I’ve Fallen in Love with Georgia (The Country, Not the US State)
As I write this, I am looking out my window at the wrought iron balconies, colorful laundry lines waving in the breeze and uneven cobblestone streets of the Old City of Tbilisi. Below me, fruit sellers sit next to cartons heaped with figs and apples. In the distance I can see the mountains, shrouded in a blue-tinged haze.
The country of Georgia isn’t on many people’s radars yet, which is why it makes for the perfect destination for well-traveled adventurers who want a taste of something different. If you make your way here, the capital city of Tbilisi should be one of your stops, if not your only one.
Tbilisi offers fascinating history, delicious food, a great nightlife and friendly people. Plus… this is the country where wine was invented and the national dish is meat dumplings. Need I say more? If you decide to venture here, these are the Tbilisi, Georgia points of interest you absolutely shouldn’t miss.
Cable Car
For only 2.5 GEL (about $1 USD) you can take a thrilling ride high above the city on the cable car. You’ll get on the cable car in Rike Park and you’ll be lifted high above the colorful roofs that climb the hillside — a fantastic opportunity to snap photos of the city and the river and hills that surround it.
It’s easily one of the best value-for-money man-made attractions you will enjoy on your travels.
Dry Bridge Market
Take a walk through this strange outdoor market located on a bridge near Dedaena Park and you’ll get a glimpse into life in Soviet Georgia. Locals who lived during Soviet rule from 1921 to 1991 spread their antiques and belongings out for sale, including military medals of service, knives, swords and even gas masks.
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Fabrika
Fabrika is an old sewing factory that has been transformed into Hipster Central. It’s home to a hostel, a co-working space, artisan shops, a couple of cafes and bars and a cool courtyard strung up with twinkling lights. There’s a lot to enjoy here, from art exhibitions to entrepreneurial workshops to film screenings to rooftop yoga.
The party in the public outdoor spaces lasts well into the early hours of the morning, making this one of the must-see places in Tbilisi.
Old Town
Give yourself plenty of time to get lost in the narrow labyrinth of streets in the Old Town, a main feature in Tbilisi tourism. You’ll discover hidden courtyards, vine-clad brick buildings, stray cats perched on stone walls and homes that are crumbling and leaning almost cartoonishly, propped up with metal support beams.
The tight, winding streets have an Asian feel, but the architecture is mostly classical Russian, European or Art Nouveau. Notice the large balconies that wrap around buildings — in traditional Georgian homes the balcony is a shared space where neighbors socialize.
The Sulfur Baths
The local legend is that the city was built here because of the hot springs, geothermal pools with water high in sulfur and other minerals. These healing waters have been used for therapeutic purposes for many centuries.
You can rent a private room in one of the underground bathhouses and soak your cares away in the 40-degree-Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) water. Massage and exfoliation services are also available. It’s the perfect way to soothe your muscles after a day of walking all over Tbilisi.
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Wine Tasting
Georgia is credited as the nation that invented wine. The viticulture tradition here dates back over 8,000 years!
As such, when you travel to Tbilisi you should be sure to taste a few of the local varieties. There are several wine cellars in the Old City with friendly staff who will give you a run-down of the wines from the various regions and offer you a taste. With 8,000 years of experience making wine, Georgians really know what they are doing.
Eat Khinkali
I’ve saved the best of Tbilisi attractions for last. Khinkali are wonderfully delicious and even if you do nothing in Tbilisi but sit in a restaurant and eat them, you’ll have had a worthwhile trip.
They are round dumplings that are filled with minced meat (usually beef but sometimes pork or lamb) and are pinched closed like a tiny purse. The dumplings are boiled with the meat inside, so that the meat juices fill the dumpling. When you eat it, bite a small hole at first so you can slurp the juices out, then eat the rest.
Don’t eat the pinched nub at the top — it’s traditionally left on the plate so you can keep track of how many you have eaten.