15 Alternative Tbilisi Tours: Hidden Corners & Rooftops

Most people visiting Georgia start browsing Tbilisi tours and quickly end up with the same list of iconic Old Town landmarks and day trips everyone else takes. It’s a solid introduction for first-time visitors, but the city’s layered history runs much deeper than what those classic routes usually show.

If you’re curious about life beyond the typical stops, Tbilisi has a whole different side to explore — one shaped by architecture, hidden courtyards, underground stations, rooftop corners, and stories that rarely make it into mainstream itineraries.

After trying out different tours myself, I’ve put together a collection of alternative Tbilisi walking tours that offer a different, more detailed view of the capital.

These Tbilisi tours take you through backstreets, historic neighborhoods, forgotten Soviet buildings, and even inside places most locals have never stepped into. And if you’re looking to go a bit further, I’m also sharing a few unusual one-day trips from Tbilisi that go far beyond the typical tour circuit.

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Alternative Tbilisi tours for you to join

Art Nouveau Tbilisi Tour: architecture & urban legends

If you enjoy architecture and quiet streets filled with character, consider this Art Nouveau walking tours in Tbilisi through Sololaki or Mtatsminda. 

I’ve always been drawn to the European-influenced architecture tucked away in my hometown’s backstreets, so offering these tours became a passion project that naturally grew into one of my most requested experiences.

On this walk, I take you inside late 19th- and early 20th-century merchant mansions, ornate staircases, painted hallways, and traditional Tbilisi courtyards that still hint at the city’s bourgeois lifestyle.

Along the way, I share the urban legends and family stories connected to these buildings that don’t make it into guidebooks and point out the small details most people overlook — symbolic motifs, unique architectural elements, and forgotten initials hidden in plain sight.

It’s an atmospheric walk that offers an entirely different perspective on Tbilisi’s architectural evolution and the lives woven into these historic homes.

👉 Check details and book the Art Nouveau Tbilisi Tour

Metro & Railway Stories: exploring Tbilisi underground

Stepping away from the usual Tbilisi city tours, this experience is easily one of the most surprising walks I’ve ever taken in the city. It pulls you into the spaces and neighborhoods shaped by the metro and railway system—places even many locals, including myself, haven’t explored or don’t know well at all.

Instead of Old Town lanes or viewpoints, you spend a few hours learning about the world that keeps Tbilisi moving—its metro shafts, railway depots, forgotten service tunnels, and the district shaped by the railway workers.

During our tour, our guide Lasha walked us through Nadzaladevi, a neighborhood that rarely appears on tourist itineraries but plays a significant role in the city’s transport network.

The route took us past old depots, repair stations, retired locomotives, buildings once used by railway workers (now home to IDPs from Abkhazia), and even secret tunnel entrances.

Hearing their stories, along with Lasha’s own childhood memories of playing along the train tracks in the 1990s, added a raw, human layer to the walk that I didn’t expect.

It’s the kind of experience that makes you see the city differently, which is why I’d consider this one of the best Tbilisi tours if you want something truly local and out of the ordinary.

👉 Book the Metro & Railway Tour

Backstreets of Tbilisi: Chughureti’s hidden corners

If you want to explore a neighborhood that feels different from Tbilisi’s usual sightseeing route, this Backstreets of Tbilisi walk is a great way to discover the up-and-coming Chughureti district.

Run by Tbilisi Free Walking Tours, it focuses on everyday stories, hidden courtyards, and the architectural layers that define this side of the city.

The route starts at Fabrika Tbilisi and moves through the old German settlement, a part of the city shaped by late-19th-century Art Nouveau homes mixed with traditional Tbilisi courtyard buildings.

Even if you’ve walked these streets before, you’ll likely discover details you might have never noticed—beautiful murals, painted hallways, unique wooden staircases, traces of the German colony, and a few Soviet mosaics that quietly survived redevelopment.

I’ve done this tour myself, and it was refreshing to walk through courtyards I hadn’t peeked into before and hear stories I didn’t know about.

Although the walk focuses on backstreets rather than major landmarks, the guide still gives a great introduction to Tbilisi’s history, which makes it ideal even if it’s your first time in the city.

