Tbilisi

Why Tbilisi

Tbilisi is the city every nomad tells you about but few tourists have found yet. The Old Town is a maze of carved wooden balconies, crumbling churches, and hidden wine bars where a bottle of excellent Georgian wine costs $5. Georgia claims to be the birthplace of wine (8,000 years of winemaking), and after a trip to Kakheti's wine region you'll believe it. The sulfur baths in Abanotubani are a centuries-old tradition, the food (khinkali dumplings, khachapuri cheese bread, mtsvadi grilled meat) is extraordinary and cheap, and the digital nomad scene has exploded thanks to a generous visa-free policy for most nationalities. You can live well here on $1,000/month.

Top Experiences

• Old Town Walking Tour — Cover the sulfur bath district, Narikala Fortress, Peace Bridge, and the winding streets of the old quarter. The mix of Persian, Ottoman, Russian, and European architecture tells Georgia's complex history.
• Kakheti Wine Region Day Trip — Visit the cradle of wine. Tour qvevri (underground clay vessel) wineries, taste amber wines you can't get anywhere else, and eat a Georgian supra feast.
• Sulfur Bath Experience — The domed brick bathhouses of Abanotubani have been operating since the 13th century. Book a private room for the full scrub and soak experience.

Where to Stay

Old Town (around Shardeni Street and the sulfur baths) is the most atmospheric — guesthouses and boutique hotels at $30-60/night. Vera and Vake are quieter residential neighborhoods with good cafes and coworking spaces. Marjanishvili is the emerging creative district. For nomads on longer stays, furnished apartments in Vera or Saburtalo run $300-500/month. Tbilisi is remarkably affordable across the board.

Flight Tips

Fly into Tbilisi International Airport (TBS). No direct US flights — connect through Istanbul (Turkish Airlines is the best option), Dubai, or major European hubs. Wizz Air runs cheap flights from several European cities. Book 3-5 weeks ahead. May-June and September-October offer the best weather. Summer gets hot (35°C+) and winter is cold but the city has a cozy charm with wine bars and warm food.