TbilisiMarathon
Every year at the end of October a big, international event officially recognized by the International Association of Athletic Federations takes place. There is a half marathon, a 10-km-race and kids' runs. The start and finish is at Rustaveli Avenue. The racecourse guides the runners through this great city to its most interesting sights. The event is professionally organized by the German company HeidelbergCement Caucasus and a German race director. HeidelbergCement Caucasus is one of the biggest investors in the region. The participation fee goes 100% to charity.
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- 2016 date: 23 October, 10:00
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- Participation fee: 10 GEL/10 km and 15 GEL/Half marathon
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Climb up to the Narikala Fortress
The crumbling ruins of this once-great fortress, standing alongside the Upper Betelmi Churches and the stunning Botanical gardens, offer panoramic views of the city below. But be warned — it's quite a steep climb, though you could take the cable car instead. Also while the lack of bureaucracy and guard-rails can be liberating for some, you may want to watch your step.
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Lake Lisi (Lisis Tba)
Much further out than Turtle Lake (a cab will set you back about 10–15 lari each way), Lake Lisi is much larger and more remote, with long, winding mountain walks surrounding the lake. Unlike Turtle Lake, the entire Lake Lisi is opened up for swimmers. Be warned — there aren't always taxis waiting to take you back.
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- Reservoir Road
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Botanical garden
National botanic garden of Georgia, founded 1845. Lying in the Tsavkisis-Tskali Gorge near Narikala Fortres, is actually more of a large badly maintained park with scenic waterfall than a "botanical garden" as there is no scientific signposting available. Very little maintenance is apparent.
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- Sololaki St
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- varying with the seasons
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- 1 GEL
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TV antenna park
to have fun with your kids, see the views of Tbilisi or to take a ride on the ferris wheel. The ride is 1.60 lari, and you need to buy an access card at a cashiers desk for 2 lari. Funicular ride is also 2 lari one- way.
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- bus until 23:00
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Exploring Tbilisi: A Traveler's Guide to Activities
Tbilisi rewards curious travelers with an exceptional range of experiences. Whether you have a weekend or several weeks, the city's 8 documented activities cover the full spectrum — architectural landmarks and world-class museums at one end, local neighborhood festivals and underground cultural scenes at the other. The activities listed on this page come from Wikivoyage contributors who have personally explored Tbilisi and written detailed, practical descriptions to help you plan your visit.
The most rewarding way to experience Tbilisi's activities is with company. Solo travelers who arrive without plans often find that meeting a fellow traveler at a hostel, cafe, or through the Nomax app opens up entirely new itineraries — a museum visit becomes a half-day exploration, a street food crawl turns into an evening of discovery, a day trip to a nearby site becomes an adventure. Tbilisi has an active traveler community, and the city is designed to reward those who explore it with open curiosity.
When planning what to do in Tbilisi, consider mixing well-known attractions with neighborhood-level experiences. The city's most photographed sights are popular for good reason, but Tbilisi's character lives in its quieter corners too — the local markets, the parks where residents spend their weekends, the small performance venues where the next generation of artists and musicians are finding their voice. The 8 activities on this page include both categories, ordered by the richness of their traveler-written descriptions.
How to Get the Most from Tbilisi's Activities
Timing matters in Tbilisi. Many of the city's best attractions have shorter queues and better atmospheres on weekday mornings. Major cultural sites — museums, galleries, historic monuments — often run free admission windows on certain days or evenings; check before booking. Outdoor activities and walking tours are best enjoyed in the morning before the city heats up or fills with tour groups.
Budget-conscious travelers will find that Tbilisi has a strong free-to-access layer. Public parks, open-air markets, architectural walking routes, and many community events cost nothing. The price information included with activities on this page (where available) helps you plan a realistic daily budget. A mix of free and paid activities across a week in Tbilisi is entirely feasible for most traveler budgets.
For travelers who want to do more than just sightseeing, Tbilisi offers organized activities through local guides, tour companies, and traveler apps like Nomax. Group activities — cooking classes, cycling tours, kayaking excursions, photography walks — are a natural way to meet people while experiencing the city. Many travelers who use Nomax in Tbilisi coordinate these types of group experiences together, splitting costs and building memories that last beyond the trip itself.
Activities for Different Travel Styles
Not every traveler wants the same experience. History enthusiasts will gravitate toward Tbilisi's museums, heritage sites, and guided historical walks that reveal the layers of the city's past. Outdoor and adventure travelers will focus on the parks, cycling routes, climbing areas, and day trips to surrounding natural areas. Food travelers will treat Tbilisi's markets, restaurants, and food tours as the primary activities of each day. Culture seekers will fill evenings with concerts, theater, gallery openings, and street performances.
The 8 activities documented on this page span all these categories. Use the numbered list above to browse in order of description quality — longer descriptions generally mean more detailed, firsthand traveler knowledge. For each activity, the address and opening hours (where available) give you everything you need to plan your visit without needing to search elsewhere.
Connecting with Travelers in Tbilisi
One of the best things about traveling to Tbilisi is the community of international travelers already there. Backpackers, digital nomads, long-term expats, and short-trip tourists all share the same city at any given moment. Nomax makes it easy to find who is in Tbilisi right now, see what activities they are joining, and coordinate plans. Whether you want a hiking companion, someone to split museum entry with, or a group for an evening out — the app connects you to people with the same itinerary in minutes.
Download Nomax before your trip to Tbilisi to set your travel dates and start discovering who else will be there at the same time. The app is free, requires no subscription, and works across all the major traveler destinations worldwide — meaning the community you build in Tbilisi often extends to your next destination too.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best things to do in Tbilisi?
Tbilisi offers 8+ activities and experiences for travelers. Top highlights include Sulfur Baths, Turtle Lake (Kus Tba), HeidelbergCement TbilisiMarathon, and much more. This page lists every documented activity in order of description quality, so you can find both the major attractions and the hidden gems.
Are there free things to do in Tbilisi?
Yes — Tbilisi has a strong selection of free activities. Public parks, open-air markets, walking routes through historic neighborhoods, and many cultural institutions offer free admission on specific days. Scroll through the list above and look for activities marked with free or no price information — these are often the city's most authentic experiences.
How do I meet other travelers while exploring Tbilisi?
Download Nomax — a free travel companion app that shows you other solo travelers currently in Tbilisi. You can join group activities, chat with travelers at the same spots, and plan outings together. Many travelers in Tbilisi use Nomax to find companions for day trips, museum visits, and evening activities.
What activities can I do with travel companions I meet in Tbilisi?
Tbilisi has activities for every interest — guided tours, food experiences, outdoor adventures, cultural events, and nightlife. Use Nomax to coordinate with other travelers: join a group for a walking tour, split a day-trip cost, or simply explore the city together. The app makes spontaneous plans easy.
Explore Tbilisi with fellow travelers
Download Nomax — find travel companions, join group activities, and chat with solo travelers in Tbilisi right now. Free forever.
Travel tips by Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA 3.0). Content may have been updated since publication.