Tbilisi: Old & New city, Guided tour with 12 Tastings

Come hungry, leave full of stories. This three-hour Tbilisi tour combines the city’s old lanes, markets, churches, sulfur baths, and modern public spaces with 12 Georgian tastings. I especially like the mix of beef, mushroom, potato, and cheese khinkali, plus the chance to compare white, red, and qvevri wines. I also like that the route includes both well-known sights and everyday places such as the Flower Market and Dry Bridge Market.

The main thing to consider is the pace. You will walk roughly 2 to 3 miles, stop often for food, and cover a lot of ground in three hours. That makes the tour efficient, but it may feel brisk if you want long visits inside each sight or a slow, sit-down meal. Children under 12 can join only on private tours, and strollers and large bags are not allowed.

Quick take: what makes this Tbilisi tour useful

• Four styles of khinkali: Try beef, mushroom, potato-cheese, and potato fillings instead of settling for one familiar version.
• Three kinds of Georgian wine: White, red, and qvevri tastings introduce you to Georgia’s old winemaking tradition in a compact way.
• A broad Old Town route: The tour links markets, Rike Park, the cable car, Meidan Bazar, the clock tower, and traditional streets.
• Strong guide-led storytelling: George, Giorgi, and Irina are repeatedly praised for clear explanations, friendly conversation, useful advice, and good pacing.
• Tickets and transfers included: Hotel pickup, drop-off, and cable-car tickets make the three-hour outing simple to arrange.
• Good for mixed interests: You get food, city views, architecture, local customs, and a short introduction to Georgian drinks in one booking.

Why the food-and-history combination works

Tbilisi is easier to understand when you connect its food with its streets. Georgian dishes are not just fuel between monuments. They help explain family traditions, local ingredients, hospitality, and the country’s long relationship with wine.

This tour uses food as a reason to pause. You may be standing near a market, walking past an old building, or finishing a story about the city when the next tasting appears. That rhythm keeps a short tour lively and gives you several flavors to remember after the walk.

The tasting list is generous for a three-hour outing. It includes four types of khinkali, local lemonade, shoti bread, Churchkhela, three wines, chacha, and Muscat liqueur. The portions are not described as a full meal, but the dumpling servings can be generous. If you are eating lightly before the tour, the food should do more than simply provide samples.

The format also suits solo visitors. George has been praised for making a solo participant feel welcome, explaining both the city and Georgian wines, and sharing practical recommendations for later. Private and small-group options are available, so you can choose a more personal setting if questions and conversation matter to you.

Starting with Cafe Daphna and the State Palace of Ceremonies

Pickup takes place in Tbilisi, with hotel pickup and drop-off included. The exact meeting details depend on the booking, so you should check the start time and pickup arrangement before setting your day around the tour.

Cafe Daphna is one of the early stops. Here you can expect a photo stop, a visit, guided explanation, and some free time. The cafe provides an early connection between the city walk and its food culture, though the supplied details do not specify which tasting is served there.

The State Palace of Ceremonies follows. This is another stop for photographs, sightseeing, and an introduction from your guide. It helps widen the tour beyond the oldest lanes. You are not simply touring one historic quarter, but moving through different parts of Tbilisi and seeing how the city presents its past and present side by side.

A useful feature here is the guide’s role. George and Giorgi are praised for explaining the city in an engaging way without making the walk feel like a lecture. Irina is also described as helpful and willing to answer plenty of questions. That matters because several stops are viewed from outside or treated as short visits. The guide’s explanation carries much of the value.

Flower Market and Dry Bridge Market: everyday Tbilisi

The Flower Market offers a change of mood from formal buildings and city viewpoints. You get time for photographs, sightseeing, and a guided visit. Markets are often where a city feels most immediate, and this stop gives you a look at local commerce rather than only polished attractions.

Dry Bridge Market is another important part of the route. It is listed for a photo stop, visit, guided tour, free time, and sightseeing. The tour description points to fresh fruit, spices, handmade crafts, and local sellers, although the precise stalls available can vary.

I like these market stops because they give the food tastings a setting. You are not only told that Georgian cuisine values strong local traditions. You also see the kinds of products and exchanges that make a city’s food culture feel real.

