6 Must See Georgian Cities: Exploring the Urban Wonders of Georgia

In recent years Georgia has become a famous destination with tourists. More tourists arrive to explore its ancient landmarks, picturesque landscape, and traditional wine culture every year. Located at a crossroads between Europe and Asia, Georgia has been constantly invaded by Persians, Ottomans, Arabs, and Russian. However, Georgians have managed to maintain a strong sense of identity. Every corner of Georgia is captivating, ornate with ancient cathedrals, eclectic architecture, and vibrant art scenes. Exploring the Georgian food and wine culture is an experience you will not forget. Georgian dishes are deliciously rich in flavour and aroma, taking influences from Turkish, Persian, and European cuisines.

Whether you’re a city dweller eager to explore the unique urban culture of Georgian cities or a nature lover ready to immerse yourself in Georgia’s stunning outdoors, the country will not disappoint.

This post will share 6 of our favorite cities in Georgia and how each regional town has something unique to offer.

1- Tbilisi

When you arrive in Georgia, Tbilisi will be the first city on your itinerary. It is the vibrant heart of Georgia, with lots of things to see, do, and experience. Founded in the 5th century, Tbilisi is the largest city in Georgia. The capital is located on the banks of river Kura, and it is home to approximately 1.5 million people. Tbilisi is a relatively small city with many must-see places. There’s always something new and exciting waiting for you around every corner; it is the city of hidden gems. Moving around the city, you can find a mixture of different architectural styles ranging from medieval to neoclassical, to soviet, to modern. It’s layer upon layer of history and culture when it comes to Tbilisi.

One of the most stunning landmarks in Tbilisi is the Narikala Fortress, located in the old town. From Rike Park, a cable car will whisk you up over river Kura to this magnificent 4th-century fortress where you can get scenic views of the city. Looking at Tbilisi from up the top, you can see a harmonious blend of old and modern, visible in the city’s eclectic skyline. What’s striking about Tbilisi is that the city has undergone extensive urban planning without compromising the city’s authenticity and old charm. The bridge of peace, built after the Russian-Georgian war, and the Rike Concert Hall are prime examples of ancient meets modern in Tbilisi.

A stone’s throw away from the fortress stands the imposing statue of Mother of Georgia. The monument which symbolizes the Georgian national character was erected in 1958. In one hand, she holds a cup of wine greeting friends of the nation and in the other a sword, challenging its foes.

Descending down the hill, you can see a cluster of dome-shaped bathhouses. Tbilisi, meaning “warm place” in Georgian, is built on top of thermal springs. There are plenty of bathhouses to choose from for a relaxing soak, scrub, and traditional massage. Both communal pools and private quarters are on offer, based on your preference.

Tbilisi is a city best explored on foot. Strolling around the old town, also known as Kala district, you can enjoy a lovely display of colorful houses. The intricately carved wooden balconies and narrow cobblestone streets allude to the city’s medieval history. It is a warm and vibrant part of the city filled with outdoor cafes and restaurants, souvenir shops, and street music. In this part of the city, you can also visit the leaning tower of Tbilisi – the disheveled tower of the Tbilisi puppet theatre. Another buzzing area in Tbilisi is Rustaveli Avenue. It has a relaxed, hipster vibe with many retro-style vintage cafes, street artists, and street music.

However, if you’re looking for more peace and quiet, the Tbilisi Botanical Gardens is the perfect getaway. You can take long walks through the lush, peaceful gardens and enjoy the views of a spectacular waterfall right in the middle of this bustling city. You can also take a trip to the Tbilisi Sea for a peaceful getaway. Well, it’s not precisely a sea, it is an artificial reservoir built in 1953, where you can enjoy all range of activities from swimming to fishing to sunbathing; it is also an excellent spot for picnics. And while you’re there, you can visit the chronicles of Georgia: a magnificent monument of sixteen 35-meter columns that depict Georgia’s long and complicated history.

Tbilisi is also the perfect place to immerse yourself in Georgian wine and cuisine. When it comes to top-quality food and wine, the city does not disappoint. If you’re looking for an authentic Georgian food experience, we definitely recommend Barbarestan – a traditional restaurant with classic Georgian dishes.

And while we’re on the topic of eating, let us recommend Fabrika! It is not exactly a restaurant, but you can indeed eat there. What used to be a soviet sewing factory has been transformed into a multipurpose urban space. You have cafes, bars, shops, and studios; here, you can eat, drink, socialize, and explore the creative side of Tbilisi.

