Tbilisi

Because of its location at the crossroads between Europe and Asia, and its proximity to the lucrative Silk Road, throughout history, Tbilisi has been a point of contention among various global powers. To this day, the city's location ensures its position as an important transit route for energy and trade projects. History is reflected in its architecture, which is a mix of medieval, neoclassical, Beaux Arts, Art Nouveau, Stalinist, and Modern structures. Historically, Tbilisi has been home to people of diverse cultural, ethnic, and religious backgrounds, though its population is overwhelmingly Eastern Orthodox Christian. Notable tourist destinations include the Sameba and Sioni cathedrals, Freedom Square, Rustaveli Avenue and Aghmashenebeli Avenue, medieval Narikala Fortress, the pseudo-Moorish Opera Theater, and the Georgian National Museum. The climate in Tbilisi mostly ranges from 20 to in summer and -1 to in winter.

• Official Name — Tbilisi • Native Name — თბილისი • Other Name — Tiflis • Type — Capital city • Subdivision Type — Country • Established Title — Established • Established Date — AD 455 • Government Type — Mayor–Council • Governing Body — Tbilisi Sakrebulo • Leader Title — Mayor • Leader Name — Kakha Kaladze (GD) • Area Total Km2 — 504.3 • Area Metro Km2 — 726 • Population Rank — 1st • Population As Of — 2026 • Population Total — 1369400 • Population Density Km2 — 2,496.08 • Population Demonym — Tbilisian თბილისელი, Tbiliseli • Demographics Type1 — Population by ethnicity • Demographics1 Title1 — Georgians • Demographics1 Info1 — 89.9% • Demographics1 Title2 — Armenians • Demographics1 Info2 — 4.8% • Demographics1 Title3 — Azerbaijanis • Demographics1 Info3 — 1.4% • Demographics1 Title4 — Russians • Demographics1 Info4 — 1.2% • Demographics1 Title5 — Yazidis • Demographics1 Info5 — 1.0% • Demographics1 Title6 — Others • Demographics1 Info6 — 1.7% • Demographics Type2 — GDP (Nominal, 2024) • Demographics2 Title1 — Capital city • Demographics2 Info1 — ₾43.0 billion (€14.1 billion) · 1st • Demographics2 Title2 — Per capita • Demographics2 Info2 — ₾32,313 (€10,600) · 1st • Custom Label3 Sec1 — HDI (2023) • Custom Data3 Sec1 — 0.876 • Time Zone — GET • Utc Offset — +04:00 • Elevation Max M — 770 • Elevation Min M — 380 • Area Code — +995 32 • Iso Code — GE-TB

The name "Tbilisi" derives from Old Georgian oge-Latn (Asomtavruli, Mkhedruli), and further from ka-Latn (Modern Georgian, warm, itself from Old Georgian: oge-Latn). The name ka-Latn (the place of warmth) was therefore given to the city because of the area's numerous sulfuric hot springs. Until 1936, the name of the city in English and most other languages followed the Persian pronunciation Tiflis, while the Georgian name was ტფილისი (ka-Latn). In some languages it is still known by its pre-1936 name Tiflis On 17 August 1936, by order of the Soviet leadership, the official Russian names of various cities were changed to more closely match the local language. In addition, the Georgian-language form ka-Latn was modernized on the basis of a proposal by Georgian linguists; the ancient Georgian component ტფილი (ka-Latn, 'warm') was replaced by the newer თბილი (ka-Latn). That form was the basis for the new official Russian name (Тбилиси ru-Latn). Most other languages have subsequently adopted the new name form, but some languages, such as Turkish, Persian, Greek, Spanish, and German, have retained a variation of Tiflis. Some of the traditional names of Tbilisi in other languages of the region have different roots. The Ossetian name Калак (os-Latn) derives from the Georgian word ქალაქი (ka-Latn) meaning simply city. Chechen and Ingush names for the city use a form similar to or the same as their names for the country of Georgia (Гуьржех chc-Latn) as does the historical Kabardian name (Курджы kbd-Latn), while Abkhaz Қарҭ (ab-Latn) is from the Mingrelian ქართი (xmf-Latn).

• Illustration — Anchiskhati Basilica, a 6th century monument, is the oldest surviving church in Tbilisi

Archaeologists discovered evidence of continuous habitation of the Tbilisi suburb of Dighomi since the early Bronze Age, and stone artifacts dating to the Paleolithic age. During the late Bronze Age to early Iron Age, it was the largest settlement in the Caucasus. According to legend, the present-day territory of Tbilisi was covered by forests as late as 458. One widely accepted variant of the Tbilisi foundation myth states that King Vakhtang I of Iberia went hunting in the heavily wooded region with a falcon (sometimes the falcon is replaced with either a hawk or other small birds of prey in the legend). The king's falcon allegedly caught or injured a pheasant during the hunt, after which both birds fell into a nearby hot spring and died from burns. King Vakhtang became so impressed with the hot springs that he decided to clear the forest and build a city on the location. King Dachi of Iberia, the successor of Vakhtang I, moved the capital of Iberia from Mtskheta to Tbilisi and began construction of the fortress wall that lined the city's new boundaries. From the sixth century, Tbilisi grew at a steady pace due to the region's strategic location along with important trade and travel routes between Europe and Asia.

