If you are a fan of Soviet modernism you will love Tbilisi, Georgia!

With its Soviet heritage, this is one of the best cities I know for this kind of architecture and thanks to decent public transport, it’s not difficult to see all the great examples of Tbilisi brutalism, Soviet mosaics, the famous Tbilisi skybridge and more.

It took me a few trips to Tbilisi to find all these great places but it was worth it – Soviet architecture in Tbilisi is outstanding and even if sometimes it takes a bit of planning to go to all the places it’s never wasted time. For me, finding all these gems is one of the best things to do in Tbilisi.

Unfortunately, not all the buildings survived the changes in the Tbilisi’s cityscape. One of the best examples of Tbilisi brutalist architecture – so-called Andropov’s Ears – was demolished in the 2000s and now we can only admire it on the archive photographs.

But still, with so many buildings and mosaics that survived you won’t be bored.

Tbilisi Soviet Architecture – practical tips

But before we talk about the Tbilisi Soviet remnants here is a bit of the practical information you might need.

First of all – get yourself a Georgian SIM card. It’s a very easy process and it will be so useful when you go for the Tbilisi brutalism hunt.

You can check the bus schedule and routes on the spot or order Yandex taxi when needed. Not to mention all the cool pictures you can share with the family and friends right away.

I used public transport only when sightseeing for Soviet architecture in Tbilisi. The network of metro and buses was enough for me, it was easy to navigate and very affordable.

I will write next to each of the places below how to get there so you won’t have to repeat my researches but just in case you can check all the routes and schedules here.

You need a public transport card to take buses and metro in Tbilisi (you might pay by cash on the buses but it’s not too convenient really). You can get it at the metro stations.

When buying the card you will also add to it whatever amount you need – one ride is 0,50 lari but it’s valid for a certain amount of time (I still haven’t figured how long) so sometimes you can switch between metro and buses, or take a few buses in a row after seeing all the cool places and it will be still only 0,50 lari.

One card is enough for a few people, you just need to tap the validator and collect the ticket for each of the traveling persons.

More remote places, like the Chronicle of Georgia monument, can be reached by public transport (just not the way I did it, more about it later) but it will be easier to use the app called Yandex Taxi.

It works like Uber, with the difference that you can pay in cash to the driver and you can place one order for the way there and back, the driver will wait for you at the spot for a little extra money. Be sure to download the app to your phone before you visit Georgia.

Very often the buildings are near each other so you can see a few in one go. This map of Soviet Modernism and Soviet Mosaics in Tbilisi come in very handy – be sure to put it on your phone and use it in Tbilisi. I recommend maps.me application that works offline perfectly fine.

You can read more of my Tbilisi travel tips here.

If navigating public transport in Tbilisi seems a bit overwhelming I recommend joining this tour that will take you to some of the best places with Tbilisi Soviet architecture. Click here for the details and to book the tour.

Tbilisi Soviet architecture

And now onto the juicy stuff – let me show you the best Tbilisi Soviet architecture examples and where to find it! The list is long so I divided it into a few categories, and it’s still not everything you can find in Tbilisi!

Tbilisi brutalism buildings

Former Ministry of Automobile Roads

Architect: Giorgi Chakhava (1923-2007), Zurab Jalaghania, Teimuraz Tkhilava, Alexandr Kimberg
Construction: 1976
Address: 29a Iuri Gagarini St, Tbilisi, Gruzja
How to get there: Bus no 14 from Rustaveli Avenue

This is probably the most iconic example of brutalist architecture in Tbilisi. The former Ministry of Automobile Roads, now the headquarter of the Bank of Georgia looks like Tetris and is so impressive. It’s best seen from across the Kura river but I don’t really recommend this place as you need to cross a busy and wide road to get to the riverside. Instead, take the bus to near the building and see it from the close-up.

Kindergarten #95

Architect: Alexander Unanyan (1960-1997) and Shalva Lomidze (1962)
Construction: 1988-1989
Address: Dodo Abashidze st. 4
How to get there: it’s within a walking distance from Marjanishvili metro station

Unfortunately, I didn’t find more information about this building but it’s such a funky piece of concrete! Don’t miss the Soviet mosaic in front of it too!

Apartment house (wedding house building)

Architect: Sh. Kavlashvili, G. Melkadze, L. Kharashvili
Construction: between 1955-1960
Address: Dimitri Uznadze St, Tbilisi, Gruzja
How to get there: You can walk here from Marjanishvili metro station or take the bus no 20.

