Experience in Tbilisi, Georgia by Zezva

What is it like to live in Tbilisi? Would you recommend it? What is the city like?

Tbilisi, Georgia, differentiates itself with low living costs. According to our city rankings, this is a good place to live with high ratings in housing, business freedom and safety. There is a pretty good public transport system in Tbilisi, with a metro system that covers a good portion of the city centre and can make it easy enough to get around. You need to get a metro card to ride it, which will cost you 2 GEL ($0.70 USD) for a one-off price. Each subsequent ride will cost 0.50 GEL ($0.18 USD) within a 1-hour period, meaning that it will still only cost 50 Tetris for however many rides you may take within a 1-hour period.

What is the student lifestyle like in Tbilisi?

There are many fantastic experiences students Living in Georgia to enjoy. Personal safety and environment are rather friendly for foreign students in Georgia. As current students admit they mostly became good friends with Georgian classmates and have no problems with the academic life, they give a high assessment to the security and safety on the streets as well. Staying in Georgia for an international student becomes a bit difficult because of the language. But as it was shared some students succeed even to find a job where knowledge of Georgian was not required. In most of the cases, access to the library with the English books is very good and is free of charge. International students are able to use all the discounts in cinemas and museums they are actively engaged in the university life. Generally speaking, choosing Georgia for the educational purposes proves to be a cultural shift along with the knowledge gained for the future career for the most international students. Some students admit that they found it difficult to cope with the culture mainly they were finding problematic the perception of time in Georgia but you get used to it after a while too.

How much does it cost to live in Tbilisi?

Tbilisi, the capital of the small country of Georgia, is a most excellent city for those looking to travel on a budget. Food and drinks are cheap public transport costs are negligible, the city is most definitely walkable, and there are cheap hotel options to be found. Living in Tbilisi doesn't cost too much, especially when you have scholarship in Euros. As I know Erasmus+ students in Georgia have 600 Euros which is more than enough for one month. One Euro is 4 Georgian Lari. Average student spending per month is Estimated at $250 - $350 US Dollars Per Month, Accommodation Rent - 40% | Utility - 22.5% | Food and Leisure - 37.5%.

Is it difficult to find accommodation in Tbilisi? Is there any advice you can give?

It is quite easy to find accommodation in Tbilisi, you can find very comfortable flats online with acceptable prices or host university will give you a helping hand. If you want to live in the center of Tbilisi you have to pay much more than for a suburb apartment, but don't worry If you even decide to rent an apartment in the suburbs, you can easily connect to any place using the subway, which is very comfortable.

What is the food like? What are your favourite dishes?

The national Georgian cuisine is one of the main attractions of the country. The local dishes here are so various delicious and appetizing that no one will be able to remain indifferent. Just one warning: if you are on a diet or prefer vegetarian low-calorie food we wish you the courage to overcome all the temptations that you will face in Georgia.Georgian cuisine is characterized by the contrast between spicy and hot. Another distinctive feature is the abundance of various meat dishes – it is difficult to imagine Georgian table without them. Therefore, they say that in Georgia it is simply impossible to be a vegetarian. In fact, vegetable dishes are also widely spread in the country. They are cooked as a side dish for meat and fish or as a separate dish. Of course, one of the most common and popular meat dishes in Georgia is Khinkali. This tasty pouches filled with minced meat resemble little Russian dumplings. They are served with black pepper and are eaten only with hands. First, you should bite the pouch and drink the hot broth then eat the whole Khinkali. One of the best dishes for me is also Khachapuri. Khachapuri is a traditional Georgian dish of cheese-filled bread. The bread is leavened and allowed to rise and is shaped in various ways, usually with cheese in the middle and a crust which is ripped off and used to dip in the cheese. The filling contains cheese, eggs and other ingredients.

What places would you recommend visiting in Tbilisi?

