Tbilisi
The minimum setup tasks newcomers should complete in week one.
Pick up a local SIM at the airport arrivals kiosk - a Magti card gives you 30GB for 15GEL ($5.50) and solid city coverage, with Geocell as a rural alternative. On Day1, walk Rustaveli Avenue from Freedom Square to the Rustaveli Metro station (about 25minutes) to spot the Opera House, Parliament and other key landmarks. Open a Georgian bank account within the first week by visiting any TBC Bank or Bank of Georgia branch on Rustaveli Avenue; you only need your passport. Verify that your travel or private health insurance covers Georgia (EHIC does not) and note the emergency number112 so you can register for care if needed. The most common surprise is taxi pricing - always agree on the fare before you hop into a yellow or white cab, otherwise you may be overcharged. Your next step today: head to the airport SIM kiosk, buy the Magti card, and activate it so you can arrange transport, banking and health registration right away.
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Airport · Experience date Mar 30, 2026
Got Magti SIM at the airport kiosk in arrivals. 30GB for 15 GEL ($5.50). Coverage is great in Tbilisi but drops in some mountain areas. Geocell (Silknet) is the alternative with slightly better rural coverage.
Freedom Square · Experience date Mar 18, 2026
Tbilisi is very manageable without Bolt or digital tools — though a smartphone makes it easier. Taxis: hail yellow/white taxis on major streets (always agree price before entering — say your destination, driver will quote a price; 10–20 GEL for most city trips). Metro: buy a Metromoney card at any Metro station for 2 GEL (card fee) and load credit — tap on the reader (1 GEL per journey). Marshrutka (minibus): 0.50 GEL, wave down on major roads, shout destination name. Food without apps: walk any central street — restaurants and cafés are abundant. Tbilisi is compact enough that its central areas are very walkable — Old Town to Vake on foot is about 45 minutes.
Vake · Experience date Feb 23, 2026
Best way to orientate in your first week: Day 1 — Walk Rustaveli Avenue end-to-end (from Freedom Square to Rustaveli Metro — 25 minutes), see the Opera House, Parliament, and main cultural institutions. Day 2 — Old Town: Narikala fortress walk (30 minutes uphill from Abanotubani), Metekhi church, Leghvtakhevi waterfall canyon. Day 3 — Fabrika complex (Chugureti district, 10-minute walk from Old Town): cafés, co-working, street art, local community. Day 4 — Vake Park (take Metro to Delisi, 15-minute walk): green space, expat community, morning runners. By day 5: you'll have a solid mental map and feel oriented.
Rustaveli · Experience date Feb 23, 2026
Opened a Bank of Georgia account on Rustaveli Avenue with just my passport. Took 40 minutes. Free GEL and USD accounts. Got a Visa debit card the same day. Essential for receiving transfers and paying rent.
Tbilisi International Airport · Experience date Dec 19, 2025
Arrived with my EU passport and got 365 days on entry with no visa needed. Immigration took 5 minutes. Georgia is incredibly welcoming — just make sure not to overstay or you face fines at the airport on departure.
Fabrika · Experience date May 2, 2026
Tbilisi weather: hot dry summers (June–August, 30–38°C), mild springs and autumns, cold winters (December–February, 0–8°C with occasional snow). Packing by season: Summer — light clothing, strong sunscreen (UV is intense), sunglasses, one light layer for air-conditioned restaurants. Autumn/Spring — layers, a waterproof jacket. Winter — warm coat, layers, good boots (occasional ice on cobblestones), and be prepared for cold indoor temperatures (many buildings are poorly heated). Year-round: comfortable walking shoes for cobblestoned streets — wheeled luggage is impractical in Old Town. Tbilisi's spring and autumn are outstanding — perfect weather for exploring.
Vake · Experience date Mar 27, 2026
Essential apps for Tbilisi life: Bolt (taxis — use this daily), TBC Bank app (banking, everything), Yandex Taxi (backup taxi app), Metromoney (Metro and bus card loading), Carrefour Georgia app (grocery online ordering), Telegram (universal communication — everyone in Georgia uses it), Google Translate (Georgian script recognition via camera), Google Maps (good Tbilisi coverage), Moovit (bus routes), booking.com and Airbnb (accommodation while searching for a long-term rental), gerevenue.ge (IE registration), Public Service Hall app (House of Justice services). Have all of these installed within your first week.
Freedom Square · Experience date Dec 12, 2025
Eat well cheaply in Tbilisi: Traditional Georgian bakery (puri) bread from tone oven: 0.50 GEL per loaf — essential. Khinkali at a neighbourhood khinkali house (not tourist area): 0.80–1 GEL each — order 8–10. Pho and Asian food: Tbilisi has surprisingly good cheap Asian restaurants (Vietnamese, Chinese) — $3–5 for a meal. Georgian lunch specials at traditional restaurants: 15–25 GEL ($5.50–9) for soup, main, bread, and a small wine. Dezerter Bazaar market: buy vegetables, Georgian cheeses, and fresh bread at local prices (30–40% below supermarket). Budget: $150–200/month eating varied food including regular restaurant meals — extraordinary value by any European comparison.
Rustaveli · Experience date Apr 6, 2026
Tbilisi summers (June–August) reach 35–38°C and can feel intense. Practical tips: avoid walking in direct sun between 12pm–4pm, carry a water bottle (fill from tap — it's safe), use shaded streets in Old Town. Most apartments and restaurants have air conditioning — confirm AC works when viewing apartments in summer. Evening: Tbilisi cools down significantly after 8pm — evening walks along the Kura river, Rustaveli Avenue, or Rike Park are genuinely pleasant. The mountains (Kazbegi, Gudauri area): 10–15°C cooler than Tbilisi in summer — popular weekend escape. Tbilisi's dry heat is more bearable than the humid heat of Bangkok or Dubai.
Rustaveli · Experience date Dec 30, 2025
Open a TBC Bank or Bank of Georgia (BOG) account within your first week. Required: only your passport. Process: walk into any TBC branch (multiple on Rustaveli Avenue), tell the receptionist you want to open a personal account, wait 15–30 minutes. You leave with an active account, Georgian IBAN, and a debit card (physical card: 3–7 business days by mail or pickup). TBC app: download immediately — English interface, allows you to manage everything. Why it matters: Georgian bank account enables local payments, receiving international transfers, paying utilities, and online Georgian services. One of the easiest bank account openings you'll ever do.