Building near Marjanishvili metro station

Address: 89/24 Kote Marjanishvili St
How to get there: it’s just behind Marjanishvili metro station.

Again, I didn’t find any information on this building but it’s such a masterpiece with those concrete arches.

Former Engineering and laboratory building of the Ministry of Rural Construction

Architect: R. Bairamashvili, I. Kavlashvili (1931-2008), L. Medzmariashvili (1935)
Construction: 1977
Address: corner of Ferdinand Tavadze Street and Vazha Pashavela Avenue
How to get there: Delissi metro station, it’s right outside the entrance

Industrial-Pedagogical Technical college

Architect: Nikoloz Lasareishvili
Construction: 1977
Address: 4 Marshal Archil Gelovani Ave
How to get there: Bus no 14 from Rustaveli Avenue or no 14, 24 and 54 from near of Former Ministry of Automobile Roads

Unfortunately, recently the impressive bas relief (called “Tbilisi Batman”) was stolen from here and the remnants were removed. But even if it’s a bare concrete building now it is still worth seeing.

State University Campus dormitory

Built in: 1966
Architect: Sh. Kachkachishvili, E. Kopaladze, B. Maminaishvili, et al.
Address: 63, Tskneti Hwy
How to get there: You can walk from the State University metro station or take the bus no 13, 92, 150, 24, 21 or 54.

The best view of the campus is from across the canyon, from next to the cable car station. During my visit, the cable car was not working and it didn’t look like it’s about to change.

Former Palace of Rituals

Architect: V. Jorbenadze (1924-1998), V. Orbeladze
Construction: 1984
Adress: Didi digomi, 21 Bochorma St
How to get there: take bus no 80, 102, 44, 55, 31, 71 or 50 to Gorgasali Square.

Currently, this is private property and you can’t get to it. The best view is from the bridge on Kura river, near Gorgasali Square.

Former Auto Garage

Architect: Djemal Lebanidze (1939-2001), Construction: Givi Pitskhelauri (*1937)
Construction: 1982
Adress: off Nadira Khosharauli Street
How to get there: from Tsereteli metro station take bus no 27, 20, 86, 33, 11, 46, 84, 51, 21 or 15 to JSC Telasi and walk a bit from there

April 2023 update: my friend Emily tried to visit the place and apparently it’s a private area now, forbidden to visit.

Tbilisi Archeology Museum

Architect: Sh. Kavlashvili (1926-1995), Sh. Gvanceladze
Construction: Late 1980’s / 1988
Address: 9, Motsikulta Stsori Nino St
How to get there: bus no 14 from Rustaveli Avenue

Unfortunately, the museum is closed and it’s not possible to go inside, but it is still a very impressive building worth seeing.

Technical Library

Architect: G. Bichiashvili
Construction: 1985
Address: 47 Merab Kostava St
How to get there: most buses from Rustaveli Avenue stop here, you can also walk from Rustaveli metro station

Former “Tea House”

Architect: D. Morbedadze, L. Medzmariashvili (1935)
Construction: 1964-1965
Address: 2 Ilia Chavchavadze Avenue
How to get there: it’s not far from the Technical Library and Rustaveli metro station, you can take buses no 34, 66, 87, 59, 88, 9, 140, 51, 61 and 21 here.

Other Tbilisi Soviet buildings

Sports Palace

Architect: Vladimer (Lado) Aleksi-Meskhishvili (1915-1978), Yura Kasradze (1911-1991); Structural Engineer: David Qajaia (1912-1997)
Construction: 1961
Address: 1 Twentysix May Square
How to get there: take metro to Technical University station

Former lower Cable Car Station for Mtatsminda

Architect: K. Chkheidze
Construction: 1966
Address: 52 Shota Rustaveli Ave
How to get there: it’s on Rustaveli Avenue, near Rustaveli metro station.

The former station is located behind the building on Rustaveli with Coffeesta cafe. The cable car station is closed but if you are fit enough (I’m not) you can squeeze in through the broken window on the right side.

Former Central Post and Telegraph Building

Architect: V. Aleksi-Meskhishvili (1915-1978), T. Mikashavidze (1934) / Project:1970-1978
Construction: 1980
Address: 31 Shota Rustaveli Ave
How to get there: it’s on Rustaveli Avenue, near Rustaveli metro station

Former Managing Computing Centre of the United Board of the Energy System of Transcaucasia

Architect: S. Katsitadze, G. Janberidze
Construction: 1987-1989
Address: 2 Marshal Archil Gelovani Ave
How to get there: it’s next to Former Ministry of Automobile Roads, you can reach it by bus no 14 from Rustaveli Avenue

Former Building of Zaksovnarkom

Architect: N. Severov (1887-1957)
Construction: 1930
Address: 4 9 Aprili St
How to get there: it’s near Liberty Square metro station

This is one of the finest examples of modernism in Tbilisi.

