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Tbilisi

Tbilisi (Georgian: თბილისი, Russian: Тифлис Tiflis), is the capital city of the country of Georgia, lying on the banks of the Mtkvari River. The metropolitan area covers 726 km² (280 mi²) and has a population of approximately 1.5 million (2022).

Understand
Tbilisi (formerly called 'Tiflis' after its Russian name) lies in the centre of eastern Georgia, in the foothills of the Trialeti mountain range. According to Georgian legends, it was founded in the 5th century by King Vakhtang Gorgasali who, while hunting, shot a pheasant which fell into a warm spring and was either boiled or healed. Either way, the king was inspired to found a city on the site, and the name of the city derives from the Georgian word tbili meaning "warm". Although the city has been destroyed and rebuilt 29 times, the layout of the Old Town is largely intact with narrow alleys and big crooked houses built around courtyards.

Climate
Tbilisi experiences relatively cold winters and hot summers. Because the city is bounded on most sides by mountain ranges, the close proximity to large bodies of water (Black and Caspian Seas) and the fact that the Greater Caucasus Mountain Range (further to the north) blocks the intrusion of cold air masses from Russia, Tbilisi has a relatively mild micro-climate compared to other cities that possess a similar continental climate along the same latitudes. The average annual temperature in Tbilisi is 12.7 °C (54.9 °F). January is the coldest month with an average temperature of 0.9 °C (33.6 °F). July is the hottest month with an average temperature of 24.4 °C (75.9 °F). The absolute minimum recorded temperature is −24 °C (−11 °F) and the absolute maximum is 40 °C (104 °F). Average annual precipitation is 568 mm (22.4 in). May and June are the wettest months (averaging 84 mm (3.3 in) of precipitation each) while January is the driest (averaging 20 mm (0.8 in) of precipitation). Snow falls on average 15–25 days per year. The surrounding mountains often trap the clouds within and around the city, mainly during the Spring and Autumn months, resulting in prolonged rainy and/or cloudy weather. Northwesterly winds dominate in most parts of Tbilisi throughout the year. Southeasterly winds are common as well.

Visitor information

 * [Tbilisi municipal government website
 * [Tbilisi municipal government website

By plane

See this section for the very limited domestic flights to the city.

International flights go to Tbilisi regularly from Aktau, Almaty, Amsterdam, Antalya, Athens, Baku, Doha, Donetsk, Dnipro, Dubai, Istanbul IST & SAW, Kazan, Kharkiv, Kyiv KBP, London LGW, Minsk, Moscow DME & ZIA, Munich, Novosibirsk, Odesa, Paris CDG, Prague, Riga, Rome, Rostov-on-Don, Sochi, St Petersburg, Tallinn, Tel Aviv, Vienna, Vilnius, Warsaw, Yekaterinburg and Yerevan. There are summer seasonal flights to the Med and Red Sea resorts.

You may also want to consider arriving in the Kutaisi Airport. Flight prices from Asia and Europe can be as low as €20-30. The low fare routes are (as of May 2021) from Vienna, Larnaca, Prague, Tallin, Berlin, Dortmund, Memmingen, Athens, Thessaloniki, Budapest, Milan, Rome, Riga, Vilnius, Gdansk, Katowice, Kraków, Poznan, Warsaw, Wroclaw and Abu Dhabi. From Kutaisi to Tbilisi you go 4 hours in a marshrutka for. Or you can take the train.

Getting there and away:

 * By bus – Bus 337 leaves from the right corner of the arrival area. From 06:59 to 22:59 every 20-30 min. The night bus between 23:00–06:30 is not running (as of June 2022). Via Avlabari, Freedom Square, Rustaveli, Republic Square and Tamar Bridge to the main train station; allow 50 min. The fare is 1 lari with Metromoney Card, or 1.50 lari with credit card (contactless payment required). You will need either, coins are not accepted anymore. Also see: Tbilisi Transport Company
 * Don't count on the last or last two airport buses to run to the airport. Nothing is overly reliable in Georgia, especially when taxi drivers can earn an extra lari. In May 2023, the last airport bus departed Tbilisi's main railroad station at 23:50.

 * By taxi – Between the airport and the city it costs 20–30 lari. Standard rates are listed on a board by the taxi rank as you exit the airport, on the right hand side. As of early 2019, the tourist information in the airport quotes 30–50 lari, but Yandex.Taxi, Cabify and Bolt can already be had for 20 lari. Taxi drivers (even of the "official" taxis) outside might insist that the official rate is 80 lari. They are lying.
 * Beware: Scammer taxi drivers have proliferated at Tbilisi Airport in the past several years and will charge several times the rate. They are aggressive and will immediately accost you upon leaving the baggage claim with greetings like: "Hello, my friend." Be particularly wary of one tall and thin scammer, who will try to be very friendly yet can be menacing if you refuse. Try also to avoid withdrawing money from the ATMs at the airport as many of the scammer drivers that accost passengers try to look over your shoulder to see how much you are withdrawing.

 * By thumb – Getting around in Georgia by thumb is easy, also from the airport. Try along the road to the highway or at the highway north from the airport, especially in case you want to explore Kakheti in the east.

Domestic trains
Trains run twice daily between Tbilisi and Batumi, departing each city around 07:30 and 17:30 and taking 5 hr. These trains also connect to Yerevan (Armenia).

Trains also run from Gori, Borjomi, Kutaisi I + II, Marneuli, Poti and Zugdidi.

International trains

 * Yerevan – There is a train servicing Tbilisi to Yerevan. All of the information which follows this sentence may be outdated.
 * An overnight train runs between Tbilisi and Yerevan in Armenia. From Oct to mid-June this departs from Tbilisi (as Train 371) at 20:20 on odd dates of the month, reaching the border at 22:00 and Yerevan 06:55 next morning. It departs from Yerevan (as Train 372) at 21:30 on even dates, reaching the border at 04:20 and Tbilisi at 07:50. The 31st/1st of the month may be skipped to maintain the alternation. Border procedures either side take 90 min. In summer these trains may be booked out for days ahead, so buy your ticket as soon as possible - you can do so online. The coaches are standard ex-Soviet behemoths, but with fairly comfortable sleeping compartments. No catering, so bring your own food, water, vodka etc.
 * The one way fare is 54.50/61.25 lari (upper/lower bed) in 3rd class, and about 90 lari in a 2nd class sleeper berth. 3rd class can be sticky and uncomfortable if it is fully booked—check ahead.
 * From mid-June through Sept this train runs daily from Batumi on the Black Sea coast. As Train 201, it departs Batumi 15:35 and Tbilisi 22:15, reaching Yerevan at 07:25. As Train 202, it departs Yerevan 15:30 and Tbilisi 00:45, reaching Batumi at 07:10. Other domestic trains link Tbilisi and Batumi. Batumi is close to the Sarpi/Hopa border crossing between Georgia and Turkey, which is the main overland route into this region.

 * Baku – Trains have not run between the Azerbaijani capital and Tbilisi since COVID-19. There are now no trains that cross the border between these two states.

 * Ankara – Passenger rail service between Baku and Turkey's capital city via Tbilisi has not yet started operating, and there seems to be no set timeline on when it is due to begin.

By bus or marshrutka
There are three main bus stations in Tbilisi, and several smaller ones. In Georgian, bus station is ავტოსადგური or ავტოვაგზალი. Most often than not, large bus stations are located adjacent to big train stations (called sadguri სადგური or vagzali ვაგზალი). To transfer between Didube and Ortachala, use marshrutka 150 or metro.

 * Kutaisi – 07:00-19:00 hourly. 3.5–4 hr. 10 lari.
 * Stepantsminda (Kazbegi) – Connections to Tbilisi at 07:00, 08:00, 09:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:30, 14:00, 15:30, 17:00 and 18:00. 3 hr, 10-15 lari.
 * Gori – Hourly. 1.5 hr. 3 lari
 * Borjomi – Every 2 hr. 3 hr. 8 lari.
 * Mestia – At 05:00 and 07:00 from Tbilisi, and probably also very early from Mestia. 10-12 hr. 30 lari.
 * Turkey – Metro Turizm and Lüks Karadeniz run two buses a day each from Ankara and one from Istanbul, and occasionally all the way from Athens and Thessaloniki. Prices are around 100 lari or 160 TL.
 * Turkey – Metro Turizm and Lüks Karadeniz run two buses a day each from Ankara and one from Istanbul, and occasionally all the way from Athens and Thessaloniki. Prices are around 100 lari or 160 TL.

