Brief information about the country

Date of Independence

Official language

Georgian

Form of government

mixed republic

Territory

69,700 km² (118th in the world)

Population

4 490 500 people (123rd in the world)

Timezone

Largest cities

Tbilisi, Kutaisi, Batumi

$26.626 billion (110th in the world)

Internet domain

Telephone code

- a state in Transcaucasia, lying on the territory from the eastern coast of the Black Sea to the Greater Caucasus Range. Although Georgia formally became a separate country only in 1991, in the process of the collapse of the Soviet Union, the ancient kingdoms of Colchis and Iberia existed in this region long before the beginning of our era, and the current capital of the state, Tbilisi, is more than one and a half thousand years old.

Video: Eagle and Tails. Georgia

Basic moments

After the end of the difficult 90s for the country, many residents of the former USSR continued their nostalgic travels to Georgia, enjoying its unique nature and architectural monuments, mild climate, culinary and hospitality of the hosts. Most Georgians were fluent in Russian, and there were no problems in communication.

The second decade of the 21st century brought new trends: the government adopted a long-term, until 2025, program for the development of the tourism industry, putting at the forefront an attractive slogan: "Georgia is the country of life." Not only former compatriots, but also guests from Europe, accustomed to a different level of comfort, became a priority. Foreign investments began to flow into the economy, and the result was not long in coming: the number of tourists increased by 4 times compared to the zero years. The tourist center of Tbilisi has been completely reconstructed, the beach recreation center of Batumi has turned into a modern European city. Interesting objects have also appeared in the provinces: in a few years Sighnaghi has become the standard of elite recreation.

At the same time, the public sector did not stand aside: you can still come to Georgia on your own, staying in inexpensive guest houses or even sleeping in a tent. It is easy to find a Russian-speaking local resident, in extreme cases, you can ask questions to young Georgians - almost every one of them speaks English. Now, the immediate plans of the state include the development of infrastructure and the expansion of the tourist flow due to the winter months.

Cities of Georgia

All cities of Georgia

Geographical position and climate of Georgia

Although the area of ​​Georgia is only 1.5 times larger than Moscow and the region, due to its complex relief, several geographical zones are placed on its territory. The country is rich in minerals, waters from mineral springs, such as Borjomi, are exported. The north-east of the country is occupied by mountains, the most famous of them are located on the border with Russia - these are the five-thousanders of Shkhara and Kazbek with ice-covered peaks. The Black Sea regions, on the contrary, lie in the lowland zone. Even at the beginning of the 20th century, it was an unhealthy area, spoiled by fumes from the swamps. Then the land was drained, and now this region is the basis of Georgia's agriculture, although not as picturesque as the mountainous parts of the country.

The diversity of geographical zones and belts explains the abundance of animal and plant species. From predators in the reserves you can meet wolves, bears, endangered leopards, from ungulates - goitered gazelles and tours. Raccoons brought from North America have acclimatized in the country. Dozens of species of fish are found in the mountain rivers and glacial lakes of Georgia. Vegetables and fruits ripen perfectly in agricultural areas - not only for their own needs, but also for export. But there are practically no tea plantations in the country due to the unprofitability of this industry.

You can come to Georgia all year round, the main thing is to remember that the climate here is mild, but the weather is changeable. Even in the height of summer, you need to take jackets and umbrellas with you. On the coast, it usually pours in November and late winter, sunny in summer and September. The sea breezes take off the heat in summer. Autumn in Adjara, near the sea, comes in November, a month later than in other parts of Georgia. In Tbilisi at this time it is much colder, the approach of winter is clearly felt. When planning a trip for November, you need to find out in advance whether the heating is working in the rooms or apartments, otherwise it will be very uncomfortable to spend the night. In winter, the temperature approaches zero, but frosts occur only in the mountains - cold winds from the north are stopped by the Caucasus Range.

Ethnographic features

Outwardly, Georgians are difficult to distinguish from the crowd: among them there are burning brunettes, and light redheads with brown, gray, green and blue eyes. What they have in common is friendliness and respect for guests. The majority of the population of Georgia are Orthodox Christians who observe rituals; it is not for nothing that several religious holidays are officially celebrated in the country. Crossing yourself at the sight of a church is the norm for a believer. There are also Muslims in the country, mostly Georgians too. However, Georgians are an export concept, just like all Russians are called Russians abroad. Within this ethnic group, there are several nationalities with different customs: Kakhetians, Kartlians, Imeretians, Adjarians and many others, mostly speaking dialects of Georgian.

The ancient history, culture and unique writing system, which appeared more than one and a half thousand years ago, unites different peoples. Probably, like the Cyrillic alphabet, it has its own author - Mesrop Mashtots, who created alphabets for Armenians and Georgians. It is difficult to appreciate the diversity of the country's customs in one visit, but as an alternative, you can use the Open Air Ethnographic Museum in Tbilisi, located next to Turtle Lake and Vake Park. It contains about 70 traditional buildings: residential buildings, churches, wineries - from different regions of Georgia and thousands of authentic household items. The giant exposition, which occupies 52 hectares, is open for viewing from 10 am to 6 pm, the day off is Monday. The ticket price for adults is 1.5 GEL.

Country history

Archaeological excavations show that the art of metal processing and winemaking was one of the first in the world to be born on Georgian soil. The first mention of the state of Colchis is found in the myth of the journey of the Argonauts for the Golden Fleece. Not all archaeologists are unequivocally sure of its reality, but the artifacts found reliably confirm that the ancient Caucasian Iberia mentioned by Tacitus in the 4th century BC. BC e. really existed. In the 1st century BC e. the territories were conquered by Rome, but they were given serious autonomy. After the weakening and fall of the Roman Empire, the Laz kingdom was inherited by Byzantium, and Iberia submitted to the Persians.

Middle Ages

The Arab invasions became a serious challenge for the Georgian kingdoms. The neighboring Persia and Armenia were the first to fall, the Georgian population was subjected to tribute. Not wanting to convert to Islam, the inhabitants went to the highlands, where they could not be reached. Several centuries of scattered struggle have shown that the Georgian kingdoms alone cannot cope with the conquerors. The Bagrationi dynasty took advantage of the weakening of the Arab state in the 11th century and united several kingdoms in Kartli. But the calm did not last long: Byzantium began to fight for fertile lands, and then the Seljuk Turks. Fortunately, the beginning of the Crusades diverted the attention of the Turks from the Caucasian lands, and Tsar David the Builder returned almost all the territories back, established trade contacts with Europe and Russia, and settled the reclaimed empty lands with friendly Polovtsians. The great-granddaughter of the king-unifier Tamara brought the country to the peak of prosperity, while the Georgians seized part of Byzantium and Persia. Strong ties were established with the northern neighbors: Queen Tamara entered into her first marriage with the son of Andrei Bogolyubsky Yuri. He turned out to be extremely unsuccessful as a husband, so a few years later he was peacefully sent to Constantinople with a rich compensation. Tamara's second husband, the Ossetian prince David-Soslan, became the father of her children. During the reign of the royal couple, applied arts and literature flourished in the country, at the same time the pinnacle of Georgian poetry was created - “The Knight in the Panther's Skin” by Shota Rustaveli. After Tamara's death, her daughter Rusudan was unable to support her mother's undertakings and made peace with the Tatar-Mongols, pledging to pay tribute to them. By the 15th century, the situation in Georgia became even more alarming: only Muslim states remained around, the Byzantine Empire no longer existed. The country broke up into 4 small weakened kingdoms, subsequently divided between Turkey and Iran.

Union with Russia

The Turks were expelled from the country only in the 18th century, at the same time culture and printing in the Georgian language revived, but the threat of Turkish invasion remained, and the Iranians were strengthening nearby. In this situation, Georgia had no other choice but to become part of Russia, at least close to the inhabitants of the country in faith. At the beginning of the 19th century, the state partly joined the Russian Empire, industry developed in it, roads were laid.

Georgia in the 20th century

After the October Revolution, Georgia became independent for some time, part of its territory was transferred to the Turks under a peace treaty. In the early 1920s, the troops of the RSFSR fought with the Georgians, in 1921-1922. the country completely came under the rule of the new Soviet state. After the Second World War, the dissident movement intensified, striving for the secession of Georgia. In 1989, opposition demonstrations were organized in Tbilisi, their suppression by the army and police led to human casualties. In 1991, Georgia finally became independent, withdrew from the USSR.

