Visit Tbilisi: old town, baths, Narikala and climate

Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, stretches along the valley of the Kura (Mtkvari) river, between hills and cliffs. Its name comes from a Georgian word evoking warmth, a reference to the sulphur springs around which, according to tradition, King Vakhtang Gorgasali founded the city. To visit Tbilisi is to wander the old town with its wooden balconies, bathe in the Abanotubani baths, climb up to Narikala Fortress and walk along Rustaveli Avenue, before a trip to Mtskheta, the cradle of Georgian Christianity.

This guide covers what to see, how to get around, the best time to go based on the most recent official normals, entry and safety advice from the U.S. Department of State and the UK FCDO, and several calculations of our own: very hot days, frosts, rain over a stay and the time difference by season.

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Safety: the UK FCDO (GOV.UK, updated 15 September 2026) describes crime levels as low, but notes that protests have taken place in Tbilisi for many months, mainly around the Parliament on Rustaveli Avenue, and can spread to other areas, especially on Saturday evenings; avoid large gatherings. Abkhazia and South Ossetia are to be avoided (see below).

Things to do in Tbilisi: the highlights

The old town

On the right bank of the Kura, the old town mixes houses with carved wooden balconies, churches, a synagogue and small squares. The district is best explored on foot, without a precise plan, between Freedom Square, the lanes of Sololaki and the riverbank. As in any capital, watch your belongings.

Abanotubani, the bath district

At the foot of the fortress, Abanotubani, literally « bath district », is known for its sulphur baths under brick domes. According to legend, this is where King Vakhtang Gorgasali’s falcon fell into a hot spring, which led to the founding of the capital. By the end of the 13th century, Tbilisi already had 65 bathhouses. The establishments offer private rooms and communal baths: check the conditions before going in.

Narikala Fortress

Perched on a steep hill between the baths and the botanical garden, Narikala Fortress overlooks the city and the Kura. It has two enclosures; in the lower courtyard, the Church of St Nicholas, rebuilt in 1996-1997, replaces a 13th-century church destroyed by fire. You can walk up or take the cable car from Rike Park, on the left bank. Nearby, the 20-metre (66 ft) statue of Kartlis Deda, the « Mother of Georgia », was erected in 1958 on Sololaki Hill for the city’s 1,500th anniversary.

The Bridge of Peace and Rike Park

Opened in 2010, the Bridge of Peace is a curved pedestrian bridge of glass and steel lit by LEDs, linking the old town with Rike Park. It has become one of the symbols of the capital. On the left bank, the Metekhi church, perched above the river, faces Narikala.

Holy Trinity Cathedral (Sameba)

Completed in 2004, the Holy Trinity Cathedral, or Tsminda Sameba, is the main Orthodox cathedral of Tbilisi and the seat of the Patriarchate of the Georgian Orthodox Church. Its golden dome can be seen from afar. Dress modestly to enter; the UK FCDO advises being aware of cultural sensitivities around dress in places of worship.

Rustaveli Avenue and the National Museum

About 1.5 km (0.9 mi) long from Freedom Square, Rustaveli Avenue is the city’s main artery. It is lined with the Parliament, the Opera, the Rustaveli Theatre, Kashveti Church, the Fine Arts Museum and the Simon Janashia Museum of Georgia, part of the Georgian National Museum. It is the best starting point for understanding the country’s history.

Mtatsminda, the viewpoint

Above the city, Mtatsminda Park occupies the top of the mountain of the same name and offers wide views over Tbilisi. A funicular goes up. The Mtatsminda Pantheon, where Georgian notables are buried, is on its slopes.

Day trip to Mtskheta

About twenty kilometres (12 mi) north, at the confluence of the Kura and the Aragvi, Mtskheta was the capital of the Kingdom of Iberia for nearly a thousand years. Its « Historical Monuments » have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1994, and the Georgian Orthodox Church declared it a « Holy City » in 2014. It is the classic excursion from Tbilisi. For the rest of the country, see our Georgia guide.

