Mtskheta and Tbilisi Tour: Highlights of Georgia

Rike park is considered to be the youngest recreational area in Tbilisi. It is situated on the left bank of the river Kura (Mtkvari) and already has become a popular place for both local and international visitors, especially families, and in summer. The Rike park is quite easy to find, as its main entrance is right from the beautiful pedestrian ‘Bridge of Peace’. The park is a host to numerous entertainment facilities like singing and dancing fountains, artificial climbing wall, children’s maze, mega-chess board, as well as footpaths and quiet corners. The start point of a newly opened cable car that takes visitors up to Narikala fortress is located in the Rike park, as well as a number of fancy bars and restaurants.

The Bridge of Peace, a rather incongruously modern glass-and-steel footbridge over the Mtkvari with a totally unnecessary roof, was designed by Italian Michele De Lucchi and opened in 2010. It's definitely one of the most eye-catching of the love-it-or-hate-it avant-garde structures that went up around Georgia during the Saakashvili years.

Cable car! What a view from here!

Dominating the Old Town skyline, Narikala dates right back to the 4th century, when it was a Persian citadel. Most of the walls were built in the 8th century by the Arab emirs, whose palace was inside the fortress. Subsequently Georgians, Turks and Persians captured and patched up Narikala, but in 1827 a huge explosion of Russian munitions stored here wrecked the whole thing, and today it's a rather picturesque ruin, with only its walls largely intact.

Surrounded by cliffs in the very centre of Tbilisi waterfall Leghvtakhevi is one of the coolest places in the city loved by locals and travellers.

This is not just a historically important place. The baths are still working in the central part of Tbilisi, which was built in the period from XVI to XIX. Of course, as time goes by, some of them were destroyed, but they were rebuilt and improved later. They are still popular not only with the guests of the capital but also with the natives.
The name of the district combines two words, indicating directly what it is known for. "Abano" in translation from Georgian means "bathhouse" and "ubani" - "district". According to legend, it was this place where the construction of the city was started

The square was located in front of the fortress. That is why its original name was "Tsikhismoedani", i.e. Fortress Square. Persians possessed the fortress for a long time. The people gave the conquerors of a different faith the common name "tatars". Due to that fact, the square was renamed into Tatar Maidan, sometimes it was called Sheitan-bazar. It was the main trading square in Tbilisi. One could buy practically everything there: foodstuffs, drinks, gold and silver items.

Shardeni Street is one of the most popular and beautiful streets in Tbilisi. This pedestrian street is so well known that any guest that travels to Georgia never leaves this country without visiting Shardeni Street.

This is the oldest church in Tbilisi that has survived. King Vakhtang Gorgasali’s son Dachi built it at the beginning of the 6th century. In the past, this church was known as a church of the “bells” because it was the only one place were ringing the bells was permitted.

The Gabriadze Theater stands in the heart of Tbilisi’s historic Old Town. This beautiful building of the unique marionette theatre was designed by Gabriadze himself. Among the shows in its current repertoire are: “The Autumn of My Spring”, “Stalingrad”, “Ramona”, “Diamond of Marshal de Fant’e”.

The Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi commonly known as Sameba is the main cathedral of the Georgian Orthodox Church.

Cross Monastery - Jvari - The monastery is located on a hill near Mtskheta, that opens up a breathtaking view of the ancient city and its natural beauty.

After marvelling Jvari you’ll continue your road and visit - Svetitskhoveli Cathedral (11th century). Location was chosen precisely because of the legend that says that the robe of Jesus is buried in the place where the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral was built and it is considered one of the holiest places in Georgia.

We will walk along the cosy streets of Mtskheta. Here is a big bazaar where you can try and, if you wish, purchase Georgian natural sweets and other things.

The Chronicles of Georgia is a colossal stone monument that goes by several names. Often called “The Georgian Stonehenge”, the “Stonehenge of Tbilisi” or “History Memorial of Georgia”, this monument is a collective of HUGE pillars depicting the life of Christ and ancient Georgian history.