Essential Tbilisi #4sqCities

Giga: On your left, you'll see McDonald's; on your right - 24/7 supermarket Zemeli. Rustaveli Statue and Metro Station are in front of you. Behind you, there's Georgian Academy of Sciences. Or vice versa:)

Giga: Located on the main street of the city, opposite the Parliament, this church was built between 1904 and 1910. It suffered serious damage during the brief but violent civil war in the early 1990s.

Giga: This important example of Soviet Georgian architecture situated on Rustaveli avenue was the former home of the USSR’s government in Georgia. The oldest part of the building was erected in 1953.

Giga: Former names of the square are: Pashkevich-Erivan Square (1829), Theater Square (1851), Freedom Square (1918), Transcaucasian Square (1922-40), Beria Square (1940-53), and Lenin Square (1953-90).

Ola Möller: Brilliant food, bohemian interior, soft light, old beautiful furniture, big tall wooden window frames opened towards a calm square. Cool bathrooms. The place is like a movie set! Mains around 20 GEL.

Giga: Narikala Fortress is an ancient symbol of Tbilisi with superb views over the city. The walls date from various periods, the earliest from the 4th century, when it was a Persian citadel.

Giga: Formerly known as Golovin Street, Rustaveli Avenue is named after the medieval Georgian poet, Shota Rustaveli. It's often considered the main thoroughfare of Tbilisi.

Giga: Anchiskhati is the oldest surviving church in Tbilisi and dates from the 6th century. Aside from the altarpiece painted in 1683, all remaining frescoes in the church date from the 19th century.

Giga: Most important sacred object here is St. Nino's Cross which, according to legend, is made from vine branches bound with the saint’s own hair. A replica of this is displayed to the left of the altar.

Giga: Opened in 2009, the Presidential Palace was built on the initiative of Mikheil Saakashvili. Several architects were involved in the project but Michele De Lucchi is credited with its final appearance.

Giga: Commonly known as Sameba, the Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi is the main Georgian Orthodox Cathedral. It was constructed in 2004 and it's the third-tallest Eastern Orthodox Cathedral in the World.

Giga: Located at the foot of Narikala fortress, the Sunni mosque was built in the 19th century and interestingly, it not only features Islamic motifs but Gothic as well.

Giga: Established between 1895 and 1903, the exterior is decorated with a mosaic, while inside there are paintings depicting biblical verses and prayers.

Giga: In the heart of Abanotubani, there are Tbilisi’s famed sulphur bathhouses with beehive domes. Alexanders Dumas and Pushkin both bathed here, the latter describing it as the best bath he’d ever had.

Giga: The cheapest way to get to the city center is to take bus # 37. The bus stop is in front of the arrival hall and they run from 07:00 until 22:00. Ticket: 0.50 GEL. A taxi ride to the center: 25 GEL.

Giga: The Jvaris Mama Church has been a church since the 5th century. However, the current structure dates from the 16th century. Its frescoes were recently restored.

Giga: Opened in 2012, the rope-way connects Rike Park and Narikala Fortress. For 1 GEL you can kill two birds with one stone: gaze at the views of the city and have an easy ride to the top of the hill.

Giga: Baratashvili Bridge is a traffic and pedestrian bridge built in 1966. The railings of the bridge have been decorated with bronze sculptures of people that are well worth seeing.

Giga: Metekhi Bridge stands on the site of a wooden bridge, the first to span the Mtkvari in Tbilisi. The present bridge was built in the 1950s.

Giga: Dry Bridge is roughly 160 years old and was built by the Italian, Giovanni Scudieri. The bridge is now famous for the flea market held around it.

David Chitanava: You can find here everything, from old coins to the parts of the first spacecraft Sputnik 1 maybe...

Giga: Turtle Lake is a direct English translation of Kus Tba; so named due to the perceived abundance of turtles living in this area. The other, less frequently used name of this lake is Korki Lake.

Giga: Located in the yard of "Mamadaviti" Church, the Mtatsminda Pantheon is a necropolis, where some of the most prominent writers, artists, scholars, and national heroes of Georgia are buried.

Giga: Designed by the architect Beloi, the Betlemi Street-stairs project was implemented by Tbilisi Professional Unions of Craftsmen in 1850; free of charge, using own materials, as a donation to the city.

Giga: This mid-19th century house is special for its individual planning layout: lace-like rendering of balcony keel arches, facade stucco elements and staircase musharabi with stained-glass windows.

Giga: Officially known as Tbilisi Reservoir, this artificial lake opened in 1953. It's the largest lake in Tbilisi area and a popular spot in summer. Public beach is free, but unguarded and often crowded.

Giga: The main bus station for international connections to Armenia, Azerbaijan, Greece, and Turkey. To reach the station, take bus #80 or #71 from the center.

Giga: Named after the nearby Didube metro station, it's crammed with marshrutkas for all westly destinations (Batumi, Poti, Zugdidi, Kutaisi, Gori, Kazbegi (Stepantsminda), and Vladikavkaz in Russia).

Giga: Located 300 metres from Samgori metro station. Marshrutkas from all eastern destinations arrive either here or to nearby Isani metro station, including Lagodekhi, Sighnaghi, Telavi or Rustavi.

☀ Sani Evans: I'd say, best bookstore of all. Especially if you're looking for English Literature, been my favorite for a long time. You can also have a sit in a cozy cafe with wi-fi.

Giga: The former capital of Georgia has some outstanding examples of medieval religious architecture. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1994, the site is believed to have been settled since 3000-2000 BC.

David Chitanava: Nice view on city from top floor of Radisson Blu Sky Bar. Best place for romantic and business meetings. Get best service but be ready for expensive prices.

Tengo Gogotishvili: Part of the old city, take a walk, enjoy the old feel and see some really nice old buildings. Take a walk to Chonkadze street and catch a train to the Funicular with breathtaking views over the city

imara saltycola: Gorgeous cozy place with old furniture and mellow jazz. Perfect to spend a rainy afternoon planning a book or meditating on the meaning of life over some wine. Look for a red door on the corner.

Germán León: If you want to go shopping as in Europe, don't miss this place because it is the only one in Georgia for this :)

Giga: Tbilisi’s main train station is the railway hub of Georgia. Trains from Tbilisi are relatively slow and infrequent but comfortable and cheap. Trains to Baku and Yerevan leave from here as well.

Paulo Almeida: When they say old, they mean old!! Churches from the fifth century, old underground baths, ancient fortress walls, you name it! By might, with snow falling, it's a Grimm's tale!