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The Ultimate Georgia Itinerary for 2024: How to Spend 1-4 Weeks in Georgia

The perfect Georgia itinerary for 1-4 weeks of travel in the Caucasus . Includes detailed transportation info, recommended things to do in Georgia, and up-to-date travel advice for 2024.

Oh Georgia. Where do I begin?

Georgia is a place that first captured my heart in 2017 and has been pulling me back ever since. I eventually gave in and moved here at the beginning of 2020.

I have been lucky enough to experience Georgia in every season from the perspective of both a tourist and an expat. Now that I’ve seen almost everything this country has to offer, I finally feel qualified to recommend the perfect Georgia itinerary for first-time visitors , with options for 1, 2, 3 or 4 weeks of travel.

Clay qvevri jars lined up against a brick wall leading to a church in Kakheti, Georgia.

These itineraries aren’t copied out of a guidebook, and they certainly weren’t designed for me by a tour company. Each one is cobbled together from my various travels around Georgia and based on my personal experiences, mistakes and successes. I have personally visited each and every place mentioned here multiple times, and I’ve done everything I can to make sure these itineraries are both realistic and up-to-date.

I have tried to balance the must-sees and not-so-popular spots for a good mix of nature, culture, history and adventure. For each destination, you will find detailed transportation instructions, personal recommendations for where to stay, and my insider tips for making the most of your time.

This guide includes:

First time in Georgia? Read my 23 Practical Georgia Travel Tips .
Want to see more of the Caucasus? Check out my epic Georgia Armenia Azerbaijan itinerary for the perfect route through all three countries.
Hiring a car? See my alternative adventurous Georgia road trip itinerary and tips for self-driving .
Questions? My Georgia Travel Guide has more FAQ, tips and advice.
Want more Georgia travel goodness? Please consider subscribing to my e-newsletter for regular updates from Georgia.

5 things to consider when planning a Georgia itinerary

There are a couple of crucial things to consider in the early planning stages that will affect how your Georgia itinerary comes together. To give you a heads up – and to put my own itineraries into context – I’m going to briefly touch on just five.

Remember you can find tons more valuable information about trip planning here in my Georgia Travel Guide .

1. How long should you spend in Georgia?

Many people start planning a short trip to Georgia thinking they can see the whole country in a couple of days. But it’s important to understand that moving around chews up a lot of time.

Anything less than one full week and you’ll just want to base yourself in Tbilisi and stick to day trips (possibly with an overnight stay in Sighnaghi or Kazbegi). It’s possible to see a decent amount of the country in 2-4 weeks – but even then, you’ll be travelling at quite a fast pace and with several long travel days back to back.

The itineraries I’ve created don’t include specialty activities such as multi-day treks. If this is of interest, you’ll have to carve a few days out of your itinerary to fit it in. (I’ve included a couple of key multi-day hikes and where to do them below.)

If you have extra days, I recommend using them to slow down your overall pace and spend a bit longer in each place rather than trying to squeeze more in.

2. When to visit Georgia

There is no ‘bad’ time to visit Georgia – every season offers something different. Spring is nice for mild weather, wildflowers and Orthodox Easter celebrations; fall for the rtveli wine harvest and festivals; summer for hiking and outdoor activities; and winter for experiencing Tbilisi’s cosy side and Christmas festivities plus skiing/snowboarding .

The only time I suggest avoiding is peak summer – July/August – as it’s very warm in the cities and many places (including Tbilisi and Batumi) are overcrowded. My absolute favourite time to visit Georgia is late spring (late April/May) or fall (late September/October) . If you want to hike or visit remote mountain regions, avoid the colder months as many roads snow over and are impassable.

My itineraries are specifically designed to be trans-seasonal. The only exceptions are Ushguli and the Goderdzi Pass, which may be inaccessible in the middle of winter.

For more insights, see my month-by-month guide to the seasons in Georgia .

3. Where to start your Georgia itinerary

If you’re flying into Georgia, you have a choice between starting your itinerary in either Tbilisi or Kutaisi. Both cities have international airports with regular connections to Europe, Turkey and the Middle East. Budget travellers usually choose Kutaisi, which is serviced by Wizz Air. Tbilisi, meanwhile, has regular connections from Istanbul, the UAE and Qatar .

I love Kutaisi, but I generally recommend starting your trip in Tbilisi , the capital. The itineraries I’ve designed all start and end in Tbilisi. If you’re flying into Kutaisi, I recommend heading straight to the capital by coach. Georgian Bus runs buses direct from the airport that are timed to leave as planes land. The trip takes around 4 hours and tickets cost 25 GEL. See here for more info.

If flying into Tbilisi, do NOT take a taxi from Tbilisi Airport to your accommodation. Refer to my Airport Guide for information about using the airport bus and organising a reliable transfer.

4. How to get around Georgia

Intercity transport is something you want to consider well in advance as it will impact how long you need to spend in Georgia to see everything you want to see.

That’s because Georgia is small, but transportation is quite basic – it can take a long time to get from place to place if you’re relying on ‘public’ transport. Marshrutka vans are affordable, but schedules are flexible. Road safety is a concern in Georgia , so I strongly suggest you only travel by road during daylight hours and avoid using marshrtuka vans for long journeys or dangerous mountain roads.

Unless you hire a car (recommended for maximum flexibility, but only if you’re a confident driver), you will probably end up using a combination of marshrutka vans and trains, with a few transfers for more complex journeys.

Hire a car from a local agent using Local Rent (the average price is $32/day)
Read up on the basics of marshrutka travel in Georgia
For reliable and budget-friendly private transfers, I always use GoTrip

If you do plan on self-driving in Georgia, you can broaden your itinerary even more. Here is my suggested road trip itinerary for 10 days in Georgia , focusing on harder-to-reach corners and hidden gems.

Organised day trips are very affordable in Georgia. They are a good way to make the most of your time, and to get access to alternative areas without self-driving. Even if you’re not a tour person, I suggest you at least consider an organised day trip from Tbilisi.

Friendly.ge is my preferred day tour operator in Tbilisi. Their itineraries are top-notch, as are the expert guides. Browse their private and small group tours here , and use the code wanderlush at checkout to get 10% off when you book direct.

I have sprinkled some specific day trips throughout these itineraries – or you can browse all Georgia day tours using the links below.

View all Tbilisi day trips on Get Your Guide
View all Kutaisi day trips on Get Your Guide

Most cities and towns in Georgia have a local bus system that is affordable and easy to use. I highly recommend downloading a taxi app (Grab works in most major cities) rather than hailing taxis on the street – they are unmetered and can be difficult to navigate if you don’t speak the language. See my taxi tips here .

5. Budgeting, insurance, visas & other logistics

Georgia offers visa-free travel for passport holders from 95-plus countries (including Australia, the US and the EU) – and you can stay for up to one year .

Passport holders from most countries in Asia and Africa are required to obtain either an e-visa or a visa in advance. I recommend using iVisa to check if you need a visa for Georgia and to apply for an expedited visa if you do.

You might like to bookmark these helpful guides for future reference:

Budgeting for a trip to Georgia
My tips for staying safe in Georgia
My guide to buying travel insurance for Georgia
Georgia packing guide & tips on how to dress in Georgia
Where to store luggage in Tbilisi

Recommended pre-trip reading – How to get from Tbilisi airport to the city – How to buy and activate a Georgian sim card – 12 things I wish I knew before I visited the Caucasus

Georgia itineraries for 1-4 weeks of travel

Here is a brief outline of the four itinerary options included in this guide.

Under each section, you will find a day-by-day breakdown including things to do, recommended accommodations, and detailed transportation instructions for travelling from place to place.

One week in Georgia • Days 1 & 2: Tbilisi • Day 3: Day trip to Mtskheta, Gori & Uplistsikhe • Days 4 & 5: Sighnaghi & Kakheti wine region • Days 6 & 7: Georgian Military Highway & Kazbegi

Two weeks in Georgia • Days 1 & 2: Tbilisi • Day 3: Day trip to David Gareja • Day 4: Mtskheta, Gori & Uplistsikhe • Days 5 & 6: Kutaisi, Chiatura & Tskaltubo • Days 7, 8 & 9: Mestia & Ushguli • Day 10: Zugdidi • Days 11 & 12: Sighnaghi & Kakheti wine region • Days 13 & 14: Georgian Military Highway & Kazbegi

Three weeks in Georgia • Days 1, 2 & 3: Tbilisi • Day 4: Day trip to David Gareja & Udabno • Day 5: Mtskheta, Gori & Uplistsikhe • Days 6 & 7: Kutaisi, Chiatura & Tskaltubo • Days 8, 9 & 10: Mestia & Ushguli • Day 11: Zugdidi • Days 12 & 13: Batumi • Days 14 & 15: Khulo & Upper Adjara • Day 16: Akhaltsikhe & Vardzia • Day 17: Borjomi • Days 18 & 19: Sighnaghi & Kakheti wine region • Days 20 & 21: Georgian Military Highway & Kazbegi

One month in Georgia • Days 1, 2 & 3 : Tbilisi • Day 4: Day trip to David Gareja & Udabno • Day 5: Mtskheta, Gori & Uplistsikhe • Days 6 & 7: Kutaisi, Chiatura & Tskaltubo • Day 8: Martvili • Days 9, 10 & 11: Mestia & Ushguli • Day 12: Zugdidi • Days 13 & 14: Guria • Days 15, 16 & 17: Batumi & the Black Sea Coast • Days 18 & 19: Khulo & Upper Adjara • Day 20: Akhaltsikhe & Vardzia • Day 21: Borjomi • Day 22: Tsalka & Javakheti • Days 23 & 24: Sighnaghi & Kakheti wine region • Day 25: Telavi • Days 26 & 27: Pankisi Valley • Days 28, 29 & 30: Georgian Military Highway & Kazbegi

Georgia itinerary map

Click here to open an interactive map of my Georgia itinerary in a new tab. Each of the four different options is included as a separate layer.

One week in Georgia itinerary

This itinerary for one week in Georgia offers a good introduction to the country. It’s perfect for first-time visitors who want to see the highlights and get a good feel for Georgian culture, food and wine.

If you only have 7 days in Georgia, don’t worry about trying to squeeze too much in – you will almost certainly be back!

Tbilisi – [Mtskheta, Gori & Uplistsikhe] – Sighnaghi & Kakheti –Kazbegi – Tbilisi

Days 1 & 2: Tbilisi – overnight in Tbilisi
Day 3: Day trip to Mtskheta, Gori & Uplistsikhe – overnight in Tbilisi
Days 4 & 5: Sighnaghi & Kakheti wine region – overnight in Sighnaghi
Days 6 & 7: Georgian Military Highway & Kazbegi – overnight in Kazbegi

Days 1 & 2: Tbilisi

A panoramic view of the city of Tbilisi.

Tbilisi – the coolest city in the Caucasus and one of Europe’s most talked about up-and-comers – is the logical place to begin your Georgia itinerary. This is where you’ll find some of the country’s best museums , restaurants and wine bars .

It might be the capital, but Tbilisi has an intimate feel – especially around Sololaki , the oldest neighbourhood, and in the historic Old Town proper. Tbilisi is a layer cake of different histories and influences collected over a lifetime spent sitting at the nexus of East and West , Asia and Europe.

Ottoman-Persian style bathhouses fed by sulfur springs and an urban waterfall , opulent mansion homes built by Armenian merchants and beautiful Orthodox churches sit side by side with Zoroastrian fire temples , grand synagogues and leftovers from Georgia’s Soviet period .

The cherry on top – the thing that gives the Tbilisi of today its unmistakable character – is a slew of quirky additions to the city’s skyline in the form of ultra-modern architecture .

Scaling the walls at Narikala Fortress , watching the sunset at Mtatsminda , and rummaging the Dry Bridge Market for the perfect souvenir are all must-dos.

Spend some time in the trendy Vera neighbourhood visiting coffee shops and cocktail bars , and pop over the river to Chugureti , the old German district, for unique architecture and the Fabrika creative space.

Two full days is the perfect amount of time to revel in the contrasts between old and new Tbilisi. For a full list of things to do in Tbilisi – including alternative attractions and local favourites – refer to my Tbilisi city guide .

Where to stay in Tbilisi

There is no shortage of accommodation options to choose from in Tbilisi, ranging from boutique hotels to budget-friendly hostels . My Tbilisi neighbourhood guide explores the different districts and accommodation options in details. Here are a few of my favourites.

Budget hostel: Fabrika Hostel & Suites is Tbilisi’s most popular hostel and hangout. The space, a converted Soviet sewing factory, houses a cafe/bar/co-working area, boutiques and restaurants, and hosts regular events. Accommodation options include hotel dorms and private doubles.

Click here to check rates & availability on Booking.com or read my full review of Fabrika.

Mid-range hotel: For boutique on a budget, I highly recommend Hotel Manufactura in Avlabari. The property is located on a newly refurbished street and is walking distance from both the Avlabari Metro Station and the Abanotubani Sulfur Baths (via Metekhi Bridge). The breakfast here is top notch, and the rooms are very comfortable.

Click here to check rates & availability on Booking.com .

Boutique hotel: The House Hotel Old Tbilisi offers guests the chance to wake up to a typical Tbilisi courtyard, as viewed from a painted wooden balcony. Rooms feature bespoke wall paintings and vintage carpets. Service is professional and warm, and the complimentary breakfast courtesy of Blue Fox’s Michelin-starred chef is the perfect way to start your day.

I have partnered with The House to offer my readers 10% off – use the code WANDERLUSH when you book directly through the website .

Design hotel: Set in a historic 19th-century mansion house that once belonged to an Armenian merchant, Unfound Door embodies the sophistication and edgy elegance of Old Tbilisi. The painted stairwell will blow you away. Unfound Door Restaurant is one of the finest in the city for both breakfast and lunch/dinner – and cocktails.

Day 3: Day trip to Mtskheta, Gori & Uplistsikhe

Jvari Monastery in Mtskheta, Georgia viewed from above.

Georgia’s ancient capital from the 3rd century BC to the 5th century AD, Mtskheta is home to the country’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site , the Monuments of Mtskheta.

This is one of the most important places to visit in Georgia in terms of both religion and culture. Svetitskhoveli Cathedral , one of the oldest and most important Orthodox churches, and the stunning Jvari Monastery that overlooks the confluence of the Mtkvari and Aragvi rivers, are both located here.

Mtskheta is a short 45-minute drive from Tbilisi, so to make it a full day trip, it’s usually paired with a visit to Gori and Uplistsikhe.

Gori is a small city famously known for being the birthplace of Joseph Stalin , who is remembered in an oh-so-Soviet museum dedicated to his life. Uplistsikhe is Georgia’s oldest cave city and an impressive introduction to the country’s medieval history and the legacy of the much-beloved Queen Tamar.

How to do a Mtskheta, Gori & Uplistsikhe day trip from Tbilisi

You have three options here: Join an organised day tour from Tbilisi, hire a private driver, or go DIY by marshrutka.

An organised tour is the most time-efficient option, but you don’t get much flexibility. In Gori, guides tend to focus exclusively on the Stalin Museum, so you won’t get to see any of the city beyond that. Still, having a guide and guaranteed comfortable transport is the best option for some travellers.

To visit all three in a day , I recommend either this budget-friendly group tour or this flexible private tour . Both visit Mtskheta (including Jvari), Gori and Uplistsikhe, with a stop for lunch in either a local home or restaurant.

If you prefer to go in-depth on Mtskheta , this private half-day tour with Friendly.ge can’t be beat. I have done this itinerary myself and it was absolutely wonderful. It even includes the Chronicles of Georgia. Remember to use WANDERLUSH for 10% off.

Doing this trip DIY by marshrutka is possible, but it will be a bit rushed. I would recommend eliminating Mtskheta (you can visit Jvari and/or Svetitskhoveli on the way to Kazbegi instead) and focusing just on Gori and Uplistsikhe. If you want to try this day trip DIY, jump to full transport instructions in the 2-week itinerary here .

The better option in my opinion is to hire a car and driver for the day through GoTrip . You won’t have a guide, but you will have a lot more flexibility to depart Tbilisi when you want, explore Gori at your own pace, and make extra stops wherever you like.

This example itinerary I designed for Mtskheta, Gori and Uplistsikhe starts from a very affordable $45 per car, inclusive of transfers to and from your front door in Tbilisi. You can design your own route with different stops using the GoTrip platform.

Days 4 & 5: Sighnaghi & Kakheti wine region

Now that you’ve experienced the best of the capital and its surrounds, it’s time to escape Tbilisi and head east to Kakheti , the country’s most productive wine region . The Alazani Valley is a stunning landscape of vineyards and mountain-top churches .

You could easily spend a week or more travelling the tributaries of Kakheti’s Wine Route , visiting the different family-run maranis (cellars) that still make wine the old-fashioned way in clay qvevri and the many larger commercial vineyards. With two full days, you can see a good selection of the region’s most important churches and indulge in a healthy number of wine tastings .

Sighnaghi , the most charming town in the wine region, or Telavi , the biggest city and transport hub, are both ideal places to stay. There are plenty of guesthouses that specialise in good old-fashioned hospitality (and home cooking), so you have that to look forward to on your first night outside the capital.

If boutique is more your style, stay on the vineyards in one of Kakheti’s splendid wine chateaus . The Radisson Tsinandali Estate just outside Telavi is my personal favourite ( read my write-up of the Radisson here ) and every bit worth the splurge if only for the buffet breakfast!

In Sighnaghi, climb the City Walls , visit the local museum to see the exhibit of Pirosmani paintings (Georgia’s favourite artist was born in a nearby village), walk to the exquisite Bodbe Monastery , and drink in the panoramic mountain views from any of the restaurants and wine bars in town. On a clear day, you can see across the valley all the way out to the Greater Caucasus .

Suggested itinerary for Kakheti
A shortlist of my favourite wineries in Kakheti
How to pick an excellent wine tour in Georgia
Telavi City Guide
Kakheti accommodation guide

A woman holds a glass of wine in front of a mountain in Kakheti, Georgia.

Where to stay in Sighnaghi

For this itinerary, I recommend staying in Sighnaghi rather than in Telavi. Sighnaghi is the more ‘atmospheric’ of the two major hubs in Kakheti and has a good range of comfortable guesthouses.

Telavi has more boutique hotel offerings so if that’s more your style, you might consider staying there instead. Seventeen Rooms and Communal Hotel are my personal favourites.

Budget-friendly guesthouse: Zandarashvili Guest House is a typical family-run guesthouse that’s been welcoming tourists for years. Rooms set over the family’s three-level home are all comfortably decorated and spotlessly clean. Mum cooks, dad drives (you can hire him for the day to take you around Kakheti), and son David plays the role of toastmaster at their nightly supras .

Click here to check rates & availability on Booking.com.

Boutique: 4 Rooms offers cute suites and studios with jaw-dropping mountain views. Hostess Mzia is renowned for her hospitality, and the breakfast here is particularly good.

Ranch: If you don’t mind staying a little further from the centre of Sighnaghi, Lost Ridge Inn is one of the coolest accommodations in Kakheti. Rooms are thoughtfully decorated and all have a garden-facing balcony. There’s a restaurant and even a brewery onsite – and they can organise horseback riding tours around the valley. You’ll need a taxi to get here from the centre of town because the ranch is located behind Bodbe Monastery.

Click here to check rates & availability on Booking.com or read my full review of Lost Ridge .

→ Find plenty more options in my Kakheti Accommodation Guide .

The grounds of Bodbe Monastery outside Sighnaghi, Kakheti.

How to get to Sighnaghi from Tbilisi

Sighnaghi and Kakheti Region in general is very easy to get to from Tbilisi with either a marshrutka or shared taxi. Vans depart throughout the day (roughly every 60-90 minutes) from the bus station near Samgori Metro. Shared taxis leave on demand from the street alongside Isani Metro Station.

One thing to be aware of is that there are two possible routes drivers may take. It’s faster to take the Kakheti Highway rather than the Gombori Pass through Telavi, so try to make sure your driver is heading this way.

The first marshrutka is scheduled to leave Tbilisi at approximately 8am. Tickets cost around 10 GEL , and the journey takes 2-2.5 hours via the Kakheti Highway.

A seat in a shared taxi from Isani Metro Station costs around 15 GEL per person. Travel time is slightly faster, and the driver will drop you off closer to your accommodation in Sighnaghi rather than at the bus station .

→ For updated schedules and fares, see my full guide to travelling between Tbilisi and Kakheti.

How to get around Kakheti & travel the Wine Route

The wineries and churches around Sighnaghi are spread out across the valley so you really need your own car to explore the area properly.

The easiest option is to organise a driver for the day through your guesthouse, which you can either do in advance or during your stay. This should cost somewhere in the neighbourhood of 50-60 GEL per person for a full day depending on the number of people you have and how far afield you’re going. It’s cheaper if you pool with other travellers, so you might want to wait until the day and see who else is up for a road trip.

Normally your host will recommend a standard route, but you can always make special requests if there’s a particular winery or monastery you want to see (or skip).

If you want a more intimate experience, I suggest booking a day tour with a reputable company. I use and recommend Eat This! Tours , a small outfit that specialises in family wineries and creative itineraries. They have two single-day tours that focus on Sighnaghi and Telavi, with a good balance between wine tastings, supra feasts and other cultural activities. Pick up/drop off from your accommodation in Kakheti can be arranged.

Check the programs here on the website , and use the promocode WANDERLUSH to get 5% off your booking.

Days 6 & 7: Georgian Military Highway & Kazbegi

It wouldn’t be a trip to Georgia without an up-close look at the Greater Caucasus mountains . Just three hours by road from Tbilisi, the town of Kazbegi (Stepantsminda) is the most convenient place to immerse yourself in picturesque scenery and do a day trek or two. The Alps without the crowds (or the price tag), this is one of the most beautiful and underrated mountain regions in Europe .

Gergeti Trinity – arguably Georgia’s most iconic Orthodox church – is perched in the hills above town against the snowy peak of Mount Kazbegi. End your Georgia itinerary on a high (literally) by hiking up to the church from town (just make sure you follow the right trail – directions here ).

This is one of my absolute favourite things to do in Georgia, especially when you treat yourself to lunch at Rooms Kazbegi afterwards.

The road that links Tbilisi and Kazbegi (and continues up into Russia) is an attraction in and of itself. There are a dozen or so places to stop along the Georgian Military Highway , ranging from Soviet mosaic monuments to scenic viewpoints, medieval churches, and even a small village that some believe is the birthplace of khinkali!

You really want to take your time on this route, so set aside a full day to make the most of it. Hire a car and driver (details below) so that you can make as many stops as possible.

21 things to know before you visit Kazbegi

Where to stay in Kazbegi

Guide to the Georgian Military Highway
Essential guide to the Gergeti Trinity Church hike (must read!)

The Russia-Georgia Friendship Monument in Gudauri is something that should be on your Georgia travel itinerary.

How to travel the Georgian Military Highway to Kazbegi

This is the one route I definitely recommend hiring a car and driver for . There are lots of places to see along the Georgian Military Highway, and if you’re travelling by marshrutka, you simply won’t get a chance to stop.

GoTrip is the most convenient way to find a driver. If you’re coming from Sighnaghi, you should organise for your driver to pick you up from your guesthouse as early as possible. Take the (newly sealed) backroad through Tianeti, stopping off at the cyan-domed Kvetera Fortress Church on the way.

All up, the journey up to Kazbegi takes the better part of 6 hours without stops – so I would give it 8-9 hours in total .

A flexible transfer with GoTrip from Sighnaghi to Kazbegi via Telavi, Alaverdi Monastery and the GMH – with as many stops along the way as you like – starts from 90 USD per car . Customise your own itinerary and book here .

Budget guesthouse: Red Stone Guest House is a lovely little family-run place near the trailhead to Gergeti Trinity. The home-cooked breakfast here is one of the best I’ve had anywhere in Georgia – I’ll never forget sitting in the tiny kitchen while the owner cooked us a magnificent meal on her tiny gas stove. If you’re doing the hike, she simply won’t let you leave without a stash of khachapuri to take with you.

Mid-range hotel: Hotel Stancia offers minimalist Scandi-style rooms in a very convenient location opposite the bus station in the centre of town. The onsite restaurant is really good. Think of it as a budget version of Rooms.

Boutique hotel: Rooms Kazbegi is probably Georgia’s most iconic accommodation and is definitely worth the splurge. Set inside a renovated sanatorium, every little detail is on-point – right down to the outdoor hot tubs. The verandah offers one of the best views of Kazbegi. The only downside is that it’s a bit of a walk from the centre of town. Even if you don’t stay here, it’s worth visiting for a meal at the restaurant.

If A-frame is more your style, there are some stunning luxury mountain cabins and bungalows in and around Kazbegi. Here are my favourite mountain cabins in Georgia .

→ Find plenty more accommodation recommendations in my guide on where to stay in Kazbegi .

When it’s time to say farewell to Georgia, head back to Tbilisi by marshrutka or taxi. If your flight leaves from Kutaisi, transfer directly to Kutaisi Airport via bus from Tbilisi.

Two weeks in Georgia itinerary

Two weeks is enough time to explore both Eastern and Western Georgia in some detail. You won’t see everything, but you will get a small taste for the regions.

For this itinerary, I’ve switched things around to visit Kakheti towards the end of the trip because it makes more sense logistically. If you prefer to visit the wine region on day 3 as in the previous itinerary, you can easily adjust this.

I’ve also chosen to leave out Batumi as you need a full day to get to the Black Sea. I personally love Batumi and Adjara region, but I don’t consider it a must-see if you only have 14 days in Georgia. If you really want to, you could trim a day off Kutaisi and swap out Zugdidi for 2 days in Batumi instead.

This route builds on the previous 7-day itinerary. Additions are bolded:

Tbilisi – [David Gareja & Udabno] – Mtskheta, Gori & Uplistsikhe – Kutaisi, Chiatura & Tskaltubo – Mestia & Ushguli – Zugdidi – Sighnaghi & Kakheti – Kazbegi – Tbilisi

Day 3: Day trip to David Gareja & Udabno – overnight in Tbilisi
Day 4: Mtskheta, Gori & Uplistsikhe – overnight in Gori
Days 5 & 6: Kutaisi, Chiatura & Tskaltubo – overnight in Kutaisi
Days 7, 8 & 9: Mestia & Ushguli – overnight in Mestia
Day 10: Zugdidi – overnight train to Tbilisi
Days 11 & 12: Sighnaghi & Kakheti wine region – overnight in Sighnaghi
Days 13 & 14: Georgian Military Highway & Kazbegi – overnight in Kazbegi

Refer to days 1 & 2 of the one-week itinerary above.

Day 3: Day trip to David Gareja & Udabno

David Gareja and Udabno is probably my favourite day trip from Tbilisi.

The David Gareja cave monasteries are a set of religious sanctuaries composed of chambers and cloisters hewn from rock . The most famous, Udabno Monastery and Lavra Monastery , straddle the border between Georgia and Azerbaijan, and also house a collection of important religious frescoes painted directly onto rock.

As of 2024, the complex is partially closed due to an ongoing border dispute. But the area is safe, and it’s still worth visiting in my opinion.

The semi-desert around Udabno is absolutely unreal. Unmarked hiking routes can be found in the rainbow hills , a wild landscape of multi-coloured striations created by mineral deposits. It’s best to avoid visiting this area in summer as venomous snakes are common.

