How to take a two-week workation in Tbilisi, Georgia

Looking for alternative destination ideas for your next workation? Look no further than Tbilisi, Georgia, where you can combine remote work in the daytime with incredible local food and wine at night, and explore thousands of years of history at the crossroads of Europe and Asia on your days off. After taking our own remote working trip to Georgia’s beautiful capital city, in this guide we share our tips on how to take a workation in Tbilisi.

This site contains links to travel services we recommend from our own experiences, and we may make a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Why Georgia is perfect for a two-week workation

Georgia is the kind of place that will linger on your travel bucket list without ever being ticked off. You’re curious about visiting, but you never quite get round to actually doing it, because it seems a bit difficult to reach. Sounds familiar?

We wanted to visit Georgia ourselves for years, and we finally took the opportunity – but not for a typical city break. It was for a remote working trip, or a “workation”, as it’s also known. We booked initially to attend the Traverse conference, which is what gave us the push to actually go, but we decided to extend our trip to explore the capital Tbilisi while working remotely.

Workations come in many shapes, sizes and lengths. We most often take short workations for a few days, typically over a long weekend, so we can balance a city break with some remote work. When we do this, it’s usually in a European city, not too far from our home in the UK.

But occasionally, we like to take a longer workation to a destination that we can explore more slowly. A place where we can disconnect from life at home and get to know the local culture.

Georgia is the perfect place for this. Situated in the Caucasus at the crossroads of Eastern Europe and West Asia, it is country with a unique culture and history, and – most appealing – an absolutely incredible culinary scene. If you really want to get to know Georgia, a couple of days really isn’t enough.

It does take a bit of effort to reach Georgia if you are travelling from Western Europe or further afield, so it makes sense to spend a bit more time here anyway. A two-week workation in the capital, Tbilisi, is the perfect way to become more deeply immersed in this wonderful country’s way of life, without using up your annual leave allowance.

How you could balance a two-week workation in Georgia

One of the great benefits of taking workations is that it enables you to travel more frequently throughout the year. Annual leave days go a lot further if you don’t need to take them for every trip. Still, when we take workations we often still book some leave days so that we can mix in some exploring around work.

If you’re spending two weeks in Tbilisi on a workation, we would still suggest taking two or three complete days off work across the period. Added to the weekend in the middle, this would give you about five days in total to explore.

Five free days in Tbilisi is a lovely amount of time to explore the city as well as taking a couple of day trips to see more of Georgia, and possibly across the border into Armenia as well.

We won’t suggest an exact itinerary in this article, as there are so many ways you could shape your trip to suit you. Instead, we’ll give you all of the building blocks you need to decide where to stay, where to work, and how to use your free time in Tbilisi to get to know this beautiful city.

How to get to Tbilisi from London

There are various ways you can travel to Tbilisi from London. We know some people who made the journey completely overland! But that takes many days, and if you don’t have that kind of time to spare in your itinerary, then the best option is to fly.

Tbilisi Airport is Georgia’s primary international airport, and you can reach it by direct routes from many European cities, including Paris, Berlin and Milan. Direct flights from the UK stopped in 2020 when the pandemic hit, but from May 2024 a new direct route from Gatwick to Tbilisi with Air Iveria is set to open.

If you are travelling from the UK, there are other routes you can take. We explored several options, including via Riga, Vienna or Amsterdam, which are all possible. Eventually we chose to fly with a stop in Istanbul, which was among the cheapest and shortest total flight times.

You can look up possible routes to Tbilisi from wherever you are flying from on Skyscanner.

Tbilisi: why we loved working in the Georgian capital

When we first arrived in Tbilisi, we had just spent three days on a layover in Istanbul. The two cities could not be more different.

Istanbul had been a whirlwind of chaos: busy, loud, non-stop. That’s ok in small measures, and we do love the character of Istanbul, but it’s not so suitable for remote working if you are looking for a calm environment.

Tbilisi, with its laidback vibe and scenic surroundings, provides a much more relaxing backdrop for work, and a labyrinth of history and culture to explore in between. Much of the city centre is walkable, or very easy to reach by public transport or Bolt, so you’re never far away from where you need to be.

The time zone difference may also provide some benefits when working in Georgia. Being fours hours ahead of the UK, this means there are rarely going to be any meetings in the morning, which is when I’m most productive.

Where to stay for a workation in Tbilisi

The ideal place to stay in Tbilisi for a workation depends on whether you would prefer to work from your accommodation, or whether you will spend more time working elsewhere, at coworking spaces or cafés. If it’s the latter, it’s less important that your accommodation has a dedicated workspace, although it’s always useful to have!

Self-catered accommodation in Tbilisi

If you are staying as long as two weeks for your workation in Georgia, then a self-catered apartment will probably work out a lot cheaper than a hotel. It also means you’ll have your own space, which is ideal both for remote working and for exploring the city slowly.

