Senior travel: Tbilisi
An easier pace for an older traveller: how many stops fit in a day, which places are step-free, and what the guide says about getting around, medicines and stairs.
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Pace for a day
About 3 stops a day. 5 h out − 45 min rest, divided by an average visit of 36 min (from this city’s guide) + 30 min to move.
Places, easiest access first
- Freedom SquareStep-free: yes · about 20 minFlat paved square with dropped kerbs at the main crossings (check); the metro stairs are steep.
- Rustaveli AvenueStep-free: yes · about 45 minFlat and wide pavements; kerb cuts at the main crossings (check); metro stations use stairs.
- Kashveti Church of St GeorgeStep-free: partial (check before you go) · about 20 minA few steps at the door.
- Sioni CathedralStep-free: partial (check before you go) · about 20 minLow steps at the entrance; no long flights.
- Holy Trinity Cathedral (Sameba)Step-free: partial (check before you go) · about 55 minFlat approach from the car park; ramps at some entrances (check).
- Abanotubani (sulphur bath district)Step-free: no (check before you go) · about 35 minA flight of steps at most bath entrances.
- Narikala FortressStep-free: no (check before you go) · about 60 minMany flights on the paths and inside the walls.
Getting around in Tbilisi
Tbilisi is hard going on wheels. Old-town slopes are steep, pavements are uneven and steps are everywhere; Rustaveli Avenue is the flat exception. Plan door-to-door car rides and choose a hotel with a lift.
- Pavements:
- Cars park on them; kerbs are high and broken in places. The flat parts of Rustaveli Avenue and Rike Park are the best.
- Metro:
- Escalators are long and steep; many stations have no lift (check each).
- Getting around:
- App cars are the step-free option; book an estate car for a folding wheelchair.
- Hotels:
- Old-town guesthouses often have steps or no lift; ask for a photo of the entrance.
- Toilets:
- Accessible toilets in malls and large hotels; rare elsewhere.
- Crossings:
- Few audible signals; ask someone to cross with you.
Stairs at the hotel areas
- Sololaki (old-town edge): 1 flights up, 0 down, 70 m walk from the stop
Medicines and health on the ground
The Georgia guide lists no medicine paperwork. Check the official customs page for your medicines.
- Heat:
- July–August: shade and AC every 60–90 minutes, water and a hat; the fortress climb is the risk.
- Food and water:
- Tap water is drinkable in most of the city, but stomach upsets happen: stick to busy restaurants and washed fruit.
- Rabies:
- Do not pet stray dogs or cats. After any bite or scratch, go the same day to a clinic for rabies vaccine.
- Ticks and insects:
- Ticks in long grass on hillside walks: check your skin after a hike.
- Vaccinations:
- Routine vaccines up to date; hepatitis A and typhoid are worth checking with a travel clinic.
More: how much medicine to pack, medicine times across time zones.
Ask your insurer
Age limits and prices differ by policy and the guides do not hold them, so put these to the insurer before you buy.
- What is the oldest age the policy covers, at purchase and on the last day of the trip?
- Does the price or the cover change after a certain age?
- Are existing conditions covered, and what must be declared?
- Does the cover include medical evacuation and trip interruption?
Not medical advice. This page does not know anyone’s health. Ask a doctor before the trip, and carry a list of medicines and conditions.