“I’m from Georgia,” my coworker said to me when I was a bartender back in 2016. And no, not the peachy Georgia, the country Georgia.
Georgia stayed on my mind since that conversation, and it would come to the forefront when I started writing about restaurants in New York City and reviewed Ubani Cafe, a Georgian eatery in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. The server looked at me with intensity to ensure I ate khinkali properly; pepper the flat bottom, flip upside down, bite, and slurp to not miss out on the broth. Quite the experience; and one that was so powerful, that it would encourage me to finally book a trip to Georgia less than a year later.
Due to a series of circumstances, my time in Georgia would be cut short; down to one day, as a matter of fact. But Tbilisi is luckily a small city, and out of all of my one-day itineraries, it’s probably the most ideal city to see in just a cool 24 hours. Here’s what to do.
Pro-tip: Don’t want to navigate the city of Tbilisi on your own? Book a guided city tour here.
Eat a Proper Georgian Breakfast
How are you going to start your day without a little pep in your step? Assuming you will have overnight accommodation, one of the best features/amenities to search for when looking for hotels is “breakfast included.” I stayed at Tiflis Inn Boutique Hotel, and I highly recommend it. My room was around 35 USD a night, and the included breakfast was plentiful (quite a bit for one person), with an array of sausage, cheese, boiled eggs, bread, yogurt, bulgur, and more. Not to mention unlimited coffee and tea, and a very, very cute cat.
Visit the Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi
Let’s get one of the top sites of the city ticked off that bucket list first thing in the morning: The Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi. This church is massive, and though I can’t speak for everyday of the week at every hour of the day, the crowds were few, making it feel that much more exclusive. For the best views, walk down the stairs and face the church. It’s something straight out of a postcard.
Walk across one of the many bridges
The city of Tbilisi is split by the Kura River. You’ll want to bounce over to the other side, and thanks to the city’s walkable streets, that won’t be an issue. Head on over to the west side of the river by walking across. It can feel a little confusing to find the entryway and crossing the street in this bustling city is not for the faint of heart, but once you get to the other side, you’ll see plenty of vendors selling things like handmade jewelry, little trinkets, and my personal favorite, freshly squeezed pomegranate juice.
Get some Khinkali and Traditional Amber Wine
When in Rome, as they say, ..errr, when in Tbilisi! Your appetite has got to start rumbling up by now, so grab some khinkali, the infamous Georgian soup dumpling. My favorite place in town to eat it was at Cafe Daphna, you can get different fillings, like potato and cheese, mushroom, pork and beef with herbs, pork and beef *without* herbs, and more. Best of all, these khinkali are less than $1 each (67 each when I went). Accompany them with a nice, big, fresh Georgian salad with plump tomatoes, cucumbers, and a vibrant pesto sauce. And of course, a glass of Amber wine. Georgia is home to the oldest wine in the world so, in my opinion, it’s necessary for historical purposes!
Walk through one of the many parks
One of the first things I noticed about Tbilisi is that it’s full of parks. Throughout the city’s many outdoor gathering spaces, you’ll see farmer’s markets, flowers for sale, and people generally gathering. Take a gander and a stroll through the greenery of Tbilisi.
Hike up to Mother of Georgia
Ready for a little workout with a lotta reward? Move over Christ the Redeemer; the Mother of Georgia is a giant statue of a woman holding a bowl of wine and a sword overlooking the city of Tbilisi. You can take cable car up, but if the weather is decent enough, why not go for a hike? While walking up, you’ll get great views of the city and can even see the Bridge of Peace in the distance.
Do some shopping
Tbilisi is full of adorable little boutique shops, as well as plenty of street vendors. I bought a funkadelic ring from a shop right at the foot of the hike of the Mother of Georgia. You’ll see street vendors all over selling all types of trinkets, from keychains to paintings to fresh pomegranate juice.
Dinner time! Try Khachapuri and other local delights
Is your appetite calling again? Georgian cuisine really is something special, and khachapuri further proves that theory to be true. Try a variety of khachapuri (much easier if you are with friends, but if you’re a solo traveler, I believe in you!). I tried the adjaruli khachapuri which has an egg yolk in the center (and it’s meant to be mixed vigorously, creating a seriously delicious and decadent eggy cheesy concoction). There’a also Imeruli Khachaprui which is, as someone I met described it, “like a quesadilla.” Think salty, crumbly cheese melted and stuffed between pillowy bread. I highly recommend it with a Georgian salad with walnuts, and some Georgian wine, duh!
Head to the baths
My absolute favorite thing to do in Tbilisi is to take advantage of the fabulous, rejuvenating baths. I went to the infamous Orbeliani Baths. Note that you need to make reservations in advance, and cannot make same day reservations online (though you can call). You’ll know you’re there when you see the massive blue mosaics. The baths are private, so solo female travelers rejoice. You get an entire room to yourself and can choose your room size based on your party size. I paid 100 GEL (approx 37 USD) for an hour for a room, and I added an additional kisa, or body scrub, where a woman came into the room, put on gloves that can only be described as brillo pads, and scrubbed my body squeaky clean. All of my dead skin just rolled off and I left feeling like a baby. The scrub was only 20 GEL (7 USD) and worth every penny.
Watch live music
End your day with some live music. Tbilisi is full of creative performers in the city, so after your relaxing, rejuvenating bath and long day in this historic city, go enjoy some entertainment. The best way to find live music is to simply ask a local, but from my one day in Tbilisi, finding live music was not a difficult feat as it seems to be a common theme after 8PM.
Extra Idea: Get out of the city and take a day tour
While Tbilisi is an inarguably fascinating city, the countryside of Georgia has plenty to offer, as well. I took a day trip to Armenia (linked below) and the entire experience from start to finish was top-notch. Here are some of the best day trips out of Tbilisi:
- Kakheti Wine Region (visit 7 wineries). This is one of the most popular options, because, as mentioned, Georgia is home to the oldest wine in the world!
- Tbilisi: Mtskheta, Jvari, Gori and Uplistsikhe Day Tour. Visit UNESCO World Heritage Monasteries in Georgia’s old capital, Mtskheta.
- Kazbegi, Gudauri, and Zhinvali (a day trip to the Caucasus Mountains).
- Day trip to Armenia including homemade lunch. I did this day trip and it was such a fun experience, from going through border patrol to enjoying a homemade Armenian lunch with local pomegranate wine in a woman’s guest house, to checking out the monasteries. Highly recommend!
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