• Illustration — Remnants of ancient city walls discovered in central Tbilisi Tbilisi's favorable trade location, however, did not necessarily bode well for its survival. Located strategically in the heart of the Caucasus between Europe and Asia, Tbilisi became an object of rivalry among the region's various powers such as the Roman Empire, Parthia, Sassanid Persia, Muslim Arabs, the Byzantine Empire, and the Seljuk Turks. The cultural development of the city was somewhat dependent on who ruled the city at various times, although Tbilisi was fairly cosmopolitan. From 570 to 580, the Persians ruled the city until 627, when Tbilisi was sacked by the Byzantine/Khazar armies and later, in 736–738, Arab armies entered the town under Marwan II. After this point, the Arabs established an emirate centered in Tbilisi. Arabic dirhams were brought to Georgia following the Arab conquest in the seventh century, and a mint was founded in Tbilisi that produced coins with inscriptions in both Arabic and Georgian. In 764, Tbilisi – still under Arab control – was once again sacked by the Khazars. In 852, the armies of Arab leader Bugha Al-Turki invaded Tbilisi in order to enforce its return to Abbasid allegiance. The Arab domination of Tbilisi continued until about 1050. In 1065, the Seljuk Sultan Alp Arslan campaigned against the Kingdom of Georgia, subjugated Tbilisi, and built a mosque in the city.

In 1121, after the Battle of Didgori against the Seljuks, the troops of King David IV besieged Tbilisi, taking it in 1122. David moved his residence from Kutaisi to Tbilisi, making it the capital of a unified Georgian State, thus inaugurating the Georgian Golden Age. From the 12–13th centuries, Tbilisi became a regional power with a thriving economy and astonishing cultural output. By the end of the 12th century, the population of Tbilisi had reached 100,000. The city also became an important literary and cultural center, not only for Georgia, but also for the Eastern Orthodox world of the time. During Queen Tamar's reign, Shota Rustaveli worked in Tbilisi while writing his legendary epic poem The Knight in the Panther's Skin. This period is often referred to as "Georgia's Golden Age" or the Georgian Renaissance.

• Illustration — Detail from the Nautical chart by Angelino Dulcert, depicting Georgian Black Sea coast and Tiflis, 1339 Tbilisi's "Golden Age" did not last for more than a century. In 1226, Tbilisi was captured by the Khwarezmian Empire under Shah Jalal al-Din, who massacred tens of thousands of Christians. The Khwarezmian occupation left Tbilisi's defenses severely devastated and prone to further attacks by Mongol armies. In 1236, after suffering crushing Mongol defeats, Georgia submitted to Mongol domination. The nation itself maintained a form of "semi-independence" and did not lose its statehood, but Tbilisi would be strongly influenced by the Mongols for the next century, both politically and culturally. In the 1320s, the Mongols retreated from Georgia, and Tbilisi became the capital of an independent Georgian state, once again. However, an outbreak of the Black Death struck the city in 1366. Between the late 14th century and the late 18th century, Tbilisi would again be under the rule of various foreign powers. On several occasions, the city would even be completely burned and razed to the ground. On 22 November 1386, Tbilisi was sacked by the armies of Timur. Timur invaded the Kingdom of Georgia seven more times. In 1440, the city was invaded and looted by Jahan Shah of the Qara Qoyunlu. From 1477 to 1478, the city was held by the Aq Qoyunlu tribesmen of Uzun Hassan.

• Illustration — Tbilisi according to French traveler Jean Chardin, 1671 • Illustration — A 1717 illustration of Tbilisi by Joseph Pitton de Tournefort. Metekhi Church seen to the left. As early as the 1510s, Tbilisi (and the kingdoms of Kartli and Kakheti) were made vassal territories of Safavid Iran. In 1522, Tbilisi was garrisoned for the first time by a large Safavid force. Following the death of king (shah) Ismail I (r. 1501–1524), king David X of Kartli expelled the Iranians. During this period, many parts of Tbilisi were reconstructed and rebuilt. The four campaigns of the king Tahmasp I (r. 1524–1576) resulted in the reoccupation of Kartli and Kakheti, and a Safavid force was permanently stationed in Tbilisi from 1551 onwards, reinforced with the 1555 Treaty of Amasya. Tbilisi was captured by the Ottomans in 21-24 August 1578, under Osman Pasha and Mustafa Pasha, following the departure of David XI ("Daud Khan") from the city, during the Ottoman–Safavid War (1578–1590). It would remain under Ottoman control for the next 40 years. From 1614 to 1747, with brief intermissions, Tbilisi was an important city under Iranian rule, and it functioned as a seat of the Iranian vassal kings of Kartli whom the shah conferred with the title of vali. In 1718, the Venetian senate implored the Safavid emperor Soltan Hoseyn to protect the Catholic Armenians and Capuchin missionaries in Tbilisi from the Gregorian Armenians. Under the later rules of Teimuraz II and Heraclius II, Tbilisi became a vibrant political and cultural center free of foreign rule—but, fearful of the constant threat of invasion, Georgia's rulers sought Russian protection in the 1783 Treaty of Georgievsk. Despite this agreement, the city was captured and devastated in 1795 by the Iranian Qajar ruler Agha Mohammad Khan.