 * Yerevan (Armenia) via Vanadzor (08:00, 6 hr, 30 lari): change there for Sevan and Ijevan. Later marshrutkas start when full, but you are probably better off going from Avlabari bus station (see above). Alternatively, if you are 3-4 people, take a taxi—Alaverdi is just 110 lari with Bolt from Tbilisi. From Yerevan marshrutkas leave the Central/Kilikia bus station at 08:30 for 6,500 dram.
 * Vanadzor and Sevan (Armenia) – Hourly 07:00–12:00.
 * Ijevan (Armenia) – At least one marshrutka from Ijevan at 09:30 (1,000 dram), with necessary interchange at the border.
 * Ganja (Azerbaijan) – Sprinter, from Tbilisi at 07:00, 15 lari, from Ganja at 09:00, 8 manat, 3-4 hr.
 * Baku – Buses take 12 hr.
 * Qax (Qakh) (Azerbaijan, via Lagodekhi border, 5-6 hr) – marshrutka from Qax (8 manat): 08:30, 10:30, 13:30; marshrutka to Qax (10 lari, pay straight at kassa, otherwise driver will want to take 12 lari from you): 08:40, ~11:00, ~13:00.
 * Zaqatala (Azerbaijan, via Lagodekhi border, 5-6 hr) – marshrutka to Zaqatala, ~09:00 (10 lari). At least one per day from Zaqatala, or if you reserve ahead you might be able to board (along the way) the one that starts in Qax. From Tbilisi, you should be able to also use the Qax one.
 * Tehran (bus 107 lari)
 * Istanbul apparently one daily bus in the morning
 * Istanbul apparently one daily bus in the morning

 * Sighnaghi – Every odd hour from 07:00; 7 lari, 1½ hr.
 * Telavi – A few per day, last one 17:00 from Telavi. To Telavi at 09:00 & 10:00 and later. Up to 2½ hr, 10 lari, some go by near Sighnaghi.
 * Itinerary from Moscow (200 lari), Orenburg (270 lari), Samara and Volgograd (175 lari), Saratov (200 lari), Voronezh (185 lari), Rostov-on-Don, Elista and Yelets and Nalchik (70 lari), Kropotkin, Minvody, Pyatigorsk, Vladikavkaz (55-60 lari) go every day
 * Itinerary from Moscow (200 lari), Orenburg (270 lari), Samara and Volgograd (175 lari), Saratov (200 lari), Voronezh (185 lari), Rostov-on-Don, Elista and Yelets and Nalchik (70 lari), Kropotkin, Minvody, Pyatigorsk, Vladikavkaz (55-60 lari) go every day

By thumb
Getting into Tbilisi through hitch-hiking is mostly not a problem, because most people go into the centre. And even a little further away, you can always catch a cheap (yellow) bus the last metres.

Getting out though can be challenging, as you need to find a place where the traffic goes to where you want. It is best to take a marshrutka or regular bus a few kilometres out of the city and start from there. Also, check the Hitchwiki for detailed instructions.

By public transport
The primary transport inside and outside the Tbilisi city are metro, buses and marshrutkaa (converted transport vans aka minibuses aka microbuses). Check the Tbilisi Transport Company website for live overview and more information on buses. Otherwise, to find the correct bus route, GoogleMaps has comprehensive bus network information with numbers and routes. If you click on one of the numerous bus stops around the city or next to you, you will get displayed the bus lines, their routes and frequency.

There is the Metromoney (IC) card, which must be used for most of Tbilisi's public transport options and tapped when entering any vehicle or station. Visa is also possible on some buses, but 50% extra.

The Metromoney card gives discounts when transferring between metro, buses and minibuses, specifically the first ride is 1 lari (for either metro, buses or marshrutka) and all subsequent rides are free within the next 1½ hr. Several people can use one card together, however, only the first person can profit from the free transfer.

You can buy the card at any metro station, with an one-time "non-refundable" deposit of 2 lari. (It can be refunded though if you have the original receipt and register the card onto your name.) The card can be topped up with any amount in metro stations or at Bank of Georgia pay-booths around the city.

Buses and metro station turnstiles will also accept contactless cards, though your bank may charge you for this service.

By metro
Tbilisi has a two-line metro system, which operates from 06:00–24:00. However, sometimes the last metros leave at around 23:00 from either end.

All signs inside the metro are in Georgian and English, but station name signs are not always visible from the train. Station names are also announced in two languages. There are rarely system maps on the train cars themselves. You will be lucky to find English speakers riding the Metro. You will however have better luck with Russian, which older people will speak. Take a bilingual map with you if you are not proficient with the local alphabet/pronunciation.

Some rebuilt metro cars have USB charging ports near the doors, so that passengers can charge their phone. Cell coverage exists in most stations.

By bus
City buses are green and blue, and come in various sizes. The bus number and a description of the route are usually listed on signs in the bus windows, but only in Georgian. The city has installed electronic arrival boards, with reasonably accurate estimated arrival times, at bus stops on major roads. The signs alternate between English and Georgian and display the bus number, minutes to arrival and destination.

Board through any door you like, usually the double doors in the middle are easiest.

By marshrutka
Marshrutkas are vans which service the side streets of the city. They are independently owned. Like buses, the route is posted in the front window (often only in Georgian), but marshrutkas use a different route numbering system, and the route descriptions may be more general than the buses, e.g. "Vake" rather than a specific street in the Vake area.

Shout "Stop" or "Gaacheret" when you want to get off, and hand the driver your fare on the way out.

On foot
Depending on where you are, certain parts of the city are conveniently walkable, but others cater mostly to motorists. Pedestrians have to contend with significant neglect of the pavements. As far as motorists are concerned pedestrians are allowed to use zebra crossings, but when doing so they do not have priority over vehicular traffic. However, pedestrians do have the advantage of being able to cross the pedestrian only peace bridge and travel on the cable car and funiculars.

By taxi
Taxis in Tbilisi are also cheap, especially through Bolt or Yandex.Taxi. They are typically privately owned vehicles, and are not metered. If you're going anywhere other than the nearest metro station, major hotels, or tourist destinations, or if you don't speak Georgian or Russian, it's likely that your driver will stop multiple times and ask pedestrians for directions. Even then, he may not know how to get to your destination. If the driver has difficulty finding your destination, he will charge you for his trouble. Always negotiate a price beforehand, unless it is a metered taxi. Prices start at 2 lari for very short trips. A trip in the center of town should rarely cost more than 3–5 lari, and anywhere in the city should never cost more than 15 lari. The taxi drivers can be persistent when trying to get customers.

Consider making an account with Bolt, MAXIM or Yandex.Taxi. They are quite cheap and especially going with several people more convenient. They can also help when the metro is closed and you are stuck—mostly less than 1 lari per km. If you are 3-4 people taxi is an inexpensive alternative to even marshrutkas.

By car
End on parking is widespread, but the ubiquitous informal parking attendants will help you reverse out into the traffic. It is all part of the service they offer in return for the usual tip.

By bicycle
Cycling was rare in the past, but is becoming more widespread, with dedicated bike-paths in some parts of town, including Vake and Saburtalo. In Vake, during rush hour cycling likely is the fastest mode of transport. Cycling on pavements is tolerated, especially by children, as long as done with respect to pedestrians. Experienced cyclists recommend getting thoroughly familiar with traffic and routes before venturing out. (There have been some accidents and fatalities.) The local mobility rental Qari offers rental bikes, requires a local app and pre-payment. A community sourced Safe Cycling map shows some routes that cyclists consider reasonably safe.

By scooter
A number of international scooter services operate, including Bolt, Qari, and Bird (financial issues as of Sept 2023).

Museums

 * The Georgian National Museum is the umbrella organisation for a dozen museums and other sites in Tbilisi and elsewhere, with practical info in English. Usually they charge 7 lari for an adult, and are closed Mondays.

Buildings

Nearby (50-150 km) popular sights that allow for a day trip from Tbilisi are Mtskheta, Uplistsikhe, David Gareja Monastery Complex, Dmanisi archaeological site, Sighnaghi and Rustavi with its Sioni Church and the Auto Trade Center, the biggest market for used cars in the Caucasus.

Do

 * Watch football (soccer) at FC Dinamo Tbilisi, who play in Erovnuli Liga, the top tier of Georgian football. Their home ground is Dinamo Arena, capacity 54,500, east of the river near the main railway station. The soccer season in Georgia runs Feb to Nov with a winter break.
 * Watch football (soccer) at FC Dinamo Tbilisi, who play in Erovnuli Liga, the top tier of Georgian football. Their home ground is Dinamo Arena, capacity 54,500, east of the river near the main railway station. The soccer season in Georgia runs Feb to Nov with a winter break.
 * Watch football (soccer) at FC Dinamo Tbilisi, who play in Erovnuli Liga, the top tier of Georgian football. Their home ground is Dinamo Arena, capacity 54,500, east of the river near the main railway station. The soccer season in Georgia runs Feb to Nov with a winter break.
 * Watch football (soccer) at FC Dinamo Tbilisi, who play in Erovnuli Liga, the top tier of Georgian football. Their home ground is Dinamo Arena, capacity 54,500, east of the river near the main railway station. The soccer season in Georgia runs Feb to Nov with a winter break.
 * Watch football (soccer) at FC Dinamo Tbilisi, who play in Erovnuli Liga, the top tier of Georgian football. Their home ground is Dinamo Arena, capacity 54,500, east of the river near the main railway station. The soccer season in Georgia runs Feb to Nov with a winter break.
 * Watch football (soccer) at FC Dinamo Tbilisi, who play in Erovnuli Liga, the top tier of Georgian football. Their home ground is Dinamo Arena, capacity 54,500, east of the river near the main railway station. The soccer season in Georgia runs Feb to Nov with a winter break.

