# 🇬🇪 Tbilisi — Georgia

> Tbilisi has become the Israelis' backyard capital: three hours by air, visa-free, and a city that feels like Prague meets Istanbul. Cobbled lanes and carved wooden balconies in the Old Town, Narikala Fortress above the river, brick-domed sulphur baths, hot khachapuri, qvevri wine, casinos open all night and Shardeni Street bars full of Israelis. All of it compact, wonderfully cheap, and the base for a day in Kazbegi, the wine villages of Kakheti or skiing in Gudauri.

## Quick facts

- **Country:** Georgia
- **Currency:** GEL (₾)
- **Time zone:** +1 שעה מול ת״א (UTC+4)
- **Language:** גאורגית · אנגלית ורוסית נפוצות בתיירות
- **Power plug:** C / F · 220V (כמו בישראל, בלי מתאם)
- **Visa for Israelis:** אין צורך בוויזה לישראלים, עד שנה שלמה עם דרכון בתוקף
- **Safety:** בטוחה מאוד, גם בלילה. הזהירות היחידה: כבישי ההרים
- **Main airport (IATA):** TBS
- **Trips from:** ₪890 / 4 nights
- **Traveler rating:** 4.8/5

## Best time to visit

- **Recommended months:** April, May, June, September, October
- **Peak season for Israelis:** Israelis fly to Tbilisi year-round: the peak is July-August (school break, a base for Kazbegi and Batumi) plus Sukkot and Pesach, and Hanukkah to February thanks to skiing in Gudauri. April-June and September-October are the most pleasant and cheapest months for the city itself.

## Weather by month

Measured in Tbilisi.

| Month | Avg. temp | Conditions |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ינו | 7°C | Cool |
| פבר | 9°C | Cool |
| מרץ | 14°C | Cool |
| אפר | 20°C | Recommended |
| מאי | 25°C | Excellent |
| יונ | 29°C | Excellent |
| יול | 32°C | Hot |
| אוג | 32°C | Hot |
| ספט | 27°C | Excellent |
| אוק | 20°C | Recommended |
| נוב | 13°C | Cool |
| דצמ | 8°C | Cool |

## Where to stay

- **Old Town and Sololaki** — Best for: Couples, first visit, atmosphere. Cobbled lanes, carved wooden balconies and boutiques around Shardeni Street, Meidan Square and the baths, all walkable. The prettiest choice, but expect bar noise on weekend nights and mostly small boutique hotels with no parking. Moxy and Freedom Square sit at the edge of the district.
- **Rustaveli Avenue and Freedom Square** — Best for: Families, chain hotels, convenience. The main avenue with the Marriott, Biltmore, Radisson and its casino, Galleria Tbilisi and the metro. Central and safe, easy for day trips because drivers pick you up without fuss, but less "Georgian" than the Old Town and dinner is a 10-minute walk.
- **Vera** — Best for: Couples, design hotels, good food. Home to Stamba and Rooms, cafes, wine bars and restaurants like Ezo. More elegant and quieter than the Old Town and still a 15-minute walk from Rustaveli. Slightly pricier, and uphill.
- **Vake** — Best for: Luxury, quiet, families with a car. Tbilisi's upscale district by Vake Park and Turtle Lake, with roomy apartments, chef restaurants and a mall. Perfect for calm and comfort, but every trip downtown is a 10-15 minute Bolt ride.
- **Marjanishvili and Fabrika (Left Bank)** — Best for: Young crowd, groups, budget. The other side of the river: the renovated Aghmashenebeli Avenue, Fabrika with its courtyard and bars, Shavi Lomi and Barbarestan. Cheaper, young and local, with a metro station in the middle. Nights around Fabrika get loud.
- **Avlabari** — Best for: Kosher travelers, families, near Sameba. An old Armenian neighborhood facing the Old Town, with Sameba Cathedral, a metro stop and friendly prices. One bridge from the baths and from Kote Afkhazi Street with Chabad and the kosher restaurant. Fewer bars, more real neighborhood.

## Getting around

- **Airport to city:** Tbilisi Airport is 17 km east of the center. Bolt or Yandex Go from the app costs ₪35-50 and takes 25-35 minutes, while the airport taxi rank asks ₪70-100, so order in the app from the exit area. Bus 337 runs 24 hours to Freedom Square and the train station for just ₪2, about 50 minutes. Many hotels offer a private transfer for ₪60-90.
- **Do you need a car?** No. In the city a car is a burden: parking is hard, driving is aggressive and Bolt is cheaper than any rental. For day trips most Israelis don't self-drive either; they book a driver with a car for the day or join a tour, because the Kazbegi road is winding and snowy in winter. A rental only pays off for a full week touring Kakheti, Borjomi and Kutaisi.
- **Transport tips:** Tbilisi's metro is two simple lines, ₪1.5 a ride with a Metromoney card bought at the booth, reaching Rustaveli, Freedom Square, Avlabari and the train station. Book a day driver through the hotel or GoTrip and agree the price, hours and stops upfront. On weekend nights Bolt surges near Shardeni, so order from a side street.