The first years of independence were difficult for the country: President Zviad Gamsakhurdia, with a tough national policy, provoked a war with Abkhazia, then with South Ossetia. After his removal and death, the post of head of state was taken by Eduard Shevardnadze, a politician of the Soviet school. By the 2000s, military conflicts were neutralized, although the status of Abkhazia in the modern world is still not clearly defined, the economy began to rise. Under the next president, Mikheil Saakashvili, major reforms of the police and bureaucracy took place, while the conflict with South Ossetia flared up again in 2008. In the 1910s, the country took a course towards the development of the economy, investments came to Georgia, and after them - foreign tourists.

Natural attractions of Georgia

You can admire the landscapes in any corner of Georgia, but the most spectacular natural sights are concentrated in nature protection zones and national parks. Tourists are advised to visit them during the warm season, as the weather in the mountains is too harsh in winter.

Popular natural parks

Tusheti Park in Kakheti is a protected area with wooded mountains, on which there are several Georgian villages. Entrance there is free, a tent can be set up in any convenient place, but there are restrictions: you can’t light fires and hunt, bring pets with you. Closer to the border in Kakheti, in the savannah, Vashlovani Park has been opened with mandatory registration so as not to raise questions from the border guards. On the territory it is allowed to fish, make fires. No less interesting is the wild Kolkheti park with tropical jungle interspersed with swamps.

Mountain peaks

Climbers conquer mountains in the northeastern part of the country. Monasteries and temples sheltered on many peaks, hiding there from enemy raids. Among the most inaccessible is the monastery in a cave on Kazbek, at an altitude of about 4 km. The last monks, according to archaeologists, lived there around the 6th century.

Georgian beaches

Georgia owns more than 300 km of the Black Sea coast. The swimming season starts from mid-June, ends by October. The largest summer recreation center is the capital of Adjara, Batumi, but the pebble beaches of this port city are not the cleanest. Tourists who plan to spend all their days at sea are advised to stay in quieter villages 20 minutes south of the city. Sandy beaches are equipped in the vicinity of Ureki, an hour's drive north of Batumi. In the summer it is full of people: black magnetic sands help with joint diseases. There are no mountains in the vicinity of Ureka, but there are a lot of mosquitoes. There are also beaches in Georgia on fresh water bodies: Tbilisi residents, for example, prefer to relax on the pebbly shore of Turtle Lake.

Resorts of Georgia

The mountain resort of Abastumani with dry coniferous air lies 3-4 hours west of Tbilisi. Guests with diseases of the lungs, joints, gynecological problems are welcome here. About 20 km northwest of Abastumani is the resort of Serm, famous for its thermal waters. A 2-hour drive from the capital in the same direction there are several sanatoriums in the resort town of Surami. Tskhaltubo in Imereti, 10 minutes northwest of, has been known since the Middle Ages for its mineral waters.

Active holidays in Georgia

Even in Soviet times, winter sports enthusiasts rested in Georgia, ski resorts are waiting for guests today. Among the popular destinations are regions with stable snow cover. In the Borjomi-Bakurian region, climatic conditions are close to alpine ones. There are many trails for beginners and professionals in Bakuriani, and hikers come here in the summer. In waiting for skiers and rock climbers. The Gudauri resort in the historical region of Khevi welcomes athletes from December to April. Climbers train all year round in the area.

Man-made sights of Georgia

A significant part of the ancient sights of Georgia are monuments of Christian architecture. Only churches dedicated to St. George, the patron saint of Georgia, there are more than three hundred. Many of them were built in the last millennium. Sioni Cathedral, built in the 7th century, stands in the historical center of Tbilisi. It houses the wooden cross of St. Nino, who brought Christianity to Georgia. The cathedral is the residence of the head of the local church, Catholicos Ilia II.

The World Heritage List includes a complex of temples in Mtskheta and its environs: the Samtavro convent of the 4th century, the recently restored Jvari temple of the 7th century and the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral. Bagrat's temple is a controversial object from the point of view of art historians. The ancient cathedral of the 11th century was seriously damaged under the Turks, a dilapidated base remained, on which, nevertheless, services were held. Over the past decade, the complex has been restored, although UNESCO has protested against the overly radical architectural solutions.

Monuments of secular architecture

If travelers do not have time to travel around the country, they should just wander through the streets of the historical center of Tbilisi and enjoy the atmosphere of the ancient city. In the resort town of Vani, the ruins of the ancient city have been preserved. In the south of Georgia, tourists can see the fortress of Khertvisi, built from the 10th to the 14th centuries. The Ananuri Fortress on the Georgian Military Highway, the royal fortress of Gremi in Kakheti are later monuments of the 16th-18th centuries. A 2-hour drive east of Tbilisi, Sighnaghi has been rebuilt - a tourist paradise with 18th-century fortress walls, red-tiled roofs and panoramic views.

Museums of the country

The network of the Georgian National Museum includes natural science, historical and art collections. Among the most popular among tourists is the Metropolitan Museum of Arts of Georgia with unique items of medieval national art. In the city of Zugdidi, tourists visit the 19th-century Dadiani Palace, surrounded by an impressive park. Ticket price - 2 GEL, you can hire a Russian-speaking guide. The Jakeli castle in the Akhaltsikhe fortress has recently been restored and also turned into a museum.

Holidays in Georgia

People like to relax in Georgia on a grand scale, celebrating both traditional holidays for the former USSR: New Year, March 8, Victory Day, and unique ones.

Social and political holidays

Independence Day, when Georgia left the Russian Empire and became a separate state, is celebrated on May 26. Even if the state formed in 1918 lasted only 3 years and regained its independence only in 1991, this day is still significant for Georgians. A military parade is being held along Rustaveli Avenue, and a festive concert is being organized in Rika, the historical center of Tbilisi.

April 9 is National Unity Day in Georgia in memory of the events of 1989, when protests were held in Tbilisi, which were brutally suppressed by the police and the military.

Religious holidays

Many Orthodox holidays in the country are celebrated as state holidays, and a day off is declared. November 23 is a solemn day for Georgian believers of St. George, the patron saint of the country. On this day, he was wheeled by order of Emperor Diocletian so that he would renounce Christianity. Saint Nino, a paternal relative of the martyr, enlightener of Georgia, introduced the people to the exploits of the saint. From Cappadocia, her homeland, in the 4th century she came to Iberia, where she preached so successfully that she converted the whole country to Christianity. Since then, this is the most revered female name, like George - for men. Solemn services are held in churches on this day, at home the holiday is celebrated with family feasts.

Easter customs in Georgia are generally similar to those in Russia, but believers begin to celebrate an important event on Good Friday, which is declared a non-working day. At Christmas, a festive procession takes place in Tbilisi, during which gifts are collected for charitable purposes. Candles are lit in the windows of believers. Widely, more actively than in Russia, the Epiphany of the Lord is celebrated on January 19. On May 12, the Day of St. Andrew the First-Called is celebrated, on August 28, services are held in memory of the Assumption of the Virgin.

An unusual holiday appeared recently - this is the Day of Spiritual Love on July 16th. The main celebrations are not held in Tbilisi cathedrals, as usual, but in Gergeti, in the Trinity Church of the XIV century. The church is located at an altitude of more than 2 km at the foot of Kazbek, 3 hours north of the capital.

On October 14, another event is held outside Tbilisi - Mtskhetoba. The place of service is the Svetitskhoveli Temple, built on the burial site of the robe of Christ in Mtskheta, a 40-minute drive northwest of the capital. The first wooden temple on this site was erected in the 4th century, the stone building, which has survived to this day, appeared in the 11th century. This is the resting place of the Georgian kings from the Bagration dynasty, which for many centuries was the main church of the country.

Unofficial holidays

The time of grape harvest marks Rtveli, when men come home with the first baskets, and women prepare a treat for the whole family.

Love Day is held on April 15, when couples give gifts to each other. It was introduced so that the people would abandon Valentine's Day as a Catholic holiday, but Georgians seized the opportunity and are now happily celebrating both days.

On Tbilisi City Day in October, fairs and theatrical performances are held in the capital.

Cuisine of Georgia

Going to Georgia just to get acquainted with its culinary traditions on the spot is a worthy goal. Since the country is Christian, all types of meat are used, but beef, chicken and turkey are clearly preferred. Fish on the tables is much less common, despite the fact that trout of exceptional quality is caught in mountain streams. Sea fishing in Georgia is generally not very developed, since the coastline is straight, without bays convenient for parking ships. The lack of fish dishes is compensated by an abundance of vegetables and fruits, since everything grows in the Georgian climate. Chefs use nuts, most often walnuts, spices and fresh herbs with a rich taste: cilantro, basil, tarragon. There are a lot of pickled cheeses in the daily menu, both fresh suluguni and spicy chanakh. They are used not as an appetizer, but as part of the first and second courses. Simple basic dishes are diversified with a huge number of sauces with a berry-fruit base, complemented by nuts and herbs.