Chancellery of the Government of Georgia

Address: V. Abramishvili, L. Jandieri, G. Mirianashvili
Construction: 1979
Address: 7 Pavle Ingorokva St
How to get there: it’s near Liberty Square metro station

Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, Headquarters

Architect: Shota Kavlashvili (1926-1995), Shota Gvantseladze (1954-)
Construction: 1970s
Address: 6 Dimitry Gulia St
How to get there: bus no 57, 55, 71, 50

Ortachala Central Bus Station

Architect: Sh. Kavlashvili (1926-1995), V. Kurtishvili (1935-1996), R. Kiknadze (1937-1975). Mosaic: Z. Tsereteli
Construction: 1973
Address: 1 Dimitri Gulia St
How to get there: bus no 19, 57, 101, 55, 71, 50

Tbilisi Central Train Station

Architect: R. Bairamashvili, I. Kavlashvili (1931-2008), A. Dzhibladze (1929-1999), G. Shavdiya
Project: 1959-1984 /Construction: 1978-1985
Address: Station Square
How to get there: take the metro to Station Square

Expo Georgia

Architect: D. Papinashvili, L. Mamaladze (1910-1982), V. Nasaridze, V. Peikrishvili
Construction: 1961-1971
Address: 118 Akaki Tsereteli Ave
How to get there: take the metro to Gotsiridze station, it’s a short walk from there

Mtatsmina Park Restaurant and Funicular Upper Station

Architect: Z. Kurdiani (1909-1983), N. Kurdiani with the participation of A. Volobuev
Construction: 1938
How to get there: take the funicular up

Former editorial office of the newspaper “Zaria Vostoka”

Architect: D. Chisliev (1878-1969)
Construction: 1926-1930
Address: 42 Shota Rustaveli Ave
How to get there: It’s near Rustaveli metro station

This is probably the best example of constructivist architecture in Tbilisi.

Georgian Public Broadcaster (Former TeleRadio State Committee and Studio) building

Architect: Archil Kurdiani (1903-1988), Gia Kurdiani (1932-2014), Ketevan Sokolova-Kurdiani (1905-1988), Gia Abashidze. Structural Engineer: David Qajaia (1912-1997)
Construction: 1966
Address: 68 Merab Kostava St
How to get there: numerous buses to Public Broadcaster stop or metro to Technical University station.

Tbilisi Soviet mosaics

Part of Victory Memorial in Vake Park

Artist: Zurab Tsereteli
Date: 1973
Locaton: Vake Park

Emergency service 112, facade

Artist: Givi Kervalishvili
Date: 1977-78
Location: S. Tsintsadze str. 6, near Technical University metro station

Trade Union Cultural Center

Artists: G. Metonidze, T. Natsvlishvili, Sh. Davitashvili, Artist: Zurab Tsereteli
Date: 1968-69
Location: Vazha Pshavela ave. 43, near Delisi metro station

Decorative panel with a hunting scene. Free-standing structure

Artist: Kukuri Zereteli
Date: 1967
Location: J. Kalandadze Park, near Gorgalasi Square bus stop

Emergency service 112

Artist: Givi Kervalishvili
Date: 1979
Location: Gorgasali str. 34, behind Ortachala bus station

Former VDNKh / Expo Georgia

Artists: Leonardo Shengelia
Date: 1963
Location: on the Expo Georgia grounds

Former VDNKh / Expo Georgia

Artist: Guram Kalandadze
Date: 1961
Location: on the Expo Georgia grounds

Fountain in the yard of A. Khorava Actors’ House

I didn’t find any info about this mosaic. It’s located on G. Leonidze st. 11a, not far from Liberty Square.

Laguna Vere Swimming Pool

Artist: Koka Ignatov
Date: 1978
Location: M. Kostava st. 34

If you are lucky you can try to sneak to the ground of the open-air swimming pool to see some nice brutalist architecture. I didn’t manage to get it, unfortunately.

Pool in Gogla Leonidze Park

Artist: Zurab Tsereteli
Date: 1970’s
Location: 9th of April Park, between Rustaveli Avenue and Dry Bridge.

