TBILISI Guide & Map
Tbilisi
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TBILISI GUIDE
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TBILISI GUIDE
Tbilisi
Foreword As the Mayor of Tbilisi, it is a great privilege and pleasure for me to welcome you to Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia. Tbilisi is a city with a long history, rich cultural traditions and unique architectural heritage. It served as the bridge between Europe and Asia. Over time, Tbilisi turned into a melting pot of oriental and western cultures, still maintaining its strong identity. Tbilisi is a popular tourist destination. Charming old historic districts with narrow cobbled streets, stunning architecture, houses with wooden overhanging balconies, small handicraft and souvenir shops, art galleries and museums, and restaurants serving delicious culinary treats do not leave visitors indifferent and make them to come back. There is always something going in Tbilisi - a wide variety of cultural program and a vibrant nightlife with live music venues attracting lots of music lovers. Visitors have a chance to experience a deep-rooted tradition of generous Georgian hospitality. Welcome to Tbilisi, The City that Loves You! Take your time to explore Tbilisi and its surroundings. I am sure that your stay will be exciting and memorable. DAVID NARMANIA Mayor of Tbilisi City www.gmproduction.ge
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TBILISI GUIDE
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Transport
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Hotels
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Tourist Agencies
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Food & Drink
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Banks & Finance
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Construction
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Telecommunications
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Leisure
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Shopping
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Health & Beauty
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Useful Info
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Publication: Tbilisi Guide & Map 2017 Supported by Tbilisi City Hall
TBILISI GUIDE
Publisher:
Green Media Production Ltd. 22 R.Tabukashvili St., 0107,Tbilisi, Georgia Tel: (+995 32) 299 05 14 (+995 32) 242 38 46 E-mail: info@gmproduction.ge
Tbilisi City Hall 7 Shartava St., 0106, Tbilisi, Georgia Tel:(+995 32) 272 22 22 E-mail: info@tbilisi.gov.ge www.tbilisi.gov.ge
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Founders: Teimuraz Chumburidze Temur Jgerenaia General Director: Temur Jgerenaia Director: Maia Javakhishvili www.gmproduction.ge
TBILISI GUIDE
Sales & Marketing: Giorgi Abramia, Temur Legashvili Editor: Maka Svimonishvili Copy Editor: Khatuna Katsarava Translation: Ketevan Khachidze Designand layout: Giorgi Navrozashvili Official Media Partner: News Agency GHN
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ompanies and institutions that have submitted the data are responsible for the accuracy of the data provided in the publication. No parts of the publication may be reproduced are recorded into any data medium or transferred in any other way without the written consent of Green Media Production Ltd.
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TBILISI GUIDE
ARRIVAL IN TBILISI
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bilisi International Airport serving various foreign airlines as well as Georgian ones is located about 20 km from the city centre. There are several ways to get to Tbilisi centre from the airport: 1. The most comfortable way is to make arrangement and contact the compa-
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nies dealing with airport transfer before arrival. That option is more convenient for you, if your flight arrives late at night. Please see more info at Airport-Transfer 2. Also bus #37 transfers passengers from Tbilisi International Airport from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. It’s the cheapest transportation means and just costs 0.5$ but doesn’t provide door to door delivery service. However after using that bus you can get to the city center and then change to another public bus and reach any desirable destination.
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3. There is the railway station near the international airport of Georgia. A very comfortable and modern train with the capacity of 100 passengers will move on the rail road taking them to the central railway station. Traveling from airport to the central railway station will take only 20 minutes and it leaves in every 40 minutes.Fee is only 2 GEL-(about $1.5) 4. Taxi is the best and fastest way to travel. Upon leaving the arrivals terminal, taxi drivers are the first locals you see. Unlike the buses taxi rates are higher and start from 15 Lari (about $10-12) depends on the destination. We strongly recommend you to negotiate the price with the driver beforehand, because they may charge you more instead of the usual rate.
ATLAS GLOBAL 8 Arakishvili st. Tel: (+995 32) 225 03 30 www.atlasglb.com AZERBAIJAN AIRLINES Tel.: (+994 12) 598 88 80 www.azal.az BELAVIA 95 D. Agmashenebeli st. Tel: (+995) 32 295 16 85 www.en.belavia.by GEORGIAN AIRWAYS 12 Rustaveli av. Tel: (+995 32) 299 91 30 www.georgian-airways.com LUFTHANSA Tbilisi International Airport Tel: (+995 32) 243 31 56 www.lufthansa.com QATAR AIRWAYS 3 Vekua st. Pirimze Plaza Tel: (+995 32) 243 96 09 www.qatarairways.com
AIRLINES AEROFLOT 10 David Agmashenebeli st. Tel: (+995 32)2 90 09 00 www.aeroflot.ru
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TURKISH AIRWAYS 147 Agmashenebeli Ave. Tel: (+995 32) 294 07 03 www.turkishairlines.com
AIR ARABIA 15 Chavchavadze av. Tel: (+995 32) 240 00 40 www.airarabia.com
UKRAINE INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES 2 M.Brose st. Tel: (+995 32) 243 96 15 www.flyuia.com
ATLASJET 15 chavchavadze st. Tel: (+995 32) 2 40 00 40 www.atlasglb.com
URAL AIRLINES Tel: (+995 32) 231 00 20 / (+995)593 93 99 93 www.uralairlines.ru
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TBILISI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Tbilisi International airport is about 17,5 kilometres east of Tbilisi city centre. The main terminal was built in 2007 and provides good passenger services.There are number of bars, restaurants, travel agencies, ATMs, currency exchanges, VIP and CIP zones. International and domestic (Mestia) flights operate from here. The queues at passport control are usually short and the baggage delivery is often prompt.
GETTING TO TOWN
The cheapest way to get to the city centre is to take bus 37 to Freedom Square and Rustaveli Avenue. The journey takes about 30 - 40 minutes. The bus stop is just in front of the arrivals hall and they run every 30 minutes. Only coins are accepted and a single ticket costs 0.50 Lari. You can change notes into coins at the tourist information located in arrival hall. These buses now operate 24 hrs, which is very helpful if your flight is one of the many that land during the night. A new train station is located only two minutes walk from the terminal. The journey to the main train station, where you can transfer to the metro system, takes 35 minutes and costs 0.50 Lari, but the timetable is very poor. At the moment there are only two trains during the day, at 08:40 and 18:05.
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Taxis wait just outside the arrival hall and are available 24 hours a day. A ride to the city centre shouldn’t cost more than 20 - 25 Lari. If you rent a car at the airport, the route is well signposted until you enter the city, after that signage is less common. Follow signs for Rustaveli Ave. or Freedom Square if you want to reach the city centre. If you get lost, ask a taxi driver if you can pay to follow him to your destination. Taxis are relatively cheap and it will be the quickest and least stressful option. Tel: (+995) 32 231 03 41 http://www.tbilisiairport.com
KUTAISI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Wizz Air operates low-cost flights from Poland and Ukraine, as well as flights from Moscow, Russia and Minsk, Belarus. The airport is located about 230 km from Tbilisi. It’s very basic, although there is a currency exchange window before immigration control and an information centre to the right of the Arrivals hall exit. Next to the information centre is a Mimino cafe, serving coffee, beer, drinks and simple snacks. On exitwww.gmproduction.ge
ing, expect to be surrounded by dozens of drivers touting for buses to just about any destination around Georgia. There is an official Georgian bus transfer to Tbili-
si, Kutaisi and Batumi - tickets can be found next to the information point.The bus to the capital costs 20 Lari (about €10) and the journey takes about four hours. The bus stop is to the right of the terminal exit, and in Tbilisi stops at Pushkin Park next to Freedom Square. Buses run in tandem with the flights schedule. Don’t be worried if you didn’t change money before immigration: you can pay for a ticket in US dollars or Euros. 14 km west of Kutaisi Tel: (+995) 431 23 90 03 http://kutaisiairport.ge/
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national airport for Georgia and northeastern Turkey. Batumi is one of three international airports in operation in Georgia (along with Tbilisi International Airport serving Georgian capital and David the Builder International Airport in Georgia’s second largest city Kutaisi).The new airport terminal has been in operation since 26 May 2007. With a total area of 4,256 square metres (45,810 sq ft), it is capable of handling 600,000 passengers a year.
BATUMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT Alexander Kartveli Batumi International Airport (IATA: BUS, ICAO: UGSB) is an airport located 2 km (1.2 mi) south of Batumi, a city on the Black Sea coast and capital of Adjara, an autonomous republic in southwest Georgia. The airport is 20 km (12 mi) northeast of Hopa, Turkey, and serves as a domestic and inter-
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Batumi International Airport has noted a significant growth in the number of passengers since its renovation carried out by TAV Airports Holding in 2007. In 2011, the airport handled 134,000 passengers, an increase of 51% over the previous year.
Tel: + (995) 422 235 100 + (995) 422 235 102 + (995) 422 235 103 Fax: + (995) 422 235 101 www.batumiairport.com
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TBILISI GUIDE
VISA FREE REGIME
A citizen of a foreign country who seeks to enter Georgia generally must first obtain a Georgian visa, which is placed in the traveler’s passport (a visa blank) or is issued electronically (electronic visa). Certain international travelers may be eligible to travel to Georgia without a visa if they meet the requirements for www.gmproduction.ge
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visa-free travel.The visa policy of Georgia became comparatively liberal, allowing citizens of 98 countries to enter, reside, work and study in Georgia without the necessity to obtain either visa or residence permit. In addition, Georgian Government approved the list of 50 countries(see other exemption) whose visa and/or residence permit holders may enter Georgia without a visa for an appropriate period and under appropriate conditions.
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List of Countries whose Citizens may Enter Georgia without Visa for 1 (One) Full Year (Unless Otherwise Noted) EU States Albania Andorra Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Australia Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Barbados Belarus Belize Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brazil British Dependent Territories (1) British Overseas
Territories(2) Brunei Canada Chile (90/180 days) Colombia Costa Rica Denmark Territories (3) Dominican Republic Ecuador El Salvador French Republic Territories(4) Holy See Honduras Iceland Iran (45 days) Israel Japan Jordan
VISA CATEGORIES
Before applying, visa applicants must first decide which kind of visa (and status of residence) to apply for according to the purpose of their visit to Georgia. The category of visa you must obtain is defined by Georgian immigration law, and relates to the purpose of your travel. A Georgian visa shall be divided into the following categories:
Kazakhstan Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Lebanon Liechtenstein Malaysia Mauritius Mexico Moldova Monaco Montenegro Netherlands Territories(5) New Zealand Norway Oman Panama Qatar Russia Saint Vincent and
Grenadines San Marino Saudi Arabia Serbia Seychelles Singapore South Africa South Korea Switzerland Tajikistan Thailand Turkey Turkmenistan Ukraine United Arab Emirates United States of America Uruguay (90days) Uzbekistan
be issued with the right of a single entry or multiple entries into Georgia, and a long-term visa can only be issued with the right of multiple entries. A shortterm single-entry visa can be issued according to the number of days indicated by an alien in a visa application but for
1. Diplomatic (A) 2. Special (B) 3. Ordinary (C) 4. Immigration (D) 5.Transit (T) There are short-term and long-term visas with the right of a single entry or multiple entries. A short-term visa can
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not more than 30 calendar days.A shortterm multiple-entry visa can be issued for a maximum of five years. Besides, the total period of an alien’s entry and stay in Georgia in any 180-day period shall not exceed 90 calendar days. A short-term multiple-entry visa can be issued to aliens, who, under the procedures established by the legislation of Georgia, have visited Georgia at least once during the previous year, and there are grounds for requesting a short-term multiple-entry visa. The condition to visit Georgia during the previous year is not required for the issuance of diplomatic and special visas, and of a shortterm multiple-entry electronic visa on the basis of a visa application submitted through the e-VISA PORTAL.
TIME LIMITS FOR MAKING THE DECISION
Based on the documents submitted by an alien and the material obtained by a visa issuing authority, the visa issuing authority shall make the decision to issue or refuse to issue a visa. The decision to issue a visa is made within the following time limits after a visa application is submitted: Short-term visa 10 calendar days Short-term visa (if visa application is submitted through the e-VISA PORTAL) 5 working days Long-term visa 30 calendar days D5 immigration visa 10 calendar days www.gmproduction.ge
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TBILISI
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he Capital of Georgia is located in East Georgia, in “Tbilisi Cavernous”. It is lying on the banks of the Mtkvari (Kura) River 380-600 meters above sea level. To the north Tbilisi bounded by south foot-fills of the Saguramo Range, to the east Iori plain’s northwest segment and to the west and south by various endings of the Trialeti Range.
The Capital is spread on 720 square kilometers. Main water artery is The Mtkvari River crossing the city from northwest to southeast. Floods are common during spring and early summer and rivers are shallow in winter. The Mtkvari River’s right tributaries are: Digmis-Tskali, Vere and Cavkisi-Tskali Rivers. Its left tributaries are: Gldaniskhevi and Lochini Rivers. The Mtkvati riverbed in Tbilisi fluctuates between 425m (in Digomi) and 370m (in Ortachala) above sea level. Beautiful Mtatsminda is 719m tall. Nutsubidze plateau is a highest residential settlement in Tbilisi located at 700m above sea level. Geographically the Mtkvari River divides Tbilisi into two clearly outlined segments: left and right embankments. Terrain of right embankment consists of the Trialeti Range’s fast descending hills into the Mtkvari River and gorges of its tributaries. On the left embankment is located Makhata Mountain with highest point 630m above sea level. Tbilisi terrain is characterized with clearly defined terraces.
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CLIMATE
Tbilisi has mildly warm humid subtropical climate. Typically winter is mildly cold and summer is hot. Average annual temperature is 12,7 °C; temperature in
January is 0,9 °C and in July 24,4 °C.The absolute minimum recorded temperature is 23 °C and the absolute maximum is 40 °C. Average annual precipitation is 560-mm. Wettest month is May (average 90-mm of precipitation) while January is driest (average 20-mm precipitation). Snow falls on average 15-25 days a year. North and northwesterly winds dominate throughout the year. Southeasterly winds are common as well.
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centuries. From the IV century Tbilisi is a hub of Georgian identity and allures all Georgian within. Centuries haven’t passed without it’s tall. City has often been threatened by enemies, but was always defended by its heroes: sometimes conquered and sometimes victorious. Despite it all, the spirit of Tbilisi has never been broken.
Persians, Ottoman Turks, Byzantine Greeks, Russians were coming as enemies but were staying as friends. By its virtue, Tbilisi was attracting people of all walks of life, different languages and re-
HISTORY
Georgia’s capital Tbilisi is an ancient center of Caucasus. Its history counts 16 www.gmproduction.ge
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ligion; it was allowing in contrasting cultures; and by doing so, city was enriching its self and ornamenting Georgia with its diversity. Rarely in the World you’ll find a place, where enemy tribes have been accepted so peacefully and religious and ethnic groups, who coexist together in such confined space, find their corner to worship their Gods. Tbilisi has served and always will remain as their guardian angel. We should know history of this magic ancient city. How did it all start? How it was evolving and defending created common values? How it was mirroring Georgia’s expansion and depletion? And despite it all, how did it manage to keep its aspiration to be the capital of Georgia and Center of Caucasus.
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LEGEND
Archeological studies of the region have indicated human settlement in the territory of Tbilisi as early as the 4th millennium BC. According to an old legend, the present-day territory of Tbilisi was covered by forests as late as 458. One widely accepted variant of the legend of Tbilisi’s founding states that King Vakhtang I Gorgasali of Georgia 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 cut down the forest and build a city on the location. The name Tbilisi derives from Old Georgian T’bilisi (თბილისი), and further from T’pili (თბილი, “warm”). The name “T’bili” or “T’bilisi” (literally, “warm location”) was therefore given to the city because of the area’s numerous sulphurichot springs that came out of the ground. King Dachi I Ujarmeli, who was the successor of Vakhtang I Gorgasali, moved the capital from Mtskheta to Tbilisi according to the will left by his father.Tbilisi was not the capital of a unified Georgian state at that time and did not include the territory of Colchis. It was, however, the capital city of Eastern Georgia/Iberia. During his reign, King Dachi I oversaw the construction of the fortress wall that lined the city’s new boundaries. From the 6th century, Tbilisi grew at a steady pace due to the region’s favourable and strategic location which placed the city along important trade and travel routes between Europe and Asia. www.gmproduction.ge
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POPULATION
GEORGIA 3720400 TBILISI 1113000 ETHNIC COMPOSITION Georgians 84%, Azerbaijanis 6.5%, Armenians 5.7%, Russians 1.5%, Ossetians 0.9%, others including Greeks, Ukrainians, Kists,Yezids 1.4%. TERRITORY 69,700 sq km BORDERS Black Sea 330km, The Greater Caucasus Mountain Range forms the 723 km northern border with Russia, Armenia 164km, Azerbaijan 322 km and Turkey 252 km. LONGEST RIVER Mtkvari 1515 km LARGEST LAKE Paravani 37.5 sq km HIGHEST POINT Shkhara 5,193 m (17,040 ft) Local time Together with all countries of the Caucasus region and Russia, Georgia is in the UTC+4 time zone.
