New Year in Tbilisi: Christmas Market and Hidden Gems Tour

Tbilisi’s holiday season is best experienced on foot, and this 3.5-kilometer route links the city’s main New Year displays with food, old buildings, and market stalls. You begin at Liberty Square, pass through Orbeliani’s Christmas bazaar, and finish beneath the lights of Rustaveli Avenue.

I like the mix of festive sights and everyday Georgian food, especially the stop at Bazari Orbeliani. I also like the small group limit of 10 people, which makes it easier to hear an English-speaking guide without a voice amplifier. The main drawback is the weather: three hours outside can feel long in cold rain or snow, and the tour offers little shelter.

At a glance

• Liberty Square begins the walk: See St George’s Column dressed for New Year and get your bearings in central Tbilisi.
• Orbeliani Square brings the holiday market: Browse kiosks with mulled wine, handmade gifts, snacks, and possible live music.
• Bazari Orbeliani adds a food stop: Find Georgian dishes, wines, lemonades, spices, crafts, and local products in a former Soviet-era market.
• Rustaveli Avenue supplies the grand finale: Walk beneath Christmas lights and see the main New Year’s tree near Parliament.
• The route is compact but fully outdoors: Allow about three hours for 3.5 km of walking, with frequent stops.
• The $39 price includes snacks: You still need money for personal purchases, drinks, gifts, and extra food.

Why this Tbilisi holiday walk works

This tour is built around a simple idea: see Tbilisi at its most decorated, but do it through places that still feel like part of daily city life. You are not only stopping for a tree and a photo. You are also moving through a food hall, a historic district, and a major avenue where people gather for the New Year.

That matters in Tbilisi. Holiday displays can look much the same in any capital, but the local food and architecture give this walk its character. At Orbeliani Square, the market setting brings together seasonal treats and 19th-century buildings. At Bazari Orbeliani, the focus shifts from Christmas stalls to Georgian flavors and shopping.

The tour costs $39 per person and lasts about three hours. At that price, I see the value mainly in the guide and the route rather than in admission fees, since all four stops are free to enter. You are paying for a planned walk, English commentary, snacks, and the ease of having someone connect the sites for you.

If you already know central Tbilisi well, you may prefer to visit these places on your own. But if this is your first stay, the tour gives you a clear route during a busy season and helps you fit several central sights into one outing.

Starting at Liberty Square and St George’s Column

The meeting point is BurberryFreedom Square on Shalva Dadiani Street in the Mtawminda area. Arrive early. The maximum waiting time is 10 minutes, and a late arrival means you will need to make a new booking.

Liberty Square is an easy place to recognize once you are there. Its St George’s Column becomes part of the holiday scene, framed by seasonal lights and decorations. The stop lasts about 15 minutes, so expect a short introduction, photographs, and a look at the surrounding city center rather than a long historical talk.

I like this as a starting point because it gives you a landmark before the walk becomes more detailed. The square is central and visually open, which helps you settle in, meet the guide, and understand the general direction of the route.

Bring a warm coat, gloves, and shoes with a firm grip. The tour is outdoors, and winter weather in Tbilisi may include rain or snow. A small bottle of water is also useful, even though the route includes food and drink opportunities.

Orbeliani Square’s Christmas bazaar

The longest stop is Orbeliani Square, where you spend about 50 minutes. During the holiday season, this is the main Christmas bazaar on the route, with small kiosks selling hot mulled wine, handmade gifts, and local snacks.

This is the point where the walk feels most like a seasonal event. You can browse rather than simply pass through, and you might catch live music while looking around. The nearby President’s Palace receives holiday decoration as well, adding a formal backdrop to the market.

I especially like the mix of market stalls and 19th-century architecture here. The surrounding Orbeliani district reflects Tbilisi’s European influence, so the setting gives you more than a row of temporary kiosks. You get a sense of how the city’s older streets frame a modern holiday celebration.

The market is also the place to plan your personal spending. Snacks are included with the tour, but handmade gifts, mulled wine, and extra food are not. Carry some Georgian lari in cash, as suggested for incidental expenses. The tour details do not specify which vendors accept cards.

Do not expect a huge Christmas market on the scale of a major Central European capital. The appeal here is the setting and the local flavor. You are seeing Tbilisi’s version of a holiday market, with Georgian food and neighborhood architecture rather than a vast commercial fair.

Bazari Orbeliani for Georgian food

The next stop, about 45 minutes, changes the mood. Bazari Orbeliani began as a Soviet-era bazaar and now operates as Tbilisi’s largest food mall. It is a useful place to learn about Georgian food because several kinds of eating and shopping happen under one roof.

You may find fast food, local delicacies, Georgian wine, lemonades, spices, handmade crafts, and specialty products. The stop is not limited to a quick snack. You have time to look at the food counters, consider local ingredients, and see how Georgian flavors are presented in a modern market setting.

For me, this is the most useful stop for anyone who wants more than holiday photographs. A Christmas market can be pleasant, but Bazari gives you a better sense of what to eat and buy during the rest of your stay. If you are unsure about Georgian dishes, the guide can help explain what you are seeing, though the tour does not promise a particular tasting menu.

