Comparison · Almaty vs Tbilisi · Kazakhstan / Georgia
Almaty vs Tbilisi
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Dauren Nabijan, CC0
Quick answer
Choose Almaty for Tian Shan mountains and Shymbulak ski resort; choose Tbilisi for Sulphur baths, Narikala Fortress, lower day-to-day costs and free sights. Tbilisi is generally less expensive, and the two are about 2,619 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 2,619 km
- Less expensive
- Tbilisi
- Best time for Almaty
- May–June and September
- Best time for Tbilisi
- May–June and September–October
Side by side
| Almaty | Tbilisi | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Kazakhstan | Georgia |
| Known for | Tian Shan mountains, Shymbulak ski resort and Medeu skating rink | Sulphur baths, Narikala Fortress and Qvevri wine |
| Best time to visit | May–June and September | May–June and September–October |
| Ideal stay | 5 days | 5 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $90–$180 | $70–$140 |
| Cost level | Affordable | Affordable |
| Warmest month | July, 30°C (86°F) | July, 31°C (88°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 0°C (32°F) | January, 7°C (45°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 6 | 13 |
| Day trips in our guide | 6 | 6 |
| Beaches | — | — |
| Airports | ALA | TBS, KUT |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Almaty for…
Tian Shan mountains and Shymbulak ski resort. Almaty, Kazakhstan's largest city and former capital, spreads across the foothills of the Trans-Ili Alatau, with peaks over 4,000 metres visible at the end of its leafy avenues. Its centre mixes Soviet modernist buildings, the wooden Zenkov Cathedral in…
Choose Tbilisi for…
Sulphur baths, Narikala Fortress, lower day-to-day costs and free sights. Tbilisi, Georgia's capital, sits in the valley of the Mtkvari River beneath the walls of Narikala Fortress. Its Old Town packs domed sulphur baths, carved wooden balconies, Orthodox churches, a mosque and a synagogue into a few hilly blocks, while…
Top sights compared
| # | Almaty | Tbilisi |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ascension Cathedral (Zenkov Cathedral) | Narikala Fortress |
| 2 | Green Bazaar | Abanotubani sulphur baths |
| 3 | Kok Tobe | Bridge of Peace and Rike Park |
| 4 | Medeu | Kartlis Deda (Mother of Georgia) |
| 5 | Shymbulak | Holy Trinity Cathedral (Sameba) |
Food compared
| Almaty | Tbilisi |
|---|---|
| Beshbarmak | Adjarian khachapuri |
| Lagman | Khinkali |
| Plov | Mtsvadi |
| Manti | Badrijani nigvzit |
Which is cheaper?
Tbilisi is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $70–$140 per person there, against $90–$180 in Almaty (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Tbilisi on a budget.
Can you visit both?
They are about 2,619 km apart, so combining them means a flight. With 11 days or more it works; otherwise pick one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Almaty or Tbilisi cheaper?
Tbilisi is usually less expensive: about $70–$140 a day mid-range against $90–$180 (estimates).
+Is Almaty or Tbilisi better for a first trip?
Pick Almaty for Tian Shan mountains and Shymbulak ski resort, or Tbilisi for Sulphur baths, Narikala Fortress, lower day-to-day costs and free sights.
+How far is Almaty from Tbilisi?
About 2,619 km in a straight line.