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LANGUAGE
The country’s official language is Georgian. But English is also widely used. Russian is also used by most of Georgians. The following is a list of some of the most common words and phrases a person is likely to need.
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MONEY
The Georgian national currency is the Lari (GEL) divided into 100 tetri. It was introduced in 1995, replacing the kupon lari, a transitional currency used after Georgia declared independence from the Soviet Union. The lari is a relatively stable currency. Paper bills are in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500. Bills for 1 and 2 lari were replaced by coins. Coins are in 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 tetri and 1 and 2 lari denominations. ATMs are plentiful and the vast majority will accept foreign cards.As always, if you can, try and use ATMs associated with a reputable high street bank. Card fraud is an international problem and taking precautions is as advisable in Tbilisi as any
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other city.Try and carry small denomination cash as taxi drivers and small shops might not be able to change high value notes. You can also use debit and credit cards in many shops, bars, restaurants and hotels in Tbilisi.
NATIONAL HOLIDAYS
January 1 New Year’s Day January 7 Orthodox Christmas January 19 Baptism Day of Jesus Christ March 3 Mother’s Day March 8 International Women’s Day April 9 Day of National Unity April 16 (2017) Eastern Orthodox Sunday April 17 (2017) Eastern Orthodox Monday May 9 Day of Victory over Fascism May 12 Saint Andrea the First Day May 26 Independence Day August 28 Saint Mary’s Day October 14 Day of Svetitskhoveli Cathedral (in Mtskheta) November 23 Saint George’s Day
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RELIGION
Since early centuries, different nations and religions were coming to and going from Tbilisi area, and all of them left their traces in numerous churches and religions. The absolutely dominant religion in Georgia is Eastern Orthodox. Georgia is among the first Christian countries in the world as it’s regions officially became Christian in the 4th century. Georgians take their religion very seriously. Try to cross yourself when seeing every single church, driving on the mountain road at the speed around 100 km/h as most of Georgian marshrutka drivers do... not easy, but to do that is almost a must. However centuries of Persian and Turkish invasions left a deep Muslim mark. Armenians are the second biggest religious minority (3.9%) in Georgia after Muslims (9.9%). Catholics – 0.8 %, Yezids - 0.4%, Jews - 0,1% are presented in the city too. Tbilisi is open to minorities’ historical churches, but try to ask a random Georgian what he thinks about
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building a new Mosque, for the Muslim population of the country, in the Muslim village… Tolerance and cosmopolitanism might evaporate somewhere if you rub the surface a little bit.
MODERNISTIC ARCHITECTURE
The oldest parts of Tbilisi – especially the “Kala” district in old Tbilisi, Sololaki and Avlabari – with their medieval structures, overhanging balconies and famous sulfur baths, contain distinct elements of classic Eastern architecture. The parts of the city that were built up later – Vera and Rustaveli avenue, among others – are rich with regal examples of 19th century European buildings. Along with the presence of diverse elements from various cultures, Tbilisi also has its own particular brand of architecture and landscaping, characterized by low brick or stone houses with wide, curved balconies, passages and internal courtyards. www.gmproduction.ge
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“NEW TBILISI” PROJECT 51 historic buildings were reconstructed to their initial condition including 41 monuments of cultural heritage.
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SYMBOL OF TBILISI
SISTER CITIES
TBILISI FLAG
• Saarbrücken, Germany (since 1975)
The flag of Tbilisi is rectangular with thick, dark blue and thinner golden stripes crossing each other on a white background. At the intersection lie seven, seven-pointed, stars and against the red background is the Coat of Arms of Tbilisi.
• Nantes, France (since 1979) • Ljubljana, Slovenia (since 1979) • Innsbruck, Austria (since 1982) • Yerevan, Armenia (since 1996) • Atlanta, United States (since 1987) • Palermo, Italy (since 1987) • Bristol, United Kingdom (since 1988) • Bilbao, Spain (since 1989) • Ankara, Turkey(since 1998) • Kiev, Ukraine (since 1999) • Astana, Kazakhstan (since 2005) • Vilnius, Lithuania
TBILISI COATS OF ARMS
• Warsaw, Poland
The Coat of Arms of Tbilisi is a heraldic symbol based on the legend of Tbilisi’s creation, and depicts a Georgian shield. The round field contains an Asomtavruli (old Georgian) “T” and the images of pheasant and a falcon representing the legend of the founding of Tbilisi.The seven-pointed star is located in the super hemisphere of the Coat of Arms.
• Istanbul, Turkey (since 2016)
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THE HOLY TRINITY CATHEDRAL OF TBILISI Commonly known as Sameba, Tbilisi’s kitsch cathedral is located on Elia Hill above the left bank of the Mtkvari in the historic neighbourhood of Avlabari. It is the main Georgian Orthodox Cathedral and is the third-tallest Eastern Orthodox Cathedral in the world. Sameba was constructed between 1995 and 2004 and paid for by anonymous donations from citizens and several wealthy businessmen. The Sameba complex consists of the main cathedral, a free-standing bell-tower, the residence of the Patriarch, a monastery, a clerical seminary and theological academy.
Tbilisi to preserve it from an Ottoman invasion The icon was preserved at the Basilica of St. Mary for centuries and is presently on display at the Art Museum of Georgia. Shavteli St. 11
SIONI CATHEDRAL
K. Eristavi St. 20, Elia hill
ANCHISKHATI BASILICA
The Anchiskhati Basilica of St. Mary is the oldest surviving church in Tbilisi, situated in Shavsheti Street of Upper Kala. Built in the 6th century the church is a three-nave Basilica. Originally dedicated to the Virgin Mary, it was renamed Anchiskhati (i.e. icon of Annchi) in 1675 when the treasured icon of the Savior created by twelfth-century goldsmith Beka Opizari at the Archi was moved to
Sioni cathedral is situated in historic Sioni Kucha (Sioni Street) in downtown Tbilisi, with its eastern façade fronting the right embankment of the river Mtkvari. It was initially built in the 6th-7th centuries and was multiply restored. Sioni Cathedral was the main Georgian Orthodox Cathedral and the seat of Catholicos-Patriarch of all Georgia until the Holy Trinity Cathedral was concentrated in 2004. However, it still holds the venerated Grapevine cross (exhibited at the left of the altar) forged by St. Nino, a Cappadocian woman who preached Christianity in Georgia in the early 4th century. Sioni St. 8
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NARIKALA AND THE CHURCH OF ST. NICHOLAS There is the possibility to visit Narikala directly from Rike Park by ropeway. Narikala is the ancient citadel of Georgia, and the river Mtkvari. The fortress consists of two- walled sections on a steep hill between the sulfur baths and the botanical garden of Tbilisi. On the lower court there is the recently restored St. Nicholas church. The fortress already existed by the 4th century as Shuris-Tsikhe (i.e. “Invidious Fort”) and considerably expanded by the Umayyads in the 7th century and later, by King David the Builder. The Mongols renamed it “Narin Qala” (i.e. “Little Fortress” in Persian). Most of the extant fortifications date back to the 16th and 17th centuries. In 1827, the fortress was damaged by an earthquake and partially demolished.
METEKHI CHURCH The Church of Assumption, is a rather unusual example of a domed Georgian Orthodox church. It was built by the Georgian king St Demetrius II circa 1278–1284, but was subsequently damaged and repaired several times. King Rostom (1633-1658) fortified the area around the church with a strong citadel garrisoned by some 3,000 soldiers. Under Russian rule the church was used as a barracks. 1 Metekhi Rise
Ajiashvili St.
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TBILISI MOSQUE
The eight angled Minaret of the brick mosque draws the attention even from the far distance and is perceived in a different ways from the various sides. The original Sunni mosque, located at the end of the botanical garden is the only functioning mosque in Tbilisi at present, after the Shiite Mosque on the other bank of the river Mtkvari was destroyed by communist rulers. Now it serves Shia as well as Sunni Muslims which is extremely rare in any country of the world. Botanikuri St, 15 Abano turn
SYNAGOGUE
Georgian Jews are one of the oldest communities in Georgia, tracing their migration into the country during the Babylonian captivity in 6th century BC. In Tbilisi Jewish Diaspora was mainly concentrated in Lower Kala and operated several synagogues in the city. The synagogue in Kote Abkhazi Street was built in 1910 and is still functioning 47 Kote Abkhazi St. (Former Leselidze)
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CATHOLIC CHURCH
Constructed in 1808 and exhibiting a mix of architectural styles including Baroque and Neo-Gothic. During the Soviet era it was used as a storehouse. It became dilapidated but was renovated before the Pope’s visit to Georgia in 1999. 4 G. Abesadze St.
THE MOTHER OF KARTLI
The Mother of Kartli (Kartlis Deda), is a monument in Georgia’s capital Tbilisi. The statue was erected on the top of Sololaki hill in 1958, the year Tbilisi celebrated its 1500th anniversary. Prominent Georgian sculptor Elguja Amashukeli designed the twenty-metre aluminium figure of a woman in Georgian national dress. She symbolizes the Georgian national character: in her left hand she holds a bowl of wine to greet those who come as friends, and in her right hand is a sword for those who come as enemies.
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MONUMENT OF KING VAKHTANG GORGASALI
Vakhtang I Gorgasali, of the Chosroid dynasty, was a king of Iberia, natively known as Kartli in the second half of the 5th and first quarter of the 6th century. He led his people, in an ill-fated alliance with the Byzantine Empire, into a lengthy struggle against Sasanian Iranian hegemony, which ended in Vakhtang’s defeat and weakening of the kingdom of Iberia. Tradition also ascribes him reorganization of the Georgian Orthodox Church and foundation of Tbilisi, Georgia’s modern capital. Dating Vakhtang’s reign is problematic. Ivane Javakhishvili assigns to Vakhtang’s rule the dates c. 449–502 while Cyril Toumanoff suggests the dates c. 447–522. Furthermore, Toumanoff identifies Vakhtang with the Iberian king Gurgenes known from Procopius’ Wars of Justinian. The monument stands in front of the Metekhi Church on a steep hill, raising a hand to all the the Tbilisi dwellers. www.gmproduction.ge
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SAINT GEORGE MONUMENT
A golden statue of Georgia’s patron saint, St George, spearing his dragon, stands on a tall pedestal in the middle of the busy traffic nexus Freedom Square (Tavisuplebis moedani). The statue was a gift to the city from its sculptor, the Moscow-based Georgian Zurab Tsereteli, in 2006.
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The monument to King David IV Agmashenebeli (the Builder) was erected on Republic Square in Tbilisi, in 1967.The sculptor was the internationally-known artist, Merab Berdzenishvili.
MONUMENT OF ILIA AND AKAKI
Ilia Chavchavadze and Akaki Tsereteli are two of the greatest Georgian public figures at the dawn of the XX century. These two played the major role in Georgian literature and the development of the country. Today, their monuments stand together in front of the First Gymnasium of Tbilisi. Sculptors are V. Topuridze and Sh. Mikatadze.
KIND DAVID AGMASHENEBELI MONUMENT
David IV, also known as David the Builder, was a king of Georgia from 1089 until his death in 1125. Popularly considered to be the greatest and most successful Georgian ruler in history and an original architect of the Georgian Golden Age. His reforms of the army and administration enabled him to reunite the country and bring most of the lands of the Caucasus under Georgia’s control. A friend of the church and a notable promoter of Christian culture, he was canonized by the Georgian Orthodox Church.
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TBILISI GUIDE
YARD KEEPER
The prototype of yard keeper of XIX century Tbilisi was sculpted according to Niko Pirosmanis’s famous portrait “Yard Keeper”.
MIKHEIL TUMANISHVILI
Mikheil Tumanishvili was a Georgian theater director and teacher. He was a student of Georgy Tovstonogov at the Tbilisi State Theater Institute and graduated in 1948. Tumanishvili is the founder of 1978 established Tumanishvili Film Actors The-
atre in Tbilisi. As a director, his work was mostly based on improvisation.The statue of Mikheil Tumanishvili stands in front of the theatre named after him.
YETIM GURDJI
Ietim Gurji was a Georgian poet. He wrote in Georgian, Armenian and Azeri languages. His poetry mainly was distributed orally, by songs, which he created and performed himself. Main motifs of his poetry were the lives of late 19th and early 20th century Old Tbilisi bohemians, along with workers, peasants and petite bourgeoisie. The statue of Yetim Gurdji stands in Old Tbilisi. www.gmproduction.ge
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Tbilisi
TBILISI GUIDE
BERIKAOBA
Berikaoba is an improvised masqueraded folk theatre in Georgia, stemming from the pagan festivity of fertility and rebirth. The name is derived from a Common Kartvelian root ber, meaning “a child�. The scenes of Berikaoba range from those of explicitly erotic nature to political satire and social protest. Monument of Berikaoba standing near the Baratashvili Bridge.
SERGEI PARAJANOV
The statue of Georgian born Armenian director is located on the right bank of the Mtkvari River, in the old Tbilisi district.
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Tbilisi
SWEETHEARTS
Numerous tin statues of sweethearts stand across the Baratashvili Bridge, highlighting the romantic atmosphere of the spot.
SAMAIA
Samaia is a Georgian folk dance performed by three females. The statue stands on the Javakhishvili Ascent.
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Transport
TBILISI GUIDE
Transport
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Transport
BUSES
T
bilisi’s buses are blue and yellow and each displays a route number on the front. Many bus stops have an automated board showing which service is due next and how long until it arrives. Pay when you board (put the right amount of coins in the machine) or touch the machine with your plastic, pre-loaded Metromani travel card. Each journey anywhere in the city costs 50 tetri. You can load your Metromani card at any metro station, or use the Express Pay machines at the bus stops. Tbilisi has 143 new “Man and Truck AG” buses. The construction of new Bus Depot began last year and it will conclude in 2017.
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Transport
CABLE CAR & FUNICULAR
There is a cable car from the Rike Park to Narikala Fortress offering spectacular views of the city: one of the cars even has a glass floor. It costs just 1 Lari and you can use your Metromanicard. The funicular railway that runs up to Mtatsminda Mountain was opened in 1905 and was recently renovated. It costs 2 Lari: Metromanicards are not accepted.
METRO
There are two metro lines in Tbilisi, which intersect at Station Square. You will need to buy a Metromani travel card to use the metro: these can be bought and re-charged at each station. A metro trip costs 50 tetri regardless of distance. Station names are written in English as well as Georgian, and in-train station announcements are also bilingual. The metro runs from 07:00 until midnight.
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Transport
TBILISI GUIDE
MINIBUSES
Called marshrutkas,Tbilisi’s fleet of minibuses supplement public transport and are a key player in keeping the city moving. For the uninitiated, they do need a little explaining, however. All minibuses in the city centre are yellow. Find out the number of the one you want to take and then flag one down anywhere, there are no stops - by holding out your hand, palm facing down.
Rustaveli Avenue is an exception though, they won’t stop unless you’re at the bus stop. Each journey is 80 tetri.You can pay with cash (have the right change) or a pre-loaded Metromani card when you exit. There are also marshrutka stations around the city facilitating travel around Georgia. The destination is displayed on a board in the window, but it will only be written in Georgian. Just ask if you are unsure which one is heading your way. In general, Didube station services the west and north of Georgia, Samgori the east, Ortachala is for international routes to Turkey, Azerbaijan and Armenia. Agree on a price before you leave - check with the locals.
TAXIS
Taxis are a cheap and are an easy way to get around the city. Most trips within Tbilisi will cost between three and six Lari. Some taxis are equipped with metres and fixed rates, but not all of them. Always agree a price before you set off. Haggle if you have to: drivers will almost always quote a higher price if you are a foreigner.
