A Tbilisi taste tour with real momentum. What I love most is the Old City walking loop paired with 15 Georgian tastings that move from savory dumplings to wine and chacha. The main trade-off is that this is still a moderate walk, so you’ll want solid shoes and patience for busy streets and stairs.

Your guide does the heavy lifting: big stories at key stops, plus practical food and culture context as you go. Guides like Emma, Nodar, Camila, Giorgi, and George (all named in guest feedback) keep the day moving at a friendly pace, with time to snap photos and ask questions.

Key things you’ll notice on this tour

• 15 tastings that actually cover Georgian flavor basics, from khinkali varieties to sauces and sweets
• A mix of Old Town icons and newer Tbilisi viewpoints, so you get both storylines in one outing
• Photo-stop planning at major landmarks, plus small pockets of free time to look around
• Wine progression that includes white, red dry, red semi-sweet, and qvevri-style wine
• A short finish at a local bar, where the tour’s wine tasting often turns into a chance to linger

A walking route that connects Old Town to modern Tbilisi

This tour is built around getting oriented fast. You start with a hotel pickup, then head out on foot through the parts of Tbilisi that most visitors try to stitch together on their own—Old City streets on one side, and the newer riverfront viewpoints on the other.

It runs about 2 to 4 hours, which is a sweet spot: long enough to feel like you saw the city, short enough to keep the rest of your day flexible. Because it’s a guided walk, you’re not spending your time hunting for entrances, figuring out names, or decoding what you’re looking at.

You should know the pace is “moderate.” Expect some uphill moments, steps, and narrow sidewalks. If you don’t walk much, you’ll feel it by stop number five or six.

The 15 tastings: khinkali, churchkhela, tkemali, ajika, qvevri wine, chacha

The big selling point here is the tasting count—15 chances to try Georgian staples without needing a long sit-down meal plan.

Savory starts: khinkali and a lemonade breather

You’ll begin with multiple khinkali varieties, including beef, mushroom, potato-cheese, and potato. This is smart for first-timers. You don’t just taste one version—you learn how different fillings change the whole bite.

There’s also a local lemonade break, which matters. Alcohol and dumplings can pile up quickly, and lemonade helps reset your palate so the later wine tastings make sense.

Sweet Georgia: churchkhela and gozinaki

On the sweet side, you’ll try churchkhela in both walnut and hazelnut versions, plus gozinaki with walnut and honey. These aren’t random desserts. They’re part of Georgia’s seasonal and festive food culture—sticky, nut-forward, and very Georgian in both texture and flavor.

Flavor boosters: tkemali and ajika

You’ll also get small “sauce hits” that explain how Georgian meals come alive at the table:

• Tkemali (wild plum/blackberry)
• Ajika (spicy)

This is the part I think works best for people who love to recreate food later. You taste the sauce logic instead of just eating the main dish.

Wine tasting that progresses, ending with chacha

The tour includes several wine tastings: white wine, red dry wine, red semi-sweet wine, and qvevri wine. That sequence helps you notice shifts in style instead of treating everything as one blended category.

The final spirit tasting is chacha, Georgia’s well-known grape-based spirit. If you’re sensitive to strong alcohol, pace yourself—there’s enough food here to slow your drinking, but it’s still alcohol.

A practical tip: some guides encourage starting with an empty stomach. With this many stops and tastings, it can be the difference between enjoying the day and feeling stuffed early.

Local café welcome, then Dry Bridge Market for photos and browsing time

Right away you get a meet-and-go. There’s a local café stop with guided tour time plus welcome refreshments. This is useful because it sets expectations: what you’ll see next, and how the food tastings will fit the walk.

Then comes Dry Bridge Market. Expect a photo stop, a short guided moment, and some free time. It’s a classic place to scan for small souvenirs, crafts, and curios—good if you like wandering even when you’re on a schedule.

One consideration: if your tour start time is later, Dry Bridge Market may have limited browsing time or be closed. If you care about this stop specifically, try to choose an earlier departure when possible.

Dedaena Park and the Presidential Palace viewpoint: quick scene-setting

Next up is Dedaena Park. You’ll get a photo stop and some free time, which is exactly what this kind of viewpoint stop should be: don’t overthink it. Take the photos, enjoy the view, and then move on.

You’ll also pass by the Presidential Palace. This isn’t about going inside—it’s about seeing how modern power and Georgian architecture show up in the city plan.

These pauses do two jobs. They give your legs a rest, and they help you understand where the city’s “new” energy sits relative to the Old City.

Rezo Gabriadze Theater and Anchiskhati Basilica: story stops with real contrast

Tbilisi religion and theater show up close together here, which makes the day feel varied.

At Rezo Gabriadze Theater, you get another photo stop and a guided explanation. It’s a great place to listen for context because the theater area isn’t just a building—it’s part of how modern Tbilisi expresses culture.

Then you move to Anchiskhati Basilica. This is where the tour leans into older layers of the city. You’ll have time to stop, look, and absorb the atmosphere. If you like history that shows up in stone rather than in a museum, this stop lands well.

Ioane Shavteli Street to the Bridge of Peace: walking energy over “checklist tourism”

After the basilica, you’ll continue through Ioane Shavteli Street, with another photo stop and sightseeing time. Streets like this are where a guided tour pays off. Even if you could wander there alone, a guide helps you connect what you see to why it matters.

Then comes the Bridge of Peace and the riverfront area at Rike Park. This is one of the day’s best transitions: you go from older streets to newer city planning designed for views and movement.