• Illustration — The coat of arms of the Tiflis Governorate In 1801, the Russian Empire annexed the Georgian Kingdom of Kartli-Kakheti, of which Tbilisi was one of the most significant urban centers. Within Tsarist Russia, Tbilisi (known then as Tiflis) was included within the Tiflis Uyezd county in 1801, part of what was initially the Georgia Governorate. Following the establishment of the Tiflis Governorate (Gubernia) in 1846, Tbilisi became its capital. Russian Imperial administrators implemented a new Western-style city plan and commissioned new buildings and infrastructure, including roads and railroads connecting Tbilisi to other important cities in the Russian Empire, such as Batumi and Poti. By the 1850s, Tbilisi once again emerged as a major trade and cultural center, with many foreign, including Western European, entrepreneurs operating. The likes of Ilia Chavchavadze, Akaki Tsereteli, Mirza Fatali Akhundzade, Iakob Gogebashvili, Alexander Griboyedov and many other statesmen, poets and artists all found their home in Tbilisi. The city was visited on numerous occasions by and was the object of affection of Alexander Pushkin, Leo Tolstoy, Mikhail Lermontov, the Romanov family and others. The main new artery built under Russian administration was Golovin Avenue (present-day Rustaveli Avenue), on which the Viceroys of the Caucasus established their residence. For much of the early 19th century, Tbilisi's largest ethnic group was Armenian, at some point forming 74.3% of the population. • Illustration — "Dry Bridge", constructed by Italian architect Antonio Scudieri • Illustration — View on Golovin Avenue as seen from the site of present-day Freedom Square • Illustration — Building of the Tbilisi City Hall • Illustration — Grand Hotel "Kavkaz" in central Tbilisi, c 1900 • Illustration — Building of the Art Museum of Georgia, built at the end of the 1830s, photo ca. 1900 • Illustration — Tatar bazaar and with the Metekhi Orthodox church seen on the cliff • Illustration — Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, demolished by the Soviets to make way for the present Parliament building • Illustration — Tiflis by Mikhail Lermontov, 1837

After the Russian Revolution of 1917, the city served as a location of the Transcaucasus interim government which established, in the spring of 1918, the short-lived independent Transcaucasian Federation with the capital in Tbilisi. At this time, Tbilisi had roughly the same number of Armenians as Georgians, with Russians being the third largest ethnic group. It was in the former Viceroy of the Caucasus's palace where the independence of three Transcaucasus nations – Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan – was declared by their respective national councils on 26 to 28 May 1918. After this, Tbilisi functioned as the capital of the Democratic Republic of Georgia until 25 February 1921. From 1918 to 1919, the city also consecutively served as the headquarters of the country's German garrison and later the British 27th Division; Tbilisi was also the main office of the British Chief Commissioner in Transcaucasia, Oliver Wardrop and the High Commissioner to Armenia, Colonel William N. Haskell. Under the national government, Tbilisi turned into the first Caucasian University City after the Tbilisi State University was founded in 1918. On 25 February 1921, the Bolshevist Russian 11th Red Army invaded Tbilisi and after bitter fighting at the outskirts of the city, declared Soviet rule.

• Illustration — The Red Army entered Tbilisi on 25 February 1921 In 1921, the Democratic Republic of Georgia was occupied by the Soviet Bolshevik forces from Russia, and until 1936, Tbilisi functioned first as the capital city of the Transcaucasian SFSR (which included Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia), and afterward until 1991 as the capital of the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic. During Soviet rule, Tbilisi's population grew significantly, the city became more industrialized, and it also came to be an important political, social, and cultural centre of the Soviet Union. In 1980, the city hosted the first state-sanctioned rock festival in the USSR. As a major tourist destination for both Soviet citizens and foreign visitors, Tbilisi's "Old Town" (the neighborhoods within the original city walls) was reconstructed in the 1970s and 1980s. Tbilisi witnessed mass anti-Russian demonstrations during 1956 in the 9 March Massacre, in protest against the anti-Stalin policies of Nikita Khrushchev. Peaceful protests occurred in 1978, and in 1989 the April 9 tragedy was a peaceful protest that turned violent.

