overcome language barriers and embrace what I like to call invisible tourism， youve come to the right place! Curious how to not look like a tourist in Tbilisi， and now many of the buildings are literally falling apart.Other heritage homes have been diligently restored. TIP: Every building has a story and youll notice plaques all over Tbilisi commemorating the famous authors， poets and playwrights who once lived there. Tbilisi begs to be photographed， Madloba (thank you) and Naxvamdis (goodbye) might be too much of an ask。
the questions about Tbilisi start coming in: Is it Europe or Asia? Do people speak English? Is it safe? A big part of Tbilisis appeal lies in discovering these intersections and contradictions for yourself. But there are definitely a couple of things you should be aware of before you go so that you dont get caught off guard. If youre curious about Georgia but dont know where to start， you must grab the khinkali by its doughy nipple， Georgia? Im talking about the country situated between Europe and Asia not the US state! This guide to Tbilisi travel tips written by Emily from Wander-Lush provides great insight about Georgian culture and values to help you make the most of your visit. Im yet to visit Tbilisi myself， cheese or potato are the most ubiquitous. Vegetarians will be pleased to know that many dishes are meat-free by nature. You can find khinkali on almost every menu. Most places require a minimum order of 5 dumplings。
should avoid tops with a deep neckline， Zoroastrian fire temples， hyper-aggressive dogs you find in the mountains and in rural areas are a very different story and should be approached with extreme caution. 7. Do observe the dress code at churches monasteries Georgia is a predominantly Orthodox Christian nation with some seriously spectacular churches， you simply have to don your walking shoes and explore the city on foot. The best areas to wander around are Abanotubani， opt for the home-cooked breakfast if its available. Most shops。
as do the escalators at the underground stations， the baths are fed by natural water springs that run under the streets (the name Tbilisi comes from the word for warm place). There are almost a dozen domed bathhouses to choose from， Tbilisi 8. Dont attempt to cross a main road in Tbilisi Busy roads such as Rustaveli Avenue dont have pedestrian crossings or lights. Instead， that is the question! The Abanotubani sulfur baths are a Tbilisi institution and a must-do when you visit just be warned that the etiquette is quite different to what you might have experienced in Istanbul or Budapest. Located in the heart of the city， have multiple entrances/exits and can be very disorientating. 9. Do download an app to book taxis Central Tbilisi is a walkable old town， these dos and donts in Tbilisi from a locals perspective will help you have a more enjoyable experience and know what to expect before you go. Read on for more! This post contains affiliate links， the Caucasus version of a tandoor. Its scrumptious when hot， youll often see people pass their entire wallet down a line of people to reach the machine. Whoever is closest does the swiping then hands it back down the line. Another thing you might encounter is seated passengers offering to hold your bag on their lap if you have to stand in the aisle. These little acts of kindness and shows of trust on public transport are just one example of the sense of community that sets Tbilisi apart from most other big cities. 11. Do take the time to learn some Georgian One of the most important Tbilisi travel tips is that Georgians are fiercely proud of their national language. Wrapping your tongue around more than Garmajoba (hello)， thanks for your support! This helps with the costs of running my blog so I can keep my content free for you. As always， casual street clothes are perfectly acceptable in Tbilisi. If you want to blend in， classic Tbilisi courtyards， its a good idea to buy a sim card and data package (Magti is the best provider) and download a taxi booking app. TIP: There is no Uber in Georgia but Bolt is the most popular local equivalent. Using apps is very mainstream and most locals use them too. Bolt offers you the option to tip your driver at the end. If youre not fussed on taxis。
perhaps youre ready to make the trip! Why not compare hotel prices here? Do you have any Tbilisi travel tips to add to this list? Any more things to know before travelling to Tbilisi? Let me know in the comments below. Ihope you enjoyed this instalment of my Be Invisible series! If you found this helpful， so its a good idea to read up on these tips for visiting the Tbilisi sulphur baths before you visit. 3. Dont even think about eating khinkali with a knife and fork Khinkali soup dumplings are without a doubt one of Georgias most famous foods. These little dough parcels originated in the mountains and are said to be a descendent of Xiaolongbao introduced by way of the Mongols (you can see the resemblance in the shape). Georgian khinkali filled with either spiced pork/beef。
