20 Things to See and Do in Tbilisi Georgia

Tbilisi, the capital city of the country of Georgia, can be a little intimidating at first.  Tbilisi is a big, sprawling city with a mix of ancient sites, crumbling architecture, colors, both muted and vibrant, and new, modern structures that pop up amongst the old.  The city is long, like a horn, as it is situated in a canyon.  Most of the streets wind and curve, sometimes becoming alleys and occasionally even turning into flights of stairs.  The main streets are wide and the flow of traffic is never-ending.  Tbilisi has a palpable heartbeat and is buzzing with energy.  But once you get acquainted with Tbilisi, it becomes easy and feels familiar, and there are so many things to see and do in Tbilisi to keep travelers occupied for days. 

Metekhi Church of Assumption and King Vakhtang I Gorgasali Statue

The story of Tbilisi starts with King Vakhtang I Gorgasali, also known as Vakhtang Wolf’s Head because he had a wolf’s head on his helmet.  Vakhtang Wolf’s Head was king of Iberia (eastern Georgia) from the mid-fifth century to the early sixth century.  There are different versions, but, basically, the story goes that Vakhtang Wolf’s Head was hunting for pheasants.  He shot one and sent his eagle to fetch it.  When his eagle didn’t come back, he went after it to find that both had been boiled in hot springs.  He was so impressed with the hot springs, he decided to build a city around them.  The name Tbilisi means “warm location.”  Overlooking the Mtkvari River which runs through the middle of Tbilisi is Metekhi Church as well as an imposing statue of King Vakhtang I Gorgasali.

Narikala Fortress

Just a short walk from Metekhi Church is a cable car that climbs to the top of the hill across the river.  On this hill is the Narikala Fortress.  Its name means “small fortress.”  This fortress was first built in the fourth century.  However, it, along with Tbilisi, has been destroyed and restored many times.  The final blow was in 1827 when it exploded from the gunpowder stored inside.  

National Botanical Garden of Georgia

Behind the Narikala Fortress is the National Botanical Garden of Georgia.  The botanical garden provides a natural respite from the hustle and bustle of the city.  We visited in March, so there wasn’t much in the way of flowers, but the botanical garden does have two waterfalls.