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TRAINS
The most efficient way to buy train ticket is to go to the Central Train Station. There is usually an English speaking staff member at one of the ticket office windows.You should have valid ID or a passport with you. You can also buy tickets online. Go to railway.ge website, click the map on the right. You can check the connections as well as buy ticket. You need to register and then follow their procedure, pretty much the same as any other online booking system. It only accepts Visa or MasterCard. If you are travwww.gmproduction.ge
Transport
elling on an electronic ticket, show the conductor the ticket purchase code and the ID you used during the booking process. Beware: the online booking engine has a habit of not working. Remember that for popular destinations (Batumi, Kutaisi, Zugdidi) you should buy tickets at least two days in advance, especially in high season.
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Hotels
TBILISI GUIDE
Hotels
სასტუმროები წარდგენა
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Hotels
ACOMMODATION
H
ospitality is one of the fastest growing sector of Georgian Economy. Over the recent years Georgia has seen a dynamic growth of international visitors, in 2015 the number of international visitors reached 5.9 million while the population of Georgia is 3.7 million people. Number of international tourists’ arrivals is expected to grow by 8-10% during the next five years . Already-operational international hotel chains include Sheraton, Radisson, Marriot, Rixos, Holiday Inn, Millennium, Best Western, etc. Most international hotel chains in Georgia are positioned in the higher segment, there is untapped potential to develop mid class hotel brands.
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Hotels
LISTING 12 BOUTIQUE HOTEL 12 V. Beridze St. Tel: (+995 32) 255 22 12 www.no12hotel.com AMBASADORI 13, Shavteli st. Tel: (+995 32) 243 94 94 www.ambasadori.ge ART BOUTIQUE HOTEL 33 Tabukashvili St. Tel: (+995 32) 255 22 55 ASTORIA TBILISI 12 Chitadze st. Tel: (+995 32) 249 70 10 www.astoriatbilisi.ge
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BEAUMONDE 11 Al. Chavchavadze St. Tel: (+995 32) 292 11 72 www.hotelbeaumonde.com BETSY’S HOTEL 32/34 Makashvili St. Tel: (+995 32) 293 14 04 www.betsyshotel.com BOUTIQUE HOTEL VILLA MTIEBI 10 Chakhrukhadze St. Tel: (+995 32) 292 03 40 www.hotelmtiebi.ge BRITISH HOUSE 32 Chovelisze St. Tel. (+995 32) 298 87 83 www.british-house.ge CITADEL NARIKALA 20 Ajiashvili St. (former Orpiri) Tel: (+995 32) 290 41 41 www.hotel-citadel.ge
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Hotels
ASTORIA TBILISI HOTEL
ASTORIA TBILISI HOTEL
12 Sh.Chitadze st., Tbilisi, Georgia. Tel: (+995) 322 49 70 10 Astoria.tbilisi@yahoo.com / www.astoriatbilisi.ge
T
he two buildings of the 4-star Astoria Tbilisi hotel are located on the slope of Mtatsminda at the junction of Chitadze and Chonkadze streets in the green and quiet part of the capital. The hotel has 146 different category rooms.
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he hotel is well furnished and offers a comfortable courtyard, indoor swimming pool, sauna and gym, two meeting rooms which can hold 60 and 120 people respectively, a technically-equipped conference hall, a lounge bar, internal parking and two restaurants offering breakfast and Georgian and European cuisine.
ASTORIA TBILISI HOTEL
23 D. Chonkadze st., Tbilisi, Georgia. Tel: (+995 322) 49 70 10 Astoria.tbilisi@yahoo.com www.astoriatbilisi.ge
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Hotels
TBILISI GUIDE
The Biltmore Hotel Tbilisi is the upscale luxury hotel which is occupying the historical building known as the former Institute of Marxism and Leninism (IMEL) and a striking glass skyscraper, cleverly marrying history and modernity.
The Highest Hotel in Georgia is ideally situated within the historic and cultural center of the capital city. It comprises 214 spacious rooms and suites, each boasting state-of-the-art facilities and postcard views of the city. Guests have the choice of eight room categories, 50 the exclusive Royal Suite, which offers the epitome of luxury.www.gmproduction.ge including
TBILISI GUIDE
Hotels
The Hotel offers collection of six exquisite restaurants and bars including a rooftop - XEME. The Biltmore Hotel Tbilisi provides a perfect setting for corporate events, business meetings, lively parties and spectacular weddings. Hotel offers a one-of-a-kind historic amphitheater, “The Guild”, lovingly restored to become one of the city’s most enigmatic destinations, an opulent Grand Royal Ballroom and 4 fully equipped meeting rooms providing comfortable environment for high-end business meetings.
Other highlights of the hotel include a health club with indoor swimming pool and fully-equipped Gym, whilst a luxurious SPA provides a haven of tranquility, with an extensive treatment menu allowing guests to relax and rejuvenate.
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29 Rustaveli Ave., 0108, Tbilisi, Georgia +995 322 72 72 72 info.bhtg@biltmorecollection.com / millenniumhotels.com
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TBILISI GUIDE
CITADINESS FREEDOM SQUARE TBILISI 4 Freedom Sq. Tel: (+995 32) 254 70 30 www.citadines.com CITRUS 3, 9 April St. Tel: (+995 32) 255 03 00 www.hotelcitrus.ge COSTÉ HOTEL 45 A Kostava St. Tel: (+995 32) 219 11 11 www.hotelcoste.ge COURTYARD BY MARRIOTT TBILISI 4 Freedom Sq. Tel: (+995 32) 277 91 00 www.courtyardtbilisi.com
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T
bilisi LAERTON HOTEL is located in the heart of old Tbilisi. All of our 58 rooms are equipped with all necessary equipment. Most of our rooms have veranda style terraces and many have exceptional views to the old city ramparts and surrounding mountains. The top floor “Elioni Veranda” dining/café area has stunning views.. It is perfect place for guests to enjoy breakfast. The Acacia Hall conference room is possibly one of the most pleasant conference rooms in Tbilisi . The hall is surrounded by terraces, where conference participants can relax and enjoy the view.
Hotels
has luxurious interior and hosts up to 120 guests. Additionally, a large and brand new kitchen is adjacent to the venue hall, so delicious dishes from European or traditional Georgian cuisine can be quickly served to guests, all under the direct supervision of our “Chef de Cuisine”. Spa centre is located on underground floor in North wing and contains swimming pool, jacuzzi, sauna, massage rooms, beauty parlor and relaxation rooms. Peaceful atmosphere in Spa centre comforts our guests and enables them to relax and loose up.
At your disposal is also banqueting room “Laerton Venue hall”, which
The Laerton hotel also offers you exceptional tours. We believe that it is our pleasure to make a difference!
14 Iliko Kurkhili Str. 0103,Tbilisi, Georgia Tel: +995 (0) 322 55 66 55
Facebook.com/Tbilisi Laerton Hotel E-mail: info@laerton-hotel.com www.laerton-hotel.com
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Hotels
TBILISI GUIDE
FABRIKA HOSTEL & SUITES 8 Egnate Ninoshvili St. Tel: (+995 32) 202 03 99 www.fabrikatbilisi.com HOLIDAY INN TBILISI 1, 26 May Square Tel: (+995 32) 230 00 99 www.hi-tbilisi.com ISTANBUL 148 D. Agmashenebeli Ave. Tel: (+995 32) 291 11 82 www.hotelistanbul.ge KOPALA 8/10 Chekhov St. Tel: (+995 32) 277 55 20 www.kopala.ge
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MERCURE TBILISI OLD TOWN 9 Gorgasali St. Tel: (+995 32) 200 60 60 MUSEUM HOTEL 8/10 Orbeliani st. Tel: (+995 32) 224 49 99 www. museumhotel.ge OLD KEY HOTEL 114 D. Aghmashenebeli Ave. Tel: (+995 32) 295 96 61 www.oldkeyhotel.ge, OLD METEKHI 3 Metekhi Rise Tel: (+995 32) 274 74 04 www.oldmetekhi.ge
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n the heart of Tbilisi you can find TBILISI very comfortable hotel Coral GUIDE Boutique. It is located in the old and prestigious part of Tbilisi, near Marjanishvili square, at Uznadze street #113b. In 2010 the area was renovated and a lot of new restaurants, bars, shops were built. So the location is considered as a tourist center. The guest who will stay in Coral boutique hotel can easily get all kind of facilities just 5-10 minutes walking from the hotel. There are 26 rooms with beautiful design equipped with all necessary means for comfort the guest . The hotel has very friendly staff and our clients generally feel themselves like at home. We also have additional services as massage center, barrestaurant, tour desk, cars/buses rent, shuttle service, guide/driver service and many other services depending on guests requests. So we are ready and waiting for more tourists from all around the world to have unforgettable memories in Coral Boutique Hotel.
Hotels
HOTEL CORAL BOUTIQUE
113b Uznadze st., Tbilisi , Georgia Tel : +995 322 430 113 + 995 322 430 115 Mob : + 995 555 44 00 22 booking@coralhotel.ge www.coralhotel.ge
RADISSON BLU IVERIA 1 Rose Revolution Sq. Tel: (+995 32) 240 22 00 www.radissonblu.com/hoteltbilisi RIVER SIDE Right Bank of Mtkvari, Brosse Street Turn Tel: (+995 32) 224 22 44 www.riverside.ge ROZMARIN 8 Mikheil Javakhishvili St. Tel: (+995 32) 293 39 02 hotelrozmarin@gmail.com RUSTAVELI 28/2 Rustaveli Ave. Tel: (+995 32) 299 01 15 www.hotelrustaveli.com www.gmproduction.ge
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Hotels
TBILISI GUIDE
ROOMS HOTEL TBILISI 14 Merab Kostava St. Tel: (+995 32) 202 00 99 www.roomshotels.com/tbilisi
TIFLIS PALACE 3 Gorgasali St. Tel: (+995 32) 200 02 45 www.tiflispalace.ge
SHARDEN VILLA 42 Kote Abkhazi st. Tel: (+995 32) 272 46 14 www.shardenvilla.ge
VERE PALACE 22/24 Kuchishvili St. Tel: (+995 32) 225 33 40 www.verepalace.com.ge
TBILISI MARRIOTT 13 Rustaveli Ave. Tel: (+995 32) 277 92 00 www.tbilisimarriott.com
VINOTEL 4, Elene Akhvlediani ascent Tel: (+995 32) 255 58 88 www.vinotel.ge
THE BILTMORE HOTEL TBILISI 29 Rustaveli Ave. Tel: (+995 32) 272 72 72 www.millenniumhotels.com
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Tourist Agencies
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Tourist Agencies
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TOURIST AGENCIES
D
evelopment of Tourism industry has a long history in Georgia. There are about 80 tourist agencies in Georgia. Most of them are oriented outdoor and indoor tours and provide both types of services for tourists. However, outdoor tours are more demanding than outdoor tours. Tourist Agencies offer different types of tours, e.g. historic and cultural tours, eco tours, winter tours, religion tours etc. Agencies provide the tours for tourist groups and individual persons too. The prices of Services are different and depending on service, distance and duration.
Tourist Agencies
LISTING
BLUE BIRD TRAVEL 4 Besiki st. Tel: (+995 32) 292 02 94 www.bluebirdtravel.ge
BTL GEORGIA 76 B Vazha Pshavela ave. Tel: (+995 32) 220 75 47 Georgia@btl-sompany.ge
CALYPSO MTOUR 116, Tsereteli av. Tel: (+995 32) 214 77 76 info@calypso-tr.ge
CAUCASUS TRAVEL 22 Peristsvaleba st. Tel: (+995 32) 298 74 00 www.caucasustravel.com
EXPLORE GEORGIA 22 Peritsvaleba st. Tel: (+995 32) 292 19 11 www.exploregeorgia.com
FREE TRAVEL 175 D. Agmashenebeli av. Mob: (+995) 599 03 99 22 www.freetravel.ge
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Tourist Agencies
TBILISI GUIDE
FORTUNA TRAVEL 19 Kazbegi av. Mob: (+995) 557 71 80 80 fortunatravel19@gmail.com
GEORGIAN HOLIDAYS 116, Tsereteli ave. Didube Plaza Tel: (+995 32) 288 02 25 www.georgianholidays.com
G-TRAVEL 33 Ramishvili st. Mob: (+995) 571 22 04 44 www.g-travel.ge
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HRG Georgia 3 Vekua St., business centre Pirimze Plaze 5th floor Tel: (+995 32) 248 48 98 www.hrggeorgia.info-tbilisi.com
I AM GEORGIA 18 RusTaveli ave. Tel: (+995 32) 298 85 31 www.iamgeorgia.com.ge
INTERLINE 7 Ts. Dadiani st. Tel: (+995 32) 236 80 68 www.tourism.com.ge
Tourist Agencies
LAZIKA TRAVEL 174 D. Agmashenebeli av. Mob: (+995) 599 80 93 83 www.lazikatravel.com
LOVE TRAVEL 179 D. Agmashenebeli ave. Tel: (+995 32) 247 57 07 www.lovetravel.ge
MIX TRAVEL AGENCY 141 A, Tsereteli av. Mob: (+995) 558 99 97 79 www.mixtravel.ge
Your mood our priority!
T
ravel agency Interline was founded in 2005 and has since successfully operated locally as well as internationally. The key to our success lies in the hands of our qualified and friendly staff who are always ready to provide speedy and customer-oriented service. THE COMPANY OFFERS FULL TOURIST SERVICES:
• Airline tickets in any direction. • Tours in Europe and Asia. • Reservation of hotels in 180 countries. •Travel insurance. •Tours in Georgia. • Reservation of hotels in Georgia. • Transportation services in Georgia. • Corporate service in the territory of Georgia. • TEZ GSM international roaming cards. 7a Ts. Dadiani Str. Tbilisi, Georgia. Shopping center Karvasla 2 floor B. office -218, 0173 Tel: (+ 995 32) 2 368 068; (+ 995 32) 2 368 571 E-mail: tour@tourism.com.ge www.gmproduction.ge Web: www.tourism.com.ge
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Tourist Agencies
TBILISI GUIDE
OK TRAVEL 11 Mitskevichi st. Tel: (+995 32) 218 08 18 www.oktravel.ge
SELFIE IN GEORGIA 22 Tabukasvili st. Tel: (+995 32) 299 05 14 www.selfieingeorgia.ge hello@selfie.ge
TRAVEL CLUB 8 Tsabadze st. Mob: (+995) 558 81 99 11 www.travelclab.ge
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Tourist Agencies
TRAVEL AND RESORT 9 Sulkhan Tsintsadze St. Tel: (+995 32) 224 14 10 www.travelandresort.infotbilisi.com TOTAL TRAVEL 13/19 Kostava st. Tel: (+995 32) 299 55 04 www.totaltravel.ge
VANILLA SKY Natakhtar airfield, Mtskheta Tel: (+995 32) 242 84 28 www.vanillasky.ge
We offer full land seruice for VIP and business trauel, MICE, tours for small and big groups, indiuidual and family trauel, incen- tiues and tailor-made special programs. The packages include multiday guaranteed group tours to Georgia, cultural holidays and trekking tours, short city breaks, day trips and half day excursions, aduenture tours, regional combined tours to three Caucasus countries -Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan. We arrange a special tailor-made packages and incentiues upon request. Day trips Multiday priuate tours Small group tours Exclusiue & special tours Aduenture and trekking tours
Aduentures uiith us is uiorthuuhile! info@georgianholidays.com www.georgianholidays.com
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Food & Drink
Food & Drink
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Food & Drink
TBILISI GUIDE
GEORGIAN CUISINE
G
eorgian cuisine is traditional national culinary style in Georgia. Feature of the Georgian cuisine is the use of certain products distributed in the Caucasus, and therefore the presence of certain foods, the popularity of which has worldwide fame. Georgian recipes Satsivi, Lobio, Khinkali, Ghomi, Kharcho, Chakhokhbili, Chanakh, Shkmeruli, Gozinaki, Churchkhela and many others have long been prepared outside of Georgia.
