Europe - Is Tbilisi safe?

I'm planning on spending three nights there. I had heard that since the Rose revolution public confidence in the police was high, the country was stable and that Georgians are very hospitable people. However, in an article of the world's top 10 most dangerous cities I saw Tbilisi coming in at #7 just ahead oh Sana'a in Yemen...obviously gave me pause.

I'm not planning on going to South Ossetia or Abkhazia, i'm only there three nights and I'm staying at the Raddison Blu. Am I being ridiculous, or is this really a dodgy stop?

I would love to go there. I was reading about Tibilisi a lot and I think if you stick to the city you should be fine. This place is on my to go list. I wouldn't worry too much.

You've got nothing to worry about - Tbilisi, provided you stick to the centre of town, is absolutely fine, safety-wise. And it's also quite beautiful, to boot. I have spent several evenings walking through the city and never, ever once felt any more endangered than in any other, large European city. Relax, and have fun.

Great! Is the day trip to Gori worth it?

it is perfectly safe, I'll go there again next wednesday :) even airport taxis are quite reliable now.

I was there in March. Though I was with friends, I think it's safe alone. Do be prepared for some begging, though.

I never had any problems there at all. Perhaps would just add the standard advice about watching out for pickpockets at the train station, but that's it.

Gori is just to see Stalin's birthplace? Mtskheta is also not a long drive away and has the spectacularly beautiful Jvari monastery. It is absolutely worth a look.

hey

I'll be there in early September
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/russia/1373167-georgia-tbilisi-two-days.html

mfk

Gori is just to see Stalin's birthplace? Mtskheta is also not a long drive away and has the spectacularly beautiful Jvari monastery. It is absolutely worth a look.

I thought the Stalin museum was interesting, but Mtskheta is definitely beautiful and they are, indeed, usually combined in a day trip.

If one has the time, i can't recommend the western part of Georgia highly enough. There are beautiful cathedrals / monateries (e.g. Bagrati and Gelati) and the cave city of Uplistsikhe is fascinating.

I wouldn't call it unsafe, but out of Tbilisi, Baku and Yerevan, which I did all in the same trip, I felt the least safe in Tbilisi.... Just had a funny vibe about it, and a very "dark" city...

I thought the Stalin museum was interesting, but Mtskheta is definitely beautiful and they are, indeed, usually combined in a day trip.

If one has the time, i can't recommend the western part of Georgia highly enough. There are beautiful cathedrals / monateries (e.g. Bagrati and Gelati) and the cave city of Uplistsikhe is fascinating.

I'm very interested in Soviet history, so I have to see the Stalin museum.

Leaving for Doha tonight, Tbilisi Saturday...any picks for great Georgian food?

Try this place - it's in the hills to the south of Tbilisi, in quite nice surroundings....

http://www.taglaura.ge/?lang=eng

Warning, the staff speak barely any English - they do have an English menu though. And they serve entire bottles of delicious Georgian wine at the price of a single glass back home!

Try this place - it's in the hills to the south of Tbilisi, in quite nice surroundings....

http://www.taglaura.ge/?lang=eng

Warning, the staff speak barely any English - they do have an English menu though. And they serve entire bottles of delicious Georgian wine at the price of a single glass back home!

Unfortunately I'm not a wine person but I have a friend from Tbilisi and she brought back some wine and everyone really enjoyed it. Their wine is suppose to be very good.

AFAIK it is still safe - was last there 2 years back. Nice airport, people were friendly, English speakers are a bit limited, not so much "dark" as exotic.

I would love to go there. I was reading about Tibilisi a lot and I think if you stick to the city you should be fine. This place is on my to go list. I wouldn't worry too much.

Tbilisi was amazing and incredibly safe.

I visited Tbilisi and Gori (very briefly) in 2008. Excellent cuisine (IMO), no issues with the locals, peaceful strolls, efficient metro system. I took a marshrutka (shared public transit/a van) to Gori (the ride was around 45 minutes or less) but if you're going to do it this way definitely have it written down in Georgian...I didn't. Also, if I recall correctly, madloba (madlooba) means "thank you."

Tbilisi is very safe, IME. It felt very much like being in an eastern European capital. Friendly people, good food. I'd go back to Georgia.

Azerbaijan on the other hand.:rolleyes:

Weird, I felt fine in Azerbaijan (apart from the maniacal drivers) and felt a little uneasy in Tbilisi though I can't exactly put my finger on why.....

Yerevan on the other hand was hands-down better on all counts than the other two IMHO...

Just back from trip LHR to Yerevan then by train to Tbilisi and back to LHR. Would agree with the other comments that Yerevan and Tbilisi both safe and I was happy wondering around at night within the cities. The only time I felt a bit uneasy was when I walked into an underpass In Tbilisi where the lights weren't working - quick turn around and then braved crossing 4 lanes of traffic. (not sure which was the safer option!).

I think I know exactly which one you mean - didn't go through it myself either!