👉 Book the Backstreets of Tbilisi Tour

Jewish Storytelling Tour in Tbilisi: walk through Jewish heritage

The Jewish Storytelling Tour is one of the most insightful Tbilisi guided tours if you want to understand a 26-century-old community that shaped the city in ways that aren’t immediately visible today.

The walk takes you through Petkhaini, the historic Jewish quarter. It opens a window into the rich mosaic of Georgia’s Jewish heritage, customs, and arrival history.

Lasha, the scholar who leads the tour, weaves together archival materials, oral histories, and academic research into a vivid narrative. 

He talks about Georgian, Ashkenazi, Mountain, Persian, Crimean, and Sephardic Jews, their migrations, their languages—from Hebrew and Juhuri to Yiddish and Georgian “Kivruli”—and how these communities blended Eastern, Western, and local Georgian traditions.

His stories cover everything from medieval manuscripts and Jewish life in the Ottoman period to the Zionist movement, wedding customs, amulets, spells, and the role of Georgian Jews in art, theater, and early Aliyah.

It also includes a visit to the Museum of History of Georgian Jews and a second-floor access to the Great Synagogue that’s usually inaccessible to the general public.

What makes this walk so memorable is how much of this history has faded from the urban landscape. During the Soviet era, synagogues were closed or repurposed, cultural institutions were dismantled, and much of Jewish life disappeared from the city’s surface.

Today, only a few traces remain, invisible unless you know exactly where to look. I’m not Jewish, but I found this walk to be an excellent introduction to how deeply Georgian Jews influenced the city and how their legacy survives through stories rather than buildings.

Lasha doesn’t host the tour regularly because he often travels for research and conferences worldwide, but when he does, I highly recommend registering.

All proceeds from the tour go toward acquiring archival materials and documents related to Jewish history.

👉 Contact Lasha on Instagram to join the tour

Through the Rooftops: hidden corners & local stories of Tbilisi

Through the Rooftops is one of those alternative Tbilisi tours that shows a side of the city you rarely experience on your own. It’s not a classic history walk; instead, it focuses on the in-between spaces—half-forgotten staircases, backdoor shortcuts, shadowy hallways, and rooftops with not-so-typical cityscape views. 

The walk takes place in Sololaki, one of my favorite neighborhoods in Tbilisi, and even though I know the area well, some of the spots on this tour were entirely new for me.

You step into courtyards you’d probably never enter alone and hear stories that only someone who grew up here would know. David, the guide, shares childhood memories, neighborhood secrets, and bits of everyday life.

He also sprinkles in a little Georgian language, some local history, and a small tasting of wine, Georgian tea, and Churchkhela.

It’s raw, honest, and a fun way to experience the city, as he has permission to access the courtyards and rooftops he takes you to, which makes the experience feel safe while still adventurous.

Structured similarly to other free walking tours in Tbilisi, this experience is tip-based, with guests choosing the amount they’d like to offer.

👉 Book the Rooftops Tour

Soviet Bunker Tour: inside Tbilisi’s Cold War shelter

Among other Soviet tours in Tbilisi, this one stands out for giving you access to a real Cold War bunker hidden beneath the city. Instead of just hearing stories about the Soviet era, you get to walk into the actual bunker itself — a command center tucked under what looks like a completely regular apartment building. 

The experience starts with a descent into a dim, narrow tunnel, where a massive blast door immediately sets the mood.

Inside, you’ll find original Soviet equipment: gas masks, communication devices, control panels, military documents, and maps. The space has been preserved enough that you can still imagine how it operated during the Soviet era, when fears of nuclear attacks shaped much of the underground infrastructure.

I’ve done this tour myself, and it gives a clear understanding of how the Soviet system prepared for worst-case scenarios and reveals a lot about the politics, paranoia, and military planning that shaped Tbilisi from the 1950s onward. Read my detailed Soviet bunker review.

What really ties everything together is the guide’s storytelling. They explain how the bunker functioned, who worked here, what roles different rooms played, and how classified operations unfolded behind these heavy doors.

👉 Book the Soviet Bunker Tour

Palace of Rituals Tour: a rare look inside a Soviet landmark

The Palace of Rituals, also known as the Wedding Palace, perched on a hill above Ortachala, is one of the most striking and symbolically rich Soviet-era buildings in Tbilisi. Designed by Victor Jorbenadze and Vazha Orbeladze and completed in 1985, the structure blends monumental modernism with a deeply metaphorical layout.

