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City in Kvemo Kartli, Georgia
Photo: Zviad Avaliani, Attribution via Wikimedia Commons
Rustavi (რუსთავი) is a city in the Kartli region of Georgia. Only 25 minutes from Tbilisi, packed full of Soviet architecture, surrounded by abandoned factories, derelict Soviet-era parks, and dusty hills, it's something different.
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Tours can be done, though not spontaneous. Use their website to contact them ahead, to let them organise a tour for groups.
Great for strolling and coffee.
As mentioned before, the biggest in the Caucasus. Probably the best option if you want to explore the region with your own car, though getting into Iran might be difficult. It also inhabits a customs counter where all cars to be imported to Georgia have to be registered.
A race track from the 1970s that has been renovated and supposed to become venue for the F3.
3483 hectars and established in 1996. Main protection purpose are the forest groves in this area. Not so touristy yet, with only a few walking tours.
Red Mountains
Undulating hills colored in striations of red, green, black and white. Arrange a tour from Rustavi or Tbilisi, or rent a vehicle with some extra ground clearance.
რუსთავქალაქობა
The city festival of Rustavi.
Decent Georgian/European/American food with English menu.
Highly recommended by locals and travellers alike, just do not get turned off by the surroundings.
The hotel near the Racing Track also features a delicious restaurant.
ღვინოს სახლი
A particularly nice establishment to find Georgian spirits. It is owned by an English-speaking Georgian man whose staff is very helpful in picking out a great bottle of Georgian wine or chacha. And the price is right.
გუდა ბუდა
A great place to grab a coffee or beer and wireless internet.
The main and auspicious hotel in town,
Modern, clean hotel, in a quiet neighbourhood, but rooms can be a bit noisy. Limited hot water.
Directly next to the Racing Track. Also offers rooms hourly.
The new bazaar is bigger, newer, and cleaner. Ideal to buy vegetables, nuts, cloths, etc.
By train
5 km north of the town hall square. Also, the Tbilisi–Baku night train (suspended as of June 2025) used to stop in Rustavi, departing Tbilisi at 17:55 in winter.
Rustavi is easily explored on foot. Rustavi has many marshrutka routes covering the length and breadth of the city. A marshrutka ride has the flat rate of 50 tetri.
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