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Tbilisi (Georgian: თბილისი) [1] is the capital city of the country of Georgia, lying on the banks of the Mtkvari river. The city covers an area of 726 km² (280.3 square miles) and has more than 1.345.000 inhabitants.

[edit] Understand

[edit] Get in

Russia's land border with Georgia is closed.

[edit] By plane

Tbilisi International Airport (IATA: TBS) (ICAO: UGTB), [2] opened in November 2006 and is about 20 km from the city centre. A new and modern airport terminal has been inaugurated on February 7, 2007.

Airlines include:

• airBaltic [3]
• Airzena Georgian Airways [4]
• Austrian Airlines [5]
• Azerbaijan Airlines [6]
• bmi [7] (direct from London Heathrow)
• Georgian National Airlines [8]
• Lufthansa [9]
• Turkish Airlines [10]
• Aerosvit Ukrainian Airlines [11]
• Belavia Belarusian Airlines [12]
• Armavia Armenian Airlines [13]
• Ukraine International Airlines [14]
• Czech Airlines [15]

Old terminal services of local flights to Batumi, Kutaisi, and Mestia.

To get from the airport to the city: bus route 37 leaves from the right corner of the arrival area every 15-30 minutes, between 8:00 and 23:00. It travels via Freedom Square, Rustaveli, Republic Square and Tamar Bridge, all the way to the main train station (Vagzal). The trip can take up to 50 minutes, the buses are crowded and the fare is 40 tetri. Taxis are available at 25 Lari to the city, 20 to the airport. There is a newly built train connection from the airport to the main train station with modern station and old railway. Runs only 6 or 7 times a day but the trips are synchronized with flight arrivals so it's worth to check the schedule as it's rather cheap (2 laris) and fast.

[edit] By train

Trains from Yerevan and Baku to Tbilisi;

There are no trains to Moscow unless you go to Baku. Highly unrecommended. 3 days on train to Baku then overnight to Tbilisi. The border netween Russia and Azerbaijan is not open for non-CIS citizens.

The train from Baku to Tbilisi is not very nice and is pretty hot. The train will have to wait for a pretty long time at the border crossing, and you will have to pay fee for everything that you bring, mostly if it is for sale or in big quantities. Local ones: Batumi, Gori, Kutaisi, Satskhe Javakheti, Marneuli, Poti, Zugdidi.

Fast Express Trains To Batumi During high season in Summer, every second day, Service by High class and economy carriage. Buy as far in advance as possible, might be sold out. Overnight A class service is also available daily.

Yerevan - Batumi is in service during High Season.

[edit] By car

From Turkey via Sarpi border, or Posof border (a lot less used but with a real lot more potholes on the way).

From Black Sea to the rest of Europe, using ferry.

Azerbaijan and Armenian borders are open for cars.

[edit] By bus

The bus line Luks Karadeniz has a daily bus from Turkey, costing about €40 (70ytl). Bus services from Russia have been suspended. There are also buses criss-crossing the country and going into Armenia and Azerbaijan, where you can probably connect to Iran. The 'Neo-Turs' bus company offers bus transfers Tbilsi - Saloniki - Athens and back, starting from Didube bus station (price: 100 US-$).

The main micro-bus station can be found at Didube. Certainly buses 21 and 46 lead there from the city center. It's rather large, and you'll find minibuses to almost anywhere.

[edit] By boat

Black Sea ports in Poti, Batumi. Boat service and cruise available.

[edit] Get around

Main transport outside or inside the Tbilisi city is taxi, cars, bus and, in some places, trolleybus or trumps.

[edit] By metro

Tbilisi has a two-line metro system[16], which are served from 6 h AM till 12 h PM.

All signs inside the metro are in Georgian, and some stations feature Georgian and English signs. Stations' names are announced only in Georgian and text is in the Georgian alphabet, which makes figuring out which direction you are going in somewhat taxing. Plans are there to add English announcements, however this has not yet materialised (July 2009). You will be lucky to find English speakers riding the Metro, but generally people over 40 years old are willing to speak Russian to help lost tourists at metro stations and mashrutka (minibus) stops, younger people are less inclined to help you. Take a bilingual map with you if you are not proficient with the local alphabet/pronunciation. A trip with the metro in Tbilisi cost 40 tetri (aprx. $0.25). Pay 40 tetri at the entrance and get a token for the gate, or buy a card (2 GEL) that you can load with any amount you like at the counter, and use it for travel.

