48 hours in Tbilisi | The Perfect Itinerary

If you have 48 hours in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, here is what you can do. This itinerary is simple, tried and tested, and while it packs in a lot, will not leave you overwhelmed. There is also a 36-hour alternative if you want to take the night train to Batumi.

So, read on for the 48-hour Tbilisi itinerary.

Read this for my full 9 days Georgia itinerary. It is super comprehensive.

Know Before

About Tbilisi

Tbilisi is the capital of the country of Georgia with a population of 1.1 million. Because it is the most important city in a country that straddles Europe and Asia and lies on a major trade route, it has witnessed many battles and has been conquered several times: by Arabs, Mongols, Persians, Turks, and Russians. As a result of different rulers at different times, the city’s architecture and cultural fibre are quite diverse; one can see Eastern Orthodox churches, ornate art nouveau buildings, Turkish-Ottoman style homes, and Soviet-era brutalist apartments all dotted side-by-side. The Mtkvari River, which flows through most of the country, cuts the city in two. The city’s defining monuments are the Narikala Fortress and the Mother of Georgia statue that loom over it. Tbilisi is also a major cultural and educational centre, especially known for its relatively inexpensive MBBS education. On my flight, I was accompanied by a contingent of 30 Indian students travelling to study medicine in Tbilisi.

48 hours in Tbilisi street sculptures
The curious streets of Tbilisi
48 hours in Tbilisi streets
The ornate balconies of old Tbilisi buildings

—This top-rated walking tour will make your day in Tbilisi super fun—

Where to Stay

I recommend staying at Rustaveli Avenue on the Right Bank of the river. It’s central, close to everything, and a very happening street in Tbilisi. Rustaveli Avenue is named after the medieval Georgian poet—Shota Rustaveli. The avenue starts at Freedom Square and extends for about 1.5 km before it turns into an extension of Kostava Street. We stayed at Shota @Rustaveli Boutique Hotel which was in a fabulous location, right beside the Parliament House, and yet, on a quiet street. They had great rooms and attentive service. At ~USD 80 for the elegantly designed suites, it was a steal.

48 hours Tbilisi Itinerary Shota Rustaveli Hotel
Shota @Rustaveli Boutique Hotel

We also stayed a night in the celebrated Fabrika Hostel on the Left Bank. Fabrika is a former Soviet sewing factory turned into a hotel/ hostel. I wanted to stay there a night to experience the hostel’s trendy/grungy vibe. We were in a private room with a twin bunk bed and en-suite bathroom. Overall, we were not disappointed. It is well worth a visit to experience the hip crowds of Tbilisi. During the day, the hostel’s massive co-working lobby is packed with people hanging out, or just working. At night, the backyard—home to several pubs and kitschy stores—is bustling with people and chatter. There’s always something going on. Never a dull moment.

48 hours in Tbilisi hotels Fabrika
Hotel Fabrika

Flying from India

I flew Air Arabia which offered the best rates from Mumbai (at USD 500 return fare) with an 8-hour total flying time and a 2-hour layover at Sharjah. The basic fare had no baggage, meals, or seat selection included. Check-in opened 24 hours before flying when (at the time of writing this) online seat selection was free. It was a comfortable enough flight.

Getting a Visa

98 countries allow visa-free entry into Georgia. India is not one of them. Although, Indians with a US/ UK/ Canada visa can enter and get a visa on arrival. If you do not have any of the required visas, apply for a Georgian E-visa online here. Getting a visa on arrival at the airport was easy. It took just a few minutes.

After You Land

As soon as you land at Tbilisi Airport, come out to the Arrival Hall and turn right. It is important to know what you’re doing because taxi drivers will begin to hound you.

Next, withdraw money, get a SIM card, and order a rideshare to go into the city.

48 hours in Tbilisi itinerary airport SIM card
Location of the Magti counter and the ATM at the airport

Currency

Prices in Georgia are relatively lower than in Europe. We budgeted about 80-90 dollars or 250 GEL a day per person including stay, food, and transport. Some places prefer cash although credit card was widely accepted (more than I’d expected). To withdraw currency at the airport, head to the Bank of Georgia ATM on the right as you exit. The ATM is orange in colour.