Only in Georgia you can try authentic tkemali sauce based on local plum, satsivi with wine vinegar or pomegranate juice. Local chefs prepare a real kharcho soup - with the addition of plums and walnuts and many spices, laid in several steps. A popular second dish, chakhokhbili, is most often made from chicken fried and then stewed in vegetables. Chicken or turkey is also used in satsivi with the sauce of the same name. Tapaka chickens are roasted under oppression, which is why they acquire a characteristic flattened shape. In Georgia, more than 40 types of lobio are cooked - the second of the beans. Dishes less known to Russian tourists are gomi chumiza gruel, mchadi cornmeal cakes.

Flatbread Mchadi

There are few sweet dishes in Georgian cuisine - they are replaced by fresh and candied fruits, honey, juices. The main exception is churchkhela, which is made from thickened grape juice and nuts. The semi-finished product ripens for several months, but remains soft at the same time.

There are several wine regions in Georgia, for tasting it is most convenient to travel on your own through the Kakheti Alazani Valley, east of the capital. For those who do not risk traveling alone, they organize wine tours to the best wineries in the country. Connoisseurs advise paying attention to Georgian white wine: it rarely comes to Russian stores, meanwhile, it often surpasses red in taste and aroma.

Shopping in Georgia

The day when foreigners will come to Georgia on shopping tours will not come soon, although in Tbilisi shopping centers you can buy goods of all world brands. In the meantime, tourists take with them handicrafts: silver jewelry and household items with enamels, homespun towels and rugs - and the best Georgian foods and drinks: wine, grape seed oil, churchkhela, homemade cheese, spices, real tkemali sauce. Souvenir shops are scattered throughout the capital, goods are cheaper in the markets and you can bargain. Among tourists, the "flea market" is in demand next to the House of Justice on the banks of the Kura near the Dry Bridge. Shops close around 7 pm, supermarkets are open until late or around the clock, markets are closed on Mondays.

Wine store

Prices in Georgia

You can visit the restaurant without denying yourself anything for about $ 20, but if you eat modestly, ordering inexpensive khinkali, you can meet $ 5. Anyone who rents an apartment in the capital and plans to cook on their own is bought near the Central Station at the Deserter Market, where food prices are lowest. A bottle of decent wine costs no less than $10, a churchkhela costs about a dollar.

Cash and bank cards

Bank cards MasterCard and Visa are freely accepted for payment in the capital. The local currency - lari and tetri - is better to carry with you at the market, in transport and in provincial cities. When exchanging for Lari, banks charge a small commission.

Visas and customs regulations

Visa regimes between Russia and Georgia have changed frequently lately. The latter option is attractive for tourists: a passport is enough to enter the country for a year, a visa is not needed. An important detail concerns the status of the disputed territories. Tourists should know that entry into Georgia through Abkhazia from the Russian side is fraught with a fine and deportation from the country. Traveling through Abkhazia is also not recommended: there will be no exit stamp in the passport, and Georgian border guards may not like it on their next visit.

Up to 3 liters of wine can be exported from Georgia without duty, 2 more - with a surcharge. Some tourists manage to smuggle more through Russian customs, but success is not guaranteed. You can import any amount in cash not in Georgian currency, during the year the same amount can be taken back.

Transport in Georgia

Tbilisi has a metro with two lines and 22 visually spectacular stations, covering almost the entire city. This is the most economical type of transport, the fare is paid for by a card, on which money is put and 50 tetri are automatically written off during the next trip. Information at the stations is presented in Georgian and English. The metro operates from 6 am to midnight, the interval between trains is about 4 minutes, less during peak hours.

There are about 100 bus routes in Tbilisi from 8 am to 10 pm. Payment in city buses is accepted using the same plastic card or in cash without change. Within an hour and a half after taking the metro, a bus ticket, usually worth 50 tetri, is issued free of charge. Hiring a taxi for a full day will cost about 200 lari, a short trip within the same area - an average of 5 lari. Shuttle taxis and trains run to the regions.

Where to stay

There are no problems with the choice of housing in Georgia. A room in a guest house costs from $10 per day, modest apartments can be rented for $40, and rent for a long period is cheaper. A hotel room - from $ 20, the average price - $ 50. There are inexpensive campsites and guest houses in the national parks. Private owners rent housing in coastal areas, ads in Russian can be found right on the road from the beach.

Security Issues in Georgia

Personal security issues in Georgia are well resolved, tourists can be calm. The maximum that can happen is to be slightly cheated in the market, in an exchange office or in a taxi, but this is a standard attitude towards foreigners in any resort center in the world. Girls are not threatened by the violent Caucasian temperament: in Georgia, a woman, especially a guest, is treated very respectfully. Passers-by will always tell you the way, help if necessary. Of the natural hazards, earthquakes up to 7 points are possible, especially in the eastern part of the country.

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Republic of Georgia.

The national name is Sakart-velo (Kartvels - "Georgians").

Capital of Georgia. Tbilisi.

Georgia Square. 69700 km2.

Population of Georgia. 3.716 million people (

Georgian GDP. $16.53 billion (

Location of Georgia. Georgia is a state in the South-West of the Transcaucasian region. In the west it is washed by waters. In the north it borders on Russia, in the east - on, in the south - on Azerbaijan, and. Georgia includes two autonomous republics (Adzharia and Abkhazia) and the autonomous region of South Ossetia.

Administrative divisions of Georgia. Georgia consists of 65 regions.

Form of government of Georgia. Republic.

Head of State of Georgia. President elected for a term of 5 years.

Supreme legislative body of Georgia. Bicameral parliament with a term of office of 5 years.

Supreme executive body of Georgia. The Supreme Council.

Major cities of Georgia. Kutaisi, Batumi, Sukhumi.

State language of Georgia. Georgian.

Religion of Georgia. 65% are adherents of the Orthodox Church, 10% - the Russian Orthodox Church, 11% - Islam, 8% - the Armenian Orthodox Church.

Ethnic composition of Georgia. 70.1% - Georgians, 8.1% - Armenians, 6.3% - Russians, 5.7% - Azerbaijanis, 3% -, 1.8% - Abkhazians, Adjarians, Greeks also live.

Currency of Georgia. Lari = 100 tetri.

Georgia. The climate of Georgia depends on the region: in the Colchis Valley and on the Black Sea coast and continental in mountainous areas. The average January temperature ranges from - 2 ° С (Iverian) to + 3 ° С (Colchis), August - + 23-26 ° С. In the mountains of Western Georgia, facing to, falls from 1000 to 2800 mm of precipitation per year, in Eastern Georgia - 300-600 mm.

Flora of Georgia. There are 15 in Georgia, the main one is Lagodekhi, where they are located,. Forests occupy 40% of the country's territory (in the subtropics - evergreen).

Fauna of Georgia. In Georgia, there are a tiger, a Dagestan tur, a mountain goat, a bear, a deer, a roe deer, a lynx, many birds, and snakes live.

and lakes of Georgia. The main rivers are Kura, Riona. The largest lakes are Paleostomi, Ritsa, Ametkel.

Sights of Georgia. In Tbilisi - Sioni Cathedral, St. David Monastery, Anchiskhat Basilica. In Kutaisi - the temple of Bagrata, in Mtskheta - the Patriarchal Cathedral of Svetitskhoveli, in Gelati - the Gelati Monastery, the building of the Academy.

Useful information for tourists

A large number of tourists are attracted by springs (Borjomi, Tskhaltub, Menji, Saimre), as well as seaside climatic (Gagra, Pitsunda, Kobuleti, etc.), mountain climatic (Bakuriani, Bakhmaro, etc.) resorts.

Shops are usually open from 9.00 to 19.00, a large number of shops and supermarkets serve customers around the clock. Fairs and bazaars are open seven days a week.

The export of items of historical and cultural value is prohibited.

In this article I will show the most interesting sights of Tbilisi with photos and marks on the map, tell you where to eat and stay.

In our route around Georgia, its capital was both a starting and a destination, we managed to see everything we wanted, we even visited some places twice, thus we studied all the sights of Tbilisi along and across.

We explored both the old historical part and the new districts, walked around the city both on our own and in the company of a classy guide, a historian-philosopher, thanks to which we saw the most diverse Tbilisi - both modern tourist and not quite typical, looked into unusual old courtyards, learned the history of interesting buildings, and visited cafes and restaurants where capital residents like to relax.

