Planning a trip to the Georgian capital? These things to know before visiting Tbilisi cover the practical details that often surprise first-time visitors, from restaurant bills and local transport to steep streets, sulfur baths, airport taxis and Georgian etiquette.
Tbilisi is welcoming, relatively easy to navigate and full of great food, historic neighborhoods and viewpoints — but knowing a few local details before you arrive can make the trip much easier.
Some of these tips are specific to Tbilisi, while others — including insurance, medication rules and cultural etiquette — apply throughout Georgia.
Last updated: September 2026
Jump to:
Money & Payments
Safety & Health
Tourist Traps
Food & Culture
Where to Stay & Sulfur Baths
Transport & Airport
Money & Payments in Tbilisi
1. Cards Are Widely Accepted – But Keep Some Cash
Direct Answer: Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay and Google Pay are widely accepted in Tbilisi, especially in supermarkets, restaurants, cafés, hotels and larger shops. However, it is still useful to carry a small amount of Georgian Lari (GEL) for markets, small bakeries, public toilets and other cash-only situations.
Local Tip: Keep a few 1, 2, 5 and 10 GEL notes or coins with you. Small market stalls and independent vendors may not have change for 50 or 100 GEL notes.
One more money-saving tip: If an ATM or payment terminal offers to convert the transaction into your home currency, it is usually better to decline that conversion and choose to pay or withdraw in GEL. Your own bank will then handle the currency conversion.
2. Restaurant Prices, Service Charges & Tipping
Direct Answer: Under Georgian consumer-protection rules, restaurant and bar menus should show the final price of food and drinks, including VAT and any mandatory service charge.
A restaurant should not simply advertise one price and then add an unavoidable service percentage that was not included in the displayed final price. Georgia’s Competition and Consumer Agency has specifically taken action against this practice.
Local Tip: Check the menu and your bill, especially in busy tourist areas. An additional tip is optional. If the service was especially good, you can leave something extra, but there is no obligation to add another fixed percentage.
Official reference: Georgian Competition and Consumer Agency price guidelines.
3. Currency Exchange: Compare the Rate, Not Just the Sign
Direct Answer: Tbilisi has many currency-exchange offices, particularly around central neighborhoods and major metro stations. Before exchanging money, compare the buying rate and check whether any commission applies.
A large “No Commission” sign does not automatically mean the exchange rate itself is good.
Local Tip: Some exchange offices may reject foreign banknotes that are torn, heavily marked or damaged, so bring USD, EUR or GBP notes in reasonably good condition.
Things to Know Before Visiting Tbilisi: Safety, Health & Important Rules
4. Don’t Be Alarmed by Tbilisi’s Street Dogs
Direct Answer: Tbilisi has a very visible street-dog population. Many of these dogs are accustomed to people, are fed by neighborhood residents and spend their days sleeping around parks, squares and residential streets.
Dogs with colored ear tags have generally passed through an animal-management program. Still, an ear tag should not be treated as a guarantee that every animal will behave the same way.
Local Tip: Do not startle sleeping dogs, approach unfamiliar puppies surrounded by adult dogs or encourage a group of dogs to follow you with food. Most street dogs simply ignore pedestrians or walk alongside them for a while.
5. Can You Drink Tap Water in Tbilisi?
Direct Answer: Yes. Municipal tap water in Tbilisi is generally safe to drink, and many locals drink it every day.
You will also see public drinking fountains in parks and around the city. In very old buildings, however, the condition of internal plumbing can vary. If water looks, smells or tastes unusual, ask your host or accommodation provider.
Local Tip: Carrying a refillable bottle is useful, especially in summer when daytime temperatures can become very high.
6. Check Your Medication Before Flying to Georgia
Direct Answer: Georgia has strict rules governing the import of narcotic, psychotropic and other specially controlled pharmaceutical substances. A medicine that is commonly prescribed or sold in another country may contain an active ingredient subject to additional restrictions in Georgia.