Money
Money exchange kiosks generally have a spread of less than 1% between "buy" and "sell" rates for major currencies—excellent value by western standards.

Shopping
Shops and restaurants around Kote Afkhazi Street (i.e. Old Tbilisi) are overpriced tourist-trippy-rippy places, double or more of what you pay elsewhere.

What

 * Antiques & other miscellaneous gifts – in Georgia you will able to find many antiques from Georgia, the Middle East, Mediterranean, Russia and Europe.
 * Gold, silver, precious stones, and other jewellery – Many foreigners visit Georgia to buy jewellery, because of its cheap cost and superior quality, there is a dizzying selection available upstairs in one of the malls N/W of station square metro.
 * Georgian wine – Georgia is the cradle of wine making, and with 521 original varieties of grape you will be sure to find excellent wines.
 * Brandy (locally called 'cognac') – made from Georgian wine.
 * Mineral waters – Borjomi, Sairme, Nabeghlavi mineral waters from Georgian resorts. Georgian sparkling waters all have a much more metallic taste (not unpleasant, more unexpected) than that of those in Western Europe.
 * Chacha – Grape vodka, a Georgian version of grappa. Available in supermarkets or homemade available in local markets for as little as 3 lari. Peach chacha is harder to find but goes down rather more smoothly than the more traditional 'grappa'-type stuff.
 * Churchkhela aka "Georgian snickers" – A traditional sweet made by dipping a string of nuts repeatedly into a grape sauce, a must-try.
 * Tea -- Georgia, especially Guria and Samegrelo, has a small tea production, and at least in luggage, tea makes an easier gift than wine. The Tea Museum (really a store) on Galaktion Tabidze street can explain more about what is on offer. Other stores in tourist areas also offer a small selection of organic teas.

Where
Markets:

2nd hand:

Tbilisi is a great place to get cheap and good quality 2nd-hand cloths. Sure, there is lots of cheap stuff from China all over this city, but considering environment and durability, you are probably better off with the former.

Various:

Budget
Street side stalls selling Georgian fast food are all over the city. Some kind of hot snack will cost 0.70-2.50 lari.

Other
Some outlets of sterile international hamburger "restaurants" exist, also some "freed chicken" imitators in the city, offering the same kind of material Americans consider "food" at prices which are high by local standards.

Drink
One is never far from a corner store opening late selling the bare essentials of life late into the night, which always include booze and bread. Georgia is known as the cradle of wine having produced wine since the neolithic period; and locals are very proud of this. Georgian wine was and still is the best in post-Soviet culture and there are many wine tasting shops in the upmarket areas of the city where wine culture is greatly respected. Try one of the famous wines from Kakheti or the other popular regions.

It is possible to have a great night you may or may not remember for only 10 or 15 lari if you follow students to the cheaper bars where tourists are welcome, but you might be shortchanged a few lari. Nightlife tends to congregate north and northwest of the city centre; do your best to avoid the overpriced drinks in the old town.

Also of note (especially for non-drinkers) is the famous Georgian "Laghidze Waters", sweet drinks based on soda and natural fruit and herb syrups, listed as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Georgia. There is a Laghidze Waters restaurant in Tbilisi selling the genuine article, but Natakhtari is quite similar and sold in corner shops all over.

Cafés
Tbilisi is the one city in Georgia where coffee vending machines 0.50-0.80 lari may be found, though with a huge load of sugar.

Unless you would like to forget you are in Tbilisi and drink in fancy expensive places where only tourists and immigrants may be found, Chardini and its connecting streets should be avoided as the most blatant tourist trap in the country. The best pubs and cafes in Tbilisi are tucked in unlikely looking side streets of the Old City, often underground or sometimes without even a sign to mark their presence. Keep your eyes and ears open.

Clubs
Be wary about scams and tourist traps – see below. Some shady clubs/bars have specialised in forcing tourists to pay unjustified amounts of money for drinks and services, especially strip bars. If it's shiny and classy, be wary.

Budget
Due to the countless budget options, prices have dropped significantly in the city. Check out prices on the usual suspect websites and turn up on site stating the price; hostel owners will happily give you the online rate, so they can skip the fee they pay via such websites.

Stay safe
Tbilisi is very safe after the Rose Revolution. You will be welcomed with the cheerful hospitality that is a hallmark of Georgian culture. The police system was reformed completely and the public's trust in police rose dramatically. The police are usually quick to respond, though usually only Georgian and Russian are spoken.

While walking is generally fine, even for solo women, it makes sense to take a bus or taxi home at night. Use common sense and big-city awareness. Night time at the clubs and bars are generally safe but fights between locals can escalate quickly. The taxi service is safe as long as it's a company taxi like "009" or others. The public bus is also a good, safe option for 1 lari.

 * Police Tel: 112
 * Ambulance tel: 112

Nightlife
Extreme caution should be exercised when frequenting any establishment in the "Shardeni" area, between Kote Apkhazi street and the river, on streets "Chardin", "Bambis Rigi", and "Rkinis Rigi". These bars, clubs, and restaurants are well known for operating expensive scams, charging upwards of US$1,000 for a few drinks and forcing tourists to pay. Although a few establishments in this area have a reasonable reputation, such as "KGB", it is safer and cheaper to completely avoid this area. This is the only area of the city where such caution should be taken.

Taxi drivers
As always, taxi drivers will try to cheat tourists; especially coming from the airport, rigging the meter, misrepresenting the value of the lari or quoting a price in lari then demanding payment in US dollars. Stand your ground and walk away if necessary.

Homeless people and kids
Beggars have become more aggressive in the tourist areas, and especially children may cling to the legs of wealthy-looking tourists or several adults may cling to a tourist whilst pickpocketing them; yell for help and fight back. Unfortunately, the police appears to be in on this and will often turn a blind eye; or encourage you to let the perpetrators go.

Connect
SIM cards can be bought almost anywhere tourists abound (you'll see the signs or will be offered costly at airport), but the most reliable method to obtain the highest quality service is to hike over to the store on Rustaveli Avenue and purchase a SIM card there. As of October 2022, data prices are quite reasonable: 7 lari gets you one week of unlimited data, while 28 lari gets you four weeks unlimited. Magti's provides 4G coverage to all but the most remote areas of Georgia. Be prepared to wait a while at the Magti store, however; bring something to read. And don't forget to bring your passport.

Wifis are available in some newer establishments, but you can not count on availability and good expereince not even everywhere in the center.

Cope
The Government postal service is notorious for being over-priced and unreliable with many thefts, and lost or damaged packages. Use a private postal company for anything important.

Embassies
More details here: https://www.embassypages.com/georgia

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Go next
It is worth mentioning that online prices and in-person prices for trips vary widely as of 2022. You can bargain hard or price shop for tours in the old town (there are several competing companies). The tour guide sales people are mostly students who work on commission and many will drop the price in order to make a sale. Competitive pricing for tours is around 2x Marshrutka prices (per person).

Day trips

 * Mtskheta – The old capital, and nearby is Jvari monastery. Marshrutka from Didube (1 lari), or take a tour (prices range from 30-120 lari per person).
 * Rustavi – For a Soviet immersive experience, to the east. You'll be glad to come back. Unspoiled and 25 km, about half an hour by frequent marshrutkas from metro station "station square" (1.5 lari) yellow marshrutka no. 19.

East
Not far east of Tbilisi is the beginning of the Kakheti region with various sights, including:
 * Telavi – Gateway to the close-by Alaverdi Monastery, Gurjaani (part of the wine route) and the mountain region of Tusheti
 * Sighnaghi – A restored wine town with an extensive wall and close-by the popular Monastery of St. George at Bodbe (aka Bodbe Convent)
 * David Gareja Monastery Complex – A 6th-century cave monastery, though not as impressive as Vardzia

North

 * Gudauri – A popular ski resort about 120 km north
 * Stepantsminda/Kazbegi – A great hiking and mountaineer destination with one of the highest mountains in Europe, Mount Kazbeg, and home to the spectacularly situated Gergeti Trinity Church. And along the way from Tbilisi the beautiful Ananuri Fortress Complex. Competitive day-tour price is 45 lari as of 2022. You can ask to be left there for an overnight stay at no extra cost.

West
All sights are covered under the according region article and its cities, especially Rioni Region, Samtskhe-Javakheti and Northwestern Georgia. Some highlights:
 * Gori – Known for its Stalin cult and the close-by Uplistsikhe, a 3,600-year-old Silk Road cave city that was a major regional centre of Caucasian pagan religion.
 * Borjomi – A resort town popular for its mineral well, the nearby Borjomi (Kharagauli) Nature Reserve, a hiking paradise, and Mtsvane Monastery (aka the Green Monastery).
 * Bakuriani – A ski resort and scenic slow train trip destination from Borjomi.
 * Vardzia – The best cave monastery to visit in Georgia, beyond Uplistsikhe and David Gareja.
 * Mestia/Svaneti region – 10–12 hr away by bus, and the most famous mountain region in Georgia with the famous Svan Towers, glaciers, the authentic village Ushguli, as well as numerous hiking destinations
 * Batumi – About 250 km away by night and day train, plane, or bus marshrutka, a summer and beach city on the Black Sea, also on the way to Turkey.
 * Ozurgeti – A good jumping off point for nearby beaches and mountain resorts. About 200 km via night train, leaves around 21:45, arrives 06:10. There is also a marshutka from Station Square (the train station), which leaves at 16:00 and arrives around 22:00), is a regional centre.

