Tbilisi Old Town

Tbilisi, the captivating capital of Georgia, is a city at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, its atmospheric old town a wonderfully jumbled mix of carved wooden balconies, crooked lanes, churches, mosques and synagogues, all climbing the slopes of a gorge on the Kura River beneath the ancient Narikala fortress. Famous for its domed sulphur bathhouses, its warm hospitality, its wine and its increasingly hip, creative scene of galleries and cafes, it is one of the most charismatic and welcoming cities in the region.

What you actually see

• The old town - the carved-balcony houses and crooked lanes.
• Narikala Fortress - the ancient hilltop fortress and its cable car.
• The sulphur baths - the domed Abanotubani bathhouses.
• The churches and viewpoints - the churches and the outlooks over the city.

When to go

Spring and autumn for the mildest weather; summer is hot and winter cool. The old town is best explored on foot, with a soak in the historic sulphur baths a memorable experience, and the creative scene lively year-round.

Honest expectations

Some of the old town's charmingly dilapidated houses are genuinely crumbling, and restoration is uneven, part of its raw appeal. It is a hilly city, so expect steep lanes and steps. It is very affordable and welcoming. Its atmospheric old town, sulphur baths, wine culture and warm hospitality, though, make it one of the most rewarding and characterful capitals in the region.

Nearby

Mtskheta, the Kakheti wine region and the Caucasus mountains are within reach.