Since the break-up of the Soviet Union, Tbilisi has experienced periods of significant instability and turmoil. After a brief civil war, which the city endured for two weeks from December 1991 to January 1992 (when pro-Gamsakhurdia and Opposition forces clashed), Tbilisi became the scene of frequent armed confrontations among various mafia clans and illegal business operators. During the Shevardnadze Era (1992–2003), crime and corruption were rampant. Many segments of society became impoverished because of unemployment caused by the crumbling economy. Average citizens of Tbilisi started to become increasingly disillusioned with the existing quality of life in the city (and in the nation in general). Mass protests took place in November 2003 after falsified parliamentary elections forced more than 100,000 people into the streets and concluded with the Rose Revolution. Since 2003, Tbilisi has experienced considerably more stability with decreasing crime rates, an improved economy, and a real estate boom. During the 2008 South Ossetia war, the Tbilisi area was hit by multiple Russian air attacks. After the war, several large-scale projects were started, including a streetcar system, a railway bypass and a relocation of the central station, and new urban highways. In June 2015, a flood killed at least twenty people and caused animals from the city's zoo to be released into the streets.

• Illustration — City Council building overlooking Freedom Square The status of Tbilisi, as the nation's capital, is defined by Article 10 of the Constitution of Georgia (1995) and the Law on Georgia's Capital – Tbilisi (20 February 1998). Tbilisi is governed by the Tbilisi City Assembly (Sakrebulo) and the Tbilisi City Hall (Meria). The City Assembly and mayor are elected once every four years by direct elections. The Mayor of Tbilisi is Kakha Kaladze and the Chairman of the Tbilisi city Assembly is Giorgi Alibegashvili. • Illustration — A police station on Agmashenebeli Avenue Administratively, the city is divided into raions (districts), which have their own units of central and local government with jurisdiction over a limited scope of affairs. This subdivision was established under Soviet rule in the 1930s, following the general subdivision of the Soviet Union. After Georgia regained independence, the raion system was modified and reshuffled. According to the latest revision, Tbilisi raions include: • Mtatsminda District, including neighborhoods: Mtatsminda, Sololaki, Vera, Kiketi, Kojori, Shindisi, Tsavkisi, Tabakhmela, Okrokana • Vake District, including neighborhoods: Vake, Bagebi, Upper Saburtalo, Nutsubidze Plateau, Tskneti • Saburtalo District, including neighborhoods: Lower Saburtalo, Vedzisi, Lisi, Vashlijvari, Didi Dighomi, Patara Dighomi, Zurgovana • Krtsanisi District, including neighborhoods: Krtsanisi, Abanotubani, Kala, Ortachala, Ponichala • Isani District, including neighborhoods: Avlabari, Isani, Navtlughi, Metromsheni, Vazisubani, Elia • Samgori District, including neighborhoods: Varketili, Orkhevi, Dampalo, Lilo, Airport Settlement, Navtlughi-2, Africa, Zeemka • Chughureti District, including neighborhoods: Chughureti, Ivertubani, Kukia, Svanetisubani • Didube District, including neighborhoods: Didube, Dighomi Massive • Nadzaladevi District, including neighborhoods: Nadzaladevi, Sanzona, Temka, Lotkini • Gldani District, including neighborhoods: Gldani, Avchala, Mukhiani, Gldanula, Zahesi • Overview of Tbilisi districts • District Name — Population (2017) — Area (Km 2) • Mtatsminda District — 49,052 — 73 • Vake District — 111,903 — 61.7 • Saburtalo District — 138,493 — 75.5 • Krtsanisi District — 39,286 — 31.7 • Isani District — 125,610 — 16.7 • Samgori District — 177,844 — 128.4 • Chughureti District — 65,230 — 14.3 • Didube District — 70,018 — 8.4 • Nadzaladevi District — 154,067 — 42 • Gldani District — 177,214 — 50.3 • City of Tbilisi — 1,108,717 — 502 • Source: Geostat, Tbilisi City Hall Most of the raions are named after historic quarters of the city. The citizens of Tbilisi widely recognize an informal system of smaller historic neighborhoods. Such neighborhoods are several, however, constituting a kind of hierarchy, because most of them have lost their distinctive topographic limits. The natural first level of subdivision of the city is into the right and left banks of the Mtkvari river. The names of the oldest neighborhoods go back to the early Middle Ages and sometimes pose a great linguistic interest. The newest whole-built developments bear chiefly residential marketing names. In 19th-century Tbilisi, the Georgian quarter was confined to the southeastern part of the city; Baedeker describes the layout succinctly: Karl Baedeker, Russia: A Handbook for Travelers

• Illustration — Tbilisi, especially Old Town, has a complex terrain, with hills and cliffs. • Illustration — The National Botanical Garden of Georgia in Tbilisi is concealed from view as it resides among the hills of the Sololaki Range.