[edit] By bus

There are yellow busses also available going around the city. It will cost you 40 tetri (aprx. $0.25).

[edit][add listing] See

[edit][add listing] Do

• 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.

Prices start at 2 Lari for a public pool, and 15 to 80 Lari per hour for private pools. Massage is available for 5 to 20 Lari, depending on the bath and length ("light" or "heavy"). Drinks are available at normal prices. The massage is more like a washing but well worth it for the experience.

You may want to bring your own towel and beach sandals (available for a small fee), and a swimsuit for the public pool.

• Tea plantation

[edit][add listing] Buy

• Gold & Other Jewelry - Gold, silver, handmade & other misc. jewelry, precious stones are very cheap in Georgia and quality of the precious stones, gold and silver is superb. Many foreigners visit Georgia to buy jewelry, because of its cost and quality.
• Art & Paintings – Georgian artists, such as Pirosmani, Gigo Gabashvili, David Kakabadze, Lado Gudiashvili, Korneli Sanadze, Elene Akhvlediani, Sergo Kobuladze, Simon Virsaladze, Ekaterine Baghdavadze and others, are famous for their work. In Georgia you will find many various art shops, paintings and painters who sell their works on the streets. Their work is amazing and prices are very reasonable as well.
• Antiques & Other Misc. Gifts – in Georgia you will able to find many antiques not only from Georgia, but Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, Russian and European as well.
• Georgian wine, as much as you can. Georgia is the cradle of wine making, and with 521 original varieties of grape you will be sure to find excellent wines.
• Cognac. Georgian cognac is unique as it's made from Georgian wine.
• Georgia is famouse with its mineral waters. Try Borjomi, Sairme, Nabeghlavi mineral waters from famouse Georgian resort places.
• When heading outside the cities, you might find an original hand-made carpet for sale.
• Georgians love to drink, so the country has an seemingly infinite amount of beers, wines, liquors and distilled drinks. To take home, buy a bottle of chacha grape vodka, a Georgian version of Everclear.

[edit][add listing] Eat

[edit] Georgian Cuisine

Georgian cuisine is quite delicious. There are many affordable restaurants and cafes on almost every corner of the city. Here is the list of a bit more expensive but very good places.

• Taglaura If you are in Tbilisi, you should go to Taglaura. This is the best Georgian restaurant in Town. There are few of them and you can visit any, not much difference. They have best Georgian barbeque and locally brewed beer. Also at evening time, very nice band is playing traditional Georgian music. If you get there at summer time, you can seat in the beautiful garden, next to 10 meter high waterfall and enjoy the nice breethe of river Mtkvari. Must see this place. They also have very nice taglaura website.
• Machakhela If you are looking for something quick and traditional best thing to try in Georgia is Georgian Khachapuri. This is cheese pie, very delitious. Go to Machakhela, best place for khachapuri and try Adjarian one. They bake it in the wood fired oven, one of the best food ever tasted.
• Taglaura Best Georgian food, locally brewed beer, traditional barbeque, live music and outdoor seating. Three different locations spread around the city. (www.taglaura.ge)
• Machakhela Biggest restaurant chain in Georgia. 10 locations around the city. Specialising in georgian pastry. 'Khachapuri'-traditional Georgian cheese pie, baked in wood fired owen. Very delicious. (www.machakhelagroup.ge)
• Tamada Ethnographic Restaurant in Tbilisi. Evenings Georgian music and dances.
• Dzveli Saxli (Old House): One of the best restaurants in Tbilisi. Live traditional Georgian music and singing starts at around 6 PM every day.
• Tsisqvili (Windmill): The best Georgian restaurant in Tbilisi, amazing menu & food, superb customer service and great design.
• Dzveli Sakhli "Old House", high quality Georgian restaurant, with live Georgian music in the main hall.
• Kala. Hip restaurant with live Jazz most evenings
• Khinkali House (Khinklis Sakhli): all Khinkali, all the time
• Kopala. amazing view from the top of the hotel of the same name, in Avlabari