Tbilisi is a fairly compact city, and this is very convenient in the sense that you can easily see all the sights of Tbilisi in a couple of days, and if you wish, or for lack of more time, you can enjoy the color and cultural heritage even in 1 day.

In this article I will show which capital of Georgia we saw, along the way I will tell you about all the sights of Tbilisi.

In most cases, any tourist begins his acquaintance with Georgia from Tbilisi, arriving here by plane, even if the main goal is the sea, mountains or skiing 🙂 So, I hope my article will be useful to you!

Tbilisi is the capital and largest city of Georgia, located on the banks of the Kura River. The population of Tbilisi is slightly more than 1.5 million people. The old name of the city is Tiflis, it was founded in the 5th century.

I will not delve into history, it is better to study it right on the spot, walking around the Old Town.

Almost all residents of Tbilisi speak excellent Russian, at least our peers and older people. Young people know English well.

Money in Georgia

The currency in Georgia is called lari (GEL), its rate is 2.3 lari per $1.

We are often asked - what currency to take with you on a trip? If you already have dollars or euros, it makes sense to carry them, but it makes no sense to change rubles for dollars in an exchanger in Russia, so that later you can exchange dollars for lari in Georgia, you will lose more on a double exchange.

For many years now, we have been withdrawing local currency from the card at an ATM, and this, as a rule, turns out to be more profitable. This is partly due to the fact that we use a Tinkoff Bank card - they have free cash withdrawals around the world, and the conversion is close to the Central Bank rate. Well, in general, for travelers, this is a very convenient bank, if you do not use their cards yet, we recommend that you apply.

How much does it cost to eat in Tbilisi

Compared to Europe and Russia, it was a surprise for us that almost everything is cheaper in Georgia: transport, housing, food in restaurants, fruits, so relaxing here is a real pleasure =)

A meal for two in a mid-range restaurant cost us 20-40 GEL. Snacks and soups - 5-7 lari, khachapuri, kebabs - 6-9 lari, hot dishes - 9-15, khinkali - 0.5 per 1 pc.

Fruits and vegetables are very cheap - peaches, figs at 1 lari per 1 kg, churchkhella at 2-4 lari.

Transport in Tbilisi

You can get from the airport to Tbilisi by taxi, the cost depends on the area. The normal price to the center is about 30 lari ($12), but many local taxi drivers will double it. If you feel the strength and ability to bargain in yourself, this is a good place to practice =)

In the event that you want to avoid an obsessive offer of services and there is no desire to bargain, you can use a pre-ordered transfer. The price will be about the same as that of taxi drivers before the auction, but on the other hand, a driver with a sign will meet you at the exit and you will not have to spend extra time at the airport. You can order a transfer.

There is also a completely budget option - bus number 37 goes from the airport directly to the center, the fare, like on all city buses and the metro, is 50 tetri (0.5 lari). Travel in minibuses around the city - 80 tetri.

The city has a metro - 2 branches, the fare for the metro is 1 lari. In the metro, you need to buy a plastic card for 2.5 GEL (which can then be returned within 1 month upon presentation of a check), put some amount on it, and then use this card to travel both in the metro and on the bus.

At the same time, 2 people can use one card by swiping it at the turnstile or to the validator on the bus twice.

At the same time, if you use such a card to take the metro, then for another hour you can ride the bus for free, but in this case you need a card for each person.

Where to stay in Tbilisi

Housing prices in Tbilisi start at $15 for a double room in the most basic hotel. For $30-40 you can rent a decent room in a 3* hotel, for $80 you will already get four stars, but this is all away from the center. This choice may be justified if you are coming for a long time, or your budget is very limited.

If you have only a few days in your city and you want to see the sights of Tbilisi to the maximum, then we recommend choosing a hotel in the central part of the city - prices are slightly higher there, but you will not waste precious time on transport.

Most of the sights of Tbilisi (in fact the entire Old City) are located between metro stations Liberty Square (Freedom Square) and Avlabari. On the map below, it is marked with a pentagon, and a more detailed map is at the end of the article. It is best to focus on this area.

Slightly cheaper, but also close to the center will be housing in the station area Rustaveli, Marjanishvilli and
300 Aragveli. You can consider the option Station Square, but if you plan to get to the center by metro, we do not recommend choosing stations Tsereteli and Technical University, since they are on a different metro line and you will have to make a transfer. But if you plan to travel by taxi (which is quite inexpensive in Tbilisi), then there will be no problems - it takes literally 10 minutes to go to the center.

We know how difficult it is to decide on accommodation, especially in the city you are visiting for the first time, so we have made a selection of good hotels with the best value for money, quality and location. You can choose any of them and most likely you will be satisfied.

Hotels 5*

There are only 5 five-star hotels in Tbilisi. Most of them are located in the center, but there is a hotel Hotels & Preference Hualing Tbilisi, which is further away, but it has the highest rating of the five, the best reviews and the lowest price =)

The Radisson Blu Iveria Hotel is remarkable in that it has two pools - indoor and outdoor, but in Tbilisi Marriott Hotel, despite the big name, the reviews are mixed, and there is no pool.

Ambassadori Tbilisi Hotel and The Biltmore Hotel Tbilisi are simply great hotels with a very convenient location and indoor pools.

We indicate approximate prices to make it easier for you to navigate and compare, but keep in mind that depending on the season, they can vary significantly.

4* hotels

• Hotel Rasta – $133
• Kisi Hotel – $131
• Gallery Palace - $116
• Boutique Villa Mtiebi – $112
• Shota @ Rustaveli Boutique Hotel– $108 (very nice, stylish hotel)
• Citrus Hotel - $95

Only two four-star hotels have swimming pools, these are:

• Betsy's Hotel - $ 111
• Holiday Inn - $82

3* hotels

For the price, some three-star hotels are comparable to four-star hotels, a lot depends on the location. For example, the Holiday Inn from the list is located at a distance from the center, and the hotels below are in the very center:

• Hotel Four Brothers – $85
• Hotel Dcorner – $80
• Lowell Hotel – $63
• Nine Hotel - $51
• Renaissance Hotel Tbilisi – $49
• Hotel Mariali – $50

Budget hotels

• Check Point Hotel – $51
• Solo Lucky - $40
• Hotel Zaira – $34
• Bonus Hotel - $34
• Opera Rooms & Hostel Tbilisi – $30
• Like Hostel Tbilisi – $23
• City Hostel Wine Rise – $15

Apartments

If you, for some strange reason, don't get into Georgian cuisine and want to be able to cook at home, or simply prefer to live at home, there is a good selection of apartments in Tbilisi. Well, in general, in the budget price category, this can be a very good alternative to hotels.

• Puris Moedani Apartments
• Apartment at Grigola Handzeteli
• GTNL Apart Hotel
• Cozy old town studio
• Rustaveli Avenue Apartment
  Apartment Khatuna Tbilisi
• Nilu Apartment

You can also look at housing on Airbnb, there are also many interesting options there.

We stayed at the Holiday Inn (4 *) with a gorgeous view, and at the new, modern Terrace Avlabari By Log Inn (3 *) - it is simpler, but the rooms are very decent, at the top - a stunning terrace overlooking the city and Mtatsminda hill with a TV tower . Both hotels can be safely recommended! Read our detailed reviews here:

Other hotels in Tbilisi can be viewed here.

It is convenient to look for budget flights to Tbilisi here.

Well, now let's get down to the sights of Tbilisi!

At the end of the article you will find a map of all the sights of Tbilisi, as well as our recommendations where you can go from Tbilisi for 1 day.

Rustaveli Avenue

This is the main avenue of the city, one and a half kilometers long, there are many administrative buildings, the Parliament with a fountain, the National Opera and Ballet Theater,

The National Museum and the Museum of Modern Art, yes, and just a lot of beautiful buildings.

There are many restaurants and shops on Rustaveli Avenue, this is a kind of Georgian "Champs Elysees" 🙂

For a tourist who is eager to see not only all the most significant sights of Tbilisi and visit museums, but also just to see the city, just walking along the wide sidewalks of the avenue is also of interest. Here and there on the sidewalk there are bronze sculptures,

photogenic facades of historical buildings, arches,

in which you just want to go deep in order to find those very non-tourist, but truly atmospheric Georgian courtyards,

where children play under stretched, with hanging clothes, ropes from one house to another across the whole yard,

and in the basement there is a "khachapurnya" with a stove where they bake the freshest cakes with Suluguni cheese..

The view of this small square is familiar to all tourists, it is he who is most often found on magnets and postcards, from here the streets lead to the Old Town.