Day	Programme	Tip
1	Old town, Abanotubani, Narikala (walk up, cable car down), Bridge of Peace	Keep the baths for the end of the day
2	Sameba, Metekhi, Rustaveli Avenue and the National Museum, evening in Sololaki	Check museum closing days
3	Day trip to Mtskheta	In summer, set off early in the morning

When to go to Tbilisi

May-June and September-October are the most pleasant: 23.9 °C (75 °F) in the afternoon in May, 26.7 °C (80 °F) in September and 20.2 °C (68 °F) in October, according to the WMO 1991-2020 normals for the Tbilisi station. July and August are hot (average high 31.9 °C / 89 °F in August), with on average 22.1 and 22.4 days above 30 °C (86 °F). May and June are the wettest months (83 and 84 mm / 3.3 in). Winter is cold but dry: an average low of −0.4 °C (31 °F) in January and 15.5 frost days.

Month	High	Low	Rain	Rain days	Days ≥ 30 °C (86 °F)	Frost days	Verdict
January	7.1 °C (45 °F)	−0.4 °C (31 °F)	16 mm (0.6 in)	3.7	0.0	15.5	⚠️ Cold, dry
February	8.7 °C (48 °F)	0.3 °C (33 °F)	18 mm (0.7 in)	4.3	0.0	12.1	⚠️ Cold
March	13.5 °C (56 °F)	3.8 °C (39 °F)	29 mm (1.1 in)	5.1	0.0	3.7	⚠️ Cool, early spring
April	18.8 °C (66 °F)	8.0 °C (46 °F)	64 mm (2.5 in)	8.7	0.2	0.3	✅ Mild
May	23.9 °C (75 °F)	12.9 °C (55 °F)	83 mm (3.3 in)	10.4	1.6	0.0	✅ Ideal, a few showers
June	28.7 °C (84 °F)	17.1 °C (63 °F)	84 mm (3.3 in)	8.3	12.3	0.0	✅ Hot, the wettest
July	31.7 °C (89 °F)	20.1 °C (68 °F)	42 mm (1.7 in)	5.7	22.1	0.0	⚠️ Very hot
August	31.9 °C (89 °F)	20.0 °C (68 °F)	39 mm (1.5 in)	4.6	22.4	0.0	⚠️ Very hot
September	26.7 °C (80 °F)	15.9 °C (61 °F)	35 mm (1.4 in)	4.9	6.9	0.0	✅ Ideal
October	20.2 °C (68 °F)	10.6 °C (51 °F)	46 mm (1.8 in)	6.0	0.2	0.0	✅ Mild, grape harvest
November	13.0 °C (55 °F)	4.6 °C (40 °F)	34 mm (1.3 in)	5.3	0.0	3.3	⚠️ Cool
December	8.2 °C (47 °F)	0.9 °C (34 °F)	21 mm (0.8 in)	4.4	0.0	11.6	⚠️ Cold

Our page on when to go to Georgia uses the 1981-2010 normals for Tbilisi airport (6.6 °C / 44 °F in January, 31.1 °C / 88 °F in July). The 1991-2020 normals used here are slightly warmer (7.1 and 31.7 °C) and a little less rainy: the difference remains under 1 °C.

Very hot days, frosts and rain over a 4-day stay

Over a four-day stay, you can expect on average 2.9 days above 30 °C (86 °F) in August, including 0.9 above 35 °C (95 °F), against 0.2 in May and 0.9 in September. In January, 2.0 frost nights out of four. Destination de Voyage calculation based on the numbers of days published in the WMO 1991-2020 normals.

Month	≥ 30 °C over 4 days	≥ 35 °C over 4 days	Frost over 4 days	Rain over 4 days	Sunset (15th)	Ahead of London / New York
January	0.0	0.0	2.0	0.5	5:54 pm	+4 h / +9 h
February	0.0	0.0	1.7	0.6	6:33 pm	+4 h / +9 h
March	0.0	0.0	0.5	0.7	7:06 pm	+4 h / +8 h
April	0.0	0.0	0.0	1.2	7:41 pm	+3 h / +8 h
May	0.2	0.0	0.0	1.3	8:13 pm	+3 h / +8 h
June	1.6	0.2	0.0	1.1	8:36 pm	+3 h / +8 h
July	2.9	0.7	0.0	0.7	8:33 pm	+3 h / +8 h
August	2.9	0.9	0.0	0.6	8:01 pm	+3 h / +8 h
September	0.9	0.0	0.0	0.7	7:10 pm	+3 h / +8 h
October	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.8	6:20 pm	+3 h / +8 h
November	0.0	0.0	0.4	0.7	5:40 pm	+4 h / +9 h
December	0.0	0.0	1.5	0.6	5:31 pm	+4 h / +9 h

To compare with other destinations, see where to go in May and where to go in September.