[edit] Asian Cuisine

• Korean Restaurant - Located next to Avlabari train station
• Chinese Restaurant - off Perovskaya St.
• New AsiaRestaurant - up the street (up the hill) from Rustaveli at the corner where Nikala restaurant is. Recommended.
• Japanese Restaurants "Tokyo" and "Sushi" - One in Vake, on Abashidze Street, the other ionn Perovskaya Street. The management and menu is the same. A bit pricey but dependable sushi. Service is usually nice.
• Qalaquri - Sushi + night club + Middle Eastern atmosphere, 4 floors...

[edit] European/American

• Cafe de Paris Faimous for it's tasty salads and crapes. Nice place to spend your time with friends. Located in the city center. Outdoor garden seating. Address: Saakadze square.
• Steak Place, Erekle st.
• Zandukeli 40, Zandukeli Street straight up the hill from the Philharmony. European bistro with an emphasis on German food. Food and service are among the best in town, prices are very reasonable. Run by one of the longest-lasting expats in Tbilisi, Rainer Kaufmann.
• Graz Austrian Restaurant. Great pepper steaks, soups and bread rolls. Located behind City Hall off Freedom Square (go to the left of City Hall, back 1 block; restaurant is on your right at the first intersection, down the stairs).
• Steak Hall, Perovskaya street.
• Make sure you check out the local bars. They usually serve traditnal meals for a very fair price
• Restaurant Mediterranean, 5, Irakli Abashidze str. ph: 22-10-15 [17]. Lunch, dinner. Since its opening this has become the popular European Restaurant in Tbilisi. The lively atmosphere, authentic décor and creative cuisine all reflect the region that inspired the restaurant. The extensive menu has Italian, French, Greek and Spanish influences. Unique dishes, fresh salads and seafood, pasta & risotto, grilled specialties and exclusive desserts have earned “Med” an impeccable reputation. The menu is complimented by an impressive wine list with a large “by-the-glass” selection and a full bar.

[edit] Italian Cuisine

• Pizzeria Fiorino Located in the heart of the city, Fiorino offers best pizzas in Tbilisi, one of the best carpaccios and veal. Relaxing environment and outdoor seating. Address: Saakadze square.
• Il Garage, UN Circle in Vake, has decent versions of risotto, linguini, lasagna, and an excellent, huge antipasti misto. Pleasant outdoor seating in the summer and affordable prices year round. Run by Alberto - a real Italian.
• Prego Three locations (Saburtalo, intersection of Vazha-Pshavela and Gamsakhurdia; Vake, on Paliashvili, just below the round (UN) garden and the third in the old town, Erekle II st.) The best Italian food in Tbilisi. Prices are reasonable and service is usually good. Look out for the daily specials - usually a bit pricier, but worth it.
• coffee.ge Three locations (24 Abashidze Str., 41 Chavchavadze Ave., 154 Aghmashenebeli Ave.) Delicious Pizza and other italian food. Delivers food to your home. WLAN Internet-Access.

[edit] Budget

• Baskin-Robbins, 142 David Aghmashenebeli Ave.
• Lotus, on Freedom Square, tucked away behind the bus turnoff (directly across from City Hall) is this tiny, inexpensive, vegetarian diner.
• McDonald's, Rustaveli street, city center, 1 Dzmebi Kakabadzeebi street, 20 Kote Marjanishvili street.
• Pizzeria "UNO" Located on 30 Abashidze street.

[edit] Mid-range

EUROCAKE cake shop 24,iverieli str,tbilisi 0144

[edit] Splurge

[edit][add listing] Drink

Georgia is well known as the cradle of wine. Georgian wine was and still is the best in post-Soviet culture. Georgia produces wine, and Georgians respect wine culture. Try one of the famous wines. The region which is popular for its wine production is Kakheti. This place has a great history of wine.