SIM Card

I wanted to buy a SIM card at the airport since I wanted to use a rideshare app. My choice was between Magticom (Magti), Geocell, and Beeline. I chose Magti because of its competitive pricing and also because it’s known to offer better coverage. SIM card counters are open 24/7 at the Arrival Hall, so you can get one even if you land in the wee hours.

The official MAGTI counter (red colour banner) is next to the Bank of Georgia ATM on your right as you exit the Arrival Hall.

Transport to the City

Tbilisi Airport Bus 337 runs every 15 minutes to the city centre, starting at 7 AM up until midnight. The fare for the ride is 1 GEL (you’ll need to buy a Metro Money card for 2 GEL before that). It takes about an hour to get to the city centre.

My preferred option was hailing a BOLT. Download the rideshare app Bolt on your phone. A ride from the airport to my hotel on Rustaveli Avenue cost me 21 GEL or 7 USD. The time taken was 20 minutes. Avoidable: The normal taxis in Tbilisi are not metered, so you need to negotiate the fare before you get in. This is a hassle better avoided.

—There are inexpensive group tours that can show the highlights of Georgia easily—

And now for the 48-hour Tbilisi itinerary.

DAY 1

The Right Bank of The River

There are plenty of great walking tours in Tbilisi but it’s also easy to do it yourself. A typical itinerary begins by taking the aerial tramway from Rike Park to the Narikala Fortress (5 GEL if you have the Metro money card, or else 7 GEL; queues can get long on weekends), visiting the Mother of Georgia statue atop, and walking the steps down to land in Old Town. There you can visit the Sulphur Bath Area, go to The Bridge of Love, and admire the old historical buildings with ornate wooden balconies, Art Nouveau facades, and leafy Italian courtyards. Next, you can go to Anchiskhati Basilica, and Meidan Bazaar, ending at Freedom Square.

48 hours in Tbilisi best itinerary a walking route
A typical Tbilisi walking route
48 hours in Tbilisi Narikala Fortress
The aerial tramway to Narikala Fortress Tbilisi
48 hours in Tbilisi best itinerary | Bridge of Peace
At the Bridge of Peace
48 hours in Tbilisi best itinerary | old Tbilisi houses on rocks
Wooden houses on rocks in Old Tbilisi

—Check out these fab Tbilisi walking tours—

 

Hike to Mtasaminda Park

Mtatsminda Park is a landscaped park located at the top of Mount Mtatsminda overlooking Tbilisi. The park has carousels, water slides, a roller-coaster, and an 80-meter-high Ferris Wheel. It offers spectacular views of the city. If you’ve seen the hovering Tbilisi TV tower you know where the place is. The park makes a very good point to watch the sun set or rise. You can reach it by hiking up, or better still, hiking down from the Mother of Georgia statue (a trail is marked).

48 hours Tbilisi itinerary Mother of Georgia Statue
The massive Mother of Georgia Statue – she holds a pyala of wine in one hand and a sword in her other
48 hours Tbilisi itinerary down the park
Walking down the steps to the Old Town

Walk the Old Streets

After the walking tour, take time to roam around the old streets. Tbilisi’s streets are weird and unique. Each turn will present something for you to gawk at. My personal favourite was Betlemi or Bethlehem Street which was just five minutes away from Freedom Square. Located there, is also Gallery 27, a small boutique that sells lovely handcrafted souvenirs.

48 hours Tbilisi itinerary 48 hours in Tbilisi Gallery 27 Betlemi Street
At Gallery 27 Betlemi Street
48 hours in Tbilisi best itinerary | old Tbilisi Town
The beautiful houses of Tbilisi Old Town

Wine Tasting

As soon as I knew that Georgia was (arguably) the birthplace of wine, I was eager to taste everything it had to offer. Georgian wines are uniquely flavourful, because of the kind of grape used, and the way the wine is fermented. 8000 Vintages offers exciting wine-tasting experiences. The individual tasting costs 70 GEL; for 2-5 guests, the cost is 45 GEL each; and for 6 + guests it is 35 GEL each. Tasting is available Monday- Friday, 13:00-19:00. A reservation for large groups is recommended.

