Tbilisi Old Town Walking Tour with Local Guide

A local guide explains why the Tamada statue matters more than most tourists realize.

This walking tour of Tbilisi Old Town is led by a local guide in English who takes you through ancient churches, past landmarks like the Bridge of Peace and Sioni Cathedral, and includes a break at a traditional Georgian bakery where you can taste khachapuri and lobiani. The cable car ride to the Mother of Georgia monument is included, along with insider tips on where locals actually eat and relax in the city.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Tbilisi Old Town highlights

• Visit monument near Dry Bridge
• See the oldest church in Tbilisi
• Walk across the Bridge of Peace
• Stroll Shardeni Street
• Explore Gabriadze theatre and clock tower
• Visit Sioni Complex and Cathedral
• View the Tamada Statue
• Pass Metekhi Church monument
• Observe EU flags blowing in the wind
• Visit the Great Synagogue
• See David Monavardishvili's monument
• Take cable car from Rike Park
• Enjoy views from mountain top
• View the Mother of Georgia monument
• Break at traditional bakery for local flavors

The Experience

The tour covers the main landmarks of Old Town on foot—starting with churches that date back centuries, moving through streets like Shardeni where the Gabriadze theatre stands with its distinctive clock tower, and passing monuments that tell the story of Georgian culture. Your guide explains the history and meaning behind each stop, from the 6th-century Metekhi Church to the Tamada statue near Sioni Cathedral, which honors Georgia's ancient toastmaster tradition and wine culture. You'll see the Bridge of Peace's glass and steel bow spanning the Mtkvari river, and learn why the EU flag monument matters to Tbilisi right now.

Partway through, you stop at a traditional bakery to taste fresh khachapuri and lobiani—local dishes that are central to Georgian food culture. This is not a rushed photo stop; it's a moment to eat what locals eat and understand why these foods matter. Your guide will point out the best places to return to on your own time, restaurants and cafes where you can eat like someone who actually lives here instead of like a tourist passing through.

The cable car up the mountain is included. From Rike Park you ride up to the Mother of Georgia monument, which overlooks the entire city. The whole tour runs about three hours, with the walking and the cable car and the bakery break all built into that time.

What’s included

• Professional guide service in English.
• cable car to the Mother of Georgia monument.
• stop at a traditional Georgian bakery where you can taste khachapuri and lobiani.
• insider tips on where to eat, relax and explore like a local.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Views Georgia Tours

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English clearly, so you don't need Georgian or Russian to follow the stories—this works for any English speaker visiting Tbilisi for the first time who wants to understand the city through a local's eyes instead of a guidebook's facts.

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Top questions

What do I actually see on this walking tour of Tbilisi Old Town?

You walk past Metekhi Church, the 6th-century Sioni Cathedral with its bell towers, the Bridge of Peace, the Gabriadze theatre, and the Tamada statue near Sioni—each one explained by your guide. You also see the Great Synagogue in the old district, monuments created by Georgian artists, and ride the cable car to the Mother of Georgia monument overlooking the city.

Is the cable car included, or do I pay extra?

The cable car is included in the tour. You ride it from Rike Park up the mountain to the Mother of Georgia monument as part of the three-hour experience.

Do we actually eat at the bakery, or just walk past it?

You stop and eat at a traditional Georgian bakery where you taste khachapuri and lobiani—fresh, local dishes. This is a real break in the tour, not a quick photo moment, and your guide explains what you're tasting and why these foods are important to Georgian culture.

What language does the guide speak?

The guide leads the tour in English and brings local knowledge that goes beyond what's in guidebooks—stories about the city, tips on where locals eat and relax, and context for why each landmark matters to Tbilisi.

Can children come on this tour?

Children are welcome from age 2. The tour is a walk through Old Town with stops at landmarks and a bakery, so families can join, though the walking pace and the cable car ride are things to consider for very young children.

Are there any dress codes or rules I should know about?

Churches on the tour have a dress code—you should cover shoulders and knees. Photography is not allowed inside the churches, so plan to experience those spaces without your camera.