One Day In Tbilisi: Covering The Most Within 24 Hours
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This is a one-day Tbilisi itinerary that helps you navigate the most important attractions in Tbilisi in a day. By squeezing your time in the city within a day, you will have more time for the amazing attractions outside the city, like Gori, Kakheti, Uplistsikhe, and Gaudauri.
The information will be useful for you even if you plan to only sleep in Tbilisi. Then spend the rest of the day on day trips to other cities. In fact, I recommend navigating Georgia in this way. I stayed five days in Tbilisi during my last Caucasus trip.
I spent a bit more than 1 full day in the city and regretted it. The attractions within Tbilisi City are great but not as great as those you can see on a day trip.
What To See In Tbilisi
The attractions in Tbilisi City can be separated into two groups. The first group is near the two main areas in the city namely Old Tbilisi (or Abanotubani) and Liberty Squares. Most of these city center attractions are within 20 or 30-minute walking distance or can be cheaply reached via Bolt for under 5 GEL ( less than 2 USD).
The second group is those farther from Liberty Square which includes Holy Trinity Cathedral Tbilisi, Mother of Georgia (assuming climbing up the mountain), Mtatsminda Park, Tbilisi Zoo, and Chronicles of Georgia.
Attractions In Tbilisi In City Center Within Walking Distance In One Day
If you have one full day, my suggestion is to go for the icons in the first group. On top, you can also add hiking to the Mother of Georgia via the National Botanical Garden and Narikala Fortress. You can refer to my one-day Tbilisi itinerary below.
Tbilisi One Day Itinerary
Is It Necessary To Visit Tbilisi
The answer is no. I spent 4 full days in Tbilisi before, I used 1 day for Gori, 1 day for Gaudauri, 1 full day for Tbilisi, and another full day again in Tbilisi for attractions and transit to Yerevan.
1. Start with Liberty Square in the morning for breakfast. There you can cover several attractions including the National Museum, Tbilisi Old Town Wall Ruins, and Orbeliani Square. You will also find the largest Carrefour with exchange shops nearby. Feel free to buy some supplements or exchange for some GEL there.
2. After lunch at Carrefour Food Hall, take a Bolt to the Bridge of Peace. From there walk to, the Vakhtang Gorgasali Square passing through Jan Sharden St (bar street). There you can go to the Meidan Bazar (a tunnel market for souvenirs). From there, you can walk across the Kura River to the Statue of King Vakhtang Gorgasali and Metekhi Virgin Mary Assumption Church
3. At around 3 or 4 pm, you can walk to Abanotubani where you will find a cluster of sulfur bath shops and a love bridge. Skip the icons here first and hike around 10 minutes to the Narikala Fortress.
4. On the way to the Fortress, there you will have a great spot for a landscape picture of Tbilisi. One of the National Botanical Garden entrances is just near the Fortress. From there, you can hike to the Mother of Georgia Statue for around 2 hours.
5. While enjoying the view of the National Garden, you will see a nice pop-up market near the Mother of Georgia statue. It is also the best spot for taking a Tbilisi picture and taking a cable car back to the city center (7 GEL for two persons which is very cheap).
6. At night, order a hearty Georgian national cuisine via Bolt Food on your way back. Relax and chill in the hotel. Then go take an hour’s sulfur bath ( remember to book it in advance at point 3). After that, you can chill out in the city center.
Is It Necessary To Visit Tbilisi
The answer is no. I spent 4 full days in Tbilisi before, I used 1 day for Gori, 1 day for Gaudauri, 1 full day for Tbilisi, another full day again in Tbilisi for attractions and transit to Yerevan.
If I were to do it again, I would not budget a full day for Tbilisi. Instead, I will use it on a better destination like Kakheti. Then, I will use the leftover time from the day trip to visit the Tbilisi City Center attractions. Most of them open til late.
For example, the cable car heading to the Mother of Georgia statue closes at midnight.
Attractions Far Away From City Center (For Those Who Have 1 Day Plus)
If you happen to make the same mistake I did but stay in Tibilis too long, then you may want to go to the second group of attractions (except the Mother of Georgia) that I mentioned. I would strongly recommend you to go Chronicle of Georgia which is around 30 minutes Bolt ride from Liberty Square. It is a huge compound that would take you more than an hour to visit.
Holy Trinity Cathedral which is closer to Liberty Square with around 15 minutes of Bolt Ride could also be another option. It is a huge Cathedral with several other chapels in an area. It is great for photo taking and looks fancier than most of the Cathedrals that you will find in Georgia. Including transportation, the whole visit is around 2 to 3 hours.
Or else you can also visit the Tbilisi Zoo which is a small zoo within 15 minutes drive from Liberty Square. It is not very amazing but the ticket is crazily chip at 3 GEL (just above 1 USD). However, due to its low popularity, the Zoo may open late or close without notice.
If you really have a whole free day, you may want to consider going to Mtatsminda Park which is the largest theme park in Tbilisi near the TV tower.
Conclusion
If you have a tight schedule for Caucasus travel like me, the best strategy for Tbilisi is just to stay there for a day tour elsewhere. Tbilisi is a good city for transit to other touristic cities like Gori.
If you are really that FOMO, just leave 1 full day for Tbilisi city center. Then you can follow my itinerary shall be very sufficient.
With the convenience of Bolt ride (also very cheap) and Bolt Food there, you shall have no problem with maximizing your experience. Leave me a comment if you have any questions.