We stayed in a fantastic apartment in Sololaki. This is a lovely historic neighbourhood in a central location, adjoining the old town, and we loved its charming narrow streets lined with wine bars and cafés.

Our apartment was ornamented with various artefacts from the Soviet era, and the hosts provided a little handbook that explained the historical context. Most importantly, the place had everything we needed. It’s a spacious, open-plan apartment with an adjoining kitchen and living room, and a cosy double bedroom up a little winding staircase.

The apartment doesn’t have a dedicated work desk, but the dining table can easily double up for that. We also quite liked working on the comfy sofa.

If you’d prefer to stay elsewhere in the city, or you want somewhere with a work desk, these are a couple of other self-catered apartments we found:

• Apart Leitmotif – cool, clean apartment with a long table that doubles up as a desk, close to Tbilisi Cathedral and the green space of Rike Park.
• Botanical 21 – rustic apartment with a work desk and outdoor terrace, right near Tbilisi’s famous Sulfur Baths.

Hotels in Tbilisi with work space

If you’d rather stay in a hotel for your workation in Tbilisi, there is a lot of choice around the city.

We attended a conference at the Radisson Blu Iveria, which is very well set up for working remotely. There are various places you can work around the hotel, and each room has a desk – some with great city views!

If a boutique hotel is more your vibe, then Mukhrantubani Boutique Hotel is a great option for a workation. It has an ideal location for exploring the old town, situated right near the Clock Tower. Rooms have desks, and the wifi is strong.

At the budget end of the scale, Mit Hotel Tbilisi is well worth considering. Set in Old Tbilisi and close to lots of attractions, it’s perfect for when you want to take a break and go for a wander. There is a lot of comfy space around the hotel to work, as well as desks in rooms.

Coworking in Tbilisi

Tbilisi has a vibrant coworking scene and, unlike many cities, its coworking spaces are very spread out rather than being concentrated in one district. So, wherever you choose to stay in Tbilisi, you won’t be too far away from a work desk you can use.

The city has sprung onto the radar of digital nomads thanks to its relatively low costs of living and modern infrastructure. This has paved the way for an array of fresh coworking spaces to emerge.

Impact Hub: coworking in a repurposed Soviet sewing factory

We paid a visit to Impact Hub, a coworking space set within the Fabrika cultural centre. Set within the grounds of an old Soviet sewing factory and around a spacious sheltered courtyard, it’s a labyrinth of urban bars, cafés, art studios and boutique shops. There’s a retro-modern and diverse feel about the place, with giant street art murals revitalising the old building with a tumult of colour.

Impact Hub is part of the complex, with an open-plan coworking area spread across the first floor of the old factory. The space is full of light, with white ceilings and sunlight pouring in through tall windows, and plants and flowers providing a touch of nature.

You can work on one of the hot desks here or opt for the more relaxed setting of one of the comfy sofas. It’s ideal for a workation as you don’t need a monthly membership; day passes are 40 GEL (about US $15), or you can get a week pass for 140 GEL (about US $50). These are some of the cheapest coworking passes we’ve seen in any city on our travels.

We went for lunch at a chic bar called Moulin Electrique just opposite the coworking space, which was perfect for a slow lunch and a local craft beer. It sits on a row of bars and restaurants serving various international cuisine.

There is also a Fabrika Hostel as part the complex, which is a great alternative accommodation option, especially if you’re travelling on a budget. If you don’t want to stay in a shared dorm, there are private rooms and suites available that are cheaper than many hotels.

More coworking spaces in Tbilisi

These are some other great coworking spaces around Tbilisi that offer day passes:

• The Hub – a bright, modern coworking space five minutes’ walk from the Fabrika complex
• Iconik – laidback workspace on the north of the city with a social ambience and great coffee!
• D Block – multi-floor coworking in a re-imagined old factory, connected to the Stamba Hotel

Explore Georgian culture on your time off

Whenever you have some downtime during your workation in Tbilisi, there are many ways you can use it to explore the local culture. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

Things to do in Tbilisi

Try Georgian cuisine in a local restaurant

Maybe you haven’t heard much about Georgian food. Well, you are really in for a treat! The national cuisine of Georgia is truly unique and full of incredible flavour. As food-loving travellers, this was one of the main highlights of time in Tbilisi.