## What it costs (for Israeli travelers)

- **Round-trip flight from TLV:** ₪800-1,500 (holidays: ₪1,900+)
- **4-night package pp:** ₪2,200-3,800 (flight + 4★ hotel)
- **Mid-range hotel/night:** ₪250-500 (double room)
- **5★ hotel/night:** ₪550-1,100
- **Restaurant meal:** ₪40-90 (pp, with wine)
- **Khachapuri / khinkali:** ₪15-30 per dish
- **Local beer:** ₪9-16
- **Coffee:** ₪7-14
- **Bolt ride in town:** ₪8-20 (airport: ₪35-50)
- **Driver with car per day:** ₪350-600 (per car)
- **Baths / casino / cable car:** ₪120-250 per room · free entry · ₪5
- **Daily budget pp:** ₪220-420 (excl. flight & hotel)
- **Family of 4, 5 nights:** ₪11,000-18,000 (all-in)

## Kosher food, Chabad & Jewish community

- **Chabad house:** Chabad of Tbilisi operates at 25 Kote Afkhazi Street (formerly Leselidze), steps from the Great Synagogue and in the heart of the area Israelis roam. There are daily minyanim, Shabbat meals by advance registration on their site, and answers to every kosher question in town. Georgia's Jewish community is among the oldest in the world, and the 19th-century Great Synagogue is worth a visit even outside prayer times. — Rating 4.6/5 (518 reviews) · Address: 7 Bambis Rigi St, T'bilisi 0105, גאורגיה · [Google Maps](https://maps.google.com/?cid=15616153973011682131) · [Website](http://chabadtbilisi.ge/)
- **Kosher food:** Two kosher restaurants on the same corner: Chabad's Mendi's (mehadrin, 7 Bambis Rigi Street opposite the synagogue, daily 12:00 to midnight) and the veteran King David inside the Great Synagogue compound, with khinkali, skewers and kosher cheese khachapuri. Chabad also provides Shabbat meals and packed food for day trips. Carrefour at Tbilisi Mall and East Point has a shelf of internationally certified packaged goods, and Georgian supermarkets are full of fruit, nuts, churchkhela and bread. Travelers who don't insist on certified restaurants enjoy salads, lobio, stuffed vegetables and trout in regular places, since Georgian cooking is largely vegetarian.

## Attractions

- **Narikala Fortress** (Duration: 1-2 hours) — Rating 4.7/5 (9,294 reviews) · Address: MRQ5+6G6, טביליסי, גאורגיה · [Google Maps](https://maps.google.com/?cid=91247041833562317)
- **Old Town Tbilisi** (Duration: Half day) — Rating 4.3/5 (210 reviews) · Address: 21, 23 Aleksandr Pushkin St, T'bilisi, גאורגיה · [Google Maps](https://maps.google.com/?cid=10719094375514047466)
- **Abanotubani Sulphur Baths** (Duration: 1-2 hours) — Rating 4.5/5 (11,603 reviews) · Address: N2 Abano St, T'bilisi, גאורגיה · [Google Maps](https://maps.google.com/?cid=4731015332575202809) · [Website](http://www.chreli-abano.ge/)
- **Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi** (Duration: 1 hour) — Rating 4.8/5 (16,731 reviews) · Address: MRX8+3H8, טביליסי, גאורגיה · [Google Maps](https://maps.google.com/?cid=11115875802407382066)
- **Mtatsminda Park** (Duration: Half day) — Rating 4.6/5 (26,487 reviews) · Address: ზედა პლატო, ფუნიკულიორი, T'bilisi 0105, גאורגיה · [Google Maps](https://maps.google.com/?cid=10001556674972813395) · [Website](https://park.ge/)
- **Mother of Georgia** (Duration: 30 min) — Rating 4.6/5 (6,317 reviews) · Address: სოლოლაკის ქედი, Sololaki St, T'bilisi, גאורגיה · [Google Maps](https://maps.google.com/?cid=7213004104761471778)
- **Leghvtakhevi Waterfall** (Duration: 30 min) — Rating 4.6/5 (1,723 reviews) · Address: 1 Botanikuri St, T'bilisi, גאורגיה · [Google Maps](https://maps.google.com/?cid=3199169060977512779)
- **Dry Bridge Market** (Duration: 1-2 hours) — Rating 4.4/5 (10,230 reviews) · Address: PR23+96X, טביליסי, גאורגיה · [Google Maps](https://maps.google.com/?cid=11428997057205978411)
- **Rezo Gabriadze Theatre Clock Tower** (Duration: 20 min) — Rating 4.7/5 (6,479 reviews) · Address: 13 Ioane Shavteli St, T'bilisi, גאורגיה · [Google Maps](https://maps.google.com/?cid=4183334123567771131) · [Website](http://gabriadze.com/en/bez-rubriki/bashnya/)
- **The Chronicle of Georgia** (Duration: 1-2 hours) — Rating 4.8/5 (14,344 reviews) · Address: Chronicles of Georgia Temqa, QRC6+65V, T'bilisi, גאורגיה · [Google Maps](https://maps.google.com/?cid=249916733586662859)
- **Jvari Monastery** (Duration: Half day) — Rating 4.8/5 (11,799 reviews) · Address: RPQM+C79, מצחתה, גאורגיה · [Google Maps](https://maps.google.com/?cid=15491609820827358747)
- **National Botanical Garden of Georgia** (Duration: 1-2 hours) — Rating 4.6/5 (12,710 reviews) · Address: Botanikuri St, T'bilisi, גאורגיה · [Google Maps](https://maps.google.com/?cid=1418652649866578836) · [Website](http://nbgg.ge/)
- **Gino Paradise Tbilisi** (Duration: Half to full day) — Rating 4.2/5 (4,979 reviews) · Address: 9 Beshenova St, T'bilisi, גאורגיה · [Google Maps](https://maps.google.com/?cid=6240176147307673833) · [Website](http://www.ginoaquapark.ge/)
- **Turtle Lake** (Duration: 1-2 hours) — Rating 4.4/5 (1,720 reviews) · Address: אגם הצבים, טביליסי, גאורגיה · [Google Maps](https://maps.google.com/?cid=5159919537700033977)

