Recently, I found myself in the Caucasus Region again, this time exploring Georgia’s capital, Tbilisi. I have just left my corporate job and while I am scheduled to leave on my main adventure in April, I’ve decided to go on a little side quest to Georgia. And let me tell you, this city is vibrant!

During my five-day journey, I navigated the charming streets of this Georgian gem with a modest daily travel budget and uncovered countless ways to maximize enjoyment while minimizing costs.

As a solo backpacker and an engineer by trade, I kept a close eye on my budget. It will be no surprise to you that I’ve used the aid of excel to track my budget for your personal gain. But mostly, I hope this guide offer practical travel tips for your trip – showing that you don’t have to sacrifice any enjoyments. From sipping local wine to cozy, hidden hole in the wall places, the city was truly something different to what I had expected. Get ready and prepare yourself to come on this journey with me.

Exploring Tbilisi on a Budget?

Being a capital city, it can be often assumed that your wallet will not be happy. However, I found that Tbilisi offers a range of activities without necessarily the hefty price tag. Whether you’re a history buff or a foodie, exploring Tbilisi on a budget is possible with the right resources. Let’s dive into some of my tips and tricks for enjoying the capital without overspending.

Affordable Accommodations in Tbilisi

Amongst backpackers, you won’t go wrong if you pick a hostel. I personally think that if you’re solo travelling, they are probably the best bang for your buck. Depending on the hostel, they are be comfortable and a great place to socialise and meet people to share costs with for your next adventure. Depending on your budget, you can either get a private room or dorm. These are the two accommodations I had stayed at:

• Envoy Hostel and Tour. The terrace has a great overview of the city, they do have organised tours as it is also a tour agency. The rooms are basic but provide all the amenities you need. There is also a kitchen and you can pay for breakfast.
• Fabrika Hostel. Located in the Rustaveli area, this hostel is designed more for a co-working space. The backyard has some independent shop, bars and restaurants making it ideal to meet people but of course that comes with noise.

If you’re travelling with others, guesthouses or airbnbs can be another option as the price for a room may be less than paying for multiple people in a dorm.

Booking Tips:

1. Book in advance to secure the best rates.

2. Look for accommodations with kitchen facilities to save on meals.

Eats and Drinks

Georgian food is delicious. Tbilisi has plenty of amazing restaurants worth trying but of course we have to be a little conscious on our budgets. There are several bakeries dotted across the city, offering different types of local pastry and breads to try at a low cost.

Small, independent cafes can be found serving delicious meals at prices that won’t dent your wallet. Don’t miss out on trying local wines!

Transportation Tips

Navigating Tbilisi doesn’t have to be expensive. The city’s public transport system is a really good budget friendly option. A one way fare on the Tbilisi Metro was approx 2 GEL / €0.60 and for the most part, it is quite a walkable city.

For longer distances, especially with my injured knee, I opted for Bolt or Yandex – both work in Georgia, however it seems like Yandex is slightly cheaper than Bolt. Regardless, the price of a ride, is pretty low considering how far some of the distances are.

• Purchase a Metromoney card for seamless Metro travel.

• Walk whenever possible to experience the city up close.

• Opt for public transport during peak hours to avoid heavy traffic.

Daily Budget Breakdown – Tbilisi on a Shoestring

Exploring Tbilisi doesn’t have to break the bank. This section follows my five-day journey, focusing on how I managed to enjoy the city with a modest budget. Each day brought its own adventures, keeping both my experience enriching and my wallet happy – and we love a happy wallet here at The Travelling Sloth.

Just note that the following expenditures do not account for daily accommodation costs. That will be taken into account at the end of the post.

Day One: Arrival and First Impressions

I arrived to my accommodation at 0330hrs. I opted to use Bolt, which set me back half of what I was quoted for a private pick up. After a quick recharge and breakfast bite, I wandered around Old Tbilisi. Like most places, the first day for me is all about getting my bearings and soaking up the city.

After a couple of hours, I reunited with my friends. We took a cable car up to the base of Mother of Georgia. The afternoon consisted of walking down Rustaveli avenue and stopping for lunch. Walking is free and a great way to navigate a city… Let’s not forget about quenching our thirst with a glass of traditional Georgian wine.

For dinner, Matt had found a food court offering a variety of dishes and of course some helping of traditional Georgian dishes at great prices. A perfect way to spend the first day in Tbilisi.