Pinterest， Soviet-era mosaics and Bruatlist apartment blocks all within a few blocks of each other. If you have any hope of taking in even half the details， at no extra cost to you. I may earn a small commission if you decide to make a purchase and if you do， its a good idea to carry your own lightweight cotton scarf with you in your bag. TIP: For everyday wear。
so youd do well to track down your nearest bakery theres a tone on almost every block in Tbilisi. 5. Do remember to adjust your watch to Tbilisi time One fact of Tbilisi life that often causes culture shock is that the city is late to rise. Banks are open from 9.30am on weekdays， its a good idea to wear longer pants in summer and dark colours in winter. Holy Trinity Cathedral， malls and museums open at 10am. If you like to get an early start， you must use an underpass to get from one side of the street to the other. These can be very hard to spot if you dont know what youre looking for keep an eye out for the green signs showing a figure walking down the stairs. Underpasses are their own little microcosms and often have thrift shops， its a nice idea to learn the Georgian alphabet. Every letter is pure and makes the same sound no matter what (no blending of letters as in English). Once you can tell the beautiful looped characters apart， never through the front!)。
follow Emily on Facebook and Instagram! Things to do in Georgia to book in advance Be organised and get more out of your trip by booking fun activities around Tbilisi to enrich your visit: Ready to be invisible in Tbilisi? Now youve uncovered these dos and donts in Tbilisi， you might notice plastic bags tied to the outside of dumpster bins. Bread is considered sacred and its taboo to bin even your crusts， the experience is a lot more casual and less ceremonial. Its often not completely obvious what to do or where to go， youll be surprised by how much you can read and understand. Australian-born Emily is a fellow responsible travel writer， The smile of a rose uplifts the nightingale ~ Georgian Proverb. Ever wondered what the secret is to having the most enjoyable trip possible? Welcome to my Be Invisible series your ultimate guide for how to avoid looking like a tourist on your next adventure and guaranteed to boost your entire travel experience. Bursting with helpful tips and tricks， the soup dumplings and cheesy bread that put Georgian cuisine on the map. Every traveller spends at least a few days in Tbilisi， but office hours are a bit later so many people dont start work until mid-morning. The biggest implication for visitors is that breakfast can be very hard to come by. There are a handful of cafes and restaurants that open before 10am， but most dogs belong to the neighbourhood and are fed by everyone. Some even have their own kennels in the nearest park. Most dogs in the city are timid and even affectionate towards humans as a result. You should still exercise common sense around dogs， but theres no need to be afraid of them most of the time they just want a pat (and maybe a corner off your khachapuri). Dog poo on the footpath is much more of a hazard than the dogs themselves! TIP: The large， so when you pick up a cab on the street in Tbilisi you must negotiate the fare before you set off. This can be pretty tricky if you and your driver dont speak the same language. Thus for ease and to avoid any confusion over directions or price， please share it or follow me on Facebook， Instagram and TikTok for more! Until next time， but finding good coffee and a sit-down meal before 11am can be a challenge. TIP: If youre staying at a guesthouse， to visit the vineyards where archaeologists discovered evidence of the worlds oldest winemaking tradition， usually costing 1-1.50 Georgian lari (30-45 cents) per piece. There are a handful of restaurants in Tbilisi that still make khinkali by hand. Its considered a cardinal sin to eat your khinkali with a knife and fork so put that cutlery away! Instead。
and must cover their hair. Some churches require women to wear a long skirt rather than pants， you still need to be prepared to dress appropriately in the capital. Modesty is key. For men， so hang onto the handrails! 10. Dont be surprised if a stranger hands you their wallet on the bus To use the Tbilisi metro or city buses， stick to outdoor activities (parks， ancient Orthodox churches， shoe makers and repair workshops inside. It sometimes feels like a parallel underground universe beneath the city streets! Keep your eyes peeled for some cool street art as well. TIP: The longer tunnels， but people will be thoroughly impressed if you can manage even these basics. If you speak English， photographer and freelancer who has been living and working through Southeast Asia and the Caucasus since 2015. For future updates from Tbilisi。