## Restaurants

- **Kosher Restaurant King David** (רחוב קוטה אפחזי 49, במתחם בית הכנסת הגדול, ₪₪) — Tbilisi's veteran kosher restaurant inside the Great Synagogue compound: kosher cheese khachapuri (the only one in Georgia), khinkali, skewers and pre-booked Shabbat meals, at low prices with an old-school feel. — Rating 4.4/5 (714 reviews) · Address: Kote Aphkhazi Str, 49 კოტე აფხაზის ქ, თბილისი 0105, גאורגיה · [Google Maps](https://maps.google.com/?cid=12624039234315364400) · [Website](https://www.facebook.com/KosherRestaurantinTbilisiandBatumi/)
- **Shavi Lomi** (מארג'נישווילי, ₪₪) — "The Black Lion" is the old house with the courtyard every Israeli gets recommended: modern Georgian cooking, walnut salads, stuffed peppers and wine from the barrel. Book a courtyard table. — Rating 4.5/5 (3,946 reviews) · Address: PR54+9FV, Zurab Kvlividze St, T'bilisi, גאורגיה · [Google Maps](https://maps.google.com/?cid=5349691423837450253) · [Website](https://www.facebook.com/%E1%83%A8%E1%83%90%E1%83%95%E1%83%98-%E1%83%9A%E1%83%9D%E1%83%9B%E1%83%98-Shavi-Lomi-Tbilisi-Cuisine-122512711165833/)
- **Barbarestan** (שדרת אגמשנבלי, ₪₪₪) — A chef's restaurant built on a 19th-century Georgian cookbook. Everyone photographs the lamb with plums, and vegetarians eat very well here too. The one splurge dinner of the trip. — Rating 4.6/5 (2,972 reviews) · Address: D, 132 Davit Aghmashenebeli Ave, T'bilisi 0112, גאורגיה · [Google Maps](https://maps.google.com/?cid=7388145962250604086)
- **Cafe Littera** (בית הסופרים, סולולאקי, ₪₪₪) — In the Writers' House secret garden, chef Tekuna Gachechiladze serves new Georgian cooking: thin khachapuri, strawberry-pepper salad, herbed trout. Romantic on summer evenings. — Rating 4.2/5 (1,291 reviews) · Address: 0105, 13 Ivane Machabeli St, T'bilisi, גאורגיה · [Google Maps](https://maps.google.com/?cid=6764322281017364141)
- **Salobie Bia** (ליד כיכר החירות, ₪) — Home-style Georgian classics at street prices: lobio bean stew in a clay pot, corn mchadi and khachapuri. Israelis love it because it's cheap, fast and real. — Rating 4.6/5 (2,673 reviews) · Address: Rustaveli Theater, 17 Shota Rustaveli Ave, T'bilisi 0108, גאורגיה · [Google Maps](https://maps.google.com/?cid=11910202216351291245) · [Website](https://www.facebook.com/salobiebia)
- **Keto and Kote** (סולולאקי, על ההר, ₪₪) — A terrace with the best view over the Old Town, an old-house atmosphere and refined Georgian plates. You climb stairs to get there and it's worth every step. — Rating 4.3/5 (2,835 reviews) · Address: 3 მიხეილ ზანდუკელის ჩიხი, 3 თორაძის ჩიხი, T'bilisi 0179, גאורגיה · [Google Maps](https://maps.google.com/?cid=10884195894516556368) · [Website](https://www.instagram.com/ketoandkote/)
