Day 7: An Exclusive City Tour, Khachapuri Feasts, and the Massive "Georgian Stonehenge"

Saturday was our first official weekend day, so we decided to fully lean into the tourist experience. Instead of just wandering around blindly, we booked an exclusive private city tour on Airbnb Experiences led by a local guide named Atrin.

If you are coming to Tbilisi as an exchange student, taking a guided tour during your first weekend is a massive cheat code. It helps you connect the dots of the city layout and gives you all the history you wouldn't find on your own.

Here is what our ultimate Saturday itinerary looked like:

1. From Liberty Square to the Holy Trinity

Our tour kicked off right in the heart of the city at Freedom Square. It's a huge central hub with a golden statue of St. George towering over the traffic. From there, we crossed over the river to visit the Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi again. Even though we had seen it briefly the day before with our rector, Atrin was able to walk us through the deeper historical details of the complex.

2. Riding the Cable Car to the Mother of Georgia

Next up, we took a cable car ride high above the Old Town up to the Sololaki ridge. Up there stands the iconic Mother of GeorgiaKlicken zum Öffnen einer Seitenleiste mit weiteren Informationen (Kartlis Deda) statue. She holds a sword in one hand for enemies and a bowl of wine in the other for friends—which perfectly sums up the country's vibe. The panoramic view of the red rooftops below from up there is incredible.

3. The Beginning of an Obsession: Lunch at Machakhela

By lunchtime, we were starving, so Atrin introduced us to a spot that would quickly become our second home: Machakhela on Ovanes Tumaniani Street.

This was our first real dive into the holy grail of Georgian food. We tried the legendary Khachapuri (the famous bread boat overflowing with melted cheese, butter, and a raw egg that you swirl together) and a bunch of different Khinkali (massive soup dumplings packed with meat and spices). It was so unbelievably good that we knew right then and there we would be visiting this place constantly over the next few weeks.

4. Overlooking the Tbilisi Sea and the Giant Pillars

After fueling up on cheese and dumplings, we headed to the northern part of the city to see the Tbilisi sea, a massive reservoir where locals hang out.

Right next to it sits an unbelievable monument called the Chronicles of Georgia. It looks like a futuristic, giant black version of Stonehenge. These massive stone pillars rise out of a hill, heavily carved with images of past kings, heroes, and the life of Christ. It feels incredibly epic and cinematic to walk between them, and almost no tourists seem to know about it.

Pro Student Tip: The Ultimate Lazy Evening

After walking several kilometers across the city, we were completely exhausted. We headed back to the apartment to just chill.

If you are a student moving here, you need to know that food delivery apps in Tbilisi are amazing. Ordering food is incredibly easy, there are endless options to choose from, and it is super affordable. We ordered a massive dinner directly to our door, kicked our feet up, and recapped an amazing first week.