Tbilisi is an easy destination to plan yourself: hotels, flights, car rental and activities in one place, no juggling ten different sites. Tbilisi works well as a base for day trips to nearby towns and scenic routes. The city has an airport, so you can fly in directly. There are currently around 20 places to stay listed in and around Tbilisi, covering a range of budgets. The catalogue includes 12 vetted activities and tours with real guest ratings. 5 routes to nearby towns are mapped out from Tbilisi, handy if you're planning side trips beyond the city itself.
Accommodation in Tbilisi starts at around €61 per night, with a typical rate near €105 across roughly 20 nearby options — handy for budgeting your trip.
Well-reviewed hotels: Sandali Metekhi Boutique Hotel, 4-star, guest rating 9.8 from 1711 reviews, from €73 per night; Shota@Rustaveli Boutique hotel, 4-star, guest rating 9.6 from 136 reviews, from €73 per night; Paragraph Freedom Square, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Tbilisi, 5-star, guest rating 9.6 from 956 reviews, from €260 per night; Swissôtel Tbilisi, 5-star, guest rating 9.5 from 817 reviews, from €144 per night; ibis Styles Tbilisi Center, 4-star, guest rating 9.4 from 2160 reviews, from €74 per night.
Day trips & routes: Mtskheta — about 25 km, 33m drive; Telavi — about 93 km, 1h 41m drive; Gudauri — about 120 km, 2h 12m drive; Dilijan (Armenia, cross-border) — about 196 km, 3h 30m drive; Stepantsminda — about 152 km, 2h 58m drive. 1 of 5 routes cross a border — check the rental company's terms before you go.
Tbilisi: what to know
Things to see: "Kakheti - Small wineries and family-cooked lunch • Private tour", rated 5 from 179 reviews, from €104.31; "Mtskheta-Gori-Uplistsikhe", rated 5 from 120 reviews, from €80.31; "Private Kazbegi Tour: Gergeti, Ananuri & Scenic Views", rated 5 from 87 reviews, from €132.97; "Tbilisi old town & soviet heritage - Private driver-guided Tour", rated 5 from 84 reviews, from €62.58; "Discover Georgia: A 4-Day Private tour from Tbilisi", rated 5 from 53 reviews, from €356.51.
Where to eat: "Barbarestan", Wine Bar/Healthy, rated 4.6 (1640 reviews); "Keto and Kote Restaurant", Healthy, rated 4 (601 reviews); "Rum Roof Kitchen Bar", Caribbean, rated 4.8 (245 reviews); "Kakhelebi"; "Restaurant Sofiko". Top-rated: "Rum Roof Kitchen Bar" at 4.8.
Tbilisi has its own airport, so a direct flight is the fastest way in. Getting around the city and out to the 5 nearby destinations listed above is easiest by car — intercity public transport tends to be slower and less frequent. The median nightly rate in Tbilisi is around €105, useful for comparing overall trip cost against nearby cities.
To rent a car in Tbilisi you usually need a passport, a driving licence and a bank card for the deposit hold. With 20 places to stay nearby, it's worth comparing a base near the rental desk against one closer to the sights. Given 5 routes worth driving from here, check the mileage and one-way drop-off terms before you book. When touring Georgia, plan stops in advance: fuel stations and car parks in smaller towns are not always open around the clock.