Maidan is a meeting place for both tourists and citizens. There are a couple of pleasant cafes here, where in the warm season you can sit on the open terraces or balconies, make your route according to the map of Tbilisi sights, inhale the aroma of Georgian spices, waiting for your order from traditional national dishes - rich soups, khachapuri and various mushroom appetizers, eggplants and other vegetables, and of course, barbecue, cheese and khinkali, while watching the life of the city along the way.

And probably, thanks to the inscription “I love Tbilisi”, this square is now photographed many times more than before. Although in fact, you can’t call Maidan downright cozy, it’s more like a noisy traffic intersection, in the very center of the city.

From this square it is convenient to start walking around the Old Town!

Old city

The old city of Tbilisi (Kala district) is a tangled string of winding streets leading up and down hills, with many interesting houses with a long history.

Where one wants to look, because even behind the most ordinary doors such fantastic interiors can be hidden.

Parts of the fortress wall have been preserved here, amazingly decorated with bright colorful balconies.

Many historically valuable houses are in a deplorable state, they are being restored.

One of the most popular tourist areas of the Old City is Chardin and streetShardeni(named after a French traveler who once visited here, after which he made sketches of it).

Pedestrian street, consists of many cafes and restaurants,

so that during the season there are practically no places on the summer terraces, spicy smells are raging, and a variety of languages ​​​​of the world are heard, and everyone is probably talking about delicious Georgian cuisine.

But in truth, Tbilisi residents themselves rarely dine and dine here, they say that the food is more tourist-oriented, the place is very accessible, so the price tag is a little higher, and they don’t care much about the quality of food and service.

At the end of the article, I will give a couple of recommendations for cafes that the locals advised us, and where we ate ourselves, it really is very tasty and pleasant in Georgian! Even here on this street there is a funny statue-monument "Tamada" - a seated man with a horn of wine and with shiny knees. Every second tourist wants to sit down on the toastmaster's knees to take a picture 🙂

Another street with cafes in the Old Town - Shavteni street, there are also cafes and an unusual "crooked" architectural object - the clock tower of the Puppet Theater. And this is a sculpture of "Cheerful Georgians",

it is at the beginning of Baratashvili street, 3 minutes walk from the Puppet Theatre. Right next to it is the Lamplighter.

In general, there are many different sculptures in Tbilisi, not far from Avlabari Square there is a monument to the heroes of the film "Mimino", so you can easily get a disease-mania - be sure to take a picture of all the sculptures you meet.

But for me, the very color of the streets is much more interesting to photograph than the monuments.

Yes, yes, it was this unusual twisted tower that I mentioned in the paragraph above - this is the Puppet Theater. If you have time, then look at the performance, it was also recommended to us by the capital's residents, but alas, the performances are not held every day, so we did not get there.

In general, during the tourist season, tickets are quickly sold out, you may not get it. All performances at the Puppet Theater are in Georgian with English subtitles.

At 12:00 and 17:00 on the clock tower you can catch a mini-puppet show 🙂

Also in the center there is another theater, and also of an unusual appearance, here the building itself in the form of a ship already attracts attention.

Well, if you have already seen all the sights of Tbilisi, why not spend an evening at the theater 🙂

Sulfur baths

The famous Tbilisi Sulfur Baths undoubtedly belong even more to the sights of Tbilisi than to SPA entertainment, because they were built back in the 17-19 centuries, only a lazy Georgian did not advise us to look into them 🙂

The Sulfur Baths are located in the historical district of the Old City - Abanotubani (in translation, it will be the “bath” district), it is very close to the Maidan. There are both public and individual steam rooms. In the summer, we didn’t want to get out of the heat into even more heat, so we don’t know how it is inside.

We only know that the baths were built in the Persian style - they themselves are underground, and only vaulted domed roofs stick out on the surface, probably this also plays some role in the supply and distribution of steam 🙂 If you have been inside these baths, write about your impressions in the comments!

Next to the baths there is a pleasant green square, and on the opposite side of the river there is a beautiful mosque.

The ancient fortress of Narikala, which is over 1500 years old, has become the hallmark of the city, and is one of the main attractions of Tbilisi.

Perhaps, any tourist who comes to the city definitely climbs to the fortress on foot from the Old Town or by cable car from Rike Park.

By the way, from the embankment in the evening there is an excellent view of the Narikala fortress in the backlight.

From the walls of the Narikala fortress, a panorama of the city opens up, from which it is already breathtaking, the entire Old City is at a glance!

There are telescopes along the walls, so you can see the city below in detail.

I liked the sunset here the most!

At this time, you can stick around the walls of the Narikala fortress for a particularly long time 🙂

Tbilisi Botanical Garden

Directly behind the Narikala fortress is the Botanical Garden. If you like flowers, greenery, then from spring to autumn you will especially like it here. There are pleasant alleys in the Botanical Garden, there is a greenhouse "Greenhouse" at the end of the garden there is a waterfall, there are gazebos and viewing platforms.

The park is open from 9:00 to 19:00, but from 18:30 the ticket offices are closed, and no one is allowed in, the greenhouse, alas, is not open every day.

Tickets cost 2 lari, children - 50 tetri (0.5 lari).

Zoo

If you are traveling in Georgia with a child, you might like the idea of ​​visiting the Tbilisi Zoo. Tigers, elephants, deer, zebras live here, everything is as it should be.

The cost of adult / children's tickets: 2/1 GEL, respectively, children under 3 years old - free of charge.

Canyon in Tbilisi

If you want to admire the canyon from above, then look into the Botanical Garden, the garden is large, so you can also get to the canyon itself, to the waterfall.

We just went along the gorge-river, which is next to the Sulfur baths, and somehow imperceptibly ended up at the bottom of the canyon,

where along the paved path we reached the waterfall.

In the summer, in the heat there, you can cool off a little under its spray, well, or climb under the jets and cool down to the fullest.

We climbed back to the Old City in a different way - from the canyon we crossed the bridge and climbed the iron spiral staircase, from where we came to the Maidan through winding streets.

Thus, several roads / streets lead to the canyon with a waterfall at once. If you get confused, do not be shy, ask passers-by, they will definitely tell you, and most likely, in Russian 🙂

I really, really liked this place, despite the fact that we were there during the day in the sweltering heat.

Not only natural views open from the canyon, but also a view of typical Georgian multi-level houses, which I am ready to photograph millions of times, they are so photogenic!

Temples of Tbilisi

To be honest, we are not fans of temples and cathedrals, most often we visit them, of course, but rather for show, so I don’t even always take pictures of them. At the same time, we definitely visit unusual cathedrals and churches, for example, in the Gothic style or located in a stunning place with picturesque views, or if a nature trail leads to this church, then the main idea of ​​visiting the temple comes down to trekking 🙂

So all the most interesting churches in Georgia turned out to be outside of Tbilisi for us (these are the old Gergeti Trinity Church in Kazbegi and the Jvari temple in Mtskheta).

If you are interested in seeing exactly Tbilisi in its religious aspect, or if you just love such architecture, then I advise you to look into the following temples.

This is the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity - a huge and beautiful, fairly new temple with only 10 years of history, built with the money of a billionaire and philanthropist, the former Prime Minister of Georgia - Bidzine Ivanishvili.

Now this is the main temple of Georgia, and due to its size (height from the foundation, including the cross - 97.5 m), it can be seen from many observation platforms, and simply the streets of the city.

The temple of Tsminda Sameba is installed on the site of the old Armenian cemetery on the hill of St. Elias.

Of the interesting things - in the church of Tsminda Sameba you can see real gems - emeralds and sapphires.

Church of Kashveti on Rustaveli

This temple of St. George (Kashveti) is deeply revered by the locals, there are always people inside.

Metekhi Temple

The Assumption Church (Metekhi Temple) is hard to miss, it stands on the rocky bank of the Kura River in the very center of Tbilisi, is clearly visible from Maidan Square. The church was built in the 13th century, for some time it was a fortress-castle, there was also a prison, and later an art museum. Near the temple of Metekhi there is a monument to the founder of the city - Vakhtang Gorgasali.

It is worth climbing the hill, if not even because of the church itself and the monument, then at least in order to just look at the city from a bird's eye view. The bridge and the area next to the church has a similar name - Metekhi.

Church of Tabori

Another temple on the hill of the same name is the Tabori Church, it is visible from different parts of the city, including from the Narikala fortress.

Church of Anchiskhati

Anchiskhati - the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, the oldest church in Tbilisi that has survived to this day.

The bell tower is not so old, it belongs to the 17th century. The Anchiskhati Church and the bell tower are located next to the Puppet Theatre.

The Church of St. George is the oldest Armenian church of Surb Gevorg, it is impossible to confuse it with any other temple, the church has a new sky-blue dome.