Guide to visiting David Gareja (with up-to-date information about closures)

How to do a David Gareja day trip from Tbilisi

In the absence of a marshrutka service, there are two ways to get to David Gareja from Tbilisi: Either by joining an organised day trip, or by using the Gareji Line transfer.

Gareji Line is the best option for budget travellers or anyone who is content with just visiting the main monastery. It is essentially a shuttle van that runs between Tbilisi and David Gareja, with a stop for dinner on the way back at the popular Oasis Club .

Vans run every day during high season (starting from May 1) and on demand in shoulder/low season. The cost is 40 GEL per person. More details can be found on their Facebook Page .

If you want to visit the monasteries with a guide and explore more of Udabno, including the rainbow hills, you will need to either hire a car and/or driver, or more conveniently, join an organised day tour from Tbilisi.

There are several different itineraries that combine a visit to David Gareja with either hiking in Udabno or a wine tasting in Sighnaghi. My top choice is the off-road group tour with Friendly.ge , which pays a visit to Natlismtsemeli Monastery – a lesser-seen but very impressive cave temple. Remember to use WANDERLUSH to save 10% on your booking.

Day 4: Mtskheta, Gori & Uplistsikhe

Since Gori is located between Tbilisi and Kutaisi, I suggest spending a night here as you transit from east to west rather than visiting as a day trip like I recommended for the one-week itinerary.

The easiest option is to book a one-way transfer with GoTrip (Tbilisi-Mtskheta-Uplistsikhe-Gori) so that you can leave your bags in the car while you explore Mtskheta and Uplistsikhe. This itinerary I created starts from $45/car .

Once in Gori, use your extra time to explore the city beyond the Stalin Museum , starting with the unexpected old town , and the Great Patriotic War Museum , which chronicles the city’s experience of the South Ossetian conflict in 2008. Finish with sunset at Gori Castle and dinner at Shin da Gori .

Where to stay in Gori

Nitsa Guest House , run by the lovely Lia, embodies everything I love about Georgian homestays: Bucketloads of hospitality, homemade wine and jam on tap, and extremely comfortable and clean rooms. She really is one of the sweetest hosts I’ve stayed with. During our most recent visit, we stayed up late drinking and dancing with her and her school friends, and I know other guests who’ve been invited back to join in the family wine harvest.

How to get to Mtskheta from Tbilisi

If travelling by public transport: Marshrutka vans pass through Mtskheta on the way to Gori. This is one of the most popular routes from Tbilisi, so vans depart frequently – at least every 30 minutes – throughout the day from Didube Station. Travel time to Mtskheta is 45 minutes and tickets cost 2 GEL .

Note that trains do not stop in Mtskheta – but if you are happy to go straight to Gori from Tbilisi, you can take a Poti or Zugdidi train . The journey time is 1 hour, and tickets cost 12 GEL. Check times and buy tickets on TKT.GE .

How to get to Gori from Mtskheta

To travel onwards to Gori, it’s simply a matter of jumping back on a west-bound van. You can easily flag a marshrutka on the roadside. Travel time is roughly an hour , and tickets cost around 2 GEL .

The van might drop you off on the highway, meaning you’ll need to walk down to the road and jump on a local bus to travel the rest of the way (I had to do this once – it’s quite straightforward, and the driver will help you out). If the marshrtuka drops you at the bus station in Gori, you will need to take a taxi into the centre of town.

How to get to Uplistsikhe from Gori

Uplistsikhe is located 14km (around 20 minutes by road) from the centre of Gori. To get there, you can take a local van from Gori’s Bus Station (see location here ) to Uplistsikhe village (around 1 GEL ) and then walk 700 m to the cave entry point.

Or you can take a taxi from Gori, which should cost around 40-50 GEL round-trip including wait time. Taxis wait behind the Stalin Museum near the Chinebuli restaurant . Your guesthouse host can usually organise a reliable driver for you.

Days 5 & 6: Kutaisi, Chiatura & Tskaltubo

A large wall mural on the central market in Kutaisi, Georgia.

Kutaisi is Georgia’s fourth-biggest city and the main hub in the country’s west. It has a completely different vibe to the capital: it is much quieter, and the lush forests of Imereti give it a unique backdrop. That is one of the main reasons why I chose to move here!

I love Kutaisi , not least of all because there are so many cute restaurants and wine bars around town. UNESCO-Listed Gelati Monastery and Motsameta Monastery, linked by a forest walking trail, are both must-sees – as is watching the sunset from the grounds of Bagrati Cathedral .

In the city centre, the sparkling Colchis Fountain pays tribute to the ancient kingdom that once enveloped Kutaisi, one of the oldest continually inhabited cities in Europe . The synagogues, cable car and bustling undercover market are just a few more of my favourite spots.

Tskaltubo is located 20 minutes by road from Kutaisi and is an ideal side trip. A popular summer retreat during Soviet times , it’s home to a collection of sanatoriums that were used for state-mandated health treatments.

Many of these sanatoriums and bathhouses now lay abandoned – a real playground for urbexers and photographers . You can even visit Stalin’s dacha, his former suite at the old Military Sanatorium and Stalin’s personal bath , which is located inside one of the spas that remains open.

Some of the larger buildings were converted into temporary accommodation for IDPs who fled Abkhazia in the 1990s. When exploring Tskaltubo, be a responsible traveller and keep in mind that many families still live here and that some buildings are off-limits (it’s fairly obvious which ones to avoid).

A tiled bathroom in an old Soviet sanatorium in Tskaltubo, Georgia.

While you’re in Kutaisi, I also suggest taking a full-day trip to Chiatura and Katskhi Column . Chiatura is a small mining city that flourished in Soviet times but has since gone into decline. In the 1950s, the state erected a network of 17 cable cars across Chiatura to ferry workers to and from the manganese mines.

Some of the original cars were still running up until just a few years ago (I was lucky enough to ride on ‘Stalin’s Rope Roads’ back in 2017), but in 2021, they were replaced with a new set of gondolas. If you’re interested in Soviet nostalgia and brutalist concrete architecture, this is the perfect day trip for you.

On the way to Chiatura, stop off at Katskhi Column, a striking monastery that sits atop a tall limestone stalactite .

And if you have time, make a pit-stop in the industrial city of Zestafoni , where you will find some truly remarkable mosaics and a 1930s-era ferroalloy factory .

Things to do in Kutaisi
Alternative Kutaisi & quirky activities

Where to stay in Kutaisi

15 Kutaisi day trip ideas
Best Kutaisi restaurants
Best Kutaisi bars
Detailed guide to Tskaltubo
How to do a Chiatura day trip from Kutaisi

A gold-coloured cable car in Chiatura. Georgia.

Budget hostel: The newly re-launched Black Tomato Hostel offers bright and airy dorms plus private rooms with ensuite bathrooms in the heart of Sapichkhia, the former Jewish Quarter. Everything is newly renovated, while antique furnishings give rooms a classic Kutaisi feel. The onsite restaurant, which takes its inspiration from Kutaisi-Jewish cuisine, is fabulous and worth trying for lunch or dinner even if you’re not staying here.

Mid-range hotel: Hotel Newport is located in the old Kutaisi courthouse, directly behind the Colchis Fountain at the entrance to the historic Jewish Quarter. Rooms are compact and tidy, and the onsite restaurant-bar is great (I often eat here). A nice buffet breakfast comes included. Don’t miss out on seeing their rooftop terrace.

Boutique hotel: The recently inaugurated Communal Kutaisi is easily the loveliest hotel in town. Set on historic Tabidze Street, rooms are small but impeccably designed, with elements that channel Old Kutaisi charm. There is a pool out back, and the hotel’s Georgian restaurant, Doli, is the best place to eat in the city.

→ Find more suggestions in my Kutaisi neighbourhood & hotel guide

How to get to Kutaisi from Gori

There are semi-regular marshrutka minivans and shared taxis departing Gori bus station for Kutaisi throughout the day, starting from as early as 9am. Travel time is around 2.5-3 hours , and the fare is approximately 12 GEL .

Kutaisi’s main bus station, where most vans terminate, is located next to the McDonalds on Chavchavadze Avenue, around 4 km from the centre (see location here ). City bus #1 will take you from the bus station to the Colchis Fountain for 60 tetri.

How to visit Tskaltubo from Kutaisi

Vans to Tskaltubo depart from the end of the Red Bridge (near the Magnolia Hotel) every 15-20 minutes between 7am and 7pm. Travel time is 25 minutes , and the fare is 2 GEL . When you arrive in Tskaltubo, jump out at the park. Alternatively, a taxi to Tskaltubo costs around 15 GEL when booked through Bolt .

To get back to Kutaisi, just flag down a van travelling the opposite way. The fare is the same.

How to visit Katskhi Column & Chiatura from Kutaisi

There are a dozen daily vans to Chiatura from Kutaisi’s main bus station starting from 7.20am and departing once an hour until 4.30pm. Drivers normally make a short stop in Zestafoni on the way, so if you want to see the mosaics and architecture in Zestafoni first, jump out here for a walk around.

Drivers can drop you off on the highway at the trailhead for Katskhi Column on request. Travel time is 1.5-2 hours to Chiatura or just over an hour to Katskhi Column. Tickets cost around 10 GEL .

After you’ve visited Katskhi, you can just jump back in a van to continue to Chiatura. See my detailed instructions for visiting Katskhi and Chiatura from Kutaisi for more tips and important information about getting back to Kutaisi at the end of the day.

You can also go further along the same highway past Chiatura to Sachkhere , where there are a few more notable mosaics and a wonderful fortress called Modinakhe (car required). See my guide to Sachkhere here for inspiration.

With a private driver booked through GoTrip, you could quite easily do all five stops in one day . Drive time is around 4 hours return. Here is my Kutaisi-Zestafoni-Katskhi-Chiatura-Sachkhere itinerary .

Optional detour: Skip Svaneti & continue to Racha region

Sachkhere is the starting point for a new high mountain road that goes all the way to Racha region . It is one of the most beautiful drives in the country, especially in autumn .

If you’re searching for an alternative to Svaneti (Mestia and Ushguli) for days 7-9 of your trip, Racha is a terrific choice – it has alpine villages, hiking trails, incredible wine and cuisine, Shaori Lake, Tskhrajvari , and the wonderful small town of Oni with its synagogue.

I recommend booking a driver to take you all the way to Oni via the Alpana-Mamisoni Pass, then basing yourself at the wonderful Family Hotel Gallery . Racha is a bit tricky to navigate without your own car, but host Nika can help you with organising transport and/or hikes.

Days 7, 8 & 9: Mestia & Ushguli

Remote Svaneti Region is one of the most ruggedly beautiful corners of Georgia. Located in the country’s far north-west, the stunning scenery here is matched by a fascinating cultural mix that comes from the diverse ethnic groups who have lived in the mountains and valleys for eons.

Svaneti offers the best mountain hiking in Georgia. You won’t have enough time for the multi-day Mestia to Ushguli trek on this itinerary, but there are a range of alternative day hikes available.

Mestia is the main hub for Svaneti and has a good selection of guesthouses and restaurants, along with frequent transport connections. This is the place to indulge in hearty mountain fare (kubdari beef pie and spiced Svanetian salt are two regional specialties that you must try), and learn about the legendary Svans at the wonderful Svaneti Museum of History and Ethnography .

Ushguli is just a day trip away from Mestia. One of the highest inhabited villages in Europe (by some measures), it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site recognised for its iconic medieval stone fortified towers . In the village of Chazhashi, more than 200 towers still stand proud today.

Where to stay in Mestia

Budget-friendly guesthouse: Manoni’s Guesthouse is one of the longest-running in Mestia, and the family really know how to treat their guests. Rooms are very comfortable, especially the private doubles with ensuite. Meals are served in a cosy dining room. They can organise anything and everything on your behalf, including shared vans to Ushguli.

Boutique hotel: Hotel Lahili is a 5-minute walk from the museum, with modern and stylish rooms, comfortable common spaces and a generous breakfast.

Cabin: If you’re looking for something more secluded, Bude Mestia Cottages offer gorgeous self-contained A-frame cabins set in the forest 3km from the main square.

How to get to Mestia from Kutaisi

Kutaisi to Mestia is quite the journey so be prepared for a long and windy day of travel. I highly recommend booking a shared transfer with Budget Georgia – it’s generally a safer and definitely a more comfortable option. Prices start from 80 GEL per person in summer. Mention me when you book to get 10% off.

If you opt for public transport, then depending on the time of year, you might have to change vans in Zugdidi as direct marshrutka vans only tend to run in the high season. This is nothing to worry about though – mention your final destination to your first driver in Kutaisi and they will phone ahead to the next driver to ensure you make the transfer.

Travel time by marshrutka to Mestia from Kutaisi is approximately 5-7 hours . There is one direct van from Kutaisi Central Bus Station departing between 8am-10am, and the fare is 40 GEL . Alternatively, take a van to Zugdidi (hourly; 10 GEL ) and change to a Mestia there.

This road was recently upgraded, but it’s still a nail-biter. If you prefer to go with a driver (not a bad idea, especially in winter), a private transfer with GoTrip starts from 400 GEL.

How to visit Ushguli from Mestia

Ushguli is located 50 km east of Mestia, deeper in the mountains. You can travel between the two by road in around 2 hours . Most people visit Ushguli as a day trip. It’s possible to stay overnight (there are plenty of guesthouses) but in my opinion, a day is enough.

Tourist vans ply this route and there are always a couple of daily departures leaving Mestia at around 9am and returning before nightfall. The going rate for a seat is around 40-60 GEL per person return, and itineraries usually include lunch and a few scenic pit stops on the way to Ushguli.

Your guesthouse owner should be able to phone ahead and save you a seat the day before – or you can try your luck by approaching a driver near the main square (there are usually 4WDs waiting here as well if you prefer to go in a private car).

This road has improved considerably in recent years, but about 10 km is still unpaved. Note that if snow is particularly heavy in winter or if there’s a landslide in spring, the road to Ushguli may be closed for several days or more.

Day 10: Zugdidi

Dadiani Palace, a beautiful castle surrounded by a park in Zugdidi, Georgia.

Zugdidi is a convenient place to stop for a few hours on the way down from Svaneti before you cross back into Eastern Georgia.

I have a soft spot for the biggest city in Samegrelo Region , a part of Georgia that’s very culturally distinct from the rest of the country. It also happens to be home to my favourite regional cuisine . Megrelian specialty restaurants such as Diaroni serve up kharcho (rich beef stew with walnuts) and elarji (cheesy cornmeal).

The biggest attraction in Zugdidi (apart from the food) is the Dadiani Palace , a former royal residence-turned-museum that holds a rare Napoleon death mask in its collection (strange, I know).

Zugdidi Botanical Garden , the former palace grounds, is now a beautiful public park. The city’s aristocratic heritage and connection to the French royal family is quite fascinating.

If you have time, take a 20-minute bus ride to Rukhi Castle for a view of Abkhazia before boarding the evening train back to Tbilisi .

15 things to do in Zugdidi
Visiting a traditional Megrelian pottery workshop in Zugdidi
The perfect day trip around Samegrelo region (coming soon!)

A spread of traditional Mingrelian food at a restaurant in Zugdidi, Georgia.

How to get to Zugdidi from Mestia

There are at least three direct vans from Mestia to Zugdidi daily departing from the bus station off Seti Square (see location here ). Check times when you arrive in Mestia – the owner of your guesthouse will know. Travel time to Zugdidi is around 4 hours with a stop at Enguri Dam, and the fare is around 40 GEL .

Taking the train from Zugdidi to Tbilisi

The rest of this two week Georgia itinerary is based in the east of the country. You’ll need to transfer through Tbilisi to get to Kakheti, so I recommend taking advantage of the late train to get back to the capital from Zugdidi. This will save you a full day on the road.

An evening train departs Zugdidi at around 5.20pm and arrives in Tbilisi just before midnight. Tickets start from 16 GEL and can be purchased online in advance via TKT.GE .

Spend a night in Tbilisi, then on day 11, take a metro or taxi to Samgori/Isani to catch a marshrutka/taxi straight to Kakheti (the first van of the day is scheduled for 8am).

You will arrive bright and early in Sighnaghi, so you can afford to have a rest morning to recover from the long journey. Make sure you organise an early check-in with your guesthouse in advance.

Days 11 & 12: Sighnaghi & Kakheti wine region

Refer to days 4 & 5 of the one-week itinerary above.

Days 13 & 14: Georgian Military Highway & Kazbegi

Refer to days 6 & 7 of the one-week itinerary above.

Three weeks in Georgia itinerary

Three weeks in Georgia is ideal for travelling at a slightly slower pace. You will have more time up your sleeve for specialty activities such as hiking, and you’ll be able to visit a few of the more remote corners of the country that take longer to reach by road.

This route builds on the previous 2-week Georgia itinerary. Additions are bolded:

Tbilisi – [David Gareja & Udabno] – Mtskheta, Gori & Uplistsikhe – Kutaisi, Chiatura & Tskaltubo – Mestia & Ushguli – Zugdidi – Batumi – Khulo & Upper Adjara – Akhaltsikhe & Vardzia – Borjomi – Sighnaghi & Kakheti – Kazbegi – Tbilisi

Days 1, 2 & 3: Tbilisi & day trips – overnight in Tbilisi
Day 4: Day trip to David Gareja & Udabno – overnight in Tbilisi
Day 5: Mtskheta, Gori & Uplistsikhe – overnight in Gori
Days 6 & 7: Kutaisi, Chiatura & Tskaltubo – overnight in Kutaisi
Days 8, 9 & 10: Mestia & Ushguli – overnight in Mestia
Day 11: Zugdidi – overnight in Zugdidi
Days 12 & 13: Batumi – overnight in Batumi
Days 14 & 15: Khulo & Upper Adjara – overnight in Khulo
Day 16: Akhaltsikhe & Vardzia – overnight in Akhaltsikhe
Day 17: Borjomi – overnight in Tbilisi
Days 18 & 19: Sighnaghi & Kakheti wine region – overnight in Sighnaghi
Days 20 & 21: Georgian Military Highway & Kazbegi – overnight in Kazbegi

Days 1, 2 & 3: Tbilisi & day trips

The ornate facade of a bathhouse in Tbilisi.

For things to do in Tbilisi, refer to days 1 & 2 of the one-week itinerary above.

This itinerary allows for an extra day in Tbilisi. You might choose to spend it visiting the Chronicles of Georgia and Tbilisi Sea , exploring the outdoor market at Navtlugi and visiting the Stalin Printing House Museum , or by venturing up to the Open Air Ethnography Museum, Turtle Lake , and one of my favourite restaurants in Tbilisi , Rachis Ubani.

Or you might choose to add on an extra Tbilisi day trip instead.

Day 4: Day trip to David Gareja & Udabno

Refer to day 3 of the two-week itinerary above.

Day 5: Mtskheta, Gori & Uplistsikhe

Refer to day 3 of the one-week itinerary above.

Days 6 & 7: Kutaisi, Chiatura & Tskaltubo

Refer to days 5 & 6 of the two-week itinerary above.

Days 8, 9 & 10: Mestia & Ushguli

Refer to days 7, 8 & 9 of the two-week itinerary above.

Day 11: Zugdidi

For things to do in Zugdidi , refer to day 10 of the two-week itinerary above.

For this itinerary, I recommend spending the night in Zugdidi before you continue down the coast to Batumi.

Where to stay in Zugdidi

Guesthouse: Casa de Khasia is a gorgeous boutique guesthouse that’s run by a local couple who are extremely active in advancing the rights of Abkhaz IDPs and promoting Zugdidi as a tourist destination. Rooms are large and beautifully furnished, and the outdoor common spaces are delightful. Breakfast is included.

Guesthouse: Another guesthouse option in Zugdidi, Elco is conveniently located near the railway station. The owners are beyond friendly (I was invited to dinner when I stayed with them), and the rooms are really above and beyond, with tidy ensuites and a full coffee set-up for preparing your morning brew.

Optional detour: Poti & Kolkheti National Park

Located north of Batumi, the Black Sea city of Poti , also part of Samegrelo region, is a short 60-minute drive from Zugdidi. If you are more interested in nature and history, you might like to spend a day here on your way down to Batumi.

The site of an important sea port, Poti has beautiful turn-of-the-century architecture, a heritage lighthouse, and some fun street art. Just outside the city, Kolkheti National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site where you can take a boat trip across Palistomi Lake and explore an exceptional landscape of wetlands and mangrove forests.

See my full guide to Poti for ideas, and my Kolkheti National Park guide for information about booking a boat excursion.

Days 12 & 13: Batumi

People watch the sunset on Batumi beach in Georgia.

Batumi is Georgia’s biggest Black Sea resort city . I will be the first to admit that it’s not everyone’s cup of tea (it wasn’t mine either at first) – but with three weeks in Georgia, it would be a shame not to visit the Black Sea region, which is very important to Georgian culture.

Adjara (the region Batumi is part of) is another culturally distinct pocket of the country with a palpable Turkish influence and yet another scrumptious local cuisine to its name. Adjaruli Khachapuri – that iconic boat-shaped bread oozing with molten cheese, butter and a gooey egg – was born in Adjara.

Batumi revolves around the stony beachfront and Batumi Boulevard, a scenic park that traces the sealine and has been a fixture of the city since 1881. Hire a bike and cycle along the foreshore – all the way to Sarpi and the Turkish border if you’re game.

The Batumi Botanical Garden was the largest in the Soviet Union and is a must-visit for easy hiking and sea views. Eat lunch at the Fish Market , walk the old town , then take a bus down the coast to Gonio Fortress or north to Petra Fortress , Seaside Shukura at Tsikhisdziri Hidden Beach and the magnetic black sand beaches around Ureki.

Some of Georgia’s best national parks (and the country’s newest UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Colchic Rainforests and Wetlands), are a day trip away . Go hiking in Mtirala National Park or visit the more-spectacular and more-remote Machakhela , which straddles the Turkish border.

Admire Batumi’s street art and imaginative architecture , then finish your day with sunset drinks at high-rise Kartuli . As long as you’re visiting outside of peak summer season, you’ll no doubt find plenty of reasons to love Batumi.

35 things to do in Batumi
10 excellent day trips from Batumi
Guide to visiting Batumi Botanical Garden
Where to find Batumi’s best street art
Cycling to Sarpi and the Turkish border from Batumi
Guide to the best short hike near Batumi

A large street mural in Batumi, Georgia, depicts a woman swimming.

Where to stay in Batumi

Boutique hotel: Kartuli Hotel is my top choice of accommodation in Batumi. Rooms range from very affordable doubles all the way to luxury suites. The location on the 37th floor of Orbi Tower is mind-blowingly good – the sea views, especially at sunset, are insane. Every little design detail is on-point and the breakfast is also top notch. Just note that the New Boulevard location is a little far from the centre of town, and food options at this end of the beach are more limited.

Click here to check rates & availability on Booking.com or read my full review of Kartuli.

Mid-range hotel: Mariinsky Boutique Hotel has an excellent location in the centre of Batumi, walking distance from both the Old Town and the Old Boulevard. Rooms are clean and contemporary. The property has a nice rooftop terrace.

Up-scale hotel: Launched in 2023, the latest Rooms hotel, Rooms Batumi , takes design inspiration from its harbourfront location. Prices for the ‘haute bunk bed rooms’ are very affordable, while suites have a higher price tag.

How to get to Batumi from Zugdidi

There are at least eight daily vans to Batumi departing from the bus depot near Zugdidi Railway Station (see location here ). Travel time is 3 hours and the fare is around 25 GEL . If there’s no van available when you arrive at the station, you can always transfer through Poti (a charming city in its own right, see the optional detour described above).

The journey down the Black Sea Coast is a real treat. Grab a seat on the righthand side of the van for the best views.

Days 14 & 15: Khulo & Upper Adjara

A red cable car sails over a leafy valley in Khulo, Georgia.

Upper Adjara is the mountainous region east of Batumi. Majority Muslim, it’s known for its opulent painted mosques . In summer, shepherds come here to pasture their flocks. In winter, picturesque mountain towns dotted with sweet cabins transform into ski slopes.

Khulo is not the biggest town in Upper Adjara, but it’s definitely my favourite place to base your stay. It offers a good selection of accommodation and a couple of reliable food options ( Restaurant ABX is my top pick).

As you will see, they do things a bit differently here – one of the ways to get around is by using a cable car to travel across the valley! Built in 1985, it still uses all its original mechanics. The line is just under 2 km, making it the second-longest single-span cable car in Europe .

I have done this trip twice now and let me tell you, it is mighty nerve-racking. Taxis are available from Khulo to take you to Glamping Tago if you prefer (see below).

Where to stay in Khulo

Guesthouse: Hotel Khulo Inn is a short walk from the centre of town and boasts direct views of the valley and Tago cable car. Rooms are new and very comfortably furnished, and the owners – a young local family – are incredibly gracious. I stayed here recently and rate it highly.

Glamping: For something special, Upper Adjara has a few ‘glamping’ luxury tents and geodesic domes. Glamping Tago is located in the small village on the opposite side of the valley and can be reached via cable car from Khulo. The spectacular mountaintop location makes it one of the most memorable accommodations in Georgia.

Book a tent here , and read my review of Glamping Tago here .

A white Lotus Belle tent framed by white daisies in the mountains of Upper Adjara in Georgia.

How to get to Khulo from Batumi

Marshrutka vans bound for Khulo and the villages in Upper Adjara leave every hour or so from Batumi’s old bus station (see location here ). Travel time is 2.5 hours and tickets cost 10 GEL . Alternatively, a taxi costs around 150 GEL. Hotel Khulo Inn and Glamping Tago both offer this service.

The road into the mountains is windy and a bit rough, so if you suffer from motion sickness remember to have your medication on-hand.

Day 16: Akhaltsikhe & Vardzia

Vardzia cave city, a must-visit on any Georgia itinerary.

Akhaltsikhe is a small city in Georgia’s Samtskhe–Javakheti region , a culturally diverse part of the country that is loaded with historical monuments and archaeological sites . The most famous of them all is of course Vardzia , Georgia’s biggest cave city , which lies just east of Akhaltsikhe.

Composed of more than 4,000 individual cells and chambers hewn from a sheer rock wall , it cuts an impressive figure. It’s enthralling to explore on foot, especially when you have a guide to point out the copper pipes, bread ovens and clay qvevri – ancient amenities that once supported a large community of resident monks .

The grounds of Rabati Castle in Akhaltsikhe, Georgia viewed from above.

The biggest attraction in Akhaltsikhe city is Akhaltsikhe Fortress, AKA Rabati Castle , a massive fortification that was originally built in the 9th century.

Some say the recent renovations went a step too far and left the castle feeling like a theme park . I still think it’s quite beautiful , despite not being able to tell where history ends and fantasy begins! I’ll let you be the judge.

My tips for visiting Vardzia
Things to do in Akhaltsikhe
Complete guide to visiting Akhaltsikhe (Rabati) Fortress
10 things to do in Samtskhe-Javakheti region
Meskhetian foodie guide

Where to stay in Akhaltsikhe

Located on the steep street that leads to the castle, Old Street offers a handful of large and very comfortably furnished rooms, one with an ensuite bathroom. The family live onsite and are very helpful with organising drivers, transport and the like. A fulsome breakfast can be added for a few extra GEL. We once had to wake up at dawn to catch a van when we stayed here and they very kindly prepared breakfast for us the night before so that we wouldn’t miss out.