Jorbenadze, inspired by his mother’s profession as a gynecologist, shaped the interior to resemble the female reproductive system: two side chapels as ovaries and the central ceremonial hall as the “womb” where couples were united in marriage. You won’t find another building in Tbilisi with symbolism this intentional or this bold.

In 2002, it was purchased by Badri Patarkatsishvili and converted into a private residence, and only recently—around two years ago—did the family begin to open it for guided visits.

This makes touring the palace a rare opportunity, as you get to explore six floors of a property very few people have entered – from the main ceremonial hall, almost entirely in its original form, to themed rooms Badri used for political meetings, private gatherings, and receptions.

The visit also includes the smaller Arcadia Palace, a more intimate space where Badri hosted close friends and family in a relaxed atmosphere. The tour ends at the estate’s private vintage car collection.

I host these visits myself, sharing the architectural background, the symbolism, and the building’s history. I’m currently on maternity leave, but if you’re interested in visiting, you can always reach out via email, and I’ll be happy to assist as much as I can.

👉 Contact me to arrange a visit

Apollo Cinema Tour: interiors of an abandoned Art Nouveau icon

Apollo Cinema, opened in 1909, is one of the oldest purpose-built cinemas in the country and a rare surviving example of early Art Nouveau architecture in Tbilisi.

While the original architect is still debated, many believe it was Russian architect Kolchin, assisted by Czech craftsmen Novak and Souchek, and credited with the delicate decorative work that once made the building stand out.

During the Soviet era, it was renamed “October” to honor the Great October Socialist Revolution, but its function remained the same: daily screenings ran here for nearly 80 years.

Walking inside today feels like stepping into a time capsule. The grand lobby still carries traces of its former elegance: bas-reliefs, carved stonework, faded wall paintings, floor decorations, and the golden ceiling that once served as its centerpiece.

Much of it is damaged now, but even in decay, the craftsmanship is breathtaking. It’s easy to imagine how magnificent this space must have been when it opened as the first electronic cinema in Tbilisi—one of the largest and most modern of its kind in Europe at the time.

The building is a private property but has been abandoned for years, and its condition is heartbreaking. However, that’s what makes it one of the most compelling urbex tours in Tbilisi.

👉 Book the Apollo Cinema tour

Block Printing Workshop: create your own Georgian textile

Those who’d like to join more hands-on Tbilisi tours and experience the city through its artisanal workshop culture will enjoy this block printing session run by WT Georgia in collaboration with The Block Printers Tbilisi. 

This independent, small-scale design studio works to revive the ancient craft of woodblock printing using traditional motifs from Georgia and Central Asia.

During the workshop, you learn how natural dyes are made—from vegetables, fruits, and flowers—and how each wooden stamp is carved with regional symbols.

After a short introduction, you paint your own woodblock, print your design onto fabric, wash and fix the color, and finally dry your piece in the garden. It’s slow, creative, and incredibly satisfying to see your work come to life step by step.

The studio also prepares a small tea break, giving you time to relax, chat, and explore their handmade shawls and textiles.

At the end of the session, you leave with your own printed fabric made entirely by you—a meaningful souvenir and a lovely way to spend a few hours away from the busy streets.

👉 Book the Block Printing Workshop

Unusual Tbilisi day tours

Soviet Lada Tour in Gori: local stories & Soviet heritage

To experience Gori from a perspective most visitors miss, Zhana’s Soviet Lada tour (run through Gori Free Walking Tour) takes you into the city’s stories in a truly unique way.

Riding through town in one of the vintage Soviet cars she lovingly tracked down is already fun on its own, but the tour also supports local elderly drivers who join the experience. It’s a playful, unusual way to see Gori while learning about its complex past.

The tour takes you to the Great Patriotic War Museum, which provides a broader context on Soviet history and Georgia’s more recent struggles, including the 2008 Russia–Georgia war.

You’ll also see a few Soviet mosaics, bas-reliefs, and several monuments from Gori’s Soviet era, including Stalin statues.

But the highlight for me was an unofficial Stalin Museum created inside the home of a local woman, a member of the communist party, who has spent decades collecting Stalin-related memorabilia.