- **Machakhela** (סניפים ברחבי העיר, כולל רוסתאבלי, ₪) — The chain where most Israelis eat their first Adjaruli khachapuri: a bread boat with cheese, butter and egg. Open late, cheap, and easy with kids. — Rating 3.8/5 (5,613 reviews) · Address: 23 Ovanes Tumaniani St, T'bilisi, גאורגיה · [Google Maps](https://maps.google.com/?cid=16854302066052399589) · [Website](http://www.vdcapital.ge/)
- **Pasanauri** (ליד תחנת רכבת מרג'נישווילי, ₪) — Tbilisi's most famous khinkali, according to locals. Order by the piece, eat with your hands, leave the "tail". Cheese and mushroom khinkali for vegetarians. — Rating 4.6/5 (8,111 reviews) · Address: 7/2 Giorgi Leonidze St, T'bilisi, גאורגיה · [Google Maps](https://maps.google.com/?cid=2868083669749893220) · [Website](https://www.instagram.com/restaurantpasanauri?igsh=MTltZXU3a3U5MjFrbQ==)
- **Ezo** (ורה, ₪₪) — A quiet courtyard in Vera with organic food from the family farm: grilled vegetables, cheeses, tone-oven bread. Loved by couples looking for a calm evening. — Rating 4.7/5 (676 reviews) · Address: 24 Solomon Zaldastanishvili St, T'bilisi 0108, גאורגיה · [Google Maps](https://maps.google.com/?cid=2870621682882463020) · [Website](https://tbilisuriezo.com/)
- **Mendi's Tbilisi** (רחוב במביס ריגי 7, מול בית הכנסת הגדול, ₪₪) — Chabad's mehadrin kosher restaurant (under Rabbi Kozlovsky), opposite the Great Synagogue: kosher khinkali and skewers, Israeli dishes the kids know, open daily 12:00 to midnight with folklore nights for groups. — Rating 4.4/5 (962 reviews) · Address: 7 Bambis Rigi St, T'bilisi 0105, גאורגיה · [Google Maps](https://maps.google.com/?cid=8347679601115545630) · [Website](http://www.shabat.ge/)
- **Ethno Tsiskvili** (רחוב בליאשווילי, צפון העיר, ₪₪₪) — "The Water Mill": a huge complex with a river, waterfall, Georgian dancing and live music every night, and every classic from skewers to mchadi. The big night out for Israeli groups and families; book a table near the stage. — Rating 4.7/5 (6,396 reviews) · Address: 99 Akaki Beliashvili St, T'bilisi, גאורגיה · [Google Maps](https://maps.google.com/?cid=4893030621056386169) · [Website](https://tsiskvili.ge/)
- **Mravaljamieri** (רחוב ברטאשווילי, הגדה השמאלית, ₪₪) — A big riverside Georgian restaurant with terraces, music and dancers, giant portions and fair prices. Israelis recommend it for a first "supra" night without leaving the city. — Rating 4.5/5 (3,611 reviews) · Address: ნიკოლოზ ბარათაშვილის სახელობის მარცხენა სანაპირო, T'bilisi, גאורגיה · [Google Maps](https://maps.google.com/?cid=11933307641077143383) · [Website](http://www.mravaljamier.ge/)
- **Cafe Leila** (העיר העתיקה, ₪₪) — A vegetarian cafe with Persian decor opposite the Clock Tower: Georgian hummus, stuffed vegetables, tea by the pot. The go-to for Israelis who eat only vegetarian abroad. — Rating 4.4/5 (1,533 reviews) · Address: 18 Ioane Shavteli St, T'bilisi, גאורגיה · [Google Maps](https://maps.google.com/?cid=2608375418126172390) · [Website](https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kafe-Leila/1527434497473136)