Allow yourself some self-control here. Free time at a market can tempt you into buying souvenirs, spices, or crafts, but the tour continues and you will still have several tastings ahead. Large bags are not allowed, so avoid shopping for anything bulky during the walk.

Rezo Gabriadze Theater and the famous clock tower

The Rezo Gabriadze Theater appears as a guided stop and a pass-by, with time for photographs and sightseeing. The route then includes the clock tower, where you get another photo stop, a visit, and an explanation from the guide.

These locations add a more playful side to Tbilisi. The tour is not limited to churches, markets, and formal monuments. It also points you toward the city’s creative character and memorable street architecture.

Because the theater is listed partly as a pass-by, do not expect a full performance or a long interior visit. The clock tower is also part of a moving walking route rather than a standalone attraction with extended viewing time. If you want to study every detail or spend time inside the theater, you will need to return independently.

Still, these brief stops work well in a three-hour plan. They break up the food tastings and give you strong places for photographs without using the entire afternoon.

Rike Park and the cable car across Tbilisi

Rike Park brings the tour into a more open public space. You get time for photographs, sightseeing, and a guided visit before continuing toward the Tbilisi cable car.

Cable-car tickets are included, which is a meaningful part of the value. You do not need to arrange a separate ticket during the tour, and the ride gives you a different way to see the city after walking through its streets.

The supplied details do not specify the exact cable-car direction or how long you remain at each viewpoint. Your guide will handle the included ride as part of the route, but you should not treat this as a long scenic excursion. It is one element in a compact city tour.

I like the contrast between Rike Park and the older parts of Tbilisi. After narrow streets and traditional houses with wooden balconies, the park and cable car show you a more modern side of the city. The tour title promises Old and New city, and this section helps deliver that contrast.

Meidan Bazar and the flavors of Georgian food

Meidan Bazar is one of the key food-oriented stops. The route includes a visit, guided sightseeing, photographs, and free time. This is where the tasting element fits naturally with the city walk.

The khinkali selection is the heart of the food experience:

• Beef
• Mushrooms
• Potato and cheese
• Potato

Having four fillings gives you a better sense of how the dumpling changes with its ingredients. The mushroom version is especially worth watching for, as it has been singled out as a favorite. The potato and cheese option should appeal if you prefer a softer, milder filling, while beef offers the classic hearty choice.

You also taste shoti, a local bread, and Georgian lemonade. Churchkhela follows the savory food with something sweet. It is made from grape must and walnuts or hazelnuts, then shaped like a candle. The unusual appearance makes it easy to spot in markets, and tasting it during the tour helps you recognize it later.

The food is designed as a sampling journey rather than a formal restaurant meal. You will be moving between stops, so the experience favors variety over a long seated lunch. If you have dietary restrictions, contact the provider before booking. The listed dumplings include meat, mushrooms, potatoes, and cheese, but no broader allergy or substitution policy is provided.

Château Mukhrani Wine Bar and the final tasting flight

The final listed stop is Château Mukhrani Wine Bar, where the tour includes a wine tasting and time for photographs, sightseeing, and a guided visit. This gives the drinks their own setting rather than scattering every tasting randomly through the walk.

Georgia is closely linked with ancient winemaking traditions, and the tasting includes three different wine styles:

• White wine
• Red wine
• Qvevri wine

Qvevri wine is particularly useful for first-time visitors because it introduces a traditional Georgian method that you may notice elsewhere in the country. The tasting does not claim to be a full wine course, but it gives you a practical starting point for comparing styles.

The final drinks also include chacha, Georgia’s local spirit, and Muscat liqueur. These are small but important additions. They show that Georgian drinking culture is not limited to table wine.

Alcohol is a serious consideration here. The tour includes wine, chacha, and liqueur, so pace yourself and tell the guide if you prefer smaller pours or need to skip a drink. The supplied information does not give exact serving sizes.

After the wine bar, you return to Tbilisi. Hotel drop-off is included, which is useful if the tour ends after several tastings and a long walk.

The guides: the part that can make or break the tour

The strongest praise is directed at the guides. George is described as funny, personable, and full of information about Tbilisi, Georgian wine, and the country’s past and present. He has also helped with a booking change after a delayed flight, which suggests a practical and flexible approach.

