The Mystery of the Warm City

A detective walk through old Tbilisi: clues, counting on the move and the big mystery — why the city was named “warm”.

$80 per family about 3 h 15 min (the waterfall is optional) ages 7–13 Up to 8 people English, Russian Start on Liberty Square; finish at the Abanotubani baths

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The children become a team of detectives. At every stop there is a story from the guide, a counting or observation task and a clue that brings them closer to the answer: why is Tbilisi called “warm”? At noon the team makes it to the Gabriadze tower, where an angel strikes a bell, and the finale is where the answer can be touched by hand — at the sulphur baths.

What your child will do

The route, minute by minute

  1. 0:00 · Liberty Square

    Gathering the team

    First question: are you sure you know why the city has its name?

    Task: Count how many streets “run out” of the square 10 min at the stop
  2. 0:10 · Pushkin Street

    Remains of the fortress wall

    The old city wall ran here. Pushkin really did pass through Tiflis in 1829.

    10 min at the stop
  3. 0:22 · Kavlashvili Street

    The Shota Kavlashvili monument

    The man without whom the old town would look different.

    5 min at the stop
  4. 0:27 · Baratashvili Street

    The lamplighter and Berikaoba

    Bronze townspeople of old Tiflis.

    Task: Count the figures in the bronze Berikaoba round dance 13 min at the stop
  5. 0:45 · Gabriadze tower

    The angel with the bell

    Be there by 11:55.

    The leaning tower of the marionette theatre. At exactly noon an angel comes out at the top and strikes a bell.

    Task: On the way, count the carved wooden balconies 20 min at the stop
  6. 1:05 · Anchiskhati

    The oldest church in the city

    A sixth-century basilica — real antiquity right next to the “young old” tower.

    10 min at the stop
  7. 1:15 · Shavteli Street

    The poet's street

    Named after a twelfth-century poet who sang of the age of Queen Tamar. A story on the move.

    8 min at the stop
  8. 1:23 · Patriarchate

    The Patriarch's residence

    In passing.

    Task: Count the “signs of importance” at the entrance: flags, coats of arms, plaques 3 min at the stop
  9. 1:26 · Sioni

    Karvasla, the tamada and Sioni

    A caravanserai, the bronze tamada and the main cathedral of the old town.

    17 min at the stop
  10. 1:43 · Betlemi

    The climb to the Betlemi churches

    A viewpoint over the old town.

    Task: Guess how many steps there are before the climb, then check 22 min at the stop
  11. 2:05 · Gomi and Zdanevich streets

    The narrowest streets

    Here neighbours can shake hands from balcony to balcony.

    10 min at the stop
  12. 2:15 · Meidan

    Meidan and Samgebro Street

    The old bazaar where every language of the city was traded in and spoken.

    11 min at the stop
  13. 2:26 · Botanical Street

    The Juma mosque

    A red-brick building — another part of this many-voiced city.

    9 min at the stop
  14. 2:35 · Leghvtakhevi

    The waterfall in the Fig Gorge (optional)

    A gorge once overgrown with fig trees. The first thing we cut if the group is tired.

    18 min at the stop
  15. 3:00 · Abanotubani

    Finale at the sulphur baths

    The answer to the big mystery.

    The city really does stand on hot water — now it's not a legend but a clue you can touch.

    15 min at the stop

Included

  • A guide for the whole group and the whole route
  • Detective tasks at every stop

Not included

  • Entry tickets, where they are charged
  • Transfer to the starting point
  • Food and drinks

Who it's for

Children aged 7–13 who love counting, searching and solving puzzles. The route is long, with a climb to Betlemi and narrow streets; the waterfall is optional.

Questions

Why does it start at 11:00?

To reach the Gabriadze tower by noon: the angel comes out strictly on the hour.

What if the children get tired?

We skip the waterfall first — 18 minutes saved in one decision.

Want this walk?

Tell us your dates and how many of you there are. We answer within a day — and we will say so if a different walk suits you better.

Led by our own team, not a certified-guide marketplace — that is GuideConnect, opening later.

Other family quests

All tours →Read the area guide →

Updated: August 2026