Tbilisi’s Secret Soviet Bunkers: An Underground Adventure (Updated for 2025)
Beneath the vibrant streets of Tbilisi lies a hidden network of over 400 Soviet-era bunkers, tunnels, and bomb shelters, built during the Cold War to protect against potential nuclear attacks. Many remain abandoned or forgotten, but one authentic 1950s command bunker is now legally open for guided tours—thanks to urban explorers (“diggers”) who have mapped this subterranean world.
Quick History Overview
- Ancient roots: Tbilisi’s underground dates back centuries, with cellars and passages under the Old City from frequent invasions (e.g., Persian sacks and the 1795 Battle of Krtsanisi).
- Early Soviet era: Young Joseph Stalin operated a secret printing press in Avlabari (now a museum you can visit).
- Stalin/Beria era: Lavrenty Beria oversaw a secretive network of tunnels and chambers, possibly used for torture and prisoner transport—no official maps exist.
- Cold War peak: Post-WWII, hundreds of civil defense bunkers were constructed, equipped with generators, ventilation, communications, and supplies.
- Post-USSR: Most fell into disuse after 1991; diggers rediscovered them in the 1990s.
The Bunker Tour Experience (Still Running Strong in 2025)
The main legal tour visits a preserved bunker from the 1950s, once controlling the Gldani-Nadzaladevi area. Highlights include:
- Original diesel generator (rare, as most were looted).
- Ventilation and water systems.
- Communications room with phones and lists connecting to other bunkers across Georgia and the USSR.
- Decontamination area.
- Conference room with Stalin portrait and maps.
- First aid room.
- Gas masks, Geiger counters, and other Soviet gear.
Tours last 30-60 minutes (or longer with questions). Guides share fascinating details, like how bunkers were built by German POWs under a Russian engineer. Fees support maintenance and cleanup.
Guide: Often led by experienced urbexer Tornike Kapanadze (aka “Wise Guy”), who’s made sites safe and legal.
Meeting point: Typically near Nadzaladevi Metro station (exact location sent upon booking).
Price: Around 80-100 GEL per person (check current rates).
Booking (as of late 2025):
- Message Tornike via his Facebook page: Wise Guy – თხუნელა.
- Or book online via platforms like GetYourGuide (“Soviet Bunker – Tbilisi Urbex tour”) or TripAdvisor listings for convenience and reviews.
Recent visitors (2025 reviews) rave about it: “Incredible must-see,” “Knowledgeable guide,” “Unique Cold War time capsule.” Some tours combine with other urbex sites like abandoned theaters or labs.
Tips:
- Wear warm clothes and sturdy shoes (bunkers are cool and unheated).
- Not recommended for those with claustrophobia.
- A second bunker may open soon—ask your guide for updates.
Bonus Nearby Spots
- Stalin’s Underground Printing Press Museum (Avlabari): Descend into the original Bolshevik hideout.
- Tbilisi Metro: Deep stations doubled as shelters—ride for stunning Soviet architecture.
- Telatgori Reservoir: Abandoned Soviet water tanks (fenced off since early 2025, but visible from outside).
This tour offers a thrilling, off-the-beaten-path glimpse into Georgia’s Soviet past—highly recommended for history buffs or anyone seeking something unique in Tbilisi! If you’re planning a trip, it’s one of the city’s most memorable hidden gems.