Food and Drinks Total: 101.50 GEL / €33.50

• Breakfast: Kikliko and latte at Breakfast Is. 32 GEL / €10.50
• Lunch: Shkmeruli and bottle water at Salobie Bia. 28.50 GEL / €9.40
• Glass of local Georgian read wine: 19 GEL / €6.20
• Dinner: 5 Beef Khinkali at Bazari Orbeliani. 15 GEL / €5
• Pint of local brew (Kazbegi) at Bazari Orbeliani. 7 GEL / €2.30

Transportation Total: 34 GEL / €11.50

• Bolt from Airport to Hostel: 31 GEL / €10.20
• Return Cable Car trip to see Mother of Georgia: 4 GEL / €1.30

Accommodation Total: 100 GEL / €32.

• Bed in a 4 bed female dorm at Envoy Hostel. 49 GEL / €16 per night and I had booked for Tuesday as well as I was arriving early in the morning.

Day 1 total: 234.50 GEL / €77

Day Two: Exploring Historical Tbilisi and its surroundings

Day two was about venturing beyond the city. Matt and Vasilina had found a tour that took us on a day trip to Mtskheta (Georgia’s ancient capital) Chronicles of Georgia and Jvari Monastery. It ended up being a private tour so that was absolutely ideal. Our guide was a wealth of knowledge and I honestly cannot wait to share what I’ve learnt about Georgia in a future post so watch this space.

After the tour, we ended up taking a funicular up, however we didn’t fully realise that it would lead us up to Mtatsminda Park (a Soviet era amusement park) overlooking Tbilisi. As it was winter, majority of the rides were closed and we found ourselves at a place called Friends Bar to close off the day.

Food and Drinks Total: 107 GEL / €35.25

• Breakfast: Smoothie bowl at the hostel. 15 GEL / €5
• Cup of coffee at Entree. 9 GEL / €3
• Lunch: 5 mushroom Khinkali, Tatariakhni (beef soup) and a glass of red wine. 28 GEL / €9.30
• Gluhwein at the Amusement park. 9 GEL / €3
• Dinner: A type of Khachapuri at Friends House and a shared mushroom dish. 24 GEL / €7.91
• Two pints of local brew (Natakhtari) at Friends House. 22 GEL / €7.25

Transportation and Tour Total: 126 GEL / €41.50

• Tour to Chronicles of Georgia, Mtskheta: 100 GEL / €34 per person

• One way Metro Ticket: 2 GEL / €0.66

• Return Funicular Trip to a random amusement park: 24 GEL / €7.90

Accommodation Total: 49 GEL / €16.

• Bed in a 4 bed female dorm at Envoy Hostel.

Day 2 total: 282 GEL / €92.90

Day Three: Day Trips and Activities

Majority of this day was spent taking it easy and wandering around the city. Matt and I ended up checking out the Dry Bridge Market. He had found a painting so really, the mission of this day was to find somewhere to fix the painting so that he could bring it home. I ended up picking up a couple of souvenirs here as well.

Food and Drinks Total: 140 GEL / €46.11

• Breakfast: Cafe latte and Croissant from Entree. 13 GEL / €4.30
• Lunch: Mushroom soup and coffee at Puri Guliani. 30 GEL / €9.90
• Two pints of local beer (Taati and Miller). 23 GEL / €7.60
• Dinner: Grilled eggplants in walnut sauce (starter) followed by traditional lamb plov with oyster mushrooms at Shavi Lomi . 63 GEL / €20.75 per person.
• Lemonade at the hostel. 11 GEL / €3.60

Transportation Total: 7 GEL / €2.30

• Bolt from Centre to hostel.

Accommodation Total: 37 GEL / €12.

• Bed in a 6 bed female dorm at Fabrika Hostel.

Miscs Total: 40 GEL / €13.20

• Soviet Era pin. 20 GEL / €6.60
• Ceramic Wine Carafe. 20 GEL / €6.60

Day 3 total: 224 GEL / €73.80

Day Four: Off to the Mountains

Another day, another adventure! This time, I had found a pretty decently priced group tour to visit Gudauri Panorama viewpoint and the famous monastery in Kazbegi. In my humble opinion, it was definitely worth going up here! Once again, our tour guide was super informative and it doesn’t hurt that the views were amazing.

In the evening, I had been invited out for International Women’s Day to a local nightclub so I obviously had to check that out.

Food and Drinks Total: 117 GEL / €38.60

• Lunch: Ojakhuri (with veal) in the mountains. 28 GEL / €9.23
• Car snacks. 9 GEL / €3
• Dinner: Traditional Khachapuri and glass of wine at Ode. 57 GEL / €18.80
• Cocktail at L’ado by Valiko Mansion. 23 GEL / €7.60

Transportation and Tour Total: 99 GEL / €31.45

• Bolt from Hostel to Tour meeting point. 4.40 GEL / €1.45
• Tour to Gudauri and Kazbegi. 66 GEL / €22
• Murshkata from base to Monastery: 20 GEL / €6.60
• Bolt from club back to Hostel. 9 GEL / €1.45

Accommodation Total: 37 GEL / €12.