The included snacks are a nice touch, but you should not treat them as a full meal. The exact snack selection is not specified, and personal food purchases are your responsibility. Bring cash if you want to try additional dishes, buy spices, or take home a bottle of Georgian wine.

The food hall may also be the liveliest indoor portion of the route. That can be welcome on a cold day, but it is not a quiet tasting session. You are visiting a working food venue, so expect people, movement, and several choices competing for your attention.

Rustaveli Avenue under New Year lights

The final stop lasts about 35 minutes on Rustaveli Avenue, Tbilisi’s main street. During the holiday season, its historic facades are lit with Christmas decorations, turning the avenue into the most polished visual section of the walk.

Near the Parliament building, you will see the main New Year’s tree. Georgia’s Santa Claus, known as Tovlis Papa, is also part of the seasonal display. This gives the tour a clear finish: Liberty Square starts with a decorated monument, while Rustaveli ends with the city’s biggest holiday symbols.

Allow time for photographs here. The lights and building facades create the strongest backdrop of the four stops, and the avenue gives you a sense of Tbilisi’s public holiday mood. The end point is at Rustaveli, 2 Merab Kostava Street.

One practical point matters here: the tour finishes in a busy central area, not back at the starting point. That is convenient if you plan to continue along Rustaveli Avenue, but you must arrange your own return to your hotel. Public transportation is nearby, and you can ask the guide for help with your onward plans.

The walking pace, group size, and guide

The route covers about 3.5 km, or 2.2 miles, with stops. That is manageable for most people, but the total outing lasts three hours because the guide pauses at each location. You will be standing and walking on city streets, so this is not a good choice if you need a seated sightseeing format.

The group is capped at 10 people. That is a useful limit for a walking tour in busy market areas. You can stay close to the guide, ask questions, and hear the commentary more easily than you might in a large coach group.

The tour is offered in English, and the guide does not use a voice amplifier. In a small group, that should be less of an issue, but you still need to stay near the guide in crowded areas or when street noise rises.

Oksana was specifically praised for being patient, cheerful, and careful about guest safety. During one visit, protests were taking place in Tbilisi, and she stayed with the group until everyone had caught a taxi back to the hotel. That detail is worth noting because it shows the practical value a good guide can bring when city conditions change. Guide assignments can vary, so Oksana may not lead every departure.

Weather, clothing, and practical planning

Winter is the main variable. The route can be cold, and rain or snow is possible. Wear layers, choose comfortable waterproof shoes, and keep your hands free for walking, photos, and market purchases.

A small bottle of water is recommended. You should also carry some cash for personal expenses, since the tour includes snacks but not extra food, drinks, gifts, or shopping.

Service animals are allowed, and the activity is near public transportation. Most people can take part, but the route still involves outdoor walking and standing. If you want more control over the pace or need a flexible schedule, a private tour is available as an alternative.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund. Keep the 10-minute waiting rule in mind when planning your arrival.

Who should book this tour?

I would recommend it to a first-time Tbilisi visitor staying in the city center during the Christmas or New Year period. It combines the main seasonal displays with food and architecture, so you get a useful introduction rather than a string of unrelated photo stops.

It also suits solo visitors and couples who want a small group without paying private-tour prices. Families may enjoy the lights, Tovlis Papa, snacks, and short stops, though cold weather and the 3.5 km route may be tiring for very young children.

You may want to skip it if you dislike shopping areas, prefer a slow indoor meal, or are visiting outside the holiday season. The tour depends heavily on New Year decorations and market activity. It is also less suitable for anyone who wants extensive museum visits or formal historical lectures.

Should you book the Tbilisi New Year walk?

Book it if you want a compact, English-language introduction to Tbilisi’s holiday center, with a food market and seasonal lights included. The strongest reasons are the small group, the well-planned route, and the chance to see local Georgian food rather than only decorated squares.

The $39 price is fair if you value a guide and included snacks. It is less compelling if you only want to photograph the lights, since all four stops are free and easy to reach by yourself. Check the weather before you go, arrive at the Shalva Dadiani Street meeting point early, and bring cash for the things you will almost certainly want to taste or buy.

FAQ

How long does the New Year in Tbilisi tour last?

The tour lasts approximately three hours.

How far do you walk?

The route covers about 3.5 km, or 2.2 miles, with stops along the way.

Where does the tour start?

It starts at BurberryFreedom Square on Shalva Dadiani Street, Mtawminda 0105, Georgia.

Where does the tour end?

It ends at Rustaveli, 2 Merab Kostava Street, Tbilisi, Georgia.

What language is the tour offered in?

The tour is offered in English. The guide does not use a voice amplifier.

What is included in the price?

Snacks are included. Personal expenses, including extra food, drinks, gifts, and shopping, are not included.

How large is the group?

The activity has a maximum of 10 travelers.

What happens if I arrive late?

The maximum waiting time before the tour starts is 10 minutes. If you arrive later, you will need to make a new booking.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can receive a full refund by canceling at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund.