What to see, where to stay and the best time to visit Tbilisi, Georgia.
Photo: User:Ggia / Wikimedia Commons
Tbilisi is the capital of Georgia, an inland city with its main sights close to the old quarter. In Old Tbilisi you can climb to Narikala Fortress, soak in the Abanotubani sulphur baths and walk the streets around Sioni Cathedral. Holy Trinity Cathedral (Sameba) stands in Avlabari. First-timers often stay in the Old Town or Sololaki. Chugureti suits nightlife, and Vake is quieter. The best months to visit are September, October and April.
Plan around the sights. Old Tbilisi streets and Sioni Cathedral take half a day. The Georgian National Museum and Mtatsminda Park each need 2–3 hours. Many sights are in Old Tbilisi, so you can combine several in one day.
Old Tbilisi
The ruined fortress walls run along the ridge above the old town and give the best overall views of the city. You can walk up from the old town or take the cable car from Rike Park. The Mother of Georgia statue stands on the same ridge.
Old Tbilisi
This is the old bath district. Brick domes cover bathhouses fed by natural hot sulphur springs. You can book a private room or use a shared bath, then walk up the small gorge behind the baths to a waterfall.
Old Tbilisi
Narrow lanes, wooden carved balconies and small churches fill the old town. Sioni Cathedral is one of the city's main Orthodox churches. The Gabriadze puppet theatre with its leaning clock tower is nearby.
Metekhi
A stone church sits on a cliff above the Mtkvari River, with a statue of King Vakhtang Gorgasali, the city's founder, beside it. The view across the river to the baths and the fortress is one of the classic Tbilisi views.
Avlabari
This is Georgia's largest Orthodox cathedral, a modern building on a hill with gold-topped domes that you can see from much of the city. Visitors can watch services, and modest dress is expected inside.
Rustaveli Avenue
The main museum branch on Rustaveli Avenue holds the country's archaeology collections. Highlights include the gold treasury and the early human finds from Dmanisi. It is the best single place to understand Georgia's long history.
Mtatsminda
This is the city's main boulevard, running from Freedom Square past the Parliament building, the Opera and Ballet Theatre and several museums. It is good for a walk and for seeing the city's political and cultural centre.
Mtatsminda
A funicular climbs from the city to an amusement park on top of Mtatsminda mountain, where you get wide views over Tbilisi. Halfway up is the Pantheon, where many famous Georgian writers and public figures are buried.
Old Tbilisi
A modern glass-and-steel footbridge crosses the Mtkvari River and links the old town to Rike Park. The bridge lights up after dark, and the cable car to Narikala starts from the park.
Mtatsminda
A flea market spreads out around the Dry Bridge and in the small park beside it. Sellers offer Soviet-era badges, cameras, old household items, paintings and jewellery, and browsing is half the fun.
Average weather and our month score, from 10 years of climate data.
| Month | High / low | Rain days | Sunshine | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7°C / -1°C | 5 days (19 mm) | 7.2 h/day | 3.9/10 |
| February | 9°C / 0°C | 5 days (24 mm) | 7.8 h/day | 4.6/10 |
| March | 13°C / 3°C | 12 days (63 mm) | 8.2 h/day | 4.9/10 |
| Best month: April | 18°C / 7°C | 11 days (71 mm) | 9.6 h/day | 7.8/10 |
| May | 23°C / 12°C | 13 days (97 mm) | 10.9 h/day | 7.3/10 |
| June | 29°C / 18°C | 11 days (63 mm) | 12.4 h/day | 6.4/10 |
| July | 31°C / 20°C | 7 days (47 mm) | 12.5 h/day | 6.0/10 |
| August | 32°C / 21°C | 5 days (30 mm) | 11.9 h/day | 6.2/10 |
| Best month: September | 26°C / 16°C | 8 days (54 mm) | 10.1 h/day | 8.3/10 |
| Best month: October | 19°C / 10°C | 9 days (59 mm) | 8.0 h/day | 8.2/10 |
| November | 13°C / 4°C | 7 days (43 mm) | 7.2 h/day | 5.8/10 |
| December | 8°C / 0°C | 6 days (22 mm) | 6.5 h/day | 3.5/10 |
Cold, with highs of 7.2°C and lows of -1.4°C. Only 4.6 rain days, but freezing nights and a score of 3.9 make this a month to avoid.
Still cold, with 9.3°C highs, 0°C lows and 5.1 rain days. An ok month, scoring 4.6, if you pack warm layers.
Highs reach 12.6°C, but rain days jump to 12.1. It scores 4.9, so it is ok, though often wet and cool for walking.
One of the best months, scoring 7.8. Highs of 18.3°C and 10.9 rain days, so bring a light rain jacket.
Good, with a score of 7.3 and pleasant 22.8°C highs. But it is the wettest month, with 13.4 rain days and 97 mm of rain.
Good, scoring 6.4. Highs climb to 29°C, with 10.7 rain days and long days of 12.4 sun hours.
