7 Best Tours in Tbilisi (2025): Walking, Food & Hidden Streets

Tbilisi has no shortage of city tours — history walks, food tastings, wine routes, night views — but only a few help you really understand the city instead of rushing you between photo stops. This guide breaks down the best small-group and private options that slow down where it matters and give you a feel for daily life in the old neighbourhoods.

I’ve joined enough tours while travelling to know the difference between one that just shows you places and one that makes the city click. The couple I tried in Tbilisi reminded me how much the right guide adds — local context, stories, and the kind of details you don’t get from signs or guidebooks.

The picks below focus on high-rated, small-group experiences with flexible free-cancellation policies. They’re ideal whether you want a morning orientation walk, a food-and-wine deep dive, or an easy evening route with skyline views.

Why These Tbilisi Tours Are Worth Booking

You can walk around Old Tbilisi on your own and still enjoy it — the mismatched balconies, hidden courtyards, little traces of Persian and Russian influence all sitting on the same street. It’s a great city to just wander.

But I realised pretty quickly that a good guide makes a difference. They point out things you’d walk past, explain why certain streets look the way they do, and fill in the parts you can’t Google.

There are a ton of tours in Tbilisi, but honestly, most of them feel the same and rush you from one photo stop to the next. The ones worth booking are the smaller ones, with a unique angle that I’ve detailed below— slower pace, proper stories, and guides who actually know the neighbourhoods.

My first tour booking in Tbilisi didn’t go to plan. A delayed budget flight meant we missed the start, and by the time we arrived, the group was long gone. It turned out to be a blessing — I spent that evening researching other tours and ended up finding the ones that made the trip what I’d hoped for.

Planning your stay? Start with my Tbilisi Travel Guide (where to stay, what to do) →

Old Tbilisi Walking Tours Worth Booking

These are the classic orientation walks — small-group or private tours that cover Old Tbilisi’s main streets, cable-car viewpoints, and riverfront lanes. They’re the best starting point if it’s your first morning in the city.

1. Old Tbilisi Highlights Walking Tour

Rating 4.9 · Duration: ~3 h · Group: ≤12 · Includes: Cable Car + Bridge of Peace

This is probably the cleanest, most complete overview for your first morning in the city.

Quick Takes

• Guide style: licensed, story-driven, good pacing between stops
  
• Inclusions: cable car ride up to Narikala + time on the Bridge of Peace
  
• When to book: 09:30–10:00 slots for softer light and fewer crowds
  
• One catch: sulphur baths area is busy by noon → workaround: choose the first departure

check availability — free cancellation

DIY alternative self guided tour

Prefer self-guided walk? Try this route – Start at Abanotubani → Metekhi Church lookout → Bridge of Peace → Shardeni Street → Narikala cable car → Betlemi Rise → Tbilisi Cable Car Guide (tickets, timing, best photo angles)

I did this route later on myself, to get some additional photos, and the best part was getting to cover these spots at an off peak time, without the tourist crowds.

Food & Wine Tours — Markets and Supra Culture

These tours mix Tbilisi’s food culture with short walks through its oldest markets and wine cellars. Expect small groups, plenty of tastings, and guides who explain the stories behind dishes like khinkali, churchkhela and shotis puri. They’re ideal if you want to understand the city through what people eat and drink.

2. Tbilisi Food & Wine Walking Tour

Rating 4.8 · Duration: ~4 h · Group: ≤10 · Inclusions: multiple tastings + wine flight

A relaxed way to actually taste the food you’ve been reading about — khinkali, churchkhela, and all the local staples.

Quick Takes

• Signature moment: tasting amber wine while a baker flips hot shotis puri from a tone oven
  
• Route hook: efficient loop through Dezerter Bazaar + old lanes to Sololaki
  
• Best for you if you want food history tied to neighbourhood stories
  
• One catch: market corridors can bottleneck → workaround: choose weekday morning.

check availability — free cancellation

3. Georgian Cooking Class with a Local Family

Rating: 4.9 ★ · Duration: ~3 h · Group: small (≤8) · Includes: market visit + hands-on khachapuri and khinkali making + wine and meal

A warm, home-based cooking experience where you join a local family in their kitchen, learn the basics of Georgian comfort food, and share a glass of wine together. It’s friendly, personal, and a step up from the quick demo classes you see in tourist areas.