Armenia

 * Alaverdi – About 2 hr from Tbilisi, most transport options run through here from Georgia. It is set in the deep Debed Canyon and dominated by a copper plant, but the actual attraction is the entire length of the canyon, studded with stunning monasteries such as Sanahin, Haghpat, Kobayr, Horomayri, Akhtala and Grigori Bardzrakash. The first two are UNESCO World Heritage sites, and all the monasteries in the gorge are linked by hiking trails.
 * Ijevan – A cute riverside town with a busy market. Also, easily reached by marshrutka from Tbilisi, several a day, and easy to get to Dilijan from here.
 * Dilijan – A town south of Ijevan known as the "Little Switzerland" of Armenia. Set in beautiful forested mountains, with some examples of nicely preserved traditional wooden architecture, and lots of hiking in the Dilijan National Forest.
 * Lake Sevan – The nearby lake (biggest in Armenia comprising 5% of the surface area of the country) is a famous summer destination. Several marshrutkas from or on the way to Yerevan.
 * Yerevan – The capital is a must see, and an excellent base for exploring the country.

Azerbaijan

 * Ganja – First large town when entering Azerbaijan from Tbilisi along the main highway. Popular for its architecture as well as nearby hiking destination, Goygol National Park.
 * Baku – The most eastern point of Azerbaijan. The capital, cosmopolitan and spectacular. Best reached by plane, but also possible by marshrutka.
 * Qax (Qakh) – A popular and remote city near the Caucasus, great for hiking into the Caucasus
 * Zaqatala – Similar to Qax, though a little more touristic

title: Tbilisi


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Táchira

Táchira is a state in the Andes region of southwestern Venezuela that borders with Colombia.

Cities

 * — a leafy, prosperous city in a mountainous valley in the temperate green hills of the Andes bordering Colombia
 * — an important gateway between Venezuela and Colombia
 * — its beautiful natural setting offers the visitor different activities like hiking, camping, mountain climbing, and flora and fauna observation

Understand
Táchira is a land between plains and mountains, border of Venezuela but full of natural wonders. This state is called "land of presidents" for being the home of seven presidents including Cipriano Castro, Juan Vicente Gomez, and Isaías Medina Angarita.

It is populated mainly by groups of Chibcha Timotocuic origin and such as the Machirí, Umuquena and Tariba. The territory was extensively colonized in the 16th century. Táchira comes from a word of Timotocuic origin (chibcha) from the term tachure with which it is identified a purple-colored dyeing plant that has medicinal use, known by the name of tun-túa or sibidigua.

Climate
Its average temperature is between 10 and 25 °C depending on the place.

See
In San Cristóbal there are several places of significant importance for the region, both historically and economically, although not only the tourist center is reserved for its capital also to natural sites such as El Chorro El Indio (Chorro El Indio National Park), Cueva del Bear (Paramillo).

Eat
As in many Andean states of Venezuela, the typical dish of the region is the Andean pisca. Similarly, there are very peculiar dishes of this state, such as El Morcón, El Mute and Ajiaco.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Táchira


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Târgoviște

Târgovişte is a city in Muntenia, the capital of the medieval principality Wallachia between 1396 and 1714. Today it has almost 90.000 inhabitants.

By train
There are four Accelerat type trains from Bucharest (travel time is about one hour and half) and three Personal trains (they make the trip in about two hours). Timetables can be checked on infofer.ro.

By bus
There are very frequent buses from Bucharest (leaving every 15 minutes in rush hours), usually starting from an area near Bucharest North train station. Schedules are available on autogari.ro

Get around
The city has a small public transport network consisting of nine bus lines and four minibus lines. A map of the city is available on the city hall website.

Museums

 * National Police museum
 * History museum
 * Museum of print and books
 * Museum of local writers
 * The house of the painter Gheorghe Petrascu
 * Art museum
 * The house of the painter Vasile Blendea

Go next

 * Bucharest, Piteşti and Ploieşti are nearby, as well as Sibiu.

title: Târgoviște


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Târgu Jiu

Târgu Jiu is a city in Oltenia, Romania. It is a very old city and has had a strong tradition of mining, until 1998 when most mines were closed. It is the birthplace of the famous sculptor Constantin Brâncuși, and some of his earliest works can be admired here.

Get in
There are several daily trains from the capital, Bucharest.

Târgu Jiu can be reached on the E 79 and DN 67 roads.

Get around
There are two trolleybus and several diesel bus lines.

Eat
Around the park there are several places where you can eat.

title: Târgu Jiu


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Târgu Mureș

Târgu Mureș, sometimes abbreviated ''Tg. Mureș'' and known as Marosvásárhely among its Hungarian-speaking population, is a city in Transylvania, Romania.

Understand
Famous for its Art Nouveau buildings, Târgu Mureș is the cultural and economical centre of the Székely Land. First mentioned as Forum Siculorum in a document dating to 1300, market rights were bestowed in 1482. Both the Romanian name Târgu Mureș and Hungarian Marosvásárhely mean "market (place) on the river Mureș/Maros". The town prospered especially during the late-19th and early-20th century, the population quadrupled between 1869 and 1966.

Before World War I, Marosvásárhely belonged to the Kindom of Hungary and 90% of inhabitants were ethnic Hungarians and Hungarian-speaking Jews. Since 1919, when the town was awarded to Romania, the share of ethnic Romanians grew steadily, but Magyars (ethnic Hungarians) still were the majority population until the 1990s. Nowadays, ethnic Romanians make up just over half of the population, with 45% Magyars and more than 2% Romanies. There is a religious diversity as well: 47% profess Romanian Orthodoxy, 30% belong to the Reformed (Protestant) Church, 13.5% are Roman Catholic, 2.6% each are Eastern Catholic or Unitarian.

By train

Destinations:

There are five daily trains to/from Brasov, (6½–9 hr), two to/from Bucharest (9½–10 hr), and one to/from Timisoara (6½ hr). There is also a daily train to/from Budapest. Service to Cluj-Napoca (4 hr) is available with a transfer and 1-hr layover. There is also a daily direct train from Cluj that takes just under 3 hr and arrives at Târgu Mureș at 19:00. Tickets start at around 30 lei.

By bus
A bus is by far the cheapest option to get around. As of September 2019, a one-journey ticket costs 2 lei and a day ticket 5 lei. The route is posted on the front window of the bus.

By taxi
Rate for most companies is 2.64 lei/km. The cab drivers can speak Romanian and usually Hungarian. Many are also fluent in English.

By bicycle
At the football stadium, you can rent a bike for free for 2 hr, but you have to sign a contract in Romanian and submit your photo ID.

Do

 * The Târgu-Mureș Historical Society occasionally holds seminars on local history and mythology in English.
 * The Târgu-Mureș Historical Society occasionally holds seminars on local history and mythology in English.
 * The Târgu-Mureș Historical Society occasionally holds seminars on local history and mythology in English.

Buy
The main shopping area is the Trandafirilor Square which is the center of the city.

There are also shopping malls:

Clubs
Being a university town, there are plenty of clubs to go out at night to have fun with local and international students. Smoking is generally allowed in the clubs.

Go next

 * Târnăveni – 37 km southwest
 * Sighișoara – 55 km southeast, a medieval old town
 * Mediaș – 60 km southwest
 * Turda – 75 km west
 * Cluj-Napoca – 110 km northwest or 2½–3 hr by train
 * Sibiu – 120 km south
 * Brașov – 170 km southeast

title: Târgu Mureș


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Târgu Neamţ

Târgu Neamţ is a town in Moldavia.

Understand
One of the oldest towns in Moldavia, Târgu Neamţ has an impressive 14th century fortress and it's a good base for trips to the numerous old monasteries in the nearby mountains.

By train
Târgu Neamţ is reached by 6-7 daily trains from Paşcani station (on the Bucharest-Suceava/Iaşi mainline), a 35 minutes trip. The route is operated by the private rail company Regiotrans

By bus
There are several buses per day from Iaşi (2 hours away), Piatra Neamţ (one hour away), Târgu Mureş (5 hours) and one from Braşov (7 1/2 hours).

Get around
The town is walkable, but several minibus lines do exist.

Sleep
Numerous guesthouses exist in the town with prices starting around €16/night.

title: Târgu Neamţ


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Târnăveni

Târnăveni, is a city in Mureş County, Transylvania in Romania. Târnăveni is split in two important areas the old side of the city with the centre and neighbourhoods Republicii, Nicolae Bălcescu, Frumoasei, Viitorului, Păcii, Şoimilor; the area of Boziaş old village which in 1964 became part of the city.