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Georgian cuisine at its compilation of recipes and dishes of ideology is based on the contrast of spicy and hot.Vegetables widely used in separate dishes and as a complement to meat dishes. Continued existence of the Georgian nation at the crossroads of many cultures and influences led to the fact that, none of the types of meat has no the predominant value in Georgian cuisine. Georgian meat dishes can be made from pork, lamb, beef, poultry, etc. For example Muzhuzhi made from pork or lamb, Chanakhi from lamb, Kharcho from beef Chakhokhbili from chicken, turkey, rabbit or lamb, Satsivi from turkey or chicken. www.gmproduction.ge
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Food & Drink
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Food & Drink
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Most vegetable dishes are prepared from the beans, egg, plant, cabbage, cauliflower, beets and tomatoes. Often the recipes are seasoned with spices. For example: spices in Georgian dish Lobio changing depending on the recipe and season. In other recipes, changing the composition of vegetables, spices and sauces are the same, for example, Mkhali and Borani. In general, the Georgian cuisine is widely used sauces that are fundamentally different from Europe as the composition and technology of cooking.
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There is a difference between the traditional cuisine of Western and Eastern Georgia. For the West Georgia is characterized by the use of Mchadi (bread made from corn flour), as well as corn meal or a special meal from a special kind of millet - Gherghili, cooked mush - Ghomi, which add cheese Sulguni (Suluguni). East Georgia is characterized by the widespread use of the wheat bread. In addition, in Western Georgia, the majority of meat is poultry. Fish dishes a little common throughout Georgia with the exception of areas along rivers. In Georgian dishes typically used Barbell, Khramula, Shamaia, Beardfish belonging to the family Cyprinid and differ only sweet and fatty meats. In fast rivers lives mountain trout (MtisKalmakhi), which is exquisitely tasty flesh and has no specific “fish� taste. These features of the local raw fish combined with the relatively rare and little use of fish compared to meat in the Georgian kitchen left a mark on the character of preparation of fish in Georgian cuisine. www.gmproduction.ge
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Examples of well known Georgian fish dishes: Catfish in Kindzmari, Fish Muzhuzhi, Rammed with Tkemali, Satsivi of fish, Bozartma of Salmon, etc. Georgian cuisine inconceivable without nuts - walnuts, peanuts, hazelnut, almonds, but most of the walnuts. These particular raw materials - the constant component of various condiments and sauces, are equally well suited to dishes of poultry, vegetables and even fish. Nuts are used in meat soups and pastries, cold saladsand in a hot main course.
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Food & Drink
It is especially necessary to emphasize the use of herbs in dishes. Herbs in Georgian cuisine acquired great importance. They are used all year round (cilantro, tarragon, basil, savory, leeks, chives, mint, etc.). Also feature the Georgian table is a frequent and abundant use of cheese. First of all, attention is drawn to the composition of cheese. Dozens of varieties of cheese produced in Georgia. For example Sulguni (Suluguni), Imeretian Cheese, Gouda, KobisKveli, Tushuri, etc..
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Not only the taste scale, but also ways of Georgian cheeses are very different from European ones. If in European kitchens variety of cheeses are mainly belonging or snack, or dessert table, the Georgian cuisine they are used in the preparation of hot meals, as second and first. In Georgian cuisine cheese boiled in milk or tenderize, roasted on a spit in a frying pan and into the oil, baked in pastry, soaked, pounded, flavored with oil and spices. In Georgian cuisine widely used an open fire and skewers for cooking, not only meat, but vegetables, fish and even cheese dishes. Also widely used clay ovens in the form of a pitcher named Tone (both for baking pastry and frying whole pigs). More specific for Georgian Cuisine is using of small and large stone clay pans – Ketsi, for frying and baking, as well as metal pans Tapha wide frying poultry under pressure (Tabaka).
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Besides a truly national characteristic of the Georgian cuisine is the use of acidic, acidic and fatty or acidic with eggs environment to create distinctive taste and texture of the Georgian soups and sauces to enrich the application range of dishes. Vegetable soup is not thick in Georgian cuisine, but their consistency much denser than ordinary soups. This is achieved very often by using egg yolks or whole eggs. Eggs are pre-mixed with any acidic environment to prevent there coagulation by heating. For acidic environment used: natural acidic fruit juice, vinegar or Matsoni (sour milk). Used especially as acidic thickened puree plums Tkemali (Kvatsarahi) or the same gelled and dried mashed Tkemali called Tklapi. Acidic medium is used in soups and when there are no eggs, but there are quite a lot of fat and meat. It is not only refines and a variety of flavors of www.gmproduction.ge
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dishes, but also significantly increases their digestibility. Georgian cuisine is unthinkable without the sauces. At the same time Georgian sauces are fundamentally different from the European sauces with their composition as well as technology. For Georgian sauces of all kinds as the basis used exclusively plant material. Most often it is sour berry and fruit juice or puree Tkemali, blackthorn, pomegranate, blackberry, barberry, or tomatoes. There was widespread also have peanut sauces, which serve as the basis of crushed nuts, divorced, or broth, or plain water or wine vinegar. Also for some sauces used crushed garlic as the basis. The garlic comes as an additional component in most sauces. In many sauces and gravy, all of the major items (sour juice, nuts, garlic) are connected in different proportions. Along with the foundation of the Georgian sauces is also a large collection of spices, mostly spicy greens, herbs, plus a small amount of dry spices. The composition of spicy greens are cilantro, basil, tarragon, savory, parsley, dill, mint, and more in the dry spices - paprika, coriander seeds, cinnamon, cloves, etc. Each sauce is used a different set of spices, that is, not all of the spices together, and usually three or four of them.
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It is this set in each case gives the sauce in combination with varying bases and a variety of special taste and aroma, typical only for the Georgian cuisine. Technology of Georgian sauces usually boils down to two basic operations: the boiling fruit juice (or puree) and crushing nuts, garlic, spices until a smooth
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TBILISI GUIDE
paste or emulsion. After brewing and pounding all the components that make this sauce, mix together. Most Georgian sauce the consistency of liquid as opposed to, for example, European sauces that have a thick consistency, sometimes more dense than the thick sour cream. Usually one and the same sauce can be applied to entirely different basis (meat, vegetables and even fish) and depending on it to make different dishes. That is, for example, use the sauce Satsivi. Sometimes the range of the sauce may be limited to vegetable dishes, but these dishes should be different in composition major vegetables, in this case, the principle remains the same - the same sauce to a different basis. Thus, the cabbage, eggplant, beets, beans can be used the same sauce Tkemali. On the other hand, the same can be applied on different sauces. This technique also allows different dishes by name. For example, to exactly the same fried chicken can be submitted www.gmproduction.ge
Food & Drink
Satsebeli sauces, Bazhe, Tkemali, Garlic-Wine, Nut sauces, etc. It is a variation of sauces and main products is achieved largely variety dishes of Georgian cuisine. Most often serve as the basis for products such as beans, eggplant, potatoes, poultry, are able to create very close to neutral, but not quite a neutral taste background favorable for the manifestation of it aroma, flavor, spice Georgian sauces. Georgian sauces often act as stand-alone courses and are used in this case with the bread. Sufficient calories, vitamins, essential content, high taste completely explain this use. A few words about the taste scale Georgian sauces. The most distinctive feature - its tart acidity produced by the natural fruit and berry juices. Very often it is mistaken for “sharp� and linked to the alleged rampant use of spices, especially pepper. Meanwhile, a sour-tart taste has
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nothing to do with the “sharpness�. Of course, it enhances the aroma and flavor, which is reported Georgian sauces used in these herbs, but the very nature of their foundations and sour spices, these are not sharp. Set of spices in the creation of Georgian cuisine has not so much burning as aromatic-spicy, refreshing effect. Hence, in Georgian cuisine dominates the use of fresh and dried herbs instead, not so much classical as local as
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fresh herbs are more gently. The only truly searing spice in Georgian cuisine - this is a red pepper, but it is. as garlic, is used, the Georgians rather moderate, although the time. And the red pepper and garlic is always used as a supplementary rather than a main ingredient in spice mixtures and, besides, they always tempered by the fact that they were sure to accompany foods such as crushed nuts and matsoni, which are intended to reduce the original bitterness.
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Cafes & Restaurants
LISTING AMIRA 24 Mosashvili St. Tel: (+995) 551 42 31 19 www.amira.tbb.ge BARBARESTAN 132 D. Aghmashenebeli Ave. Tel: (+995 32) 294 37 79 BREAD HOUSE 7 Gorgasali St. Tel: (+995 32) 230 30 30
DINEHALL 28 Rustaveli Ave. Tel: (+995 32) 200 16 16 www.dinehall.ge FLOOR 8 3 Vekua St. 8th floor Mob: (+995) 577 18 58 85 GABRIADZE CAFÉ 13 Shavteli St. Tel: (+995 32) 298 65 94 GREEN TERRACE 11 Kekelidze St. Tel: (+995 32) 224 02 03
BUDDHA BAR Rike park Tel: (+955 32) 229 92 22 www.buddhabar.ge
MEPETUBANI 3 Erekle II sq. Mob: (+995) 570 70 77 72
CAFE LITTERA 13 Machabeli St. Mob: (+995) 599 98 83 08
MUKHATSAKATUKHA 15 G. Akhvlediani St. Tel: (+995) 32 292 00 53
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ORGANIQUE JOSPER BAR 12 Bambis Rigi Mob: (+995) 593 73 50 83 www.restorganique.com PICASSO 3 Miminoshvili St. Tel: (+995 32) 298 90 86 RESTAURANT CITADEL 20, Ajiashvili St. (former Orpiri St.) Tel: (+995 32) 290 41 41 www.hotel-citadel.ge SAMIKITNO MACHAKHELA Meidan Sq. Mob: (+995) 577 71 07 88 www.samikitno.ge SIANG-GAN 41 Pekini St. Tel: (+995 32) 237 96 88 STRADA 5 Marjanishvili St. Mob: (+995) 595 99 22 88 www.stradacafe.ge
GEORGIAN WINE
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here has been wine in Georgia almost as long as there have been Georgians. Grapevine has been cultivated in the fertile valleys of Georgia for about 8000 years.With over 500 varieties of endemic grapes and the world’s first cultivated grapevines, the traditions of viticulture are entwined with the country’s national identity. It’s also believed that the word “wine” is of Georgian origin (“ღვინო” – “ghvino” in Georgian). All over Georgia, archaeologists have found ancient wine presses
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Food & Drink
and clay vessels, proving that viticulture has been practiced here at least since the 5th-4th millennia BC. Georgians have a special method of making wine in stone presses and then storing it in clay vessels sunk in the ground. Even today many houses in the country have a wine cellar – the so-called “Marani” with a wine-press and underground clay jars – “Qvevri”. Unlike the European way of wine-making that implies separation of juice from grapes after pressing, Georgians keep juice and grapes together for some time before separating them. This is what gives Georgian wine its special flavor and strength. www.gmproduction.ge
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Wine is an inseparable part of the traditional Georgian feast. At Georgian table toasts are made by a toast-master or “Tamada” and wine is drunk from a clay cup or a horn called “Kantsi”. Folk songs are also frequently sung at table. In this tour you travel to the wine-growing region of Kakheti in East Georgia
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and the province of Imereti where you can taste different wines. You will see how wine is made in local families and in bigger wineries and how it is stored. In addition to this you will soon become acquainted with the traditions of the Georgian feast – making toasts and drinking wine from special vessels.
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WINE COMPANY
LISTING ASKANELI BROTHERS 110 Kakheti Highway Tel: (+995 32) 240 77 77 www.askaneli.com BADAGONI Village Zemo Khodasheni, Akhmeta District Tel: (+995 32) 293 62 43 www.badagoni.ge BAGRATIONI 1882 12 D. Sarajishvili av. Tel: (+995 32) 249 72 74 www.bagrationi.ge CHATEAU MUKHRANI Mukhrani, Mtskheta Mob: (+995) 595 99 13 14/15/16 www.chateaumukhrani.com DUGLADZE WINES & SPIRITS 8 Chantladze st. Tel: (+995 32) 276 87 49 www.dwc.ge www.gmproduction.ge
KAKHETIAN TRADITIONAL WINEMAKING 12 S. Tsintsadze st. Tel: (+995 32) 223 77 22 www.ktw.ge SHUCHMAN WINES GEORGIA Kisiskhevi, Telavi Mob: (+995) 790 55 70 45 www.schuchmann-wines.com TELIANI VALLEY A. Isakiani Blind Alley Tel: (+ 995 32) 231 32 45 www.telianivalley.com VISMINO Achinebuli, Telavi Tel: (+995 32) 250 76 07 www.gws.ge WINERY KHAREBA D. Agmashenebeli Alley 6th km Mob: (+995) 599 80 85 39 www.winery-khareba.com
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WINE SHOPS
LISTING ALCORIUM 58 Vazha-Pshavela av. Tel: (+995 32) 239 80 81 mmilorava@gdholding.ge SCHUCHMANN WINE BAR & RESTAURANT 8 Sioni st. Tel: (+995 32) 205 08 07 www.schuchmann-wines.com WINE SHOP & BAR MUKUZANI 27/15 K. Abkhazi st. Tel: (+995 32) 232 69 07 www.mukuzani.ge
WINE STORE 12 Metekhi st. Tel: (+995 32) 274 58 88 http://www.hotel-penthouse. ge, info@hotel@hotelpenthouse.ge WINE GALLERY 39 Tsinamdzgvrishvili st. Tel: (+995 32) 294 19 42 www.winegallery.ge WINERY KHAREBA 50 Rustaveli av. Tel: (+995 32) 293 50 73 www.winery-khareba.com
WINE AND SOUVENIRS – MILDIANI 8 Sioni st. Tel: (+995 32) 2512791 www.mildiani.ge
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Banks & Finance
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BANKS & FINANCE
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he history of commercial banking activity in Georgia begins in the first half of the 19th century. Today Georgian banking and financial sector is represented by 16 commercial banks and up to 70 microfinance organizations. Todays’ Georgian banking system began in 1991. 70 years, during the Soviet Union, there were prohibited not only Georgian banks, but private banking system in general. There were only state banks that played the role of money savings and transactions.
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The financial sector is supervised by the National Bank for the purpose of promoting financial sustainability and transparency of the financial sector, in order to protect the interests of sector consumers and investors. The National Bank represents the Central Bank of Georgia. The National Bank of Georgia carries out monetary policy in accordance with the main directions of monetary and credit policy defined by the Parliament of Georgia. It owns and manages official international reserves of the country. The National Bank of Georgia shall be responsible for ensuring the basic functions and objectives imposed by the legislation on its regulatory and monetary instruments.
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Banks & Finance
According to the National Bank of Georgia, in 1995 there were 102 banks in the country. Then their number was declining rapidly and at least 17 banks reached in 2006. After that the number of banks was significantly lower or higher and now it has 16 commercial banks in Georgia. The big merging with “Bank Republic” and TBC Bank is considered one of the last re-merging campaign in recent banking history. Now, “Bank Republic” has stopped functioning separately. In addition to the number of banks, the number of branches and service centers of banks increases. In the background when a lot of users are using the Internet bank, cash boxes are actually replaced by money laundering machines. In 1996, 61 banks had 242 branches, and today 16 banks have more than 1,000 branches and service centers. Banks, on the one hand, promote the development of the country’s economy, but on the other hand, the economic growth rate of the country (which does not depend only on the banking sector) and the macroeconomic stability of the country should support the growth of the banks, increase in quantity and the decrease in interest rates.
MONEY
Georgian Lari - the only legal remedy in the territory of Georgia except for the cases envisaged by the Law of Georgia on Free Industrial Zones since October 2, 1995. The National Bank has the right to carry out the issuance of money marks on the territory of Georgia. Also, the National Bank has an exclusive right to produce signs of commemorative money for circulation or other purposes. The word “gel”, which was chosen as the main entity of the Georgian national currency, is the old Georgian word and means the treasure, property. The name “Gel” was named after the entity of Georgian money in 1991 in the project drafted by the Academician Vasil Chantladze for the Cabinet of Ministers. Georgian money signs are made in leading European organizations. Population signs are provided through commercial banks. In 1999, the Banknotes of all the 1995 Emission Bills were modified to improve their banknotes with the value of only 1, 2, 5, 10 and 20 GEL in 1999, and in 2004, 50 and 100 GEL banknotes.
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which was dictated by political and economic reasons. In addition to the Georgian kings, in the local mints in Georgia, the invaders and the material heritage, represented by occupation coins, clearly and accurately describe the country’s political situation at the moment of cutting the coin.