Tbilisi metro stations

Tbilisi metro might not be as beautiful as Moscow metro stations but there are some interesting stations you should check:

“Isani” Metro Station

Architect: N.Lomidze/ Engineer: L. Kamkamidze, I. Geladze
Construction: 1971

Technical University

Station Square, 2nd line

Guramishvili

Ghrmaghele

Rustaveli Metro Station

Architect: Otar Kalandarishvili, L. Janelidze
Construction: 1966

Tbilisi brutalist monuments

Memorial complex “Victory” in Vake Park

Architect: V. Aleksi-Meskhishvili (1915-1978), O. Litanishvili, K. Nakhutsrishvili (1926)
Sculptor: G. Ochiauri
Start of construction: Vake Park – 1946 / Memorial complex “Victory” construction – 1980-1985
Location: Vake Park

Statues at Expo Georgia

Location: Expo Georgia grounds

Chronicle of Georgia

The impressive monument is located on the outskirts of Tbilisi but it’s so worth the trip there. It’s there to commemorate 3000 years of Georgian sovereignty and 2000 years of Christianity in Georgia and while the works have started in 1985 it is still not fully finished.

I wrote the whole article dedicated to the masterpiece and how to visit it (and how not to do it, learn from my mistakes). You can read it here.

Saint Nino Monument

It’s located next to the former Archeological Museum. Unfortunately, I didn’t find any information about it.

Tbilisi skybridge

Architect: Otar Kalandarishvili, Gizo Potskhishvili
Construction: 1974–1976
Address: Shalva Nutsubidze St, Tbilisi, Gruzja
How to get there: take the metro to State University station and walk a bit from there

Development on steep slopes in Nutsubidze street is one of the weirdest and quirkiest constructions you will ever see. The three high blocks of flats are connected by the sky bridge that goes through them. From the sky bridge, you can also see a nice view of the residential parts of Tbilisi.

To get to Tbilisi sky bridge don’t take the stairs to the 14th floor – I did it and in the end, I encountered the closed gate. Instead, take the elevator in the first block. You need to insert a 20 tetri coin into the box and then you can go all the way up to the 14th floor. The ride is a bit scary but so worth it!

Tbilisi bas reliefs

Former House of Political Education

Architect: V. Abramashvili, G. Mirianashvili, S. Melashvili (1938), G. Salukvadze (1942) / Artist: Zurab Tsereteli
Date: 1978
Location: D. Aghmashenebeli ave. 61, near Marjanishvili metro station

Astrological bas relief on Fabrika Hostel

I didn’t find any information about it but you will want to visit Fabrika anyway as it’s such a cool place so be sure to check the bas relief in front too!

Ortachala Central Bus Station

Artist: Zurab Tsereteli
Date: 1973
Location: Ortachala bus station

Athlete center

Artist: Kukuri Tsereteli
Date: 1978
Location: just off the bridge above the railway line next to Gotsiridze metro station

Bas relief next to the Former Auto Garage

Again, no information about it but you won’t miss this bas relief for sure as it is located literally on the building next to the Former Auto Garage.

Expo Georgia

You can find this bas relief next to the Hall 5 on Expo Georgia grounds.

Bas relieves in the yard of A. Khorava Actors’ House

Bas relief on 2 Nikoloz Baratashvili St

You can clearly see this bas relief from the bus stop across the street.

A little bonus for railway geeks

And for the end, I left a little bonus for the railway geeks like me. From the bridge next to the Gotsiridze metro station you have an impressive view of the old railway’s cars. I loved it!

Map of Tbilisi Soviet architecture

This time I’m not going to make a map of all the locations. Instead, you can download this map I found online. You can find all the places mentioned above and even more.

Click here to get the map!

Enjoy your time in Tbilisi and let me know in the comments below which places you’ve managed to see!

Further reading

I published many articles about Georgia that you might find useful when planning your trip there. Here are some of them:

• 22 Wonderful and Unique Places to Visit in Georgia
• 15 reasons to visit Georgia – the amazing emerging destination
• 49 Awesome Things to Do in Tbilisi, Georgia
• 10 Beautiful Day Trips from Tbilisi, Georgia
• How to get from Tbilisi to Yerevan (or Yerevan to Tbilisi) – a complete guide
• Is it worth to visit Kutaisi? Best things to do in Kutaisi, Georgia
• 10 Amazing Places You Can Visit As Day Trips From Kutaisi, Georgia
• 20 Cool Things to do in Batumi, Georgia
• Visit Tskaltubo, Georgia – an abandoned playground
• and more!

If you are looking for articles about a specific destination – check out the map with all the articles I’ve published (and their locations). You can also join my Facebook group about traveling in the Caucasus and ask your questions there.

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