Other neighbourhoods are: 1 Decembrie on the road to Târgu Mureş, Dezrobiri on the road to Blaj and the industrial area of the city. Between city centre and Boziaş the neighbourhoods George Enescu, Tineretului and Victoriei were built. And Botorca and Cuştelnic neighbourhoods, two villages now part of the city.

Understand
Târnăveni (Dicsőszentmárton in Hungarian, Sankt Martin in German, Tycheum Sent Marton in Latin) has 26.000 inhabitants. It's in the centre of Transylvania, nearby the Carpathian Mountains in Transylvanian plateau. In late Middle Ages, or more accurately in 1278, the land was documentary attested with the name of Sent Marton, or in Latin, the official language of that times, terra Tycheum Sent Marton.

Talk
In the city as in all the region, the official language is Romanian. But because near 20% of the local inhabitants are Hungarian, Hungarian language is also spoken here.

By car
National road DN14A is the most important road that passes the city, it connects the city with E60 road that goes through Bucureşti, Cluj-Napoca, Braşov, Oradea and also outside Romania, Budapest.

By train
There is the no. 307 magistrala that connects Tarnaveni to the national railway on the no. 300, in Blaj Arad, Timişoara, Braşov, Sighişoara, Ploieşti and Bucharest, now the trains that are used here are part of RC-CF Trans S.R.L Braşov enterprise.

See

 * Municipal Museum with numerous ethnographic and archaeological collection presenting the Tarnava Valley.
 * The Technical College, once The Târnava Mică County Prefecture
 * Unitarian Church built in Gothic style in 15th century. The church is declared historical monument.
 * Roman Catholic Church with the St. Martin name, city owner;
 * Greek-Catholic Church „from hill”, Saints Michael and Gabriel, protopopial church;
 * Ortodox Protopopial Church "Saint Trinity", from 1939-1940;
 * Ortodox Church Saint George;

Sleep

 * Hotel Iris - Piaţa Trandafirilor nr. 6 Tel. +40 744 431 739. Breakfast available and kind of basic lodging.
 * Hotel Darina Tarnaveni - Strada Republicii nr 47-59 Tel. +40 771 681 401, 204 lei. A pleasant hotel with a restaurant attached to a sort of confectionery.

Go next

 * 15 km away in Blaj in Cetatea de Baltă a medieval castle can be found, build between 1570-1580;
 * "Corona" Forest, on the hill between Târnava Mică river and Mureş river
 * Bazna resort with salt water on the road to Mediaş 15 km from Târnăveni
 * Râioasa Salted Baths - a small lake with salted water and also with mud that can serve in medicinal use

title: Târnăveni


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Tällberg

Tällberg is a small village in Dalarna, in Leksand municipality. It is well known for its traditional midsummer (midsommar) celebration, which is listed as one of the "1,000 Places to See Before You Die" in the famous travel book of the same name.

Understand
As the rest of Siljansbygden, Tällberg is considered an archetype of Swedish folk culture.

Tällberg traces its historical roots to the middle ages, and is mentioned in written sources as early as 1320. The name comes from the Swedish words "Tall", which means pine tree, and "Berg", which means mountain, and translates into "the pine covered mountain".

In the early 20th century it became a summer residence of several notable Swedish cultural figures, including the artists Gustaf Ankarcrona, Ivar Nyberg and Gabriel Burmeister, the mathematician Gösta Mittag-Leffler, as well as the composer and director Hugo Alfvén. In 1914 Tällberg Train Station was constructed, facilitating communications and thereby consolidating Tällbergs status as a tourist destination. In the 1920s the village consisted of some 50 farms, and a dozen typical Dalcarlian villas.

Today the village has some 200 permanent residents, plus another 400 holiday cottage owners. The village has remained a popular tourist destination with eight hotels and guesthouses, offering a total of about 1500 beds, and servicing a quarter million visitors annually. It is one of few places in Sweden which only consists of traditional wood buildings, most of them painted in the classical Falu red color. Between 2005 and 2013 it hosted the annual international conference Tällberg Forum.

Get in
Dalatrafik is the regional traffic company, and operate bus 274 between Tällberg Station and Leksand. The trip lasts some 20 minutes and costs 33 kr.

By car route 70 carries traffic south towards Leksand, Borlänge and Västerås, and north toward Rättvik and Mora. Just north of Tällberg it intersects with route 69, which continues east towards Falun.

Get around
The village is tiny and you can easily get around on foot.

Events

Eat and drink
The best place to get a meal or a drink in Tällberg is probably one of its hotel restaurants. All of the village hotels, listed below, offer dining in their respective hotel restaurants. The restaurants at Tällbergsgården Hotell and Åkerblads Hotell och Gästgiveri are mentioned in the national restaurant guide White Guide. Aside from these hotel restaurants, your options are limited to lunch open cafés.

Sleep
Nicknamed "Hotellberg", the village features 1,500 beds for hire.

Go next

 * Falun — A mining town renowned for its UNESCO listed copper mine.
 * Leksand — Known for hard bread and ice hockey.
 * Mora — The largest city in Siljansbygden.
 * Rättvik — Home of the longest pier in Scandinavia and the famous outdoors theater Dalhalla.

title: Tällberg


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Tórshavn

Tórshavn  (lit. Thor's Haven) is the capital of the Faroe Islands. At the foot of a mountain range, the archipelago's largest city has a long history dating back as far as 850 AD.

Understand
The city was founded in the 10th century and named after Thor, the god of thunder and lightning in Norse mythology. In the early history of the Faroes, Tórshavn became the political centre of the Faroes, and it still is today. The first settlers established their own parliament called "ting" around 800 AD. The main ting was established on Tinganes in Tórshavn and local tings were established in different parts of the islands. Tinganes drew people to trade, to attend court meetings, etc. In 2023, the city had a population of around 14,000, with about 21,000 in the metro area.

 * Town website

Get in
For most visitors Tórshavn will be the point of entry to the Faroe Islands. Practically everything in that article's Get in section also applies to Tórshavn.

By ferry
Smyril Line sails from Hirtshals in Denmark and Seyðisfjörður on Iceland to Tórshavn. If you are travelling with a car from Iceland to Denmark or vice versa, it is in principle possible to take off your car during the several hours long stopover in Tórshavn for a little island ride. It is, however, necessary to consider this option in advance when getting your car on board and have it parked in the correct queue.

By car
You can take the car with you on the ferry mentioned above. It is also possible to rent a car at the airport.

By bus
From elsewhere on the Faroe Islands.

Get around
City buses operate 4 routes which reach most of the city. You can pay per ride or get a 4 or 7 day pass. They run every 30 minutes from the city centre on weekdays, hourly on Sunday and Saturday and weekday evenings. There is no bus service during Saturday or Sunday evenings.

See
The National Historical Museum and the Outdoor Museum are both in the northern suburb Hoyvik, and are covered by a single ticket. Both are worth seeing.

Do

 * Football: Tórsvøllur (aka Gundadalur) is the sports complex 1 km north of town centre, with stadium capacity 5000. The Faroes men's national soccer team play here. It's also the home ground of Havnar Bóltfelag (HB) and B36 Tórshavn who both play in Premier League, the islands' top tier. The domestic playing season is April-Oct.
 * Football: Tórsvøllur (aka Gundadalur) is the sports complex 1 km north of town centre, with stadium capacity 5000. The Faroes men's national soccer team play here. It's also the home ground of Havnar Bóltfelag (HB) and B36 Tórshavn who both play in Premier League, the islands' top tier. The domestic playing season is April-Oct.

Buy
There are many shops in Tórshavn, especially in the centre and in the shopping mall SMS.

The supermarket chain Mylnan has several locations around the town which are open daily 07:00-23:00.

Mid-range
Most of these places are popular with the locals, reserving a table is highly recommended

Budget
Prices vary slightly – dkk250-300 per night/person for adults.

title: Tórshavn


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Tønder

Tønder is a beautiful town in the southern part of Denmark. Tønder is the oldest market town in Denmark. Today Tønder is a modern town with factories, modern schools and big companies such as Hartmann, Hydro and Ecco. The city is surrounded by beautiful nature, and it makes for some pleasant strolls on the ditches.

Get in
There are regional trains from Esbjerg and Niebull, in Germany.

Get around
Tønder is small enough to be navigated on foot. Buses leave to the villages dotted around the city from the bus station.

See

Do

The South Jutland region has some beautiful countryside, with good opportunities for hiking. From Tønder, good hiking trails includes:

 * If you are into long-distance hiking, Tønder is a starting point of the truly epic Nordsøstien trail, leading along no less than two-thirds of the Jutlandic coast. Embark on the entire hike, or enjoy shorter, individual parts.

 * Drivvejen is an ancient trail, used for driving cattle to Germany in former times, and it forms a larger part of the North Sea Trail. Hike shorter parts of this marked route from Tønder to nearby Løgumkloster monestary, the historic town of Ribe, or on to Varde further north.

 * More manageable hikes around Tønder, includes Marskstien (The Marsh Trail) roundtrip, to the Wadden Sea coast and back. The whole trail is 54 kilometres, but it also offers eight even shorter routes.

Eat
There are several cozy cafes around the square (Torvet)

Drink
Not many options for having a long night out in Tønder, unless you hit the festival. But these places normally see a relatively large crowd, especially Friday and Saturday. Thursdays get busy sometimes too, but it is pretty much hit and miss.

title: Tønder


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Tønsberg

Tønsberg is a town in Vestfold county. It is the oldest town in Norway. The town has about 56,000 inhabitants (2020). Tønsberg is also surrounded by some of the county's major tourist attractions, including old viking graves and museums. There are plenty of options for daytrips where both residents and visitors can enjoy a wide range of landscapes. In summer, Tønsberg is a popular retreat for people from Oslo, and other places in Norway. Tønsberg therefore has some of the most lively summertime day and nightlife in Norway.

Understand
The old name of this town was Tunsberg. The people are easy going and very friendly, and cultural life is rich.

History
Tønsberg was founded by Harald Fairhair in the 9th century and is one of six Norwegian cities that has existed since the middle ages. The first time the town was mentioned by a contemporary writer was in 1130. According to Snorri Sturluson, Tønsberg was founded before the Battle of Hafrsfjord, which, according to Snorri, took place in 871. What year the battle took place is disputed, however, and most current historians believe the battle took place closer to 900.

The king or his ombudsman resided in the old Royal Court at Sæheimr, today the Jarlsberg Manor (Jarlsberg Hovedgård), and on the farm Haugar, (from the Old Norse word haugr meaning hill or burial mound), which can be assumed to have been Tønsberg's birthplace. Haugar became the seat for the Haugating, the Thing for Vestfold and Norway's second most important place for the proclamation of kings.

Slottsfjellet (Castle Mountain), north of the city centre, made for a near impregnable natural fortress. During the civil war era of the 12th century, it was fortified by the Baglers. In the 13th century, King Haakon Haakonson set up a castle in Tønsberg, Tønsberg Fortress. The town was destroyed by fire in 1536, but Tønsberg remained one of the most important harbour towns in Norway.

The centre of the world's modern whaling industry was in Tønsberg and neighbouring Sandefjord. Tønsberg, Sandefjord and Larvik were dominant whaling towns in Norway. Whalers from Tønsberg initiated whaling in Iceland and the Hebrides.

During the 1850s, Tønsberg turned into a base of operation and source of expertise for whalers in the Arctic- and Antarctic Oceans. The first whaling ventures to Antarctica was led by engineer Henrik Henriksen of Tønsberg.

One of the city's most prominent residents, Svend Foyn, was a pioneer who embarked on an 1847 expedition to the Arctic, which led to a catch of 6,000 seals. Soon Tønsberg Harbour was home to a large fleet of sealing vessels, and the sealing industry grew further after the 1849 repeal of Britain's Navigation Acts. The hunters turned the seals to near extinction in the Arctic Ocean, and therefore turned to Bottle-nosed whales during the 1870s. Norway maintained a monopoly on European whaling until 1883, first and foremost due to Svend Foyn's patent rights to whaling techniques and inventions. Over-hunting in the Arctic eventually drove the whalers to Antarctica. By the beginning of the 20th century, Tønsberg had lost its preeminence in the whaling industry to the neighboring city of Sandefjord. Sandefjord, which lies just south of Tønsberg, later became known as the world's whaling capital.

During the German occupation of Norway in World War II, the Berg concentration camp was constructed near Tønsberg.

By plane
Alternatively
 * Sandefjord airport is 10 km (6 mi) from Tønsberg.
 * Oslo airport.

By boat
A catamaran route connects Tønberg with Fredrikstad. Seven departures daily

By rail
Tønsberg is on the Oslo-Skien line (Vestfoldbanen). There are 22 trains daily between Oslo and Tønsberg.

Get around
Vestfold Kollektivtrafikk (Vestfold Public Transport) operates a decent bus network, time tables can be found online and in buses.

Taxi:

See

 * Haugar Art Museum (Haugar Vestfold Kunstmuseum) – located in the former Seamen's School in the middle of Tønsberg, the brick building was built 1918–21. It is in the parkland between the site of the ancient assembly of Haugating and the two Viking era mounds.
 * Foynegården – the city's best-preserved merchant's yard. Foynegården is the site of a patrician houses from the 1700s where Svend Foyn was born in 1809.
 * Ruins of St. Olav's Church (Olavskirken) – Former monastery founded in 1191, near the current Tønsberg Library.
 * Ruins of St Michael's Church (Mikaelskirken) are still visible on top of Castle Mountain by Tønsberg Fortress. The church was mentioned among the royal chapels. It is believed to have been destroyed in 1503 when Swedish soldiers razed fortifications.
 * Tønsberg Cathedral (Tønsberg domkirke) – Brick church from 1858 with pulpit from 1621 and an altarpiece from 1764.
 * Haugar Art Museum (Haugar Vestfold Kunstmuseum) – located in the former Seamen's School in the middle of Tønsberg, the brick building was built 1918–21. It is in the parkland between the site of the ancient assembly of Haugating and the two Viking era mounds.
 * Foynegården – the city's best-preserved merchant's yard. Foynegården is the site of a patrician houses from the 1700s where Svend Foyn was born in 1809.
 * Ruins of St. Olav's Church (Olavskirken) – Former monastery founded in 1191, near the current Tønsberg Library.
 * Ruins of St Michael's Church (Mikaelskirken) are still visible on top of Castle Mountain by Tønsberg Fortress. The church was mentioned among the royal chapels. It is believed to have been destroyed in 1503 when Swedish soldiers razed fortifications.
 * Tønsberg Cathedral (Tønsberg domkirke) – Brick church from 1858 with pulpit from 1621 and an altarpiece from 1764.
 * Tønsberg Cathedral (Tønsberg domkirke) – Brick church from 1858 with pulpit from 1621 and an altarpiece from 1764.

Do

 * Slottsfjell festival, one of the biggest happenings in Tønsberg through the year. People all over the country come to Tønsberg to participate.
 * Slottsfjell festival, one of the biggest happenings in Tønsberg through the year. People all over the country come to Tønsberg to participate.

Go next
Bolærne: During the summer you can take a small ferry to this island in the Oslofjord, the journey cost kr 140 (roundtrip, adults), kr 70 (roundtrip, children). The journey takes 50 min, one-way. The island was a coastal artillery fortress, opened for the public in 2005. You can stroll along the island - or dive directly from the rocks or just sit in the small harbour looking on the traffic of private summer boats. On top of the island there will be a small viewpoint where you can see all the cruiseboats and ferries passing on the way to and from Oslo.

title: Tønsberg


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Tübingen

Tübingen is a small university town near the geographic centre of Baden-Württemberg, roughly 30 km southwest of Stuttgart. The medieval architecture, the students' joie de vivre, the 40% of residents who vote for the Green Party, the absurd charm of the constant festivals that wind through the streets... it's a unique little spot.

Understand
Tübingen's population of about 91,000 people (2020) is a mixture of students, researchers and academics, medical specialists and "Gogen". (The Gogen are people whose families have been there since forever. They used to grow wine berries on the hills around the town. "Goge" ~ cork.) The university and its network of hospitals are its economic lifeblood (and the biggest employer in southern Württemberg); Eberhard-Karls-Universitaet, founded in 1477, is reputed to be one of the top 5 German universities for studies in German, medicine and law, and Tübingen serves as a regional medical service hub (they even have a malaria clinic).

About 25,000 students fill Tübingen's pubs, cafe patios and university lecture halls during "lecture time" (mid-October until mid-February and mid-April until mid-July). Meanwhile, the high concentration of educated folks with lots of free time means that there are plenty of things to do for the size of the town - 16 choirs; 3 theatres; a fine little art gallery; special lecture series at the university; and, of course, constant parties hosted by the student associations of the various departments (it's almost a competition to see whether the chemists or the anthropologists do it better). The town does get quiet, though, in the breaks between semesters (Feb 15 - Apr 15, Jul 15 - Oct 15).

History
The city dates back to 1078 AD and is remarkably well-preserved; only one bomb fell in World War II - on the house where Goethe lived (or was it Schiller?). The "old town", which lies along the Neckar river, looks much as it would have in the 1600s - its crooked, cobblestone streets will have you walking in circles, when you're not climbing up and down the stairs built into the sidewalks! The Arts campus of the university lies nearby, while more modern science faculties and student residences perch on the large hills that surround the centre of town. Everywhere you go, there are signs of those who went before, sometimes literally ("Dr. Alzheimer worked in this building"), sometimes less so - you can find Tübingen's traces in the writings of Hesse and Hoelderlin.

Climate
Tübingen has fairly good weather compared to the rest of Germany (slightly worse than Freiburg, though). Sudden changes in the weather can make your ears pop heading up into the hills by bus, or just sitting in the marketplace in the centre of town!

