Tbilisi

Where to stay

Most budget travelers end up around Marjanishvili Square or at Fabrika, a converted Soviet sewing factory on Egnate Ninoshvili Street in Chugureti, where several hostels share a courtyard packed with cafes and bars. Old Town, closer to Narikala Fortress and the sulfur baths in Abanotubani, has fewer budget beds and they go faster.

Getting around

• Pick up a rechargeable Metromoney card at any metro station entrance. Rides cost a small flat fare and the card covers city buses too, so you can skip taxis for most trips around the center.
• The Dry Bridge flea market, near the Kura riverbank, runs every day but is fullest on weekends. Vendors sell Soviet medals, old maps, and oil paintings. Prices are negotiable, especially late in the day.
• At the Abanotubani sulfur baths, book a private cabin rather than the shared public pool. A private room runs a reasonable hourly rate and two people can split it, making it cheaper per person than the open baths.

When to go

Hostels are cheapest from December through February. May and September fill up fastest, when temperatures are comfortable and most group tours pass through.