Tbilisi: Old & New City Guided Tour with 15 Tastings & Wine

Tbilisi has a talent for mixing ages in the same block, and this tour is a practical way to see both sides fast. I like that the route links classic Old City landmarks with newer riverfront views, and you keep fueling up with 15 tastings along the way. It is also a rare chance to taste your way through Georgian basics, from dumplings to qvevri wine and chacha, guided by people like Camila, George, and Nodar who manage both details and conversation.

Two things I especially like: first, the pace keeps you moving without turning it into a sprint, and guides stay patient when you ask questions. Second, the food stops teach you how Georgian flavors fit together, including tips on how to eat khinkali. A consideration: it is a walking tour with a moderate amount of steps, so if you tire easily or have mobility limits, this may not be the best match.

Key Points Before You Go

• 15 tastings, including multiple khinkali styles plus lemonade, churchkhela, gozinaki, and sauces
• Wine progression from white to red styles, then qvevri, finishing with chacha
• Old City to New City route with photo stops and major landmarks in a short window
• Hotel pickup and drop-off that saves you time on day one
• Small group or private options available, which usually helps the tour feel personal
• Guides who adapt routes when needed, like planning safer alternates during disruptions

A 2-to-4-Hour Tbilisi Walk That Starts With Dumplings

At $62 per person for a 2 to 4 hour experience, the value here comes from stacking three things into one trip: guided city highlights, guided tastings, and hotel pickup and drop-off. In other words, you are not paying just for food, and you are not paying just for a walk. You are paying for someone to connect the dots between Tbilisi history and what Georgians actually eat and drink.

The tour also fits well as a first-day plan. You will cover a lot of the central area, including the Old Town core and key “newer” viewpoints, so you can figure out where you want to return later on your own. And yes, the tastings are a real part of the experience, not a token sample. You will eat your way through savory, sweet, and spicy, then finish with wine.

One practical note I’d take seriously: wear comfortable shoes. The tour is designed around walking, and the stops include several photo moments, sightseeing segments, and market time.

Old City Highlights: Dry Bridge, Old Streets, and Big Architecture Moments

Your day begins with pickup in Tbilisi, then a local café stop with welcome refreshments. That first caffeine and snack reset matters because you’ll start stacking food tastings soon after. After that, the route leans into Old City texture, from markets to churches to street views.

Dry Bridge Market, for photos and the city vibe

Dry Bridge Market is a classic Tbilisi photo stop and a chance to wander with your guide. Even when you do not buy anything, you get the feel of the place and how locals browse. If your tour timing lands later in the day, you might find parts of the market closed, which can reduce shopping time, but you still get the sightseeing and photos.

Dedaena Park, for a quick lookout feel

You’ll pass through Dedaena Park with a photo stop and some free time. This is a good break in the walking rhythm, and it gives you a sense of how the city layers uphill and across viewpoints.

Presidential Palace pass-by, for a reality check on modern Georgia

Next comes the Presidential Palace area. You’re not going deep here, but you do get a pass-by with guided context. For me, this works because it prevents the tour from feeling stuck in the past. Tbilisi is not frozen in time, and the guide points that out through what you see.

Rezo Gabriadze Theater, for character and street-level charm

At Rezo Gabriadze Theater, you get another photo stop plus time to walk and look. This is the kind of stop where the neighborhood energy shows, and it helps the tour feel more like a day in the city than a museum route.

Anchiskhati Basilica, for the “old stone” feeling

Anchiskhati Basilica is one of the more memorable church stops on the walk. You’ll see it up close with a guided visit and time for photos. If churches are not usually your thing, this one still helps because it grounds the Old City story in a physical place you can point to later.

Ioane Shavteli Street, for street-scale storytelling

Ioane Shavteli Street is another guided segment with photo stops and sightseeing time. This part matters because it is where you start to understand how Tbilisi streets shape daily life, not just how the city looks in pictures.

Old Town, for the finish-through-the-core feeling

The tour returns to the Old Town area for more walking, photo stops, and guided exploration. This closing section is useful because it helps you connect earlier landmarks with the “inside streets” vibe. When you leave, you’ll know where you are in the city grid, even if you could not map it beforehand.