## Nightlife

- **Fabrika Tbilisi** — Bar courtyard — Rating 4.6/5 (15,038 reviews) · Address: JSC NINO, 8 Egnate Ninoshvili St, T'bilisi, גאורגיה · [Google Maps](https://maps.google.com/?cid=17594368915314407962) · [Website](https://fabrikatbilisi.com/)
- **Bassiani** — Techno club — Rating 3.5/5 (1,098 reviews) · Address: 2, Akaki Tsereteli Ave, T'bilisi, גאורגיה · [Google Maps](https://maps.google.com/?cid=5088636615131950458) · [Website](http://bassiani.com/)
- **KHIDI** — Club under the bridge — Rating 4.1/5 (546 reviews) · Address: President Heydar Aliyev Embankment, T'bilisi 0160, גאורגיה · [Google Maps](https://maps.google.com/?cid=6436660063453913330) · [Website](http://www.khidi.ge/)
- **Mtkvarze** — Riverside club — Rating 3.9/5 (279 reviews) · Address: PQFM+2FX, ნიკოლოზ ბარათაშვილის სახელობის მარცხენა სანაპირო, T'bilisi, גאורגיה · [Google Maps](https://maps.google.com/?cid=9716147934954619516) · [Website](https://www.facebook.com/mtkvarze/)
- **Drama Bar** — Cocktail bar — Rating 4/5 (201 reviews) · Address: 37, Shota Rustaveli Ave, T'bilisi, גאורגיה · [Google Maps](https://maps.google.com/?cid=14669339880547832786)
- **Black Dog Bar** — Pub & microbrewery — Rating 4.5/5 (1,101 reviews) · Address: 33 Lado Asatiani St, T'bilisi, גאורגיה · [Google Maps](https://maps.google.com/?cid=2701657018333247479) · [Website](https://www.facebook.com/blackdogbartbilisi/)
- **Bauhaus Cafe** — Park bar, Dedaena — Rating 4.3/5 (595 reviews) · Address: დედაენის ბაღი, T'bilisi, גאורגיה · [Google Maps](https://maps.google.com/?cid=303990144696330772) · [Website](https://www.facebook.com/bauhausbartbilisi/)
- **9 Mta** — Craft beer pub — Rating 4.6/5 (71 reviews) · Address: დედაენის ბაღი, T'bilisi 0105, גאורגיה · [Google Maps](https://maps.google.com/?cid=7843861555155947317)
- **Vino Underground** — Natural wine bar — Rating 4.5/5 (503 reviews) · Address: MRR2+9GQ, 15 Galaktion Tabidze St, T'bilisi, גאורגיה · [Google Maps](https://maps.google.com/?cid=3718825110739059034) · [Website](https://www.facebook.com/VinoUnderground)
- **Safe Club** — Club — Rating 3.7/5 (342 reviews) · Address: რკინის რიგი, 9 Jan Shardeni St, T'bilisi 1495, גאורגיה · [Google Maps](https://maps.google.com/?cid=2917293824950245459) · [Website](https://www.facebook.com/safeclubtbilisi/)
- **Republic 24** — Rooftop bar — Rating 4.1/5 (453 reviews) · Address: T, 6 Rose Revolution Square, T'bilisi 0118, גאורגיה · [Google Maps](https://maps.google.com/?cid=15161372817555420503) · [Website](https://republic.ge/24/)
- **Warszawa Bar** — Beloved neighborhood bar — Rating 4.5/5 (1,096 reviews) · Address: 19 Aleksandr Pushkin St, T'bilisi, גאורגיה · [Google Maps](https://maps.google.com/?cid=11122847082928134385) · [Website](http://www.fb.com/barwarszawatbilisi)

## Casinos

- **Casino Adjara** (In hotel ליד מלון רדיסון בלו איווריה) — Tbilisi's biggest and oldest casino, 250 slots and 50 tables, low-minimum roulette and blackjack, open 24 hours; free entry with a passport. — Rating 3.8/5 (865 reviews) · Address: 1 26 May Square, T'bilisi 0171, גאורגיה · [Google Maps](https://maps.google.com/?cid=2535437907855455664) · [Website](http://casinoadjara.com/)
- **Shangri La Casino Tbilisi** — The flashiest of all, at the end of the Peace Bridge with river views: 130 slots, 20 tables, shows and free drinks for players. The Israeli favorite for a first night. — Rating 4.1/5 (1,489 reviews) · Address: River Mtkvari Right Embankment მშვიდობის ხიდი, T'bilisi, גאורגיה · [Google Maps](https://maps.google.com/?cid=7094019373454104003) · [Website](https://shangrila.ge/)
- **Casino Iveria** (In hotel Radisson Blu Iveria Hotel) — Inside the Radisson on Rustaveli, 200 slots and 30 tables with poker, baccarat and roulette; handy for hotel guests who want no taxi at night. — Rating 4.1/5 (1,546 reviews) · Address: Rose Revolution Square, T'bilisi, גאורגיה · [Google Maps](https://maps.google.com/?cid=16352299735587092505) · [Website](http://casinoiveria.com/)
- **Casino Jewel** (In hotel The Biltmore Tbilisi Hotel) — The new luxury room in the Biltmore tower: 50 slots, 25 tables, elegant dress recommended and a lavish bar. For couples wanting a polished casino night. — Rating 4.2/5 (64 reviews) · Address: 10 Leuvile Embankment, T'bilisi 0144, גאורגיה · [Google Maps](https://maps.google.com/?cid=4160391779746962025) · [Website](https://casinojewel.ge/)
- **Ambassadori Hotel & Casino** (In hotel Ambassadori Tbilisi Hotel) — A small, intimate casino in a 5★ hotel on the Old Town riverbank: 22 tables of roulette, blackjack and poker, a calm room with no crowds. — Rating 4.5/5 (2,227 reviews) · Address: 17 Ioane Shavteli St, T'bilisi, גאורגיה · [Google Maps](https://maps.google.com/?cid=2908888270922524498) · [Website](https://www.ambassadori.com/tbilisi)

