PLEASE NOTE: This is practical info to go along with the ‘Tbilisi Spa’ letter found HERE.
Hi! And thanks for stopping by. This post is meant to provide a bit of practical information to accompany the “Tbilisi Spa” letter. I linked that letter above. If you haven’t read it yet, I would recommend doing that first! Below, you’ll find pricing, names, and locations for places I mentioned in the letter. However, this is NOT meant to be a complete guide for visiting Tbilisi, it is only meant to spark curiousity. If you’re planning to visit Tbilisi, my advice would be: pick up a guidebook (especially the one mentioned below) and take some time to read through it while looking up points of interest on Google as you go.
If you have any questions or would like more information about Tbilisi, please leave a comment at the bottom and I will do my best to answer! Thanks and happy travels!
The Spa
The spa described in the letter is listed on Google Maps as Sulphur Public Bath House at 18 Ioseb Grishashvili St, Tbilisi, Georga. As the generic name and rough exterior may imply, it is not touristy in the least and felt like a place the locals would visit. There’s no website that I could find, but a private room with sulfur bath costs 35GEL (11USD) for two people and, as mentioned in the letter, an extra massage would cost 10GEL (3.75USD).
The Guidebook
Molly and I used the 6th edition Bradt Georgia guidebook by Tim Burford (found on Amazon here ) and we would not have gotten far without it. We found the spa and most of the restaurants we ate at in this book. Burford provides practical information while writing with a distinct and often times hilarious voice. Woven between pricing and logistics, he provides interspersed historical facts and fascinating context. I would highly recommend this book if you’re traveling anywhere in Georgia.
The Restaurants
- In the letter, I briefly mention “[Orange] wine served in secret garden restaurants”. Well, we did eat at a secret garden restaurant: Alubali located at 6 Giorgi Akhvlediani St, Tbilisi, Georgia. The food is a little pricey, but it’s delicious and authentic. I would say a trip here is worth it just to eat in the secret garden and I won’t spoil any more about that here.
- We got the Adjaruli Khachapuri pictured in the letter (here) from Retro located at 1 Davit Gamrekeli St, Tbilisi, Georgia. The Khachapuri was hearty, delicious, and reasonably priced. Burford’s guidebook said it was the best Adjaruli Khachapuri in the city and I wouldn’t doubt it!
- One last Restraunt I wanted to mention: Ezo located at 16 0105, Geronti Kikodze St, Tbilisi, Georgia has wonderful fresh food that is grown on the owners farm. The outdoor dining area is cozy and it draws a younger crowd.
The Museum
The museum pictured in the letter (here) is the Open-Air Ethnology Museum. The address on Google Maps is only in Georgian, but you can get to the website here. I would definitely make time for a visit. The museum is laid out unlike any other I’ve been to: it’s a collection of homes, yes entire homes, which have been brought in from all over Georgia in order to display different architectural styles. The museum is spread across a few square miles along a hillside with views overlooking the Tbilisi metro area. Entrance to the museum costs 3GEL (0.95USD).
The Lodging
We stayed at an Air BnB next to the Delisi stop on the Tbilisi Metro, Saburtalo line (the one that goes East to West). It cost 22USD a night after fees for a 1 bedroom apartment with a small kitchen/living area. The apartment itself was on the top floor of an apartment block and overlooked the cities’ rooftops. Our host, Maiko, was very accommodating and friendly.
Transportation Around Tbilisi
We used both the subway and our own two feet to get most places. Though the subway system consists of only two lines, nearly everything of interest sits near a stop. You will need a subway card, but that is easy enough to require at any number of subway ticket booths. There is a public bus system, but good luck trying to read the stops that are written in the Georgian alphabet. Taxis are also available and a trip across the city would cost around 15GEL (4.67USD).
Getting to Tbilisi
We flew into Tbilisi from New York with a layover in Istanbul. Flying time was only 10 hours but the layover was another 8 hours… We were able to get our flight for $700 round trip and from what I saw while monitoring prices for a few months leading up to the trip, that’s about average. I spotted some flights for as low as $500 and some as high as $1,200.
Leaving Tbilisi
To get to outside of Tbilisi, the cheapest option is the Marshrutkas (Mini-buses) and that’s what we used. The mini-buses are cramped, their drives have death wishes and the “mini-bus stations” are a nightmare to try and navigate. But they charge 10GEL (3.17USD) for a three hour bus ride so we weren’t about to be picky. These Marshrutkas will take you pretty much anywhere in Georgia. Taxis are available as well but will be more expensive.
As I said at the top, if you had more questions about anything in Tbilisi just leave a commend and I will be more than happy to answer. Otherwise I wish you all safe and happy travels!
– Dylan
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