[edit] Cafés

There is a good selection of cafés dispersed throughout Tbilisi.

• Bamba Rooms Lounge(Bambis Rigi st. #12, Chardin area info@bambarooms.ge) The thing that catches your eye first is the crystal beads. You can’t miss it; it cascades down over the bar, white and glorious. It’s just one of the highlight in an incredibly striking space, designed by young Georgian architects. The results form one of Tbilisi's most achingly fashionable lounge cafe-bars with both inside and outside.Decent drinks are served alongside a selection of standard European dishes. Dining here becomes more glamorous when it gets to Japanese fusion. By day it’s quite casual, a popular lunch spot; by night it’s altogether different, the crowd is glam and the door policy can be tough.

• Cafe Rustaveli, 30 Rustaveli Ave, ☎ 032 98-58-800 (info@cafe-rustaveli.ge, fax: 032 93-58-80), [18]. Currently closed due to bankruptcy, but hopes to reopen following a lawsuit. More a café for food rather than drinks, offers a wide selection of Georgian and "western"-style food in addition to a good selection of coffee, tea, & alcoholic beverages. 2-4 USD.  edit

• Entree, 20 Rustaveli Ave, ☎ 891-193-968. 8-22. A great cafe with tasty pastries, good coffee, and free wi-fi. 3-8 USD.  edit

• People's Cafe and Restaurant, 10 Galaktion street (steps from Freedom Square), ☎ 995 32 45 0505; 984851 (info@peoplescafe.ge), [19]. 11AM-2AM. Located in the heart of Tbilisi People’s is a favorite place for locals and foreigners as well. Great place with terrace and lounge sitting. Perfectly designed- winner of the best public place interior award in 2007. Delicious food and friendly stuff – place where you can feel at home. 10-15 USD.  edit

[edit] Night Clubs

• Bamba Rooms, Bambis Rigi st. # 7 (www.bambarooms.ge; +99599-339229) A unique and vibrant premier Restaurant & DJ Bar, having one of the chic locations at Tbilisi Chardin area, is one of the liveliest and trendiest spots attracting a younger, faster-living crowd and enthusiastic clubbers. A good combination of a restaurant and a bar for around 300 people is perfect for a quiet, romantic meal in early evenings while towards midnight at weekends the place erupts into a wild party zone. *bamba rooms at bambis rigi street is probably the best and newest club in tbilisi. you will feel like in London-NY with a great interior and nice lounge music and techno.Also beatiful gogo girls.
• Zen, Also called "Zen Klub". Located on a narrow pedestrian street in one of the nicest part of the old town, not very far down the river from 'Night office' - see below. Ask for its precise location among young people, since most taxi drivers don't know about this place yet (May 2008). It's a relatively small but currently perhaps the most popular club in the city among the hip crowd. Two floors. 20-30 laris to enter (per person). There are a couple of more or less outdoor clubs close nearby where you can get some fresh air before returning to Zen.
• Night Office, Baratashvili Street, under Baratashvili bridge. Best House, Trance, Dance, Club music, finest Georgian and foreign DJs in Tbilisi. 30 laris to enter (per person) drinks are a bit expensive, but it is worth it. Open on Fridays and Saturdays.
• KalaKuri Restaurant/Club Good night club, pop, 90s and modern music.
• Cubic Club One of the best places for good house music, real minimal minmal techno and sometimes some breakbeats and dnb. 30 lari if not on the guest list.
• GURU Club

Check the clubs out on mySpace, dance.ge or info-tbilisi.com.