The old one collapsed in 2009, damaging the altar as well, as a result, an Armenian businessman was found who founded the fund for the restoration of the church, the restoration was completed in 3 years, now the church of St. George pleases residents and guests of the city.

The church is clearly visible from the walls of the Narikala fortress,

you can look there on the way to this very fortress, if you climb from the Old Town on foot, and not by cable car.

Jvaris Mama Church

Jvaris Mama - a small Georgian church of the 16th century, stands next to the Armenian Norashen. Inside the cathedral, beautiful frescoes have been perfectly preserved.

Armenian Church of Norashen

There are constant disputes about the Church of Norashen (Church of the Annunciation of the Virgin) - either it is recognized as Armenian (the inscription at the entrance is in Armenian), or it is considered Georgian (since 2 decades ago it was consecrated by Georgian Orthodox, Georgian tombstones appeared on the territory of the church). Due to wrangling and tense situation between Georgians and Armenians, the worship hall is now closed.

In the photo - on the left is the Norashen Church (with a dark dome), on the right - the Zion Cathedral on the embankment of the Kura River (with a light dome), in the foreground - Jvaris Mama (with a reddish dome).

Zion Cathedral

The oldest church in Tbilisi, the building dates back to the 6th century, it was destroyed many times. Sioni Cathedral is famous for its relic - the cross of St. Nino, it was the first cross in Georgia, St. Nino made it from a vine. Until recently, this cathedral was the main temple of the country. Here it is right on the embankment, in front of the glass Peace Bridge.

This 20-meter statue rises on the Sololaki hill in the district of the same name.

Mother Kartli (or Mother Georgia) is visible from many points of the city, and has long become a symbol of Tbilisi, you can walk along the path from the Narikala fortress to it.

In one hand, the “mother” has a cup of wine to greet friends, which speaks of the hospitality of the Caucasian people, and in the other, a sword with which she is ready to protect her people from enemies at any moment, the composition symbolizes the Georgian national character.

The monument "Mother of Kartli" was built for the 1500th anniversary of the city, at first the statue was wooden, a little later it was replaced with an aluminum copy, and even later the monument was finalized - modern decor elements of the dress and headdress were added.

In the evening, the statue is illuminated.

Europe Square and Rike Park

Rike is a modern pleasant park with beautiful lawns, unusual sculptures (there is even a sculpture - a white piano) and dancing fountains, with amazing night illumination. Rike is translated as "flat bank", the park itself is located on the left gently sloping bank of the Kura River.

The fountain, by the way, is not at all simple; with the help of Morse code, it “dances” the elements of the periodic table, thereby proclaiming universal equality and unity.

In Rike Park there is some kind of futuristic masterpiece of modern architecture - 2 glass-metal pipes - either the building of the Theater of Music and Drama, or the Philharmonic / Concert Hall, the Georgians themselves still do not really know what exactly will be here, the object has not yet been completed.

Next to the park is Europe Square, directly opposite the Mekheti Bridge.

cable car

The Ropeway to the Narikala Fortress starts from Riki Park, this is a relatively new attraction in Tbilisi, the road was opened in 2012.

The cabins go pretty fast, 5 minutes, and you are already at the top near the fortress walls, from where there are gorgeous views of the city!

The fare is only 0.5 GEL (you will need a plastic metro card to pay).

The glass building in Rike Park is the starting point of the cable car.

If you have never ridden on such a lift, then an enthusiastic effect is guaranteed!

Funicular

In addition to the cable car, there is a funicular in Tbilisi, once upon a time, after 100 years of existence, there was an accident, and for a long time the funicular was under reconstruction, it was reopened only in 2013.

A trailer rides with one stop in the middle, near the church of St. David, the Pantheon is located here, the place is also called the cemetery of writers, because. various cultural figures are buried here, including many poets and writers.

You can take a walk to the Church of St. David, and from there take the funicular or, if you are ready for physical exertion, completely climb up on foot!

And the main destination of the funicular, of course, is on the top of the hill - this is an observation deck and the Mtatsminda amusement park.

To go up to the very top (and go down too), in addition to the ticket, you need to buy a plastic card (2 GEL), on which trips are coded. Alas, the card that is for the metro is not suitable, this one cannot be handed over, but you can use it an infinite number of times and for as many people as you need.

By the way, if you do not want to buy a card, there is a small life hack - ask someone in line to simply code the trip for you. But in any case, the cost is not too high. Card - 2 GEL, travel 1-2 GEL, depending on the number of stops and time of day.

The funicular runs until 2 am.

The ultimate goal of the funicular is just the Mtatsminda park,

this is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Tbilisi. It is also at the same time the highest observation deck in the city, and even with a restaurant and an amusement park at the top.

So you can kill two birds with one stone - admire the gorgeous views of the city and get a dose of adrenaline on the slides and carousels, well, in the summer you can also hide from the sultry heat in the shade of the trees.

Most of the swings in Mtatsminda Park are for kids, and adults will definitely enjoy the giant Ferris wheel!

In the evening, there is amazing illumination, both in the park and in the city, which is perfectly visible from the site.

From here opens, and the truth, the coolest view in the city!

The funicular works until late, so you can ride the carousels in the park to your heart's content, and have time to enjoy a late dinner in the restaurant!

The restaurant in Mtatsminda Park has 2 floors, on the first floor there is mainly Georgian cuisine, the prices are reasonable, but it is too crowded and noisy, at least on Sunday there were practically no empty seats. On the second floor - European cuisine with a high price tag, this restaurant is considered one of the best in the city, not only because of the amazing view 🙂

Peace Bridge

Another futuristic object next to Ricky Park is the Peace Bridge, modern, stylish.

Someone will say that the bridge has spoiled the historical appearance of the city, and someone will admire the smoothness of the lines and be sure to take a few pictures as a keepsake.

We belong to the second category of people, in particular, I really like this interweaving of modern projects and antique objects, if they look organic, why not? Informally, the bridge is also called the Bridge of Lovers or Crystal.

There is another comic name - "always gasket", for the characteristic curve of the glass roof of the bridge.

It is best to come to the Peace Bridge at sunset, the backlight is simply amazing!

House of Justice and embankment

Well, in continuation of the futuristic architecture, I will show the unusual House of Justice, it seems to be decorated with rose petals instead of a roof 🙂

A not quite typical pedestrian bridge also leads to the House of Justice, on which we met freelance artists selling their paintings.

Dry Bridge

Another notable bridge in Tbilisi is the Dry Bridge, this bridge will appeal to all lovers of flea markets, you should definitely look here to find unusual gizmos for decor, especially if you are a fan of retro style and hunt for such rare things in any country.

So you will certainly find something new for your collection of antiques here! The Dry Bridge Market is open until 3 pm. And don't forget to haggle, it's a market 🙂

From the Bridge of Peace, as well as from the embankment of the Kura River, you can see not only the Narikala fortress, it is worth looking at the opposite side to see the real Berlin Diechstag Presidential palace. The palace was built under Mikhail Saakashvili, the building is located in the historical area on a hill.

It seems to me that the Presidential Palace, as well as the Peace Bridge, is best photographed at dusk, at which time its glass dome is illuminated. By the way, the Georgians owe the appearance of the dome to the Italian architect, who completed the construction of this palace, begun by the Georgians.

It turns out that you can get into the glass dome, we found out about it too late. To do this, you need to leave an application in advance on the official website of the palace, if it is approved by your arrival, you will find yourself in the holy of holies, a place where tourists very rarely find themselves 🙂

Oh, and the view from there, probably opens ..

Freedom Square and the statue of George the Victorious

Freedom Square is home to the central bank, the administration building, the chic Marriott hotel and many boutiques. As well as a monument column with a golden statue of the heavenly patron of Georgia - St. George on a horse (that's why, by the way, Georgia sounds like Georgia in the English version). Nearby is the Pushkin Square with a fountain.

Freedom Square conditionally divides Tbilisi into Old and New Towns.

We dined here once at the Samikitno restaurant, under the same brand that operates on Maidan Square, mm yummy!

It is best to go to the Old City from the square along the cozy Afkhazi street.

Turtle Lake and Open Air Museum

If parks and gardens in Tbilisi seem a little to you, then not far from the city there is Turtle Lake, surrounded by coniferous forest. Here you can walk around the Ethnographic Open-Air Museum, the ticket price is 3 GEL (we just walked in such museum-parks in autumn in Stockholm, Riga and Tallinn), the museum is open from 11 am to 5 pm and is closed on Mondays.

