Urban Routes

One of Tbilisi’s most distinctive cycling loops, this route brings together an excellent selection of cobbled climbs and historic cobbled streets across the city.

The surface should not be underestimated. Many of the sectors feature genuine, extremely rough cobbles, with large stones, uneven gaps and blocks that sometimes protrude noticeably from the road. Narrow strips of cement or asphalt may occasionally provide a smoother line, but much of the route involves real, demanding cobblestone riding. For this reason, the circuit is best suited to gravel or mountain bikes.

The route includes some of Tbilisi’s most iconic cobbled sectors: Kote Abkhazi Street, the Narikala climb and descent, Wine Rise, sections of David Aghmashenebeli Avenue, Zandukeli Street, Barnovi Street and several steep roads around Rustaveli Avenue. On Aghmashenebeli Avenue, some stretches are fully cobbled, while elsewhere the main carriageway is asphalted but a broad cobbled strip remains along one side.

The climbs are generally short but steep, and the rough surface makes them considerably harder than their length might suggest. Although the entire circuit covers only around 19 kilometres, it is physically demanding and requires both reasonable fitness and confident bike handling.

Starting from Liberty Square, the route explores the cobbled streets of the historic centre before continuing towards Kote Abkhazi Street and Avlabari. It then climbs through Wine Rise towards the Holy Trinity Cathedral, descends towards Aghmashenebeli Avenue and finally reaches the cobbled ascents around Rustaveli Avenue before returning to Liberty Square.

With its repeated steep ramps, rough paving, technical descents and urban setting, the route creates the atmosphere of a miniature Northern Classic, something resembling a Tbilisi version of the Tour of Flanders.