Getting there and getting around

• By air: Shota Rustaveli International Airport, the busiest in the country, is 17 km (11 mi) south-east of the centre. Flights are nonstop or with a connection depending on airlines and seasons: check current schedules on the airport’s website.
• Metro: two lines in service (red and green); you pay with the rechargeable transport card, also valid on buses and the funicular.
• Cable car: from Rike Park to Narikala Fortress.
• On foot: the old town, Abanotubani and Narikala are walkable, but the city is hilly: wear good shoes.
• Taxis: the UK FCDO advises not flagging taxis in the street, pre-booking through an app and checking that the seatbelts work (GOV.UK).

Airport transfers and car hire

For a night arrival, a transfer booked in advance saves looking for a taxi. A hire car is useful for Mtskheta and the rest of the country; check the insurance, excess and required documents. According to GOV.UK, you can drive in Georgia with a UK licence for up to one year, but check with the hire company whether a 1968 international driving permit is needed; Georgia has a lower drink-driving limit than the UK.

Where to stay

The old town and Sololaki let you do everything on foot; the areas near Rustaveli Avenue are handy by metro. Check for air conditioning in July-August and heating in winter.

If you…	Then…
only have one day	old town, Abanotubani, Narikala, Bridge of Peace
love history	National Museum, Sameba, then Mtskheta
want to relax	sulphur baths in Abanotubani late in the day
are coming in July-August	sightseeing in the morning and evening, museums during the hot hours
are travelling in winter	short, cold days, but baths and museums
are extending your trip	see our Georgia guide

Entry requirements, health and safety

• US citizens: you need a valid passport; U.S. citizens may enter, reside, work or study in Georgia without a visa for up to 365 days, and overstaying is fined. Border officials may ask about the purpose of your trip, funds, insurance, hotel bookings and return tickets (U.S. Department of State, travel.state.gov, last updated September 17, 2026).
• UK citizens: you can visit Georgia without a visa for up to one year; your passport should be valid for the duration of your stay. All visitors must have health and accident insurance covering the whole stay (arrival and departure dates included), with cover of at least 30,000 Georgian lari, and may be asked for proof by the airline or at immigration (UK FCDO, GOV.UK, updated 15 September 2026).
• Areas to avoid: the UK FCDO advises against all travel to the Russian-occupied regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, and against all but essential travel to the areas next to their administrative boundary lines; the U.S. Department of State reports attacks, criminal incidents and kidnappings in and around these areas. Entering Georgia from Russia through these regions is illegal under Georgian law (GOV.UK, travel.state.gov).
• Health and emergencies: the UK has no reciprocal healthcare agreement with Georgia, and most providers only accept cash payments (GOV.UK, travel.state.gov). Rabies is a risk: seek medical attention immediately after any dog bite or scratch. Emergency number: 112 (ambulance, fire, police).
• Demonstrations: according to GOV.UK, some protests have led to violent confrontations between police and protesters; taking part in political demonstrations may lead to extra questioning on exit or refusal of re-entry. The U.S. Department of State also advises avoiding areas near demonstrations.

Internet and money

The currency is the Georgian lari. According to GOV.UK, prices may be quoted in US dollars or euros, but you must pay in lari. Check your home carrier’s roaming charges: a local SIM card or an eSIM for Georgia can limit costs; check your phone’s compatibility (our travel eSIM guide) and follow exchange rates with our currency converter.

Frequently asked questions

Our sources

• Entry requirements, health and safety checked on 26 October 2026: U.S. Department of State, Georgia country information (last updated September 17, 2026) and UK FCDO, GOV.UK foreign travel advice for Georgia (updated 15 September 2026).
• WMO 1991-2020 normals, Tbilisi station (WMO 37445), NOAA/NCEI file downloaded on 24 October 2026
• Wikipedia: « Tbilisi », « Mtskheta », « Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi », « Narikala », « Abanotubani », « Bridge of Peace », « Rustaveli Avenue », « Georgian National Museum », « Kartlis Deda », « Tbilisi International Airport », consulted on 24 October 2026
• Destination de Voyage calculations: hot days, frost and rain over 4 days, sunset (NOAA algorithm), time difference (IANA database)
• Our methodology

Updated October 2026.

To extend your trip, see our guide to Georgia, the page when to go to Georgia, our Turkey page and our destinations in Asia.