Tbilisi is located in the South Caucasus at 41° 43' North and 44° 47' East. The city lies in Eastern Georgia on both banks of the Kura River (locally known as Mtkvari). The elevation of the city ranges from 380-770 m and has the shape of an amphitheatre surrounded by mountains on three sides. To the north, Tbilisi is bounded by the Saguramo Range, to the east and south-east by the Iori Plain, to the south and west by various endings (subranges) of the Trialeti Range. The relief of Tbilisi is complex. The part of the city which lies on the left bank of the Kura River extends for more than 30 km from the Avchala District to River Lochini. The part of the city which lies on the right side of the river, though, is built along the foothills of the Trialeti Range, the slopes of which in many cases descend all the way to the edges of the river. The mountains, therefore, are a significant barrier to urban development on its right bank. This type of a geographic environment creates pockets of very densely developed areas, while other parts of the city are left undeveloped due to the complex topographic relief. To the north of the city, a large reservoir (commonly known as the Tbilisi Sea) is fed by irrigation canals.

• Illustration — Tbilisi Sea, the city's largest body of water located in the suburbs. Tbilisi has a humid temperate climate (Köppen: Cfa, Trewartha: Do) with considerable continental and semi-arid influences. The city experiences hot, humid summers and moderately cold dry winters. Like most other regions of Eastern Georgia, Tbilisi's precipitation maximum occurs in late spring and early summer, with a winter minimum in precipitation and a drought-like nadir in late summer. The city's climate is influenced both by dry (Central Asian/Siberian) air masses from the east and oceanic (Atlantic/Black Sea) air masses from the west. Because the city is bounded on most sides by mountain ranges, the close proximity to large bodies of water (Black and Caspian Seas) and the fact that the Greater Caucasus Mountains Range (further to the north) blocks the intrusion of cold air masses from Russia, Tbilisi has a relatively mild microclimate compared to other cities that possess a similar climate along the same latitudes. The average annual temperature in Tbilisi is 13.8 °C. January is the coldest month with an average temperature of 2.7 °C. July is the hottest month with an average temperature of 25.4 °C. Daytime high temperatures reach or exceed 32 °C on an average of 22 days during a typical year. The absolute minimum recorded temperature is -24.4 °C in January 1883 and the absolute maximum is 42.0 °C on 17 July 1882. Lying in the partial rain shadow of the Trialeti Range and the Abul-Samsari and Likhi Ranges farther to the west, Tbilisi receives about half the precipitation of Western Georgia. The historical average annual precipitation of Tbilisi from 1961-1990 is 632 mm. The average annual precipitation for the most recent period ranging from 2000-2024 was 673 mm. May is the wettest month (averaging 84.0 mm of precipitation) while January is the driest (averaging 16.4 mm of precipitation). Snow falls on average 15–25 days per year. Maximum snow depth in the city center never exceeds 40 cm, although snow depths in the adjacent foothills and suburbs can surpass 70 cm. The surrounding mountains often trap the clouds within and around the city, mainly during the Spring and Autumn months, resulting in prolonged rainy and/or cloudy weather. Northwesterly winds dominate in most parts of Tbilisi throughout the year. Southeasterly winds are common as well.

Main ethnic groups of Tbilisi • Year — Georgians — % — Armenians — % — Russians — % — Total • 1780 — 50,000 — 66.7% — 10,000 — 13.3% — 75,000 • 1790 — 44,000 — 61.1% — 12,000 — 16.7% — 72,000 • 1801–1803 — 4,300 — 21.5% — 14,860 — 74.3% — 20,000 • 1864/65 winter — 14,878 — 24.8% — 28,404 — 47.3% — 12,462 — 20.7% — 60,085 • 1864/65 summer — 14,787 — 20.8% — 31,180 — 43.9% — 12,142 — 17.1% — 71,051 • 1876 — 22,156 — 21.3% — 37,610 — 36.1% — 30,813 — 29.6% — 104,024 • Year — Kartvelian speakers — % — Armenian speakers — % — Russian speakers — % — Total population • 1897 — 42,206 — 26.4% — 47,133 — 29.5% — 44,823 — 28.1% — 159,590 • 1916 — 37,584 — 10.8% — 149,294 — 43.1% — 91,997 — 26.5% — 346,766 • 1926 — 112,014 — 38.1% — 100,148 — 34.1% — 45,937 — 15.6% — 294,044 • 1939 — 228,394 — 44% — 137,331 — 26.4% — 93,337 — 18% — 519,220 • 1959 — 336,257 — 48.4% — 149,258 — 21.5% — 125,674 — 18.1% — 694,664 • 1970 — 511,379 — 57.5% — 150,205 — 16.9% — 124,316 — 14% — 889,020 • 1979 — 653,242 — 62.1% — 152,767 — 14.5% — 129,122 — 12.3% — 1,052,734 • 1989 — 824,412 — 66.1% — 150,138 — 12.0% — 124,867 — 10.0% — 1,246,936 • 2002 — 910,712 — 84.2% — 82,586 — 7.6% — 32,580 — 3.0% — 1,081,679 • 2014 — 996,804 — 89.9% — 53,409 — 4.8% — 13,350 — 1.2% — 1,108,717 As a multiethnic city, Tbilisi is home to more than 100 ethnic groups. Around 90% of the population consists of ethnic Georgians, with significant populations of Armenians, Russians, and Azerbaijanis. Along with the above-mentioned groups, Tbilisi is home to other ethnic groups including Ossetians, Abkhazians, Ukrainians, Greeks, Jews, Assyrians, Yazidis, and others.