HISTORY OF THE GEORGIAN MONEY
The history of Georgian Numismatics is one of the oldest and richest. The fourth point of the old census should be considered as the starting points of the Georgian money, when the Colchian white came into rotation in the Kingdom of Colchis. Colchian White is a very valuable detail in terms of information about the least studied history of Georgia. Discussion on the area of Colchic white spread can be found in places of its discovery. At different times it is found in the ruins of the Nimphian church; In Karson; In Sochi district In the area of Trapez Up In Kartli - Armazi and others.
In the Georgian numismatics there are also anonymous coins. It is true that the dates of cutting on these coins are struck, but in some of these times many rulers have been cut down and their identification is complicated. It is very interesting that King Erekle II’s coins - both artistic and political. The most interesting is the Erekle’s two heads and the coins cut into one eagle. The two-headed coin, Erekle II, collapsed in 1781 as a symbol of military political rapprochement with Russia. Two years after the coin was cut, the Treaty of Georgievsk was signed in 1783. In the course of the famous invasion of Agha Mohammad Khan in 1795, Russia did not fulfill its obligatory commitment and left Georgia without military assistance to face a strong enemy. In response to this betrayal, in 1796 Erekle cutting the new
At the end of the VI century the Kingdom of Kartli was abolished by the Arabs. Georgians carry heavy liberation battles and during this period the Kartli Eristavas Gurgen and Stepanozi wound up Georgian coins, thus ending in the history of Georgian money. During the 26 century history of Georgian numismatics, the form, style, inscriptions and images of coins changed in accordance with the ongoing political and economic situation in the country. Georgian coins were often foreign or bilingual inscriptions (Georgian-Greek, Georgian-Arabian, Georgian-Persian),
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coin, where instead of the two chapters depicted one eagle. Last coin of the Russian occupation of Georgia by the end of Erekle II’s successor, Giorgi XII was cut down. Starting from 1804 in Tbilisi, the Russian-Georgian coins are cut off. The coins were given in Georgian letters on Aversi “Mint” Tbilisi, Reversal - Nominal, date and Russian initials of the coin. Soon after the announcement of independence on May 26, 1918, the work of the new Georgian money was started and since 1919 the bones of the Democratic Republic of Georgia have come into circulation. Inscriptions were printed in Georgian, Russian and French languages. A new Georgian currency was produced, as well as several bits of this money are known. The Soviet occupation of 1921 postponed this emission for 74 years. The new Georgian national currency -
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GEL - entered into circulation in 1995 and continues to the history of Georgian money.
PAYMENT SYSTEMS
Georgia’s payment system is a significant part of the country’s economic and financial infrastructure. Its financial viability is done quickly, safely and reliably, which is one of the preconditions of uninterrupted functioning of financial and monetary markets and contribution to the stability and efficiency of the economy as a whole. Payment Systems and Paid wages Payment Systems (Payment Card Processing Systems) are currently operating in Georgia. One of the largest payment systems - RTGS system operator is a national bank that provides banks, their clients and government transfers to process and settle.
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Banks & Finance
LISTING JSC “BANK OF GEORGIA” 29a Gagarini st. Tel: (+995 32) 244 44 44 www.bog.ge JSC “BASISBANK” 1 Ketevan Tsamebuli Av. Tel: (+995 32) 292 19 21 www.basisbank.ge JSC “CARTU BANK” 39a Chavchavadze Av. Tel: (+995 32) 292 55 92 www.cartubank.ge JSC” CREDO BANK” 9 Asatiani Strees # 9, Tbilisi, Georgia Tel: (+995 32) 242 42 42 www.credo.ge JSC” FINCA BANK GEORGIA” 71 Vazha-Pshavela avenue Tel: (+995 32) 220 74 10 www.finca.ge JSC “HALYK BANK GEORGIA” 40 shartava St. Tel: (+995 32) 224 07 07 www.halykbank.ge JSC “ISBANK GEORGIA ” 140B D. Agmashenebeli Av. Tel: (+995032) 231 05 15 www.isbank.ge JSC “LIBERTY BANK” 74 Chavchavadze Av. Tel: (+995 32) 255 55 05 www.libertybank.ge
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JSC” PASHA BANK GEORGIA” 15 Rustaveli av. Tel: (+995 32) 226 50 00 www.pashabank.az JSC “PROCREDIT BANK” 121 A. Kazbegi Av. Tel: (+995 32) 220 22 22 www.procredibank.ge JSC ,,SILK ROAD BANK” 2 Zaarbruken Square Tel: (+995 32) 224 22 42 www.bta.ge JSC “TBC BANK” 7 Marjanishvili St. Tel: (+995 32) 227 27 27 www.tbcbank.com.ge JSC “TERABANK” 3 Ketevan Tsamebuli Av. Tel: (995 32) 255 00 00 www.terabank.ge JSC “THE INTERNATIONAL BANK OF AZERBAIJANGEORGIA” 18 Bochorma st. Tel: (+995 32) 229 22 22 www.ibaz.ge JSC “VTB BANK – GEORGIA” 14 G. Chanturia St. Tel: (+995 32) 224 24 24 www.vtb.com.ge JSC “ZIRAAT BANK GEORGIA” 61 D. Agmashenebeli Av. Tel: (+995 32) 294 37 14 www.ziraatbank.com.tr www.gmproduction.ge
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Construction
Construction
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THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY IN GEORGIA
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he construction industry in Georgia is one of the fastest growing industries. Construction and real estate sector is attracting foreign and local investments. Together with the development of the construction sector of Georgia, it is important to increase the quality of construction as well. Three types of construction types can be allocated on the Georgian market - construction of residential, office and commercial premises. Here are some different indicators. More specifically, there is more demand for commercial spaces According to the experts, the demand for commercial premises are not satisfied. Due to the middle class raising in the Georgian population, the city’s construction sector shifts from the city center to its suburbs, and the demand increases on average places. Average price is 800-1000 USD per square meter. As for the most prestigious districts of Tbilisi - Vake, Vera, Mtatsminda, Sololaki and some part of Saburtalo. In these areas the price of sq.m. for sale ranges between $ 1000-1,400.
The apartments for the middle segment are located in Didube, Avlabari, Nutsubidze Plateau, Ortachala and Saburtalo. Prices in this area vary within $ 6001000. Most of the demand for real estate in Tbilisi - about 60% - comes from private individuals and individual entrepreneurs. 18% of demand - on international brands. Banks, pharmacies, supermarkets and other network organizations have 22% of total demand. During the past three years, the share of private individuals in the overall demand tendency, and the share of international brands and local networking organizations are characterized by a tendency of growth.
REAL ESTATE MARKET In 2016 new real estate supply (volume of completed constructions) has increased significantly in the Tbilisi real estate market:The number of new buildings increased by 42.7% compared with the previous year and amounted to 765 units (604 residential real estate, 161 commercial real estate). This indicator creates a clear picture of the construction pace and the size of the city. The volume of new buildings increased by 65.4% compared to the previous year that amounted to 1.44 million sq.m. (1.16 million sq.m residential property, 0.28 million sq.m commercial real estate). In 2016, direct foreign investment in the country amounted to 5%. Significant growth of investments was observed in the processing industry, energy and construction sectors. Today, 360,000 residences are located in Tbilisi. As for the new constructions, 532 projects are under construction and their completion is scheduled to be
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completed in 2017-2018. Most of the ongoing constructions are carried out by small developers. Large developers run just 11% of the ongoing projects. The 64% delivery of the current construction belongs to the low segment category, 28% for the average segment, and 8% for the premium class. The sale price of newly constructed apartments in Tbilisi varies from 600 USD to USD 3000 m2. The difference between the sale of apartments on the market depends on the situation. For the first time in the market, the developers offer more accumulated apartment buildings, and secondary market units are often sold in medium or repaired condition. In Tbilisi, we face mixed architecture in the market that there are different types of constructions, which are hotels and residential apartments that make the capital attractive. There is also great interest in the acquisition of real estate from foreigners.
LISTING ANAGI 37/39 Kostava st. Tel: (+995 32) 224 12 11 www.anagi.ge ARCHI GROUP 15 Kipshidze st. Tel: (+995 32) 260 26 02 www.archi.ge
BALAVARI 34 Gobronidze st. Tel: (+995 32) 256 05 60 www.balavari.ge GREEN BUDAPEST 22 Panjikidze st. (former Budapest) Tel: (+995 32) 200 10 10 www.greenbudapest.ge KING DAVID 12 Aleksidze st. Tel: (+995 32) 200 18 18 www.kdr.ge LISI DEVELOPMENT 2 Titipebi st. Tel: (+995 32) 200 27 27 www.lisi.ge M2 29 Chavchavadze av. Tel: (+995 32) 244 41 11 www.m2.ge SVETI 125 Nutsubidze st. Mob: (+995) 591 34 88 44 www.sveti.ge TIFLIS DEVELOPMENT 30 Kvernadze st. Tel: (+995 32) 231 88 88 www.tiflis.ge
AXIS 24 Kazbegi av. Tel: (+995 32) 224 17 17 www.axis.ge
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Telecommunications
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Telecommunications
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Telecommunications
TELECOMMUNICATIONS IN TBILISI
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elecommunications in Tbilisi include radio, television, fixed and mobile telephones, and the Internet.
RADIO AND TELEVISION
• Radio broadcast stations: AM 7, FM 12, shortwave 4 . • Radios: 3.02 million. • Television broadcast stations: 25 (plus repeaters) . • Televisions: 2.57 million.
TELEPHONES
Numbers in Georgia currently consist of 12 digits:
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Country Code Area code Subscriber’s number
with fiber-optic line between Poti and Varna (Bulgaria).
995 2 or 3 digits 7 or 6 digits • Calling code: +995
INTERNET
• Main lines: 830,222 lines in use. • Mobile cellular: 3.1 million lines . There are three cellular telephone networks of GSM 900 and 1800 standard and two UMTS 2100 standard: MagtiCom LTD, Geocell LTD, and Mobitel Georgia Beeline group. The cellular network market counts more than 3,000,000 registered customers in total (the commercially active number is not known). Coverage extends to over 98% of the populated territory as of 2010; In urban areas there are 20 telephones per 100 people and in rural areas 4 telephones per 100 people. Fiber-optic lines connect the major cities and Georgia and Bulgaria are connected
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• Internet Service Providers: at least 10 ISPs, with most of them ADSL/DSL/ Cable services (2003). • Top-level domain: .ge
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Telecommunications
Listed as engaged in selective Internet filtering in the political and conflict/ security areas and as no evidence of filtering in the social and Internet tools areas by the OpenNet Initiative (ONI) in November 2010. Access to Internet content in Georgia is largely unrestricted as the legal constitutional framework, developed after the 2003 Rose Revolution, established a series of provisions that should, in theory, curtail any attempts by the state to censor the Internet. At the same time, these legal instruments have not been sufficient to prevent limited filtering on corporate and educational networks. Georgia’s dependence on international connectivity makes it vulnerable to upstream filtering, evident in the March 2008 blocking of YouTube by Turk Telecom. On March 14, 2016, access to YouTube was restricted nationwide. This restriction of access was to presumably prevent Georgian citizens from accessing a video which threatened a number of journalists and opposition figures with the exposure of covertly recorded video tapes of sex acts. YouTube access went down throughout Georgia until the threatening video was removed from the internet.
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performance of “Abesalom and Eteri” one of Zakaria Paliahsvili’s most famous traditional opera scores. Step inside to be transported into a world long gone, but make sure to call ahead before going. 25 Rustaveli Ave. Tel: (+995 32) 200 44 66
TBILISI STATE OPERA
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bilisi’s Opera House has a history spanning more than 160 years. Named after famous Georgian composer and founder of modern Georgian music, Zakaria Paliashvili. Supposedly, the initiative to build the opera house was seen as an attempt to soothe unrest in Georgia in 1832, and give credit to the cultural policies of the Russian Empire in the eyes of the restive Georgian aristocracy. French writer Alexandre Dumas visited Tbilis in 1858 - 7 years after the completion of the Opera House - and wrote in his book, “Caucasus”, that he had “never seen any hall more spectacular than the one of Tbilisi Opera House in my entire life.” Throughout its history, the Opera House has sustained two raging fires, one in 1874 and a second in 1973. After six years of renovation works, the Tbilisi Opera House opened yet again in January of 2016, and hosted a
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RUSTAVELI THEATRE
Rustaveli National Theatre is the largest and one of the oldest theatres of Georgia, located in its capital Tbilisi on Rustaveli Avenue. Housed in an ornate Rococo-style edifice, the theatre was founded in 1887 and since 1921 has carried the name of Georgia’s national poet Rustaveli. The building was founded in 1887 as an “Artists’ Society”. Upon request of the Artists’ Society, several celebrated artists were commissioned to paint frescoes on the walls and ceilings of the basement. These artists included prominent Georgian painters Lado Gudiashvili and David Kakabadze, as well as theatre set designer Serge Sudeikin, who is known for his work for the Ballets Russes and the Metropolitan Opera. Two other important Georgian painters, Mose and Iracly Toidze, eventually joined the project as well. The masterpieces that once adorned the lower level of the
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Rustaveli Theatre were whitewashed during the period of Soviet rule and only a small portion of the frescoes has been restored. In 1921 the building was renamed Rustaveli Theatre. Construction of the theatre was funded by Alexander Mantashev and it was designed by Cornell K. Tatishchev and Aleksander Szymkiewicz,Tbilisi’s Municipal Architect. The theatre is home to three stages including, the main stage (about 800 seats), the small stage (283 seats) and a Black Box Theatre (182 seats) for experimental performances. The theatre is also available for conferences and events and houses a large ballroom, a small ballroom and a small foyer. 5 Rustaveli Ave. Tel: (+995 32) 272 68 68
GABRIADZE THEATRE
This tiny and unique marionette theatre is probably the best celebrated among Georgian theatres.The company is under the direction of noted artist, writer, and director Rezo Gabriadze. The beautiful
building in the heart of old Tbilisi was designed by Gabriadze himself. Among the shows in its current repertoire are: “The Autumn of My Spring”, “The Battle of Stalingrad”, “Ramona”, “Diamond of Marshal de Fant’e”. We recommend you purchaise the tickets in advance. As a rule, they get sold out immediately. 13 Shavteli st. Tel: (+995 32) 298 65 90
MOVEMENT THEATRE
It is called a theatre, but really it regularly hosts all different kinds of events from live concerts to circus performances and from fire shows to jazz evenings and charity concerts. The venue is located inside Mushtaidi Park, next to Dinamo Arena. Admission price to the events varies from one event to another, and is at times completely free of charge. Check out their facebook page for more details. During the events a small bar is working and there’s an outside sitting area. 182 Aghmashenebeli Ave., Mushtaidi Garden Tel: (+995) 599 43 63 60
MARJANISHVILI THEATRE
Kote Marjanishvili State Academic Drama Theatre is a state theatre in Tbilisi, Georgia. It is one of the oldest and most significant theatres in the country. The theatre was founded in Kutaisi in 1928 by Kote Marjanishvili. It moved to Tbilisi in 1930 to the former Brothers
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Zubalashvili philanthropic “Public House”, the building it still occupies. The theatre’s art nouveau edifice was thoroughly renovated and reopened in 2006 with the premiere of Bertolt Brecht’s The Threepenny Opera. 8 Marjanishvili st. Tel: (+995 32) 295 35 82
THE GEORGIAN NATIONAL GALLERY
The Georgian National Gallery was established in 1920. Dimitri Shevardnadze, a well-known Georgian painter, contributed significantly to the development of the gallery. Since its foundation, the gallery has served the development of Georgian fine arts.
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the museum’s first phase. The first exhibition of the National Gallery, as it was re-established under independent Georgian Menshevik rule, dates back to October 1920. The exhibition policy of the gallery was broad in scope, presenting Georgian and foreign works from all time periods and artistic movements to the public. The first exhibition was the fruit of Dimitri Shevardnadze’s hard work collecting as many fine art works as were available in Georgia at the time. The exhibition included 18th and 19th century Georgian portraits (from the so-called “Georgian School”), Russian, Western European, Iranian and contemporary Georgian paintings. Nowadays, the Gallery is one of the central exhibition spaces of the National
The gallery itself was built based on a resolution from Russian tsar in 1888. The building was originally allocated as a Russian military and historic museum, known as the Temple of Glory, intended to showcase the power of the Russian Empire in its colonies. Artifacts from the Temple of Glory were evacuated during the First World War, putting an end to www.gmproduction.ge
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Museum, where one can find temporary exhibitions such as “Georgian fine art masterpieces of the early 20th Century”.
