Tourist Traps to Avoid in Tbilisi – A Smart Traveler’s Guide
- Levan Iashvili
- 6 days ago
- 9 min read
Updated: 6 days ago
Planning a trip to Tbilisi? You’re about to visit one of the most vibrant and culturally rich cities in the region. With its winding cobblestone streets, ancient churches, and world-renowned hospitality, Georgia's capital is a treasure waiting to be discovered. However, like any popular tourist destination, there are a few common traps that can catch unsuspecting visitors off guard, turning a dream trip into a frustrating experience. But don't worry! With a little inside knowledge I'm willing to share here, you can easily avoid these issues and enjoy the authentic, wonderful experience Tbilisi has to offer.
1. The Airport Taxi Gamble
Landing in a new city is overwhelming; you're tired, and you just want to get to your hotel as soon as possible. But if you're not well prepared, you might face the consequences. After landing, passing through passport control, and collecting your luggage, you exit into the arrivals hall where you will likely be approached by multiple drivers offering taxi rides. While this may seem convenient, it often leads to overpaying.
The issue is simple: without a prior agreement or a fixed pricing system, the cost of your ride depends entirely on the driver. Even if you make an agreement at the airport, the driver might change their mind about the price midway. Tourists are frequently charged several times more than the standard rate, especially if they are unfamiliar with local prices or currency.
In some cases, drivers may take longer routes or choose routes with heavy traffic to lengthen the trip, increasing the fare. Combined with language barriers, this can create uncomfortable situations that are difficult to resolve.
There is a famous urban legend circulating amongst the locals of Tbilisi: An inexperienced tourist takes a random taxi at the airport. He needs a ride to Batumi, a city located on the Black Sea shore, approximately 380 km and a 5-6 hour drive away from Tbilisi Airport. They agree on a price of 600 GEL for the transfer, and the ride begins. The driver keeps driving and driving, and the tired tourist falls asleep in the back seat—which is very convenient for the driver, in fact. He keeps going around the city for a couple of hours, pulls up to the Tbilisi Sea (an artificial water reservoir for Tbilisi's water supply), takes the 600 GEL from the sleepy tourist, drops him off in the outskirts of the city and says goodbye.
What should you do to avoid this sort of extremely inconvenient situation?
Book in Advance: The easiest way to ensure a fair price and a safe journey is to arrange an airport transfer with your tour provider or hotel before you arrive. You can use our website to book transparent and trusted transfers online. We provide an email confirmation with a receipt.
Use Taxi Apps: If you do not need a designated driver waiting for you at arrivals with a welcome board, and you prefer to spontaneously order a ride, then apps like Bolt are your next best and cheapest taxi ride option. You'll see the price upfront, eliminating any guesswork.
Find the Official Taxi Stand: Look for the airport's own official taxi service called "Airport Taxi." You might also notice promoters wearing black suits and Airport Taxi badges. That's how you book an official taxi ride at the airport. You can pay by card or by cash at the airport stand. These are regulated and generally offer more standardized pricing than random drivers.
Take Public Transport: For the budget-savvy traveler, bus #337 runs from the airport to the city center (Freedom Square) and is incredibly affordable. There are some inconveniences with the public bus, however. It runs infrequently, so you might have to wait a bit outside at the bus station. Also, they only use the main road route, so you'd still have to walk or take another bus to your hotel depending on where it's located.
2. The Deceptive Currency Exchange Booths
The next thing you need after meeting your driver is currency exchange. There are plenty of exchange booths at the airport, as well as in other tourist areas around the city. However, some of them—in fact, most of them at the airport especially—are cheeky, sneaky, greedy con artists. They play with numbers and display deceptive rates, hoping unsuspecting clients won't notice or, frankly, do not care.
Rates are displayed in a way that appears attractive at first glance, but the numbers are slightly rearranged or formatted to confuse quick readers. This small detail can result in you receiving significantly less money than expected. For example, instead of the current 2.69 GEL for 1 USD, the rate could be displayed as 2.269 GEL per USD. For travelers unfamiliar with the Georgian Lari, this can be difficult to detect in the moment. That is why it is always worth taking a few extra seconds to double-check the numbers before choosing the booth.
What's the solution?
Reliable options include established providers like IntelExpress, as well as major banks such as TBC Bank and Bank of Georgia that are all represented at the arrivals hall of Tbilisi international Airport. These institutions follow clear standards and remove the uncertainty from the process.
3. The Overpriced Tourist SIM Card
We live in a digital era, and staying connected to family and friends is more important than ever when traveling. For this, you need a SIM card with internet access, and quickly. That's why, at the airport, SIM cards are marketed as convenient “tourist packages,” but the convenience often comes at a high cost.
Prices at the airport can be two or even three times higher than what you would pay in the city. Even official resellers increase prices due to the location, while third-party sellers may inflate them further or sell you a worse internet, calls, and SMS package for the same price. In reality, these or better packages are easily available at the telecom providers' offices in the city for much less. And who even needs internal calls or SMS these days, when all digital communications happen through internet-dependent apps...
The Solution:
Ask Your Tour Provider: A great tour company can often get you a local SIM card with a generous data plan for a very reasonable price (e.g., a week of unlimited internet can be surprisingly cheap).
Visit a City Branch: Wait until you get into the city and visit an official office of a major telecom provider like Magti, Silknet, or Cellfie. You'll find their standard, much cheaper packages there.
And if you desperately need internet access at the airport, use the free public Wi-Fi or ask your driver to share their mobile hotspot. Most locals nowadays purchase unlimited mobile data packages, so it doesn't cost them a dime to share.
