Start your first morning in Tbilisi with a leisurely stroll through Rustaveli Avenue, stopping for coffee at a local café to watch the city wake up; continue uphill to explore the mosaic-clad courtyard and quirky sculptures around Narikala Fortress for panoramic views. Descend via the scenic cable car or foot to wander the twisting lanes of Shavteli Street, sampling fresh khachapuri and local pastries at a bakery and popping into an artisan shop to pick up hand-painted ceramics.
After a restful lunch, head to the leafy Mtatsminda Park-take the funicular for sweeping views, ride the Ferris wheel if you're up for fun, and sip a late-afternoon wine or tarragon lemonade at the hilltop café. Wander back down through the charming streets to discover the modern art galleries and atmospheric courtyard restaurants around Fabrika, where you can browse creative shops, try small plates like pkhali at a casual eatery, and catch live music as the light softens.
As twilight falls, enjoy a relaxed dinner at Kala Cooking School & Restaurant where you can sample home-style dishes like chakapuli and join a short cooking-demo to learn a few local techniques. Afterward, wander the atmospheric riverside promenade toward Bridge of Peace to admire the illuminated glass arch, then finish with a nightcap at the cozy rooftop bar of Rooms Hotel Tbilisi for jazz-tinged music and sweeping views of the lit Old Town.
Begin your morning with a peaceful walk through Rike Park, crossing the Bridge of Peace early to avoid crowds, then take the modern cable car up to Sololaki Hill to explore the elegant 19th-century balconies and hidden courtyards. Drop into Anchiskhati Basilica to admire its ancient frescoes, then warm up with a late-morning visit to a traditional bathhouse district - book a private room at Orbeliani Sulfur Baths for a restorative soak and a scrub before heading to a nearby café for Georgian coffee and churchkhela snacks.
After a restorative morning, wander toward the atmospheric Meidan Bazaar to browse traditional textiles and pick up a handwoven chokha belt, then continue to the nearby Sioni Cathedral to admire its medieval icons and learn about Georgian ecclesiastical history. Finish the afternoon with a guided tasting at Vinotel to sample natural Georgian wines paired with seasonal cheeses, then stroll along the quieter side streets to discover hidden murals and a cozy pastry shop for fresh pirozhki before an early evening bathhouse appointment.
As dusk settles, wander to the atmospheric Leselidze Street dining strip for a convivial dinner of grilled mtsvadi and warmed white wine at the lively Barbarestan Bistro, where recipes from a 19th-century cookbook are reimagined with seasonal produce. After dinner, take a short taxi to the atmospheric hillside Mtatsminda Pantheon promenade to enjoy twilight views of the city lights, then end the night with inventive cocktails and local craft beers at the intimate speakeasy-style bar Poliphonia for live music or a relaxed conversation.
Leave Tbilisi early and drive to historic Mtskheta to begin at the hilltop Jvari Monastery, where sweeping views of the Aragvi and Mtkvari rivers set the scene; stroll down to the riverside to explore the ornate frescoes inside Svetitskhoveli Cathedral and learn about its role in Georgian faith and royal coronations. After sightseeing, wander the charming pedestrian streets to sample local treats at Salobie House-try their famed cheese-filled salo bread-and meet a family-run winery in town for a short tasting of amber and qvevri wines before returning to Tbilisi for lunch.
After lunch back in Tbilisi, meander through the atmospheric streets of the Sololaki neighborhood to discover charming cafés and artisan shops, stopping for a pastry and espresso at Café Leila; then join a hands-on culinary workshop at Gastronomica Georgian Kitchen to learn how to prepare khinkali and pkhali from a local chef. Finish the afternoon with a visit to Dry Bridge Market to hunt for Soviet-era curios and handcrafted enamelware, followed by a relaxed wine-pairing snack at 8000 Vintages to bridge your Mtskheta sights with Tbilisi's modern food scene.
Return to Tbilisi and wander the lively Fabrika Courtyard for dinner at Culinarium Khasheria, sampling hearty stews and homemade pkhali while soaking in the creative hub atmosphere; follow that with a relaxed riverside stroll to Mtkvari Embankment where vendors and street musicians create a friendly evening buzz. Finish the night with a tasting of rare natural wines at Vino Underground and, if you're up for it, a short detour to the atmospheric Lisi Lake Promenade for a moonlit view away from the Old Town's bustle.
Ease into your final morning with a bright breakfast at Café Stamba, then stroll the sleek galleries and design shops around the nearby Fabrika's newer sibling, Stamba Bookstore & Gallery, to pick up last-minute Georgian design finds. Continue to the contemporary Chronicle of Georgia for striking sculptures and panoramic city views, and finish with a calming riverside walk past the modern parks of Rike Park Extension before collecting luggage and heading toward your onward transport.
Spend a leisurely afternoon exploring the contemporary side of the city beginning at Fabrika's energetic neighbor, Outsider Art Factory, where pop-up galleries and design ateliers showcase emerging Georgian creatives; pause for a long late-lunch of modern Georgian tapas at Barbarestan Bistro's lighter menu or the seasonal plates at Shavi Lomi. Finish with a calming detour to Vake Park for a stroll by the pond and a final coffee at the nearby tree-lined Entrée Café, giving you a peaceful window to reflect on your trip before you collect luggage and head to the airport.
For a relaxed final evening, wander to the sleek waterfront terraces of Agora Garden, where you can sip a glass of Georgian orange wine while watching the sunset over the river; then head to the nearby contemporary tasting room Vincafe Experimental for a curated flight of natural wines paired with small plates. Finish the night with live acoustic music and cocktails at the stylish rooftop bar Kura Terrace, offering one last panoramic view of the city lights before you collect your bags and leave for onward travel.