A few years ago, I read so many articles about Tbilisi travel that highlighted how cheap traveling to Georgia is. In fact, that's also one of the reasons why Tbilisi has gained popularity as one of the best digital nomad hubs in the Caucasus.
This post covering Tbilisi travel guide was first published in 2019, thanks to Chris from Worthy Go who shared his insights about traveling around the capital city of under $10 USD.
I got a chance to visit Tbilisi after Kutaisi last year, and I have to say that the condition in Georgia is totally different nowadays – as the country is more or less directly affected by the Russia-Ukraine situation.
According to my personal experience traveling to Tbilisi in 2023, it's almost impossible to get around the city for less than $10 USD nowadays. However, there are some affordable activities you can do in Tbilisi if you want to explore the city without breaking the bank.
So, in this updated post I'm going to add some personal recommendations on top of the tips shared by Chris that can still be applied to budget travelers looking for cheap places to visit in Tbilisi.
As a budget traveler who's price-sensitive most of the time, I wouldn't say Tbilisi is cheap. I personally think if it wasn't for the much more expensive accommodation, it's worth considering to go all the way to an EU country since the living cost (at least for the groceries!), is pretty similar!
In fact, I was quite shocked when I first arrived in Tbilisi because almost everything that I heard about Georgia being a cheap destination to visit—some even say cheaper than Turkiye—is just not true.
However, you can always push your travel budget in Tbilisi by following some of these top-notch Tbilisi travel tips!
Planning a trip to Tbilisi, Georgia? Check out some of these recommended hotels to stay in Tbilisi!
Pick up a travel card at any metro or subway station.
Some supermarkets also sell Tbilisi travel cards, where you can get one for around 2 GEL (around $0.80 USD). However, in some cases the supermarkets don't have a top-up service so it's best to just get one at the metro station instead.
Top it up for around 10 GEL (around $3.71 USD) in addition to that, so it will be enough for at least 10 bus or subway rides.
Transfers are free if the next tap is less than 60 minutes from the initial, paid tap.
And if you need more rides, find any orange self-service display, hit the ‘English' button, and look for the ‘Transport Card Top-Up' in the upper left corner.
Alternatively, you'll likely see some payboxes throughout the city where people will stop to pay their bills or top up their transport card. Depending on your bank card, it is also possible to top up your Tbilisi travel card at these locations.
Unfortunately, I tried my Wise card to top up on one of these payboxes, and it wasn't acceptable so I assume these payboxes may not work for international bank cards.
Cheap Places to Visit in Tbilisi, Georgia
Street Art Tour of Tbilisi
Once you're mobile, I have to recommend going on a self-guided street art tour of Tbilisi — partially because it's completely free (just pay for the buses to get around), and partially because it's a colorful, fun scene.
With the exception of Fabrika, these are all functional pedestrian underpasses that keep walkers from jaywalking across traffic.
Street art tour of Tbilisi.
Best Spots for Street Art in Tbilisi
Underneath the Nikoloz Baratashvili Bridge, as a street address goes for Google Maps: 12 Nikoloz Baratashvili Bridge will get you pretty close. (GPS coordinates: 41.696982, 44.808264)
The Vake Park underpass, located just north of Vake Park, 41 Ilia Chavchavadze Ave. (GPS coordinates: 1.712075, 44.751651)
The Monument of Heroes has a number of underpasses amongst the large, multi-level roundabout. It's east of the Tbilisi Zoo. (GPS coordinates: 41.713201, 44.782480)
Fabrika, the hostel/bar/board game cafe/coworking space, is decorated almost all the way around. Located at 8 Egnate Ninoshvili St, Tbilisi. (GPS coordinates: 41.709510, 44.802853)
As a bonus, these are kind of scattered around town, so you'll need to meander around town to see them all.
Tbilisi Old Town
Tbilisi Old Town.
Tbilisi is home to the Mtkvari River, which splits the city into two with the Old Town Tbilisi on the southbank of the river.
Most of the tourist attractions in Tbilisi are located in this area, including some of the city's landmarks, like the Narikala Fortress and the Bridge of Peace.
While joining a tour will enable you to visit some of the most important landmarks around Tbilisi, exploring the Old Town of Tbilisi on your own is also pretty easy.
One of my favorite spots around Tbilisi Old Town is the Leghvtakhevi Waterall. It's so amazing how you can find a natural waterfall in the heart of the city, and even better because you can visit it for free.
Leghvtakhevi Waterall in Tbilisi Old Town, Georgia.