Like Fabrika, many old soviet factories around Tbilisi have been repurposed as hotels, cafes, open-air bars, and music venues, giving the city its distinctive youthful, modern, edgy look. Today Tbilisi is known as a vibrant hub for culture and Bohemian art scenes. In recent years Tbilisi has also gained a reputation for having one of the most exciting nightlife scenes in Europe – in Tbilisi, the party never stops.

You can’t end your tour of Tbilisi without visiting the Dry Bridge flea market. You can spend hours roaming through this funky open-air market where you can find everything from Soviet memorabilia to jewelry, antiques, and paintings. Don’t forget to get yourself a lurji supra – a traditional Georgian tablecloth hand-printed with traditional designs.

2- Batumi

Fancy going to the beach? Then why not give Batumi a visit. Batumi is famous mainly for its smooth stone beaches and fascinating modern architecture. The city has undergone an architectural renaissance in the past decade, earning the nickname “Las Vegas of the Black Sea.” But there is so much to do and explore in this famous Georgian port city. You can immerse yourself in the region’s beautiful nature, explore the city’s fascinating street art, experience Batumi’s incredible café culture, and indulge in delicious Adjarian cuisine.

One of the best ways to explore Batumi is to walk or cycle around Batumi Boulevard. The boulevard stretches 7 km along the shore and runs through beautiful gardens, cafes, and recreation sites. Grab a comfortable pair of shoes, or hire a bike and start exploring. The famous Ali & Nino sculpture is a moving metal sculpture telling two star-crossed lovers’ tragic story. The serene Japanese gardens, the Batumi lighthouse, the Batumi lighthouse, the futuristic McDonald’s building, and most striking of them all, the alphabet tower dedicated to the Georgian alphabet. The tower is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Batumi. You can get a beautiful view of the beach and Batumi Boulevard from the top of the building.

Moving away from the beach, you will enter the city’s old town. It may not be as big as Tbilisi’s old town, but still as charming. Walking through the picturesque old town, you will instantly be mesmerized by the cobblestone streets, charming old houses with detailed iron balconies, and beautiful buildings in art deco and nouveau styles. You can join a 3-hour walking tour where you can get a complete feel of the city and learn how the city has evolved.

Apart from the stunning architecture Batumi has many natural gems waiting to be discovered. If you’re looking for a relaxed, breezy getaway during the hot summer days, then the Batumi Botanical Gardens is a must-visit spot. It is a beautiful green space located on a steep hill on the north coast of the city. You can take the hiking trails up the hill, where you will be greeted with a panoramic view of the black sea. The garden’s highlight is the 15 trees that have grown out of a single tree that fell more than 30 years ago.

Batumi is as magnificent at night as it is during the day. The city’s skyline changes into a rainbow of vibrant colours at night, transforming Batumi into a lively, colourful city ready to embrace the nightlife.

3- Kutaisi

Kutaisi is the 3rd most populous city in Georgia, built on the banks of river Rioni. It is a 3.5-hour drive from Tbilisi, and it is accessible via car, train, minibus, and taxi. Kutaisi is known as one of the 5 oldest cities in Europe. The city is home to many famous landmarks, and it houses a UNESCO world heritage site. It is a green and mountainous region, and it can act as a perfect base for planning day trips to other parts of the area, including the Prometheus caves.

If you want to explore a more edgy side of the city, you definitely need to start visiting the Royal district. You can find many statues and monuments scattered across the neighbourhood, colourful graffiti, cobblestone streets, and rusty buildings.

Another beautiful landmark in Kutaisi is the Kolkheti fountains. It is a circular fountain situated on the central square of the city. It has four levels, and two golden horses are placed on the top level of the fountains. It features enlarged versions of artefacts and jewellery discovered in various archaeological excavations across Georgia.

The original artefacts can be found in the National Museum in Tbilisi.

Another feature you can enjoy in Kutaisi is its bustling local market to get fresh fruits and vegetables.  Another exciting food you can get at the market is the famous Churchkela, known as Georgian Snickers. It is a chewy candy with a fruity outer taste and nuts inside.

Getting to the UNESCO world heritage site, Gelati monastery is a must-see landmark in Kutaisi. The monastery is located on a hill outside Kutaisi. Founded in 1106 by King David IV of Georgia, the medieval compound represents the Georgian Golden Age.

Another famous Christian landmark in Kutaisi is the Bagarati Cathedral. The cathedral, built in the 11th century, is the ultimate masterpiece of medieval Georgian architecture. Bagarati was damaged many times throughout its existence, and it was restored to its current state in the 1950s. Even though previously listed as a UNESCO site, the cathedral was removed in 2017 due to many conservation works. According to UNESCO, the reconstructions were detrimental to the integrity and authenticity of Bagarati.