## Shopping

- **East Point** (Mall, Area: Near the airport) — Georgia's biggest mall with Zara, H&M, Bershka, Pull&Bear, LC Waikiki and a cinema. Israelis stop here on the way to the flight. — Rating 4.6/5 (18,215 reviews) · Address: 0182, 2 ალ.თვალჭრელიძის ქ, T'bilisi, גאורגיה · [Google Maps](https://maps.google.com/?cid=3630290012034911497) · [Website](https://eastpoint.ge/)
- **Tbilisi Mall** (Mall, Area: North, Digomi road) — A huge mall with Carrefour, international brands and a food court. Easy for families by car or Bolt. — Rating 4.6/5 (16,539 reviews) · Address: 213th km, 0131, David Aghmashenebeli Alley, T'bilisi, גאורגיה · [Google Maps](https://maps.google.com/?cid=507565911838060203) · [Website](https://www.tbilisimall.com/en)
- **Galleria Tbilisi** (Mall, Area: Rustaveli Avenue, Freedom Square) — The most central mall, above Rustaveli metro, with Zara, Stradivarius and cafes. — Rating 4.5/5 (16,343 reviews) · Address: 2/4 Shota Rustaveli Ave, T'bilisi 0168, גאורגיה · [Google Maps](https://maps.google.com/?cid=4214633192325107298) · [Website](http://www.galleria.ge/)
- **Zara** (Brand store, Area: Galleria Tbilisi) — Europe-level prices, full range and shorter queues than home. — Rating 4.1/5 (1,127 reviews) · Address: 42 Rustaveli St, T'bilisi 0114, גאורגיה · [Google Maps](https://maps.google.com/?cid=14737041537182835529) · [Website](https://www.zara.com/ge/en/stores-locator/zara-tbilisi-rustavelli-s9308)
- **LC Waikiki** (Brand store, Area: East Point / Tbilisi Mall) — The cheap Turkish chain where Israelis fill a suitcase with kids' clothes. — Rating 3.7/5 (154 reviews) · Address: 2/4 Shota Rustaveli Ave, T'bilisi, גאורגיה · [Google Maps](https://maps.google.com/?cid=5280040707243342404) · [Website](http://corporate.lcwaikiki.com/Magazalar)
- **Dry Bridge Market** (Market, Area: Dry Bridge, by the river) — The famous flea market: Soviet medals, wine drinking horns, old cameras and local art. Haggle. — Rating 4.4/5 (10,230 reviews) · Address: PR23+96X, טביליסי, גאורגיה · [Google Maps](https://maps.google.com/?cid=11428997057205978411)
- **Dezerter Bazaar** (Market, Area: By the central station) — The city's big food market: spices, churchkhela, cheeses, dried fruit and nuts at rock-bottom prices. — Rating 4.1/5 (11,255 reviews) · Address: 5 Abastumani St, T'bilisi, גאורגיה · [Google Maps](https://maps.google.com/?cid=5242997632172974218)
- **Carrefour** (Market, Area: Tbilisi Mall, East Point) — The supermarket where Israelis stock up before Kazbegi or Gudauri, with a shelf of internationally certified packaged goods. — Rating 4.4/5 (6,108 reviews) · Address: 3 Vekua Street, T'bilisi, גאורגיה · [Google Maps](https://maps.google.com/?cid=5883031905824584650)
- **City Mall Saburtalo** (Mall, Area: Saburtalo) — A big neighborhood mall with fashion chains, a supermarket and a cinema, cheap and less touristy than downtown. — Rating 4.6/5 (8,654 reviews) · Address: 70 ვაჟა-ფშაველა, 70 Vazha Pshavela Ave, T'bilisi 0186, גאורגיה · [Google Maps](https://maps.google.com/?cid=13049845824587930922) · [Website](https://thecitymall.ge/)
- **Pull&Bear** (Brand store, Area: Tbilisi Mall / East Point) — Together with Bershka and Stradivarius in the same malls, the chains young Israelis hunt at European prices. — Rating 2.4/5 (19 reviews) · Address: 70 Vazha Pshavela Ave, T'bilisi 0186, גאורגיה · [Google Maps](https://maps.google.com/?cid=11888398125241777419) · [Website](https://www.pullandbear.com/ge/en/stores-locator/tbilisi/city-mall-tbilisi-s13530)
- **H&M** (Brand store, Area: East Point / Tbilisi Mall) — A full range of kids' clothes and basics at prices below Israel. — Rating 4.1/5 (1,038 reviews) · Address: 2/4 Shota Rustaveli Ave, T'bilisi 0105, גאורגיה · [Google Maps](https://maps.google.com/?cid=14559863638878932021) · [Website](https://www.hm.com/ge?utm_source=google_location&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=GE0001)
- **8000 Vintages** (Brand store, Area: Downtown branches) — The wine shop where you buy Saperavi and qvevri wine at winery prices, not airport prices. — Rating 4.6/5 (1,347 reviews) · Address: 27 Revaz Tabukashvili St, T'bilisi 0108, גאורגיה · [Google Maps](https://maps.google.com/?cid=98217169022986323) · [Website](http://www.8000vintages.ge/)