4. The "Refreshing" but Costly Fresh Juice
When walking through the Old City of Tbilisi or the ancient city of Mtskheta on a hot summer day, you and the kids might get tired and overheated. When you want to drink something cold and refreshing, the sight of vibrant, fresh-squeezed pomegranate or orange juice is incredibly tempting. Street vendors understand this perfectly. They position themselves strategically, knowing you're thirsty and perhaps unfamiliar with the local currency, the Georgian Lari (GEL). They rely on timing, location, and convenience, often charging significantly higher prices than expected for a small portion. Tourists frequently end up paying 10 to 30 GEL for a 150–300ml cup of juice. While it may not seem like a major expense at first, it is far above the standard price for the same product.
The Smart Solution:
Walk a few extra steps and pop into a local café. You'll likely get the same (or a larger) glass of juice for a fraction of the price. Plus, the fruit will have been refrigerated instead of sitting in the sun, and you'll have access to their clean facilities.
5. Animal Photo Traps
In busy tourist areas of Tbilisi, Mtskheta, Gudauri, or Batumi, you may encounter individuals just standing there, hanging out with exotic pets. These animals—parrots, falcons, monkeys, and even peacocks, are not even native to Georgia. The owners casually offer you to pet the animal, and the next thing you know, you're holding a monkey while queuing in line for the cable cars to Narikala Fortress and the Mother of Georgia statue.
These animal owners are often very forward, targeting interested individuals or parents with kids. The moment you snap a picture with your own phone, they will demand a high payment, often 20 to 50 GEL. They don’t even provide a proper service, such as printing the photo or taking it on a professional DSLR to send to you later. It is an ambush, not a service. Because the moment feels spontaneous and friendly, many travelers feel pressured to pay, even if they were not interested in the first place.
What's the solution?
Avoid these individuals completely. If you see them, simply walk around them. Politely but firmly refuse any offers to touch or hold the animals. Unless you are fully prepared to pay a high price for a photo taken on your own phone, it is best to stay away.
6. The Aggressive Street Musicians
Street music is a timeless part of Tbilisi's charm. However, be aware of a specific group of musicians often found near the historic Abanotubani sulfur baths. These musicians will often try to identify your nationality, either by asking you directly or guessing. And before you know it, they’re playing a folk song from your home country. This creates an immediate emotional connection and encourages you to stop and engage. You take a couple of photos and a video of the interaction to post it to your Instagram Stories.
The situation changes once the music stops. A simple photo or video can quickly turn into a demand for payment, sometimes as high as 50 to 100 GEL. If you refuse, the interaction may become uncomfortable. They may demand that you delete the recording in front of their eyes and might even scold you.
The Smart Solution:
Do not engage. Avoid eye contact, don't smile at them, and most importantly, do not take out your phone or camera. Admire the music from a distance if you wish, but avoid any interaction that could be interpreted as an invitation for payment.
7. The "Commission Stop" Tour Guides and drivers
When booking tours or hiring a private Guide/driver, the cheapest option can sometimes cost you more in the long run. If the price seems almost unbelievable, then congratulations, you've just found the service providers, who will still make money off of you no matter what. Common practice shows that these low-cost operators, as well as, cheap independent tour guides or drivers, often have deals with specific shops and restaurants along the tourist routes.
Your driver may make unplanned stops at honey shops, roadside attractions, or churchkhela stalls. The experience feels welcoming; you'll be treated with overwhelming hospitality and given lots of "free" samples. While spending money at these stops is totally voluntary, you still feel a subtle pressure to buy something.
What drives me mad the most is the fact that no one from the tour group have asked to stop. You might have mentioned that you'd like an authentic product for your family—the real deal, like healthy natural honey or real homemade churchkhela. You shouldn't be rushed to sketchy, roadside tourist shops; rather, you should be offered true solutions for your requests. What many travelers do not realize is that these stops are commission-based, and part of your purchase goes back to the person who brought you there in the first place.
Over time, this shifts the focus of your trip away from authentic exploration toward unnecessary shopping. While commission systems are common practice in businesses around the globe, they shouldn't be forced upon you. You deserve better.
The Smart Solution:
Invest in Quality: Remember that fuel, vehicle maintenance, and a professional guide's time have real costs. If a tour price seems too good to be true, they are likely making up the difference in alternative ways.
Choose Reputable Operators: Select well-reviewed tour companies and guides. Honest operators focus on providing genuine experiences and creating lasting memories, not on earning cheap commissions. Don't let a desire to save a few Lari spoil your trip.
Final Advice: Travel Smart in Tbilisi
Tbilisi is a safe and welcoming destination, and most interactions you’ll have will be positive. Still, understanding these common tourist traps in Tbilisi allows you to navigate the city more confidently.
A little awareness goes a long way. It helps you avoid overpaying, stay in control of your experience, and focus on what truly matters - discovering the culture, landscapes, and people that make authentic Georgia unforgettable. What tourist traps have you come across when traveling to Georgia? Did we miss any of them? Please comment below, and share this blog to your friends who are planning to travel to Georgia. For travel consultation and fully customized itinerary design, you can book one of our local travel experts. We create personalized travel plans tailored to your interests, preferences, and travel style—whether you’re traveling solo, with family, or with friends.
For a fraction of the cost of a full tour, you’ll receive a detailed, well-structured itinerary that gives you complete confidence in where you’re going, what you’re doing, and how to make the most of your time in Georgia.
Travel smarter, avoid common mistakes, and experience the country with clarity and ease.
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