By plane
The Stuttgart airport in Echterdingen is only 33km from Tübingen. From there, the easiest way into Tübingen is the 828 Sprinter bus, which runs hourly and takes approx. 48 minutes to about an hour. For more details see Naldo Verkehrsverbund. Alternatively, take the train to Herrenberg, and then the S-Bahn train from there to the airport. For more information see the Stuttgart page.

If coming from Frankfurt Airport, it takes 2 -2½ hours with at least a change in Stuttgart and sometimes in Mannheim as well. See prices and timetables at Deutsche Bahn.

By train
The train from Stuttgart takes about 45min by IRE train or around 1 hr by normal train. If you arrive at the of Tübingen, don't let the ugly and uninviting surroundings of the train station put you off. Just leave the station behind and keep going (north) and after 10 min walking you'll be right in the old town centre. If you are using regional trains the Baden Württemberg Ticket (€23 for one person €4 more for every additional person up to five) might be a good option as it allows unlimited travel within one day (from 09:00 to 15:00 of the next day) within Baden Württemberg. (not valid on ICE, IC and EC trains)

By bus
Flixbus operates national and international long distance bus services. All buses leave from the next to the train station. For more information, see long distance bus travel in Germany.

By car
With Tübingen's traffic system being designed for pedestrians and cyclists, it is best to park your car as soon as possible and then explore the city on foot, bus or bicycle. Finding a spot to park you car can be quite a pain, especially close to the centre of the city. Almost every street there may only be used by residents at night, and during the day there are parking meters. Be sure to check the signs how long you are allowed to park there, and if you are not sure, look for another spot. Ticket officers are very quick in Tübingen. If you need to park your car near downtown, you can use parking garages, but they are not cheap.

By carpooling and hitchhiking

 * As in most university cities, it is worth checking the blackboards at the main student cafeterias for car sharing ads. Many students take passengers to other majors cities for shared fuel expenses.
 * Hitchhiking to/from Stuttgart is quite common; it's best to use a sign with the city symbol (S for Stuttgart, TÜ for Tübingen); typical starting points towards Stuttgart are in front of the Sports Institute; from Stuttgart to Tübingen is best hitched from Stuttgart-Degerloch

By foot
The city centre of Tübingen is quite dense and hilly. If you want to explore it, walking is the easiest option. The main railway station is within 10 minutes walking distance to the south of the centre.

By bicycle
The best way to get around Tübingen and its surroundings is by bicycle, just like thousands of Tübingen's students. Remember to lock your bike!

By bus
Tübingen has a solid bus system. Timetables and maps are available from Stadtverkehr Tübingen.

Bus tickets can be bought on board every bus (with coins or GeldKarte/ATM Cards only - no paper bills accepted) from the machine behind the driver, or at machines at selected bus stops (but only with a GeldKarte). The machine on the bus is rather non-intuitive, so be prepared to ask friendly looking passengers for help. If you already have a ticket, you can board a bus through any of the doors, as the driver does not inspect tickets upon boarding; rather, fare inspectors patrol the buses at random points during the route. If caught without a valid ticket, fares are a hefty €60.

Day pass gets you unlimited rides from 08:30. Day passes cost €4.60 for 1 person or €11.00 for a group day ticket (maximum of 5 people). Riding the bus on Saturday is free.

After the regular buses stop running, certain night bus routes are available throughout the city, usually once an hour (check the posted schedules at the respective bus stops to see which bus routes stop where and when). Night buses used to run on weekends only, but the service has been extended to the whole week now. It is also possible to call for an inexpensive ride on the shared cab service (Sammel Anruf Mietwagen, or SAM) (page in German only).

By car
The old town centre of Tübingen has been laid out to walk and cycle. Subsequently, driving around by car and parking is constrained by few streets, one-way streets, speed limits as well as few and expensive parking spots. Getting around by car is therefore only advisable outside of the city centre.

By taxi
Taxis are available at the main rail station an in front of Wilhelmstraße 3 near the old botanic garden in the city centre. They are metered and run subject to the same conditions as in the rest of Germany.

See
Tübingen's scenic location between the forests, the Swabian Jura (Schwäbische Alb) and the river Neckar make it a beautiful stop in south-west Germany. Its flair is comparable to cities like Heidelberg or Freiburg, although Tübingen is smaller than those cities. The primary attraction is the unspoiled Altstadt (city centre) and the lively student population.

Annual events

 * Umbrisch-provencialischer Markt. In September. A market for gastronomic specialties from the twin towns in Umbria and Provence. The course of the Tübinger Stadtlauf, a 10-km race taking place the same weekend, leads over the market.
 * Umbrisch-provencialischer Markt. In September. A market for gastronomic specialties from the twin towns in Umbria and Provence. The course of the Tübinger Stadtlauf, a 10-km race taking place the same weekend, leads over the market.

Learn

 * The Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen dates from 1477, making it one of the oldest in Germany. The university also offers free public lectures during the semester, Studium Generale, which are open to anyone interested.
 * The city is also host to several research institutes including the Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology, The Friedrich Miescher Laboratory of the MPG, and the Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research.

Buy

 * There are some tourist shops that sell souvenirs (mugs, T-shirts, etc.): one at Holzmarkt and the other at Marktplatz, furthermore one in tourist information at Neckarbrücke.
 * There are some tourist shops that sell souvenirs (mugs, T-shirts, etc.): one at Holzmarkt and the other at Marktplatz, furthermore one in tourist information at Neckarbrücke.
 * There are some tourist shops that sell souvenirs (mugs, T-shirts, etc.): one at Holzmarkt and the other at Marktplatz, furthermore one in tourist information at Neckarbrücke.

Eat
At night there are only a few places where you still can get something to eat: "X" near the marketplace, McDonalds Drive-Through on the road to Reutlingen, Burger King at the train station, a small Italian take away in Mühlstraße, a Döner Kebap next to the Epple-Haus (central bus station) is opened until 04:00 on the week-ends, and of course any fuel station.

Budget
All these are in the city centre:

Delivery
There are a few places that deliver food, which may come in handy if you choose to stay here for any length of time.

Drink
Best time to visit Tübingen is late spring or summer. Many of the pubs and cafes in the city centre then have places to sit outside and hundreds of students populate the central market place until late at night, usually with beer from the nearby chip shop.

Go next

 * Reutlingen

title: Tübingen


text:
Türkmenabat

Türkmenabat is a city in Lebap Province, Turkmenistan.

Understand
Turkmenabat is the center of Eastern Turkmenistan and second largest city in the country with about 270,000 inhabitants. It was called Charjou (four canals), until 1999 when it was renamed Turkmenabat (created by Turkmen). The city is a convenient place for a stopover on the long travels to the Köýtendag Nature Reserve, Mary/Merv or Dashogus and on the way to Bukhara/Uzbekistan.

By plane
Turkmenistan Airways operate 4 daily flights from Ashgabat (US$12). The airport is 2 km east of the city center.

By train
Turkmenistan Railways run trains to Turkmenabat from Ashgabat (2 trains per day, 16 hours, US$2.50), Mary/Merv (3 trains per day leaving Mary at 22:00, 01:20, 03:30, 7 hours, US$1) and Turkmenbashi (1 train per day, 23 hours, US$2.50). The railway station is in the city center.

By bus or taxi
Take a taxi from Bukhara to the border (US$8) at Farab or a shared taxi to Uzbek Olot (Qarakul) and then a taxi to the border. From the border it is about 45 km to Turkmenabat. A taxi should cost about US$5 and a seat in a shared taxi less than US$1.

Marshrutki arrive at the bus station, 9 km south of town, near Dunya Bazaar, or at the railway station in the town center.

title: Türkmenabat


text:
Třebíč

Třebíč is a city in the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands of the Czech Republic.

Understand
History in dates

 * 1101 Establishment of Benedictine Monastery.
 * 1277 The oldest deed mentioning the town of Třebíč.
 * 1335 Conferring of town rights to Třebíč according to the royal town of Znojmo.
 * 1338 First references of Jewish settlement.
 * 1468 Třebíč was conquered by Matthias Corvinus of Hungary.
 * 19th century Expansion of tannery and shoe making.
 * 1871 Opening of Národní dům (National House), establishment of grammar school with Czech as teaching language (Gymnázium Třebíč).
 * 1886 First train runs through Třebíč.
 * 1930 Development of shoe making production and construction of workers' colonies - present Borovina
 * 1970s - 80s The town grows with the construction of new housing estates, population increases.
 * 1990s Fast renovation of the town.
 * 2003 Registration of Jewish Quarter and St. Procopius Basilica into UNESCO List of Cultural and Natural Heritage

Get in
The town lies in the south-western part of Moravia in the Czech-Moravian highlands, the position of the town can also be defined according to its distance from major conurbations: Prague 167 km, Brno 69 km, České Budějovice 135 km, Vienna 150 km.

Fast trains run every two hours from Brno (1¼h) and České Budějovice (3¼h).

Direct buses connect Třebíč with Prague, Telč and Žďár nad Sázavou.