You can simply walk the narrow streets to Freedom Square and the National Museum, and then you can visit the Narikala Fortress with gorgeous views. There are temples of different religions which you can visit. You should definitely visit old Tbilisi. Old Town Tbilisi has over the recent years gotten a huge “facelift.” These days, there´s local art shops, wine houses, small family-run guesthouses. You can spend hours getting lost in the old alleys and backstreet, just to find a small local bar.The famous Sulphur Baths are located in the Abanotubani district in the middle of the old town. The sulphur baths are an amazing place to relax for an hour or two, especially during the colder months of the year.Most of the baths are open 24/7, and the price varies from 30 Lari for the cheapest private room to 100 Lari for a private room. The room quality varies as much as the price difference. There are also public rooms available for 3 Lari.There´s no shortage of churches in Tbilisi or Georgia; you will never be far from one. The one you will see the most is the huge Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi or locally known as “Sameba”. The construction of Cathedral was only completed back in 2004, so it doesn’t offer the same amount of history as most of the other churches in Tbilisi. But the Holy Trinity Cathedral is impressive in other ways. It´s with its height of 97,5m the third largest Orthodox cathedral in the world only after the Saint Isaac´s Cathedral in Saint Petersburg and the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow.Mtatsminda Park is the highest point surrounding Tbilisi; the park has a small amusement park, a Paris wheel (that´s the highest point in Tbilisi), a lot of restaurants and small bars. It´s a popular hangout for the couples in the evening to enjoy the amazing view of the city landscape.
The park can be reached by bus 124 or by the Funicular railway.The Mother Georgia is located on a high hill overlooking the city, you can either walk up, or you can take the cheap cable car from the eastern part of the city. The ride is only 1 lari. You will enjoy a panoramic view while riding over the old town.
You will enjoy a nice view of the city, similar to the top of Mtatsminda Park. You also visit the castle overlooking the city while walking back down: the Mother, Georgia Statue.

Is it good to eat out in Tbilisi? Can you tell us your favourite spots?

A variety of cuisine usual for any European capital is presented at Tbilisi dining scene. You will enjoy delicious and appetizing food and you can enjoy very good time with friends. There are lot of places in Tbilisi for eating out , you can easily google information about them and choose your favorite one.

Is the nightlife good in Tbilisi? Where is good to go?

For lovers of night fun, indeed, Tbilisi can be very interesting. Several night clubs are scattered throughout the city, in response to the entertainment needs of the younger generations, and they include many coffees, restaurants, bars and discos. It will not be difficult to start the evening with a coffee and continue the night with several glasses of tequila and dance until the next morning. New bars, Modern and attractive clubs and pubs are constantly popping up on the map nightlife of Tbilisi. Most of the discos in Tbilisi opens around midnight and hosts events with local and international DJs over the weekend, with great emphasis on quality electronic music. There are also many bars that host live music with free admission.
You can visit Bassiani, Khidi club, Mtkvarze, Cafe Gallery, Egoist Club, Safe club, El centro, Drama bar, Fabrika, Tivi, Space hall, candy and many other places.

What advice would you give future students heading to Tbilisi?

Before arriving in Georgia you should learn some Georgian words. The English language is quite widespread in the central cities of the country, including Tbilisi, Batumi, and Kutaisi. However, if you are planning to travel across the country or in the remote areas, it’s a good idea to master some of the basic phrases in Georgian. A guest in Georiga is considered a gift from God, therefore a host family will make certain you feel comfortable at their house. Be sure to bring some kind of gift to any house at which you stay.As said above, Georgians will do their best to treat you like royalty in their home. This includes a constant reminder to eat and try every dish on the table. Males will be expected to drink a whole glass of wine at once for every toast the host is making at the dinner table. However, if you are not a big drinker, you can take a sip instead. While you can pay with your credit card in the major cities, you’ll want to carry a bit of cash with you always. This is especially useful while traveling across the country; most of the guesthouses and restaurants in smaller towns won’t accept any cards.Wi-Fi coverage is pretty much everywhere, unless you travel to a very remote area, where even cell phone networks barely work. All of the cafes, bars, and restaurants, as well as accommodation venues, have free Wi-Fi. All you’ll need to do is to ask for a password.