Do not rely only on the medicine’s brand name. Check the active ingredient before traveling.
Medication subject to special control may require medical documentation showing why you need it and the dosage required for the duration of your trip. Carry important medication in its original packaging together with the relevant prescription or medical documents.
Before traveling: Check the current official requirements rather than relying on travel forums or old blog posts.
Official reference: Revenue Service of Georgia — Prohibited and Permitted Medicines.
7. Tbilisi Is Generally Safe – Traffic Deserves More Attention
Direct Answer: Tbilisi is generally a safe destination for visitors, including solo travelers. Normal city precautions still apply, particularly late at night or in quiet, poorly lit areas.
For many visitors, road traffic is a more noticeable everyday risk than street crime. Do not assume a driver will stop simply because you are standing at a pedestrian crossing, and take extra care when crossing wide roads or streets with limited visibility.
Uneven pavements, missing sidewalks and steep staircases are also common in older parts of the city.
Emergency number: Dial 112 anywhere in Georgia for police, ambulance or fire/rescue services. The service is free, including from a mobile phone without a SIM card.
Official reference: Georgia’s 112 Emergency Response Center.
8. Travel Insurance Is Mandatory in Georgia
Direct Answer: Since January 1, 2026, tourists entering Georgia are required to have valid health and accident insurance covering their stay.
The policy must provide at least 30,000 GEL of coverage and may be presented electronically or on paper, in Georgian or English. Georgian border authorities are authorized to check whether a visitor holds the required policy.
For the requirements, coverage details and available options, read our Travel Insurance for Georgia guide.
Official legal reference: Legislative Herald of Georgia.
Tourist Traps & Situations Worth Knowing About
9. Be Careful With the Classic Overpriced Bar Scam
Direct Answer: This is not representative of Tbilisi nightlife as a whole, but a small number of tourist-oriented venues have been associated with extreme bill-padding complaints.
How it can work: A friendly stranger, promoter or someone met through a dating app suggests a specific bar or lounge. Drinks are ordered without clearly checking prices, and the final bill may be dramatically higher than expected.
Local Tip: At an unfamiliar nightlife venue, check the menu and drink prices before ordering. If someone you have just met is unusually insistent on visiting one particular bar, choose another place yourself.
10. Understand What a “Free Wine Tasting” Actually Is
Direct Answer: Georgia has one of the world’s oldest documented winemaking traditions, and tasting Georgian wine is absolutely worth doing. But a free tasting in a tourist souvenir shop is usually a sales tasting, not the same experience as visiting a serious wine bar, winery or structured tasting.
That does not automatically mean the wine is bad. Simply ask what you are drinking: the producer, grape variety, region and whether the wine was made using traditional Qvevri methods.
Local Tip: For a more educational experience, choose an independent wine bar or a tasting where someone can explain Georgian grapes, regions and amber wine rather than simply pouring several anonymous samples.
11. Unsolicited Animal or Costume Photos Are Rarely Free
Direct Answer: Around some of Tbilisi’s busiest tourist areas, you may occasionally encounter people offering photos with birds, animals or costumed characters.
An animal may be placed on your shoulder or a photo encouraged before a price is clearly discussed, followed by a demand for payment.
If you are not interested, simply continue walking and say “Ara, madloba” — Georgian for “No, thank you.”
Food, Culture & Local Etiquette
12. The Traditional Way to Eat Khinkali Is With Your Hands
Direct Answer: Khinkali are designed to hold hot broth inside, which is why cutting them open with a knife and fork usually sends the juice straight onto the plate.
- Add black pepper if you like.
- Hold the khinkali by its thick dough stem, called the kudi.
- Take a small bite from the side.
- Carefully drink the broth before eating the rest.
- The thick stem itself is usually left on the plate.
You do not have to follow the ritual perfectly, of course, but eating khinkali this way is both easier and closer to how locals normally enjoy them.
Another useful restaurant tip: Georgian meals are often designed for sharing. If two people each order khachapuri, khinkali, a salad and a separate main course, the amount of food can become enormous very quickly. Start with a few shared dishes — you can always order more.
13. Vegetarian Food Is Easy to Find – Nut Allergies Need More Care
Direct Answer: Georgian cuisine is surprisingly vegetarian-friendly. Centuries of Orthodox fasting traditions have created many naturally meat-free dishes.
Good options include:
- Lobio — seasoned beans, often served in a clay pot
- Nigvziani Badrijani — eggplant with walnut and garlic filling
- Pkhali — vegetables mixed with walnuts, herbs and spices
- Ajapsandali — Georgian vegetable stew
- Lobiani — bread filled with seasoned beans
Important for travelers with allergies: Walnuts are extremely common in Georgian cooking and may appear in sauces, vegetable dishes and fillings where foreign visitors do not expect them. Anyone with a serious nut allergy should explain this clearly before ordering and remember that cross-contact is possible in restaurant kitchens. Find complete guide about Food Allergies in Georgia: A Dietary Restrictions
14. Church Dress Codes Vary – Dress Respectfully
Direct Answer: Modest clothing is expected when entering Georgian Orthodox churches, but exact requirements vary from one church to another.
- Women: Some churches ask visitors to cover their hair and legs. Scarves or wrap skirts are often available near the entrance.
- Men: Remove hats and avoid very short shorts.
- Photography: Avoid flash and always respect signs or requests restricting photography.
If a religious service is taking place, avoid walking directly between worshippers and the altar simply to take a photograph.
15. Start With Georgian or English — Don’t Automatically Assume Russian
Direct Answer: A simple Gamarjoba (Hello) or Madloba (Thank you) is always appreciated. English is widely used in hotels, restaurants, cafés and tourism businesses, particularly among younger residents.
Many Georgians also speak Russian, but Russian can be a sensitive language for historical and political reasons. It is better not to assume that someone wants to speak it. If English does not work and Russian is the only other language you share, simply ask first.
For useful phrases and easy ways to communicate when English is not enough, see our Georgian Language for Travelers guide.
16. At a Georgian Supra, Follow the Tamada – But You Don’t Have to Overdrink
Direct Answer: A traditional Georgian feast, or supra, is structured around toasts led by a toastmaster called the Tamada.
At a formal supra, guests normally listen to the Tamada and then add their own thoughts to the toast if they wish. You do not need to empty your glass after every toast, and you should never feel obliged to drink more alcohol than you want.
Local Tip: The meaning of the toast matters more than how much you drink. Pacing yourself during a long Georgian dinner is completely reasonable.
Where to Stay, Sulfur Baths & Tbilisi’s Difficult Terrain
17. Choose Your Neighborhood Based on Its Downsides Too
Direct Answer: Tbilisi neighborhoods can feel very different from each other. Staying in the historic center is convenient for sightseeing, but it is not automatically the best choice for every traveler.
| Neighborhood | Best For | Good to Know |
|---|---|---|
| Old Tbilisi / Abanotubani | First-time visitors and sightseeing | Very atmospheric and close to landmarks, but some streets are steep, touristy and noisy. |
| Sololaki | Architecture, restaurants and central location | Beautiful historic buildings and courtyards, but expect hills and some aging infrastructure. |
| Vera | Cafés, restaurants and nightlife | Central and lively without feeling as tourist-focused as the Old Town. |
| Vake | Longer stays, families and quieter surroundings | Leafy and comfortable, but farther from the main Old Tbilisi sights. |
| Chugureti / Marjanishvili | Creative spaces, restaurants and alternative atmosphere | A good left-bank base with easy metro access and places such as the Fabrika area nearby. |
18. Book Sulfur Baths Ahead at Popular Times
Direct Answer: The natural sulfur baths of Abanotubani are one of Tbilisi’s signature experiences. Private rooms vary enormously in size and comfort and currently range roughly from 80 to 600 GEL, depending on the bathhouse, room and facilities.
Walk-ins are often possible, but advance booking is recommended for popular evenings, weekends and busy travel periods.