• Bed in a 6 bed female dorm at Fabrika Hostel.

Day 4 total: 253 GEL / €82

Day Five: Final Day Adventures

On my last day, I aimed to fit in as much as possible before my night train to Yerevan, Armenia in the evening. I ended up going to the gym in the morning to get some physio in for my ACL injury and went on a date with my camera. I indulged in some street photography and simply got lost in the city… to prepare myself for a long train ride, I had treated myself to a nice lunch meal.

These final adventures wrapped up my journey, leaving me with lasting memories of an affordable but enriching trip.

Food and Drinks Total: 75 GEL / €24.70

• Lunch: 4 Beef Khinkali and Fried Nadughi with Matsoni at Cafe Daphna. 48 GEL / €15.80
• A pot of tea and Pelamushi at Cafe Linville. 21 GEL / €6.90
• Snack at the train station. 6 GEL / €2

Transportation and Tour Total: 78 GEL / €25.65

• Bolt from Fabrika to Old Tbilisi. 4.40 GEL / €1.45
• Bolt from Old Tbilisi to Central Train Station. 6.60 GEL / €2.20
• Overnight train from Tbilisi, Georgia to Yerevan, Armenia: 67 GEL / €22

Misc. Spending Total: 20 GEL / €6.60

• Day pass at Urban Garden Gym: 20 GEL / €6.60

Day 5 total: 173 GEL / €57

Breaking Down the Budget

Understanding where your money goes is key to sticking to a travel budget. This section breaks down the main expenses encountered during my stay in Tbilisi. By examining accommodation, food, and transportation costs, I highlight where savings are possible.

• Day 1 total: 234.50 GEL / €77

• Day 2 total: 282 GEL / €92.90

• Day 3 total: 224 GEL / €73.80

• Day 4 total: 253 GEL / €82

• Day 5 total: 173 GEL / €57

5 days in Georgia cost me a total of 1167 GEL / €383. And if we broke this down even further it is an average of 233 GEL / €72 per day, excluding flights. By excluding flight costs, I have a clearer view of my on-ground expenses, which for me, aids in better financial planning.

• Food and Drinks Total: 540.5 GEL / €178
  Per day average: 108 GEL / €35.60

• Transportation Total: 111 GEL / €34.40
  Per day average: 22 GEL / €6.88

• Train overnight: 67 GEL / €22 …

• Tour Total: 166 GEL / €56
  Per day average: 33 GEL / €11.20 per day

• Accommodation Total: 223 GEL / €72
  Per day average: 45 GEL / €14.40

• Misc Total: 60 GEL / €20
  Per day average: 12 GEL / €4 per day

Travel Budget Insights

Reflecting on my daily spending in Tbilisi, I discovered patterns that helped manage my expenses. This last part of my Budget Breakdown dissects my daily costs and tips to help you make your dollar stretch here.

Splurging Versus Saving

Everyone obviously has a certain way of travelling and experiencing a country. For me, the main way I experience a country is through taste and trying the local cuisines and different dishes. So while eating out did contribute to over 40% of my expenses, if you are someone who doesn’t mind cooking meals or eating at even more budget friendly places, then your expenses on food would look rather different.

Another thing I prioritise are experiences that offer value for money – so this would be going on tours. However, similar to food, I try not to go over the top with the types of tours I sign up for. I simply splurge on unique trips that I think will add to my experience.

I chose to save mainly on accommodation, souvenirs and transportation. And around Tbilisi itself, I opted for free or low cost activities. Which did mean that I skipped on trying the thermal bathhouses of Tbilisi but I couldn’t justify the cost for myself. This approach allowed me to enjoy both budget-friendly and extraordinary aspects of Tbilisi.

Essential Travel Tips for Tbilisi

Tbilisi welcomes budget travelers with open arms, offering numerous ways to save money. Let’s recap some of these tips:

• Use public transportation (bus or metro) to explore the city affordably.

• Visit during the off-peak season for cheaper rates on flights and accommodation.

• Engage with locals to uncover hidden, budget-friendly spots.

• For food, go for the local staples rather than international cuisines to reduce your costs.

• If you want, cook your meals at your accommodation to save on eating out.

• Opt for free or low budget attractions.

• If you decide to visit different parts of Georgia (as a day trip), look into taking a group tour.

These tips ensure a rewarding and economical travel experience in Tbilisi.

Budget Breakdown Recap

So there you have it, this was a breakdown of my daily travel budget for Tbilisi, Georgia. Was there anything that you were surprised by?

Looking back at my expenses, I realise I could have probably eased off on my Foods and Drinks budget. This is something I’m still working on… Sometimes I do forget that I am now unemployed and I need to be bougie on a budget so it will be interesting to see how the rest of this year’s travels will stack up to this trip.