Hot, with 31.1°C highs and 19.9°C lows. Rain drops to 7.4 days. Good, scoring 6, but plan walks for mornings and evenings.
The hottest month at 31.6°C, with only 5.2 rain days. Good, scoring 6.2, if you handle heat well. Otherwise choose September.
The top score of the year, 8.3. Highs of 26.1°C, 8.3 rain days and 10.1 sun hours. The best time to go.
Best, scoring 8.2. Mild 18.8°C highs, 10°C lows and 8.8 rain days. Good for walking, but bring a jacket for the evenings.
Cooling to 12.7°C highs and 4°C lows, with 6.6 rain days. An ok month, scoring 5.8, if you do not mind cool, shorter days.
The lowest score of the year, 3.5, so avoid it. Highs of 8°C, lows of 0.3°C and only 6.5 sun hours, the fewest all year.
Climate averages 2015–2024 · Best time to visit Georgia →
The best areas to base yourself and who each one suits.
Good for first-timers, sightseeing
The historic core by the Mtkvari River has winding lanes, wooden balconies, the sulphur baths and the cable car up to Narikala Fortress, all within walking distance. It is the easiest base for a short first trip. Streets are steep and cobbled, and the busiest lanes are touristy and can be loud at night.
Good for first-timers, architecture lovers, food
Sololaki sits just west of the Old Town, below the Mother of Georgia statue. It has grand 19th-century houses, courtyards, good cafés and wine bars, and is a short walk to Freedom Square and Rustaveli Avenue. Many streets climb uphill, and some old buildings have no lift.
Good for couples, cafés, longer stays
This leafy residential area north of Rustaveli Avenue has quiet streets, local bakeries and a relaxed daily rhythm. You can walk to the main museums and the Philharmonic, so it feels central without the crowds. The hills are steep, and the walk down to the Old Town takes some time.
Good for nightlife, young travellers, creatives
Across the river, around Marjanishvili and Aghmashenebeli Avenue, Chugureti mixes restored 19th-century streets with the Fabrika hostel and creative hub. It has a lively bar scene, good-value places to eat and a metro link to the centre. Some blocks feel rundown, and nights around Fabrika can be noisy.
Good for families, quiet, upscale
Vake is a greener, wealthier district west of the centre, with Vake Park, modern cafés and a calmer pace. It suits travellers who want space and quiet after a day of sightseeing. It is not on the metro, so you will rely on taxis or buses to reach the Old Town, and traffic on main roads can be heavy.
Twisted dumplings filled with spiced meat and hot broth. Locals eat them by hand, holding the knot at the top and leaving it on the plate. Khinkali houses serve them all day.
Georgian cheese bread, found in bakeries and restaurants across the city. Imeruli is round and filled with cheese. Adjaruli is boat-shaped and topped with egg and butter, which you stir in.
Thin slices of fried aubergine rolled around a garlicky walnut paste, often topped with pomegranate seeds. It is a common cold starter at a supra, the traditional Georgian feast.
A thick, herby bean stew, often served in a clay pot. Locals usually eat it with mchadi, a dense cornbread, and pickled vegetables.
Chunks of meat, usually pork, grilled on skewers over vine cuttings or coals. It is a favourite at family gatherings and outdoor meals, served with raw onion and pomegranate.
Strings of walnuts dipped again and again in thickened grape juice, then dried. It looks like a candle, and you will see it hanging at markets and street stalls.
September and October are the best months, with April close behind. September has highs of about 26°C and 8.3 rain days. October is cooler at around 19°C, with 8.8 rain days. April is similar at about 18°C, but it is a little wetter, with 10.9 rain days. These 3 months score highest on our scale: 8.3, 8.2 and 7.8 out of 10.
August is the hottest month in Tbilisi, with average highs of about 32°C and nights that stay near 21°C. The upside is that it is also one of the driest and sunniest months. It has only 5.2 rain days, 30 mm of rain and about 12 hours of sun a day. Plan hilltop walks, such as the one to Narikala Fortress, for the morning or evening.
Winter in Tbilisi is cold but dry. January highs are about 7°C and lows drop to around -1°C. December is similar, with highs near 8°C. Rain is light, with about 19–22 mm a month, but days are short. December gets only about 6.5 hours of sun. The city is quieter, and it suits travellers who don't mind cold weather.
May is the wettest month, with about 97 mm of rain over 13.4 days. It is still warm, with highs of about 23°C, so showers rarely spoil a whole day. March and April are also fairly wet, with 12.1 and 10.9 rain days. For drier weather, go in August or January, when rain falls on only about 5 days.
About 2 full days cover the main sights. Old Tbilisi can fill most of 1 day. Its streets and Sioni Cathedral take half a day, and Narikala Fortress and the Sulphur Baths take 1–2 hours each. On a second day you could visit the Georgian National Museum and Mtatsminda Park, which need 2–3 hours each. Add Holy Trinity Cathedral and Dry Bridge Market if you have time.
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