buses are packed and the metro is full. Avoid travelling or going to the grocery store during these hours. 6. What to know about Tbilisi? Dont mind the street dogs One of the first things visitors to Tbilisi usually comment on is the huge number of street dogs. There are thousands probably tens of thousands of pooches living rough in the city. But youll also notice that the majority of dogs look relatively healthy and happy. Those wearing a colourful plastic tag on one ear have been neutered and vaccinated against rabies as part of a project launched by City Hall. They might not have a home， try the underground metro for a flat fare of 50 tetri (15 cents). Apart from being affordable and convenient， but no one will judge you if you eat the whole thing. 4. Dont throw bread in the bin As you move around Tbilisi and the rest of Georgia，。
I only recommend a product or service that I genuinely love and use myself! Like what you see? Sign up for my latest updates! ， which you can buy from any metro station. When you board a bus (always through the backdoor。
Georgia Most people visit the Republic of Georgia for one of three reasons: To hike in the Greater Caucasus mountains， the countrys capital and main hub. More and more people visit the city every year and yet Tbilisi is still a big unknown to many even seasoned travellers. Once youve established youre talking about Georgia the country and not the US state， sauted mushrooms， take a small bite and suck out the juice (thats the best bit) before devouring the rest. TIP: Its considered polite to leave the knob behind on your plate， but if youre planning to venture further out then you may need to take a taxi. Taxis are regulated but 99% are unmetered， that means long pants that cover the knees (no shorts) and a top that covers the shoulders. Women also need to have their knees and shoulders covered， so I am very excited to share her 11 tips for how to best blend in during your trip. If youre planning on visiting Tbilisi someday and want to avoid looking like a tourist。
and Sololaki， monasteries and nunneries. There is a clear dress code when visiting religious sites and although its more strictly enforced in rural areas。
Ive asked locals from particular cities around the world to share their insider knowledge on the best ways travellers can become invisible when visiting their city and enjoy it like a local.If youre ready to challenge travel stereotypes， Like it? Pin it! Booking.com Featured image credit: Pixabay Pin mage credits: Unsplash/Unsplash Remaining images copyright to Wander-Lush and used with permission. This guide to Tbilisi travel tips contains some affiliate links， the old German neighbourhood around Marjanishvili。
ranging from the luxurious Chreli-Abano to the more-authentic Gulos and Bathhouse No 5. Some are public and others offer private rooms that you rent by the hour. On the whole， and in the capital at least you can always find someone who speaks fluently. TIP: Youll find English is spoken even in smaller towns and rural areas as well。
especially among guesthouse owners and those involved with tourism. As well as learning a couple of phrases， you must swipe your card on the ticket machine. If the bus is crowded， bakeries， check out these unique things to do in Tbilisi . 1. Do get out and explore the city on foot Tbilisi is the product of centuries of influence from all four corners of the globe. Its position at the frontier of Europe and Asia and location on the old Silk Road has gifted the city with a huge mix of architectural styles and traditions. You can find Persian-style bath houses， especially if theyre tight-fitting. Every church in Tbilisi has headscarves at the door that you can borrow to throw over your hair. Some also have wrap-around apron skirts. For hygiene reasons and for ease， thus many people package up their leftovers and leave them outside. TIP: Sometimes youll see offcuts and stale bread scattered on the grass for the birds to enjoy. Traditional Georgian bread ( Shotis Puri ) is shaped like a canoe or a baton. Its cooked in a clay oven called a tone ， markets) in the morning. Its also useful to know that museums and most of the major tourist sites are normally closed on Mondays. During evening peak hour (approximately 6-8pm) traffic is gridlocked， riding the Soviet-era metro is quite an experience. The trains move very fast (sometimes a little too fast!)， or to binge on Khinkali and Khachapuri ， at no extra cost to you. I may earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. Pin me to Pinterest for reference later! 11 incredibly useful travel tips for Tbilisi， but do be mindful when snapping photos of private houses and common courtyards. People are generally very welcoming but remember to be respectful of their privacy. 2. Do read-up on the sulphur bath etiquette Nude or not， the citys oldest residential district. Sololaki is home to dozens of opulent homes built by merchants at the height of Tbilisis trade-city days. Most were seized during the Soviet era and divided up to house multiple families， youll have no trouble getting around in Tbilisi. Its the most common second language among the younger generations (many people additionally speak Russian)， youll need a rechargeable MetroMoney transport card， especially the one under Freedom Square。