How to get to Akhaltsikhe from Khulo

The mountain road between Khulo and Akhaltsikhe is still unpaved in sections and quite slow-going as a result. In 2024, work will continue and hopefully the entire road will be sealed and safe to drive soon.

A vehicle with high clearance, preferrably a 4WD, is required, and it’s not recommended to travel after heavy rain. If in doubt, call the Roads department hotline (+995 322 313 076) to check conditions.

There is only one daily direct marshrutka van during summer that I’m aware of – check times locally – or else you can travel by shared or private taxi. The trip takes around 3.5-4.5 hours via a beautifully scenic stretch of mountain road that passes by Goderdzi ski resort.

Note that the high pass is closed in winter. If you are travelling in the low season (approximately November to April), you will need to re-route back through Batumi and Khashuri instead.

How to visit Vardzia from Akhaltsikhe

Vardzia is 60 km south of Akhaltsikhe and can be reached in around 75 minutes by road. There are infrequent marshrutka vans to Vardzia from Akhaltsikhe’s bus station (see location here ) for around 7 GEL one-way, but the more convenient way to travel is by hiring a car and driver to take you there and back. This should cost around 60 GEL including wait time, and your guesthouse in Akhaltsikhe will be able to organise it for you.

For times and fares, see this guide on how to get to Vardzia .

Day 17: Borjomi

Two children walk through Borjomi Central Park.

In Georgia and across the former USSR , Borjomi is associated with one thing: Mineral water. Natural carbonate springs were ‘discovered’ here in the 1850s, but archaeological evidence suggests the waters have been used for health purposes since at least the 7th century BC.

Today you can visit the original spring inside Borjomi Central Park – a leafy slice of parkland with walking trails, a cable car and open-air thermal baths – and fill up a bottle with water straight from the source.

Borjomi has traditionally been a place for rest and respite, so it’s a good place to pause for a day. Aside from the park and a short cable car, there are Soviet mosaics and Romanov-era buildings .

Unfortunately, Georgia’s only scenic railway, the Kukushka train from Borjomi to Bakuriani , was cancelled in 2020 and has not recommenced. Bakuriani village is a ski resort in wintertime and a lovely village in summer, with old sanatoriums and a Greek village in the hills nearby.

The stunning Romanov Palace in nearby Likani is also closed, with no re-opening date in sight. You can see objects from the palace on display at the Borjomi History Museum instead.

Outdoor enthusiasts can find easy day hikes and challenging multi-day expeditions in Borjomi Kharagauli National Park . Because of its lower elevation in the Lesser Caucasus, trails here open earlier than in Kazbegi or Svaneti – making it a great option for spring.

Complete Borjomi city guide
7 best day trips from Borjomi

A man pours mineral water into a glass at a restaurant in Borjomi, Georgia.

Where to stay in Borjomi

Self-contained apartment: Borjomi Cottages (formerly called Guest House on Erekle) is a terrific choice for singles or couples. They offer several self-contained studio apartments set inside little cabins, complete with a kitchenette and modern bathroom. It’s walking distance from the train station and Central Park, and Pesvebi restaurant – which happens to be run by the guest house owner’s sister – is just footsteps away.

Budget-friendly guesthouse: Guest House Besarioni is another solid choice in Borjomi. Private rooms are set inside a family home on the hill above town, accessed via a flight of stairs from the main street. Rooms are comfortable, there’s a washing machine, and the owner is extremely friendly and helpful. There are a number of short hiking trails in the hills above the guesthouse too.

Boutique hotel: Set in one of the most beautiful old buildings in Borjomi – a house built for the Iranian Consul – Golden Tulip Borjomi is steps from Central Park. Rooms are furnished in the same opulent style as the exterior. The upstairs breakfast terrace affords lovely views.

How to get to Borjomi from Akhaltsikhe

Borjomi is 50 km (around an hour by road) from Akhaltsikhe. There are minivan connections from the bus station in Akhaltsikhe throughout the day. The fare is around 5 GEL .

Optional detour: Abastumani instead of Borjomi

If you’re looking for an alternative to Borjomi, Abastumani is another former spa resort around 40 minutes north of Akhaltsikhe in the Lesser Caucasus. It too has hot springs, a Romanov Palace and heritage architecture , plus a Soviet-era mountain observatory where you take a tour of the restored telescopes or book in for an evening stargazing session.

See my Abastumani guide for more information, transport tips and accommodations.

Days 18 & 19: Sighnaghi & Kakheti wine region

Days 20 & 21: georgian military highway & kazbegi, one month in georgia itinerary.

If you’re able to budget four whole weeks for Georgia, you are setting yourself up for a really wonderful trip.

I call this the ‘Ultimate’ Georgia itinerary because it touches on all the major cities, historical and cultural sites and landscapes. It includes 21 cities and towns, 9 out of the 12 regions, and all 4 UNESCO Sites (plus 8 of the 15 Tentative Sites).

This itinerary follows the same format as previous routes but with more stops included. Additions are bolded:

Tbilisi – [David Gareja & Udabno] – Mtskheta, Gori & Uplistsikhe – Kutaisi, Chiatura & Tskaltubo – Martvili – Mestia & Ushguli – Zugdidi – Guria – Batumi – Khulo & Upper Adjara – Akhaltsikhe & Vardzia – Borjomi – Tsalka & Javakheti – Sighnaghi & Kakheti – Telavi – Pankisi Valley – Kazbegi – Tbilisi

Day 8: Martvili – overnight in Martvili
Days 9, 10 & 11: Mestia & Ushguli – overnight in Mestia
Day 12: Zugdidi – overnight in Zugdidi
Days 13 & 14: Guria – overnight in Ozurgeti
Days 15, 16 & 17: Batumi & the Black Sea Coast – overnight in Batumi
Days 18 & 19: Khulo & Upper Adjara – overnight in Khulo
Day 20: Akhaltsikhe & Vardzia – overnight in Akhaltsikhe
Day 21: Borjomi – overnight in Borjomi
Day 22: Tsalka & Javakheti – overnight in Tbilisi
Days 23 & 24: Sighnaghi & Kakheti wine region – overnight in Sighnaghi
Day 25: Telavi – overnight in Telavi
Days 26 & 27: Pankisi Valley – overnight in Jokolo
Days 28, 29 & 30: Georgian Military Highway & Kazbegi – overnight in Kazbegi

Days 1, 2 & 3: Tbilisi

Refer to days 1, 2 & 3 of the three-week itinerary above.

Refer to day 4 of the three-week itinerary above.

Refer to day 4 of the two-week itinerary above.

Day 8: Martvili

Tables and chairs on a brightly lit verandah at Karma Hostel in Martvili, Georgia.

This one month Georgia itinerary is full to the brim, so I recommend enjoying a bit of downtime whenever you can.

Martvili , a small town in Samegrelo region, is the perfect place to pause between Kutaisi and Svaneti, giving you a chance for some much-needed rest between long drives. If you want to power through, you can easily travel directly from Kutaisi to Mestia and enjoy an extra day in the mountains.

There are a couple of noteworthy attractions in and around Martvili, including Martvili Monastery and two popular canyons, Martvili and Okatse . I’m not a huge fan of the canyons (or the nearby Kinchkha Waterfall ) – all of these sites are overdeveloped in my opinion and charge a hefty entrance fee.

Personally I would suggest using your time in Martvili to relax at Karma Hostel , visit lesser-known canyons such as Balda and perhaps the hot springs at Nokalakevi , enjoy a meal at Oda Family Marani , and maybe visit the Martvili tea fields instead.

Don’t miss the monastery and if you happen to be in town on a Friday, be sure to attend the weekly farmers’ market .

Where to stay in Martvili

Karma Hostel offers dorms and a private room for two on the outskirts of Martvili. This is an excellent place to chill out for a day or two, drink wine on the verandah and eat meals made with fresh produce from the neighbour’s garden.

Click here to check rates & availability on Booking.com or read my full review of Karma Hostel.

How to get to Martvili from Kutaisi

There a dozen daily vans to Martvili from Kutaisi starting from 7am and departing every hour until 6pm. The trip takes around an hour , and the fare is approximately 6 GEL . In Martvili, vans terminate in the centre of town. If you’re staying at Karma Hostel, you’ll want to jump off early at or near this gas station .

Days 9, 10 & 11: Mestia & Ushguli

Day 12: zugdidi.

Refer to day 11 of the three-week itinerary above.

Days 13 & 14: Guria

An old Soviet poster used as a gate at a tea field in Guria, Georgia.

Western Georgia’s Guria Region is well and truly off the beaten track . I didn’t know anything about this part of Georgia before I visited this summer, but it quickly became one of my favourite places. I’ve been back several times since. The train station in Ozurgeti has passenger connections to Batumi and Tbilisi, making it relatively easy to get in and out.

As soon as you arrive in Guria, you will immediately notice the change in climate. This part of the country is very warm and humid, perfect conditions for growing hazelnuts and tea , the two crops this area is famous for.

Georgia’s little-documented tea heritage is absolutely fascinating and it all begins in Guria, where massive plantations and factories were built to furnish the entire Soviet Union with provisions for their daily cuppa.

A woman pours tea from a glass pot into cups.

There isn’t a whole lot of infrastructure in Guria, so I recommend staying centrally in or near Ozurgeti, the region’s small capital. It’s worth coming this way just to spend a few nights at Komli , a family run guesthouse and tea farm 10 minutes from Ozurgeti.

To explore further afield – such as the tea fields in Anaseuli , the Soviet mosaics around Meria and the incredible Soviet architecture in the village of Shroma – you will need to organise a car and driver.

Don’t miss visiting either Gomismta or Bakhmaro , Guria’s twin mountain-top summer resorts that both offer stunning views (sealed roads open in the summer months only, unless you want to travel by snowmobile!).

Things to do in Ozurgeti & Guria
How to visit Bakhmaro for the most magnificent sunset in Georgia
Attending Lelo Burti, Georgia’s coolest cultural festival

Cloud cover tiny houses on a mountain in Georgia.

Where to stay in Guria

Guesthouse: Komli is one of the coolest accommodations in all of Georgia. Hosts Mariam, Lika and Mari – three generations of women – are personal friends of ours. There are just two guest rooms set inside their wooden home outside Ozurgeti, or you can sleep inside a giant wine barrel in the yard that’s been fitted out with a double bed.

The family has an intimate relationship with the tea industry and they keep a small field on the property where they harvest leaves. The only thing better than the tea is the home-cooked Gurian fare, served up in plentiful quantities on the outdoor deck.

Boutique guesthouse: Another solid option outside Ozurgeti in Shemokmedi, Menabde Winery is a historic wooden house that has been retrofitted into a comfortable guesthouse (all rooms have ensuite bathrooms) and a wine restaurant. This place is pure magic. Eating a home-cooked Gurian feast in the garden, accompanied by a bottle of house wine, is an unforgettable experience.

How to get to Guria from Zugdidi

Ozurgeti, Guria’s biggest city and main transport hub, is 100 km south of Zugdidi via Poti and the Black Sea Coast. Travel time by marshrutka is around 2.5 hours . Depending on the bus schedule, you might need to transit through Poti. Check times and fares at the bus station in Zugdidi.

Days 15, 16 & 17: Batumi & the Black Sea Coast

For things to do in Batumi , refer to days 9 & 10 of the two-week itinerary above.

This itinerary allows for an extra day on Black Sea Coast, which you can use to explore another of Adjara’s national parks. My personal favourite is the Machakhela Protected Areas , a magical landscape of primary forest along the Turkish border.

Or you could spend a day in Poti and visit the Colchic Wetlands, as described in the previous itinerary, or go mosaic hunting in Kobuleti , a small resort town near Batumi.

10 day trips around Adjara (with transport instructions)
How to visit the Machakhela Protected Areas

How to get to Batumi from Ozurgeti

To get from Ozurgeti to Batumi, I recommend taking a direct marshrutka van ( 2.5 hours ) or a marshrutka via Ureki. Check times and fares locally.

Days 18 & 19: Khulo & Upper Adjara

Refer to days 14 & 15 of the three-week itinerary above.

Day 20: Akhaltsikhe & Vardzia

Refer to day 16 of the three-week itinerary above.

Day 21: Borjomi

Refer to day 17 of the three-week itinerary above.

Day 22: Tsalka & Javakheti

A lake and volcanic mountains in Georgia's Javakheti Protected Areas.

Another of Georgia’s lesser-visited areas, the Javakheti Protected Areas is a high-altitude plateau of volcanic lakes and endless plains . This is one of Georgia’s most majestic landscapes – a complete contrast to the lush west and mountainous north – and absolutely worth the detour if you have time.

You can see a lot in the space of a day if you hire a car and driver to take you through Javakheti on your way from Borjomi back to Tbilisi.

This area is known as the ‘Georgian Arctic’ because of the unforgiving climate. The landscape is covered with deep snow for much of the year, so make sure you have the right gear if you’re travelling in the colder months. In late summer and fall it becomes one of the region’s most important nesting grounds for endemic and migratory birds .

Each of the lakes has a bird watching tower and short hiking routes nearby. If you only have time for a couple of lakes , I suggest visiting Bughdasheni Managed Reserve and the nearby Doukhobor village of Gorelovka , plus Paravani Lake and Poka St. Nino Monastery (don’t miss the convent shop that sells delicious preserves and skincare products made from local beeswax and botanicals).

If there’s time, stop off in the city of Tsalka for lunch at Restaurant Pontia before visiting Dashbashi Canyon and the petroglyphs in Trialeti.

A beautiful blue house in the village of Gorelovka, Georgia.

If you have time, drop by the historic German villages of Asureti and Trialeti in Kvemo Kartli region , and make a stop at Manglisi Cathedral the spectacular Didgori Battle Memorial before arriving back in Tbilisi.

If the lakes district doesn’t interest you, you can always head straight back to Tbilisi from Borjomi by marshrutka or train and spend an extra day in the capital instead.

Things to do in Tsalka and Javakheti
How to visit the Didgori Battle Memorial
More things to do in Kvemo Kartli region

Aerial view of the Didgori Battle Monument, a large stone monument on a hill in Kvemo Kartli, Georgia.

How to get to Tsalka & Javakheti from Borjomi

To travel between Borjomi and Tbilisi via Tsalka and Kvemo Kartli, you’ll need a car and driver. I recommend hiring a driver for the day through GoTrip for this route so that you can make as many stops along the way as you please.

Prices for Borjomi-Tsalka-Asureti-Didgori-Tbilisi start from 80 USD per car. Customise your itinerary and book a driver here .

Days 23 & 24: Sighnaghi & Kakheti wine region

Day 25: telavi.

This extended Georgia itinerary allows for an extra day in the wine region. I recommend you spend it in Telavi, Kakheti’s biggest city.

You can find dozens more wineries in and around town for tours and tastings (Akido and Togonidze’s Wine Cellar are two of my favourites). If you skipped it on your first days, the historic Tsinandali Estate outside Telavi is a must-visit.

Telavi city itself is a very pleasant place to spend an afternoon. Wander beneath the balconies of the old town , visit the Giant Plane Tree – Telavi’s pride and joy – and explore the mammoth undercover market .

Where to stay in Telavi

Budget-friendly guesthouse: Guesthouse Lilia is a simple, warm and spotlessly clean family guesthouse in the centre of the city. The back garden and onsite wine cellar are a treat. Owner Lilia is very hospitable and can help with organising a car and driver to take you around for the day.

Mid-range hotel: Hestia Hotel, Wine and View offers the best of all three. Rooms are neat and stylish, and the panorama from the rooftop restaurant/bar is stunning.

Boutique hotel: Seventeen Rooms offers stylish modern rooms, an outdoor pool and delightful common areas, including a comfortable lounge with an open fireplace in winter. Some rooms have balconies overlooking the city. A generous breakfast is available, while lunch, dinner and local wines are served at the onsite restaurant.

Luxury hotel: The Radisson Tsinandali on the grounds of the Tsinandali Estate is a little bit pricey, but it’s worth every penny. Rooms are amazing, as is the buffet breakfast, and guests get unfettered access to the estate gardens. If you’re going to splurge on one hotel in Georgia, this is a great choice.

How to get to Telavi from Sighnaghi

There are only a handful of marshrutka services from Sighnaghi to Telavi – and the journey is quite slow as they stop frequently to pick up passengers from the villages along the highway.

It’s much more convenient to take a taxi between the two towns. This should take around 1.5 hours and cost somewhere in the neighbourhood of 60 GEL for a car. In Sighnaghi, taxis wait at the top of the park and down the road in front of the large building near the donkey statue.

If you’re already travelling the Wine Route , it might make more sense to throw your bags in the back of the car and ask your driver to drop you off in Telavi at the end of the day.

Days 26 & 27: Pankisi Valley

A mosque in Pankisi Valley with decorative brickwork.

Visiting Pankisi Valley is one of the most memorable and enriching experiences you can have in Georgia.

Located in the north-eastern corner of Kakheti, the valley is defined by a series of small villages inhabited by families from the Kist community , whose ancestors migrated to Georgia from Chechnya 200 years ago. The area only opened to tourism relatively recently – it’s a real privilege and an honour to be able to observe the Kists’ rich and beautiful culture as a guest of the community.

Nazy’s Guest House in the village of Jokolo is the leading accommodation provider here. As well as offering comfortable rooms, Nazy can organise activities around the valley including guided cultural walks .

If you’re visiting on a Friday, you can attend the women’s zikr , a fascinating Sufi ritual that takes place every week. Eat copious amounts of delicious Kist food , and visit some of the many watchtowers, mosques and other historical monuments that dot the landscape.

Pankisi lies in the shadow of the Tusheti Protected Areas and is right on the doorstep of some immaculate nature. Marked hiking trails , guided mountain biking and horse trekking are all available.

20 things to do in Pankisi Valley
What to expect when visiting Nazy’s Guest House

Women perform a sufi zikr ceremony in a house in Pankisi Valley, Georgia.

Where to stay in Pankisi

Nazy’s Guest House in Jokolo is the place to stay in Pankisi. Nazy has spearheaded tourism in the region and her family guesthouse is one of the longest-operating. Rooms are comfortably furnished, home-cooked meals are available, and Nazy can help organise everything from culinary classes to walking tours and guided horseback riding.

How to get to Pankisi from Telavi

Pankisi Valley is located less than an hour’s drive from Telavi. Marshrutka vans to Jokolo and Akhmeta, the nearest city to Pankisi, depart frequently from Telavi’s new bus station (see location here ). The fare should cost around 7 GEL .

Alternatively, there are plenty of taxi drivers that know this route and will take you to Jokolo for around 30 GEL . They tend to wait near the bus station – ask around and no doubt you will find someone who knows Nazy.

Days 28, 29 & 30: Georgian Military Highway & Kazbegi

For things to do in Kazbegi, refer to days 6 & 7 of the one-week itinerary above.

This one month itinerary allows for an extra day in Kazbegi which you can either use for an additional day hike or for relaxing in town at Rooms.

For alternative hiking routes , Juta and Truso are both popular choices and easy to reach from Stepantsminda (see more in the next section below).

How to travel the Georgian Military Highway to Kazbegi from Pankisi

It’s possible to get onto the Georgian Military Highway from Pankisi without having to double-back through Tbilisi. Since I recommend using GoTrip for this route even if you are travelling from Tbilisi, you can simply organise for a driver to pick you up from Jokolo instead.

Organise for them to travel through Tianeti , a scenic (and newly sealed) backroad with a few places to stop along the way (including the delightful Kvetera Fortress’s Church ).

From Tianeti, the road continues to the base of Zhinvali Reservoir and the start of the Georgian Military Highway, which you can then follow all the way up to Kazbegi with all the stops mentioned previously.

Total travel time from Jokolo to Kazbegi is just under 4 hours without stops. A car and driver for the day starts from 90 USD when booked through GoTrip .

More places to visit in Georgia

These itineraries hit on all the major highlights – but that’s really just the tip of the iceberg. If you have more time in Georgia (or you’re already planning your return trip), there are lots more places that are worthy of your time.

Here is a small handful. I’ve also included suggestions for where to slot these into your Georgia itinerary so as to avoid backtracking.

Tusheti – add 4-5 days

The Tusheti Protected Areas is located in far north-east Georgia along the border with Russia. It’s extremely remote – and extremely beautiful – but you need a good amount of time and an experienced driver to get there.

Tusheti is all about dramatic peaks and valleys, clusters of stone tower houses and massive herds of sheep, all shrouded in mist because of the high altitude. Remote villages such as Dartlo are only inhabited during summer and offer basic guesthouses, but infrastructure is overall pretty limited. This of course is part of the appeal. The main things to do in Tusheti are hike, horseback ride and enjoy the mountain hospitality.

The road up to Tusheti is only open in the warmer months, meaning you only have a small window to visit. The season changes year to year depending on the weather but it’s usually from early June until October.

You must go with an experienced local driver who knows the roads and has a good car. Shared and private cars can be arranged from Telavi, thus it makes the most sense to visit Tusheti after Kakheti wine region. See here for transport instructions . Adventurers can travel up by horseback from Pankisi Valley.

Stone tower houses in Omalo, a village in Tusheti Protected Landscape in Georgia, Greater Caucasus mountains.

Khevsureti – add 3 days

Similar to Tusheti, Khevsureti is a remote region of the Greater Caucasus in Georgia’s north-east. It’s sandwiched between Kazbegi and Tusheti.

The main attractions here are the village of Shatili , home to yet more stone tower dwellings , and the incredible Mutso Fortress . The Abudelauri Lakes Hike is also fantastic, and the entire drive up via the Datvisjvari ‘Bear Cross’ Pass is absolutely spectacular.

It takes at least 4 hours to reach Shatili from Tbilisi by road , so it’s recommended to spend at least 2 nights in a local guesthouse to make the most of it. It’s a smart idea to add it to your itinerary before or after Kazbegi. See my recommended 3-day Khevsureti itinerary for full details .

Fortified towers in Shatili viewed from a drone, with a blue river wrapping around their base.

Racha-Lechkhumi – add 2-3 days

Racha is a mountainous region in Western Georgia between Svaneti and South Ossetia. It’s very popular with locals but doesn’t attract many foreign visitors, mainly because it was always a bit trickier to get to without a car. That changed in 2021 when a new road opened from Sachkhere in Upper Imereti, making it possible to reach Oni in under 4 hours from Tbilisi .

Oni is a magical town with a stunning old synagogue. Shovi , an old Soviet summer retreat, is home to ‘Stalin’s Dacha’, and the more remote villages such as Ghebi offer hiking and homestays where you can eat ‘real’ Rachan cuisine and sip famous Khvanchkara wine pressed from grapes that only grow in Lower Racha.

It’s possible to get to Racha by marshrutka van from Kutaisi to Ambrolauri or Oni, as described in the ‘detour’ above. Adjacent Lechkhumi Region has magnificent rock karst formations and high-altitude villages. This is where you’ll find the Instagram-famous Lailashi Secret Pool and the mythological Khvamli Mountain , which is great for an easy day hike .

A woman rides a bicycle past Oni Synagogue in Oni, Racha.

Vashlovani Protected Areas – add 3-4 days

The far south-eastern corner of Kakheti region, approaching the border with Azerbaijan, is a wicked landscape of savannah plains and mud volcanoes. Vashlovani Nature Reserve is definitely an off-the-beaten track destination and only for the adventurous. You need your own 4WD to make the most of it.

While you’re in the area, be sure to spend a day around the town of Dedoplistskaro , visiting Eagle Gorge, Elia Monastery, and Big Shiraki , an abandoned Soviet airfield.

The Vashlovani Protected Areas, Georgian badlands rock formations and groves of ancient trees in Kakheti Region, Georgia.

Lagodekhi National Park – add 2-3 days

Also in the eastern corner of Kakheti, Lagodekhi Nature Reserve is a lush forested landscape with plenty of hiking trails. One of the most popular routes is Black Rock Lake, a 2-day hike to the border with Azerbaijan and Russia. Duende Hotels offers delightful A-frame cabins on the edge of the park and is a great place to base your stay.

If you’re travelling to Azerbaijan next, you’ll pass right through Lagodekhi on your way to the border (keep in mind that overland travel into Azerbaijan is currently not possible as the country’s land border remains closed to inbound travellers until at least October 1, 2024.)

Otherwise you can easily get to the villages around the park from Tbilisi or Telavi by marshrutka.

Juta or Truso Valleys – add 1-2 days

If you’re looking for more hiking opportunities in the Greater Caucasus, Juta is an easy addition to your Georgia itinerary after Kazbegi. Fifth Season is a popular cabin accommodation in Juta and a good place to pair up with hiking buddies to tackle the trails around the valley. The Juta Valley Hike is totally doable in a day from Kazbegi and well worth it!

Mountain Freaks organises transfers to Juta and Truso from Kazbegi throughout the trekking season.

A wooden bridge across a river in the Juta Valley near Kazbegi, a popular day trip for hikers.

Georgia essentials

Here are the websites and services I personally use and recommend for Georgia. Check out my full list of travel resources for more tips.

FLIGHTS: Search for affordable flights to Tbilisi, Batumi or Kutaisi on Skyscanner .

TRAVEL INSURANCE: Insure your trip with HeyMondo , my preferred provider for single-trip and annual travel insurance (get 5% off when you book with my link).

SIM CARD: Magti is my preferred provider, with prices starting from 9 GEL/week for unlimited data. See this guide for all the details about buying a Georgian SIM card .

AIRPORT TRANSFERS: Most flights into Georgia arrive in the early hours. For ease, pre-book a private transfer from Tbilisi Airport to your hotel (from $17) or from Kutaisi Airport to Tbilisi (from $90) with my partners at GoTrip.ge.

ACCOMMODATION: Booking.com is the most widely used platform in Georgia. Use it to find family guesthouses, private apartments, hostels and hotels around the country.

CAR HIRE: Find a great deal on a rental car in Georgia – use the Local Rent website to book through a local agent (prices start from $20/day).

DAY TRIPS & CITY TOURS: Use Viator or Get Your Guide to browse a range of day trips and city tours. For off-beat programs, I recommend Friendly.ge (use the promocode wanderlush for 10% off). For in-depth day trips to Georgia’s wine regions, I recommend Eat This! Tours (use the promo code wanderlush for 5% off).

PRIVATE TRANSFERS: GoTrip.ge is a terrific service for booking a private professional driver and car for the day. Use it for A-to-B transfers, a customised round-trip itinerary, or a multi-day trip. You can stop wherever you like for as long as you like without the fixed price going up.

NEED SOME HELP?: Need feedback on your itinerary or personalised travel tips? I offer a one-on-one consultation call service for Tbilisi and Georgia. More information and bookings here .

The ultimate Georgia itinerary – 1 to 4 weeks of travel in Georgia (country). Includes things to do, detailed travel instructions and recommended accommodations. #Georgia #Caucasus #Tbilisi | Things to do in Georgia | Georgia travel guide | Georgia Europe | Georgia Caucasus

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51 comments.

Just wanted to share my appreciation for your beautifully detailed blog on Georgia. We are in Georgia for over 3 weeks and been following your guidance mostly. We are having a great time, big thank you !!

Thank you so much, Rashi! Happy travels!

Hi, Emily! Thank you for giving the world your comprehensive blog. It’s a treasure! My mom and I are in Georgia for 12 days. The first two days are in Tbilisi, and after that, I wanted to show her a few beautiful spots around the country (some but not all of the places could Kazbegi; Racha, Mestia, or both, Kakheti or Borjomi (?); I’m not interested in Batumi). We don’t have a lot of time, but we do have quite a few bags with us haha. Also, neither of us drives. Do you think it makes more sense to prolong our booking in one of Tbilisi’s hotels and take various tours from here (like tour guides and gotrip drivers recommend) or just pack up and move forward?

Hi Sunny, thank you for the kind words! I would recommend using a couple of different cities as bases – so doing day trips from Tbilisi, then taking the train to Kutaisi and doing some trips from there. For Racha and Mestia you will need to overnight in those places as the travel times are longer.

Hi Emily Your blog is super helpful. I have 8 days in Georgia in August and will be using a driver or public transport (may include GoTrip). From Sighnaghi does it make more sense to go directly to Kazbegi or to go back to Tbilisi and go from there to Kazbegi? If we were to go directly from Sighnaghi, what’s the best way to get there? thanks Miranda

Hi Miranda, thanks! Definitely go direct (not through Tbilisi). You should go via Telavi and Tianeti – and definitely stop at the beautiful Kvetera Fortress Church! From there you can link up with the Military Highway and make all the stops recommended in my guide.

Been in Georgia 2 weeks and planned everything based on Emily’s blog. A gold mine which will save you a bunch of time – and money- and will make sure you do the best from your holiday time. Please consider this and support his work on his donation page, there are several options, it’s fair and deserved!

Thank you, Benoit! I really appreciate your support!

Hi Emily, My sister and I are leaving for Georgia in three weeks and are very much looking forward to it. Many thanks in advance for your hands on information! We wander whether it is possible to hike the Puchguli – Toucheti trail in May or whether it is too early in the year? Kindest, Jasmien

Hi Jasmien, I am not sure which hike you mean – maybe Mestia-Ushguli? Usually hiking season in the high mountains starts from June, so May might be a little too early.

Dear Emily,

I cannot thank you enough for this awesome guide to Georgia.

We followed your 2 weeks itinerary and will be flying back home tomorrow.It has been the best vacay till date. The itinerary was perfect and the details impeccable.The recommendations were excellent.

And of course Georgia is such a beautiful country.

Thank you so much for everything!

Amazing – thank you so much, Harsha! I hope you will get a chance to return some time. Safe travels home and thank you again for your comment and feedback!

I have been researching about Georgia as I intend to travel with my family in Mid April this year and I’m so glad I came across your blog.

We have 2 options – 3 days in Baku + 6 days in Georgia or we can give all 9 days to Georgia. Do you suggest we take the latter option given the weather in Mid April (April 12th-20th).

Either way we would be exploring Tbilisi, Kakheti, Kazbegi and attractions on the route to them. If plan plan to skip Baku, I think I can fit in Kutaisi and/or Batumi. But would it be a wise decision to do so?

We’re short on planning time, so I thought I’d seek your expert opinion.

It’s really up to you! Baku is a wonderful city but you can easily fill 9 days in Georgia. Kutaisi is lovely in April, it’s still a little early for the coast but the Batumi Gardens and national parks around the Black Sea will be very nice.

Hi Emily, hope you’re having a great day. Our recent family Christmas vacation in Georgia was certainly more than great, all thanks to your very instructive blogs. I had been reading yours for many weeks prior to our trip, and literally based my planning from it – from the places to stay and visit, logistics, and of course food. Such information loaded articles have saved me a lot of time and made our travel so much easier as well. I’m not so much into reading blogs, and have never done in our previous travels. But this first time has inspired me to make it as a first resource in our next family adventure. I’ll try to write some points (or tips) in another comment next time, that might help other travellers/readers of your blogs. Thank you once again.

Thrilled to hear that, thank you May! I hope you had an incredible trip and will get a chance to revisit Georgia again soon. Thank you for the kind feedback, it means a lot to me!

Hi Emily – thanks a ton for this blog! We’re planning or trip for a few weeks from now and this has been the most helpful resource we’ve found.

Somehting that would help us firm up dates and get our accomodations booked whould be to know what to prioritized on weekends vs weekdays. Should we aim to be at wineries on the weekend for a better experience with the hosts? Are Sundays usually quiet? Should we avoid being in Stepantsminda on the weekends due to crowds?

In general, we’re going to be roughly following your one week itinerary in Tbilisi, Sighnaghi and Stepantsminda but over about 10 days. We’ll spend the first weekend in Tbilisi for sure, but your opinions on the timing of the others would be great!

Hi AJ, sounds like a great plan! As it’s school holidays now there is not a huge difference between weekdays vs weekends. Some very small wineries might prefer to not have guests on a Sunday, but they would open for you regardless. I think Stepantsminda will be quite crowded every day throughout August (it was already in May!) so my biggest tip there is to get up to the church nice and early ahead of the groups.

Thanks Emily – appreciate your insight!

Thank you so much for this post. Exactly what I was looking for. Question: I know I shouldn’t compare but since I’ll be in Armenia before arriving in Georgia, should I skip Dilijan? Svaneti and Kazbegi regions look more impressive than Dilijan.

Hi Lee – in my opinion, yes. Dilijan is a nice base for hiking but the town itself is not that great in my opinion. Svaneti and Kazbegi have the Greater Caucasus mountains of course, and that’s very hard to beat!

Hi Emily, we are planning our 16 day trip through Georgia and so we are following your two week itinerary. We will land in Kutaisi. You recommend to always start in Tibilisi first. We wonder what the reason for that is. We also noticed that you drive from the east to the west and back to the east. For us even more, because we are leaving from Kutaisi again. We wonder if this is necessary or why you don’t do all the destinations in the east at once and then go to the west afterwards.

Thank you for your reply

Hi Julia – most of my readers fly into Tbilisi. Of course you can simply reverse the route.

H! We are just finishing a two week tour of Georgia, and we heavily used your blog, so thank you!

Random question: most of the houses we see have an outside staircase that goes to the second floor. We couldn’t figure out why. Any thoughts? What is the layout of a “typical” Georgian house? Thanks!

Hi Jenna, so happy to hear that!

Yes you’re right, a lot of houses have an external staircase (including mine!). I think there are a couple of possible reasons depending on the vintage of the home… Maybe upstairs was living quarters while downstairs was set aside for guest rooms, so there were two separate entrances. Or perhaps the house was divided up during the Soviet period between several different families, each of whom wanted their own entrance (so the stairs were tacked on later – this is often the case in Tbilisi especially). I have also been told that during the Soviet period it was not permitted to build a 2-storey dwelling, so some houses had a bottom level with a low ceiling height set aside as ‘storage space’.

As for a typical Georgian house – there are variations between regions and of course it depends when it was built. But I would say that many houses have conjoined rooms with multiple doorways and no hallways, plus at least one balcony.

Hello Emily, I intend visiting Georgia next September and I found your site which is very informative. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience. I am sure I will have a great time. I intend travelling for one month, unfortunately it will be in July and it will be warm. I will also try to hire a small car. And off I go on an adventure! I am a bit worried about the political situation with Russia so this is why I want to do it soon. Thanks again! Michele

Hi Emily, I’ve been reading your blogs and taking notes for some days now Very useful information indeed so first I wanna thank you Secondly, I need your help. My itinerary includes Tbilisi, Telavi, Kazbegi, Mestia and Batumi. I'm planning to spend a few nights in each destination and have day trips to Sighnaghi, Ushguli, etc. Can you please help me put the main 5 destinations in a smooth order I'd really like to get around Georgia without wasting time and I'm helpless mostly because of Mestia and Batumi. They are quite far.

Hi Beatrice, great to hear that! How many days will you spend in Georgia? The most logical order is Tbilisi – Mestia – Batumi – Tbilisi – Telavi – Kazbegi – Tbilisi (or the reverse).

Hi Emily, today my boyfriend and I came back from our 2 week trip to Georgia. It was a postponed 2020 holiday, so we were very much looking forward to it. In 2020 already and again these past months I have binged your blog and I want to thank you a lot for your extensive and clear blogs!! So many highlights are coming from your tips, for example dinner at Iasamani in Tbilisi (we also had our very last dinner there yesterday as a goodbye), the “secret” trail up to Gergeti Trinity, or visiting Tskaltubo, to mention some. Our only negative experience was with our rental car from Local rent. The car was definitely not in good shape and after 3 days we were forced to return to Tbilisi and we decided to rent a car from a more expensive company. The experience with the guy we rented the car from was really unpleasant. That aside, Georgia is a beautiful country and we would not have been able to enjoy it to the fullest without your help and commitment to this blog. Thank you so much! It will be weird to close off all the tabs with your posts I have been reading the past time haha. Good luck and perhaps we’ll read another one of your blogs for one of our coming holidays. Cheers from the Netherlands.

Hi Lily! Thanks so much for your comment, I’m so happy you finally made it to Georgia! It sounds like you had some wonderful experiences!

Sorry to hear about the car – I haven’t heard of anyone having such an experience before, but I know they are working on some enhanced quality control measures this year (ratings and so forth). Please write them and give them feedback on the agent if you haven’t already. I hope that didn’t disrupt your plans too much.

Thank you again for the comment and for reading, it means a lot! Hope to see you back in Georgia some time soon!

Thanks Emily. My partner booked us flights to georgia without consulting me and your site helped me to warm up a lot to the idea.

It is a great resource but I am left wondering about the following things – Are shops open on weekeneds? (I assume major attractions are, but maybe worth asking about that as well). Can totally live without shopping for two days, but if supermarkets are closed it is something that needs some planning. – Credit card acceptance and ATM availability, can we trust being able to pay with CC at resturants? We are going to land in kutaisi and spend few days there, and while I am sure CC usage is not a problem in tbilsi and batumi, not sure about kutaisi and even smaller towns. Guess another way to ask it is should we bring cash with us. – Personal safety. Stuff may happen in the safest places in the world, so this is about relative safety, are there places/activities in the cities which smart tourists should just try to avoid in the first place? – How bad is the humidity in the summer (june is what I care about realy) saw that you do not recommended comming to tbilsi at that time of the year, and I am sure people that are not used to heat+humidity will not enjoy the experiance, but can you compare it to some other generally humid places? And sub question, do places in general have AC, or do we need to be prepared to change cloths several times a day when walking around the city :)?

Hi Mark, glad to hear that!

I do go through a lot of these topics in depth in other guides…

Everything is open on weekends except banks and some Magti mobile phone shops, which are closed on Sundays. Shops, malls, restaurants all trade on weekends.

CC is widely accepted in all cities including Kutaisi, but you should carry cash for small towns/rural areas. Do not bring cash though, just use an ATM. See here for tips: https://wander-lush.org/georgia-travel-budget-costs/

Georgia is extremely safe by world standards. Specific safety advice here: https://wander-lush.org/is-georgia-safe-country-europe/

Humidity/heat – it depends where you’re going, the climate is vastly different from place to place. August is the warmest month, usually June is not too bad. AC is ubiquitous. See here: https://wander-lush.org/best-time-to-visit-georgia-country/

Hope this helps!

cool, thanks alot.

Thank you for all the incredible guides Emily, they are proving so useful in planning as I go.

I’m disappointed to read your note about the Kukushka train being suspended, as it was definitely on my list. I wondered if you are able to confirm whether this is still the case, or is there any way to check the status of it? Thank you

Hi John, thanks! Yes unfortunately the train is still not working. I hope it will start up again soon.

WOW Emily, I love all articles. I am planning for two weeks and most probably will follow your guidelines. Thanks alot Hugs from UAE

Thanks Ahmed! Very happy to hear that. Have a wonderful time in Georgia!

Hi Emily. I’m as Georgian very glad that such talented person choose to live here. You wrote very good travel guide, and the site itself is very good. I’m glad that came across it. You are doing great job to encourage people travel to Georgia.

Thank you Rusudan!

Hi Emily, Do you think staying in Shekhvetili and touring batumi is possible? or would be a long journey? As we liked the paragraph hotel but its showing 50 mins away from the batumi city? Below is our itinerary for Georgia trip; Tbilisi (2 nights – city & borjomi & bakuarini train journey) – Kazbegi (2 nights – trinity church & gudauri ski) – Shekhvetili (4 nights – Batumi, Kutaisi) – Tbilisi (2 nights – city tour) Please advice us your suggestion and if any changes needed on this itinerary. Appreciate your help.

Best to stay in Batumi and Kutaisi to explore those cities. I would do one night in Kutaisi, one in Shekvetili and two in Batumi. Also note that the train in Borjomi/Bakuriani isn’t running at the moment – hopefully it will start up again soon but it’s been closed for a long while now.

Hi Emily, thank you very much for your detailed guide for Georgia. With reading it I just become more sure that I must visit this beautiful country. I need one advice from your side. We (me and my husband) would like to visit Georgia for 2 weeks in April/May next year. But we don’t want too often to change the base cities where we stay. So we would prefer for 2 weeks to have base in only 2 cities. Are Tbilisi and Kutaisi good enough as base. Or could you suggest some other. Thanks again. All the best, Zlata

Tbilisi and Kutaisi are both good bases – from Tbilisi you can do Kakheti and Kazbegi, and from Kutaisi the west and south of Georgia. If you want to explore the coast as well, I would recommend a few days in Batumi. Just know it’s quite rainy on the coast during spring!

First of all, thank you for your great effort on the extremely detail blog.

I have almost finish reading your blog and planning to visit Georgia on either 14~27 Oct OR 27 Sep~10 Oct (hire car). May I have your advise on which is the best time if I wish to see the better autumn foliage color? I’m a bit confuse on the timing as I saw Svaneti region have earlier foliage than lower region.

Any advise?

My flow will be basically (stay: means places with overnight stay): Tbilisi (stay)- Tsalka-Paravani Lake- Vardzia (stay)- Akhaltsikhe- Kutaisi(stay)- Martvili(stay)- Mestia+Ushguli (stay)- Zugdidi- Baghdadi (Baia’s Wine-stay)- Chiatura- Gori (stay)- Kazbegi (stay) – Sighnaghi (stay) – Tbilisi (flight) It seems Svaneti will have earlier foliage than other region?

Hello Aeneas, thank you for the kind words! Your itinerary sounds absolutely wonderful, great job putting it together.

I’m not super familiar with Svaneti, long overdue for another visit, but I would say the earlier time slot would be safer. You’re right that fall does get an early start up there and since it’s near the middle of your itinerary, it may already be too cold if you go in late October.

You might even catch some post-wine harvest activity in Kakheti on your way out!

I really hope this helps! Have a fantastic trip and don’t hesitate to ask if there’s anything else I can assist with.

Your Georgia section is phenomenal. I am planning a trip there for next year, and your articles gave me everything I needed in order to decide where to go.

I hope I’ll be able to spend those 20 says there soon, the country looks incredible for photography

Hi Luca – thank you so much for taking the time to comment. I’m really glad to hear you’re planning a trip to Georgia! And even happier that my posts have been helpful. 20 days is a nice amount of time. I can’t wait to see your photos of the country!

Don’t hesitate to reach out if there’s anything at all I might be able to help with. Enjoy your trip planning!

Kindest, Emily

20 days should be enough for a first visit, but I plan to visit many more times as the places to explore are a lot. Also, I much prefer to visit less cities, spending more time in each one, rather than rushing through the country.

I actually have something to ask you; In my itinerary draft I put Sighnaghi right after Akhaltsikhe, and I was wondering about the best way to get from point a to b. Should I take a van/taxi to Tbilisi and then follow your instructions to get to Sighnaghi from there? I can’t find any precise information about a direct Akhaltsikhe to Tbilisi van.

Hi Luca, that’s what I tell everyone – don’t try to fit too much into your first visit because there’s a 99% chance you’ll be back!

There is no direct transport from Akhaltsikhe to Kakheti, so yes you should take a van to Tbilisi first then continue by van/taxi to Sighnaghi. Marshrutka vans from Akhaltsikhe to Tb should be fairly frequent, I don’t have the update times on me but I’d guess there are at least 6/day. Best to check times when you arrive – Akhaltsikhe has a small bus station on the main highway with times posted.

I hope this helps!

Fantastic detailed guide. Wish I had that on my first visit. It would have saved us hours and days of research and planning. I have been to Tushsto twice now. It doesn’t take that much time, count on half day up and half day down. The road is spectacular, pot holed and hair raising but a good local driver with a decent car/van can make it safely. There are now a handful of nicer bed and breakfasts. You can ask the driver bringing you up to take you by car to one or two side valleys. A special experience is horse back riding in the area, though most of the time you will rode on dirt roads as it is hard to go bybjorse into the woods and mountains. Happy to provide some recommendations if interested.

Thanks so much for your comment Ksenija, I’m really glad you found the itinerary helpful!

Tusheti is at the top of my list for this summer. I’ve planned it so many times but always miss the window. This year it’s going to happen! Would love to hear you recommendations for driver and guesthouse.

Things to Know Before Traveling to the Republic of Georgia

mother georgia looks out over Tbilisi in the republic of georg

You would be forgiven for wondering if Georgia’s a part of the Middle East. The actual vibe, however, is European. Part of what makes traveling this area so fascinating is the sheer amount of history contained in a small geographic area.

In the absence of context, it’s hard to imagine what the Republic of Georgia is like. Located on the edge of the Caucasus Mountains, the country is neighbored by cultures as varied as its topography. Once a stop on the Silk Road, the city became a confluence of the civilizations over the millennia.

This peculiar positioning means many consider Georgia a part of Europe or Asia, depending on who you ask. And you would be forgiven for wondering if it’s a part of the Middle East. But the actual vibe: It’s European. Part of what makes traveling this area of the world so fascinating is the sheer amount of history contained in a small geographic area.

Wine is a big part of the Georgian culture and for good reason: Archaeologists found the oldest traces of wine production in present-day Georgia. The wine-production dates back as far as 8,000 BC. Even more, Georgians have a unique clay-jar process of winemaking that has even made it onto the UNESCO list for Intangible Heritage.

tbilisi on a cold fall day at a park with art showcased

This history is important, alongside its long religious history, because Georgians are very proud of their well-preserved cultural heritage and legacy. Christianity came to Georgia in the first century, and now Georgia is predominantly Eastern Orthodox—to the tune of 84%.

The country is dotted with monasteries and churches, giving the Republic of Georgia a visible and strong Christian presence. It’s actually this adoption of Christianity that is credited with aligning Georgia more with European culture versus the surrounding Middle Eastern culture arranged around Islam.

While a country’s ancient history plays a part in any trip, so too does recent history. For countries with recently attained peace, understanding a foundational history is paramount. It shapes the experience with compassion and empathy. It invites the visitor deeper into the psyche of the culture and people.

Only by understanding the past can you enjoy what makes the Republic of Georgia unique. Georgia was a part of the former Soviet Union. The country also dealt with political and social unrest throughout the 90s and early aughts.

After the fall of the Soviet Union, Georgia has a precarious and complex relationship with Russia. Most international governments recognize that Russia is occupying two areas that belong to Georgia—South Ossetia and Abkhazia. This is an ongoing point of contention, with the country going to war with Russia in 2008.

All of this is a current stressor on present-day Georgia, so it’s important for travelers to understand the country’s history, be sensitive to the political nature of this topic, and always research the current safety of these two contested regions if planning a visit to anywhere in that area.

The Fast Facts About Georgia Travel

Georgian Lari (GEL) ( current exchange rate )

Electricity

220V, 50Hz (European plug)

Primary Airports

Tbilisi (TBS)
Batumi (BUS)

Can you drink the water in Georgia?

While it’s generally safe to drink the water in the city centers, it can vary widely throughout the country. Interestingly, Georgian mineral water is highly rated, tasty, and a big export item. It’s also affordable to buy bottled while in the Republic of Georgia.

How’s the wifi in the Republic of Georgia?

WiFi is rampant; available at most guesthouses and cafes. Also central Tbilisi has a free WiFi network, TbilisiLovesYou. Some places may even boast fiber-optic networks.

Local SIM Cards

Securing a local SIM card is a cinch in Georgia, and I highly recommended getting one for language translation and such. I had speedy, cheap 4G throughout Tbilisi.

When you arrive in Tbilisi, there are a handful of Magti shops (Google it or ask your guesthouse). Bring your passport and for less than US $10 you can get a SIM and high-speed data. This will work in most non-mountainous regions of the country.

You’ll need a VPN if you plan to access many U.S. sites and to stream U.S. Netflix. I’ve used NordVPN since 2016 while living abroad and it’s never failed me once.

Georgians speak Georgian, which is its own unique language and has its own alphabet. Most locals also speak Russian. English is only prevalent in touristy areas of Tbilisi and some of the mountain ski regions. Have patience though, as Georgians have a deep culture of hospitality and will work with you to communicate.

Possible Issues

Georgia is one of the safest countries in Europe (except the two occupied areas). Corruption is now low and it’s safe to walk around. Altitude sickness is a possible issue: Be warned and be cautious if you are visiting the mountains.

Pick out accommodation on Booking.com.

This is the only booking platform I use because it rewards you for loyalty, and I regularly score free breakfasts and 15% off my hotel.

Festivals of Note

Tbilisoba takes place in mid-October every year. Information in English can be scarce, but you can often find the dates and schedule on the Georgian Tourism website. I also just Facebook messaged the tourism board and asked for the schedule in English and they sent me one. It’s a huge cultural event that takes over Tbilisi for a number of days and it’s a great way to taste a range of foods and see a broad representation of Georgian song and dance.

Black Sea Jazz Festival in Batumi (July)

Tushetoba in Tusheti (August)

Food Considerations

Georgians are quite proud of their national cuisine, and it’s also popular in Russia and other countries. It’s tasty! They many several signature dishes that you can try at every price level. Nice restaurants will have fancy versions, but there are also many fast street-eats versions too.

The food is very bread and cheese based, with fresh salads and meat also quite prevalent. Food and wine is affordable and a big part of traveling Georgia—they enjoy the ceremony of meals!

Vegetarians can get by, but celiacs and vegans will have a harder time since bread and cheese are the base of most dishes. This is the best food guide I’ve seen, and it includes the dish names in Georgian, too.

Accommodation

Finding a place to stay is easy. The country has rebounded strongly from the issues of the mid-2000s and with the Georgian focus on hospitality you can expect comfortable accommodation at every price level.

I was Old Town adjacent during my stay and everything was cozy and well-appointed. Find budget options and apartment rentals on Booking.com —you want to stay near the City Center, Old Town, or the River.

Getting Around Georgia

Georgian driving is not the safest. Wear a seatbelt. The country has some of the highest traffic accident rates in the region. There are trains between a few of the cities, otherwise there are minibuses ( marshrutka ) connecting all major cities in Georgia, as well as connecting Georgian cities to its neighbors.

It’s surprisingly affordable to hire private transport if you’re in a group to split the costs. For more transport information, Bookaway shares detailed regional information on routes between cities .

Shiomghvime Monastery near Mtskheta, Georgia.

Socially Responsible Travel

If you’re trekking, consider these tips for responsible travel . Even with extensive research and asking locals, I could not find any social impact organizations in the country. It seems like sustainable and community-based tourism organizations have a goal of implementing projects by 2020, so ask around!

How much should you budget for Georgia travel?

This is a pretty decent budget destination. It’s not rock-bottom, but the Georgian Lari lost value over the past few years, making it a more affordable travel spot. Everything is moderately priced and wine and food is reasonable, so you can eat well here.

Plan on moderate, average budget of US $30-45 per day for a single person, slightly less per person in a couple. Couples can share private transport for an affordable way to make the travel more comfortable. Your budget will likely lessen outside the capital. This is a good single day solo budget (does not include averaging in price of day-trips).

Americans, Canadians, and those with EU passports do not need a visa to visit, and they may stay in Georgia for up to a year. For other countries, check your visa requirements here .

World Travel Planning Resources

From the best travel gear to how to pick travel insurance—a detailed list of resources, tips, and advice to help you plan an amazing trip.

Is Georgia a Safe Country to Visit?

In the wake of Georgia’s 2008 Rose Revolution, the country is safe and growing. The police department cleaned up corruption and many Georgians assured me their country was safe for solo travelers. After having wandered solo for weeks, I agree.

That said, travelers should use caution when visiting areas near the Russian-occupied areas of Georgia. Also, I highly recommend picking good travel insurance before you leave— IMG Global is a solid choice for most travelers, and SafetyWing is great for digital nomads and long-term travelers. You can also check the latest U.S. Government warnings .

Sameba Cathedral, the Republic of Georgia

Pre-Trip Reading: Books About the Republic of Georgia

Fiction & Nonfiction Books About Georgia

One More Year : A fascinating account of stories from across the collapsed Soviet Union. This collection of stories explores everyday life and culture alongside the fallout from this region’s history.
The Caucasus: An Introduction : The one book you should add to your Kindle if you are visiting the Georgia and/or the Caucasus region. Journalist Thomas de Waal takes a close and well-accounted look at the turbulent history of this region, as well as the cultural nuance that makes it a fascinating region to explore.
Georgian Folk Tales : A fun way to learn more about Georgian history. These are free here as a part of project Gutenberg, but you should spring for the $1.99 version for a clean reading experience.
Fiction from Georgia : This is not in a travel-able form, only in paperback, but it’s the newest collection of fiction recently translated from Georgian authors.

Podcasts and Online Reads

A Pilgrimage to the Cradle of Wine : This NY Times longread takes a close look at Georgia’s remarkable history of winemaking and why it’s such an important part of our collective world heritage.
Time Turned Back: On the Use of History in Georgia : An interesting read about how the Soviet Union used historians and the manipulation of history to push ideology and shape Georgia differently.. This loads up as a PDF that you could download and put on an e-device.
Adjika: Sauce of Glory, Pride of Abkhazia : A dose of Georgian history through a struggle to identify the origins of adjika , a delicious sauce from this region. Fascinating longread.
Reasons to Love Tbilisi, Georgia : I wrote this piece and it gives a good overview of what you can expect from a visit to the capital. It enumerates all the reasons I crushed hard on this pretty little capital city, as well as the Georgian culture.

Don’t forget to book travel insurance for your trip —a great policy provides coverage in case of medical emergencies, lost or stolen gear, adventure sports riders, and more. I’ve used IMG Global for more than a decade highly recommend it !

Best Things to Do in Georgia

View of Old Town Tbilisi and the ride up to the Narikala Fortress.

My 5 Favorite Georgia Travel Experiences

Wandering the streets of Old Town Tbilisi with a camera in hand.
Climbing behind the gorgeous David Gareja monastery for views of Azerbaijan .
Sipping tea in a Parisian style cafe overlooking the river in Old Town.
Visiting the Mother Georgia statue at night and meeting local friends.
Accepting the many offers of genuine hospitality and friendship from Georgians.

Things to Do in Tbilisi, Georgia

Such a charming city and one of my favorite spots in the world. You can fill many weeks just exploring the town, and relaxing at the adorable coffee shops scattered all over Tbilisi. My post shared a high level view of the many things to do in Tbilisi , as well as why it’s just so charming.

Visit Narikala Fortress

This site is gorgeous and looms over Old Town. The aerial tram in the easiest way to get to the fortress, it drops you just at the base and then you can wind up into the ruins.

There are very little safety measures though, and you can climb up some crumbly areas, so be warned. It’s very pretty views at the very top but you will have to climb with all four limbs just a short ways.

This is near the Mother Georgia, but best to be visited with enough time to just see it. The views are also stunning at night, and the tram is cheap, so consider visiting both times.

Wander Tbilisi’s Historic Old Town

This is the heart of the tourist activities and most of the churches and historic sites are all located in a walkable area. You will likely stay in or adjacent to Old Town, so take an afternoon to simply get lost in the back streets.

Climb to the Mother Georgia Statue

This is the symbol of Georgia and Georgians just love her. Consider seeing her up close by climbing up to her from Old Town. Then you can weave down the back side of the hill toward the botanical gardens. This is pretty from spring through fall, and shouldn’t take more than six or seven hours. You can also bail on the hike at parts as there are other transport options near Mother Georgia, so you can just take the aerial tram back down.

Try the Sulphur Baths

This is located just near the main intersection in the old part of town, it’s called the Abanotubani area, and is on the south side of the Metekhi bridge. You’ll want to bring a friend and get the full washing/scrubbing experience. Locals also love doing this in the cold weather as a fun activity to get warm and enjoy each others company.

Visit a Tbilisi Fresh Market.

There are many but the main one is a great spot for a wander and is across the river, near Didube.

Shop the Saturday Flea Market

Dry Bridge Market on a weekend traveling in Tbilisi, the Republic of Georgia

Also know as the “Dry Bridge Market,” this place is easy to spot near the river and about 15 minutes beyond (west of) the main Metekhi intersection. It’s fun to wander the antiques spread on the sidewalk, and there’s also a lot of artwork too. Even kids would enjoy poking around the weird and quirky things on offer. I picked up some interesting knick-knacks as gifts for friends that you won’t find anywhere else.

Relax at a Parisian-Style Cafe

There are a lot of these popping up in the city and they are cozy and quiet and a great place to relax with a book. Try Entree (20 Rustaveli Ave) or Cafe Canape (Abashidze Street – Vake).

Try a New Food and Restaurant Every Night

Try all of the best Georgian foods by switching it up for lunch and dinner every night you’re in town. The best way to get the lay of the land is by taking a food and drink tour your first day in town so that you can understand the food landscape, try a lot of local dishes, and also pump your tour guide for additional recommendations.

Save this food guide and use it to try all of the beautiful traditional dishes on offer around the country. They also have a list of cute restaurants and cafes in Tbilisi .

Find a Great Place to Sleep

Stay at a cute vacation rental from VRBO . I used Bacho’s tiny apartment and it was just lovely. But check out all of his listings because they are thoughtfully and carefully arranged and beautifully done. And they’re all in a great spot too.

Consider Fox Hostel or Cozy Hostel . Both of these are in great areas of town and have everything you might need. Fox is super clean and a bit quieter. Maria has a backpacker vibe and a tour desk so it’s super easy to arrange things with them. Even if you pick a different hotel, consider using Booking.com as I find they usually have the best deals and selection.

Stay in a nice spot . I enjoyed staying just near Old Town—this is where the tourism is focused, there is good nightlife and it’s close to all of the major sites. With that in mind, consider Sunny House Apartment and the charming Apartment Piccolo , both of which are mid-range prices and in a good location. If you’re there on business, or if you simply want a more formal hotel, then Rooms Hotel for midrange, and Citrus Hotel for a nice place from which to visit the city. These are in a different part than Old Town, but still a lot to visit and see.

Best Day Trips from Tbilisi

David Gareja Monastery with views to Azerbaijan

Hike Around the David Gareja Monastery

This is a stunning day trip from Tbilisi and one of my favorite trips out of the city. It’s pretty far though, and there’s not a lot between Tbilisi and the monastery, so you will surely need transport and/or a guide.

I used my Airbnb host, but you can also book a tour near the tourist information booth in Freedom Square (there are brochures and always people there offering services), or this day tour on Viator includes Rainbow Mountains and looks amazing.

One reader notes: “Make sure you get honey from their shop—it is a divine honey from almond tree blossom.” One of the coolest parts of the visit is climbing behind the monastery to the top of the cliff and looking out into Azerbaijan. Then you go explore the cave paintings and make your way back down.

Venture Out to Kazbegi

You can do this as a weekend trip and it’s enjoyable. Plan on visiting the monastery on the hill overlooking the village, Tsminda Sameba Church. One reader recommends trying hinkali , a meat dish, at the tiny cafe nearby. This is one of the highlights for people visiting Georgia as the mountains are one of the country’s most prominent features and this page has more information on planning time in Kazbegi.

Bookaway shares details on how to get there , and if you’re short on time, book this day tour to see it in a day and maximize every moment.

Tour Monasteries and Churches Near Mtskheta

This is a very easy day trip from the city and a must-see as this is the historic former capital of Eastern Georgia and the centre of the Georgian Orthodox Church.

Visit Gori and Uplistsikhe

This will be a long day trip from Tbilisi, but it’s definitely possible to visit in just a day. Uplistsikhe is a 3,600 year old Silk Road cave city and Gori is Stalin’s birthplace.

Begin your journey by taking a train or bus from Tbilisi to Gori, where you can delve into the life of Joseph Stalin at the Stalin Museum and visit the house where he was born. From Gori, a short distance away, Uplistsikhe awaits—a remarkable ancient cave city. Marvel at the intricate rock-cut structures, religious sites, and panoramic views that transport you back in time to an ancient civilization.

The combination of visiting Stalin’s birthplace and discovering the architectural marvels of Uplistsikhe creates a contrasting and thought-provoking experience, shedding light on different aspects of Georgia’s past.

Using a local guide or joining a guided tour would really enhance your experience by providing informative commentary and historical context. Here’s how to hire a car to get you to Uplistsikhe .

Head to Ananuri Fortress

This day trip offers sweeping views along the Aragvi River from the fortress, and it’s only 45 miles from Tbilisi. You could visit this en route to the mountain towns.

If you’re visiting in the winter months, the Gudauri Ski Resort is one gorgeous option in Stepantsminda District and just 75 miles from Tbilisi. It’s easy for those looking for a bit of skiing in addition to other sightseeing and such.

Venture into Armenia

The Armenian border is not far from Tbilisi and you can easily take a weekend trip into Armenia while still keeping a base in Tbilisi. While you could do this solo and there are easy bus and van transport here , it’s a lot easier with a local guide if you’re doing it as a one-day trip— this is a great and affordable option .

Other Adventures Around Georgia

Go hiking in the Svaneti region , arguably one of the prettiest around. The official tourism website has route information on the most popular treks, and this is the best place to research specific trekking ideas for this region.

Getting there . You can either take private transport from Tbilisi (a rental car or a hired driver). Or you can take a the entire 12 hour journey. Or you can split the difference by using the overnight train from Tbilisi to Zugdidi.

From Zugdidi you will take a minibus from Zugdidi to Mestia (in Zugdidi, the bus toward Mestia leaves from near Svanish Tower). If you’re sleeping at one of the homestays in Mestia, then you’ve arrived!

Otherwise, you will pair up with others heading in that direction and share a jeep to Ushguli. At the end of this post you will find a more detailed guide on how to get there . And as I’ve noted elsewhere, the roads in Georgia have high accident and fatality rates, I would consider trains when possible to cover long distances.

coffee from the back of a red car in the republic of georgia

Where to sleep in Mestia . Mestia has a large homestay network and it’s a cinch to find one either once you arrive, or you can use the Svaneti Trekking & Tourism Centre to connect with a family within the local homestay network. This group is dedicated to developing regional tourism and is responsible for a lot of the development and infrastructure you will find in the region.

I’ve also read from others that Guest House Folk Music (+995-599-15-9694 or [email protected]) is lovely. Have your guesthouse call ahead (or hopefully you took my advice and bought a SIM card since they are so cheap!).

What to pack . Trekkers should have a solid waterproofing outer-layer, as well as sturdy shoes, and a strong headlamp for sure. Ask your trekking guide for additional suggestions, but those three things are the bare minimum you should have before arriving in the region.

Kakheti Wine Region

Tour the Kakheti wine region , and learn about the country’s long legacy of wine (Georgia’s wine-making process is actually recognized by UNESCO for its intangible heritage). This is a great tour option from Tbilisi .

Do a wine tasting . The Twins Wine Cellar in Naparevli offers a lovely wine tasting and museum to learn more about the unique way that Georgians prepare and process wine.

Explore the gorgeous churches . This is a strong list of sights to see while in the region. They took their trip with the tourism board, so it’s everything ; you’ll likely want to pick and choose a few of the sights that interest you most when constructing your own itinerary.

Swim in the pretty waters of the Black Sea in Batumi.

Watch sunset from the Argo Entertainment Complex , with has an aerial tram and cable car with stunning views over the city.

Visit the Piazza Square , a landmark and a pretty Italian renaissance square with upscale boutiques and restaurants.

Getting there . Taking a train between Tbilisi and Batumi is likely the easiest option, and the bus is six hours and also very cheap . Batumi’s train station is new and very nice (and has luggage storage if needed). You could also rent a car and make it a road trip, taking in all of the lovely towns along the way—if you are doing this, then you won’t need to take a daytrip to see places like Mtskheta (a town with a name I still can’t pronounce!).

Read my full guide on how to get under the skin of Tbilisi, Georgia .

Essential Travel Planning Resources

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🧳 Smart packing can save your trip. Shop my favorite travel gear , including all of the packing essentials for world travel , gear to keep you safe on the road, my favorite travel books , and more.

🛏️ Find great accommodation . Booking.com is essentially the only hotel booking site that I use. It has a wide and affordable selection of traditional hotels, but also hostels and vacation rentals, too. Use these pro tips to find the best travel accommodation .

📍 Navigate more effectively. Rome2Rio is super handy to assess the full range of transport options between two cities—shows everything from flights to trains, buses, minibuses, and more. If you’re booking a rental car, I’ve always found the best deals on RentalCars.com .

✈️ Book affordable flights. Expedia is one of the first places I look for low-cost flights .

☕ Peruse all of my tips for round the world travel , or learn how to move and live abroad .

My 15 Favorite Things to See and Do in Georgia

A lone stone church on a small hill in Georgia with towering snow-capped mountains looming in the background

Once part of the Soviet Union, Georgia is a destination full of ancient history, stunning landscapes, and plenty of surprises. It’s home to an award-winning wine industry and the cool capital of Tbilisi , which has a stunning Old Town and vibrant nightlife.

And to top it all off, the Caucasus Mountains offer incredible hiking and climbing for anyone looking to explore the outdoors.

Georgia deserves all the praise it gets. It really is jam-packed with activities and attractions and is slowly starting to get on people’s radar. I loved my time there, and my only regret is that I didn’t have more of it (but I guess that’s just a reason to go back, right?).

It may not be one of the most obvious places to travel, but if you want an eclectic destination that doesn’t have a lot of crowds and is safe, inexpensive, and filled with great food and drink, Georgia is it! I can’t recommend it enough.

Here’s a list of what I consider to be some of the best things to see and do in Georgia:

Table of Contents

1. Visit Tbilisi

2. try a sulfur bath, 3. the chronicle of georgia, 4. see mtskheta, 5. eat khachapuri, 6. visit the vardzia cave monastery, 7. hit the slopes, 8. see the katskhi pillar, 9. go hiking or trekking, 10. try georgian wine, 11. explore the coast, 12. visit gergeti trinity church, 13. the caves of gareja, 14. visit gori, 15. get outdoors in svaneti.

Blue skies over the historic city of Tbilisi, Georgia

Tbilisi is surrounded by hills, one of which is home to the ruins of Narikala Fortress, which dates back to the fourth century. Take the cable car up for amazing views overlooking the city and the Mtkvari River. Additionally, the restored historic Old Town is full of colorful window frames, gorgeous balconies, ornate spiral staircases, and intriguing alleyways to explore.

In contrast with this history, there are also lots of modern sights to see in Tbilisi, like the ultramodern bow-shaped Peace Bridge and a growing number of trendy bars and restaurants. If you’re looking to party the night away, be sure to visit Bassiani, one of the most popular nightclubs in town.

Tbilisi is known for its sulfur baths, natural hot springs with minerals that are said to help with problems such as joint pain, arthritis, eczema, and dry skin. They have been a staple of the city since it was founded and are now a popular pastime for tourists and locals alike. (There are actually over two thousand mineral springs throughout Georgia, so you can have a spa day outside Tbilisi as well.)

The baths underneath the Narikala Fortress are the easiest place to try this popular Georgian tradition; you can also get a traditional scrub and massage. The baths are easy to spot: they have large brick domes rising out of the ground that cover the healing waters.

Expect to pay around 100 GEL.

Just outside Tbilisi, the Chronicle of Georgia is made up of 16 enormous pillars and columns with carved images that illustrate the nation’s history, each of which is over 30 meters tall! Some people call this “Georgia’s Stonehenge,” but there’s nothing ancient or mystical about it — the memorial was built in 1985 by a Georgian sculptor (although it was never finished).

It’s easy to reach the Chronicle by taking the metro and then walking a short distance. In addition to seeing this unusual monument (which is free), you’ll also get a beautiful view over the city and the Tbilisi Sea.

The medieval Svetitskhoveli Cathedral in Mtskheta, Georgia

One of the best things to do in Mtskheta is to go up to Jvari Monastery on the hilltop, most famous for being where Christianity was declared the official religion in 319 CE. The monastery itself was built in the sixth century and has survived nearly unchanged since then. From here you’ll be treated to stunning views over the town and the two rivers that meet at Mtskheta.

Also, don’t miss a visit to the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral (which dates to the 11th century) and the fourth-century Samtavro Monastery.

Khachapuri, a famous and delicious local dish in Georgia made from bread

Every region of Georgia has its own version, but probably the most famous is Adjarian khachapuri. It comes in a kind of boat shape and is first filled with cheese and then topped with an egg.

Another popular food you’ll want to try is kudari, which is a large leavened bread pocket stuffed with meat (usually pork or lamb) and vegetables.

The historic cave monastery on the cliffside of a mountain in Georgia

These days — after earthquake damage and raids from invaders — there are around three hundred surviving apartments and halls that can still be accessed. Additionally, the underground Church of the Dormition is still intact, which is home to murals depicting historical scenes of Georgian royalty.

Georgia probably isn’t your first thought for a skiing holiday. However, the country is rapidly becoming well known in Europe and Asia as a fun and affordable ski destination, and more lifts are being added each season. It shares the highest mountain range in the region and has plenty of snow in the winter, making it a great place to ski. Plus, it’s a whole lot cheaper than many options in Europe.

At the moment there are four main ski resort areas: Gudauri, Mestia, Goderdzi, and Bakuriani. There’s even a ski school with English-speaking instructors in Gudauri, which is only a two-hour drive from Tbilisi. You can get lift passes for as little as 40 GEL.

The famous church on the narrow and towering Katskhi Pillar in Georgia

But that’s not all — built on the top of this narrow pillar is a church complex dating back to the seventh century. Until 2015, a monk actually lived up on top, but these days the monks sleep in the monastery at the bottom — and only monks are allowed to climb up the steel ladder on the side as part of their daily pilgrimage to pray in the church. The buildings were refurbished recently, and a visitor center is in the works.

One of the many small villages in the valleys of Georgia

The most popular multi-day trek is walking from Mestia to Ushguli (4 days). There are enough villages along the route that you don’t need to camp. Not surprisingly, the scenery along the way is magnificent.

As Georgia is a hiker’s paradise, there are literally dozens of other hiking possibilities, so look around and see what kind of trek fits what you’re after. Some suggestions worth considering are Omalo to Shatili (5 days), Chaukhi Pass (1-2 days), and Svaneti to Racha (a challenging 3-4 days).

It’s said that Georgia has the oldest winemaking history in the world. Georgians have been making wine for over 8,000 years, so you can bet they’re pretty good at it by now. They use qvevri (clay pots buried in the ground) to ferment grapes for a unique taste. The climate in Georgia is perfect for winemaking, too, so it’s no wonder that Georgian wine is starting to win awards internationally.

There are five main wine regions in Georgia, but the largest and most visited is Kakheti in the east. Technically, you can make it a day trip from Tbilisi, but it deserves more than just a few hours. If you want to explore the vineyards, then pick either Sighnaghi or Telavi as a base.

A sunny day on the coast of Georgia in Batumi

You can chill out at a beach resort near Batumi or explore some of the craziness this part of Georgia has to offer (it’s sometimes described as the Las Vegas of the Black Sea). The region is home to some unique architecture and a number of casinos, though it also has the enormous Batumi Botanical Gardens, which boasts one of the most diverse ranges of flora you’ll see in a botanical garden anywhere.

The medieval Gergeti Trinity Church in Georgia

While you can visit on a day trip from Tbilisi, a better idea is to head to Stepantsminda and stay there overnight. That way, you can see the church in the morning (which offers great light for photos) while beating the tourist crowds that will eventually arrive from the capital.

The Caves of Gareja in Georgia near the border with Azerbaijan

The monastery survived incursions from the Mongols and Persians but was shut down under Soviet rule and used for military training (which caused a lot of damage to the buildings).

Today, you can visit the complex on a day trip from Tbilisi. The journey takes a couple hours by bus and bus tickets cost 40 GEL. Buses on the Gareji Line bus leave at 11am every day from Freedom Square. Just make sure the caves are open before you go as they are closed seasonally.

Gori is the hometown of Joseph Stalin, the brutal Soviet leader. Located 90 minutes from Tbilisi, the city is home to the popular Stalin Museum, which has lots of artifacts (including the wooden hut where he was born) and information about his life — all of it whitewashed and biased, of course.

Here you’ll also find a World War II museum that focuses on the achievements of the Red Army, as well as Gori Fortress, a citadel that dates back to the 17th century and offers a panoramic view of the region.

Although it’s close enough for a day trip from Tbilisi , you can stay in this small city of just 50,000 for a day or two if you want to get away from the crowds.

This is one of the most beautiful regions in the entire country. Tucked away in the northwestern corner of Georgia, you’ll find many tiny villages and incredible hiking here. There are also several UNESCO heritage sites in the area, including watchtowers that date back to the 12th century. You’ll also be completely enveloped by the Caucasus Mountains, which provide both a picturesque backdrop and stunning views.

Stay in Mestia, a tiny village of fewer than 2,000 people, and head out on foot or by car to explore the region. You’ll also find some of the best cheese in the country, made by traditional methods kept alive by the Svans (an ethnic subgroup). The region is one of the most remote areas in Georgia — see it before the tourists arrive.

This list just scratches the surface when it comes to the incredible things to see and do that Georgia has to offer. There are dozens more historical sites, monasteries, caves, and castles to see and a whole lot more stunning landscapes to explore. ( And the country is quite safe too .)

Whether you just have a few days to enjoy Tbilisi and its surroundings or a couple of weeks to cover more of rural Georgia too, you are not going to be disappointed!

Book Your Trip to Georgia: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight Use Skyscanner to find a cheap flight. They are my favorite search engine because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld as they have the biggest inventory and best deals. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels. My favorite place to stay is:

Fabrika (Tbilisi)

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

Safety Wing (best for everyone)
Insure My Trip (for those over 70)
Medjet (for additional evacuation coverage)

Looking for the Best Companies to Save Money With? Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use to save money when I’m on the road. They will save you money when you travel too.

Want More Information on Georgia? Be sure to visit our robust destination guide on Georgia for even more planning tips!

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Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. I recommend only products and companies I use and the income goes to keeping the site community supported and ad free.

Tbilisi Old Town with historic buildings, churches, and city walls set into the rolling hills behind

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The Perfect 2-Week Georgia (Country) Itinerary

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Pocket-sized Georgia is the greatest destination for an off-the-beaten-track adventure on the edge of Europe. Despite having a small population of just under 4 million people, Georgia has a surprising abundance of historical, cultural, and natural sights for you to explore in what is one of the oldest countries in the world.

Start your 2-week trip to Georgia in Tbilisi , the nation’s capital, where the ancient Narikala fortress looms large over the city. Take a walking tour of the old town, learn how Tbilisi was founded on hot springs (and make a rather enjoyable stop at the bathhouses), and start to appreciate a wine culture that’s said to be 8,000 years old!

Wine, and food, are a huge part of any Georgia itinerary, and we’ve saved plenty of time for you to visit the wineries and vineyards of Telavi and Sighnaghi, while in Kutaisi, you’ll feast on local produce and dig deep into dishes like khachapuri and khinkali .

You’ll visit the Black Sea beaches of Batumi, see the hometown of history’s most infamous dictators, and explore a national narrative ranging from antiquity to a Soviet occupation that’s still fresh in memory. You’ll also venture into the snowcapped Caucasus Mountains, where the tallest peaks rise as high as 5,000 meters (16,404 feet) above Georgia.

From Tbilisi to Telavi, if you’re planning a trip to the Caucasus, then keep reading as we unveil our perfect 14-day Georgia itinerary!

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase or booking through one of our links we may earn a small commission (don’t worry, it’s at no extra cost to you).

Two Weeks in the Country of Georgia

When to visit georgia.

It might sound like a big cliche, but the best time to visit Georgia really does depend on what you’re planning to do. Despite being such a small country, Georgia’s geography ensures that the climate can vary wildly from one region to the next, so timing is often key if you want to visit as many places as possible.

For the full Georgia experience, you’ll want to visit in summer, between May and September. This might be peak season, but it’s also when the snow in the mountains has melted and when the roads to remote places like Ushguli have fully opened after months of winter closure. Head to the Black Sea, and Batumi’s subtropical climate is out in force, with scorching temperatures rising into the high 20°C (70°F) and endless days of sunshine.

If you’re a keen snow sports fan, then Georgia is one of Europe’s last untouched ski destinations. There are slopes, lifts, and resorts just outside of Tbilisi, but none of the crowds you’ll find in France or Austria, while the mountains are becoming increasingly popular for cross-country skiing. Visit in winter, from January until April, to make the most of the ski season, but just remember that you won’t be able to do much hiking.

Foodies will want to save their trip for Autumn. As the summer temperatures drop, the harvests are prepared for collection. In rural areas around Kutaisi and Tbilisi, you can witness traditional harvest festivities and enjoy the freshest fruits, vegetables, and the best wines as you feast on Georgia’s glorious culinary offerings.

Things to Know Before You Go

Georgia has an incredibly liberal visa regime that’s aimed at attracting tourists and even remote workers and digital nomads to the country. Travelers with European Union, UK, and US passports won’t need to worry about visas because Georgia grants one-year visa-free entry on arrival. You can even extend this by popping over the border to Armenia, Azerbaijan, or Turkey before returning to Georgia.

As soon as you land, you’ll notice the Georgian language, which has its own distinct alphabet. It’s useful to learn a few basic phrases, if possible, but as the language is very unique, it can be difficult to pick up unless you’re a real linguist!

For many years, Georgia fell under the hegemony of Imperial Russia, and then the Soviet Union, and so the Russian language is still seen and spoken across Georgia, particularly among the older generations. If you speak Russian, you’ll find your way around easily indeed.

Things are changing, though, and the younger generations of Georgians are learning English and other languages, often speaking English alongside Russian and Georgian. In Tbilisi and other tourist-focused destinations, you’ll find many English speakers to help you out.

Politically, there are a few important things to know before you start your 2 weeks in Georgia. For starters, Georgian isn’t the only language spoken by locals. In fact, different regions typically have local dialects and languages alongside distinct ‘national’ identities.

In Svaneti and Tusheti, for example, communities are fiercely independent, while Adjara functions as a largely autonomous province. This has been taken to the extreme in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, two regions that have declared independence from Georgia.

Georgia’s two breakaway territories have been largely self-governing since the fall of the Soviet Union, but they continue to cause political problems, including the 2008 Russian invasion of Georgia. Keep one eye on the news, but these days, things have calmed down, and most of Georgia is a safe place to visit.

Getting Around Georgia

The country’s primary airport is located just outside Tbilisi, with regular flights connecting the capital to European destinations, as well as regional hubs like Istanbul and Dubai. Budget airlines like Wizz Air operate flights to Kutaisi from many European airports, with direct buses connecting Kutaisi to Tbilisi and Batumi (although it’s a three to four-hour drive to either).

Stretching from the Black Sea to the Caucasus Mountains, Georgia is a small country, but it’s also a country with an extreme diversity of landscapes. That can make getting around a challenge, particularly when the weather’s bad.

Outside of the summer season, roads in the mountains are often closed for long periods of time (the road to Tusheti, for example, is closed for almost six months of the year). Those same mountain roads are often treacherous, and it’s recommended to travel with a local driver who knows the routes.

That being said, there are good connections from Tbilisi to Kazbegi (including to the ski resorts during winter) and from Kutaisi, Batumi, and Tbilisi to Svaneti. An irregular network of minibuses (in various states of disrepair) ply major routes between towns and cities.

These marshrutkas are a hangover from the Soviet era, and while cost-effective, it can be difficult to find local timetables. You may also find smaller shared taxis running the same routes. From Tbilisi, there’s a regular train connection to Batumi (taking around five hours), as well as overnight sleeper trains to Yerevan (Armenia) and Baku (Azerbaijan).

Georgia Itinerary: 2 Weeks to Explore the Highlights of the Country

Tbilisi – 4 nights.

Your 2-week trip to Georgia starts in Tbilisi , the capital and one of the most beautiful cities in Georgia. Known for its colorful old town, where Persian, Imperial Russian, Soviet, and Georgian designs clash marvelously, Tbilisi is guaranteed to steal your heart and soul with its food, wine, and cultural sights.

2 Week Georgia Itinerary: Orthodox Church

Start with a walking tour of Old Tbilisi, where you’ll be guided past Orthodox churches, into underground bakeries, and past waterfalls that fall from rocky precipices (how many cities can claim to have a waterfall in the city center?).

You’ll learn how King Vakhtang I founded Tbilisi on the site of thermal hot springs back in the fifth century AD (after seeing an unfortunate pheasant fall into them), and you can take a steaming hot sulfur bath to experience the city’s bathing culture first hand.

2 Week Itinerary in Georgia: Narikala Fortress

Take the cable car to the lofty heights of the Narikala fortress, where the Soviet-built Mother of Georgia statue stands above the city, a sword in one hand and a jug of wine in the other. Make your way down to the river, and you can explore the curious Soviet memorabilia for sale at the Flea Market before stopping off at a riverside restaurant for your first taste of Georgian cuisine (start with the khinkali, a type of stuffed dumpling, and a khachapuri , a cheesy, sometimes eggy bread!).

Museums and Galleries

2 Weeks in Georgia Itinerary: National Museum of Georgia

History buffs can visit the National Museum of Georgia on Rustaveli Avenue before seeing sights like the Georgian Parliament building, the Tbilisi Art Gallery, and Liberty Square. Spend your evening sipping on Georgian wine as you gorge your way around Tbilisi’s best restaurants (start with Barbarestan , Shavi Lomi , and Machakhela ).

You’ll want at least four nights in Tbilisi, not only because you’re going to fall in love with the Georgian capital, but because it’s a fantastic base for day trips (you could take four nights at the start of your trip, or if you’re flying back out of Tbilisi you could start with two nights in the capital and end the trip with two more).

2 Week Itinerary in Georgia: Hometown of Stalin

If you’re big into your history, you’ll want to take a trip to Gori, the notorious hometown of Stalin, the world’s most infamous dictator. You can see the house where Stalin supposedly spent his earliest years, while the Stalin Museum tells of his rise to power and rule.

