თბილისი Tbilisi (Georgia) & Gori
Walking into a travel agency to book a standard package holiday to Spain or another sun-soaked Mediterranean resort? That has never really been our thing. Until the summer of 2024, our trusty caravan was our faithful travel companion. Every summer it would faithfully follow us south, preferably to a place where sightseeing and naturism could happily coexist. Why choose between exploring historic towns and working on an all-over tan when you can do both?
Then the caravan left the scene, and suddenly we had to rethink the way we travelled. Fortunately, many naturist campsites rent out mobile homes, chalets and the like. We gave that a try in July 2025 (have a look at our holiday timeline if you’re curious), and it worked out just fine.
But August still had a spare week waiting to be filled. Sitting at home was never really an option, so once again the familiar question popped up: Where on earth shall we go this time? As you’ll probably have guessed, the answer wasn’t going to be another predictable beach holiday.
And that’s when Egbert’s favourite part of every trip begins: the planning. While some people enjoy the holiday itself most, he gets almost as much pleasure from the hunt for the perfect destination. Armed with nothing more than an internet connection and an unhealthy amount of enthusiasm, he starts digging for places that might appeal to us and flights that won’t require selling a kidney.
Flight comparison websites are scrutinised one after another. Low-cost airlines such as Ryanair and their budget-minded cousins rarely survive the first round for obvious reasons. We’d much rather fly with a national carrier that can whisk us to our destination via a sensible connection, at a reasonable price and without turning the journey into an endurance test.
And that’s how we ended up flying with Lufthansa. They offered exactly what we were looking for: a straightforward journey to Tbilisi with a smooth connection in Munich.
Accommodation follows the same philosophy. Give us the freedom of a cosy apartment or an entire house over a hotel with fixed schedules and buffet queues any day. That’s why Airbnb has become our faithful travel companion long before we even pack our suitcases.
Tbilisi has no shortage of attractions to keep visitors entertained. It’s a wonderfully laid-back city where your step counter is guaranteed to work overtime as you wander through its charming streets, lively squares and picturesque neighbourhoods.
It didn’t take long, however, to notice that Georgia remains a country divided over its future. Some favour closer ties with Russia, while others passionately support joining the European Union. Graffiti proclaiming “Fuck Russia” is hard to miss in several parts of the city, and the area around the Parliament building clearly shows that political tensions are never far below the surface.
Then again, anyone who has done a little homework before travelling to Georgia will already be aware of the country’s complex recent history.
Below is a small impression of our walks and explorations through the fascinating streets of the Georgian capital.
The Abanotubani district — which literally means “bathhouse district” in Georgian — is one of Tbilisi’s must-see highlights, appearing in countless travel guides and regularly recommended on sites such as Tripadvisor.
Some visitors are warned that the water from the natural sulphur springs can be surprisingly hot. For those looking for something a little more adventurous, there is also the option of booking a rather intense scrub massage. Needless to say, this was an experience we simply couldn’t leave unexplored.
Several bathhouses offer their services, ranging from the more tourist-oriented options to places with a stronger local atmosphere. We decided to go for the more authentic experience and chose ულოს აბანო (Gulo’s)
One of the more unusual excursions you can make from Tbilisi is a visit to Gori, the birthplace of Joseph Stalin.
During the drive, the route takes you relatively close to the border with the breakaway region of South Ossetia. Taking a little detour to have a look, however, is definitely not recommended. The border area is known to be sensitive, and incidents are reportedly still not uncommon.
Gori is a fascinating, yet controversial, place. It is the town where Stalin was born and where, despite the unimaginable suffering caused by his rule, he is still remembered today. Alongside his modest birth house and several statues, the city is home to a museum dedicated to his life.
Naturally, we went in to see what it had to offer. What immediately struck us was that, even decades after the full extent of Stalin’s crimes became widely known, the museum still presents a surprisingly gentle and rather selective view of its most famous — or perhaps infamous — son. Critical voices and a broader discussion of his brutal legacy are remarkably hard to find.