You’ll have time to take photos and slow down a bit. In my view, this section is the “reset” for the whole tour—cooler photos, calmer river air, and a clear feeling of how Tbilisi’s present relates to its past.

Europe Square and Meidan Bazar: modern public space meets craft-market flavor

You’ll pass through Europe Square with photo and guided time. It’s a good landmark stop that keeps the walking route logical and gives you another anchor point to remember later.

Then the tour heads toward Meidan Bazar, where you’ll get photo stop time, guided tour, and a spirits moment. You’ll also visit an arts and crafts market.

This is an important stop for two reasons:

1. You see the everyday commercial life of the city, not just tourist icons.
2. The craft-market browsing fits naturally after tasting and walking—your brain has something visual to do while you rest.

Old Town finale and the local bar wine tasting: where the night can turn

The last stretch is Old Town, Tbilisi, with another guided stop and time to roam. This is where the city starts to feel like a place you could navigate on your own afterward.

You finish at a local bar for wine tasting. The tasting includes wine types already mentioned earlier, plus the tour’s alcohol focus in a relaxed setting. Based on guest feedback, this is often not a hard stop. Some tours end in a way that gives you time to mingle and order more wine if you want.

If you’re planning dinner later, this finish is also practical. You can ask your guide what to do next, then head out while the city is fresh in your mind.

Guide style and small-group feel: why it doesn’t feel like a factory tour

The day’s tone depends heavily on the guide. In the feedback you’ll see repeated praise for guides such as Emma, Nodar, Camila, Giorgi, George, Irina, and Mariam. The common theme is that they’re not just reciting facts—they’re responding to questions and setting the mood for a human conversation.

If you’re curious about Georgian life beyond food—language, politics, culture—this format helps. One reason: you’re asking while you’re standing in the actual places the stories connect to, not in a classroom.

Group size also matters. The tour offers private or small groups, which usually means more time for questions and less waiting around while everyone catches up. In a city like Tbilisi, that can make the difference between a “tour” and a “day.”

Comfort, pace, and what to bring in Tbilisi walking weather

The tour asks for comfortable shoes. That’s not a throwaway line. Tbilisi walking can mean cobbles, uneven surfaces, and stairs around key sights.

Also plan for weather. You’ll want sunscreen on clear days and a rain layer if the forecast looks iffy. The tour length is short enough that you don’t want to suffer through it.

One more practical note: oversize luggage isn’t allowed, and large bags aren’t a good idea. If you’re traveling light, you’ll enjoy the walk more.

And if you want to get the most out of the tastings, come hungry in a smart way. With multiple khinkali rounds plus wine and sweets, you’ll likely be glad you didn’t snack heavily beforehand.

Price and value: is $62 worth it?

At $62 per person, the value comes from how many elements you’re bundling together:

• a guided Old + New City walking route
• 15 included tastings with multiple wines and chacha
• hotel pickup and drop-off

For many visitors, the cost isn’t only about the money—it’s about saving time and guesswork. You don’t have to plan where to eat, which wine to pick, or how to connect the sights into one coherent route. The guide’s job is to do that stitching for you.

If you’re the type who enjoys food tours and wants a structured first look at Tbilisi, this pricing tends to make sense. If you only want scenery and skip alcohol, you might feel the money is more weighted toward eating and drinking than sightseeing.

Who should book this Tbilisi Old & New wine and food tour?

This is a strong fit if you want:

• a first-day orientation to Tbilisi with both Old City and newer viewpoints
• a food-forward tour without spending your whole day in restaurants
• wine and spirit tastings with Georgian flavor variety

It may not be your best choice if:

• you need wheelchair access or have mobility limitations (this tour isn’t suitable for wheelchair users)
• you dislike alcohol or don’t want to taste wine and chacha as part of the experience

Should you book? My quick call

If you’re visiting Tbilisi for the first time and you like the idea of learning the city through food, wine, and walkable landmarks, book it. The tastings cover a wide slice of Georgian flavor—especially the khinkali range and the progression through white/red/qvevri styles.

If you’re worried about walking, plan on taking it slow on the climbs and bring shoes you’d trust for hours. And if you care about Dry Bridge Market specifically, try to schedule a start time that gives you real browsing room rather than a rushed photo stop.

FAQ

How long is the Tbilisi Old & New City guided tour?

It lasts about 2 to 4 hours, depending on the starting time and how the walk progresses.

Is hotel pickup and drop-off included?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off from your hotel are included.

How many food and drink tastings are included?

You get 15 tastings, including multiple khinkali options, sweets like churchkhela and gozinaki, sauces like tkemali and ajika, and wine and spirit tastings (including chacha).

What wine types are tasted?

The included wine tastings are white wine, red dry wine, red semi-sweet wine, and qvevri wine.

What alcohol is included besides wine?

Chacha is included as a local spirit tasting. There is also a spirits stop at Meidan Bazar.

Is the tour in English?

The guide offers English, and Russian is also available.

Is there a lot of walking?

There is a moderate amount of walking, so comfortable shoes are important.

Is this tour suitable for wheelchair users?

No. It isn’t suitable for people with mobility impairments or wheelchair users.

What should I bring?

Bring comfortable walking shoes. You should also be prepared for the weather with sunscreen or a raincoat.

Are large bags or luggage allowed?

No oversize luggage and no large bags are allowed.

Are there both savory and sweet tastings?

Yes. You’ll try savory items like khinkali and sauces, plus sweets like churchkhela (walnut and hazelnut) and gozinaki (walnut and honey), along with lemonade.