---
title: "Tbilisi for Wine, Food, and Old-Town Texture"
url: https://stacklist.com/card/9c036f03-dd5e-4a49-9a81-879eee606e84
source_url: "https://www.travelmagazine.com/stories/tbilisi-for-wine-food-and-old-town-texture?preview=true"
stack: https://stacklist.com/stack/70c6add6-5697-485a-b9aa-d58ae60444ce
summary: "Tbilisi is an underrated European capital offering a rich blend of wine, food, and historic architecture spanning Ottoman, Soviet, Byzantine, and Georgian styles. The city features iconic experiences including sulfur baths, traditional markets, and 8,000 years of wine-making heritage."
tags: "tbilisi, travel-guide, wine, food, architecture, cultural-tourism, georgia"
key_entities: "Tbilisi (location), Georgia (location), Old Town (location), Narikala Fortress (location), Dry Bridge Market (location), Chreli Abano (location), Silk Road (location), Eibhlis Gale-Coleman (person), sulfur-baths (concept), wine-making (concept)"
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---

# Tbilisi for Wine, Food, and Old-Town Texture

CITY GUIDES FOOD & TRAVEL CULTURAL TRAVEL Tbilisi for Wine, Food, and Old-Town Texture By Eibhlis Gale-Coleman • Jul 29, 2026 Share this Story: Imagining historic European cities, there's a string of capitals that instantly spring to mind. Rome, Athens, Istanbul, and London... you know the score. Yet, for an underrated city break, there is another worth adding to your list: Tbilisi. Founded in the 5th century, the Georgian capital has borne witness to centuries of history. From its role as a major Silk Road trading stop to Soviet occupation in the 20th century, Tbilisi has a story to tell. It’s not all architecture and political tales, either; the city clearly let its hair down for a few centuries. From 8,000 years of wine-making to therapeutic sulfur baths, Tbilisi is a fascinating place for a relaxing city break. Here’s why Tbilisi should make your list this summer — and exactly how to experience “the finer side” of this historic city. Getting To Tbilisi Most international travelers will arrive in Tbilisi by air. Only 20km outside the city center, Tbilisi International Airport is a convenient entry point. There are direct connections to the UK, UAE, and major European hubs, like Paris and Berlin. For US travelers, you’ll choose a connecting city. For the hardiest of backpackers, yes, it’s possible to reach Tbilisi from mainland Europe using public transport. The route is gnarly, though: crossing Turkey takes 40 hours by bus. It’s only possible to join the Eurorail network of sleeper trains when you’re west of Istanbul . Adventurous, but not for everyone. What to Do in Tbilisi A traveler climbs the stairs to the Chronicles of Georgia, Tbilisi. 📍 Tbilisi 📌 The Chronicles of Georgia Tbilisi might be underrated as a European getaway, but anyone who knows the city preaches that it’s easy on the eye. The cityscape merges Ottoman, Soviet, Byzantine, and traditional Georgian architecture. Fascinating to explore on foot, allow plenty of time to see the Old Town, Narikala Fortress, the Bridge of Peace, and the Chronicles of Georgia. One of Tbilisi’s most traditional architectural features is its “shushabandi:” balconies or stairways that are beautifully enclosed in stained glass. To see surviving examples, walk past Number 3 Betlemi Street or climb the staircase at Gallery 27. Start with a walking tour of Tbilisi’s architecture — guided or self-guided — and then book two of its most traditional activities: markets and sulfur baths. Markets Tbilisi has spent centuries as a trading hub. Its street markets sell everything from Soviet-era trinkets to traditional carpets and fresh produce. 📍 Tbilisi Once an outpost of the Silk Road, the ancient caravan-trading route that connected China and Europe, Tbilisi has a deep-rooted trading culture. To find unusual souvenirs, Dry Bridge Market opens refreshingly late: vendors opening flea market stalls between 11 am and 6 pm. Look through Soviet-era antiques, paintings of Tushetian horses, and kitschy trinkets. Sulfur Baths In Tbilisi, it's easy to spot the traditional stone domes of its public bath house. 📍 Tbilisi 📌 Sulphur Public Bath House Bathing in mineral waters is one of the most iconic things to do in Tbilisi. In fact, the city takes its name from the Georgian word for warm: “tbili.” There is a famous public bath house in Old Tbilisi, instantly recognizable by its stone domes. Alternatively, hidden behind an elaborate Persian facade, the 300-year-old bathhouse, Chreli Abano, is another popular option. Open between 9 am and 11 pm, visitors spend hours alternating between hot pools of sulfur-rich water. If you choose Cherli Abano, don't miss Leghvtakhevi Waterfall nearby. At night, the trail to reach it is illuminated, creating a magical route across bridges. What to Eat and Drink in Tbilisi Georgia has an affinity for wine, which the country has produced for a staggering 8,000 years. 📍 Tbilisi Given its centuries of international influences, Georgian cuisine is unsurprisingly lively. Expect a diverse array of ingredients, from foraged walnuts and herbs to grilled meats and khinkali (dumplings). Forget using coriander as a last-minute garnish, too; this herb is a recurring staple across Georgian cuisine. Tbilisi isn’t short of great restaurants. Located near Freedom Square, Badagoni is a trusted restaurant, serving traditional dishes like nadughi salad and shkmeruli, alongside an accompanying list of Georgian wines. WineCode is another good choice. Situated on the opposite bank of the Kura River, it has a fresh salad section and a generous wine list. Look out for: • Khachapuri: cheese-filled bread. • Mtsvadi: skewered meat grilled on traditional Georgian barbeques. • Khinkali: dumplings filled with meat or mushrooms. • Shkmeruli: garlic chicken in a rich, milk-based sauce. For wine lovers, Tbilisi is a learning curve. To really understand the significance of Georgian wine — and its staggering 8,000 years of production — the Tbilisi Wine Museum is a must. Learn about the process of winemaking, then embark on a tasting mission. Book one of the Tbilisi wine tours that take travelers on tasting trips across the city. Alternatively, plan a self-guided route, visiting favorites like Vino Underground and the infamous Karalashvili Wine Cellar. Save an evening for a speakeasy or two, too; deliciously nonchalant, Tbilisi has a creative assortment of hidden cellar bars with handcrafted cocktails. Got Extra Time? Georgia rewards slow travel . Where possible, stay longer and make the most of having Tbilisi Central Station on your doorstep. Four hours from Tbilisi by rail, Borjomi Central Park has beautiful mineral pools, while for political history, an hour on the Tbilisi-Poti train takes you to Gori. As the birthplace of Joseph Stalin, this city opens its Stalin Museum daily between 10 am and 6 pm. Other options include overnight tours to vineyards in the Kakheti region or a few days on Georgia’s coastline, which borders the Black Sea. For scenic sunbathing, head to Kobuleti, Kvariati, or Botanical Garden Beach. Takeaway As travelers descend on the Colosseum and Acropolis, Tbilisi welcomes visitors with quieter arms. As the capital of Georgia, Tbilisi makes for a cultured weekend, or equally, a convenient entry point to explore the rest of the country. Bring comfortable shoes, book a sulfur bath, and get ready to discover centuries-old cuisine and hospitality. ​ Share this Story: