Tbilisi Opera and Ballet Theatre, Tbilisi, Georgia

Standing: Must see · Heritage site
Rank: Rank 54 of 3,657

Reviewed by Elena Voss · Roavina Travel Editor

About Tbilisi Opera and Ballet Theatre

The Tbilisi Zakaria Paliashvili Opera and Ballet State Theatre on Rustaveli Avenue is Georgia's main opera house. Founded in 1851 as the Tiflis Imperial Theater, it is among the oldest opera houses in Eastern Europe, and its first season opened with Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor. The original theatre was completely destroyed by fire in 1874; since 1896 the company has played in a neo-Moorish building by the architect Viktor Schröter. It has carried the name of the Georgian national composer Zacharia Paliashvili since 1937.

Checked 2026-11-10 · Source

What's inside

The building is Oriental in its decoration and style, but its layout, foyers and main hall follow the plan of a typical European opera house. Its most recent restoration was completed in January 2016 after six years of work. Besides the opera company, the theatre houses the State Ballet of Georgia, led by the Georgian ballerina Nina Ananiashvili, and it also serves as a traditional venue for national celebrations and presidential inaugurations.

Checked 2026-11-10 · Source

Tickets

The theatre's own contact page gives its box office hours: it works every day from 11:00 to 19:00, with a break from 14:00 to 15:00. The address is 25 Rustaveli Avenue, 0108 Tbilisi, and the theatre's phone number is (+995) 32 2 00 44 66. The same page notes that a dress code is necessary. Ticket prices are not listed there.

Checked 2026-11-10 · Source

Place details and sources

Address: შოთა რუსთაველის გამზირი, 25, თბილისი OpenStreetMap · Checked 2026-09-09
Building: Theatre building OpenStreetMap · Checked 2026-09-09
Heritage grade: Grade 2 OpenStreetMap · Checked 2026-09-09
Type of place: Theatre OpenStreetMap · Checked 2026-09-09
Established: 1851 Wikidata · Checked 2026-09-09
Heritage designation: Cultural Monuments of National Importance of Georgia Wikidata · Checked 2026-09-09
Architectural style: Moorish Revival architecture Wikidata · Checked 2026-09-09
Opened: 1851 Wikidata · Checked 2026-09-09
Architect: Victor Schröter Wikidata · Checked 2026-09-09
Wikipedia article: Georgian National Opera Theater Wikipedia · Checked 2026-09-09