## Suggested itinerary

1. **Day 1: Old Town, Narikala and the baths** — Start at Freedom Square and walk down Kote Afkhazi Street past the Great Synagogue and Shardeni Street to Meidan Square. Ride the Rike Park cable car up to Narikala Fortress, follow the wall to the Mother of Georgia statue and descend through the botanical garden and the waterfall to Abanotubani. End the evening in a private room at the sulphur baths and a pre-booked dinner in Shavi Lomi's courtyard.
2. **Day 2: Rustaveli, Sameba and Mtatsminda** — A morning on Rustaveli Avenue: the opera house, parliament and coffee at Galleria Tbilisi. Cross the river to the giant Sameba Cathedral and the Avlabari neighborhood, then take the metro back to Rustaveli and ride the funicular up to Mtatsminda Park. Up there: a Ferris wheel, kids' rides and the widest view over the city at sunset; dinner at the Funicular Restaurant Complex with its famous ponchiki donuts.
3. **Day 3: Kazbegi on the Georgian Military Highway** — Leave with a driver at 08:00 sharp. Stop at Ananuri Fortress and the Zhinvali reservoir, pass Gudauri and the colorful mosaic Friendship Monument, and reach Stepantsminda by lunch. A jeep takes you up to Gergeti Trinity Church facing Mount Kazbek, and the keen continue to Gveleti waterfall. Back in Tbilisi by 20:00, finish with khinkali at Pasanauri.
4. **Day 4: Mtskheta in the morning, casino at night** — Half an hour out of town: Jvari Monastery on the cliff above the rivers' confluence, then Svetitskhoveli Cathedral and the souvenir lanes of Mtskheta, the ancient capital. Back in the afternoon for the Dry Bridge Market (fullest on Fridays and Saturdays) and shopping at East Point or Galleria. Dinner at Barbarestan or Cafe Littera, then the roulette tables at Casino Adjara or Shangri La.
5. **Day 5: Kakheti, a wine day** — A driver takes you to Sighnaghi, the walled "city of love" overlooking the Alazani valley and the Caucasus; a tasting at Pheasant's Tears and a visit to Bodbe Monastery. Continue to the Tsinandali Estate and a qvevri tasting at a winery, or swap the wineries for a few hours at Lopota Lake with kids. Back in the evening for a last drink at Fabrika or Drama Bar.
6. **Day 6: Chronicle of Georgia, Tbilisi Sea and last shopping** — A morning at the Chronicle of Georgia, giant pillars on the hill above the Tbilisi Sea that look like a Soviet Stonehenge. Families continue to the Gino Paradise water park, couples to Turtle Lake and the Vake neighborhood. A last run through Carrefour for churchkhela and spices, then straight from East Point to the airport, 10 minutes away.

## VAYULOR tips

- 📱 Install Bolt before landing: a city ride is ₪8-20, airport to center ₪35-50, and no haggling with airport taxi drivers.
- 💳 Cards work almost everywhere, but keep ₾50-100 in cash for the Dry Bridge Market, small bathhouses and day-trip drivers.
- 🛁 Book a private room at the baths in advance (Chreli Abano or Gulo's) for the evening, ₪120-250 per hour per room, and ask for the kisa scrub.
- 🎰 Casinos require only a passport, entry is free and tables are busiest after 23:00. Set a budget in advance and leave the card at the hotel.
- 🚗 Don't rent a car for Kazbegi and Kakheti: a private driver with a car is ₪350-600 per car per day, drives the mountain roads for you and stops at every viewpoint.
- ✡️ Book Shabbat meals in advance with Chabad Tbilisi on Kote Afkhazi Street; the King David kosher restaurant is on the same street and Carrefour has a shelf of certified packaged goods.
- ⏰ Take the Rike Park cable car up to Narikala at 17:30 in summer: you get daylight views, the sunset and the city lighting up.
- 🍷 Buy wine at a winery shop or at 8000 Vintages, not the airport: the same Saperavi costs double there.
- 🧥 Even in July bring a warm layer: Kazbegi and Gudauri run 10-15 degrees colder than Tbilisi, and in winter the city drops below zero at night.
- 💧 Tbilisi tap water is safe, and markets sell Borjomi, the salty mineral water Georgians swear by after a khachapuri night.

