District · Tbilisi
Old Tbilisi (Abanotubani, Sioni)ძველი თბილისი
Cobbled, steep, touristy after 17:00; the baths are the reason to come.Cobbled, steep, touristy after 5:00 PM; the baths are the reason to come.
Key facts
- Suits
- Sulphur baths, cafés and balconies
- Sights here
- 3
What it's like
- Feels:
- Steep cobbled lanes, brick-domed baths, church bells and carved wooden balconies
- Suits:
- Sulphur baths, cafés and balconies
- Best time:
- 08:00–11:00 and after 17:008:00 AM–11:00 AM and after 5:00 PM
- Watch out for:
- The fortress steps at midday in summer.
- In short:
- Cobbled, steep, touristy after 17:00; the baths are the reason to come.Cobbled, steep, touristy after 5:00 PM; the baths are the reason to come.
About these names
A first visit fits in a strip about 4 km long on both banks of the Mtkvari: the old town and Narikala at the south-west end, Sololaki and Freedom Square in the middle, Rustaveli Avenue running north-west, and the cathedral hill of Avlabari across the river.
Where exactly
This district is highlighted. Shapes follow this guide's walking areas and places, not official boundaries.
Old Tbilisi (Abanotubani, Sioni)ძველი თბილისი
seeeat
Cobbled, steep, touristy after 17:00; the baths are the reason to come.Cobbled, steep, touristy after 5:00 PM; the baths are the reason to come.
Suits: Sulphur baths, cafés and balconies
On the map: Sioni Cathedral, Abanotubani (sulphur bath district), Narikala Fortress
District guideWalk: Old Tbilisi (Abanotubani, Sioni & Narikala)In the districts table
Off the map: Tbilisi International Airport (TBS) (30–55 min by the usual route).
Not drawn yet (no coordinates in this guide): Vera and Mtatsminda, Vake and Saburtalo, Marjanishvili and Chugureti, Didube and Ortachala. See the table above.
Where’s what, as a list:
- Old Tbilisi (Abanotubani, Sioni) (ძველი თბილისი): Cobbled, steep, touristy after 17:00; the baths are the reason to come.Cobbled, steep, touristy after 5:00 PM; the baths are the reason to come. Suits: Sulphur baths, cafés and balconies.
- Sololaki and Freedom Square (სოლოლაკი): Faded mansions under the fortress ridge; a good base with steps and slopes. Suits: First visit, 2–4 nights, wine bars. Price band $$.
- Rustaveli Avenue (რუსთაველი): Wide tree-lined boulevard; the flat part of town; demonstrations sometimes gather at Parliament. Suits: Museums, theatres, flat walking. Price band $$$.
- Avlabari and Sameba (ავლაბარი): Right bank; the big cathedral and a residential district. Not a base. Suits: One morning at the cathedral.
- Vera and Mtatsminda (ვერა): Leafy streets west of Rustaveli; the Mtatsminda funicular starts here. Suits: Cafés, quieter beds, the funicular.
- Vake and Saburtalo: Newer residential areas with parks, gyms and cafés; 15–25 min by car to the old town. Suits: Longer stays, families.
- Marjanishvili and Chugureti: Just across the river from Rustaveli; simpler, cheaper food and less English. Suits: Local cafés, second visit.
- Didube and Ortachala: Bus stations for Kazbegi and other towns; not for sleeping. Suits: Bus departures.
- Sleep area Rustaveli (central, flat): suits Museums, theatres, flat walking, price band $$$.
- Sleep area Sololaki (old-town edge): suits First visit, 2–4 nights, wine bars, price band $$.
- Tbilisi International Airport (TBS), 30–55 min by the usual route.
Stay here?
Not a base in this guide
See
Opening hours and prices from each place page; (check) means typical hours, not yet verified.
A ten- to twenty-minute stop on the way down from Narikala: a small, dark, working church with frescoes; cover up and be quiet during services.
- Hours:
- Open through the day for prayer; the closing hour and service times vary.(check)
- Entry:
- Free
- Narikala FortressBook a time
Go early or at dusk: a steep 20-minute climb (or the cable car from Rike Park), 45 minutes on the ramparts, with the city at your feet.
- Hours:
- Open-air; the cable car keeps its own schedule.(check)
- Entry:
- Free
- Abanotubani (sulphur bath district)Book a time
Walk the lane at 09:30, then book a private bath room for the evening: brick domes, a sulphur smell and rooms by the hour.
- Hours:
- Bath houses run about 10:00–22:00; confirm the house you book.Bath houses run about 10:00 AM–10:00 PM; confirm the house you book.(check)
Getting there and around
Where to get off
- Walk down from Sioni or Narikala, or a taxi to the bath square · for Abanotubani (sulphur bath district)
- Walk up from Abanotubani, or take the cable car from Rike Park · for Narikala Fortress
Walks inside the district
- Narikala Fortress → Sioni Cathedral: 12–16 min on foot (Walk down the steps)
- Sioni Cathedral → Abanotubani (bath district): 6–8 min on foot (Walk down to the baths)
On to the next area
- Walk west uphill: about 12 min to Sololaki & Freedom Square
- Car across the river: about 12 min to Avlabari & Sameba Cathedral
From other sleep areas
- From Sololaki (old-town edge): 12–18 min walk to Old Tbilisi (Abanotubani, Sioni & Narikala)
Minutes are this guide’s typical walking and ride times (p50–p90); traffic and heat stretch them.
Walking loop
A loop that starts and ends at the same place, through this district's sights and eats. Pick a length; download it for Organic Maps, OsmAnd or Google Earth.
About 76 min in all: 21 min on foot, the rest at the stops. 3 stops, back to where you started.
- Sioni CathedralStart here · stop about 10 min
- Abanotubani (sulphur bath district)6 min walk · stop about 15 min
- Narikala Fortress3 min walk (estimate) · stop about 30 min
- Back to Sioni Cathedral: 12 min walk
Walking minutes come from this guide’s route graph where it has one; “estimate” means straight-line distance plus a quarter for street detours at an easy pace. Opening hours are not checked: look at “Open now” below before you set off.
Half-day walk
In the day plans: Day 1 — Narikala at opening, Sioni, a 13:00 lunch table (Tbilisi in 3 days)
Photo and sunset spots
Narikala terrace over the old town
Light: 07:30–09:00 or sunset
Roofs, domes and the river in one frame; stand back from the edge.
Bath district domes from the bridge
Light: Morning
Brick domes and the stream; do not photograph bathers.
Safety at night and noise
Old Tbilisi and Abanotubaniday: oknight: ok
Steep cobbles in the dark; restaurant bills with unlisted extras.
Nearby districts
Built from this guide’s Tbilisi districts table, place, eat and sleep pages, route graph and city notes. Hours, prices and rules change: anything marked (check) is typical, not verified. checked: 2026-09.