Giorgi is praised for friendly explanations, good pacing, and an approachable style. He is also described as offering a down-to-earth introduction to the city and cuisine. Irina receives praise for being warm, helpful, and able to answer many questions during a private tour.

The descriptions also point to useful advice about places to visit later and warnings about common scams. That kind of guidance can be more valuable than another batch of facts, especially if this is your first day in Tbilisi.

Guide quality can vary by date and assignment, so I would not book solely on the hope of receiving one specific person unless the provider confirms it. Still, the repeated praise for several guides gives this tour a strong record for personal service.

Timing, walking, and practical comfort

Three hours is a good length for a first look at Tbilisi. You get an introduction without giving up an entire day, and hotel transfers make it easy to fit around other plans.

The route covers about 2 to 3 miles of walking. Comfortable shoes are essential. You should also wear weather-appropriate clothing because the activity runs in all weather conditions.

There are frequent stops, but this is still a walking tour. Uneven streets, stairs, waiting near markets, and moving between food venues may make it tiring for some people. Babies under one year are not suited to the activity, and children under 12 are allowed only on private tours.

Strollers, baby carriages, luggage, and large bags are not allowed. Pack lightly, especially if you plan to browse the markets. The route includes a cable-car ride, but the tour should not be treated as a fully accessible sightseeing vehicle experience.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the tour for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which is helpful when your schedule is still shifting.

Is the tour good value?

No price is provided here, so I cannot judge the exact cost against competing tours. I can assess what you receive: hotel pickup and drop-off, an English-speaking guide, cable-car tickets, a three-hour guided route, and 12 listed tastings.

That package can offer good value if you want a single introduction to Tbilisi rather than arranging separate food stops and sightseeing visits. The included tastings also reduce the risk of ordering unfamiliar foods on your own, since you can sample a wide range in a guided setting.

The value is less clear if you want a full meal, long museum visits, or an unhurried shopping trip. Food and drinks outside the listed tastings are not included, and the itinerary moves quickly. Ask about the current price, group size, and exact pickup details before paying so you can compare the package fairly.

Private tours cost more in many cases, but the private format may be worthwhile for families, younger children, or anyone who wants time for detailed questions. It also solves the under-12 restriction.

Who should book this Tbilisi experience?

I would recommend this tour to first-time visitors who want orientation, food, and local context in one outing. It is also a good match for solo visitors, couples, and small groups who enjoy asking questions while walking.

Food lovers will appreciate the four khinkali fillings and the range of Georgian drinks. Wine enthusiasts will find the white, red, and qvevri comparison useful, while history fans get churches, mosques, sulfur baths, traditional houses, markets, and city stories along the way.

I would be more cautious if you dislike alcohol, have serious dietary restrictions, need a slow pace, or want extensive time inside each attraction. The tour is broad rather than exhaustive. It gives you a strong first taste of Tbilisi, then leaves you with enough suggestions to explore further on your own.

Should you book the 12-tasting Tbilisi tour?

Book it if you want a lively introduction to Tbilisi with real food built into the route. The best reasons are the varied khinkali tasting, the Georgian wine flight, the cable-car ticket, and guides such as George, Giorgi, and Irina, who are praised for warmth, humor, clear explanations, and practical help.

Skip it if you want a quiet museum day or a long restaurant lunch. For most first-time visitors who can comfortably walk 2 to 3 miles, this is a smart way to get your bearings, learn the city’s basic story, and decide which foods, markets, and neighborhoods deserve a second visit.

FAQ

How long does the Tbilisi Old and New City tour last?

The tour lasts three hours. Starting times vary, so check availability when booking.

What tastings are included?

The tour includes beef khinkali, mushroom khinkali, potato-cheese khinkali, potato khinkali, local lemonade, Churchkhela with walnut or hazelnut, shoti bread, white wine, red wine, qvevri wine, chacha, and Muscat liqueur.

Is hotel pickup and drop-off included?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off in Tbilisi are included.

Is the cable-car ticket included?

Yes. Tickets for the cable car are included in the tour.

What language is the tour conducted in?

The live guided tour is conducted in English.

How much walking is involved?

The tour involves roughly 2 to 3 miles of walking. Comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate clothing are recommended.

Can children join the tour?

Children under 12 are allowed only on private tours. You should inform the provider if a child under four is traveling with you. The activity is not suitable for babies under one year.