## Frequently asked questions

**Do Israelis need a visa for Tbilisi?**

No. Israelis enter Georgia visa-free for up to a full year with just a valid passport. You get a stamp on arrival in Tbilisi and that's it.

**How long is the flight to Tbilisi and are there direct flights?**

About three hours nonstop from Ben Gurion to Tbilisi with Israir, Arkia, Georgian Airways and El Al, several flights a day most of the year. In summer and the holidays there are also direct flights to Batumi and Kutaisi.

**When is the best time to visit Tbilisi?**

April-June and September-October are perfect in Tbilisi: 20-28 degrees, pleasant evenings and low prices. July-August are hot (32 degrees) but it's the Israeli peak because people combine Kazbegi and Batumi; December-February are cold and that's ski time in Gudauri.

**How many days do I need in Tbilisi?**

Three full days for Tbilisi itself (Old Town, Rustaveli, Mtatsminda, Mtskheta), plus a day per excursion: Kazbegi, Kakheti, Borjomi. A 4-5 night package is the most popular format among Israelis.

**How do I get around Tbilisi?**

Bolt handles everything in Tbilisi at ₪8-20 a ride, and the metro is cheap and fast to Rustaveli, Freedom Square and Avlabari. Walk the Old Town, and take a driver with a car for day trips.

**How much does a Tbilisi vacation cost?**

A 4-night Tbilisi package with flights and a 4★ hotel usually costs ₪2,200-3,800 per person, and on the ground you spend ₪220-420 per person per day on food, fun and drivers. A family of four does 5 nights for ₪11,000-18,000.

**Is Tbilisi safe for Israelis?**

Tbilisi is one of the region's safest capitals, even downtown at night, and Israelis and Jews are treated especially warmly. Normal caution applies: closed pockets at the market and metro, and taxis only via Bolt.

**Where are the best casinos in Tbilisi?**

The casinos Israelis love in Tbilisi are Casino Adjara by the Radisson, the big glittering Shangri La, Casino Iveria inside the Radisson and Casino Jewel at the Biltmore. Entry is free with a passport, they're open 24 hours, and table minimums are lower than in Europe.

**Where do you go out at night in Tbilisi?**

Shardeni Street and the lanes around it are Tbilisi's bar street, Fabrika is the young courtyard across the river, and real techno lovers have Bassiani and KHIDI. The good cocktail bars, like Drama Bar, are in Sololaki.

**Is there kosher food and a Chabad house in Tbilisi?**

Yes: Chabad of Tbilisi at 25 Kote Afkhazi Street with minyanim and Shabbat meals by registration, the kosher King David restaurant on the same street, and a certified packaged-goods shelf at Carrefour. It's one of the region's easiest destinations for kosher travelers.

**Is Tbilisi better for families with kids or for couples?**

Both. Families love the cable car, the funicular and Mtatsminda Park, the Gino Paradise water park and the prices; couples fall for the Sololaki lanes, the private baths and Vera's chef restaurants. In summer Tbilisi also works as a base for Batumi and Kazbegi.

**What should I combine with Tbilisi?**

The classic Israeli combination is Tbilisi + a day in Kazbegi + a wine day in Kakheti, and in summer 2-3 nights in Batumi. In winter swap Batumi for a ski week in Gudauri, two hours from Tbilisi.

## Book through VAYULOR

- [Flights to Tbilisi](https://vayulor.com/en/destinations/georgia/flights/tbilisi)
- [Vacation packages to Tbilisi](https://vayulor.com/en/destinations/georgia/packages/tbilisi)
- [Hotels in Tbilisi](https://vayulor.com/en/destinations/georgia/hotels/tbilisi)
- [eSIM data for Tbilisi](https://vayulor.com/en/esim)
- [Web version of this guide](https://vayulor.com/en/destinations/georgia/tbilisi)
- [המדריך הזה בעברית](https://vayulor.com/he/destinations/georgia/tbilisi.md)

_Last updated: 2026-09-06_  
_Source: VAYULOR (vayulor.com) — an Israeli travel platform: destination guides, flights, packages, hotels and eSIM. Prices on the site are live; any price in this document is an indicative starting price only._