Sighnaghi and Telavi

Georgia Two Week Itinerary: Tsinandali Estate

If that’s too intense, you might prefer a day trip into the heartland of Georgian wine instead. Take a tour of Sighnaghi, a gloriously romantic town about two hours east of Tbilisi. Walk the famous walls, then taste your way around cellars like Pheasant’s Tears Winery , where you can learn more about the unique fermentation process of the Qveri, an 8,000-year-old production process that involves clay pots and orange wine. From Sighnaghi, it’s a short journey to Telavi, where you can visit the famed Tsinandali Estate and tour the Shumi Winery before heading back to Tbilisi.

Kazbegi – 2 nights

2 Weeks in Georgia Itinerary: Kazbegi Stepantsminda

After settling into the capital, it’s time to leave the colorful streets and balconies of Old Tbilisi behind in order to venture into Georgia’s iconic mountains. Located at an altitude of 1,740 meters (5,709 feet), your next destination is Kazbegi – or Stepantsminda, as it’s also called – a mountain town on the border with Russia that’s home to one of the most dramatic churches in the world.

Hop on a marshrutka in Tbilisi, and it could take anywhere between three and five hours to reach Kazbegi – it really depends on the weather and traffic. Rather than busing it, we recommend embracing the slow travel and hiring a driver or joining a group tour from Tbilisi. The road north is winding, always scenic, and epic at almost every turn.

Zhinvali Reservoir

Just outside of Tbilisi, you can start by stopping in the ancient Georgian capital of Mtskheta, one of the oldest continually inhabited cities in the world. Take your time, and you can then stop for a panorama of the Zhinvali Reservoir, you can explore the rebuilt walls of the ancient Ananuri Fortress Complex, and take a look at the crumbling Soviet remains of the Russia-Georgia Friendship Monument. You also pass Gudari on the way, where you’ll find Georgia’s best ski resorts in winter.

Gergeti Trinity Church

Kazbegi is really Tbilisi’s mountain retreat, and you’ll find everything from basic homestays to a fabulous five-star hotel you can book for your next two nights. Depending on the time you arrive, you can make your way straight to Gergeti Trinity Church – if you’re not too tired – for an epic sunset. It’s a 1.5-hour hike (mostly uphill) or a much shorter taxi drive.

Gergeti Glacier

Get an early night for an early start, as the next day, you’ll be hiking all day. There are plenty of different trails to suit different abilities. The Gergeti Glacier hike takes you up to around 3,500 meters (11,483 feet), passing the Gergeti Trinity Church along the way. At around eight hours in walking time, it’s a great day trip.

Truso Valley

The Truso Valley hike is a much flatter walk through spectacular mountain villages, although you’ll need to take a four-by-four to the start point. All the while, you’ll be walking in the shadow of Mount Kazbek, which, at over 5,000 meters (16,404 feet), is the third-highest peak in the Caucasus. There are countless more hiking trails, but unfortunately, the following day you need to make your way back down to Tbilisi for the next stage of your Georgia itinerary.

Batumi – 3 nights

Overlooking the Black Sea, Batumi is a beautiful resort town lined with pebble beaches and gifted with a sub-tropical climate that keeps temperatures toasty all year round. You’re a far cry from the mountains of Kazbegi now, and you’ve got three nights to relax and recuperate on the Black Sea.

Batumi Boulevard

You can reach Batumi on the train from Tbilisi (save time and money by taking the overnight sleeper, if you fancy) or by direct marshrutka (it generally takes a minimum of six hours). After the journey, you’ll welcome a cold drink at a beach bar along Batumi Boulevard, the long boardwalk that fronts the city. The same boulevard is popular for joggers and cyclists, so feel free to stretch your legs if you’ve still got the energy!

Gonio Fortress

The next day, you can start your sightseeing. Batumi has a long history stretching back to antiquity (you can even visit Gonio Fortress, a nearby Roman ruin, if you have time), but today the city is best known for its somewhat garish modern architecture.

Alphabetic Tower

The McDonald’s looks like it was dropped out of space, while the Alphabetic Tower is equally bizarre. Much of the building spree has been funded (presumably) by the recent tourism boom, which is largely driven by Middle Eastern and Turkish visitors interested in spending money in the many casinos lining the seafront.

Other Things to do

Georgia Two Week Itinerary: Argo Cable Car

There’s much to do in Batumi, but halfway through your trip, you’ll want to take things slow. You can hop on the Argo Cable Car for spectacular views over the Black Sea or head to Batumi’s extensive Botanical Gardens to see the different flora from around the world that thrive in subtropical climes. There are sandy (rather than pebbly) beaches to the north, while waterfalls and canyons await you in the forests inland.

2 Week Georgia Itinerary: Adjarian Khachapuri

Batumi is the capital of Adjara, a region that is best known for its extravagant khachapuri . This is the home of the Adjarian khachapuri , a boat-shaped bread bowl that’s filled with eggs and cheese. Take a cooking class to learn more!

Svaneti – 3 nights

After a few relaxing days on the pebble beaches of Batumi, it’s time to pack the bags and lace up your hiking boots again. You’ve got another long travel day ahead, but it’s worth every bump in the road when you finally make it to Svaneti.

Caucasus Mountains

Svaneti is Georgia’s northwestern mountain province, where you’ll find high-altitude communities and soaring peaks rising above 5,000 meters (16,404 feet) – Svaneti is home to some of the highest mountains in the Caucasus, including Shkhara, the highest peak in Georgia.

Svaneti Region

2 Week Itinerary in Georgia: Svan Towers

You’ll be making your way along the long, dramatic road to Mestia, where you’ll find a growing hub for tourism in the Svaneti region. Mestia sits at an altitude of around 1,500 meters (4,921 feet), and it’s at least a six-hour drive from Batumi. You can hire a driver or find a marshrutka, although you may need to change minibuses in Zugdidi.

Acclimatize to the mountain air and altitude with a leisurely exploration of the town, where you can climb the distinctive Svan Towers that were built for defense during the perpetual clan wars that were once endemic in this isolated part of the world. Visit the excellent Svaneti Museum of History and Ethnography, and you can learn more about the wild history and unique language of the Svan people who call the mountains home.

Other Places to See

Mestia is a perfect base for hiking, and if you have more than 2 weeks in Georgia, there are many multi-day routes you can tackle. For those of you without the luxury of time, however, you’ve got many a day hike to choose from. One of the best is the hike to Chaladi Glacier, a relatively flat route that’s around 19 kilometers (12 miles) there and back, while Koruldi Lakes is an epic eight or nine-hour day hike away.

One of the best places to visit in Georgia is Ushguli, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed village that’s dotted with crumbling Svan Towers. At an altitude of 2,100 meters (6,890 feet), Ushguli is the highest permanently inhabited village in Europe. It’s a four-day walk one way from Mestia, but you can hire a four-by-four or join a tour to make it there and back in a day.

Kutaisi – 2 nights

Now it’s time to head back down the mountain for the last stop on your Georgia itinerary. Kutaisi is one of the top places to visit in Georgia, particularly if you love food, wine, and gorgeous natural scenery. This is Georgia’s third-largest city, and like many cities here, it has a long history stretching back to antiquity.

Prometheus Cave

Nearby, you can join a day trip to Prometheus Cave , a vast underground cavern that is said to be where the mythical Greek character Prometheus was chained for eternity after defying the gods and stealing fire.

Day trips to the cave typically take in the Martvili Canyon, too, where you’ll be awed by a thundering river crashing through a dramatic gorge.

Famous Religious Attractions

2 Week Itinerary in Georgia: Bagrati Cathedral

In Kutaisi itself, you can visit famous religious attractions like the Bagrati Cathedral and the Gelati Monastery, or you can take a trip to the old Soviet spa town of Tskaltubo, which is slowly being revitalized after decades of neglect. The sights are great, but Kutaisi is the capital of Georgia’s Imereti region, which is best known for its excellent cuisine (you’ll have already tried Imeretian khachapuri by this stage in the trip, we guarantee!).

Baia’s Winery

Join a food-focused day tour from Kutaisi, and you can visit local farmsteads in the countryside, where you’ll be able to find fresh, seasonal Georgian ingredients, including the saltiest cheeses and classic dishes like lobio .

One of the best tours takes you to Baia’s Winery , where you’ll learn the ancient art of Georgian winemaking (which has a history stretching back 8,000 years) on a family-run vineyard that exports its best vintages to thirsty markets across Europe.

You can fly direct from Kutaisi to many destinations in Europe and the Middle East, or you can hop on one last marshrutka and return to Tbilisi, which is roughly a 4-hour drive away.

There you have it! That’s our perfect 2-week Georgia itinerary. Where will your trip to Georgia take you?

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Richard is an award-winning travel writer based in Southwest England who’s addicted to traveling off the beaten track. He’s traveled to 75 countries and counting in search of intriguing stories, unusual destinations, and cultural curiosities. Richard loves traveling the long way round over land and sea, and you’ll find him visiting quirky micronations and breakaway territories as often as he’s found lounging on a beach (which is a lot). When he’s not writing for BBC Travel, National Geographic, or Lonely Planet, you can find Richard writing for the Wandering Wheatleys or updating his off-beat travel blog, Travel Tramp.

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Tips & how to travel to Georgia in 2024

By Joan Torres 23 Comments Last updated on August 27, 2024

Georgia is the ultimate European travel destination.

This Caucasian country is home to, definitely, the most striking mountains in Europe, composed of massive glaciers, fairy meadows, and 5,000-meter snowed capped peaks; and great, vibrant capital, very Eastern European on the one hand but, on the other, with its unique Caucasian and Georgian identity and filled with the most unimaginable chaos.

Barely discovered by the average traveler, Georgia is a country with a very strong national character, visible in many aspects, from having their own Christian branch to a unique architectural style, a very elaborate cuisine considered the best in the former Soviet Union and a deeply rooted wine culture.

I lived and traveled in Georgia for more than 7 months, and it is truly one of those countries which, every time I write about its beautiful things, I can’t avoid falling into nostalgia.

Georgia is a great country and this guide contains everything you need to know for traveling to Georgia , from how to get a visa to cultural facts, trekking advice, and plenty of travel tips, making it the most detailed Georgia travel blog.

In this Georgia travel guide you will find:

Table of Contents

Best time to visit Georgia
Travel Insurance
How to get in
5 Top experiences
Is Georgia safe?
The people and the culture
Non-recognized republics
Get off the beaten track
Soviet heritage in Georgia
Georgian food
Transportation in Georgia
Accommodation
More information

our recommended travel insurance for Georgia

With its backpacker plan, IATI Insurance is the best insurance for any kind of trekking destination, like Georgia.

🪪 Visa for traveling to Georgia

Free one-year visa.

Georgia has one of the greatest visa regimes in the world, as you can get a 1-year FREE visa upon arrival in the country.

You can live in Georgia for the rest of your life

The best part is that this 1 year gets automatically renewed once you leave and re-enter the country, even if you cross the Armenian border and come back after one minute. This means that you can stay in Georgia forever.

Which nationalities?

Here you can see the list of the countries (94) which are eligible for the 1-year travel visa, which includes all Western Nationalities, Latin America, and all high GDP Asian nationalities.

By the way, apparently, EU citizens can enter the country without a passport, with just their national ID but, just in case, I recommend you bring both.

Other nationalities can get an online visa

Then, some countries like India, China or Egypt , among many others, can apply for an e-visa through this portal .

Remember to read my Tbilisi travel guide

⛅ Best time to visit Georgia

First of all, you should know that Tbilisi can be visited all year long as, in winter, it never gets too cold plus you won’t find tourists. Summer is particularly hot in Tbilisi but it is the best season to enjoy the rest of the country.

Visit Georgia in winter – Georgia has a few ski resorts, Gudauri being the most popular one, around 3 hours away from Tbilisi. Obviously, their ski resorts are not as great as the ones in Europe, but they are all right and for people living in Dubai and other warm areas, Georgia might be the best nearby ski destination.
Visit Georgia in spring – Beautiful landscapes and many sunny days but it might be too early to go trekking in the Georgian Caucasus .
Visit Georgia in summer – The best time for trekking in the high Caucasus and visiting the coastal area.
Visit Georgia in autumn – Mid-September is the harvest season, so for wine lovers, this is the best time to visit Kakheti region .

I personally think that September would be the ideal month to travel to Georgia because the trekking season is not over yet, it is harvest season, the weather in Tbilisi is great and the big crowds have already gone.

🚑 Travel Insurance for Georgia

Georgia is an adventurous destination, so we recommend going there with proper travel insurance.

I recommend IATI Insurance because:

Their backpacker plan covers all types of adventure activities, including trekking
Very competitive prices
Readers of this blog can get a 5% exclusive discount

🛫 How to get to Georgia

How to travel to georgia by air.

Via Tbilisi – Tbilisi has many connections with Europe, some Asian destinations and Dubai and other Middle Eastern cities.
Via Kutaisi – There is a low-cost airport, with many Wizzair flights coming from several European cities, so it would also be a great chance to visit Kutaisi .

How to travel to Georgia by land

Russia – Officially, only one border with Russia is open, which is the one in Kazbegi . Then, you have the South Ossetian border, which can’t be used for entering/exiting Georgia, and the border with Abkhazia, which can be used for exiting but not entering. For more information, read my travel guide to Abkhazia .
Azerbaijan – There are two official borders, one closer to Tbilisi, which can be crossed by train, and the other one in the Kakheti region . Both are friendly and very easy to cross. Read my Azerbaijan itinerary for more information.
Armenia – There are three borders to choose from, depending on where you want to go.
Turkey – The are two very friendly borders, the easiest being the coastal one, which takes you straight to Batumi.
Ukraine – You can travel to Georgia by ferry from Odesa in Ukraine. There are two companies offering this service, Ukrferry , and Ferrysped , and detailed schedules may be found on their websites. A ticket costs around 100USD. Read my travel guide to Ukraine

Read: Everything you must know for visiting Iran

📚 The best books on Georgia

These are just my favorite 2 books. For more options, check the best 15 books on Georgia

Georgia Diary: A Chronicle of War and Political Chaos in the Post-Soviet Caucasus – Thomas Goltz

In this insightful book, Thomas Goltz tells all the struggles Georgia went through after the independence from the Soviet Union, ranging from separatists conflicts (Abkhazia), the war of neighboring Chechenya, corruption, crime, and endless politicals problems.

Bread And Ashes: A Walk Through the Mountains of Georgia – Tony Anderson

If you ever traveled to Georgia and had to read one single book on the country, I would definitely recommend this one.

The author Tony Anderson traveled across the Georgian High Caucasus in 1998, on foot, through Tusheti, Khevsureti, Racha and Svaneti. In his journey, he discovered something that I have always been saying in all my articles, which is that despite belonging to the Soviet Union and basically, being the crossroads of the world, this part of Georgia managed to keep their culture and ancient traditions intact.

This book is great not only to also understand Georgian’s national identity but also to learn about the Caucasian ethnicity and culture.

🛖 5 Top experiences in Georgia

1 – explore the capital, tbilisi.

Whether you come for sightseeing, partying or to live your life as a digital nomad, Tbilisi is a great capital to spend a couple of days in.

2 – Discover the Communist Heritage of Georgia

From abandoned factories to masterpieces of Soviet Modernism, Communist buildings and functioning infrastructure, as a former Soviet Union country, Georgia has the largest Communist heritage I have ever seen.

Check this Soviet modernist building:

3 – Wander around unspoiled Mountain villages of Tusheti

One of the remotest mountain regions in Georgia, only accessible by a 4×4 through a 3,000-meter pass, and where you find some of the most unspoiled mountain villages in the country.

4 – Visit Kakheti during harvest season

Georgia was the first country ever to produce wine and Kakheti is the region where most wine is produced, so I recommend you go there during harvest season and visit small, random wineries to see how wine is made most traditionally.

Read my Kakheti travel guide

5 – Visit the Muslim villages of Adjara

Georgia was never fully under Ottoman rule, just a small part of it one occupied part being the mountains that stretch from the coast along the Turkish border, and that is the reason why most people living there are Muslims.

That area is named Adjara, and its tiny villages are home to absolutely hospitable people and aluminum-made mosques.

⚠️ Is it safe to travel to Georgia?

There is not much to say here other than Georgia is very safe to visit, as it enjoys some of the lowest crime rates ever.

In fact, I used to work in different cafés around Tbilisi every day and I was very surprised that the Georgians would always leave their laptops and belongings on the table and go outside for a couple of minutes, something I would never do in Spain or in pretty much any European city.

Traveling to Georgia is safe, really, including for solo women.

Are you traveling to Central Asia? Check my travel guide to Central Asia

🕌 The people, the culture and the country

The country.

Georgia is a country located in the Caucasus region that used to be part of the Soviet Union until its dissolution in 1991. It is located at the crossroads of Asia and Europe, which made it particularly appealing and convenient to occupy for several empires, from the Mongols to the Ottomans, the Persians and, of course, the Russians, both the Russian Empire and the USSR.

Georgia is a country with many layers of history, absolutely fascinating, yet, and, surprisingly, they have been able to maintain their strong culture and character, very different from anywhere else you may have been to.

Read: What to do in Iran for 1 month

Is it part of Europe or not?

From a geographical point of view, the country is literally, right in between Asia and Europe, in Eurasia, so some people may argue when it comes to allocating it.

To be honest, I don’t really care where it sits because I personally think that its culture is more important than its geographic location and, in my opinion, Georgia has many similarities to Eastern Europe, more than even Turkey, which is geographically closer; and it barely shares any similarity with its Central Asian cousins and it is extremely different from any country in the Middle East .

Moreover, as a Spaniard, I will even tell you that they have many similarities with South Europeans, especially Greeks and Spaniards, not only in the way we look like but also, in the way we eat, drink and sit around the table.

Actually, some studies confirm that Georgians have common ancestry with Basque people, a separate nation within Spain.

So yes, I think that Georgia is part of Europe.

Georgia and Russia

Heads-up. Georgians don’t like Russians, for many reasons, but mainly due to the Georgian-Russian war in 2008 . I don’t really want to enter into politics but, basically, Georgia went to war with South Ossetia, a region that wanted to separate from Georgia and had the support of Russia, which ended up into a military invasion of Georgia with Russian tanks.

It is, of course, much more complicated than that, but this is what most Georgians will tell you and, if you meet some Georgians, you are likely to hear them complaining about Russians all the time.

This topic is kind of controversial because Georgia largely depends on Russian tourism, and they can actually travel to Georgia visa-free, but Georgians need to go through a very tedious process to enter Russia.

My country is 20% occupied by Russia If you stay in the country for long enough, you are going to hear this sentence quite often, directly from Georgians or even written on blackboards from the most progressive bars. This 20% refers to South Ossetia and the Republic of Abkhazia .

Georgia is where traditional and European values collapse

Tbilisi is one of those capitals which, on the one hand, is home to a very traditional and super religious, conservative society which still lives in the last century and, on the other hand, a large young population, very open-minded in all senses and with very strong European values.

From not hiding their homosexuality to fighting for gender equality, the young crowd is really demanding change.

They would like to be at the level of any EU country, to be part of it even, but, unfortunately, they are in conflict with the large, utterly conservative branch, who are supported by the powerful Church and, as a result, many of their demonstrations end up with violence.

Really, when I was living there in 2018, I witnessed quite a few extremely violent episodes.

The language

Georgians speak Georgian , a language whose origins are a bit uncertain plus it is similar to nothing you ever listened to. They also have their own alphabet, pretty beautiful in my opinion.

How to communicate with the locals

In Tbilisi, most young people speak good English but outside of Tbilisi not that much. Unlike in most former Soviet countries, in Georgia, they stopped teaching Russian at school right after their independence, which means that people who were born after 1991 don’t speak Russian at all, and some of the older generation who do don’t really like to speak it for the above-mentioned reasons.

85% of Georgians belong to a Christian branch named Georgian Orthodox, one of the world’s most ancient Churches, founded in the 1st Century and the main reason why Georgians have been able to preserve their national identity despite all the invasions.

Georgia is the most religious Christian country I have ever been to, a country where you are going to see a lot of young people crossing themselves every time they pass a Church.

By the way, visiting the endless Georgian Orthodox churches and monasteries is one of the highlights, as they tend to be built in epic locations, plus they have their own architectural style.

Furthermore, 10% are Muslims, mainly living in Adjara, a region bordering Turkey, as that area used to be part of the Ottoman Empire.

Read: What to do in Azerbaijan in 3 weeks

The unrecognized republics within Georgia

In this Georgia travel guide, I think it is a good idea to mention some independent, yet, non-recognized, countries you may not have heard of.

Basically, an unrecognized republic is a country that has got its independence, but, nobody in the international community recognizes it, which means that the UN doesn’t acknowledge its existence.

There are many ghost countries around the world and in Georgia, you find two: Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

Those countries declared themselves independent from Georgia, which led to a bloody war and, since nobody recognized them, they weren’t able to be part of the international banking system and their borders were closed, so today, they are economically backed up by Russia, in exchange for recognition, influence and military presence.

However, entering these enclaves feels like being in a totally different country, as they have a border, require separate visas, have a distinct culture and Georgia has absolutely zero power and influence over them.

Abkhazia – You can easily visit it from Georgia and all you need is an e-visa which takes one week to process. For more information, read: How to travel to Abkhazia .
South Ossetia – Not accessible from Georgia: you can only enter from Russia and you may need to have a double-entry Russian visa.

Read my articles to other unrecognized countries:

Transnistria

🧭 Getting off the beaten track when you go backpacking in Georgia

Georgia is an emerging tourist destination but I think that, in a couple of years, it will enter the mass tourism destination stage.

In fact, some parts of Georgia, like Kazbegi or Mestia are already quite commercialized, which means that taxi rip-offs are common and the locals don’t care about anything but the money you have in your pocket.

It is a pity because Georgians are known for their humble hospitality and it seems that this commercialization came too quickly.

Nevertheless, don’t be disappointed because most of the country has been barely visited by tourists and there are many pure regions, pretty raw, where the locals will bless you with their hospitality. These are the best off the beaten track places to go backpacking in Georgia:

The mountains of Adjara (bordering Turkey)
Some villages of Kakheti

Soviet Heritage in Georgia

Like I said before, the Georgia-Russia relationship is kind of controversial because, on one side, they want to erase any Russian influence from their culture but, on the other side, here you find a shit load of Soviet Heritage, much more than in its neighbor Azerbaijan , a Soviet Country that decided to eliminate most Soviet buildings, yet, they have good relations with mother Russia.

Some Soviet relics you may find:

Soviet Modernism – Soviet Modernism was an artistic movement that flourished during the last decades of the USSR and mainly consisted of buildings with particularly weird shapes. Well, in Tbilisi you find traces of this movement everywhere.
Concrete Soviet buildings – Outside of the Old City, most of the buildings are from the Communist era, especially in the suburbs, where everything remains untouched.
Abandoned factories – There are loads of abandoned Soviet factories all over the country, my favorite being the one in Zestaponi.
Mining towns – Chiatura used to be one of the most important centers for the mining industry in the Soviet Union (Stalin himself used to live here) and the town hasn’t changed much since then.

Here you can learn more about Soviet countries in Europe

🏔️ Trekking in Georgia

Georgia is the ultimate trekking destination, home to some of the highest mountains in Europe, with its highest peak being Shkhara , located at 5,193 meters.

A few things you should know about trekking in Georgia:

Most of the high mountains are located in the north of the country, at the heart of the Greater Caucasus.
If you are planning to trek in high altitudes, summer is the ideal season but the end of spring and beginning of autumn should be good as well.
The Greater Caucasus is no joke, as it offers some really challenging treks and the weather is highly unpredictable. If you don’t have much experience, don’t go alone, or try doing one of the busy, popular treks.
Except in some parts of Svaneti and Tusheti, you won’t find any guesthouses along the way, so you must bring proper mountain equipment.
From epic glaciers to mind-blowing snow-capped peaks, the mountains of Georgia are a real wonder, so enjoy.

For more information, including my personal tips + a packing list, read my trekking guide to Georgia .

If you really want to know about all the hiking trails in Georgia, I recommend you check this website: Caucasus Trekking – It contains very detailed guides to pretty much any trek in Georgia.

🍷 Wine in Georgia (and chacha )

Wine is part of Georgian’s identity and, therefore, the highlight of traveling to Georgia and it truly deserves a single section in this Georgia travel guide.

Archaeological evidence shows that they have been producing wine for nearly 8,000 years, making them one of the oldest countries in the world , if not the oldest, to ever produce wine.

Traditionally, they used to make wine in something called qvevri , which are some clay vessels which are placed on the floor of a room called marani . This used to be the traditional way and, like most traditions in Georgia, many wineries still use it.

In rural areas and smaller towns, it seems that everybody produces their own wine at home and, if you are staying in a traditional guest house, it is not uncommon that your host will probably offer you some for breakfast, no kidding.

It also happened to us that random people stopped us in the middle of the street to just greet us and give a few litters of wine, for free.

The fact is that Georgian wine is everywhere, and you are going to find good wine and bad wine but the most important is that for just a few €, you can find some good stuff.

If you want to really witness the wine culture in Georgia, you must visit Georgia in September, during the harvest season, when all Kakheti is filled with Soviet trucks extra loaded with grapes and all the small wineries are in their production stages.

By the way, Georgia produces a large variety of grapes but the most common ones would be Saperavi for red wine and Rkatsiteli for white wine.

What about chacha ?

When Georgians don’t drink wine, they drink chacha, a really strong liquor usually made from grape which can easily contain up to 60-70% of alcohol.

You will be surprised to know that some guest houses also offer you chacha for breakfast.

We also got offered chacha by many taxi drivers, bus drivers and just random people we bumped into.

Moldova has a very similar wine culture. Read my Moldova travel guide

🍲 Georgian cuisine: what are you like to eat when visiting Georgia

The food is another of the highlights of visiting Georgia.

In fact, Georgian cuisine is the cuisine of reference in the Soviet Union, to the extent that the best local restaurants in Ukraine and Russia are Georgian restaurants.

Their food, however, tends to be heavy but they offer a large variety of dishes and, unlike all the developing countries I have been to, in Tbilisi you already find quite a few restaurants serving high local cuisine.

Cheese, walnuts and meat, loads of meat, are usually the core of any of their meals but they also have many vegetarian options, especially eggplant dishes.

Some of the dishes you are likely to taste are:

Churchkhela

Churchkhela is not really a dish but a traditional candle-shaped candy, and I am putting it on the top of the list because you find it everywhere.

Basically, it consists of walnuts and almonds dipped into a super thick, and extremely hot, grape juice, which they need to hang for a couple of hours to dry out.

Don’t buy it in touristic areas, as they charge 4 or 5 times the actual price. The local price is 2-3GEL per unit.

The local dumplings, typically stuffed with meat. You may also find them stuffed with cheese and other ingredients but those are aimed at tourists.

By the way, the local way to eat them is biting one a tiny bit to suck all the meat broth and then eating it as if it was an apple.

Khachapuri Adjaluri

Khachapuri is, basically baked bread with melted cheese, but they have many variations and adjaluri is boat-shaped khachapuri with loads of melted cheese, butter and an egg floating over on top of it.

Badridzhani Nigvsit

Grilled eggplants with walnut paste. Perhaps, my favorite.

Chicken in walnut sauce. This dish tends to be expensive and not available on most menus but I strongly recommend you order it, at least once.

Bean stew, usually served with cornbread and pickles.

Gobi is a special starter dish containing several vegetarian snacks such as phkali , which are spinach balls with walnut paste.