New City Stroll: Peace Bridge, Rike Park, and Europe Square

After the Old City pieces, the tour shifts you toward newer, more open viewpoints. This is where Tbilisi starts to feel airy, especially by the river.

The Bridge of Peace, for iconic angles

You’ll have a photo stop at the Bridge of Peace, plus walking and sightseeing time around it. This is one of the quickest ways to get that “Tbilisi postcard” view without trying to plan it yourself.

Rike Park, for riverfront breaks

Rike Park gets a visit, with guided context and free time. The park stop gives you an easy reset between food moments. It also helps you see how the city’s modern spaces frame older buildings nearby.

Europe Square, for a central landmark moment

Europe Square is another pass-by photo stop with guided sightseeing and time to look around. This is the kind of stop that gives you orientation. Even if you never spend much time there again, it helps you understand where key streets and directions meet.

Meidan Bazar, for spirits and crafts energy

Meidan Bazar comes with a photo stop and a guided visit that includes spirits tasting. You’ll also have time for arts and crafts market browsing. This is a good place to pick up small souvenirs if that is your thing, and it also reinforces the theme of the tour: Georgian flavors are part of day-to-day life, not only a restaurant event.

The 15 Tastings: How Georgian Savory, Sweet, Spicy, and Wine Line Up

Now the heart of the tour. The tastings are grouped in a way that makes sense in your stomach and in your understanding of Georgian food. You start savory, then go sweet, then add sauces and spice, and finally move into wine and spirits.

Khinkali, four ways, and how to eat them

You’ll taste local dumplings, Khinkali, in several styles:

• beef
• mushrooms
• potato-cheese
• potato

This is a highlight because khinkali are one of the most recognizable Georgian foods, and tasting multiple fillings helps you notice differences fast. One review detail that I think is genuinely useful is that guides explain the eating tradition and the rules, so it becomes more than just tasting. It gives you a mental model you can use when you order later.

If you have not had khinkali before, do not panic about the size. You will have multiple stops, and the tour is paced so you can keep up.

Lemonade and walnut sweets

Next you’ll get local lemonade, which is a smart palate reset between heavier tastings. Then comes churchkhela in two nut styles:

• walnut
• hazelnut

Churchkhela can be chewy and sweet, and tasting two versions helps you see how nut choice changes the bite and flavor.

Go zinaki, for honey and crunch

You’ll also taste gozinaki with walnut and honey. This is the tour’s crunchy-sweet moment, and it tends to be a crowd favorite when you want something more substantial than candy.

Tkemali and ajika, because Georgian food loves contrast

Two tastings add sharpness and heat:

• tkemali (wild plum or blackberry)
• ajika (spicy)

This is the part that makes the food tour feel like it has logic. Georgian dining leans on contrasts: tangy fruit notes with spicy sauces, sweet treats that come after savory, and drinks that reset your palate.

The wine run: white, red dry, red semi-sweet, then qvevri

Wine tastings include:

• white wine
• red dry wine
• red semi-sweet wine
• qvevri wine

Going through those styles in sequence helps you compare rather than just sample. White first can feel light on the palate, reds add weight, and then qvevri is the curveball that makes the tasting feel like a real learning moment. If you like to remember tastes, take a moment during each pour to note what you notice, then compare at the next stop.

Chacha to finish, plus a final bar moment

You’ll also taste chacha, a local spirit. The day often ends at a local bar where you get wine time to linger and mingle. That final setting is nice because it turns the last part into your choice moment, where you can keep the conversation going or order more if you want.

Wine and Chacha Without the Pretend-Sophistication

Some tours treat wine like a classroom. This one stays more practical. You taste, you learn enough context to make sense of what you’re drinking, and you keep moving.

What I value is the variety. White, red dry, red semi-sweet, then qvevri. That sequence gives you a quick map of Georgian wine styles without needing a winery background first. Then comes chacha, which is a clear “finish strong” moment. If you drink slowly, it feels like a ritual. If you rush, you’ll pay for it. So go steady.