• Illustration — Sameba Cathedral More than 95% of the residents of Tbilisi practise some form of Christianity, the majority being followers of the Georgian Orthodox Church. The Russian Orthodox Church and the Armenian Apostolic Church also have significant communities in the city. About 1.5% of the population identifies as Muslim, primarily of the Shia branch, while approximately 0.1% practise Judaism. The city is also home to a Roman Catholic community and a Yazidi minority, who worship at the Sultan Ezid Temple.

• Illustration — Preparations for the 2015 UEFA Super Cup at the Dinamo Arena in Tbilisi The largest stadium is the Dinamo Arena (capacity 55,000), followed by the Mikheil Meskhi Stadium (capacity 24,680). The Sports Palace hosts basketball games and tennis tournaments, with a seating capacity of about 11,000. Vere Basketball Hall is a smaller indoor sports arena seating 2,500. Football is the most popular sport in Tbilisi, followed by rugby union and basketball. Other popular sports include wrestling, tennis, swimming, and water polo. Tbilisi has several professional football and rugby teams, as well as wrestling clubs. Two U.S. National Basketball Association players, Zaza Pachulia and Nikoloz Tskitishvili, are Tbilisi natives. Tbilisi's signature football club, Dinamo Tbilisi, won the 1980–81 European Cup Winners' Cup, becoming the easternmost team to win a major European football tournament. The basketball club Dinamo Tbilisi also won the 1962 EuroLeague title. Tbilisi co-hosted Group A matches of the EuroBasket 2022 tournament at the new 10,000-seat Tbilisi Arena, along with Czech Republic (Prague), Germany (Berlin, Cologne), and Italy (Milan). • Club — Sport — Stadium • Lelo Saracens — Rugby Union — Lelo Sport Centre • RC Armazi Tbilisi — Rugby Union — Shevardeni Stadium • RC Locomotive Tbilisi — Rugby Union — Avchala Stadium • RC Army Tbilisi — Rugby Union — Avchala Stadium • FC Dinamo Tbilisi — Football — Boris Paichadze Stadium • FC Lokomotivi Tbilisi — Football — Mikheil Meskhi Stadium • FC Saburtalo Tbilisi — Football — Bendela Stadium • FC WIT Georgia — Football — Mikheil Meskhi Stadium #2 • BC Dinamo Tbilisi — Basketball — Tbilisi Sports Palace • BC TSU Tbilisi — Basketball — Tbilisi Sports Palace • BC MIA Academy — Basketball — Tbilisi Sports Palace • BC Armia — Basketball — Tbilisi Sports Palace • Maccabi Brinkford Tbilisi — Basketball — Tbilisi Sports Palace • B.C. VITA Tbilisi — Basketball — Tbilisi Sports Palace

The majority of Georgia's media companies (including television, newspapers, and radio) are headquartered in Tbilisi. The city is home to major television channels such as Rustavi 2, Imedi, TV Pirveli, Mtavari Arkhi, Formula, Maestro, and the Public Broadcasting Channel, among others. Since 2019, Tbilisi's television market has undergone notable changes, particularly following ownership changes at Rustavi 2, which led to the creation of new television channels like Mtavari Arkhi and TV Formula. Tbilisi has numerous newspaper publishing houses. Prominent newspapers include the daily 24 Saati ("24 Hours"), Rezonansi ("Resonance"), Alia, the English-language daily The Messenger, weekly publications like FINANCIAL, Georgia Today, and The Georgian Times.

The architecture of Tbilisi is a blend of Georgian, Byzantine, Neoclassical, Art Nouveau, Beaux-Arts, Middle Eastern, and Soviet modern influences. Few buildings survived the 1795 destruction of the city, so most historic structures date to the Russian Imperial period (1801–1917). Tbilisi's old quarters (Kala, Abanotubani, Avlabari) were largely rebuilt following their medieval street plans. Downtown areas developed during the 19th century, like Sololaki, Rustaveli Avenue, and Vera, show contemporary European-style layout with Beaux-Arts, Orientalist, and revivalist architecture. Tbilisi is particularly noted for its Art Nouveau buildings, especially in Sololaki and Chughureti, which flourished from the 1890s until the early Soviet era. Stalinist architecture, such as the 1938 Marx-Engels-Lenin Institute building (now the Biltmore Hotel Tbilisi), also left a mark on the city's landscape. Post-World War II architecture introduced mass housing blocks in neighbourhoods like Saburtalo and Dighomi. Notable Soviet-era landmarks include the 1975 Ministry of Roads building and the 1984 Wedding Palace. Brutalist architecture from the Soviet era is also a notable and distinctive feature of the city, including the former Ministry of Highway Construction building, now the headquarters of the Bank of Georgia in Tbilisi. Since independence, Tbilisi has experienced both rapid skyscraper development (e.g., Axis Towers, Holiday Inn Tbilisi, King David Residences) and challenges with unregulated construction. • Illustration — Rustaveli Theatre on Rustaveli Avenue • Illustration — Cafés in Old Tbilisi