4- Akhaltiskhe

Akhaltsikhe is a city located in the southern region of Georgia, close to the Turkish river. The town is built on the banks of river Potskhovi. It runs in the middle of Akhaltsikhe, dividing it into two parts; the old city in the north of the river and the new city in the south.

The most famous landmark in Akhaltsikhe is the Rabati Fortress, a medieval fortress built in the 9th century.  Rabati fortress is located on top of a small hill on the left bank of river Potskhovi. When you walk inside the castle, you feel instantly transformed into a different time in history. The stunning architecture has been influenced by various cultures and religions; it features a church, a mosque, and a synagogue. The beautiful, well-kept gardens and courtyards only add to the beauty of the fortress. There are also 4 towers on each corner of the fort, where you can get a breath-taking view of the city.

We recommend visiting the fortress during the early hours of the day when it is less crowded. You will have more time to stroll around the citadel to take in all its beauty and enjoy the calm and tranquil atmosphere of the place. Another lovely time to visit would be at sunset; the view of the city and the fortress is genuinely magnificent at dusk.

5- Gori

Gori, which means hill in Georgian, is a city located in the east of the country. Gori is 86 kilometres west of the capital. It is a 1.30-hour drive from Tbilisi; it is also accessible by train.

Gori is most famous as the birthplace of Joseph Stalin, the notorious soviet leader. Much of the city’s famous landmarks are also related to Stalin. If you’re interested in a bit of history, you can visit the Joseph Stalin Museum. The museum comprises three sections: Stalin’s house, Stalin’s museum, and Stalin’s railway carriage.

The house is a small wooden hut with two small rooms and a basement workshop. This is where Stalin was born and lived until the age of 4.

The main building in the complex is the museum built in Stalinist Gothic style. It is dedicated to painting a fair and objective picture of the life and legacy of this ill-famed leader and the history of socialism. Oddly enough, you can even buy a Stalin t-shirt or mug from the souvenir shop!

On the other side of the complex is Stalin’s green Pullman carriage that he started using from 1941 onwards. There used to be a statue of Stalin in front of the museum. But it was taken down in 2010 as part of the country’s desovietization attempts. However, much of the Soviet-era architecture is still visible all around Gori.

But, the city is not only limited to Stalin and the Soviet era. You can visit the Gori fortress, located on the cliffy hills overlooking the city. Theirs is also the beautiful Virgin Mary Cathedral, built in the 19th century.

But the most fascinating landmark in Gori has to be the cave city of Uplistsikhe. It is 10 km east of Gori and you can take a taxi there. The town was built during the Bronze Age in the natural caves and rock cultures. It was an important religious, political, and economic region during the 2nd and 1st centuries B.C.  It is believed that during this period, the city housed up to 20,000 people. However, with the arrival of Christianity, the city started to decline. Uplistsikhe includes living quarters connected by various footways, a theatre, a prison, and a bakery. Theirs is also a 9th-century brick church east of the town, a sign that Christianity and paganism coexisted in the city.

6- Sighnaghi

Sighnaghi is a delightful place to visit in Georgia. You can stroll aimlessly around the city and mingle in with the locals, enjoy the scenery and take in the old charm of the town. Sighnaghi is a gorgeous little hilltop town in the Kakheti region of Georgia, located 109 kilometres east of Tbilisi.

Sighnaghi is known by the locals as the city of love, with many Georgians getting married in this lovely little town or spending their honeymoons here. With its 18th century, narrow cobblestone streets, charming houses, and carved wooden balconies, Sighnaghi has a distinctively Italian feel.

It may be a small town, but it still has a lot to offer. You can climb up the city walls, stretching 5 km around the city overlooking this lushly green town. The 23 towers built along the city walls also provide a breathtakingly magnificent view of Sighnaghi. Peeking through the towering cypress trees is also the Bodbe monastery. The convent is located 2 km from the city on a steep hillside overlooking Alazani valley. Known also as the monastery of St. Nino, it was built between the 9th and 11th centuries. 800 meters down the hill from the monastery is the spring of St. Nino. You can drink from the holy water or even bathe in it.

Georgia is famous for its viticulture; it is known as the birthplace of wine. In Kakheti, everything revolves around wine, and the region is home to vast vineyards. Wine-tasting is an essential part of the tourist experience at Sighnaghi. You can explore the ancient traditions of wine-making and the traditions and customs associated with Georgian culture.

As for accommodation, there are many guest houses and hostels where you can spend the night for a relatively reasonable price. However, being a famous spot with both the locals and tourists, we highly recommend booking a place in advance.