A Nice-Tbilisi flight

Who should you visit Tbilisi - and the Caucasus in general - with? Whoever you want! A wonderful holiday is on the cards, whoever you share it with, be it friends, as a couple or with family, as this is an irresistible destination - atypical, rich in gourmet delights, and varied. Georgia has something of the good genie about it : make a wish and it is bound to come true! Keen to meet the locals? Georgians are friendly, warm and laid back. Need a dose of nature? Tbilisi is surrounded by it, as is a large part of the country, from Sataplia Nature Reserve - land of the dinosaurs - to Svaneti, Europe’s highest inhabited area. Looking for cooler climes? There is no lack of mountains here - a wonderful backdrop to some unforgettable hiking experiences. And water also flows abundantly, in hot springs, rivers and the Black Sea. And if you are drawn to cultural experiences, you will love the mediaeval monasteries and fortresses, cobbled streets and public bathhouses, memories of the Russian tsars and the worn legacy of the Soviet Union, local cuisine and outstanding wines from the oldest winemaking culture in the world.

• Meander through Tbilisi’s old town, with a deliciously village-like feel. Explore the cobbled streets and the upper part and admire its ancient, colourful houses with their old wooden balconies. In the lower part, take a break at one of the café terraces in Aghmashenebeli, gem of the Marjanishvili neighbourhood, one of the prettiest in the city.
• Stroll down (or up, take your pick!) Avenue Rustaveli, Tbilisi’s answer to the Champs-Élysées. Its centuries-old buildings would hardly look out of place in Paris’s most elegant neighbourhoods, and luxury boutiques, Parliament and the Opera House guarantee a disconcertingly refined atmosphere!
• Change your perspective by taking the cable car to Narikala Fortress and Kartlis Deda, the Mother of Georgia, a monumental aluminium sculpture reigning proudly over Tbilisi. Stunning views!
• See the world like a child again, thanks to the fairytale-like leaning clock tower created by the artist Rézo Gabriadze. Every day, at midday and 7 pm, this poetic, imaginative construction delights visitors with a short but charming puppet show called Life Cycle.
• Relax, just like Alexandre Dumas, who never ceased to look back with nostalgia on the hot sulphur baths (don’t be surprised by the smell!) in Abanotubani, the thermal baths neighbourhood. Tucked behind brick façades, the bathhouses perpetuate an age-old lifestyle, combining spring water, massage and tea.
• Take a good thirty-minute drive out to Mtskheta, Georgia’s oldest city and spiritual capital. The country’s first capital, it preserves its Christian faith through its thousand-year-old cathedral and its monasteries. But there are lots of other reasons to visit this charming city.
• Make a detour via the David Gareja monastery, at the border with Azerbaijan. A listed UNESCO World Heritage Site, the monastery is 1,400 years old. This religious complex, some parts of which are hollowed out of the rock face, actually houses around fifteen different monasteries including the Lavra, where some monks still live.
• Visit Georgia’s two most outstanding rock-carved sites: Vardzia and Uplistsikhe. The first, located near Armenia, is a former monastery spread over 3,000 different caves. The second was a city which, from Antiquity to the Middle Ages, was home to some 20,000 inhabitants.
• Stop off in Kutaisi, one of Georgia’s largest cities. Size and charm go hand in hand here. Its old neighbourhoods with their distinctly bohemian vibe, its impressive cathedral and friendly atmosphere make it well worth a visit.
• Water or wine : pick your side! If water takes your fancy, head for Borjomi, a resort town known for its mineral springs, once a popular destination among Russian archdukes. If you’re more of a wine person, explore Kakheti, a region not far from Tbilisi where the world’s first wines were produced… 8,000 years ago.