CINEMAS
11 Rustaveli Ave.
RUSTAVELI CINEMA LISTING The Rustaveli Cinema is a movie theatre in Tbilisi. The theatre is on Rustaveli Avenue opposite the former building of the Parliament of Georgia. The theatre was opened in 1939 and had originally a seating capacity of 1200 people. It was designed by the architect Nikolay Severov in the style of Stalinist architecture, and has sculptures by Valentin Topuridze and Shota Mikatadze representing different social groups in vaulted niches at the second floor level. The building has four floors and is a cuboid. The first floor is rusticated whereas the upper floors are structured by Corinthian pilasters. The top of the building is rendered as an overhanging cornice. In 1999 the Rustaveli cinema was renovated and reopened on 11 July 1999 with 415 seats. It shows mostly first-run blockbuster films and has on average 1000 visitors per day.
AMIRANI 36 Kostava St. Tel: (+995 32) 299 99 55 CAVEA 2 Al. Tvalchrelidze St., Kakheti Highway Tel: (+995 32) 200 70 07 RUSTAVELI 5 Rustaveli Ave. Tel: (+995 32) 293 22 53
THEATRES
AKHMETELI THEATRE 8 Vekua st. Tel: (+995 32) 262 59 73 FREE THEATRE 9 Sulkan Saba st. GABRIADZE THEATRE 13 Shavteli St. Tel: (+995 32) 298 65 90
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MARJANISHVILI THEATRE 8 Marjanishvili St. Tel: (+995 32) 295 35 82 MOVEMENT THEATRE 182 Aghmashenebeli Ave., Mushtaidi Garden Tel: (+995) 599 43 63 60 MUSIC AND DRAMA STATE THEATRE 182 Aghmashenebeli Ave. Tel: (+995 32) 234 80 90 NODAR DUMBADZE PROFESSIONAL STATE YOUTH THEATRE 99/1 D. Agmashenebeli Ave. Tel: (+995 32) 295 78 74 PANTOMIME THEATRE 37 Rustaveli Ave. Tel: (+995 32) 298 25 06 RUSTAVELI THEATRE 17 Rustaveli Ave. Tel: (+995 32) 272 68 68 ROYAL DISTRICT THEATRE 10 Gia Abesadze St. Tel: (+995 32) 299 61 71 TBILISI STATE CONSERVATOIRE 8 Al. Griboedov St. Tel: (+995 32) 293 46 24
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ART GENE
Art Gene Festival is an initiative of Georgian NGO “Union of Art Gene”, formed by group of friends whose mission was to identify problems associated with traditional and folk culture and find ways for their solution. The Art Gene group mainly consists of artists and musicians. In 2003 the Art Gene group initially began investigating the existence of remaining indigenous Georgian art forms, including folk music, which has been past down from generation to generation forming an integral part of Georgian life. The Art Gene Group traveled throughout all regions of Georgia, investigated over 100 families, who were known to maintain their strong traditions and whose activities were then filmed and recorded on the spot. Most of them were selected to participate in a Gala concert at the first Art Gene festival in Tbilisi in 2004, where they performed in front of a large audience and have been recorded live for further archival purposes and to produce and publish CDs. In 2004 the main profile was Crafts, which we organized after extensive expeditions throughout Georgia giving
TBILISI STATE OPERA 25 Rustaveli Ave. Tel: (+995 32) 200 44 66 TUMANISHVILI THEATRE 164 David Agmashenebeli Ave. Tel: (+995 32) 234 28 99 THEATRE ON ATONELI 31 Atoneli st. www.gmproduction.ge
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us an insight into the huge potential within this field for many years to come. The Art Gene Group found yet other examples of previously unknown artists, blacksmiths, who have preserved their indigenous methods thought to be extinct. The result of 2005 research was the publication of a book “Masters of Georgia’s Traditional Crafts”, which catalogues the work of artisans working in different fields throughout Georgia and provides their contact details to encourage commissions from the readers. The book aims to address such sensitive issues as migration and potential tourism development, so much needed in rural areas to keep these artisans interested in continuing their work for their future prosperity. Festivals exhibited modern and traditional folk music, exhibitions and sales of folk handicrafts, traditional medicine, traditional cuisine and folk games to promote our heritage in the capital and regions. To attract young generations to see more traditional and folk music, in parallel we staged popular rock concerts towards the evenings of festival days and developed certain pattern of jamming sessions with folk and modern music and dance, which proved
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to become one of the trademarks of our festival. Every year we chose a new main theme of the Festival, our motivation was to give each annual Art Gene festival its own distinct profile but keeping aspects of the previous one, thus giving the festival a wider range every year. The Art Gene Festival proved to be the one of the most successful, self-sustained and highly attended festival in the South Caucasian Region, with growing numbers of supporters from both the local and international community Our Festivals participants are from the different ethnic minorities of Georgia and from countries such as Chechnya, Ingushetia, Ukraine, Turkey, Latvia, China, Japan, France, and UK, thus making Art Gene Festival as been the International Festival. The Festival is attended by all generations since it covers the widest range of cultural activities including: arts, crafts, folk music, modern music, martial weaponry, blacksmithery, tannery, cloisonné enamel, apiculture (beekeeping), basket making, knitting, www.gmproduction.ge
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sewing, embroidery, gobelin, cloth and felt making, musical instruments, pottery and ceramics, kilims, weaving, carpentry and stonemasonry, wood carving, jewellery, culinary, traditional medicine, martial arts, dance, etc. generally emphasizing on fields of activities which are still part of daily life in all versatility of different ethnic groups existing in Georgia. The festival Art Gene is an ongoing project since 2004 and several recent researches showed that it is the most well organized, by far the most attended and popular public art event in Georgia.
TBILISOBA
Tbilisoba Holiday was first celebrated on October 28 1979 and since then it became an annual tradition. The very first event determined the character of the event. On the last weekend of October (wine month) past and present meet each other in the capitol and old Tbilisi becomes alive again. In the historical part of the city you can meet karachogles, kintos and iron makers.
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Celebrations of the Tbilisoba takes place in the renovated districts of old Tbilisi and obtained a form of a costumed carnival, from the balconies of the old Tbilisi style houses, as before, man dressed in national cloths (chokkhaakhalukhi) and woman dressed in Georgian dresses overlook the rafts floating on the river Mtkvari. Today during the Tbilisoba phaetons appear in the streets of the city, from the distance breeze brings the sad sounds of sharmanka and songs of ashugs. City starts traveling in times, as if the residents of middle centuries come back. In celebrations of Tbilisoba not only local, but the populations of whole Georgia participates. People arriving from different parts of Georgia try to represent their regions and organize the markets of fall harvest; therefore
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FRUIT FESTIVAL
Tbilisoba is also called as “autumn holiday”. Celebration of the day of such an old city means, meeting with old traditions. Starting from the the first Tbilisoba, old Georgian games –kochaoba, horse racing and riqtafela became one of the interesting shows. In old Tbilisi place for wrestling was Didube and today Akaki garden is a place where wrestlers meet each other. For many years different cultural and sport events are being planned for the Tbilisoba celebrations, which pass exhibitions halls, stages and sport stadiums and move in the streets of the city, holiday is always busy and offers a variety of different shows. People working in different spheres obtain awards of honorary citizens, which take place in the celebrating atmosphere. No matter the fact that Tbilisoba country only 3 decades of its history, it became tradition. For the inhabitants of the city and for the visitors for this two days Tbilisi transforms into the city of middle centuries in Kala or Isani district, in the shade of Metekhi or under the balconies of darejani palace, Asia and Europe meet each other again, just like before and the city gains it’s usual, colorful charm.
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Not very long time ago fruit festival was founded; however, it is exceptional for its traditions. For last two year festival coincides with Tbilisoba celebrations. During the day, Sgardenistreet, Sioni street and cotton line cafes demonstrated different fruit compositions and host many visitors and guests. At the end of events, Tbilisi Mayor visits the exhibitions and awards with moving main price, which is knife. With this knife, mayor of the city and the winner cut the celebration cake which is baked especially for this event. 2008 fruit festival amazed visitors for several times, each exhibit was exceptional because of its fantasy and the taste. Shardeni and Sioni lines became a fairy tale gardens for one day, where every type of fruit was harvested. In Sioni square apples, pears, peaches, bananas, mandarins and grapes grew on the trees. Artificial fruits decorated the trees, while composition made out of real fruits amazed visitors. Visitors had a chance to get to know Georgian and foreign manufacturers of the tea and had a chance to taste the tea. At the end of events, in celebrating atmosphere the winners of the festival were names. In nomination of the best interior cafes Sharden #12 and Corner bar won. Price for the best idea and the main moving knife went to restaurant Meridani. Culmination of the festival was the ceremony of cutting the cake, which visitors tried.
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withdrawal of Georgian literature on international market, to have an international book festival organized in Georgia as one of the most popular events in the world. Festival is supported by Tbilisi Mayor’s office.
TBILISI INTERNATIONAL BOOK FESTIVAL
Tbilisi International Book Festival became an important part of the Tbilisi social life. It is cultural and trade events at the same time. Festival is open for visitors, whose number increases year after year. Here visitors can buy books, authors of the books are invited, and presentations of the new book and prizes are being fought. Editors present themselves and their production, also evaluate the work of their competitors. It is very important that communication with editors from the neighboring countries is not developed much. Therefore increasing the festival borders will help to increase the editorial industry in Georgia and also in neighboring states. Specifically, customers will have a broader choice of good quality books and the products of the editors will be more affordable for customers. In order to have the Tbilisi International Book Festival recognized internationally, attractive environment should be created for the festival, which will help to have contact and long term contracts among editors.
TBILISI INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF THEATRE
To host the theatre festival is the great pleasure and prestige, but as well rare opportunity for all the cities and countries. One should have the best theatre and audience to become the host country for the festival.This is the main condition, but there are many other important conditions, too. Tbilisi International Festival of Theatre was established by Tbilisi City Hall in May 2009. Nowadays there are all conditions for international cultural life in Tbilisi.We hope that Tbilisi International Festival of theatre, with the other festivals and cultural events, will be the main crossroad for the development stage. The aim of the festival is to enrich the cultural life of Tbilisi and Georgia with the best works of modern Art and Culture. As well to promote Georgian Art, to introduce it to the International Festivals and Cultural Institutions; To collaborate with Media for more attention and development. Also to create “Showcase” for Georgian audience
Purpose of the project is: support of popularization of books in Georgia, popularization and support of authors and libraries, support of editorial work, www.gmproduction.ge
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and vice versa to make Georgian “Showcase” for foreign audience. TBILISI INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF THEATRE is a newly founded one – young FESTIVAL. It was founded in 2009- in order to popularize Tbilisi, its culture and its unique atmosphere. Every September the festival gathers artists from all around the world in Tbilisi, the city where their most courageous ideas are truly valued; where the experienced audience is waiting to greet them. The festival was founded by the Tbilisi municipality as an LEPL The festival is an independent organization. The head of the festival and the counselors are in charge of the festival policy and the program. The festival team and volunteers are working on the production of the festival program.
GEORGIAN INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF ARTS ‘GIFT’ IN TBILISI IN HONOR OF MIKHAIL TUMANISHVILI
Tumanishvili Film Actors Theatre from Tbilisi is a prominent Georgian theatre company founded in 1975 as a small experimental theatre leaded by a great theatre director, renovator of the Georgian Theatre, scholar and preacher - Mikhaill Tumanishvili. The Company found its home at the first filmstudio in Caucasus, one of world’s oldest movie studios, in 1978 and yet remains as a hub for film and theatre actors who made themsaleves famously successful by untique teachings that have flourished through Tumanishvili’s famous students and his company archiving the signature of Maestro at a high status in the modern theatre.
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The GIFT Festival is an annual celebration bringing the best of the visiting arts in Tbilisi, as well as leading our country’s unique cultural profile internationally. Since its inception the Gift Festival hosted more than 300 international visiting groups and companies and yet remains as one of the major platform in Caucasus for international exchange and cooperation. In 1997 it was founded by the International Board of Directors of Edinburgh, Adelaide, Melbourne, Perth International Arts Festivals and up to date being supported by Peter Brook, Sasha Waltz, Vanessa Redrgave, Michael kahn, Andron Konchalowski, and many other thespians and luminaries of the world drama. In 2007 the festival was banned due to political repression towards opposition point of view of its actual organizer, founder and Artistic Director Keti Dolidze and revived only 5 years later in 2013 with the contra-revolution in power. But the power politics in Georgia as well as the culture policy still remains under significant development process, therefore the openness, democratic and comprehensive selection and cooperation for advancing the capacity of the art institutions in Georgia, that have maintained solid international and European engagement nevertheless the gap between Georgia and the wider world in the last few decades due to the social or political peripeteias - is fundamental, in order to support Georgia and Georgian
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culture to communicate and share its voice Globally. Therefore GEORGIAN INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF ARTS “GIFT” IN TBILISI IN HONOR OF MIKHAIL TUMANISHVILI with its legal representative and organizer TUMANISHVILI FILM ACTORS THEATRE call for international and transnational cooperation and exchange providing one of the major arena in Caucasus, the Gift festival, and the Georgian talent that have been proved very exceptional internationally.
NEW WINE FESTIVAL IN TBILISI
In the last several years month of May in Tbilisi feels great not just because of blooming nature and splendid weather, but also because the New Wine Festival is held in the city. End of spring is the time to unseal huge clay vessels called qvevri, filled with pressed grapes and buried under the ground according to the traditional Georgian winemaking technology. The young wine is ready and waits for the moment when wine lovers come to taste it. Usually the festival is held in one of green areas in Tbilisi in the beginning of May. Travellers, bloggers, journalists, winemakers and sommeliers from all around the globe enjoy tasting more than 60 varieties of excellent Georgian wine of the last harvest. Traditional Georgian
barbeques and fresh bread are available at the festival to try keeping you sober. Accompanied by Georgian dances and songs performances, the festival lasts the whole weekend. Outdoors, under the warm May sun the wine tastes gorgeous!
TBILISI ZOO
The Tbilisi Zoological Park is the oldest and largest zoo in Georgia, in the country’s capital of Tbilisi. Founded in 1927, it is located in the Vere River valley in central Tbilisi. The zoo was heavily affected by a flood on 14 June 2015, leaving many of its inhabitants dead or on the loose. Prior to that, the zoo occupied the area of approximately 120 hectares and was populated by around 300 species, native to the Caucasus as well as other regions of the world. The Tbilisi Zoo was established by the decision of the Tbilisi City Council on 10 February 1927. It was designed by a group of Georgian and Russian specialists. The Zoo was further expanded in the 1930s. At its heyday in the 1970s, the Tbilisi Zoo was home to more than 1,000 animals
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and enjoyed more than 500,000 visitors per year. The Zoo, largely depending on dwindling funding allocated from the city budget, went into decay as a corollary of an economical collapse and political unrest that hit post-Soviet Georgia in the 1990s. A World Society for the Protection of Animals representative, Neil Trent, reported in 1993 that more than half of the animals at the zoo had died of starvation or cold since 1991. The Zoo experienced a modest revival in the late 2000s. A marine aquarium, the first such establishment in the Caucasus, was opened in 2007. The Zoo belongs to the Tbilisi City Hall and largely depends on funding allocated from the city budget. In 2012, the government of Tbilisi decided to relocate the zoo from the city’s centre to a zoological and recreation complex adjacent to the Tbilisi Sea, a large reservoir at the eastern outskirts of Tbilisi. A project developed by the Australiabased architecture firm Hassell was to include “an entrance hub, boulevard, a secondary hub with playground and café, inner zoo and an outer open range zoo as well as woodland areas.” Due to the lack of funds, the relocation was delayed and the zoo remained at its old location, when, on 14 June 2015, the swollen Vere river flooded the zoo. Several of its
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inhabitants died, while many surviving animals, such as a hippopotamus, lions, tigers, bears, and wolves, escaped to the streets of Tbilisi. Some animals were recaptured but several were shot by emergency forces. In total, the zoo lost nearly half of its inhabitants.
MTATSMINDA PARK
Mtatsminda Park is an amusement facility located atop Mount Mtatsminda on 770 meter height overlooking the Georgian capital Tbilisi. It is the highest point in Tbilisi. Located on more than 100 hectares. Park has more than 100 years history.