Well, in the summer you can take a boat or a catamaran and ride on the lake. We saw Turtle Lake only through the window of the plane 🙂

Deserter Market

If you want to buy home various spices, adjika, tkemali, cheeses, nuts, fresh fruits, churchkhela, all this can be done in one place and at affordable prices. The Desertirka market is huge, it is located next to the railway station (Vokzalnaya Square metro station).

Also a good selection of products and their prices on the market near the station. metro Didube, from where buses and minibuses depart to different regions of Georgia (Batumi, Kutaisi, Kazbegi, etc.), we drove from there to. And don't forget to bargain!

If markets are not your thing, then don't despair, there are Carrefour stores in the city, there is also a good selection of cheeses, spices, wine, fruits and more.

Churchkhella can be bought in the Old Town, the main thing is to check that it is soft and without white bloom (it means fresh).

Have a great trip!

If you have not bought tickets to Georgia yet, you can select the flights that are suitable for the date and price here:

Find a hotel in Tbilisi

Excursions in Tbilisi

Of course, you can walk around the city and see many sights of Tbilisi on your own. But if you want to really get to know the city, see it from an unusual side and learn the history of Tbilisi firsthand from the locals, we recommend booking a tour with a professional guide.

The price tag here is very humane, especially compared to Europe, so read the descriptions / reviews and choose exactly what you like!

All sights of Tbilisi on the map

Where to eat in Tbilisi

Georgian cuisine is worthy of a separate article, so here I will simply list a few restaurants in which we ourselves were, or which we heard about from locals.

Capital of Georgia. The name of Tbilisi was first mentioned in the 4th century; its appearance is associated with the presence of warm sulfur springs in the city (georgian tbili warm). The ancient form of the name Tpilisi, the names of the city adopted by other peoples are formed from it ... Geographic Encyclopedia

Tbilisi- Tbilisi. Kura River and Metekhi Cathedral (founded in 1278). TBILISI (until 1936 Tiflis), the capital of Georgia, on the Kura River. 1283 thousand inhabitants. Railway junction. Metropolitan (1966). Mechanical engineering (machine tools, electric locomotives, appliances, agricultural ... ... Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary

Capital of the Georgian SSR. Known since the 4th century, the capital of Georgia since the 12th century. It is stretched out in a narrow strip for almost 30 km in the valley of the river. Kura and along the adjacent slopes of the mountains. In the southeastern part of Tbilisi is its ancient core, the Old City with narrow streets, ... ... Art Encyclopedia

- (until 1936 Tiflis), the capital of Georgia, on the Kura River. 1283 thousand inhabitants. Railway junction. Metropolitan (1966). Mechanical engineering (machine tools, electric locomotives, instruments, agricultural machines, electrical equipment, etc.), light (textile, ... ... Modern Encyclopedia

- (until 1936 in Russian transcription Tiflis) the capital of Georgia, on the river. Kura. Railway junction. 1279 thousand inhabitants (1991; including settlements subordinated to the city administration, 1283 thousand inhabitants). Mechanical engineering (manufacturing of machine tools, ... ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

Tiflis Dictionary of Russian synonyms. tbilisi n., number of synonyms: 3 city (2765) capital ... Synonym dictionary

- (until 1936 in Russian transcription Tiflis) the capital of the Georgian SSR. A large industrial, scientific and cultural central transport hub. Located in the Tbilisi basin, along both banks of the river. Chickens, at an altitude of 406,522 m. Average ... ... Great Soviet Encyclopedia

TBILISI- GEORGIA Tbilisi (until 1936 in Russian transcription Tiflis), the capital of Georgia, is located in the valley of the Kura River in the Caucasus Mountains. The population of the city is 1353000 inhabitants. The convenient position of the city on one of the mountain routes connecting the Black and Caspian ... ... Cities and countries

- (until 1936 Tiflis) city, capital Gruz. SSR, one of the largest industrial, cultural and scientific. centers of the USSR, located in the valley of the river. Hens. Railway junction, airport, beg. item Military. cargo. roads. As of 1 Jan. 1972 927 vol. (in 1897 160.6 tons, in 1926 294 tons ... Soviet historical encyclopedia

- (until 1936 Tiflis) the capital of Georgia. SSR, industrial and cultural center. 1066 thousand inhabitants (as of Jan. 1979). T. is Ch. city ​​of Georgia from the 5th 6th centuries. Music information. T.'s life is preserved in ancient chronicles and literature. monuments of ancient times. WITH… … Music Encyclopedia

Books

• Tbilisi is the capital of the Georgian SSR,. Tbilisi is the capital of Georgia. One of the oldest cities in the world, one of the largest industrial, cultural and scientific centers of the Soviet Union. Founded in the second half of the 5th century. Its name…
• Tbilisi. Guide, Georgy Khutsishvili. Georgians say: "When a guest comes to the house, this is the sunrise. When he leaves the house, this is the sunset for the owner." Let's hope the sun never sets for the inhabitants of this ancient...

This state has changed more than once in history. And at present, this country controls far from all the lands it claims. Nevertheless, in many reference books, these de facto uncontrolled regions appear as Georgia. The area of ​​the territory without Abkhazia and South Ossetia still corresponds more to the real state of affairs. Let's find out what is the area of ​​the country without these republics and how its territory was formed.

The history of the formation of the territory of Georgia

One of the oldest states of Transcaucasia is Georgia. The area of ​​this country was formed over hundreds of years, and even millennia.

The first states in Georgia appeared in antiquity. It was Colchis (covering the Black Sea coast of the country) and Iberia (located in the center). The last state was formed in the III century BC. It was located in the center of the country and was the core from which Georgia was formed in the future.

The area of ​​this state was equal to about half of the Georgian territory. In later sources, Iberia begins to be referred to as the kingdom of Kartli. In the 1st century BC. the kings of Iberia and Colchis recognize their dependence on Rome. In the first half of the 4th century AD, Christianity became the state religion in Kartli (Iberia).

In subsequent centuries, the territory of Georgia was actually divided into zones of influence of Byzantium (Colchis) and Persia (Iberia). Sometimes even these territories completely lost their independence and were part of the above states. In the middle of the 7th century, the Arabs conquered Persia and most of Georgia. The Georgians managed to completely free themselves from the Arabs only in the 10th century.

But after the liberation from the Arabs, Georgia was a multitude of independent states. The rulers of the Bagratid dynasty, which initially ruled in the kingdom of Tao-Klarjeti, managed to unite them into one state. The kings from this dynasty managed to expel the Arabs from Tbilisi and make this city their capital. After that, they united the entire territory of modern Georgia and even annexed to it the lands that were not part of the modern Georgian state.

Georgia acquired the greatest power under King David the Builder and Queen Tamara (XII-XIII centuries), during whose reign even the emperors of the Trebizond Empire recognized vassalage. This was the golden age of political power and culture that Georgia has ever experienced. The area of ​​its territories went much further than the limits of modern borders.

But nothing is permanent. After the Golden Age, a series of strife began between representatives of the ruling house. The power of the Georgian state was shaken by the Mongol invasion in the 20s of the XIII century. In the end, the Georgian kings recognized from the Mongols and agreed to pay tribute. The series of aggressive campaigns of the Central Asian ruler Tamerlane finally crushed the united Georgian state. These campaigns led to the complete depletion of the Georgian economy and its disintegration into several independent states. Over time, most of these principalities were forced to recognize vassal dependence on the Ottoman Empire or on the Persian power of the Safavids. On the territory of Georgia there was a struggle between these two great monarchies. In the end, according to a peace treaty signed in the middle of the 16th century, the principalities of Kakheti and Kartli were given to Persia, and Imereti to the Ottomans.

In the 17th century, a new powerful state, the Russian Empire, entered the Caucasian arena. In a series of wars with the Ottoman Empire and Persia, she establishes control over a large part of the Caucasus. Meanwhile, the principalities of Kartli and Kakheti are united into one state. The ruler of the united Kingdom of Kartli-Kakheti, Erekle II, takes Russian citizenship in 1783. And in 1801, after the death of the next Georgian king, the Kartli-Kakheti state finally became part of the Russian Empire.

Now, being part of the empire, the modern Georgian territories were part of the Tiflis and Kutaisi provinces, roughly corresponding to the territories of the Kartli-Kakheti and Imereti kingdoms, as well as the Batum region.

Formation of the Georgian state in modern borders

The area of ​​Georgia, roughly coinciding with its current borders, began to form after the fall of the monarchy in the Russian Empire in 1917. Already in November 1917, the Transcaucasian Commissariat was assembled in Tiflis (modern Tbilisi), which is a coalition government of the provinces of Transcaucasia (Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan).

