Like a hidden wizard store opened to those that only seek it, Meidan Bazaar is tucked away into the underground of Tbilisi with an aura of the ancient and a sprinkle of fantasy. If we lived in a story of Vikings and witches, then this place is probably where you would find them buying items and picking things from the brown shelves.

But in the real world, Meidan Bazaar is a lot more than just fantasy. This in an underground market with a network of tunnel shops that is said to have existed as far back as the 4th century. The market still retains its old charms and aesthetics with dark colors, dim lights and no modern equipment in sight.

With it’s history and its unique setting, this place is not only a must visit place in the city but is also a great souvenir shop in Tbilisi if you want to buy anything from hand-made jams and incense to simple fridge magnets or extravagant swords.

Finding Meidan amongst the markets in Tbilisi might be a little tough as its tucked into a corner. We recommend taking a private guided tour – this one takes you across Tbilisi including Meidan Bazaar.

So while you’re in the old town, include this great Tbilisi bazaar in your sight-seeing or shopping activities and we guarantee that you won’t regret it. You can also stay in these hotels to get easy access across Tbilisi.

An Ancient Trade Market

An underrated, not often spoken about spot in Tbilisi, the Meidan Bazaar is more than just a tourist market. This is one the most historical places in Tbilisi as it belonged to an ancient district called “Kala”. It was one of the central parts of the Great Silk Road and is the the oldest trade centers in the entire Caucasus region, dating back as early as the 4th and 5th century.

The market was where merchants (from the East and the West) of the ancient days would gather to sell their goods to the people. This tradition remains even today as sellers (both Georgian and otherwise) beckon visitors to buy items that interests them.

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A Fantasy Style Place

Meidan Bazaar feels like a marketplace straight out of The Witcher or Harry Potter (minus the flying broomsticks, of course). It pulls you into a world where the modern age fades away, surrounded by objects and settings that breathe pure medieval charm

The entrance to the market itself is fun as you’ll have to walk through Old Tbilisi with its charming side shops and cobblestone streets and finally make your way to the underground Meidani market. As you climb down the short set of stairs and enter the archways, you’ll be welcomed by a thousand souvenirs and objects in brown tones sitting on the shelves and hanging from the ceiling.

If witch and wizardry shops were real, Meidan Bazaar is what it would look like.

From Jams to Swords

A long stretch of an underground market, Meidan bazaar has everything from hand-made, natural jams and decorative bowls on the shelves to swords and shields hung on the ceiling. So if you’re wondering where to buy souvenirs in Tbilisi, then look nowhere than Meidani.

Not only would you be able to buy unique souvenirs but you’ll have a fun time walking through the market while taking in the sites of different things known to Georgia and the Caucasus region.

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A Coin For The Witcher?

While passing through the Meidan bazaar, don’t forget to look down. One of the fascinating sights while walking through the underground market is the amount of coins (fake and real mixed in) in mud pots placed on the gaps in the walkway and covered with a grill on top so no hands can slip and take the money.

These coin pots can be found in every interval and look like they were tossed there as a wish. When one looks down at the numerous mud pots loaded with coins in each of them, some even scattered around them, the lyrics “toss a coin for the witcher” would come into your head.

So look down to spot these coin pots and place your own silver in it if you wish.

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Book Your Tbilisi City Tour With Us

Need some help planning your Tbilisi tours, hotel accommodation, food tours and everything else in between? Get in touch with us! We work with fluent English-speaking guides that know the in and outs of Tbilisi and Georgia like the back of their hands. Name a place in Georgia and they’ll take you there with ease.

If you’re not sure what to do in Tbilisi and need a hand to help you create a comprehensive schedule and plan a trip, then our expert travelers and destination expert will do that for you!

Contact us on atworldsorgins@gmail.com or head to our trip planning services page to pick the part of your travel that you need help with.