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and national heroes of Georgia are buried. It is located in the churchyard around St. David’s Church “Mamadaviti” on the slope of Mount Mtatsminda (Geo. მთაწმინდა, meaning the Holy Mountain) and was officially established in 1929.Atop the mountain is Mtatsminda Park, an amusement park owned by the municipality of Tbilisi. Mtatsminda Park is the most popular theme park in Tbilisi. It is the best choice for fun and relaxation. You can find various Cafes, Souvenirs shops, child entertainment center, wedding house, picnic zones, a big Ferris Wheel at the edge of the mountain, offering a splendid view over the city, funicular tram and other fun attractions on the venue. Fresh air, fascinating view of Tbilisi, fun rides, attractions, constant events, excellent customer service will let you relax, have fun and enjoy your free time with your friends and family members.
MTATSMINDA PANTHEON
The Mtatsminda Pantheon of Writers and Public Figures is a necropolis in Tbilisi, Georgia, where some of the most prominent writers, artists, scholars,
The first celebrities to be buried at this place were the Russian writer Alexander Griboyedov (1795–1829) and his Georgian wife Nino Chavchavadze (1812–1857).The Pantheon was officially opened in 1929 to celebrate the centenary of Griboyedov’s death in Iran. Since then, several illustrious Georgians have been buried or reburied there. The Pantheon is administered by the Government of Tbilisi and is frequented by locals as well as the city’s visitors.
DIDUBE PANTHEON
The Didube Pantheon is a cemetery in Tbilisi, Georgia, where some of the most prominent writers, artists, scholars, scientists and political activists of Georgia are buried. It was opened in 1939. The pantheon is located in the Didube District in the northern part of Tbilisi.
SABURTALO PANTHEON
The Saburtalo Pantheon is a burial site in Tbilisi, Georgia, where some of the most prominent scientists and cultural activities are buried. It was opened in the 1970s. It consists of old (closed) and new (opened in 2002) pantheons. www.gmproduction.ge
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TBILISI SEA
The Tbilisi sea or Tbilisi reservoir is an artificial lake in the vicinity of Tbilisi that serves as a reservoir. The lake has a length of 8.75 km and a width of 2.85 km. It was opened in 1953 and has become a popular recreation spot. It is planned to develop the Tbilisi sea into a recreational park with various sports facilities.Tbilisi sea is the most popular destination for swimming outside even thou is not very clean like any other lakes around. The beach is free and often crowded. Check out the Temka Suburb side and have a swim or get some sunbath. One of the ways to get to the beach is a taxi from Sarajishvili Metro station.
LISI LAKE
Lisilake is a small lake in the vicinity of Tbilisi, Georgia; belongs to the Kura River valley, home to a large mixed-use development project by the same name. The landscape is rocky and arid with shrub vegetation and plots of steppe. The lake and surrounding area provide a habitat for variety of different species of exotic birds. In addition to various
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avian species, the area around the lake provides shelter to a variety of animals such as turtles, foxes and hares. The area is well known for the large population of snakes the live in the hillsides around the lake.
TURTLE LAKE
Turtle Lake is a direct English translation of KusTba, a small lake at the outskirts of Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, so named due to the perceived abundance of turtles living in these places. The other, less frequently used name of this lake is K’ork’i. Turtle Lake is located on the wooded
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northern slope of Mtatsminda Mount at elevation of 686.7 m above sea level and fed by a small river Varazis-Khevi, a tributary to the Mtkvari (Kura). The area of surface is 0.034 km², while the catchment area is 0.4 km². Maximal depth is 2.6 m. The Turtle Lake area is designed as a recreational zone and is frequented by the Tbilisians on weekends. It is also a place where festivals and concerts are held. It can be reached either via a road or an aerial tramway leading from Tbilisi’s Vake Municipality - this began operating once more in October 2016, is open from 8:00 until 22:00 and costs 1 lari in each direction. West to the lake is the Open Air Museum of Ethnography, a large exhibition of Georgia’s folk architecture.
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TBILISI NIGHTLIFE
Tbilisi is a lively city with a growing bar and club culture. Indeed, two years ago - when we first started collecting information about Tbilisi nightlife we could only find a few venues to recommend. Things are very different now.Today you’ll find most of the venues listed by us crowded on Fridays and Saturdays. New bars are popping up here and there on the nightlife map all the time: check out our recommendations for lounges with the best views of the city. On weekends you’ll find an increasing number of venues with local or international DJs spinning the tunes.
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BASSIANI
Founded in August 2014 Bassiani marked the beginning of a completely different attitude towards nightlife in Tbilisi. The club is located in the basement of Dinamo Stadium, is spacious but somewhat sombre, and strictly forbids flash photography. It’s the first venue in Tbilisi that regularly invites acclaimed techno musicians from around the world, and while Bassiani doesn’t have regular opening hours (that would be just too mainstream) it usually announces upcoming events (on its website) well in advance. Admission varies from event to event. To be able to purchase tickets on presale it’s necessary to first register. 2. A.Tsereteli Ave. Tel: (+995) 599 88 08 88 www.bassiani.com
CAFÉ GALLERY
sale. A café during the day, it becomes a bar in the evening. and on Thursdays to Sundays after midnight, it morphs again into a nightclub until 09:00 with sets from local and international DJs.There is an outside terrace during summer. 48 Rustaveli Ave. Tel (+995 32) 299 57 47
EGOIST
The long bar dominates the room, a good feature for a nightclub as it cuts down on the waiting time for a refill.The music is a mixed bag – two DJs plays sets each night with sounds from pop to house, R&B, deep house and progressive. There is a VIP area with sofas, its own toilet and entrance. You can order food while in the club from the restaurant downstairs. The entrance is free of charge, though subject to “face control”. 8 Bambis Rigi Tel: (+995) 598 32 93 61
As the name suggests, Café Gallery is part venue, part art space. The main room is big and airy with windows all around and regularly changing artwork on the walls, showcasing Georgian and regional artists. All the works are for
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MTKVARZE
Mtkvarze – which means on the river Mtkvari - is located in the building of a former fish restaurant, quite famous in the town during the 1950s. Just two months after opening it won Best Venue at the Georgian electronic music awards. Mtkvarze usually operates with two rooms. The bigger one is oval shaped and its windows from floor to ceiling overlook the river running under. Mostly local DJs play here - mainly techno or house - every weekend. Mtkvatze is a little away from the centre but very easy to reach by taxi, and worth the trip. 2 Agladze St. Tel: (+995) 599 19 33 44
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NUMBER 13
Number 13 boasts a stunning new interior by distinguished Georgian artist Nino Akhvlediani, which takes sophistication to new heights, at least for Tbilisi. An outstanding combination of innovative cuisine, smooth atmosphere, high quality service and a terrific mix of relaxed lounge and club music makes this place one of the best new venues in town. Well worth your time. 13 G. Akhvlediani St. Tel: (+995) 599 77 10 80
ZOESTAN
zoestan is one of the best bars in town, and one of our faves as it was also one of the first non-smoking bars in Tbilisi. Even though it’s a small venue it has a decent choice of local and imported beers, very cheap draft wine from the Marani winery, a selection of bottled wines and a
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small kitchen that offers yummy toasted sandwiches made of Georgian lavashi bread. The bar is mostly frequented by young Georgians and French expats since Zoe - the owner - is from France. Sometimes on Sunday Zoestan puts on concerts of traditional or acoustic music. 5 V. Beridze St. Tel: (+995 32) 299 75 66
SWIMMING POOLS
LISTING ARENA - SPORT COMPLEX 2 University St. Tel: (+995 32) 239 02 89 CLUB 71 71 Vazha-Pshavela Ave. Tel: (+995 32) 220 00 71 www.club71.ge
HOLIDAY INN TBILISI’S OUTDOOR POOL 1, 26 May Sq. Tel: (+995 32) 230 00 99 www.ihg.com/holidayinn NEPTUNE 49a Chavchavadze Ave. Tel: (+995 32) 225 04 86 OLIMPIKI Beri Gabriel Salosi Ave., Q. 1, 5b Tel: (+995 32) 277 27 73 www.olympic.ge SEASIDE 4 V. Gabashvili St. Tel: (+995 32) 225 25 07
EUROPARK 3 Ninua St. Tel: (+995 32) 269 72 00 www.europark.ge
SPORT TIME 75a Gorgasali St. Tel: (+995 32) 272 21 44
GINO PARADISE TBILISI Near Tbilisi Sea Tel: (+995 32) 215 85 85 www.ginoparadise.ge
VAKE SWIMMING POOL AND FITNESS CLUB 49b Chavchavadze Ave. Tel: (+995 32) 225 25 75
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SOUVENIRS
T
bilisi is a gorgeous city to visit in Georgia, also being the capital city of the country and the largest city of Georgia. When visiting a new place, it is only normal to want to take something home with you, something to remind you of the city and the places you’ve seen here. Because Tbilisi is a city that is so much appreciated by tourists and receives guests throughout the year, there are numerous souvenir shops you can enjoy here. You will discover that many items are extremely beautiful and are handmade, perfectly representing the identity of Georgia, which is exactly what you need as a souvenir. If you don’t know where to start looking for the best souvenirs, here is our basic guide to Tbilisi souvenir shopping. If you like jewelry, pieces decorated with mosaics, ceramic items, church items, you need to visit Pokany. This business was founded in 2000, out of the desire of its founders to bring back into the attention of people and art enthusiasts to old Georgian traditions concerning enamel craftsmanship, the art of mosaic, and traditional skills of local goldsmiths. Shopping here means not only to purchase items that are beautifully made and unique on the market, but also to take a part of Georgian traditions and appreciation for aesthetics with you.
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Another great place where you can find traditional items and handmade souvenirs is the Meidan Bazaar. On the Gorgasali street, in the heart of the old town of Tbilisi, you will find this amazing place that still runs pretty much in the same way it did centuries ago. The experience you will enjoy by just being in this place is definitely an unforgettable one. It is true that the idea of making a bazaar in this place belonged to two modern companies, but the reason behind this decision is the fact that there was always a bazaar in this particular area of Tbilisi, since the 18th century. So what they did was just to revive a part of the city that was present throughout its history. You can easily find here souvenirs of all kind that are handmade by local artisans, Georgian wine that is prepared in the area, and even traditional delicacies. Tbilisi souvenir shopping would be boring without considering Georgian wines. There are quite a few places you can visit if you want to buy some to take it back home with you. Vino Underground is a great place to start. It is a bar and a shop, which means that you can enjoy a glass of wine here bewww.gmproduction.ge
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fore buying the assortment you like. It is worth mentioning that the wine served and sold here is organic, so it is of the highest quality. Vinotheca is another great venue if you are looking to buy great wine, located on a popular touristic street in Tbilisi. Here, you can find both organic and regular assortments of wine, at rather affordable prices. We also have to mention Vinoground, a place where you can taste as many wine types as you like, until you find the best one to suit your personal tastes for purchasing. Also, do know that you can order food from a nearby restaurant and serve it in this underground wine cellar, just in case you get hungry from all the wine tasting. DRY BRIDGE BAZAAR
is where hard-up citizens of Tbilisi would come to sell their possessions in order to make a little cash. For some people that is still the case today, though for others this is their main business. Everything is laid out on the ground, often carefully arranged on on sheets of material, other times it is a haphazard collection. One person might be trying to sell you twenty-year-old batteries or
This extraordinary flea market will keep you entertained for hours. There is a mesmerising assortment of antiques, jewellery and bric-a-brac on sale. In the tough days of Perestroika and the early years of independence, the Dry Bridge
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an old toothbrush, while their neighbour will be touting antique amber and silver jewellery. If you want to buy anything remember to haggle. Prices may be inflated, especially for tourists. Open daily if the weather is good, from 10:00 - 17:00. At weekends there are usually more sellers, but more tourists too. MARKET ON THE STAIRS A small street souvenir market where you can buy everything from oak horns (kantsi) to nice paintings of Tbilisi. 52 Rustaveli Ave. GEORGIA GIFTS Essential stop on Rustaveli Ave. if you have some souvenir shopping plans. Stocks a wide range of traditional Georgian souvenirs. 24 Rustaveli Ave. POKANY An amazing mix of modern and traditional Georgian jewellery, mosaics and ceramics. 7 Bambis Rigi 7 Tel: (+995) 591 40 98 47 www.pokany.com SAMOSELI PIRVELI Georgian traditional clothes. Should you feel the need, you can rent traditional dress for both men and women.