The local grilled sausage.

💻 Internet and connectivity in Georgia

Wi-Fi – Wi-Fi is great throughout the country. In the mountains, the signal is bad, of course, but you can still connect to pretty much anywhere, even in Tusheti.

SIM Card – Magticom is the mobile company I was using and I remember that for just a few €, you can get loads of GB every month. The best is that you can top-up your phone online. Check their website for the latest deals.

eSIM for browsing, calling and traveling in Georgia

Basically, an eSIM is a regular SIM card with a digital format that works like a normal physical SIM card, with the added benefit that you can buy it from home before the beginning of your trip, hence avoiding the hassle of buying it at your destination.

With Holafly , you can get a SIM Card for a wide range of destinations, including Georgia .

Moreover, you can benefit from a 5% discount with the following code: AGAINSTTHECOMPASS

Get a VPN for traveling in Georgia

You should always use a VPN when you travel, especially when you connect to public Wi-Fi networks.

Your connection will be much safer.

Moreover, you will be able to access content which is typically censored in Georgia.

I recommend ExpressVPN – Extremely easy to use, fast and cheap.

If you want to learn more about VPN, check: Why you need a VPN for traveling .

💰 Money in Georgia – Georgia travel budget

In Georgia, they use the Georgian Lari (GEL) and, approximately:

1 USD = 2.60 GEL

They call the small currency Tetris.

Credit cards and ATMs

In Tbilisi, you can pay by credit card pretty much anywhere and ATMs abound, all of them accepting international credit cards. You will need cash for taxis and the traditional shops. Outside of Tbilisi, do bring cash.

Exchanging money

Exchanging money is easy and € and USD are accepted everywhere.

How much does it cost to travel in Georgia?

The good news is that Georgia is really, really cheap.

How much does food cost in Georgia?

A meal in budget, local eateries – Around 7-10GEL
A meal in higher quality restaurants – Around 15-25GEL
A meal in top-end restaurants – From 50-60GEL
Cappuccino – 4-5GEL
Local beer – 2-3GEL
A glass of local wine – 2-4GEL
A glass of good quality wine – 8-11GEL

How much does transportation cost in Georgia?

Taxis within Tbilisi – 3-5GEL
Bus/metro ride – 0.50GEL
Marshrutka to Mtskheta – 1GEL
Marshrutka to Kazbegi – 10GEL
Train to Batumi – 50GEL

How much does accommodation cost in Georgia?

Budget Hostels – From 15GEL
Double room in a budget guest house – From 40-50GEL
Double room in a mid-range hotel – From 80GEL

Backpacking Budget for Georgia: from 25-30€ a day

🛺 Transportation – How to go backpacking Georgia

How to move around tbilisi:.

Taxi – If you want to get the cheapest rates (and avoid bargaining), download Yandex or Taxify. Most rides cost around 3-5GEL.
Metro – There are two metro lines. A single metro ride costs 0.50GEL, but you need to first buy a metro card for 2GEL.
Bus – It works with the same metro card and Google Maps tells you the bus number of your route.
Yellow mini-vans – You will also see some yellow mini-vans roaming around Tbilisi. They are private and one single ticket costs 0.80GEL. However, they are more difficult to use because the signs are in the Georgian alphabet.

How to move around Georgia:

Marshrutka – Marshrutkas are the tiny mini-vans used to move around the country. They go pretty much anywhere, are the cheapest way to move around and leave once they are full. However, the drivers are literally crazy, seriously, some of the craziest I have ever met, and note that I have been traveling in places known for their crazy driving like Saudi Arabia and Pakistan .

Train – There is a train line that goes all the way to Zugdidi, Batumi and also to Armenia and Azerbaijan. You can book your train tickets at the train station itself but I used to buy them online through this website . Do book them in advance, especially in summer because they run out pretty quickly.

Renting a car – When my parents came to visit us in Georgia, we traveled around Georgia for a week by car. It is very convenient and, if you drive carefully, you should be all right. We used a local company named parent.ge , which is significantly cheaper than most international branches. The owner of this company was our landlord, Dato. He is a cool guy.

Here you can find more information on renting a car in Georgia .

🏨 Accommodation in Georgia

In Georgia, you find a wide range of accommodation throughout the country:

Hostels – In Tbilisi, you can find a shit load of hostels.

Guest Houses – Budget, lovely guesthouses also abound all over Georgia.

Hotels – From 5-star hotels in Tbilisi to the mountain lodges in Kazbegi, the hotel options are endless.

Homestays – In Svaneti and Tusheti, homestays are the way to go.

❗ More information for traveling to Georgia

📢 In my Travel Resources Page you can find the list of all the sites and services I use to book hotels, tours, travel insurance and more.

All guides and articles for traveling in Georgia destination

Travel Guide to Kakheti
Travel Guide to Kazbegi
Tbilisi Travel Guide
Georgia Itinerary
Best Books on Georgia
Trekking Guide to Georgia

Facebook Groups – Expats in Tbilisi and Georgian Wanderers are some great Facebook Groups where you can ask questions.

Travel guides to former Soviet countries

Belarus Travel Guide
Ukraine Travel Guide
Travel Guide to Moldova
Azerbaijan Travel Guide
Travel Guide to Kyrgyzstan
Travel Guide to Tajikistan
Uzbekistan Travel Guide
Kazakhstan Travel Guide

23 comments

Georgia is a beautiful country and you also described it more beautifully and worthy. Nice photos with good content.

Nice post! Thanks for sharing!

Hi Joan, Thanks for sharing. Very informative content and quite different from other travel blogs especially the Russian buildings. BTW, I will be travelling from Tbilisi to Chiatura on June 23, do you have any idea how much does it cost by shared taxi (We are a group of 3 adults) so that I have some ideas on it rather than being ripped off. Actually I did ask for private transfer, it quotes 270 GEL, seem quite expensive for me. Hope you can give me some advice on this as you have been in Tbilisi for quite a time. Thanks in advance for your help! Cheers!

Hi Paulina, I don’t know if there are shared taxis going to Chiatura but, from Didube station, you can take the marshrutka that goes to Kutaisi, which costs 15GEl if I am not mistaken, drop off in Zestaponi and from there, take a second marshrutka to Chiatura.

Joan, as always a very informative and comprehensive post – thanks a lot!

But to be honest I have never thought of Georgia as “barely discovered by the average traveler”. Quite the contrary to be honest. By average you mean western European tourists? Because it is (and has been for quite some years) one of key tourism destination for eastern Europe and Russia… Gone are the days when Georgia was an unknown country. Last time I visited (in 2016 and off season) only to find that it is quite prepared for mass tourism and even then (January) there were quite a lot of tourists not only in Tbilisi, but also in Kutaisi and, of course, Singhnaghi. Very different to how it was, let’s say 10 years ago. I will be back again in few days and I wonder or rather I am a bit afraid, how things have changed in these 3 years and how is Georgia during high season. Even now, without Russian tourists.

I will check the tarmac road in Kazbegi 😉 Hope it will decrease a bit the taxi mafia… Cheers!

very interestingly written and informative content. Different and unique from other blogs same like Georgia. Thanks for sharing your experience in so detail , it was very helpful

Really fantastic blog! My wife and I are in the early stages of planning a 6 week trip to Georgia,Azerbaijan and possibly Armenia and I’m delighted to read that there is a border crossing between Sighnaghi and Azerbaijan,as we’d like to travel the High Caucasus on our way to Baku before catching the train back to Tbilisi. Can you confirm that there is definitely no border crossing from Agstafa into Armenia as without that,I think we may have to give Armenia a miss this time. Will now get your Georgia guide! Thanks,Peter

Hey Peter, thanks for your kind message! No border crossing between Armenia & Azerbaijan, 100%, unfortunately.

Hi Joan, My buddy and I are looking at visiting for a 3 day weekend from Frankfurt (COVID travel pending of course). We saw some pretty nice looking tours on Trip Advisor to Vardzia-Rabati-borjomi-back to Tbilsi, and another to Kazbegi. Both tours are 10 to 14 hours. Do you have any suggested tours. Due to COVID we had to announce our vacation time a lot earlier from work so we figured we would try to get a taste of Georgia, and then return next year if it is as it seems, beautiful.

Hi Aaron, I don’t know about any specific tours, other than the one recommended in the articles from GetYourGuide, sorry

Nicely informative narrative but of course impossible to evaluate for what may have been left out for a first time tourist that could be of interest. Well, that’s the adventure aspect in travel, isn’t it. Like, hooking up, female sexual mores, clubbing, etc. Also missing was any mention of medical, dentistry, and hospital services in the nation. All in all a good, readable word on Georgia. Thanks.

Hi Joan, I am planning to visit Georgia and other neighbouring countries such as Mongolia post-COVID 19, in 2022. Thank you so much for a very informative blog and beautiful photos of Georgia. I will need a visa as I am a Papua New Guinean. I reckon the closest place to get a Georgian visa will be Australia our neighbour to the south. I am not a trekker but love walks and want to find out if Tbilisi has lakes in the city or near the city. I am interested in buying your book so will check out Amazon. Would love a copy of your book ‘Against the Compass’ – it sounds exciting and different.

Thanks, Mari, I wish you all the best with your visa, and let me know if you need anything

Hey Joan! Incredible post. I’m fully vaccinated (yayyy) and planning a trip to Georgia this spring – so soon. I can’t wait to buy your book and learn more. I’m curious, have you heard anything about the country actually being open? I know that I can travel there with vaccine proof but I’m curious what it will be like once I arrive.

Hi Kylee! I think Georgia is now requiring a mandatory quarantine, but they kept it changing every now and then, and not sure how it works with people who are vaccinated. Did you check on IATA?

Hi Joan, I just came across your account of living in Georgia, I enjoyed the read and have subscribed!

I’m a solo female traveller from Canada and I have a specific question I’d like to ask you about the South Ossetia region. I’d like to visit the Gudauri Ski Area, and from what I can tell this area “seems” to fall within the South Ossetia region. I say “seems’ because I’m finding a lot of different information. From what I can understand the border is not static and is always fluctuating. My government’s travel website says that this region is not recommended for travel, and as such my insurance would not cover me if I have an incident in this region. So I’m just trying to find out from someone who’s been there what their take on it is, is the ski resort in this region and is it a generally safe place to visit? It looks like a chill place with new hotels opening up. And a great place to spend a few days playing in the snow! (I heard about the chair lift incident in 2018, but hopefully they’ve worked out this issues)

I hope that you are able to help me out, any information you can provide would be great.

Hi Leslie, thanks for your message! Gudauri is near South Ossetia but it doesn’t belong to the region. It’s a very safe touristic area, however, and as you well said, there are many hotels.

South Ossetia on the other hand is a breakaway territory today only accessible from Russia. I would not say it’s dangerous but you cannot access from Georgia anyways and even from Russia is tricky.

Thank you for the quick reply! I will continue to plan my ski trip and I can’t wait to get out there!

> Really, when I was living there in 2018, I witnessed quite a few extremely violent episodes.

Sad to say, but things are getting only worse. Orthodox priests were just yesterday beating journalists and gays while police was just watching and enjoying the show. The ruling mafia and extremist Georgian Orthodox church are promoting violence, intolerance and racism against sexual minorities, Russians and everyone who threatens their Jihadist values and way of life. And high level of nationalism is boosting xenophobia.

We are planning a lengthy European trip from early spring to late autumn in ’25 or ’26 , I am planning buying or renting a camper van for ease of travel, the trip includes Western Turkey. How easy is it to drive along the Black Sea coast and enter Georgia by private vehicle, any insurance problems ? Could the return trip be via Russia and/or Ukraine, is there a vehicle ferry from Georgia to the Ukraine ? PS, I have driven to India via Turkey in the past, so I am aware of many potential problems for the traveler. Thank you, David

Hi David, driving along the route is super easy, no hassle at all, but I am not sure about travel insurance. That’s something you’ll need to figure out. Via Russia is also OMK, as long as you have a visa. No VOA available.

Hi David, Thanks for sharing! We were considering Georgia for travel in 2022, however with the eastern europe conflict, is this something you think would make Georgia unsafe for travel in 2022?

What a fantastic resource for discovering Georgia in 2023! This article gives such a clear impression of this lovely nation, from its breath taking surroundings to its distinct culture and welcoming people. Every phrase shows the author’s obvious passion for Georgia, which makes me want to go on my own adventure there. The helpful advice on visas, travel insurance, and the ideal times to visit is of the utmost value. Additionally, the inhabitants’ emphasis on safety and friendliness is quite touching. It is excellent to emphasise Georgia’s extensive history, diverse language, and, of course, its renowned wine culture. This page serves as a travel guide as well as an open invitation to first-hand experience Georgia’s charm. I’m grateful to you for sharing this amazing story, and I’m looking forward to experiencing it myself!

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The perfect 5-day itinerary for Georgia

December 4, 2017
205 Comments

A lot of history, amazing nightlife, charming cobbled stone streets, the lovely Caucasus mountains, lush verdant lakeside and riverside towns, exquisite churches and great wine- these are some of the few reasons to visit Georgia, the Asian/ European country increasingly becoming a popular tourist destination. Hardly a 3-hour flight from where I live (Dubai), it is one of the places that I had heard so much about but was waiting to get a long weekend off to book a last-minute flight. A whirlwind trip to a pretty country aspiring to be European, placed at the crossroads of Asia and Europe geographically as well as culturally, it was an interesting and unique experience. Here is the perfect 5-day itinerary for Georgia.

There were things I missed out on, which I would have loved to do, given more time. If you’re planning a trip, here are a few things you need to keep in mind:

– For those holding a residence visa of any of the GCC countries, the visa is granted upon arrival and is free of charge (they just stamp your passport) and the only document required is a return ticket and travel insurance.

– If you’re not a resident of the GCC countries and are required to pre-apply for a visa as per your nationality, you can still get visa-free entry into Georgia if you hold a valid US visa.

– In case none of the above requirements are fulfilled, it is easy to apply for an e-visa online which takes about 5 days to be processed.

– Although there are a lot of blog posts and TripAdvisor posts warning against self-drive, I would recommend renting a car if you plan to explore the countryside. Outside Tbilisi city, the roads are quite open and traffic organized.

– If you’re not comfortable driving on your own, there are several taxi (private) operators that offer car along with a driver/guide on a daily rate basis (for up to 10 hours). I had a wonderful experience with Day Trip Georgia in a private 3-day tour from Tbilisi at USD 330. Alternatively, you can look at booking your tours from Tbilisi through other third party websites.

You can plan your itinerary for Georgia according to your interests and because I wanted to make sure I experience the diversity of the country, I decided to cover a little bit of everything- from old towns and historical churches to beautiful landscapes and peaceful countryside. Here’s my recommended itinerary for 5 days (with alternative plans and options, should you decide to spend more time).

Day 1: Tbilisi Old Town

On the first day, spend some time exploring the lovely old capital city, Tbilisi. Ancient churches, monasteries, cobbled stone streets and charming architecture will come alive with street art, music, cafes and bars, funky shisha places, clubs and friendly people. A strong Asian influence comes in cahoots with European culture, creating a vibe that is unique, fun and full of energy.

Although modernization is visible, the soul of the city lies in the old town, where the zigzagging lanes, street markets, colourful houses and al fresco cafes maintain a certain charisma. Walking is the best way to explore this area and many historical structures will be found at a stone’s throw from each other.

In your itinerary for Georgia, I would recommend to spend 2 days in Tbilisi.

Suggested read: How to spend 48-hours in Tbilisi

Day 2: Mksheta, Gori & Uplistsikhe

Mksheta is the old capital of Georgia and is hardly a 20-minute drive from Tbilisi city. It is the birthplace of Christianity in Georgia and houses beautiful cathedrals with medieval architecture, a touristy cobbled-stone street with shops and food stalls, and a monastery perched on top of the hill which sets an amazing backdrop to the town, which is on the banks of the rivers -Mtkvari and Aragvi.

The tourist market was one of my favourite places on this trip. It surrounds the famous Svetitskhoveli cathedral and has winding lanes and stone houses, which are gorgeous and take you back in time. This is the perfect place to buy souvenirs and get pictures clicked, with an ancient feel. The Svetitskhoveli cathedral , a grand building located in the middle of the market, is said to date back to the 11 th century and have magical healing powers. Christ’s robe (?!) is said to be buried under this place of worship which is also the burial place of many monarchs. Keep about 1.5 – 2 hours to explore this place.

Svetitskhoveli Cathedral , Mksheta

Cobbled stone streets of Mksheta

Mksheta Tourist Market

From here, head to Jvari Monastery on the hilltop. Not only is this ancient Orthodox church a marvel in its architecture and design, the views from its terrace are breathtaking. You can see the old city of Mksheta with the confluence of the two rivers below, and houses with red roofs that stand in stark contrast to the sprawling greenery around them.

View from the top near Jvari Monastery

From here, head to Gori, a town famous for one reason – this is where Stalin was from! The most popular place to visit here is the Stalin museum , our driver wasn’t very happy to bring us to this town (or the museum for that matter) and seemed quite restless and uncomfortable till we were ready to leave and move to our next destination.

The museum, although interesting, is hard to make sense of unless you have a guide. Most inscriptions are not in English which makes it tough to understand much. The town is home to Stalin’s supporters and admirers, and thus the museum does not display much of his negative or bad deeds.

Stalin Museum, Gori

Another popular place to visit, which is a 40-minute drive from here, is the ancient cave city of Uplistsikhe . It is known to be one of the oldest settlements in Georgia, dating back to the 2 nd century BC and many temples have been unearthed here which are from before the arrival of Christianity in the region. Make sure to wear comfortable shoes as climbing these rocks is not an easy task and the area is quite large to be explored. During the summer, the arid landscape can make you very dehydrated so make sure to carry water with you as you go up, the cafes are only at the bottom. Keep about 1-1.5 hours to explore this place.

Ancient cave city of Uplistsikhe

Drive back to Tbilisi which is at about 2.5 hours distance.

Day 3: Annanuri, Gadauri & Kazbegi

This was the best day in my itinerary for Georgia because although I really wanted to explore a variety of things including historical and cultural places, the mountains are what captured my heart in Georgia. All the three towns were equally charming. As you begin your trip from Tbilisi, in about 30 minutes, you will witness some of the most amazing, green landscapes. Stunning valleys and rivers with take your breath away and hidden spots such as cafés and restaurants serving locally-fermented wine are scattered across the area, so go slow and find your little treasure of a place.

I found a cute little river-side bar and although nobody spoke English, the setting amidst nature was so serene, I almost spent an hour just taking a dip in the cool waters and sipping on some great white wine.

As you drive through the winding mountain roads, known as the Georgian Military Highway , you will come to a gorgeous blue lake, the only one I saw in my trip to Georgia. Jinvali Lake or reservoir as they sometimes call it, continues along the driving road until you arrive at the Ananuri complex, featuring a fortress, churches, and towers from the 13-16 th centuries. Set in the backdrop of the Caucasus mountains, the architecture is enchanting and walk inside the fortress is a must! You might also want to take a dip in the waters behind the complex, in the summer. A souvenir market just outside the complex is a great place to strike some good bargains.

Ananuri Fort Complex

After Ananuri, head to Gadauri, where the landscapes get even lovelier. This is where the ski resort is located, however, during the summer, it is hard to find any snow at all. You may, however, want to try the para-gliding from here because of the amazing views over the valley. A viewing platform decorated with mosaics, located on the edge of the hill is a popular place for tourists to stop and take some amazing pictures.

Georgian Military Highway

After some mountain activities and lovely pictures, proceed to Kazbegi, specifically to a town called Stepantsminda, from where the trek/ off-road tours to Gergeti Trinity Church begin. This is one of the prettiest churches I visited in Georgia, perched on a hill and with snow-capped peaks in the backdrop. If you choose to hike to the church, keep about 1.5 – 2 hours for it else you can take a tour (in a 4-wheel drive) from the village below. Be prepared for an extremely bumpy ride! The views from the top, however, are worth it.

Gergeti Trinity Church, Kazbegi

Drive back to Tbilisi in the evening.

Day 4: Kakheti (Sighnaghi). Optional: Davit Gareji

In our itinerary for Georgia, we decided to keep one day to visit the wine capital, Kakheti and on our way, we took a detour to Davit Gareja Monastery, having heard of very good reviews about this cave monastery. However, the drive was through very bad roads and took us about 1.5 hours one way (and another 1 hour back to the main road to proceed towards Kakheti), which made me question the worth of visiting this monastery.

The arid landscape on the way to Davit Gareja Cave Monastery

Davit Gareja Cave Monastery

Although the ancient cave monastery itself is beautiful, complemented by the arid, semi-desert landscape that surrounds it, it may not be worth braving the bad roads and spending that extra time in getting there. If you do plan to, however, take this detour, make sure to wear good shoes as climbing up is not easy, through the tough stone and mud paths.

Kakheti is the primary wine-producing city in Georgia. Two major towns form the center of all activity – Sighnaghi , and Telavi. We chose to spend our time in the picturesque old town of Sighnaghi.

Red brick houses with contrasting mint green rooftops and balconies adorn the landscape of this little town. The architecture is stunning in its ancient grandeur, and the cobbled stone streets lined with lamp posts, vintage cars, and old city walls form the perfect little postcard. You can just walk around the town or rent a buggy or ATV to explore it in an adventurous way.

Sighnaghi Town from the road

Sighnaghi Town

Wineries in Sighnaghi Town

Do visit a winery while you’re here. One of the most popular ones (as per TripAdvisor) is the Pheasant’s Tears Winery . If you plan to have a meal with your wine, you might need to make reservations in advance as the place usually gets very crowded. The selection of wine is brilliant and the service is great. If you do not know what to have, feel free to ask their knowledgeable sommeliers for recommendations. For wine enthusiasts, they also offer tours to their vineyards, might be an interesting experience to go for!

Day 5: Tbilisi city & return

Alternatives:

If you have more than 5 days in Georgia , there are several things that you can do. Some of the cities that I personally would have loved to visit if I had more time to spare but unfortunately, could not be included in our 5-day itinerary for Georgia are:

1. Svaneti: A lot of great reviews of this region made me regret not having gone here at all. Villages set amidst the lush green hills and the snow-capped Caucasus in the background, meandering rivers tearing through the valleys, and mountain towns like Mestia make for breathtaking scenery. Hikers, nature-lovers and photography enthusiasts must consider this destination. Due to its distance from Tbilisi city, it is recommended to spend a night here (if not more) instead of covering it on a day trip from the capital.

2. Tusheti: Tusheti National Park seems like yet another mountain city that deserves to be explored. However, due to the rough terrain, it is considered ideal for hiking enthusiasts who are looking for tough adventure and not just the laid-back type. There are horseback rides for the lesser adventurous. Yet again, due to the distance from Tbilisi city, it is recommended to spend a night here (if not more).

3. Batumi: When we think Georgia, it is the ski slopes, mountains, historical churches and streets, and wineries that come to our minds. However, there is also a very popular beach city here located on the coast of Black Sea. Batumi is home to gorgeous beaches and waterfalls and is very well-developed in terms of its infrastructure.

If you’re interested in immersing yourself further in the local culture, consider learning Georgian ; it can enhance your interactions and help you navigate more comfortably.

Hi Medha , My husband and I are planning to visit Georgia from November 26th to December 5th this year. Could you please suggest places we can visit? Planning our itinerary has been a bit confusing. We’re interested in exploring the nightlife, scenic views with snow if possible, a few art and museums, and streets that showcase the local culture. It would be very helpful if you could sort the cities for us, making it easier to book our hotels accordingly. We prefer not to travel long distances unless the place is worth it for a day or two, as we want to avoid a tiring and expensive journey. Thanks Aditi

Medha Verma

Hello Aditi. I build custom itineraries for people that include a comprehensive day wise plan, suggested accomodation, places to go, see, eat and links to book any activities or experiences where relevant. This comes with a service fee..If you’re interested, please send me an email at [email protected] and I shall be happy to build this one for you!

Jagdeep Singh

Hi! Medha, I came across your wonderful blogs on Bosnia, Serbia and Georgia. They have the perfect insights for planning a trip. I am planning a week-long trip with my family (Wife and 2 Kids). I am also a mountain lover and usually prefer to drive in the country instead of staying in the cities. So, among these three countries, which would you recommend for the best scenic road trip in the mountains? Your reply will be highly appreciated. Thanks!

Hello Jagdeep, I’d recommend Georgia. Kazbegi, Ushguli & Svaneti are some of the best towns you’ll enjoy exploring.

hi Medha I am planning on a girls trip to Georgia. Can you help me with the places your stayed in ?

Hello Shalini, are you looking for the hotel specifically or the location? I stayed only in Tblisi and took day trips from there.

Hi Medha Yes the location as well as the hotel name Did you self drive? we will be coming from India so though you have mentioned about self drive option not too sure if we should choose it I also googled a couple of group tours (max 4 in a group) being offered at reasonable rates for 5 days

Hi Shalini. No, I did not self drive. The blog gives the contact details of a company (link to their Facebook page) that can arrange full day car and driver for you. You may choose to get in touch with them.

Leena kahtri

Hello pls can you share day trip details and connect on my email id, my relatives are planning to visit too in last week of August. My email id is [email protected]

Hello Leena. Please send me an email on [email protected]

Dr Natasha Saini

hello Medha, I will be traveling with my husband to Georgia in the last week of March and we have 5 days so your above itinerary seems perfect. could you please let us know how to get in touch with the private tour operators -day trip Georgia ? should I get in touch with them through Facebook? – Natasha

Hello Natasha! Absolutely… just click on the link I have provided to their facebook page and drop them a dm, they’re quick to respond and reliable enough

I couldn’t find them on google. Is it a one person venture? Or like a tiur company?

They’re a group of people who provide the services. Not sure if they have even a website of their own but they do have a Facbook page and that’s how I got in touch with them. My experience was excellent!

Nympha Maniacop

which month did you visit georgia? we are planning to go on June .

I went in August. It was REALLY hot!

Jho Pasquin

The ancient cave cities, old structures…all these made me want to visit Georgia. Amazing post 🙂

Hope I can visit Georgia next year. I will be visiting my sister and this guide will surely be of help if she gets busy 🙂

Hello, This is a amazing article and Georgia is a very nice place for travelers. thank you for sharing.

Hello, Georgia is an amazing place for tourists and I’d love to visit this place. thanks for sharing with us.

Hello, Thanks for the wonderful detailed blog and this information is very useful.

Hello, This is a amazing post and this post is very informative and beneficial for travellers. beautiful pic. thanks for share us.

Hi, do you have any idea if there is snow during october mid? (oct. 18-24) I hope I can seen some snow. thanks. 🙂

Hi Jade, there is likely to be snow in certain areas such as Gadauri & Svaneti, where you have the mountains, during late November or early December but not before that.

Hello:) mam. As a UAE residence visa holder I will be traveling to Georgia on November. My Visa will be expiring on March 2020. Will that be a problem? Is there any validity required from the departure date .hope you have some information on this:)

Hello Jaseem, as far as I know, the visa validity won’t be a problem, as long as your passport is valid for at least 6 months.

The residence visa validity dates are important for sure, 3 months or 6 I am not sure. Pls double confirm.