[edit][add listing] Sleep

[edit] Budget

• Hotel Georgian House, 38 Vakhtang VI street, ☎ +995 (32) 791919 (hotel@exotour.ge, fax: +995 (32) 791920), [20]. checkin: 12:00; checkout: 12:00. € 40+ per night.  edit

• Hotel Ata, 17, Leselidze Street, ☎ +995 (32) 987715 (info@hotelata.com, fax: +995 (32) 986026), [21]. checkin: 12:00; checkout: 12:00. € 60-80 per night.  edit

• VIP Hotel, 31, Leselidze Street. This is a lovely hotel in a quiet coutyard with views over the river. The owners are really charming people and the breakfast is excellent.. € 50-60 per night.  edit

[edit] Mid-range

• Beau Monde, 986-003. A beautiful bed/breakfast with dinner. It costs 90 dollars a night. It is next to Rustaveli Avenue, the main avenue of Tbilisi. There are balconies and a roof deck. The breakfast and dinner are very filling. There is free internet. The family that runs the hotel is very warm and welcoming. They speak Georgian and Russian and some English.
• Courtyard Marriott Tbilisi, 4 Freedom Square, ☎ +995 (32) 779200 (fax: +995 (32) 779210), [22]. checkin: 15:00; checkout: 12:00. € 180+ per night.  edit
• TBILOTEL, a High Class Business and Leisure Hotel in the central part of Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, offers 18 very comfortable room, standard and semi-suites, with balconies, Free Wi-Fi Internet, satellite TV and international phone. Reception desk is staffed 24 hours a day. Price starts from $100 per night, including rich continental breakfast and all incountry taxes. address: 8, Daraselia str., Tbilisi 0160, Georgia; Tel.: +995 32 387804; e-mail: tbilotel@tbilotel.ge

[edit] Splurge

• Tbilisi Marriott Hotel, 13 Rustaveli Prospekt, ☎ +995 (32) 779200 (fax: +995 (32) 779210), [23]. checkin: 15:00; checkout: 12:00. € 212+ per night.  edit

• Sheraton Metechi Palace Hotel, Issani, ☎ +995 (32) 772020 (fax: +995 (32) 772120), [24]. US $225+ per night.  edit

[edit] Stay safe

Tbilisi is very safe after the Rose Revolution. The police system was reformed completely and the recent polls show that public's trust in police shifted from nearly 10% to 88%. The police is quick to respond, usually.

Take taxis home at night. Use common sense and big-city awareness. Night time at the clubs and bars are safe, and taxi service is safe as long as it's a company taxi like "009" or others. If you know the place well and have lived there for a while, you can also take a public bus. They are usually clean and safe.

• Police Tel: 022. or 112 from Mobiles.
• Ambulance tel: 022 or 03.

• If you are using ATM machines(in Georgia as in most parts of eastern Europe they are known as "bancomats") look around and make sure that there are no suspecious people around. Most bank offices have bancomats in the entrance controlled by camera and when it gets dark the door can be opened only from the inside.That means no one can come from the outside and take money away. One this kind of ATM machine is available at the Bank of Georgia office on the Freedom Square. Many ATMs are also located inside Hotels, for example Courtyard Marriott on Freedom Square and Tbilisi Marriott Hotel on Rustaveli Ave. They are accessible easily and can be used any time.

[edit] Contact

Mobile Network dominates as any other place in Europe. There are 3 GSM operators:

• Magticom: provides 3G
• Geocell: provides 3G, covers all of Georgia, packet data deals available for prepaid
• Beeline

[edit] Cope

When all you want is to order food in English and not be bothered, head to the Marriott Courtyard, though the food does tend to be quite expensive. Head to Prospero's bookstore on Rustaveli 34 to be only slightly overcharged for a delicious chicken salad sandwich and great coffee of every variety. Good selection of books and a nice calm place to escape, just a little.

Be careful about renting DVDs from Prospero's bookstore - there is quite a selection, but as most of them are pirated, almost half of all their DVD stock is of a poor quality. For your peace of mind, you can check any DVD on a player in the cafe before you rent it.

[edit] Embassies

• United States, [25].  edit

[edit] Get out

• Tbilisi-Baku via night train
• Tbilisi-Ozurgeti via night train
• Tbilisi-Batumi via night & day train (around 20 GEL Per person one way), also airplane, and via bus or mimibus from central bus station
• You can get to almost any place in georgia via bus or minibus from central bus station

• Ski resorts Gudauri and Bakuriani

• Hiking in any grand National Park of Georgia including Mestia-Svaneti, Borjomi-Haragaili, Tevali-Gurjaani

This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!