exhibitions. You can purchase jewellery, exhibition catalogues, books, CDs, posters, prints, calendars, souvenirs inspired by the Golden Treasury, magnets and postcards. 11 Rustaveli Ave. Tel: (+995 32) 214 88 58 ALTERSOCKS What about socks with Khinkalis printed on them? How’s that for a cool souvenir? If you have made it all the way out to Tbilisi Mall make sure you check Altersocks out. The idea is to bring more fun into people’s lives, or so they say. And they do this by designing high-quality, colourful socks with humourous and often bizarre patterns on them. All power to your socks. Also new shop at 34 Il. Chavchavadze Ave., open 11:00 - 21:00. D. Aghmashenebeli Alley, 16th Km,Tbilisi Mall Tel: (+995) 599 44 88 02 www.altersocks.com
22 Chavchavadze Ave. Tel: (+995 32) 223 43 63 www.samoselipirveli.ge GEORGIAN NATIONAL MUSEUM SHOP The Museum Shop offers gifts inspired by the Georgian National Museum’s encyclopaedic collection and special www.gmproduction.ge
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Shopping Malls
PHILIPS CENTER 6/10 Baratashvili St. Tel: (+995 32) 292 00 01
LISTING ALTAOKAY 8 Beliashvili St. (Head office) Tel: (+995 32) 251 01 11 www.altaok.ge
BEKO 5 Parsadani St. Hot Line: 215 50 50 www.beko.com.ge CITY MALL GLDANI 1 Khizabavri st. Tel: (+995 32) 298 75 89 EAST POINT 2 Al. Tvalchrelidze st. Kakheti Highway Tel: 16333 www.eastpoint.ge ELIT ELECTRONICS 1 Kavtaradze St. Hot Line: 248 48 48 www.ee.ge GALAXY 41 Peking St. Hot Line:2 200 500
METROMART Shopping Centre “Tbilisi Central” Hot Line:2 000 555 www.metromart.ge
SMILEY 36 Vazha-Pshavela Ave. Hot Line: 2 555 655 www.smiley.ge SHOPPING AXIS 24 Kazbegi av. Tel: (+995 32) 224 17 17 SHOPPING GALLERY MERANI 42 Rustaveli av. Tel: (+995 32) 299 81 68 SKY PLAZA 17 Khizanishvili st. Mob: (+995) 597 27 41 14 www.skyholdings.ge TBILISI CENTRAL 2 Vagzali sq. Tel: (+995) 790 90 11 98 TBILISI MALL D. Agmashenebeli Alley 16th km Tel: (+995 32) 250 55 56 www.tbilisimall.com
KARVASLA 7 Ts. Dadiani st. Tel: (+995 32) 266 88 32 www.karvaslamall.ge
TECHNO BOOM 13 Km. David Agmashenebeli Alley Tel: (+995 32) 243 01 02 www.technoboom.ge
MEGATECHNICA 140 Tsereteli Ave. Tel: (+995 32) 224 46 46 www.megatechnica.ge
VESTEL 54 Agmashenebeli Ave. Tel: (+995 32) 261 40 57
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Helth & Beauty
Health & Beauty
სილამაზის გამხსნელი
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LISTING
AVERSI CLINIC 27b Vazha-Pshavela Ave. Hot Line: (+995 32) 2 500 700 www.aversiclinic.ge CARDIO-STYLE 27 Tabukashvili St. Tel: (+995 32) 299 82 77 www.cardio-style.jimdo.com DIAGNOSTICS CENTRE 23 Kavtaradze St. Hot Line: (+995 32) 255 05 05 www.evex.ge GEO HOSPITALS 45 Vazha-Pshavela Ave. Hot Line: 2 505 222 www.gh.ge GEORGIA-ISRAEL SURGERY CLINIC GIDMEDI 2/6 Ljubljana St. Tel: (591) 35 33 55 www.gidmedi.ge HELSICORE 13 TevdoreMgvdeli St. Tel: (+995 32) 243 33 43 www.helsicore.ge IMEDI CLINIC 10a MirianMepe St. Tel: (+995 32) 223 65 56 www.imediclinic.com
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WIDE SPAN OF REJUVENERATION PROCEDURES
IN VITRO 2/6 Ljubljana St. Hot Line: (+995 32) 215 77 77 www.invitro.ge INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL SUPPORT SERVICES 10a Bakhtrioni St. Tel: (+995 32) 292 09 28 ww.imss.ge NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ENDOCRINOLOGY - PROF. ELENE GIORGADZE CLINIC 2/6 Ljubljana St. Tel: (+995 32) 230 63 97 www.endocrinology.ge NEW HOSPITALS 12 Krtsanisi St. Hot Line: (+995 32) 2 190 190 www.newhospitals.ge www.gmproduction.ge
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ERGOLINE 22 I. Abashidze St. Tel: (+995 32) 222 04 14 EXCLUSIVE 7 Chabukiani St. Tel: (+995 32) 218 41 32 FASHION STYLE 86 Barnovi St. Tel: (+995 32) 218 25 85
TBILISI GUIDE
PRIMAVERA 31 Peking St. Mob: (555) 46 90 90 REDRESS 31a Kazbegi Ave. Tel: (+995 32) 2 905 904 SOLO 2 Pekini St. Tel: (+995 32) 233 05 45 STYLE 2/7 S. Chikovani St. Tel: (+995 32) 223 62 90
HERA 98 Vazha-Pshavela Ave. Tel: (+995 32) 230 31 76 MODERN 41 Kazbegi Ave. Tel: (+995 32) 239 45 08
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ENGLISH Hello Good Morning How are you? I am well, and you? Thank you Nice to meet you Where are you from? I am from New-York How was your trip? Good bye See you later Good evening! Good night! Please That’s good That’s bad I love you I like it Yes No I am sorry Georgia Tomorrow Today Yesterday May I have a bill, please Stop right here, please Year Water I am bad Help me, please Today It is expensive I need a doctor Night Life It’s tasty Happy Birthday! Congratulations! Sights Wine It’s cheap
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GEORGIAN გამარჯობა დილა მშვიდობისა როგორ ხარ? კარგად, შენ? გმადლობთ სასიამოვნოა თქვენი გაცნობა საიდან ხართ? მე ნიუ-იორკიდან ვარ როგორ იმგზავრეთ? ნახვამდის მომავალ შეხვედრამდე საღამო მშვიდობისა! ძილი ნებისა! გთხოვთ კარგია ცუდია მე შენ მიყვარხარ მომწონს დიახ არა ბოდიში საქართველო ხვალ დღეს გუშინ ანგარიში მომიტანეთ აქ შემიჩერეთ წელი წყალი ცუდად ვარ დამეხმარეთ დღეს ძვირია ექიმი მჭირდება ღამის ცხოვრება გემრიელია გილოცავთ დაბადების დღეს გილოცავთ ღირშესანიშნაობები ღვინო იაფია
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TRANSCRIPTION Gamarjoba Dila Mshvidobisa Rogor khar? Kargad, shen? Gmadlobt Sasiamovnoa tqveni gats’noba Saidan khart? Me New-Yorkidan var Rogor imgzavret? Nakh’vamdis Momaval shekh’vedramde Saghamo mshvidobisa! Dzili nebisa! Gtkhovt Kargia Tsudia Me shen Mik’var’khar Mom’tsons Diakh Ara Bodishi Sakartvelo Khval D’ghes Gushin Angarishi momitanet Ak shemicheret Tseli Tskali Tsudad var Dame’khmaret Dghes Dzviria Ekimi Mchirdeba Ghamis tskhovreba Gemrielia Gilotsavt Dabadebis Dghes Gilotsavt! Ghirs’shesani’shna’obebi Ghvino Iapia
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Historic places Caucasus It’s nice Beer I wonder Host I’m a businessman I’m a tourist I’m a foreigner May I talk to a manager Address Tell me your address It’s beautiful Museum Money Police Georgian wine How much does it cost? How long does it take to get there? Why? How can I contact you? What time is it now? Hospital Gift Where is the nearest ATM? Where is it located? Where do you work? Where should we meet each other? Where should I buy? Embassy Specialty Hotel Do you speak English? Visit Card May I call? May I…? Guest Souvenir Interpreter Month I could not understand To whom can I address? Whom can I ask? Tomorrow
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ისტორიული ადგილები კავკასია ლამაზია ლუდი მაინტერესებს მასპინძელი მე ბიზნესმენი ვარ მე ტურისტი ვარ მე უცხოელი ვარ მენეჯერს დამალაპარაკეთ მისამართი მისამართი მითხარით მშვენიერია მუზეუმი ფული პოლიცია ქართული ღვინო რა ღირს? რამდენი ხნის სავალზეა? რატომ? როგორ დაგიკავშირდეთ? რომელი საათია? საავადმყოფო საჩუქარი სად არის უახლოესი ბანკომატი? სად მდებარეობს? სად მუშაობთ? სად შევხვდეთ? სად ვიყიდო? საელჩო საფირმო კერძი სასტუმრო საუბრობთ ინგლისურად? სავიზიტო ბარათი შეიძლება დავრეკო? შეიძლება? სტუმარი სუვენირი თარჯიმანი თვე ვერ გავიგე ვის მივმართო? ვის ვკითხო? ხვალ
Istoriuli adgilebi Kav’kasia Lamazia Ludi Mainteresebs Maspindzeli Me var biznesmeni Me var turisti Me utskhoeli var Menejers damalaparaket Misamrti Misamarti mitxarit Mshvenieria Muzeumi Puli Politsia Kartuli Ghvino Ra ghirs? Ramdeni khnis savalzea Ratom? Rogor dagikavshirdet? Romeli saatia? Saavadmkopo Sachukari Sad aris uakhloesi bankomati? Sad Mdebareobs? Sad mushaobt? Sad Shevkhvdet? Sad vikido? Saelcho Sapirmo kerdzi Sastumro Saubrobt Inglisurad? Savizito Barati Sheidzleba davreko? Sheidzleba…? Stumari Suveniri Tarjimani Tve Ver gavige Vis mivmarto? Vis vkitkho? Khval
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Useful Info
PHONE NUMBERS Fire Brigade.............................................................................................................................................112 Patrol Police............................................................................................................................................112 Emergency...............................................................................................................................................112 Airport Directory..................................................................................................231 03 41, 231 04 21 Railway Station.................................................................................................................................... 133 1 Public Defender (Ombudsman ) of Georgia.........................................................2234499, 2913814 Hot Line of Tbilisi City Hall..................................................................................................... 272 22 22 Tbilisi Directory...............................................................................................................................118-09
EMBASSIES IN GEORGIA Embassy of the United States of America in Georgia Address: 11 George Balanchine Street, Tbilisi, Georgia, 0131 Phone: (+995 32) 2277 000; 532 334 Fax: (+995 32) 2532 322 Email: consulate-tbilisi@state.gov Webpage: www.usembassy.ge Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Georgia Address: 2nd block Kipshidze street building 1, Tbilisi, Georgia. Phone: (+995 32) 2253 526/27/28, (+995 32) 2252 639, (+995 32) 2250 014 Fax: (+995 32) 2250 013 Email: tbilisi@mission.mfa.gov.az Webpage: www.azembassy.ge Bulgarian Embassy in Georgia Address: 15 Gorgasali exit. Tbilisi, Georgia Phone: (+995 32) 2910 194/95, (+995 32) 2910 104 Fax: (+995 32) 2910 270 Email: embassy.tbilisi@mfa.bg German Embassy in Tbilisi, Georgia Address: Sheraton Metechi Palace Hotel, Telawi Str. 20, 0103 Tbilissi,Georgia Phone: (+995 32) 2447 300, (+995 32) 2910 332, (+995 32) 2911 263 Fax: (+995 32) 2911 521 Email: info@tifl.diplo.de Webpage: www.tiflis.diplo.de
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British Embassy in Tbilisi, Georgia Address: GMT Plaza, 4 Freedom Square, Tbilisi, 0105, Georgia Phone: (+995 32) 274 747, 274 775 Fax: (+995 32) 274 792 Email: british.embassy.tbilisi@fco.gov.uk Webpage: www.ukingeorgia.fco.gov.uk Iraqi Embassy in Tbilisi, Georgia Address: 16 Kobuleti Str. 0179 Tbilisi Georgia Phone: (+995 32) 2234 501, (+995 32) 2290 793, (+995 32) 2913 596, Fax: (+995 32) 2294 503 Email: iraqiageoemb@yahoo.com Estonian Embassy in Tbilisi Address: Likhauri 4, 0171 Tbilisi, Georgia Phone: (+995 32) 2365 122 Fax: (+995 32) 2365 138 Webpage: http://www.tbilisi.vm.ee/ Email: tbilisisaatkond@mfa.ee Turkish Embassy in Tbilisi, Georgia Address: 35 Chavchavadze Ave. 0162 Tbilisi, Georgia Phone: (+995 32) 2252 072, (+995 32) 2252 073, (+995 32) 2252 074, (+995 32) 2252 076 Fax: (+995 32) 2220 666 Email: tiflisbe@dsl.ge Webpage: www.tbilisi.emb.mfa.gov.tr Embassy of Japan in Georgia Address: 7D, Krtsanisi str., Tbilisi, 0114, Georgia Phone: (+995 32) 2752 111 Fax: (+995 32) 2772 120 Email: protocol@embjapan.ge Webpage: http://www.ge.emb-japan.go.jp Embassy of Islamic Republic of Iran Address: 80 Chavchavadze Ave. Phone: (+995 32) 2913 657, (+995 32) 2913 659, (+995 32) 2913 660 Fax: (+995 32) 2913 628 Email: iranemb@geo.net.ge
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Embassy of Israel in Georgia Address: 154 Agmashenebeli Ave. 0102 Tbilisi, Georgia Phone: (+995 32) 2556 500 Fax: (+995 32) 2556 533 Email: press@tbilisi.mfa.gov.il Webpage: embassies.gov.il/tbilisi Embassy of Italy Address: Chitadze 3 / A, 0108 Tbilisi, Georgia Phone: (+995 32) 2996 418 Fax: (+995 32) 2996415 Email: embassy.tbilisi@esteri.it Webpage: http://www.ambtbilisi.esteri.it Embassy of Latvia Address: 16 Akhmeta Str. Avlabari, 0144 Tbilisi, Georgia Phone: (+995 32) 2244 858 Fax: (+995 32) 2381 406 Email: embassy.georgia@mfa.gov.lv Lithuania Embassy Address: 29, Krtsanisi Str. 0162 Tbilisi, Georgia Phone: (+995 32) 2912 933; +995 599 08 28 00 Fax: (+995 32) 2221 793 Email: amb.ge@urm.lt Webpage: ge.mfa.lt Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Tbilisi Address: Pixelcenter | 34, Ilia Chavchavadze ave, Tbilisi 0179 Georgia Phone: +995 32 227 6200 Email: tbi@minbuza.nl Embassy of Poland in Tbilisi Address: 19 Br. Zubalashvili Str. 0108 Tbilisi, Georgia Phone: (+995 32) 2920 398 Fax: (+995 32) 2920 397 Email: tbilisi.amb.sekretariat@msz.gov.pl Webpage: http://www.tbilisi.msz.gov.pl
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Romania Embassy in Tbilisi Address: 7 Lvov Str. Phone: (+995 32) 2385 310, (+995 32) 2250 098 Fax: (+995 32) 2385 210 Email: roembtbl@caucasus.net Embassy of Greece in Tbilisi Address: Razmadze Str. 40, 0179 Tbilisi, Georgia Phone: (+995 32) 2938981, 2941224 Fax: (+995 32) 2250791 Email: grcon.tbi@mfa.gr Webpage: www.greekembassy.ge Embassy of France in Georgia Address: 49 Krtsanisi Str., 0114 Tbilisi, Georgia Phone: (+995 32) 272 14 90; Fax: (+995 32) 272 13 65 Email: ambafrance@access.sanet.ge Webpage: www.ambafrance-ge.org Embassy of the Republic of Armenia in Georgia Address: 4, Tetelashvili Str., 0102 Tbilisi, Georgia Phone: (+995 32) 295 17 23, (+995 32) 295 94 43 Fax: (+9995 32) 296 42 87 Email: armemb@caucasus.net Webpage: georgia.mfa.am Embassy of Ukraine in Georgia Address: 75 Oniashvili Str., 0160 Tbilisi, Georgia Phone: (+995 32) 2311 161, (+995 32) 2311 202, (+995 32) 2311 454 Fax: (+995 32) 311 181 Email: emb_ge@mfa.gov.ua Webpage: http://georgia.mfa.gov.ua Embassy of Hungary in Tbilisi Address: 83 Lvov Street (off Budapesht Street), 0160 Tbilisi, Georgia Phone: (+995 32) 2399-008; (+995 595) 5807 77 Email: mission.tbs @ mfa.gov.hu Webpage: www.mfa.gov.hu/emb/tbilisi Embassy of Kazakhstan in Georgia Address: 23 Shatberashvili Str.
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Phone: (+995 32) 2997 684 Fax: (+995 32) 2292 424 Email: dmkazaida@inbox.ru Embassy of Sweden in Georgia Address: 15, Turn Kipshidze Str., 0162 Tbilisi, Georgia Phone: (+995 32) 255 03 20 Fax: (+995 32) 222 48 90 Email: ambassaden.tbilisi@sida.se Webpage: http://www.swedenabroad.com/en-GB/Embassies/Tblisi Embassy of Switzerland in Georgia Address: 11 Krtsanisi Str., 0114 Tbilisi, Georgia Phone: (+995 32) 2753 001/02 Fax: (+995 32) 2753 006 Email: Tbilisi@sdc.net Embassy of the Czech Republic in Georgia Address: 37 Chavchavadze Ave, building 6, 0179 Tbilisi, Georgia Phone: (+995 32) 2916 740/41/42 Fax: (+995 32) 2916 744 Email: czechembassy@gol.ge ; tbilisi@embassy.mzv.cz Webpage: www.mzv.cz Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Georgia Address: 52 Barnovi Str., 0179 Tbilisi, Georgia Phone: (+995 32) 2252670 Fax: (+995 32) 2250 996 Email: yfarm@access.sanet.ge ; chinaemb_ge@mfa.gov.ge ; zhangling@access. sanet.ge Webpage: http://ge.chineseembassy.org Honorary Consulate of Austria in Georgia Address: Garekakheti Street 20, 0144 Tbilisi, Georgia Phone: (+995 32) 274 58 86 Email: eviko.berger@gmail.com ; eva.berger@austrian.com Danish Consulate in Tbilisi Address: N. Nikoladze 7, Tbilisi, Georgia Phone: (+995 577) 74 40 01 Email: Esben.Emborg@gmail.com
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Honorary Consulate of Spain in Tbilisi, Georgia Address: 52 Paliashvili Str. Phone: (+995 32) 2252 606 Fax: (+995 32) 2224 199 Email: bagratio@caucasus.net Embassy of Latvia in Georgia Address: 16 Akhmeta Street, 0144 Tbilisi, Georgia Phone: (+995 32) 2244 858 Fax: (+995 32) 2381 406 Email: embassy.georgia@mfa.gov.lv Webpage: http://www.mfa.gov.lv Mexican Consulate in Tbilisi Phone: (+995 32) 2942 609 Email: consulmex@caucasus.net Honorary Consulate of the Kingdom of Norway in Tbilisi Address: 20 Abasheli Str. 0179 Tbilisi, Georgia Phone: (+995 32) 2290 979 Fax: (+995 32) 2293 553 Email: lianahaerum@dsl.ge Embassy of the Slovak Republic in Georgia Address: 13 Mtskheta St. apt 23, 0179 Tbilisi, Georgia Phone: +995 32 222 4437 Email: emb.tbilisi@mzv.sk Philippine Consulate General in Tbilisi, Address: 9 Takaishvilli Str. Phone: (+995 32) 224 544, 2305 317 Email: phconsul@gol.ge Honorary Consulate of Finland, Tbilisi Address: 3 Chitadze Str. 0108 Tbilisi, Georgia Phone: (+995 32) 473 555/50 Consulate of the Repubblic of San Marino in Georgia Address: Freedom Square, 4. 0105; Tbilisi Phone: +99532 293 48 15; Fax: +995 32 293 48 15; Mob: +995 599 15 11 13 Email: sanmarinogeorgia@gmail.com Webpage: www.sanmarino.ge
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