In addition to sightseeing around the Old Town area in Tbilisi, I also recommend trying the wine ice cream sold in one of the food stalls near the waterfall.
It costs 5 GEL (around $1.85 USD) for a cone of ice cream, and it was delicious – especially if you visit Tbilisi in the summer!
One thing to note, really a warning: the Old Town area is full of touts and begging children.
Watch your pockets, some children are also brave enough to try stealing if they can get your hands on something.
Mtatsminda Park
Your next stop is the Mtatsminda Park. If you've seen a ferris wheel high up on a hill overlooking Tbilisi, that's where you're headed.
Getting here is a little tricky — bus 90 and 124 terminate here — but the more scenic route is a century-old furnicular that was reopened.
Expect to pay for the ride (2 GEL for a stored-value card, 3 GEL per furnicular trip), but admission to the park is free.
Feel free to spend some of your last GEL on food, drinks, or rides while you're here. The rides require payment by plastic card, and there are places to add more credit if necessary.
Culinary Adventure in Tbilisi
When in Tbilisi.
If you love wine and good food, the exciting part about visiting Tbilisi is that you can get relatively cheap but delicious wine throughout the country, along with some tasty Georgian delicacies from khinkali to kachapuri!
If you're on a budget, search on Google Maps for your nearest Machakhela.
Machakhela is a great chain serving Georgian food that you can find across Tbilisi. It has had consistently good quality across the board. Figure about 15-20 GEL (around $5.5 to $7.5 USD) for most entrees and a drink.
If you want to splurge a little, I also recommend doing a day trip to Dashbashi Canyon and Diamond Bridge where you can end your excursion with a stop at the diamond-shaped cafe with a gorgeous view of the canyon while indulging in the best food from the menu!
FAQs
Is Tbilisi cheap to visit?
While Tbilisi isn't crazy expensive to travel to, do not believe anyone who says that Tbilisi or Georgia in general is super cheap to visit – because most of the content saying that is likely based on their experience of visiting Tbilisi years ago.
Tbilisi has some affordable activities, especially if you use public transportation to explore the city. However, I personally think Tbilisi is not that cheap – even if compared with other countries in Europe.
While housing is relatively more affordable, groceries and living expenses in general are quite expensive. I compare it to when I visited Serbia, and I find daily expenses for food – even when I cook on my own – are slightly higher than when I was in Serbia.
The good news? You can visit a lot of tourist attractions in Tbilisi for free, making it a great place to go for budget travelers.
Is Euro or USD widely accepted in Tbilisi?
While the main currency in Georgia is the Georgian lari, a lot of real estate agents accept foreign currencies like the Euro or USD for apartment rentals.
Some big supermarkets in Tbilisi also allow transactions in foreign currencies, but I wouldn't recommend it since the exchange can be quite steep.
Some ATMs in Tbilisi are also available for USD and Euro withdrawals.
Do you need a visa to visit Tbilisi, Georgia?
The answer may vary depending on your nationality and residency.
Citizens from many developed countries can visit Georgia without a visa. Some are also allowed entry with a visa on arrival.
However, I'm an Indonesian citizen with no residency elsewhere, so I had to apply for an e-visa to Georgia through the government website here.
Although the process is simple and straightforward, you will need a legitimate passport photo—not one from your mobile phone!
The cost of a 30-day e-visa to Georgia is $20 USD. Once approved, be sure to print it out, as immigration will need the hard copy of your visa upon your arrival at the Georgia border!
Conclusion
Old Town Tbilisi, Georgia.
Although I don't think Geogia's capital city is a cheap destination to travel to, there are so many affordable things to do in Tbilisi that make it worth traveling to – even for budget travelers.
Whether you want to wander around the Old Town Tbilisi to visit the iconic Narikala Fortress or just relax and see the Leghvtakhevi Waterfall, there are a lot of things you can do in Tbilisi for free!
If you're a foodie looking for culinary adventure, Tbilisi also has a lot of cafes and restaurants that offer relatively affordable food and beverages.
Georgia in particular is best known for its wine, and you can get a glass of good wine in Tbilisi for cheap too!
Guest Author
Chris from Worthy Go originally wrote this post in 2019, but I modified it based on my personal experiences traveling to Georgia in recent years. Chris Backe (rhymes with hockey) has been a travel blogger since 2008 and written dozens of guidebooks/itineraries. Both are focused on the value traveler seeking worthy places, instead of the hyped-up. When not writing or traveling, Chris also makes tabletop games and loves a draft beer.
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