These are some of the Georgian delicacies you should try when you visit (and our recommendations on where you can try them):

• Khinkali. These twist-shaped dumplings come with many tasty fillings, and you will find them in many restaurants around Tbilisi. We had some some delicious khinkali in an underground restaurant called Racha in the Sololaki neighbourhood.
• Khachapuri. You will find this Georgian cheese bread everywhere from local bakeries to classy restaurants. We tried some delicious Khachapuri from Caravanserai Bakery while on a gastronomy tour. Also look out for khachapuri adjaruli, the classic version that has eggs cracked into the middle.
• Kharcho. If you are looking for some soul-warming comfort food, then this hearty Georgian soup will not let you down! It’s usually made with beef as well as tomatoes, garlic, rice, and various herbs and spices. We had a fabulous kharcho in Saxlis Gemo, a small family-run restaurant that is a great hidden gem in the old town.
• Pkhali. You will commonly see these vegetable pâtés served as an appetiser or sharer in Georgia. They are typically made with minced garlic and ground walnuts (walnuts are a staple in Georgian cuisine). My colleague who lives in Tbilisi took me and Lisa for dinner at Café Leila in the old town, where you can try a bowl of gobi, compiling various Georgian dishes, including pkhali. It was the perfect introduction to Georgian cuisine! You can try the same thing at Shavi Lomi, another excellent Georgian restaurant run by the same people.
• Eggplant rolls. Another walnut-based dish – this walnut purée wrapped in eggplant has become my personal favourite Georgian delicacy. We tried it in lots of places, including Saxlis Gemo, which was one of the best.
• Georgian breakfast. Breakfast in Georgia is often a buffet of foods left over from the day before – a spread of breads, eggs, salads, fruit, cheeses, butter, honey and jam, served with tea. We loved Cafe Dante, a homely little upstairs café that feels like you’re being welcomed into a family’s apartment. There are options for typical breakfast spreads from different regions of Georgia, and you’ll have enough to last you for most of the day.

Discover Georgian wine

Wine is part of Georgia’s cultural DNA. We knew before we visited that Georgia is a “wine country”, but it’s really a lot more than that – we were amazed at just how important wine is to the way of life.

Archaeological excavations have revealed that the first known winemaking in the world was in Georgia, using the country’s unique qvevri technique. Today, you can’t walk around a corner in Tbilisi without finding another wine shop, and it’s seemingly served with every meal.

Look out for the many 8,000 Vintages in Tbilisi. This series of wine bars and shops has gained international acclaim, and it’s a great place to try local wine. You can book in for a one-hour tasting session accompanied with cheeses, meats and fruits.

We also went for a tasting at a wine bar called Vinotells, in the north of the city. This is a lovely relaxed wine bar in a quiet neighbourhood, about a 15-minute taxi ride from the old town area.

In Sololaki there is a fantastic wine bar called Vino Underground. We found this place by a convenient accident as it’s just a few doors away from the apartment we were staying in. But we later discovered that many winemakers consider this to be Tbilisi’s best wine bar. There’s an amazing selection, and they stock vintages from small family wineries that you won’t find anywhere else.

Take a free walking tour of old Tbilisi

If you have read any of our city travel itineraries before you will know that we love a free walking tour. They are always a great way to get to know a city when you first arrive.

Tbilisi Free Walking Tours run a range of themed tours every day. Tours last about three hours and will introduce you to the city’s most famous landmarks, narrated by a local guide.

Make sure you use the opportunity to ask your guide for local recommendations. Many of the best tips we’ve ever had have come from walking tour guides.

Ride the cable car to the Mother of Georgia statue

When you look at the skyline around Tbilisi, you can’t miss the giant statue of a woman holding a sword and a bowl of wine on Sololaki Hill. This is Kartlis Deda, the “Mother of Georgia”, a celebration of the national character that has stood there since 1958.

You can ride up to the statue on a cable car from Rike Park, right next to the famous Bridge of Peace. It’s also possible to walk up the hill on a stairway from the Sololaki neighbourhood.

Whichever way you choose, you will be rewarded at the top with beautiful panoramic views of the city from where the statue stands.

Ride the funicular to Mtatsminda Amusement Park (and city views!)

For an even more impressive view of Tbilisi from above, you can ride the funicular to Mtatsminda Amusement Park. The top station of the funicular stands more than 250 metres above the city, giving an absolutely stunning panorama of the landscape.

We rode the funicular in the evening (it runs until midnight). The theme park isn’t fully operational until late, but it’s magical to see the city lit up at night.

You will also notice the huge TV broadcasting tower on the hill, which was built during Soviet times. After dark it lights up with a purple and white glow, and you can see it up close from Mtatsminda Amusement Park.

Relax in the historic sulfur baths

The ancient neighbourhood of Abanotubani is famed for its sulfur baths, which have been part of Tbilisi since its beginnings in the 5th century. The city was built around the hot springs that still feed these baths today.

You can bathe here in natural thermal springs with temperatures of around 38-40°C. Sulfur baths in Tbilisi are historically a communal activity. The public baths are the cheapest way to visit, but if you are shy about getting naked in public, then you might prefer to book a private bath.