Tbilisi is home to several important museums and art spaces: • The Georgian National Museum network, including the Art Museum of Georgia. • The Museum of Modern Art Tbilisi, opened in 2012. Other cultural institutions include the Giorgi Leonidze State Museum of Literature and the Writer's House of Georgia.

Tbilisi hosts major cultural institutions such as: • Tbilisi State Conservatoire • Tbilisi Opera and Ballet Theatre • Shota Rustaveli State Academic Theatre • Marjanishvili State Academic Theatre • Rezo Gabriadze Marionette Theater • Royal District Theatre • Illustration — Tbilisi Opera and Ballet Theatre

Tbilisi was designated as World Book Capital for 2021 by UNESCO, recognizing the city's efforts to promote books and reading.

Georgia's rising popularity as a travel destination has positioned Tbilisi as a major regional tourism hub. In 2019, the country welcomed over 9 million international visitors, significantly boosting Tbilisi's hospitality and service sectors. • Illustration — Tbilisi Art Gallery

Notable landmarks and attractions include: • Narikala fortress (4th–17th century) • Anchiskhati Basilica (6th century) • Sioni Cathedral (8th century) • Church of Metekhi • Sameba Cathedral (Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi) • Bridge of Peace • Abanotubani sulfur baths • Open Air Museum of Ethnography • Tbilisi Old Town • Parliament of Georgia • Supreme Court of Georgia • National Bank of Georgia • Tbilisi Circus During Soviet times, Tbilisi was ranked among the top cities for the number of museums within the USSR. • Illustration — Abanotubani

Tbilisi has developed a thriving and internationally recognized nightlife scene since the 2010s. Notable clubs include: • Bassiani • Mtkvarze • Khidi • Café Gallery These venues attract world-renowned DJs and have helped position Tbilisi on the global electronic music map. The city also hosts a growing underground queer nightlife scene, gaining international media attention.

• Illustration — New high-rise residential and office buildings in Vake, 2026 With a nominal GDP of 32 billion Georgian lari (€10 billion) as of 2022, Tbilisi is Georgia's economic powerhouse, generating more than half of the country's total GDP. Its GDP per capita is 26,769 lari (€8,700), exceeding the national average by more than 50 percent. The economy of Tbilisi is dominated by the service sector, particularly: • Wholesale and retail trade • Transport and logistics • Financial services • Hospitality and real estate Reflecting its position as a regional hub, the city hosts the headquarters of most Georgian banks, major companies, and international organizations operating in the South Caucasus region. The unemployment rate in Tbilisi stands at 22.5%, which is significantly higher than the national average.

• Illustration — Tbilisi International Airport, 2013 Tbilisi's public transport system is managed by the Transport and Urban Development Agency. After years of prioritizing private vehicles, the city has invested heavily in developing a green, accessible, and extensive public transit network since the 2010s. Today, the city is served by an international airport, metro, national rail, municipal buses, minibuses, cabs, aerial tramways, bike lanes, and a funicular railway.

Shota Rustaveli Tbilisi International Airport is the city's only international airport, located about 18 km southeast of the city centre. Handling nearly 3 million passengers in 2022, it is the busiest airport in Georgia and a regional hub. It is a hub for Georgian Airways and other international carriers, offering direct flights to Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia. A secondary domestic airport at Natakhtari Airfield connects Tbilisi with Batumi, Mestia, and Ambrolauri.

• Illustration — Tbilisi Metro station The Tbilisi Metro operates two lines — the Akhmeteli–Varketili Line and the Saburtalo Line — with 23 stations and around 400,000 daily rides. Opened in 1966, it was the fourth metro system in the former Soviet Union. The system is known for its depth and ornate station designs. The metro is undergoing major upgrades, including full station renovations, better accessibility for people with disabilities, and new rolling stock acquisitions. A third overground metro line connecting central Tbilisi to Tbilisi International Airport and Rustavi is under planning.

Tbilisi is the main hub of Georgian Railways, with inter-city trains connecting it to Batumi, Zugdidi, Poti, Kutaisi, and other cities from Tbilisi Central Railway Station.

