1. Tbilisi: Old Town Walking Tour
Even if you only have a short time in Tbilisi, you have to spend at least a half-day exploring the Old Town. The architecture in the city’s historic district is a mixture of Georgian, Byzantine, Oriental, and Neo-Classical European styles. Among the sites you will visit are the Orthodox Anchiskhati Basilica, the city’s oldest church. You will also see the 13th-century churches of Sioni and Metekhi, the magnificent Narikala Fortress, perched on a hill with superb views of the city below, and the classic Freedom Square. You will then continue to one of Tbilisi’s newest attractions, the Bridge of Peace, which opened in 2010 over the River Mtkvari (also known as the Kura River). Tbilisi’s compact size means you can easily explore the nearby Synagogue, Armenian Church and Mosque, in addition to the Georgian Orthodox churches so fundamental to Georgian culture. This peaceful co-existence of the various religions helps emphasize modern Georgian tolerance.