Here is your expert guide to the very best things to do in Old Tbilisi — curated by the team at Hotel Urban Nest to help you make the most of every moment in Georgia's extraordinary capital.
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1. Narikala Fortress — Tbilisi's Iconic Ancient Citadel
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No visit to Old Tbilisi is complete without climbing to the Narikala Fortress, the city's oldest and most recognisable landmark. Established in the 4th century and expanded over the following centuries, this dramatic hilltop citadel offers panoramic views across the entire city — the Kura River, the Peace Bridge, the domes of the Old Town's churches, and the surrounding mountains stretching into the distance.
Visitors can hike up through the winding lanes of Old Tbilisi, or take the Tbilisi Cable Car from Rike Park for a swift and scenic aerial ascent. Sunset at Narikala is widely considered one of the most spectacular views in all of Georgia. Entry to the fortress grounds is free. From Hotel Urban Nest, Narikala Fortress is reachable on foot in approximately 10 to 15 minutes.
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2. The Abanotubani Sulphur Baths — A Tbilisi Ritual
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According to legend, it was the discovery of natural hot sulphur springs that inspired the founding of Tbilisi itself in the 5th century. Today, the Abanotubani district — named for its famous bathhouses — remains one of the most unique and beloved experiences the city has to offer. The domed bathhouses, fed by naturally hot sulphurous water rising from deep beneath the earth, offer private bathing rooms with traditional scrub treatments that have soothed travellers for over a thousand years.
The most renowned bathhouses include Chreli Abano and Gulo's Thermal Spa, both offering private rooms for an authentic and deeply relaxing Georgian bathing experience. Hotel Urban Nest is ideally situated for guests to walk to Abanotubani in under 10 minutes.
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3. The Old Town Cobblestone Lanes & Carved Balconies
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Simply wandering the winding streets of Old Tbilisi is one of the city's greatest pleasures. The neighbourhood is famous for its extraordinary carved wooden balconies — a distinctive architectural feature unique to this part of the world — that hang over narrow lanes and hidden courtyards draped in grapevines. Every turn reveals something new: a tiny 6th-century church, a family-run wine bar pouring natural Rkatsiteli, a local craftsman at work, or a hidden courtyard garden.
The most atmospheric streets to explore include Leselidze Street, Shardeni Street (famous for its restaurants and wine bars), and the picturesque Abanotubani lanes winding toward the fortress hill. Sololaki Street offers exceptional city panoramas, particularly at sunset.
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4. The Bridge of Peace & Rike Park
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One of modern Tbilisi's most striking features, the Bridge of Peace is a dramatic glass and steel pedestrian bridge designed by Italian architect Michele De Lucchi and illuminated at night by thousands of LED lights. The bridge connects Old Tbilisi to the Rike Park entertainment and cultural district on the opposite bank of the Kura River, where open-air concert venues, green lawns, and the cable car station await.
Rike Park is one of Tbilisi's most popular gathering places, especially on warm evenings when locals and visitors alike stroll along the riverbank, enjoy street food, and watch the city's iconic skyline light up after dark.
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5. Freedom Square & Rustaveli Avenue
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Just a short walk from Hotel Urban Nest, Freedom Square is the symbolic heart of modern Tbilisi. The golden statue of Saint George slaying the dragon at its centre is one of the city's most photographed landmarks. From Freedom Square, Rustaveli Avenue — Tbilisi's grand central boulevard — stretches out, lined with theatres, art galleries, luxury shops, cafes, and historic buildings that reflect the city's layered Persian, Russian, and Soviet architectural heritage.
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6. Mtatsminda Park & The Funicular
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For the most expansive views over Tbilisi, take the Tbilisi Funicular up to Mtatsminda Park, perched high above the city on the slopes of Mount Mtatsminda. Built in 1905 and renovated in 2012, the funicular whisks riders up to a mountaintop park offering an amusement park, restaurants, and extraordinary 360-degree views of the Georgian capital and the hills and valleys beyond.
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7. The Mother of Georgia Statue (Kartlis Deda)
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Standing 20 metres tall on Sololaki Hill and visible from across the city, the iconic Mother of Georgia statue — known locally as Kartlis Deda — has symbolised Georgian strength and hospitality since 1958. The aluminium figure holds a bowl of wine in one hand to welcome friends, and a sword in the other to defend against enemies — a perfect embodiment of the Georgian character. The statue can be reached by cable car from Rike Park or by hiking up through the Narikala area.
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8. The National Botanical Garden of Georgia
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Tucked into a deep gorge behind Narikala Fortress, the National Botanical Garden of Georgia is one of the most unexpected and beautiful green spaces in the city. Covering over 128 hectares, the garden includes a dramatic waterfall, a Japanese garden, rose gardens, and miles of shaded walking paths. The simplest and most rewarding way to visit is to enter from the top — near the fortress — and walk downhill through the gorge toward the Abanotubani area.
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Plan Your Old Tbilisi Exploration from Hotel Urban Nest
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Hotel Urban Nest's central location in Old Tbilisi means that every attraction in this guide is within easy walking distance. Our concierge team is on hand 24 hours a day to recommend the best routes, book guided tours, arrange private wine tastings, and help you discover the hidden corners of Tbilisi that no guidebook has yet found.
Ready to explore? Book your stay at Hotel Urban Nest and let Old Tbilisi work its extraordinary magic on you.
Hotel Urban Nest — 21 Konstantine Eristavi Street, Old Tbilisi, Georgia 0103 | +995 597726099