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Airport  
Tbilisi airport has improved vastly from its communist days. A small terminal provides a reasonably smooth transition from plane to terra firma. A visa can be bought at a booth on arrival ($75), but it’s cheaper to arrange one beforehand ($40). Custom officers used to be on the lookout for income supplements. If they try to charge more just for the weight of your bags on arrival, protest vehemently; they usually give up. Flying time from London is just under 5 hrs. Beware the periods of time change – it sometimes confuses the airlines.
Airport to City Centre
The airport is a 20-min drive from the city centre and the average taxi journey costs about $10 – a little more if you arrive during graveyard hours. The bus service is not reliable. However, Georgians are wonderful hosts and like to greet their guests at the airport. Most hotels can arrange pick-ups.
Orientation               Boka flygstol - Biljett - Resebyrå          Queensway Travel
Tbilisi is a long, narrow city, hemmed in by mountains and a river valley. Its centre is generally regarded as Freedom Sq. To the south is the old town overlooked by the imposing Narikala fortress. Northward runs the main street, Rustaveli Av, which ends at the Republican Sq, next to the towering Iveria Hotel – another landmark. The city then follows the course of the mountain and forks out towards two main regions, Vake to the west, and Saburtalo to the North. Most of the action in Tbilisi seems to take place on this side of the river, but on the other side in Plekhanov, David Aghmashenebeli St is the city’s third main artery. A good way to get your bearings is via the bridges, starting with the Metekhi, under the Narikala fortress, followed by Baratashvili, then the Dry Bridge. Because of the river and white Caucasus peaks to the north, Tbilisi is a very hard place to get lost in.
Getting Around
There can be few cities in the world with more taxis per capita than Tbilisi – although many are just ordinary cars with a checked board stuck in the window. Prices are correspondingly low. A fare of $1.50 will get you to most places, but for $2.50 you can go just about anywhere in the city. Try to take the red taxis, as they tend to have reliable meters and safe drivers – and are haggle-free. The metro is good but limited; the buses are terrible; and the middle ground is covered by numerous minibuses following numbered routes – at 30 cents a journey. A good tip is to try to find a route map for your local marshurtkas.
What to see
Sioni Cathedral: Situated by the river close to the Metetkhi bridge, this is Tbilisi’s main church. Originally built in the 5c shortly after Georgia converted to Christianity, this small but picturesque church encapsulates the spirit of Georgia. The walls are covered in frescoes, and the mellifluous strains of practising choirs are an added enchantment. 
Museum of Tbilisi and Caravanserai: Beside Sioni Cathedral is an old caravanserai, used by traders on the Silk Road, now converted into a small shopping area and café. On the first floor is the interesting Museum of Tbilisi, which illustrates the history of the city from pre-Christian times to the present day, including Georgia’s brief period of Menshevik independence 1918-1921. 
Art Museum: Housed in the former Theological Seminary, which taught Stalin and many of the famous revolutionaries, this is Tbilisi’s best museum. It contains the Pirosmani collection – Georgia’s most famous painter – and a treasury displaying the nation’s finest icons. 
The old town: Here it is best just to wander around and experience the charm of Tbilisi. The buildings are constructed largely of wood, with picturesque sagging balconies and carved pillars – in fact, there’s more of a feeling of old Persia than of a modern city to these winding streets. One clearly feels the mix of cultures, where Georgian and Armenian churches are juxtaposed with synagogues and mosques. 
The Baths: A visit to one of the several baths beside the old town is an absolute must. They have been one of Tbilisi’s main attractions for centuries, and they still carry the same faintly sulphurous tang that inspired the likes of Tolstoy, Pushkin and Alexander Dumas. Entrance is rarely more than $5 and a thorough massage usually costs around $15. New baths have recently opened offering more Westernised health-club services – but at higher prices. 
The Opera and Rustaveli Theatre: Set about 100m apart on Rustaveli Av, no stay in Tbilisi is complete without a visit to one of these theatrical establishments – the Georgians have a long and proud tradition of fine stage performances. Check English language newspapers for listings.
Where to walk
The best way to see Tbilisi is on foot. and one walk in particular stands out from the others: up from the baths to the Narikala Fortress, along the paths to the huge silver Mother Georgia statue then back down into the old town. The views are magnificent all the way. Rustaveli Av is also recommended, since it includes the State History Museum, with its splendid collection of ancient gold and silver jewellery. A bit further down, you’ll also find the Kashveti Church and Parliament building, the Rustaveli Theatre and Opera, not to mention numerous cafés, restaurants and souvenir shops. For the less energetic, a trip up Mtatsminda mountain’s funicular railway to St David’s Church is recommended, particularly for its poet’s cemetery.
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