The traditional extra: You can book a bath attendant, known as a mekise, for the traditional exfoliating kisa scrub. A basic traditional scrub commonly costs around 10–20 GEL, although prices vary and additional spa treatments can cost considerably more.
Local Tip: Remove silver jewelry before entering sulfur water, as sulfur can discolor or tarnish silver.
Current price reference: Georgia Travel — Tbilisi Sulfur Baths.
19. Google Maps Doesn’t Show You How Hard a Tbilisi Walk Can Be
Direct Answer: A short distance on the map does not always mean an easy walk in Tbilisi. Historic neighborhoods such as Sololaki, Betlemi and parts of Old Tbilisi contain steep slopes, long staircases, uneven paving and streets with limited sidewalks.
A route that looks like a simple 600-meter walk can feel very different when part of it goes sharply uphill.
This is especially important for travelers with limited mobility, wheelchairs, strollers, heavy luggage or anyone visiting during very hot weather.
Local Tip: Good walking shoes matter more in Tbilisi than the distance on your itinerary suggests. For a steep uphill section, a short app-based taxi ride can sometimes save a surprising amount of effort.
Another thing Google Maps doesn’t always explain: In older neighborhoods, the correct entrance to an apartment, guesthouse or hotel may be inside a courtyard or accessible from another side of the building. Save the exact map pin your host sends you rather than relying only on a written street address.
Transport, Airport & Staying Connected
20. Don’t Negotiate With the First Taxi Driver You Meet at Tbilisi Airport
Direct Answer: One of the easiest ways to avoid confusion after landing is to install a taxi app before your flight. App-based services such as Bolt and Yandex Go show the price before you confirm the journey, so there is no need to negotiate a fare with a driver.
If you prefer public transport, municipal bus №337 connects Tbilisi International Airport with the city. The standard municipal fare is currently 1 GEL and includes unlimited transfers on Tbilisi municipal public transport for 90 minutes under the integrated fare system.
Local Tip: Airport transport timetables and city routes can change, so check the current schedule if you arrive very early in the morning or late at night.
Official airport information: Tbilisi International Airport — Bus №337.
For taxis, prices and the differences between the main apps, see our Best Taxi Apps in Georgia guide.
Useful Guides After You Know the Basics
Once you know the main things to know before visiting Tbilisi, these detailed guides can help you plan transport, connectivity, insurance and travel beyond the capital.
- Metro, buses and fares: Complete Tbilisi Public Transport Guide
- Taxi apps: Best Taxi Apps in Georgia
- SIM cards and eSIMs: Georgia SIM Card & eSIM Guide
- Mandatory insurance: Travel Insurance for Georgia
- Useful Georgian phrases: Georgian Language for Travelers
- Travel beyond Tbilisi: Georgia Without a Car
Quick FAQs About Visiting Tbilisi
These quick answers cover a few more practical things to know before visiting Tbilisi for the first time.
What currency should I use in Tbilisi?
The official currency is the Georgian Lari (GEL). Cards are widely accepted, but it is useful to carry a small amount of cash for markets, small vendors and other cash-only situations.
Do people speak English in Tbilisi?
Yes. English is widely used in hotels, restaurants, cafés and tourism businesses, especially among younger residents. In markets or older residential areas, a translation app and a few basic Georgian phrases can be very useful.
Is Tbilisi safe to walk around at night?
Tbilisi is generally safe for visitors, including solo travelers. Use the same common-sense precautions you would in any city, and pay particular attention to traffic, uneven pavements and poorly lit streets.
Do I need travel insurance to enter Georgia?
Yes. Since January 1, 2026, tourists entering Georgia must have valid health and accident insurance for the duration of their stay, with at least 30,000 GEL of coverage.
Is tap water safe to drink in Tbilisi?
Municipal tap water in Tbilisi is generally safe to drink. In very old buildings, internal plumbing may vary, so ask your accommodation provider if the water looks, smells or tastes unusual.