This guide to the sulfur baths by a local blogger gives a great insight into the etiquette and prices.

See the sunset at Sameba, Tbilisi Cathedral

Tbilisi has many magnificent buildings, but none are more impressive than the Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi, also known as Sameba. At over 100 metres high, it is the tallest church in all of Georgia.

Standing on a small hillside on the east of the city, facing out to the west, the structure looks especially stunning in the orange glow of sunset.

Check the sunset times and head here an hour earlier. If you’ve spent the day working in the city, this is a wonderful way to switch off and contemplate as you watch the sun disappear behind the hills across the rooftops.

Shop for local art at Dry Bridge Market

We love exploring local markets on our travels, and Tbilisi’s Dry Bridge Market is a real gem. This open-air flea market is spread across a park by the riverside and spills into the roadside above. It’s a maze of stalls and trestle tables covered with artwork, crafts, clothes and various Soviet memorabilia.

Prices at the market are inflated for tourists, but you can barter. I bought a Soviet-era medal for my friend who collects them, and had a fun experience haggling on the price. It was all in good nature and I was able to get the original asking price of 100 GEL down to 80 GEL. Perhaps still higher than what a local would pay, but I was happy with it!

We also bought a beautiful piece of artwork by a renowned local artist called George Abramidze, who has a stall at the market run by two of his friends. Lisa contacted him on Instagram to check the artworks were genuine, and he actually came to meet us there personally. This was on our last day in Georgia, and it was such a special way to finish off our visit.

Day trips from Tbilisi

If you have some free days on your Georgia workation, you can take the opportunity to explore further afield. These are some day trips from Tbilisi that we tried ourselves and would highly recommend.

Explore Georgia’s beautiful wine regions

If you want to get to the roots of Georgian wine culture, then you shouldn’t miss the opportunity to visit the winemaking regions and explore some vineyards. We took a unique wine tour in Georgia that went deep into the mountainous Kakheti region.

The tour includes tastings at three wineries, as well as a visit to the historic town of Signagi, whose 18th-century walls are one of Europe’s largest fortifications. Best of all, the tour culminates with a traditional supra in a family winery home. This is a Georgian family meal that is all about sharing and connecting, punctuated with a series of toasts.

If you quote the code career5 when booking the Vines & Villages Signagi tour you will get an exclusive 5% discount.

Make sure you have some space in your luggage to bring a bottle or three back home!

Venture into the mountain landscapes of Kazbegi

The landscapes north of Tbilisi are dominated by the spectacular Greater Caucasus mountains. You can go skiing here in the resort of Gudauri, or venture further north to the slopes of Mount Kazbegi, a giant dormant stratovolcano close to the border with Russia. You’ll find it featured in our compilation of the best hikes in Europe.

We took a day trip to Kazbegi in the heart of winter that included stops at historic monasteries, hilltop monuments and the picturesque reservoir of the Zhinvali hydropower plant.

This tour is fantastic for witnessing some of Georgia’s most breathtaking landscapes, culminating at Gergeti Trinity Church, a magnificent monastery that stands on a lofty peak amid the mountain range. The jeep ride up to the monastery is not for the faint-hearted, but the scenery at the top will take your breath away.

See the millennia-old monasteries of Mtskheta, Georgia’s old capital

We took a journey into Georgia’s past on a half-day tour to Mtskheta, Georgia’s ancient capital. The city stands on a sleepy riverside and is adorned with some of the country’s most awe-inspiring cathedrals and monasteries, which are designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Jvari Monastery, which stands high on a hill overlooking Mtskheta from across the river, was a highlight for us. The building has been preserved remarkably and remains in a similar state as when it was built almost 1,500 years ago.

Back down in Mtskheta, Svetitskhoveli Cathedral has survived for over a thousand years and is still an important place of worship today. It is a grounding experience to step inside these incredible old structures and contemplate how many people have found solace here over the centuries.

Take a day trip to Armenia

Tbilisi is about a 90-minute drive away from Georgia’s border with Armenia. This presents the opportunity to visit a country that is otherwise hard to reach.

The northern region of Armenia is a fascinating place that is characterised by a curious contrast of abandoned Soviet architecture and ancient monasteries. We took a day trip to Armenia from Tbilisi, which was a great way to get a snapshot of this landscape while also enjoying a traditional Armenian lunch in a family home.

FAQs about visiting Georgia on a workation

See our guide to remote working in Europe for more destination ideas, or our guide to the best workation destinations in the world if you’re looking to go further afield. You can also read our ultimate guide to workations for more about the concept in general.

For everything you need to bring on a workation, see our work trip packing list.

Have you visited Tbilisi before? We’d love to hear about your experiences in the comments below.

Love this? Pin it for later!