Comparison · Baku vs Tbilisi · Azerbaijan / Georgia
Baku vs Tbilisi
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Choose Baku for Old City and Maiden Tower, Flame Towers and beaches; 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 447 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 447 km
- Less expensive
- Tbilisi
- Best time for Baku
- April–June and September–October
- Best time for Tbilisi
- May–June and September–October
Side by side
| Baku | Tbilisi | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Azerbaijan | Georgia |
| Known for | Old City and Maiden Tower, Flame Towers and Heydar Aliyev Center | Sulphur baths, Narikala Fortress and Qvevri wine |
| Best time to visit | April–June and September–October | May–June and September–October |
| Ideal stay | 4 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, 7°C (45°F) | January, 7°C (45°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 7 | 13 |
| Day trips in our guide | 5 | 6 |
| Beaches | Bilgah | — |
| Airports | GYD | TBS, KUT |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Baku for…
Old City and Maiden Tower, Flame Towers and beaches. Baku, Azerbaijan's capital, curves around a bay on the Caspian Sea's Absheron Peninsula. At its centre, the walled Old City (İçərişəhər) holds the Maiden Tower and the Palace of the Shirvanshahs, both UNESCO-listed, inside lanes of caravanserais and carpet…
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
| # | Baku | Tbilisi |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old City (İçərişəhər) | Narikala Fortress |
| 2 | Maiden Tower | Abanotubani sulphur baths |
| 3 | Palace of the Shirvanshahs | Bridge of Peace and Rike Park |
| 4 | Flame Towers | Kartlis Deda (Mother of Georgia) |
| 5 | Highland Park and the funicular | Holy Trinity Cathedral (Sameba) |
Food compared
| Baku | Tbilisi |
|---|---|
| Plov | Adjarian khachapuri |
| Dolma | Khinkali |
| Qutab | Mtsvadi |
| Dushbara | 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 Baku (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Tbilisi on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Baku and Tbilisi are about 447 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 4 days in Baku and 5 in Tbilisi.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Baku or Tbilisi cheaper?
Tbilisi is usually less expensive: about $70–$140 a day mid-range against $90–$180 (estimates).
+Is Baku or Tbilisi better for a first trip?
Pick Baku for Old City and Maiden Tower, Flame Towers and beaches, or Tbilisi for Sulphur baths, Narikala Fortress, lower day-to-day costs and free sights.
+How far is Baku from Tbilisi?
About 447 km in a straight line.