Quick Takes

• You actually roll the dough and shape the khinkali yourself — it’s properly hands-on, not a demo.
• The class is in a real home about ten minutes from Freedom Square, easy to get to and genuinely personal.
• Great if you prefer small, relaxed settings where you can ask questions and actually learn a few tricks to use back home.
• Spots are limited and weekends go fast, so aim for a weekday if you can.

check availability — free cancellation

By the end, you’ll have a proper feel for the basics — khinkali, khachapuri, and the way Georgians build a meal around them. If you’re curious what else to look for once you’re eating out, [these 11 Georgian dishes are a good place to start →11 Georgian Foods You Must Try (what to order after your tour)

The first time I tried Qvevri wine (traditional Georgina wine), I wasn’t prepared for how full-bodied and dark it really is. Because it’s made in clay vessels using traditional Georgian methods, the wine develops a much deeper colour and earthier flavour than most reds I’m used to.

I didn’t realise just how pigmented it was until I managed to mid swirl, spill a splash on my jeans. Let’s just say the stain is still there — and no amount of stain remover has helped so far!

Hidden Gems & Offbeat Walking Tours in Tbilisi

Walk a few minutes away from Liberty Square and Tbilisi instantly changes pace. Courtyards open behind old gates, balconies lean with grapevines, and street art hides in stairwells you’d normally walk past. It’s the quieter, more characterful side of the city — the part that shows how people actually live.

These offbeat tours explore that side — smaller groups, slower routes, and guides who know the stories behind the details most people miss.

4. Soviet-to-Modern Tbilisi Architecture Walk

Rating 4.7 · Duration: ~2.5 h · Group: ≤12

One-sentence verdict: A clear, photo-friendly primer on how Tbilisi’s look was layered by empire, socialism, and independence.

Quick Takes

• Signature moment: 1930s mosaic lobby hidden behind plain doors
  
• Route hook: Rustaveli → Dry Bridge flea hints → Sololaki courtyards
  
• Best for you if you enjoy design talk and slower street photography
  
• One catch: uneven steps and narrow stairwells → workaround: private version has more time for pauses
  

check availability — free cancellation

5. Bohemian Sololaki & Street Art Tour

Rating 4.9 · Duration: ~3 h · Group: ≤8 ·

In a nutshell – its an easy walk with someone who actually knows the neighbourhood — good stories and history lesson and small details you’d miss on your own.

Quick Takes

• You’ll duck into a few old courtyards to see murals most people miss completely.
• Expect a slow, steady pace — there’s time to stop for photos or a quick coffee halfway through.
• Best if you like seeing how old balconies, street art, and everyday life all blend together.
• The lanes are steep in parts, so wear shoes with grip and go for the downhill route if it’s offered.

These routes trace a creative arc: 1920s avant-garde façades in central streets, then a post-Soviet street-art revival in tucked-away alleys — two eras talking to each other.

check availability — free cancellation

Small-Group vs Private — When to Choose Which?

• Small-group: cheaper, easier to book, good for general context
  
• Private: slower pace, more photo stops, easier to adapt for steps/heat
  

If you’re trying to decide which side of the city to base yourself on — the old town’s atmosphere or the newer areas with more space and cafés — I broke down both in Old vs New Tbilisi: Where Should You Stay? → It’ll help you compare neighbourhoods before you book.

Tbilisi After Dark — Rooftops, Wine & Night Walks

When the sun drops, Narikala glows and the river turns into a ribbon of light. Evening tours here are less “bar crawl,” more slow city scenes — rooftops, wine, and warm conversation.

Definition (snippet hook): What is a Tbilisi night tour? A 2–3 hour guided walk at golden hour or after dark, often including rooftop viewpoints or wine bars, with return guidance via Bolt/metro.