The tiny room is overflowing with photos, documents, medals, books, hand-painted portraits, and even everyday items like mugs, postcards, and T-shirts. Walking into this room feels like stepping into a living archive of someone’s personal devotion.

It’s a quirky, insightful day trip and a great way to understand how history, memory, and personal stories coexist in Gori.

👉 Contact Zhana on Instagram to book the tour

ReWoven Workshop: Azerbaijani carpet weaving in Marneuli

If you’re searching for day trips from Tbilisi that focus on culture and local traditions rather than sightseeing, this visit to an Azerbaijani village in the Marneuli region is one of the most meaningful experiences you can take.

I joined this tour with WT Georgia, and it introduced me to the world of Borchalo carpets, something I hadn’t heard of before. I also didn’t think much about carpets or their symbolism—until this visit changed that completely.

ReWoven, a non-profit working to revive this rare weaving tradition, operates in one of only two villages where Borchalo carpets are still made. 

During the visit, the team explains the history of these textiles, the natural dyeing process, and the meanings behind the symbols woven into each piece.

All carpets are made from naturally dyed wool, which holds color far better than artificial dyes and ages beautifully over time.

You can also weave a few knots on the loom. It doesn’t look very easy at first, but once you get into the rhythm, the technique becomes surprisingly intuitive. Still, completing a whole carpet is no small task—the entire process, from weaving to shaving and preparing for shipment, takes around two to three months.

The visit also includes a light Azerbaijani lunch prepared by the locals. We had Khingal (a pasta-like dish with yogurt and caramelized onions), warm yogurt with herbs, eggs, chickpeas, and freshly brewed Azerbaijani tea.

👉 Contact WT Georgia or ReWoven for more details

Rainbow Mountains Tour: a colorful geological trip

The Rainbow Mountains near Mravaltskaro Reservoir are one of the most striking natural landscapes you can reach on a one-day trip from Tbilisi. These rolling, striped hills sit in Georgia’s only semi-desert—a vast, open area where mineral-rich sedimentary layers form rustic reds, yellows, greys, and greens that look almost painted.

While not as large-scale as the famous formations in Peru or China, the Georgian Rainbow Mountains offer an unusual and visually dramatic experience just two hours from the capital. (If you prefer traveling independently, I’ve written a complete guide on how to visit the Rainbow Mountains.)

The organized tour begins with a stop at a small salt lake, a quiet spot surrounded by pastel-colored earth—great for photos and a nice introduction to the semi-desert terrain.

From here, the drive continues through Udabno, a village whose name literally means “desert,” before the landscape shifts again into the striped hills that make this region special.

It also includes a visit to the nearby David Gareji Lavra, one of Georgia’s most important monastic complexes.

👉 Book the Rainbow Mountains Tour

Dmanisi & Bolnisi Tour: early history & German heritage

For travelers interested in excursions from Tbilisi that go beyond scenery and offer real depth, consider taking a tour to the Dmanisi–Bolnisi region. This part of Kvemo Kartli holds some of Georgia’s most significant archaeological and historical sites, all within a short drive of each other.

The tour starts at the Bolnisi Museum, which does an excellent job of connecting the region’s archaeological, cultural, linguistic, and religious histories and provides a perfect introduction to the area and its significance.

Then it continues to Dmanisi, where an open-air archaeological site marks the earliest known hominin migration beyond Africa—dated to around 1.75 million years ago. Standing on the excavation grounds gives you a rare chance to see where some of the world’s most critical paleoanthropological discoveries were made.

From there, you visit Bolnisi Sioni, the oldest extant church in Georgia, built between 478 and 493. Its early medieval inscriptions, written in one of the oldest forms of the Georgian alphabet, offer an incredible look into the formation of Georgian writing and the arrival of Christianity in the Caucasus.

Finally, the tour ends with a walk through the cobbled streets of the 19th-century German settlement founded by families from Swabia (if you want to explore on your own, you can read my Bolnisi city guide).

👉 Book the Dmanisi & Bolnisi Tour

Kakheti Wine Tour: premium small-group food & wine experience

Although Tbilisi wine tours are not typically considered “alternative,” I’m including this one because Eat This! Tours takes an entirely different approach compared to the mainstream wine tours from Tbilisi you often see on popular platforms.