If you’re not a big wine person, the good news is that you still get a lot from the food tastings and the city walk. Wine is a highlight, but it is not the only reason to do the tour.

Your Guide Matters: Camila, George, Nodar, and Emma-Style Storytelling

A big reason this tour earns such high praise is how guides handle people. Names show up again and again in the feedback: Camila, George, Nodar, Giorgi, Irina, Mariam, and Emma. The common thread is how they connect city history to real life.

From what I see in the tour approach, the best guides do two things at once:

1) They explain what you are looking at, in a way you can repeat later.

2) They keep space for questions, even when topics get sensitive.

That balance shows up in the conversations about Soviet experience and modern geopolitics, plus the human stories guides share about family experiences. It is not just facts on stone and marble. It is people, and it makes Tbilisi feel less abstract.

Guides also handle real-world disruptions thoughtfully. If protests or unusual conditions affect access to certain spots, you may get alternate routes. That kind of flexibility can be the difference between a smooth tour and a frustrating one.

Price, Pickup, and Walking Reality for $62

Let’s talk value in plain terms. You are paying $62 per person, which includes:

• hotel pickup and drop-off
• an English language professional tour guide
• the guided walk of Old and New Tbilisi
• 15 tastings, including multiple dumpling styles, sweets, sauces, and wine, plus chacha

That “15 tastings” part is the anchor. If you tried to replicate this on your own, the cost would add up quickly because you would likely need to buy multiple savory items, multiple sweets, and several wine pours, not to mention paying for guided navigation. The included pickup also saves time and reduces friction for day one.

Logistics that affect comfort:

• bring comfortable shoes
• plan for moderate walking
• avoid oversize luggage or large bags

Also, this is not suitable for people with mobility impairments or wheelchair users. The tour is built around walking and standing time at stops.

Who This Tour Fits Best, and Who Should Skip It

This is a strong fit if you want:

• a quick overview of both Old and New Tbilisi
• a food-focused introduction to Georgian flavors, not just a photo walk
• a guided route so you do not feel lost on day one
• a structured chance to taste wine styles, including qvevri

You might want to skip or look for an alternative if:

• you cannot handle a moderate walking schedule
• you rely on wheelchair access or have mobility limitations

One more tip I genuinely like: start with an appetite. The tour includes several big tasting moments, including multiple khinkali varieties, and it can stuff you up. If you go in hungry, you enjoy the day instead of counting bites.

Should You Book This Tbilisi Old and New City Food and Wine Tour?

Book it if this sounds like your ideal Tbilisi day: walking with stops that matter, tastings that teach you what to order later, and wine that stays grounded in real experience. The included pickup and the “15 tastings plus landmarks” format makes it feel like good money spent, not a tourist add-on.

Skip it if you want a slow, sit-and-stare city tour, or if you need step-free access. In that case, the walking structure and stop timing will likely frustrate you.

If you do book, come prepared with comfortable shoes and a ready-to-compare mindset for the food and wine. This tour is at its best when you let it set your bearings, then you use what you learn to plan the rest of your trip.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The duration is 2 to 4 hours, depending on the starting time.

What is the price per person?

The price is $62 per person.

Does the tour include hotel pickup and drop-off?

Yes. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included.

How many tastings are included?

There are 15 tastings, including khinkali in multiple styles, lemonade, sweets like churchkhela and gozinaki, sauces like tkemali and ajika, plus white wine, red dry wine, red semi-sweet wine, qvevri wine, and chacha.

What language is the guide?

The live tour guide is available in English and Russian.

What should I bring?

Bring comfortable shoes. The tour includes a moderate amount of walking.

Is the tour suitable for wheelchair users or people with mobility impairments?

No. It is not suitable for people with mobility impairments or wheelchair users.

What is not included in the price?

Food and drinks are not included except for what is listed in the tastings.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.

Is it possible to book without paying everything upfront?

Yes. The reserve now and pay later option is available, so you can reserve and pay nothing today.