DAY 2

The Left Bank of the River

The Holy Trinity Cathedral

The Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi, commonly known as Sameba, is the main cathedral of the Georgian Orthodox Church. It is located on Elia Hill, which rises above the left bank of the Mtkvari River in the historic neighbourhood of Avlabari. Constructed between 1995 and 2004, it is the third-tallest Eastern Orthodox cathedral in the world and one of the largest religious buildings in the world by total area. Sameba is a synthesis of traditional styles dominating Georgian church architecture at various stages in history and has Byzantine undertones. (source: Wikipedia)

My jaw fell open when I first caught sight of the cathedral. It loomed as far up as eyes could see. It was also surprisingly empty when I arrived at midday. Entry is free. It is open 8 AM to 9 PM every day with the Georgian liturgy ceremony held at 4 PM on Saturday and 9 AM on Sunday. Modest dressing is recommended for both men and women. Scarves and skirts are available at the cathedral door to help cover up.

48 hours in Tbilisi Holy Trinity Cathedral
The Tbilisi Holy Trinity Cathedral

Fabrika and Graffiti Spotting

Tbilisi is graffiti heaven. Apparently, a lot of the graffiti was added during the 2019 Tbilisi Mural Festival and continues to be added each year. The easiest way to see some mind-boggling street art is simply to visit Fabrika. There are other places, too: in Avlabari, in the Marjanishvili area, in the Vake Park and Hero’s Square underground passages.

9 days Georgia itinerary Fabrika Tbilisi
At Fabrika Tbilisi

Entertainment

Gabriadze Theater

I saw my first Marionette show at the delightfully crooked Gabriadze Theater in Tbilisi. As if the twisty clock tower outside and the theatre inside were not cute enough, I was tickled and amazed to watch the show which was called “The Autumn of My Springtime”. The story is of an errant (bird!) hero (Boris) who is a drunk womaniser and a foul-mouthed creature. When Varlam, the organ grinder dies, Boris is the only one left to take care of his old wife, Domna. Unwittingly Boris becomes a thief, falls in love with beautiful Ninel, and undertakes many dangerous, exciting (and illicit!) adventures. While light-hearted, the play is in reality ironic and a treatise on the post-war years in a deserted and impoverished Kutaisi. The show is interspersed with Georgian folk songs and dance, all performed by the puppets. The dialogues were spoken in Georgian but English subtitles were available. For non-English/ non-Georgian speakers, translation earphones are provided. This is an unmissable opportunity in Tbilisi. Tickets were pricey, at about USD 25/ ticket. Purchase tickets at https://tkt.ge/

Georgian National Opera Theater

Founded in 1851, Tbilisi’s grand opera house is situated on Rustaveli Avenue. The Opera and Ballet Theater has hosted many international stars over the years, while also serving as a traditional venue for national celebrations and presidential inaugurations. Occasionally, the performances have English subtitles. Tickets are quite inexpensive. A must-do if you can catch a show, even if you cannot follow the language. Find more about the opera house and the ongoing shows on their website.

48 hours in Tbilisi Georgian National Opera Theater
Georgian National Opera Theater

A 36-Hour Alternative

If you want to shorten your time in Tbilisi, you can take the evening train to go to Batumi. Tickets are available here or you can also buy them on the spot at Tbilisi Central Train Station (Go to the 3rd floor for the ticket office). An easy, yet comprehensive 2 days Batumi itinerary is here.

 

My Recommended Travel Sites
This is how I plan all my trips quickly, efficiently, and economically. Below are my go-to recommended travel planning sites.
  • First, I go to TripAdvisor and check out top things to do, top places, and experiences. I use this to make a rough itinerary.
  • From TripAdvisor I often go to Viator to book day tours. I love their user friendly platform and flexible cancellation policies. Compare their offers with GetYourGuide, which is great too.
  • I book my accommodations in Booking because of their flexibility and that the bookings are easily cancellable. The mobile app is great and the genius discounts are on point.
  • I recommend getting the Priority Pass. It gives you access to airport lounges and has helped me through many long waits. It’s definitely well worth the money.
  • And I am literally always on Skyscanner. I get to see the best airfares, and the airline / third party providers offering them. Try the “From: origin city” to “To: Everywhere” option to ignite your imagination on where to travel to next.

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