INSTAGRAMMABLE TBILISI, GEORGIA GUIDE
Sakartvelo on my mind...
I heard Georgia was beautiful, I heard it is a country one must visit and they were right! Tbilisi, well actually Tiflis, its capital, is a city where rustic old streets full of nostalgia and contemporary design mix seamlessly to create a very unique atmosphere of love and respect for the past and eagerness to embrace the bright future. Its warm weather and delicious wine might have something to do with its special vibe.
Here are 50 images to put Tbilisi on your mind and to inspire you to make it your next destination.
"RUSTIC CHIC" STREETS
The best way to experience the Tbilisi vibe is to take walks and get lost a little. And don't rush to get it all in, rather just let it soak in.
ST. TRINITY CHURCH
TSMINDA SAMEBA is a spectacular and very special place to visit. Its construction was delayed by 6 years due to civil unrest and so after its completion, it was proclaimed a symbol of spiritual and national revival of Georgia. You will get some fantastic views of Tbilisi from here as well.
REMARKABLE OLD DOORS
Doors are a subject of great creativity in Tbilisi. The variety of designs will amaze even the most experienced door hunters. These are just a few examples to give you an idea of what you can find in this fantastic city.
ORBELIANI BATHS
One of the most memorable architectural landmarks in Tbilisi, which is covered by colorful mosaics, will instantly make you feel like you have space traveled to Iran. It is located in the Abanotubani, an ancient neighborhood where many sulfur baths were built in the 17th century.
INSTAGRAM-WORTHY CAFES
Eating & drinking in Tbilisi is taken very seriously. If you haven't gained a kilo or two while visiting, you definitely did it wrong. Cafes in Tbilisi are not just for sipping coffee, but for eating delicious Georgian food and drinking lots of fantastic wine. Explore more local joints to find the most delicious khinkali and khachapuri, the Georgian table staples.
FUTURISTIC ARCHITECTURE
Well, it is not technically "futuristic" according to proper architectural styles, but it does give you that sneak peek feeling of what the future will probably look like. These structures were strategically designed to put Tbilisi on the global map.
STREET ART
MODERN ARCHITECTURE
I was really impressed by some of the modern architecture in Tbilisi. It often catches you by surprise when you are walking through quiet neighborhoods outside of the old city center. And it is definitely not shy and not trying to look like its ancestors, it is set on creating its own personality and to stand out.
RUSTAVELI AVENUE
Named after a medieval Georgian poet, Shota Rustavel, it became one of my favorite streets to take down a stroll. The avenue is full of grand architectural landmarks, little shops, street entertainers, thrift book tables and people going about their day. It is also a little less touristic when the old city center.
BOTANICAL GARDEN
A very relaxing place where you can take shots around the super groomed Japanese garden or get lost in the lush evergreen forest. There is also a waterfall, a swing, a bridge with picturesque views and a little bamboo forest.
FABRIKA, INDUSTRIAL URBAN HUB
A spot for hipster vibes and a bit of curated street art. This place definitely has the urban industrial style mixed with a bit of Instagrammable cafes to have a cup of coffee at or do your digital nomad toiling.
NIKO PIROSMANI
A Georgian "naive" painter who became widely acknowledged only many years after his death. Pirosmani loved depicting rural scenes and the lives of ordinary Georgian people. He was a go-to painter for owners of tavernas and restaurants, shopkeepers and merchants. He was a poor painter his whole life dedicated only to his craft and sometimes taking only food as payment. He became recognized in the 1950s after his work was shown in an exhibition in Paris. Even Pablo Picasso was greatly inspired by him.The first painting is of a French actress Margarita who came to Tiflis to play in a couple of performances. Pirosmani fell so in love after seeing her that the next day he bought all of the flowers in Tbilisi and brought them to her hotel. Thousands of flowers flooded the street by its entrance but unfortunately, there was no happy ending. This story inspired one of the most popular Russian songs: "Millions of Roses".
SAND-COLORED ARCHITECTURE
DAVID AGHMASHENEBELI AVENUE
ANCIENT CHURCHES
BIRD'S-EYE VIEWs
OLD INTERIORS
Although some of the incredible interiors you can stumble upon on your own, you need to make friends with a local or hire a professional guide to show you the best ones. Some are a bit secret, some are top secret and you can only get there if the residents invite you in.
Hope Tbilisi, Georgia is on your mind now :)
HELLO, I AM JULES! I’M HERE TO TAKE YOU ON A JOURNEY THROUGH MY ADVENTURES AS A SOLO TRAVELER AND TO INSPIRE YOU TO TAKE THAT TRIP YOU’VE BEEN DAYDREAMING ABOUT.