Get around
It is easy to walk between the main sites and transport links. There is a local bus service. There are nine bus lines and the ten line - circular - is projecting. See the city transport map and connection finder.

See
The Jewish Quarter and St Procopius' Basilica is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Rear Synagogue is the key highlight of the area and has been well restored. There are some interesting Jewish Graveyards in and around the area. There are a large amount of information boards displaying useful information in Czech, Hebrew, English and German.
 * Jewish Quarter is one of the best preserved Jewish areas in Europe and illustrates the interconnected lives of Jewish and Christian societies up until the Holocaust. This well preserved area has as such been added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.

See also:
 * St Procopius Basilica is situated on a small hill north of the river.
 * Official tourist information (http://www.visittrebic.eu)

Festivals

 * Třebíč's Jewish festival - festival of Jewish culture in Rear synagogue
 * Třebíč folklore festival - music and dance
 * Jubilee Unesco (Oslavy Unesco) - jubilee celebration of city entrance to the UNESCO list
 * Theatre 2-3-4 actors (Divadla 2-3-4 herců) - festival of professional theatre
 * Zámostí - cultural and music festival (www.zamosti.cz)
 * Concentus Moraviae - concerts of classical music
 * Country fest - country music open air festival

See also: Culture centre in Třebíč (http://www.mkstrebic.cz)

Activities

 * Bowling Zábavní centrum Don (http://www.dontrebic.cz)
 * Bowling Koule (http://www.dontrebic.cz)
 * Bowling U Kmotra (http://www.bowling-trebic.cz)
 * Swimming pool (http://www.bazenlaguna.cz)

Eat

 * Cafe Bar Holiday (http://www.cafebarholiday.cz)
 * Hopr Pub (http://www.hoprpub.cz)
 * U Dubu (http://www.u-dubu.cz )
 * Zátiší (http://www.zatisi.eu)
 * Pizzerie San Marco (http://www.pizzaservis.com)
 * Neptun (http://www.restaurant-neptun.cz )
 * Pizzeria Laguna (http://www.pizzerialaguna.cz)

Go next

 * Telc
 * Brno
 * Zdar nad Sazavou

title: Třebíč


text:
Třeboň

Třeboň is a picturesque little town in South Bohemia. It is home to the Regent brewery and lends its name to the Třeboňsko protected wildlife area. It is well-prepared for tourists with information available in various languages including English. Třeboň is interesting for its architecture, valuable for its history and tempting for its nature beauties.

Understand
Třeboň grew with the development of fish farming in the region. The nearby area is filled with very old man-made fish ponds that are still used today. The nearest is the Svet Fishpond which dates from the 1570s.

Get in
Buses from České Budějovice leave from the main bus station, take ~50min and cost ~25Kč (Aug 2010). The Třeboň is relatively nearby the city center, whereas the train stations Třeboň and Třeboň lázně are not too convenient.

There are multiple paid car parking areas surrounding the historical center.

See

The old town is home to a large castle/chateau complex and a very pleasant.

Do
There is a well marked trail with information boards the forms a loop around the Svět Fishpond. It starts outside the Hotel Bohemia Regent to the South-West of the town centre and is known as the "Around The World" trail. The terain is easy and can be done on foot or on bike. The total distance is 12.5km. It comes back into Trebon past the Schwarzenberg tomb and over the Svet dam itself. Another trail is designed for cyclists and is called "Around Trebon". It is 39km and also has information boards along it. There are also several other tourist trails, the information board at the start of "Around the World" shows where these are although the tourist information will probably be able to point you in the right direction as well.

Cycling is very popular in and outside the city.

 * There are multiple pleasant parks around the Chateau to relax in.

Buy
The old town square is surrounded by interesting small shops. Several supermarkets can be found near train station.

Eat
Local restaurants are mostly to be found around the old town square. Perhaps unsurprisingly given the history of the region, fish dishes are numerous and tasty!

title: Třeboň


text:
Tchibanga

Tchibanga is a city in Gabon.

Get in
Bush taxis will take you south from Libreville. Catch a taxi for Tchibanga early in the morning - the trip can take over 12 hours. Bring water, toilet paper and snacks, and ask to sit in the cabin of the truck, preferably in the passenger seat. The drive down is an experience in itself. There is also an airport in Tchibanga, though it is really little more than an air strip. Flights are extremely unreliable and can be dangerous.

Get around
Tchibanga is small and most places are within walking distance. You can rent a white and green city taxi for 100CFA or thereabouts to take you across town.

See
There is not much to see, though the surrounding countryside is pretty and very good for mountain biking; the hills surrounding the city provide very pretty scenery. The Nyanga river is also lovely, particularly at sunset. You will have to bring your own bike down from Libreville, however. Ask in town if there are any local Bwiti (anamist) religious ceremonies being held at night that can be viewed by foreigners. If you are lucky, a traditional Bwiti ceremony is well worth seeing. Most start at midnight and you can usually find them if you follow the sound of drumming (bring a flashlight - you don't want to step on a black mamba snake!.) Some ceremonies are closed to outsiders, but many will allow you to watch from benches on the outskirts and take photos. Bwiti involves the taking of a native hallucinogenic drug called Iboga combined with ceremonial dancing and drumming. Often the ceremony will be led by a local Nganga, or witch doctor, who will wear a costume of raffia and red, white and black paint. The Nganga may carry a fetish made from a power animal, such as the tail of a civet cat. Particularly interesting are the initiation ceremonies, where young people dress in white, red and black robes, take Iboga for the first time and voyage to see their ancestors. There will most likely be a drunk papa at the ceremony who will be happy to explain the details.

Do
Walking or biking in the low, grassy hills surrounding the town is probably the best thing to do in Tchibanga. The town also has a small market with friendly mamas selling veggies, fruits, bushmeat and, sometimes, monkey. You can also wander down to the river and hire a local to take you for a ride in a traditional pirogue, or dugout canoe. Tchibanga, like most of Gabon, receives almost no tourists, but the locals are friendly and will be happy to show you the best of their town. Feel free to take photos, but be warned that you can expect half the town to want to be in the pictures! If you are there for a few days, it's well worth hiring a papa to take you "en brosse." This will involve walking out into the jungle areas to check hunting traps and the like. You should not wander into the jungle alone as you will without question get lost. A papa can explain the various traps he uses and show you local plants and animals. If you're lucky, you may see monkeys or even chimps! The area around Tchibanga is home to the most incredible population of snakes, most particularly, the black mamba. Locals hate and fear this snake and it is extremely poisonous, though not as dangerous as other snakes as it is very afraid of humans and will not attack unless threatened.

Buy
There are local artisans who make pottery, including statues, and carved wooden masks. Ask at the market - you will most likely have to travel some ways out of town to someone's house, but it is well worth it as any mask you buy in Tchibanga will not be made for the tourist trade, but for local ceremonial use. Sadly, the quality is not what it once was, so don't expect to find museum quality pieces. It is hoped that increased responsible tourism will restart the dying art of traditional mask-making in Gabon.

Eat
There is at least one or two little bushmeat restaurants operating in town. Ask the locals where they are. Make sure to try the baton de manioc, a speciality of the Punu region, and "sauce Nouembwe," a tasty orange sauce made from palm nuts. There is also a local "sauce chocolate," which is not chocolate but instead made from a local plant. The food is unique and involves many meats, fruits and veggies you can't find anywhere else. For more western fare, try one of the three or four hotels in town, which all have the standard, but tasty, menu of chicken, rice, fries and fried plantains.

Drink
Regab or Castel, of course! Tchibanga is PACKED with street bars and even some food stalls grilling fish at night - mostly tilapia, but some meat kebabs and even chicken feet if you're feeling brave. Kebabs or tilapia with spicy red pepper sauce (pimant) are really good with your cold beer. Some of the hotels in the center of town have nightclubs. Try to avoid the fancy clubs in favor of the more local ones - it's fun to watch the locals dance to their favorite Zook or Zaireois tunes. I often wonder if "Premier Gao" is still #1 in the clubs! The Tchibanga high school students are great dancers and will put you to shame. It's customary to put a CFA note on someone's forehead when they're doing a good job dancing. Be forewarned that they love to watch foreigners embarrass themselves!

Sleep
There are three or four good cases de passage, or motels in town. They are all centrally located and impossible to miss.

title: Tchibanga


text:
Tchogha Zanbil

Tchogha Zanbil is an area in Khuzestan, Iran. Chogha Zanbil (Persian: چُغازَنبیل) is an ancient Elamite complex in the Khuzestan province of Iran. Tchogha Zanbil is listed in UNESCO World Heritage List.

Get in
There are plans to extend the Train line from Tehran to Ahvaz

Get around
The city stretches out a lot so you might want to use a savari to get to the Arg-é Bam.

See

 * The main attraction, the ancient citadel of Arg-é Bam, suffered badly in an earthquake in December 2003. Today little is still to be seen and access is extremely restricted; there is only one main access path still open to the public and the castle on top of the hill is out of bounds.
 * The ancient citadel of Tchogha Zanbil probably has a history dating back around 2500 years,

title: Tchogha Zanbil