Old Tbilisi

Old Tbilisi spreads along the Mtkvari River below the walls of Narikala Fortress: a tangle of lanes lined with houses whose carved and painted wooden balconies lean out over the street. Churches, a mosque and a synagogue stand within a few minutes’ walk of one another.

Ride the cable car from Rike Park up to the fortress for views over the city, then walk down into Abanotubani, where brick domes cover the hot sulphur baths that gave Tbilisi its name. The glass Bridge of Peace and the cafés of Shardeni Street are close by.

A private room at the baths is a relaxing end to a day of walking. The lanes are steep and cobbled, so wear good shoes, and come back after dark, when the old town is lit up.