5 Days in Tbilisi and Georgia

Five days based in Tbilisi, combining the old city, Mtatsminda and Narikala with day trips to Kazbegi, Gori, Mtskheta and the Kakheti wine region.

We traveled with few expectations and fell in love. Tbilisi, Georgia's capital, is a distinctive meeting point between East and West, with layers of architecture and influences that sit side by side. Beyond the city, Georgia offers excellent day trips through green and snow-covered landscapes, monasteries, fortresses and wine country.

Here is our plan for five days in Tbilisi and Georgia, organized as a hub-and-spoke trip

(we stayed in Tbilisi and left the city for several day trips).

Hotel:Ibis Styles in the Old Town - simple, clean and pleasant. We paid about NIS 400 per night. Its Old Town location was excellent, close to the main places we wanted to visit and convenient for exploring on foot.

Day 1

The Great Synagogue: the menorah at the entrance was covered with stickers commemorating soldiers who fell in the Swords of Iron War, which we found very moving.

Meidan Bazaar: a covered market lane with traditional clothing, wine and liqueurs, local sweets and tea, musical instruments, chocolate and souvenirs.

The sulfur baths and the Bridge of Love: if you enjoy a little pampering, do not miss Chreli Abano. It is one of the most beautiful buildings in Tbilisi's bath district and offers private bathing rooms. Advance booking is important because rooms may be unavailable when you arrive. Bring swimwear, towels, shampoo and flip-flops; forgotten items can also be purchased there.

Rooms are booked for one hour according to group size. Some are designed for two people, while larger rooms may include both a pool and a sauna. In April 2025, prices ranged from GEL 130 to GEL 600 for a room accommodating up to 12 people. We also added a ten-minute scrub treatment, with women treating women and men treating men.

Metekhi Church: the church overlooks the river and the Old Town, and it is worth climbing up for the view.

Shardeni Street: a lively street lined with restaurants and bars.

The Clock Tower: an unusual and beautiful structure.

Freedom Square is the city's central square. It meets the broad Rustaveli Avenue, where you will also find the Parliament building and the Galleria Tbilisi shopping center. During periods of public protest, demonstrations often take place in this area.

Day 2

The funicular to Mtatsminda Park: we walked to the funicular and rode up to the park, which combines an amusement park with pleasant walking areas. The rides were not operating during our visit, probably because the season had not yet begun, but the views over the city were wonderful.

Walking to the Mother of Georgia statue: there are several ways to reach the huge statue. We continued from Mtatsminda along a forest path toward Narikala Fortress, which is very close to the statue. The walk took us about an hour through beautiful woodland with expansive city views. It also included climbs and descents and was definitely challenging for us.

Another option is to walk up from the botanical gardens beside the bath district.

Mother of Georgia: the enormous statue stands high above the city. The woman holds a sword in one hand and wine in the other. It was erected on Sololaki Hill in the 1950s, when Tbilisi marked 1,500 years since its founding.

Narikala Fortress: the fortress dates to the fourth century, and its remaining walls are impressive. It changed hands and forms many times over the centuries. Today, a zip line runs from the fortress area over the botanical gardens.

The botanical gardens: the gardens beside the Mother of Georgia statue form a large, enjoyable park with a waterfall, abundant plants and flowers, excellent views of Narikala Fortress and benches for a break. The lower exit is near the bath district. You can also reverse our route and climb through the gardens toward the statue and fortress.

For our trips outside Tbilisi, we booked excursions witha local tour company. We found the company very successful and its hub-and-spoke tours inexpensive. In April 2025, they cost about NIS 80-100 per person, excluding lunch and admission to paid sites. Tours were booked online, departed at 9:00, and required arrival at the company office near the Old Town at 8:30. Transportation was by minibus.

Every day trip we took could also be done independently with a rental car. For the two of us, however, the organized excursions cost less than renting a car.

Day 3

A day trip toward Kazbegi in northeastern Georgia. Our route included Zhinvali Reservoir, Ananuri Fortress, a roadside honey tasting, Gudauri ski resort and the Chronicle of Georgia. Created in the 1980s, the monument is one of the most impressive we have seen: enormous pillars depicting Georgian history stand on a hill with a sweeping view.

Day 4

We joined the same company for a day trip to Gori and Mtskheta. The route included the impressive cave city,

Joseph's restaurant in Gori, the Stalin Museum, Jvari Monastery and the striking Svetitskhoveli Cathedral. Beside the cathedral is a lane of stalls with a medieval atmosphere.

Day 5

Our final excursion with the same company took us to Kakheti, Georgia's wine region.

The day included a bakery in the village of Badiauri, where we watched traditional bread being made and tasted homemade cheese and wine. We continued to Bodbe Monastery, with its beautiful courtyard and view, and made a short stop in Sighnaghi, known as the City of Love.

From there we traveled to a large winery in Kvareli that produces both traditional Georgian wine in clay vessels buried underground and classical wine made with modern methods.

Where We Stayed

ibis Styles Tbilisi Center: We stayed here and recommend it. The hotel was right in the city centre.

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