Plan your trip
Where to stay in Tbilisi
For a first visit stay in Old Tbilisi or Sololaki — you can walk almost everywhere. For better value and nightlife, cross the river to Chugureti or Marjanishvili; for a quiet, green base, try Vera or Vake.
By Mikheil Papava · Updated Quick picks
First visit
Nightlife
Families
Budget
Quiet & local
Modern city
| Area | Best for | Hotels | To Freedom Sq | Metro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Old Tbilisi | First visit, Food & wine | ₾₾₾ | 600 m | Avlabari / Liberty Square |
| Sololaki | First visit, Food & wine, Quiet & local | ₾₾₾ | 350 m | Liberty Square |
| Vera | Quiet & local, Food & wine | ₾₾₾ | 1.8 km | Rustaveli |
| Chugureti | Nightlife, Budget, Food & wine | ₾₾₾ | 2.0 km | Marjanishvili |
| Marjanishvili | Nightlife, Budget | ₾₾₾ | 1.6 km | Marjanishvili |
| Avlabari | Budget, First visit | ₾₾₾ | 1.2 km | Avlabari |
| Mtatsminda | Quiet & local | ₾₾₾ | 1.3 km | Rustaveli |
| Vake | Families, Quiet & local, Modern city | ₾₾₾ | 4.0 km | bus or taxi |
| Saburtalo | Modern city, Budget | ₾₾₾ | 5.5 km | Medical University / Delisi |
| Ortachala | Quiet & local | ₾₾₾ | 2.3 km | bus or taxi |
₾ budget · ₾₾ mid-range · ₾₾₾ upscale. Distances are straight-line from the area centre. See typical hotel prices on our prices page.
1.Old Tbilisi
First visitFood & wine₾₾₾
Cobbled lanes, the sulphur baths, Narikala above and the river below — everything is on your doorstep.
+ Good: Walk to almost every sight; endless restaurants and wine bars.
− Keep in mind: The busiest and priciest area; steep, uneven streets; some noise at night.
To Freedom Sq: 600 m · Metro: Avlabari / Liberty Square
2.Sololaki
First visitFood & wineQuiet & local₾₾
Grand 19th-century townhouses with painted entrance halls, a few steps from Liberty Square and the old town.
+ Good: As central as Old Tbilisi but calmer; great wine bars and cafés.
− Keep in mind: Some buildings are run-down; uphill streets towards the ridge.
To Freedom Sq: 350 m · Metro: Liberty Square
3.Vera
Quiet & localFood & wine₾₾
A leafy residential district of steep stairways, galleries and small cafés, just above Rustaveli Avenue.
+ Good: Feels local; quiet nights; easy metro to the centre.
− Keep in mind: Fewer hotels, more apartments; hilly.
To Freedom Sq: 1.8 km · Metro: Rustaveli
4.Chugureti
NightlifeBudgetFood & wine₾
The left bank around Aghmashenebeli Avenue: restored façades, Fabrika and a young bar-and-café crowd.
+ Good: Good value; lively evenings; hostels and design hotels; metro nearby.
− Keep in mind: A metro ride or a 25-minute walk to the old town; busy streets.
To Freedom Sq: 2.0 km · Metro: Marjanishvili
5.Marjanishvili
NightlifeBudget₾
Around the theatre and Marjanishvili Square: restored streets, evening cafés and easy connections.
+ Good: Central but cheaper than the right bank; metro on the square.
− Keep in mind: Less charm than Sololaki; traffic on the main roads.
To Freedom Sq: 1.6 km · Metro: Marjanishvili
6.Avlabari
BudgetFirst visit₾
The historic Armenian quarter on the left bank, below Sameba cathedral, with views back over the old town.
+ Good: Cheap guesthouses and hostels; a short walk across the river to the baths.
− Keep in mind: Fewer restaurants; some streets feel run-down.
To Freedom Sq: 1.2 km · Metro: Avlabari
7.Mtatsminda
Quiet & local₾₾
The slopes below the holy mountain, between Rustaveli Avenue and the funicular — residential and green.
+ Good: Quiet, with views; walk to Rustaveli and the funicular.
− Keep in mind: Steep climbs home; few hotels.
To Freedom Sq: 1.3 km · Metro: Rustaveli
8.Vake
FamiliesQuiet & localModern city₾₾₾
The smart district of wide avenues, cafés and Vake Park, with the cable car up to Turtle Lake.
+ Good: Safe, green and family-friendly; good restaurants and shops.
− Keep in mind: No metro in the heart of Vake — buses or taxis to the old town.
To Freedom Sq: 4.0 km · Metro: bus or taxi
9.Saburtalo
Modern cityBudget₾
A busy university and residential district with new towers, malls and everyday Tbilisi life.
+ Good: Cheap apartments; metro line 2 straight to the centre.
− Keep in mind: Far from the sights and not very pretty.
To Freedom Sq: 5.5 km · Metro: Medical University / Delisi
10.Ortachala
Quiet & local₾₾
The southern riverside, once famous for its gardens and taverns, a short ride from the old town.
+ Good: Calm, with river views; close to the old town by taxi.
− Keep in mind: Few places to eat nearby; you will rely on taxis.
To Freedom Sq: 2.3 km · Metro: bus or taxi
Questions about where to stay
What is the best area to stay in Tbilisi for a first visit? +
Old Tbilisi or Sololaki. Both are within walking distance of the sulphur baths, Narikala, Liberty Square and Rustaveli Avenue; Sololaki is a little calmer and better value.
Where should I stay in Tbilisi on a budget? +
Chugureti, Marjanishvili or Avlabari on the left bank: cheaper hotels and hostels, metro stations nearby and a short ride or walk to the old town.
Where to stay in Tbilisi with children? +
Vake is green, safe and has Vake Park and the cable car to Turtle Lake; Old Tbilisi is also fine if you avoid the steepest lanes.
Is it better to stay near a metro station? +
It helps if you stay outside the old town: the metro is fast and cheap (1 lari), and Liberty Square, Rustaveli, Avlabari and Marjanishvili stations are close to most sights.