Tbilisi

What you actually see

Narikala Fortress above the old town, the brick domes of the Abanotubani sulphur baths, and streets of carved wooden balconies in various states of repair. It is a compact centre: the walkable part is genuinely walkable, which is not true of every capital in this region.

Why it works as a base

Mtskheta is twenty minutes away, the Kakheti wine region is under two hours, and Kazbegi is three hours up the Georgian Military Highway. You can see mountains, monasteries and vineyards without moving hotel, which is why most of our shorter Georgia trips never leave the city overnight.

Eating

Georgian food is the reason a lot of people come back. Khinkali and khachapuri are the famous two, but the Kakhetian wine, made in buried clay qvevri, is the part UNESCO lists in its own right.

How long to give it

Two nights for the city itself. Most of our Georgia trips use it as a base and go out from here, so the total is usually longer.

When to go

Average daytime high, night-time low and rain days for Tbilisi, from five years of recorded observations rather than a forecast or a brochure.

Comfortable months: Apr, Jun to Jul, Sep to Oct.