In April 1918, the Transcaucasian Democratic Federative Republic was created on its basis. But already in May, under pressure from Turkey, this state broke up into three independent republics, one of which was the Democratic Republic of Georgia. This state covered not only modern Georgia, but also Abkhazia, South Ossetia, as well as parts of Armenia and Turkey. It is from this power that modern Georgia leads its statehood.

However, she did not last long. Already in 1921, Bolshevik troops captured Georgia. Here the Georgian SSR was formed with its capital in Tbilisi. In the same year, the Adjara SSR was singled out as a subject of the GSSR. On the basis of the concluded union agreement, the Abkhaz SSR is part of Georgia, and a year later another autonomy is formed - the South Ossetian Autonomous Okrug. In the same 1922, the GSSR, the Armenian SSR and the Azerbaijan SSR form a federation - the ZSFSR. At the end of 1922, the latter became part of the USSR. However, in 1936, the ZSFSR was disbanded and all three republics that were part of this association, including Georgia, become direct subjects of the USSR.

In the late 1980s, Georgia was one of the first republics to secede from the USSR. This was stated by the Republican Supreme Soviet in 1989, when Soviet troops dispersed a rally demanding Georgia's secession from the Soviet Union. In April 1991, Georgia declared its complete separation from the USSR.

But the autonomous territories within the GSSR - the Abkhaz ASSR and the South Ossetian Autonomous Okrug, wished to remain part of the USSR. This led to a conflict between Georgia and the armed formations of these republics. The war was stopped only in 1993, thanks to the mediation of Russia and the introduction of a peacekeeping contingent. In fact, Abkhazia and South Ossetia became independent states, although this fact was not legally recognized by any country in the world. Georgia continued to consider these territories as its own.

Modern stage

In 2008, a new armed conflict broke out between Georgia on the one hand and Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Russia on the other. As a result of this conflict, Georgia completely lost control over South Ossetia and Abkhazia, whose statehood was officially recognized by Russia.

On this, the formation of the territory of Georgia in the form it exists now was completed. That is why now the calculations take into account the area of ​​Georgia without Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

Territory area of ​​Georgia

Now it's time to still find out what is the area of ​​​​Georgia in square meters. km without Abkhazia and South Ossetia. So, let's find out the answer to this question.

The total area of ​​Georgia with all the territories it claims is 69.7 thousand km 2 . According to this indicator, this country ranks 119th in the world. But we are primarily interested in the area of ​​Georgia in sq. km. without South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

Given that the territory of Abkhazia is 8.6 thousand km 2 and the territory of South Ossetia - 3.9 thousand km 2, it is easy to calculate their total area - 12.5 thousand km 2. Thus, the area of ​​Georgia without these regions is 57.2 thousand km2. This is already the 122nd place among all the states of the world.

Population

We found out what size area Georgia is located on. The area of ​​the territory and the population of the country are very interrelated parameters. Therefore, in order to have a complete picture, we will find out how many inhabitants there are in this Transcaucasian country.

At present, the said state has 3,729.5 thousand inhabitants. Georgia occupies the 130th place in this indicator among other countries of the world. The area and population of this Transcaucasian state were indicated without taking into account Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

Population density

Knowing these indicators of the population and area of ​​the country, it is not difficult to calculate the density. At the moment, it is 68 people. per 1 sq. km.

For comparison, the population density in the neighboring states of Azerbaijan and Armenia is 111 and 101.5 people/sq. km. Thus, this indicator in Georgia is lower than in neighboring countries.

Composition of the population

Now let's analyze the ethnic and religious composition of the population that lives on the territory of Georgia, that is, the people occupying the area of ​​this country.

The main ethnic group are Georgians. They make up 83.4% of the total population of Georgia, excluding Abkhazia and South Ossetia. This characterizes it as a country with a significant predominance of one nationality. The second place in terms of number is occupied by Azerbaijanis - 6.7%, followed by Armenians - 5.7%. But the Russians are already significantly behind in number from the ethnic groups listed above. Their share is only 1.9%. Ossetians in the country are about 1%.

All other ethnic groups that inhabit Georgia make up less than 1% of the total population. These include Yezidis (Kurds), Ukrainians, Greeks, Chechens, Avars, Kists, Abkhazians, Assyrians and some other nationalities.

The vast majority of Georgians profess Orthodox Christianity - 83.4%. There are also quite a few Muslims, mainly in Adjara - 10.7%. Other religious groups include the parishioners of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Catholics, Protestants, Yezidis, Jehovah's Witnesses, and Jews.

Administrative division

Now let's find out what territorial units modern Georgia is divided into. This state actually consists of 9 territories (mkhare), one autonomous republic (Adzharia), as well as one city of state significance (Tbilisi). In addition, legally, Georgia, according to its legislation, includes the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia, but in fact Georgia does not control this territory.

The list of nine regions is as follows: Samtskhe-Javakheti, Racha-Lechkhumi and Lower Svaneti, Imereti, Guria, Samegrelo-Upper Svaneti, Kakheti, Mtskheta-Mtianeti, Shida Kartli, Kvemo Kartli.

In addition, higher-order administrative units (krai and autonomous republics) are divided into lower-order administrative units (municipalities and cities of republican (krai) significance). At the moment, the presence of 67 municipalities and fourteen cities of regional significance is fixed by law in Georgia. But in fact, only 59 municipalities and 11 regional settlements are under the control of Georgia.

It should be noted that until 2006 the administrative formations, which are now called municipalities, were called, as in the Soviet Union, districts.

Area of ​​individual regions of Georgia

Now let's find out what territory is occupied by hotel regions, which are part of such a state entity as Georgia. The area of ​​the Autonomous Republic of Adzharia with its capital in Batumi, which is located in the extreme south-west of Georgia, is 2.9 thousand km 2.

The Samegrelo-Upper Svaneti region is located in the northwestern part of Georgia on the border with Abkhazia on the territory of 7.4 thousand km 2. The main city of this region is Zugdidi.

The administrative center of the region of Guria is the city of Ozurgeti. This territorial unit has an area of ​​2.0 thousand km 2 and is located in the south-west of the country.

The land of Racha-Lechkhumi and Lower Svaneti is located in the north of the country on an area equal to 4.6 thousand km 2. The main settlement here is the city of Ambrolauri.

The region, whose name corresponds to the name of the ancient kingdom of Imereti, has an area of ​​6.6 thousand km 2 and is located in the central part of Georgia with a shift to the west. The administrative center of this region is the city of Kutaisi.

The region with the complex name Samtskhe-Javakheti has an area of ​​​​6.4 thousand km 2. This region is located in the south of the country. The main city here is Akhaltsikhe.

The land of Shida Kartli has an area of ​​4.8 thousand km2. The main city in this region is Gori. The region is located in the north-central part of Georgia on the border with South Ossetia. According to the laws of Georgia, about half of the territory of this region is just South Ossetian land, and most of South Ossetia is part of the Shida Kartli region. But when calculating the area of ​​this region, we took into account only the territory that the Georgian authorities actually control.

The region with the poetic name Mtskheta-Mtianeti has a territory of 6.8 thousand km 2 located in the north-east of Georgia, but actually controls 5.8 thousand km 2, since the rest is located on the territory of South Ossetia. The main city of the region is Mtskheta.

The region of Kvemo Kartli is located in the southeast of Georgia. It has an area equal to 6.5 thousand km 2. The administrative center is Rustavi.

The Kakheti region is located in the easternmost part of the country. It has dimensions equal to 11.3 thousand km 2. The administrative center here is the city of Telavi.

The city of state importance Tbilisi also has its own territory. It, of course, is much smaller than the territory of the regions and is only 720 km 2. The total number of inhabitants in the capital of Georgia is 1.1 million people. The city is located in the central part of the state with an offset to the southeast.

Thus, as we can see, the largest regions of Georgia in terms of area are the Kakheti region (11.3 thousand km 2) and the Samegrelo-Upper Svaneti region (7.4 thousand km 2). The smallest regions of Georgia in terms of territory, not taking into account the city of state significance Tbilisi, the region of Guria (2.0 thousand km 2) and the Autonomous Republic of Adjara (2.9 thousand km 2).

General conclusion

We learned what is the area of ​​Georgia in thousand km2. When determining this indicator, you need to know one very important nuance. There are territories that the Tbilisi government classifies as Georgian, but which Georgia does not actually control. The area of ​​the country, accordingly, in Georgian sources is overestimated in comparison with the real state of affairs.

Thus, we found that at the moment the area of ​​this country, not taking into account the actually uncontrolled South Ossetia and Abkhazia, is 57.2 thousand km 2.