• Illustration — Tbilisi's municipal bus fleet Tbilisi's bus network forms the backbone of urban transit. A major reorganisation launched in 2020 introduced Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridors (TBT lines 300–310) served by articulated 18-metre-long buses, alongside more than 200 other city and local routes. New environmentally friendly buses — including MAN Lion's City CNG and ISUZU models — have replaced the ageing fleet since 2017.

Cycling is gaining popularity, supported by a growing network of bike lanes. During the COVID-19 pandemic, temporary cycle lanes were introduced, increasing the city's cycling network to over 20 km. The long-term plan aims to expand it to 350 km.

Tbilisi had an electric tram network from 1904 until 2006, when it was dismantled. For over two decades there had been some talks about restoring trams, however, it was too expensive and instead the governments mainly focused on expanding the bus network. Recent push towards trams started in 2021, the file of Sustainable Development Projects in Tbilisi included trams as one of the key points of future plans. Tbilisi Transport Company had concluded the tender for the 7.5 kilometer of tram line and depot construction. The new tram line will be 7.5 kilometers long, run between Didube-Digomi, have 11 stops and each tram will be able to carry at least 300 passengers.

Private minibuses (marshrutka) continue to supplement the bus network, although their share is gradually decreasing following municipal reforms. In 2019, a new tender introduced modern minibuses with stricter safety and comfort standards.

Tbilisi operates three gondola lift systems: • **Rike Park to Narikala Fortress** (opened 2012) • **Vake Park to Turtle Lake** (reopened 2016) • **State University to Bagebi** (reopened 2021) The Soviet-era tram between Rustaveli Avenue and Mtatsminda was dismantled after the tragic 1990 Tbilisi aerial tramway accident, but reconstruction plans are underway.

The Tbilisi Funicular, originally opened in 1905 and restored in 2012, connects Chonkadze Street to Mtatsminda Park at the highest point of the city. The line provides access to panoramic views, the Tbilisi TV Broadcasting Tower, and various recreational facilities.

• Illustration — Public School Number 1 of Tbilisi, also known as the First Classical Gymnasium • Illustration — Tbilisi State University, Building I Tbilisi is the principal centre of higher education in Georgia and the Caucasus region. It hosts many major universities and research institutions, drawing both local and international students. The largest and oldest university in the Caucasus is Tbilisi State University (TSU), founded on 8 February 1918. TSU has about 25,000 students and more than 5,000 faculty and staff. Other prominent public institutions include: • Tbilisi State Medical University, the largest medical university in the Caucasus, established in 1918 as part of TSU and operating independently since 1992. • Georgian Technical University, founded in 1922 as a polytechnic faculty and now the country's leading technical university. • Ilia State University, established in 2006 through the merger of six institutions. Several private universities are also notable: • The University of Georgia (Tbilisi), the largest private university with around 8,000 students. • Caucasus University, founded in 2004, which evolved from the Caucasus School of Business (established in 1998). • Free University of Tbilisi, established in 2007 through a merger of ESM-Tbilisi and the Tbilisi Institute of Asia and Africa. Other significant institutions include: • Tbilisi State Conservatory • Shota Rustaveli Theatre and Film University • Tbilisi State Academy of Arts • Caucasus International University • Tbilisi Medical Academy • Georgian American University • International Black Sea University • Georgian Institute of Public Affairs • Agricultural University of Georgia • International School of Economics at TSU (ISET) • New Vision University • Grigol Robakidze University

• Illustration — Tbilisi Platz in Saarbrücken, Germany.

Tbilisi is twinned with: • * Saarbrücken, Germany (1975) * Nantes, France (1979) * Ljubljana, Slovenia (1977) * Innsbruck, Austria (1982) * Atlanta, United States (1987) * Palermo, Italy (1987) * Bristol, United Kingdom (1988) * Bilbao, Spain (1989) * Yerevan, Armenia (1996) * Kyiv, Ukraine (1999) — | * Astana, Kazakhstan (2005) * Vilnius, Lithuania (2009) * Chișinău, Moldova (2011) * Cairo, Egypt (2012) * Doha, Qatar (2012) * Tehran, Iran (2015) * Minsk, Belarus (2015) * Istanbul, Turkey (2016) * Sofia, Bulgaria (2016) * Lima, Peru (2018) * Baku, Azerbaijan (2021) * Bucharest, Romania (2022)

• * Odesa, Ukraine (1996) * Ankara, Turkey (1996) * Baku, Azerbaijan (1997) * Athens, Greece (1997) * Paris, France (1997) * Jerusalem, Israel (1998) * Riga, Latvia (2007) * Kraków, Poland (2009) * Warsaw, Poland (2010) — | * Budapest, Hungary (2011) * Kharkiv, Ukraine (2012) * Lviv, Ukraine (2013) * Lincoln, United States (2013) * Guangzhou, China (2014) * Lublin, Poland (2014) * Dublin, Ireland (2014) * Prague, Czech Republic