Their focus is on premium, small groups, visits to artisanal and family-run wineries, personal storytelling, unlimited wine and food, and a Georgian Supra hosted by a local family. I’ve taken their Sighnaghi tour myself and even wrote a full review of the experience.

The Sighnaghi route begins at Giuaani Winery, just outside Tbilisi, where the in-house sommelier guides you through the winery before sitting down for a “wine brunch”—a thoughtful tasting paired with seasonal dishes. Each wine is introduced with context, technique, and pairing notes, making the experience feel more like an educational tasting than a standard winery stop.

Afterward, there’s a short walk through the streets of Sighnaghi before arriving at Kerovani, a small producer specializing in natural wines. It’s an intimate tasting that highlights the diversity of Georgian winemaking beyond the big commercial names.

The final stop is my favorite part: dinner at a family-run winery. Here you sit down to a full Supra of home-cooked dishes, generous hospitality, and a traditional tamada to lead the toasts. It’s warm, authentic, and a beautiful way to understand Georgian culture beyond the wine itself. 

Eat This! Tours also runs a Telavi version of this experience, which includes hands-on khinkali-making, a visit to a qvevri maker who still works with traditional techniques, and another selection of small wineries focused on quality and heritage.

If you prefer meaningful, slow-paced travel over large buses and rushed tastings, this tour is an excellent choice.

👉 Book the Sighnaghi or Telavi tours and don’t forget to use code RFD for 5% discount.

Sabereebi Cave Monastery: desert landscapes & ancient frescoes

For travelers who want alternative Tbilisi day trips that feel entirely different from the usual sights, the Sabereebi Cave Monastery is one of the most spectacular places you can explore—yet it rarely appears on the radar of the average visitor.

The site lies deep in Kakheti’s wild terrain, and reaching it already feels like an adventure: you drive off-road through empty, cinematic badlands that look as if they were pulled straight out of a Mad Max film.

Carved into enormous sandstone cliffs, the abandoned Sabereebi complex comprises cave churches, monks’ cells, and chambers dating back to the 9th and 10th centuries.

Some caves still hold remarkable fresco remnants—faded but powerful—offering a glimpse into Georgia’s early Christian heritage.

👉 Book the Sabereebi Cave Monastery tour

Tbilisi tours: frequently asked questions

Are free walking tours in Tbilisi worth joining?

Tbilisi free walking tours are a great introduction to the city, especially if it’s your first time here. They cover the main landmarks or offer lesser-known routes, share practical tips, and give you a feel for the rhythm of local neighborhoods, without an upfront cost (but remember, they are tip-based).

The experience depends a lot on the guide, but in general, these tours offer solid value and an easy way to orient yourself before diving into more specific activities.

Should I book private tours in Tbilisi or join a group?

Choosing between group walks and private tours in Tbilisi comes down to how you prefer to explore. Group tours are social, affordable, and ideal for general overviews, while private tours allow you to tailor the pace and focus to your interests.

If you enjoy slow exploration, photography, or niche themes like architecture or Soviet history, a private tour will give you more flexibility.

Can I explore Tbilisi in 2 days?

You can definitely explore the city in two days, but it has many layers, so you’ll only scratch the surface. The good news is that you can tailor your Tbilisi city tour itinerary to what interests you most.

What to do in Tbilisi in 2 days really depends on what you prefer: explore independently or join one of the Tbilisi guided tours. That said, if you only have this time, it would be wise to book an organized tour so you can see as much as possible.

For ideas and the best things to do in Tbilisi, check out my Ultimate Tbilisi Guide.

How far in advance should I book tours in Tbilisi?

Most tours in Tbilisi don’t require booking far in advance, especially alternative experiences, which rarely sell out. For weekends or wine tours, it’s still a good idea to reserve at least a few days ahead to secure your spot.

If you’re visiting during peak summer months or around major holidays, book a few weeks in advance.

Can you visit the Kakheti wine region on a half-day tour from Tbilisi?

Not realistically. The wineries are spread out, and getting to Kakheti takes at least an hour each way, leaving little time for meaningful tastings or relaxed visits.

Most wine tours from Tbilisi include multiple wineries and a meal, so they’re best enjoyed as full-day experiences. A half-day trip would feel rushed and wouldn’t do the region justice.