6. Tbilisi: Evening Walking Tour with Wine & Boat Ride

Rating: 5.0★ · Duration: ~3 h · Group: ≤10 · Includes: walking route through Old Town + wine-tasting option + riverside skyline views

In a nutshell — a relaxed evening stroll where you catch the city as it turns golden, stop somewhere decent for a glass of wine, and get a real feel for Tbilisi after dark.

Quick Takes

• You’ll pause at one of the overlooks above Old Town for one of the best city-sunset photo ops you’ll get.
• The pace is easy — the point isn’t to race through landmarks but to take your time, sip something local, and soak it in.
• If you prefer quiet conversation to party crowds, this is for you.
• Note: the metro stops running after midnight, altneratively, consider a Bolt

check availability — free cancellation

DIY Evening Rooftop & View Walk (Free / Self-Guided)

Time: ~2–3 hours · Best time: around sunset (from 18:30 onwards)

If you don’t feel like joining a tour or being herded from spot to spot, this is the easiest way to still get the night views, a drink, and a feel for Tbilisi after dark — without booking anything. It was a gerat chance to try out some of the local spots our tours guide had recommended on the tour.

Suggested Route

• Start – Liberty Square, wander into Sololaki’s narrow streets
• Stop 1 – Betlemi Rise viewpoint, a short uphill walk with a free view over the Old Town and Narikala Fortress
• Stop 2 – Stamba rooftop or Lolita courtyard, if you want a drink somewhere relaxed (Rustaveli area, not loud)
• Stop 3 – Mtatsminda viewpoint, take the funicular, sit at the café or bar and watch the TV Tower and city switch their lights on

Day Trips from Tbilisi Worth Your Time

If you’ve got another day to spare, there are a few easy day trips just outside the city — close enough to skip the long drives but different enough to feel like a change of scene.

• Mtskheta: UNESCO churches and river confluence views; 30–40 minutes from Tbilisi; ideal for a short guided extension.
  
• Uplistsikhe: an ancient cave town paired with Gori museum stops; longer but unique landscapes. See top day trips from Tbilisi
  
• Kakheti: a full day of vineyards and monasteries east of the city; best if wine culture is your priority. Kakheti Day Trip from Tbilisi (wine + monasteries) →

How to Choose the Tbilsi Tour For You

Length vs energy
If you’re fresh off a flight, do a 2–3 hour city walk first. Save full-day trips for the second day.

Light & heat
Mornings around 9–10 a.m. have the best light — and cool enough to walk comfortably. Evenings after 6 p.m. are breezier, with warm colours settling over the hills.

Group size caps
Aim for ≤12. If you want deeper conversation or many photo stops, choose ≤6 or private.

Free-cancellation window
Most operators allow 24–48 hours. Use it to keep your schedule flexible.

Accessibility
Cobbles and steps appear on most routes. If you need slower pacing or step-free sections, go private and message the operator in advance.

Safety
Choose licensed guides with visible ID. Ask for WhatsApp support for the meeting point and return.

Weather
Tours run year-round. In summer heat, mornings win. In winter, routes may shorten; bring layers and grippy shoes.

[INSERT OPINION/ VIEW/ STORY/ THOUGHT ON scheduling mistake HERE — START WITH: “I once booked back-to-back tours — mistake…”]

You can cancel or reschedule for free if plans change.

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FAQs on Tours in Tbilisi

Best Tour in Tbilisi if You Only Do One

If I had to book just one tour tonight, I’d choose the Old Town Highlights Walk — it’s the one that made the street plan click and set up the rest of my week. As a foodie, my second recommenation would definitely be the Tbilsi Food and Culture Walking tour for the best insight into all the amazing local Georgian dishes worth trying!

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Related Reads

• [Kakheti Day Trip from Tbilisi →][link] — Want to extend your trip beyond the city?
  
• 11 Best Georgian Foods → Pair your tour with a food adventure.
  
• 7 Best Rooftop Hotels in Tbilisi → Stay with skyline views of Tbilsi
  
• Should you stay in Old vs New Tbilisi → Compare the vibe on both sides of town.