Day 1: Tbilisi in One Day
Old Town & Narikala Fortress
Start in the Old Town (Kala) — a labyrinth of crooked lanes, carved wooden balconies, crumbling facades, and hidden courtyards. Take the cable car (3 GEL return) from Rike Park up to Narikala Fortress — the 4th-century citadel offers the definitive Tbilisi panorama. Below, the sulphur baths district (Abanotubani) with its brick domes has been steaming since the 13th century. Walk down through the botanical garden's waterfall trail.
Rustaveli Avenue & National Museum
Walk Rustaveli Avenue — Tbilisi's grand boulevard lined with the Opera House, Parliament, and National Museum. The Georgian National Museum (15 GEL) houses the Archaeology Treasury with 3,000-year-old Colchian gold — the real Golden Fleece story. Lunch at Machakhela on Rustaveli for khinkali (Georgian dumplings, 1.20 GEL each) — eat them by hand, bite a hole, slurp the broth, then eat the filling.
Sulphur Baths & Wine District
Book a private sulphur bath at Chreli Abano or Royal Bath House (30–80 GEL for a private room, 45 min) — the hot, mineral-rich water is followed by a vigorous scrub from a kisi (bath attendant). Then walk to the wine district on Lado Asatiani Street in Sololaki — dozens of tiny wine bars serve natural Georgian wine from clay qvevri vessels. Dinner at Shavi Lomi for modern Georgian (mains 15–30 GEL).