As per my understanding, passport validity of min 6 months and residence visa validity for minimum 3 months…

that’s a beautiful write-up… i have travelled there before with friends and now plan to do the same with family.. kakheti was missed last time.. your reviews makes it a must go this time 🙂

Thank you .That’s great to know 🙂

Just wow 🙂 You have described every soul of your trip in a most beautiful way. Can’t wait to travel these places in November . I was wondering if I need to do some paper works for convincing the immigration at Airport other than travel insurance and hotel bookings.? mostly I prefer going solo ?Can you please advise:)

P.s I am holding a UAE residence visa which is Valid until end of March 2020.

Hey Jaseem, should not be a problem. I travelled solo as well and had my hotel booking as well as travel insurance. They didn’t ask me any other questions, I got a visa on arrival pretty easily (thanks to my UAE residence visa). You should be fine. Just be prepared for cold weather in November though! Have fun 🙂

Nice post with good info. Travelling in August’19. Would like to know if these places mentioned in your post can be visited using Gerorgian Transport like train or bus? Or private tour is the best option?

Private tour is the best option Junaid, unless you want to rent a car and drive on your own 🙂

Hi Medha, Thanks for reply. Am planning to do kutaisi with uplistsikhe one day? I heard good things about kutaisi and the Prometheus cave? Any ideas?

Also rest all places like ones mentioned on day 3 & 4 will do by car. I would like to know if there are any road tolls on these routes? Also is parking any hassle in these places ? Or is it available easily ? Any parking costs i need to keep in check being a tourist or its mostly free parking?

Hello Junaid, sorry I won’t be able to help you with Prometheus Cave as I didn’t go there. As for road tolls on Day 3 & 4, I don’t remember there being any. Parking wasn’t a hassle either, each of the places you’ll visit has ample parking space available. Most of it was free as well unless something has changed. Even if there is, it won’t be much.

Thanks. Lastly these places u visited on day 3 &4, are they good to go for a small car? Is there any difficulty or road problems you felt? As I want to drive but just worried on the road network Except trinity church which we shall hire separately 4×4

The roads of Georgian Military Highway are fine, a small car is manageable. As you said, Trinity Church requires a 4×4. Not sure if you’re planning to go to Davit Gareja Cave Monastery but if you are, then the roads aren’t great, or at least not when I had travelled last year.

Im planning to travel georgia in the month of NOV. Is it advisable to pre book tours or is it better to reach there and book. Also could you let us know how much would it cost if we would rent a private car per day. Please suggest useful trip as i will be travelling with a 3 yrs old kid. TIA 🙂

You can easily reach there and book if you like, however, pre-booking will save you the hassle. You can use the link I have given in the post for a company that does private tours, you can book with them beforehand and pay when you’re there, in cash. I paid about $330 for 3 days, had the car with a knowledgable driver from 9 am until 7 pm from Tbilisi to wherever you wish to go. They would also be happy to suggest the places and an itinerary to you or alternatively, you can design your own itinerary and let them know where all you would like to go.

Sindhu Anilkumar

Nice write up….truely informative. We are planning to visit Georgia during end of December 2019..ie. after Cristmas for a week..how would the climate be like? Will it be possible to visit all the areas you have reccommended during this period including Batumi and Bakuriani areas..Should we plan our overnight stay in Tiblisi only or any other places also are to be included to easily cover all these places…me, my husband and 2 kids aged 16 and 10 will be going..pls revert..

Hi Sindhu, it will be REALLY cold in December and I would advise you to visit only if you’re either a ski enthusiast or don’t mind being in a cold place. Areas like Kazbegi will have snow. As long as you’re prepared to handle that, it should be fine.

I’ve heard wonderful things about the food in Georgia – things like Khachapuri – it’s all about the carbs and cheese by the looks of it! I love the look of Tbilisi from your pictures. The Bridge of Peace is magnificent architecture – I like the juxtaposition between that and the older buildings of the Old Town.

Me and my friend planning to go this august. we already book tickets. is travel insurance mandatory. can you help me with this. I am also fly from dubai.

Yes, travel insurance is mandatory for this. You can, however, also purchase it from the airport itself, or arrange for it beforehand.

Hello, This blog article is nice and helpful with lot of information on Georgia. Thank you for sharing.

A well written blog with great detail.

We are an Indian family based in Brunei and plan to visit Georgia in August. I note that you had visited in August. Was the temperature below 25 degrees and comfortable to stroll around ?

We plan to drive. Do they drive on left or right side ?

Are ATM’s available easily? Or one needs to carry local cash exchanged from the airport exchange shops?

Are serviced apartments a popular choice of accommodation- other than standard hotels ? In your opinion

A reply at your convenience is appreciated

Hello Mr Rao, it was quite hot I have to say, but manageable. I live in Dubai so heat doesn’t bother me too much but the temperatures were upwards of 30 degrees. It’s a right-side driving (with steering wheel on the left) and although I read a lot of negative reviews about self-driving in Georgia (which is why I didn’t rent a car myself and decided to hire a driver instead), it seemed quite comfortable and easy. ATMs are easily available in the capital city but I would recommend to exchange cash at the airport or carry dollars with you (which many shops/ tour companies/ sites accept). Serviced apartments are a popular choice though I’d recommend booking them through a reliable website like booking.com or airbnb only. If you’re looking for cooler temperatures, I’d advice you to visit the mountains such as Gergeti and Svaneti.

Thanks for your reply and appreciate your input.

We are preparing our itinerary and I am sure the views in your blog would help us plan better !

Best wishes, Dr Rao

That’s great, enjoy your trip!

Shreya Saha

What an interesting place to explore. I’ve never been there but the place looks fascinating. Those brick domes look cool, also the cave monastery, cathedrals, and market. Would definitely love to visit Georgia once and follow this itinerary as a backbone.

Georgia is a very underrated country!

Georgia looks like it is straight out of a fairytale, with castles and cobblestone streets. You visit some amazing off-the-beaten path places Medha. I would never have thought to visit Georgia but I can see that I would love it.

Hi Medha, The pics looks great. need to know which month did you visit, as the photos looks vibrant.

I went in August Hina, it was quite warm and sunny.

Alexander Popkov

Love Georgia and really wanna go there. Last time I tried, but they sent me from Ukraine home, they denied entrance. Now I think I have to fly to Georgia directly.

Sorry to hear that!

Georgia was very much in my list, but off late I have been reading about some bitter experiences of Indian tourists there. They were asked to return from airport itself. Your pictures are gorgeous and this 5 day itinerary seems perfect for covering the country.

That’s true, I read about that too and it’s a pity!

Georgia is on top of my bucket list right now. I almost got there last time, but the connection flight in Ukraine failed. I feel so jelous now that you have been there.

Oh, that’s a pity, I hope you go back soon!

hi medha, saw your blog while browsing the net on what to wear in gerogia during summer (august month), would it be okay to wear shorts? like the length of your dress? will it be a problem going around georgia wearing it? thanks in advance. by the way we are going there on friday, aug 9. thanks again!

Yes, absolutely! I wore dresses all along. Just carry a jacket for when you go into the mountains but otherwise, it will be quite warm.

Ive never heard of any other Georgia except the one in the US. This destination looks lovely from the pictures. Will consider a stop over, thank you!

I don’t blame you, it is a small (yet gorgeous) country in East Europe and very easy to miss 😉

Parnashree Devi

Georgia is one country which fascinates me for its stunning history and some absolutely breathtaking views. I loved the View from the top near Jvari Monastery. Given a choice I would spend most of my time in Sighnaghi Town and Gadauri. I love small fairy-tale old towns like these.

I love small fairytale towns too and Sighnaghi was a lot of fun! I went around exploring on a quad bike and the cart, and it was a great idea.

I’ve read that Georgia is a lovely place and it certainly looks historic and impressively beautiful. The Ananuri Fort Complex looks particularly interesting to me but Gauduri and Kazbegi look very picturesque as well. Hopefully, we can make it there one day!

If you do, try to visit for more than 5 days. A trip to the Svaneti region is recommended too 🙂

The first photo of you I was sure you were mistaken the country because it looks like Switzerland! I would love to drive on that Georgian’s military highway, looks like heaven! So beautiful! Everything else seems very interesting aswell! Georgia is definitely on my bucket list now!

Haha yes in parts, it can provide good competition to Switzerland 🙂

Soumya Nambiar

It is nice to know that with a valid US visa, you do not need an additional visa to Georgia for us Indians. I would definitely love to drive around Georgia too. It definitely makes more sense that day. A very helpful guide for people who are there in Georgia only for 5 days and lots of gorgeous photos.

Cheers, thanks.

I had no idea that Georgia is only a couple of hours flight from Dubai – super easy to get to! The tourist market sounds amazing and I think it would be my favorite part of the trip. Plus great way to see the historic Cathedral then head off shopping to buy gifts and souvenirs. The view from the monastery also looks incredible – what a great way to soak in the incredible beauty of Georgia!

Absolutely 🙂

Arnav Mathur

Somehow Georgia has popped on my radar a couple of times the past couple of months, and am glad to have stumbled across this beautifully articulated 5 day itinerary with tips and recommendations. The pictures are beautiful and you have managed to capture the beautiful city vibes through them. Looks like a trip to Georgia is on the cards.

It is a beautiful country, with something for everyone! I love the landscape 🙂

Wow! You have been to some exciting places! Your photos are enough to make anyone add Georgia to ones travel list. I have had this tiny strip of land between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea , on my list for a while now.

I hope to explore other countries in the Caucasus mountains as well such as Armenia and Azerbaijan. Hopefully soon!

Georgia has been on my list for a bit and after seeing your blog, it moved up even higher. What a beautiful country and place to visit. I admit I always laugh just a little when I hear the name because I immediately think of Georgia, the US state first and then the country. That view from the monastery is spectacular.

A lot of people don’t even know about Georgia, the country 🙂 It is indeed a gorgeous country to visit!

Vicky and Buddy

I’ve always thought it’d be cool to visit Georgia. The cathedrals and monasteries look amazing, it must feel like going back in time! I’d also love to see those views for myself.

Well, I hope you plan a trip some time soon x

This is a great guide! I would love to visit Georgia! I am amazed by just how gorgeous the mountains are there. Plus, the churches and monasteries are so beautiful! Thanks for sharing!

It’s an off-beat destination but so lovely!

Elisa (World in Paris)

Wow, you did many things for just one long weekend! I spent about 10 days in Georgia and I LOVED it, basically for all the reasons you mentioned at the beginning of your post + their yummy staples. I did more hiking but I missed Sighnaghi Town, which from your pictures looks great! So another excuse to visit Georgia again 😉

They have amazing ski resorts, which I missed. And Svaneti, which I really want to see on my next trip 🙂

I think that Georgia is still really quite an untapped destination. It’s so much more picturesque than I’d imagined. Good to know that you can rent a car with ease. The landscape is gorgeous, and the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral looks particularly beautiful.

The churches and cathedrals are pretty awesome in Georgia, especially the ones on hilltops or old towns 🙂

Medha, all the places you have mentioned are do captivating. And your pictures make it even more so. Loved the whole cave city Uplistsikhe. The view from the Jvari monastery is really amazing. Day three was so picturesque with Kasbezi. Good info on visas as well. Cheers

It was a lovely trip, with such diverse things to see and do. I loved it 🙂

I’ve heard Georgia is beautiful and saw only a handful amount of pictures, but this post is filled with gorgeous pictures! I love Ananuri, the mountains, the river bed is the ones calling me to them 🙂 I like visiting forts, the fort complex in Ananuri is something I would love to see!! Thanks for sharing such an amazing post <3

So much history and beautiful scenery! I really need to visit Georgia soon 🙂

Yes, you must!

All these beautiful pictures really make me want to visit Georgia now! I would love to walk around Tbilisi Old Town and explore the history of that.

Tbilisi is a great town but the mountains steal the show, in my opinion 🙂

Wow, I think Georgia just moved many spaces up my wishlist. I adore the winding cobbled streets and amazing mountain views. To know that it has great winery’s too makes it almost irresistible! Thanks for the wanderlust fuel 🙂 Your pictures are absolutely stunning.

Drew Robinson

This is a wonderful 5-day ininerary. I’ve wanted to visit the Caucasus mountains but didn’t really know where to start. Maybe it will be Georgia!

Rachel Pearson

We have just booked a trip to Georgia for February and I am so glad you recommend self driving – we love to road trip around far off lands (Zanzibar was the only place we’ve had any trouble so far). The views from Jvari Monastery look incredible and I can’t wait to see the diversity of the land – from the old city of Tbilisi to the Ancient cave city of Uplistsikhe – thank you for the inspiration.

Cheers Rachel, the drive to Gadauri is absolutely incredible, I’m sure you’ll love the road trip, have fun!

Wow, the pictures look amazing and you included so much information. I would definitely like to go to Georgia one day. Sighnaghi looks so beautiful and I would love to go wine tasting there. Also, I really like your outfits in the pictures 🙂

Thank you Kate 🙂

Alice Teacake

So cool to see you fit in Georgia into one weekend as best you could! I passed through here on the Mongol Rally and loved it. I highly recommend driving through here just like you did. Next stop: Svaneti!

Absolutely- next stop Svaneti for me as well !

Juergen Klein

We are planning to visit Georgia in the near future, so part of your post was really useful. But if you include ‘Travel tips” please write them so they don’t confuse the reader! “If you’re not a resident of the GCC countries and are required to pre-apply for a visa as per your nationality, you can still get visa-free entry into Georgia if you hold a valid US visa.” This only left me confused! What are GCC countries? Does it mean we need a visa (I thought not!)? So you send me of to Google. And I was right: Australians do NOT need a visa!

It means that if your nationality is NOT in the list of those exempt from requiring pre approved visa, you can still get visa on arrival if you are 1) resident of GCC countries (i.e. Gulf) or 2) if you have a US visa. As an Australian, you’re already exempt from requiring a pre approved visa. But for example an Indian national requires a pre approved visa unless he’s a resident of GCC or has valid US visa. I hope that makes it a bit clearer !

Amy Trumpeter

I’d love to go to Georgia – the Cathedrals look amazing!

They are amazing Amy, and unique architecturally as well as in the setting 🙂

Wow, I really had never heard anything about Georgia but your descriptions and photos have fascinated me! Especially your picture of Gadauri, it looks like it is a fairy tale!

I also had no idea there were still places that honored Stalin. At first I thought it was strange that the driver was uncomfortable in his hometown, but when you mentioned there are still many of his supporters there, it makes sense.

I didn’t know it either till I visited the place and then later read about it 🙂 Gadauri is beautiful, my favorite place in Georgia (from whatever I’ve seen, of course).

I’d love to visit the ancient cave city of Uplistsikhe.And to go hiking, off course!

Yes, hiking is always a good idea 🙂

Anita Hendrieka

I have been dreaming of Georgia for the last few months and your post makes me want to go right now!! This is such a beautiful part of the world with incredible history and those views, oh my!

It really is 🙂

Becca Talbot

Georgia isn’t somewhere I’ve ever really considered visiting! But boy it looks so pretty 🙂 and thanks for the useful tips about the visas, I didn’t realise I’d need to apply for one beforehand x

You’ll have to first check if your nationality is listed in the countries requiring a pre-approved visa 🙂

Jennifer Melroy

I get why they want to present only the positive side of Stalin but I am disappointed that they only present one side. I would love to spend a couple days wandering around Uplistsikhe. The ancient city looks really amazing.

I feel like I could spend a month exploring here

There was a lot of uproar about that in the past and the museum was even shut down for a while. Seems like they reached some sort of agreement and it’s open again now. There are so many places that I couldn’t explore, a month would’ve been good 🙂

Hazel Tolentino

This somehow makes me regret that I did not go to Georgia last time when I was in Qatar. I don’t need a visa if I am staying in a gulf country and now that I am in Southeast Asia, it is a bit more difficult to get a visa to Georgia. But of course, I will not stop and I will still give it a try! I am targeting winter season. Have you been to Georgia on a winter? Which season would you recommend?

Winter is great for skiing enthusiasts. Else, I’d suggest summer/ fall.

Georgia is a great country to experience the rich history, culture and beautiful landscapes. The old town Tbilisi really attracted me and the views from Javari monastery are just spectacular. The 2nd-century city Uplistsikhe city too looks like a wonderland. Views from Ananuri Fort complex are amazing. We will love driving through these gorgeous landscapes. Great write-up and pictures Medha.

Thank you, Suruchi x

I really want to go here, it really looks beautiful and your description of Georgia is perfect. I have to start booking my holidays for next year and definitely, I have to go to this beautiful country

I hope you do, soon x

We would not have thought about Georgia as one of our next places to visit. But after reading this and looking at your photos, you’ve certainly made us interested.

I’m glad 🙂

Janine Thomas

I have heard a lot about Georgia lately. The old capital Tbilisi looks amazing. I love architecture and history, so this is the perfect destination for me. Great photos as well!

Thanks Janine, it’s a lovely country 🙂

Your photos show beautiful landscapes and lots of historic buildings. The Davit Gareja Cave Monastery sounds particularly interesting and Sighnaghi is a must since it’s the centre of a wine area. I’m looking forward to visiting Georgia when we start our journey through Europe next year. Your description of the visa requirements confused me a little though.

Visa requirements differ for different nationalities but as UAE residents, we get a visa on arrival. Also, if your nationality is on the list of those that require a pre-approved visa for entering Georgia (such as Indians), you can still get one on arrival if you have a valid US visa. Hope that made it a little clear 🙂

Georgia sounds like my dream of a place: great food, ancient buildings, a cultural crossroads, long and interesting history and gorgeous views.

It sure is a lovely country 🙂

wanderlustvlog

It’s not the most obvious travel destination for me, but reading through your article I must admit it is my wrong 🙂 And as I am used of you, the pictures are just lovely!

Thank you 🙂

This is so beautiful ! Am speechless looking at your stunning pictures. I will be honest, we were planning a trip to Georgia a couple of months back, but since we never heard much about it we finally jumped to Istanbul for vacation. Looks like it wasn’t really a great move by us. Nevertheless we shall visit here someday soon and the reason would be you. Loved how beautifully you have portrayed the beauty of this country. Keep up the good work !

Istanbul is also a lovely city to visit 🙂 I do hope you visit Georgia next time though. Cheers!

Tanvi Nadkarni

Wow you’ve given everything in such detail that I’m definitely going to refer it whenever I get a chance to go to Georgia.. I love it totally!

Thanks Tanvi 🙂

Kavita Favelle

Georgia is somewhere that is coming up for me again and again so I really need to make plans to visit myself. Tbilisi was included in my recent list of 100 Favourite Cities of travel bloggers and looks full of history. Mksheta seems very charming and historical also. I would definitely visit Stalin museum, uncomfortable or not, as it was one of the eras I studied in History, at school and college. I didn’t know about the cave city at Uplistsikhe before. Then the entire scenic landscape would be gorgeous to drive through.

It was a mixed bag – from landscape to history, wineries and architecture. And all of this in just 5 days!

I have been thinking about visiting Georgia for quite awhile now. The views from Jvari have me SOLD!! It looks like a cross of Norway and Prague, with the beautiful rooftops and the blue water. So gorgeous!

Yeah, the Jvari Monastery does have amazing views, perched on the hilltop, overlooking the entire city of Mksheta. I loved that most of their iconic sites are located in such majestic settings 🙂

I’ve heard that Georgia is an amazing place to visit, and your post definitely makes me want to go there! There are many cultural sites, which is perfect for me (I’m an archaeologist). I’d love to explore the Ananuri Fort Complex, and especially the cave city of Uplistsikhe Davit and the Gareja Cave Monastery! The views from the Jvari Monastery looks stunning, and that from Kazbeki too! So thank you for this awesome itinerary! 🙂

Cheers Mei, as an archaeologist, I am sure you’re going to find Georgia very interesting!

Fiona Maclean

What a comprehensive guide. I haven’t been to Georgia though I have done a lot of Natural Wine tasting including plenty of Georgian wines (the orange ones!). Now I want to go visit for myself, even if I get no further than Tblisi

Tbilisi is also great, but I would encourage you to explore further 🙂

Debra Schroeder

This is a wonderful guide to Georgia, loved all the tips, especially how long each activity takes. What a great view from the monastery! Gadauri is gorgeous! It’s so green and inviting.

This post is great as I’m hoping to get to Georgia next year. Of course I’ll visit Tiblisi and is love to see the sweeping mountain views near Kezbegi.

Gadauri & Kazbegi were the highlights of my trip 🙂

Georgia was not even on my radar before reading this! You did a great job of showing the wide range of things to do for 5 days. It is always good to get feedback that you can drive safely and easily. I would definitely want to see the views fro the mountains and Jvari Monastery. The cave city of Uplistsikhe reminded me of Matera in Italy. If you haven’t visited, you might like that. Thanks for sharing this new destination!

Thanks for the suggestion of Matera, Linda. I’ve been to Italy but not Matera, will take a note for next time. Cheers x

Nathan Aguilera

I loved Georgia! I am really hoping to get back. Your guide is great and full of information and really great/inspiring photos.

Thank you, Nathan.

Eric Gamble

Jimminy Christmas…you sold me on Georgia by day 2. So I think I would love to explore Tbilisi of course. But your Day 2 is really awesome. The Caves look really cool. But I think Darcee would love seeing the Svetitskhoveli cathedral. I have never heard of Christ’s Robe but I am going to research it and the lore behind it. All of those monastaries are right up my alley and the hiking and views look amazing! Definitely adding Georgia to my Bucket List Project!

I also loved the landscape at Gadauri 🙂

I really want to go here now! I’d love to see the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral – I can’t believe they claim to have Christ’s robe and it’s from the 1100s! How special.

Yeah, there’s a lot of history in the country!

Abhinav Singh

Georgia looks lovely. I love visiting places like Tbilisi which have rich history and vibrant culture. The ancient cave city of Uplistsikhe is totally my kind of place. You make me want to head to Georgia asap.

Summer 2018 would be a good time to plan a trip 😉

Beautiful pictures, especially the first one with the turquoise lake, I would love to visit! The Svetitskhoveli cathedral looks stunning too. Georgia is definitely a place I need to visit

They have a lot of lovely cathedrals and old towns. It’s such an amazing feeling to explore such places 🙂

I love how Georgia’s landscape change as you progress through your trip.. 🙂 The ancient cave city of Uplistsikhe sounds like an intriguing place to visit.. Are there any guided tours to take you around it? And the views at the Gadauri and Kabegi are absolutely breathtaking! I could spend hours just looking at the landscape..

There are several guided tours but I didn’t see one specifically for Uplistsikhe. Most of them are for a whole day which includes a visit to Gori (Stalin’s museum) too. That’s not a bad idea either – both of them require some amount of local guidance and explanation.

Followingtherivera

This really is a wonderful and very detailed post! I’d really love to visit Georgia next year, so this was a useful read. I won’t attempt to spell out the names of the town or place names, but it all looks spectacular. Nice you got to leave Tbilisi too!

Tbilisi was great but there was so much more outside!

Tblisi looks so cute. I always imagined to be a lot more high rise so it’s lovely to see such great photos of it. It looks like you had a wonderful five days. I think I would loved that little bar by the water, it sounds lovely.

I was so confused at first because I was thinking of Georgia, the state in U.S. but your first photo is so fairy-tale like, nothing like that state. $330 for a private 3-day tour sounds not bad at all! Will definitely have to look into Day Trip Georgia. And your photos are just stunning! I’m very much tempted to just book a flight over here!!!

It’s a beautiful country, Jas. You’ll love it.

Beautiful pictures .. We missed caves monastery on our trip .. Looks quite interesting .. Yeh and I agree svaneti area was just beautiful … And kazbegi was beautiful too ..

Svaneti next time for me 😉

Oh my goodness, I can’t stand it! You already had me really wanting to go to Georgia after reading one of your previous blog posts, but NOW???!!! Well, geez, you included so many amazing pictures here with great tips, clearly I’m going to have to allocate even MORE time to Georgia! I’m pinning this for future reference now! Thank you!!! 🙂

Cheers Stephanie, I’m glad you liked my pictures 🙂

Georgia seems like a place from the movies with all those old buildings and beautiful hills and fields. I would love to visit here some day, it is interesting to me that they believe a robe of Christ is buried in the old cathedral. It must be an important site for many people.

Yes, there are a lot of religious and historical sites in Georgia, makes it a very interesting country to explore.

Once again Medha a great trip itinerary 😀 I love your short trips you take as it’s mostly to places I haven’t been to yet but now want to go after reading your guides 😀 The Uplistsikhe ancient caves look like they have my name on to go and explore and Sighnaghi looks like your walking through a fairy tale town 😀 – I can imagine the Stalin museum is quite educational? –

The Stalin Museum is certainly interesting but they do not have English descriptions so it makes sense to go with someone who can translate for you 🙂 Luckily I had a local who was driving me around and explained a lot of things in places where language was an issue. The locals of Georgia aren’t very happy that Stalin has been depicted in such a positive light, in that museum. There was a lot of controversy surrounding the museum in the earlier years.

We had been to Georgia in March, but unfortunately, We could not visit Mksheta, Gori & Uplistsikhe. It was still snowing in Gadauri and roads to Kazbegi closed due to snow. We had a great time in Georgia! I love the country <3

Yeah March is cold, but a great time to visit the ski resorts and try some snow sports. Georgia has some great ones I’ve heard.

Nice itinerary! Wow, these photos make Georgia look incredible. Makes me want to go there.

Kanicia Cognard

Georgia is on my list to visit next year! It looks like you had a great time and your photos are great! I can’t wait to visit!

That’s great, you’ll love it!

Travelquartz

3-hour flight from Dubai is something I did not know, this seems like must-visit destination.It has everything a perfect vacation is required to have. How many days do you recommend to visit here?

I’d say 5-7 days are good, I’ve listed recommendations for more than 5 days (Svaneti, Batumi, etc).

I definitely undetestimated the beauty of Georgia. Going here is a must now. Thank you for sharing your experience.

Cheers Tyler x

I was in Georgia October November, after reading your post, thinking of going back when its a little warmer, beautiful photos!

Again, a nice city guide. I would love to visit the cave monastery. It looked like a place out from Game of Thrones 😀

It was a good experience 🙂

Julia Elizabeth

What a lovely itinerary, and your photos are stunning ? Makes me want to plan a trip asap!!

Thanks you Julia x

I have to say the architecture of Tbilisi is something, and the scenery there and in the likes of Ananuri and Gadauri is beautiful too. Georgia is not a place that has been on my radar as a destination, but my mind has been changed after reading this 🙂

It’s a beautiful country 🙂

Wow aside from an amazing trip what beautiful pictures! Thank you so much for sharing can’t wait to hear about your future travels!

My husband and me were planning to Georgia and came across your article.Thank you for sharing your experience, knowledge and lovely photos.

I’m glad you found it helpful!

Hello Medha!

I’m planning to be on solo travel in Georgia by September. Please suggest to me a tour guide who is affordable to all those places you went. Thank you.

Hello Kristin, I have linked the Facebook page of this small company on this blog page itself called Day Trip Georgia. They were reasonably priced, very informative and flexible, as well as fun. Give them my reference and they might throw in a discount as well 😉

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The Ultimate Georgia Itinerary: 1, 2 or 3 weeks

Last Updated on January 23, 2024

by Maggie Turansky

Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links. That means if you click a link and make a purchase, we may make a small commission. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. For more information, see our privacy policy.

Planning a Georgia itinerary can seem a little bit overwhelming when considering just how much there is to see and do here. Though it has always been a popular holiday destination for citizens of the former Soviet Union, the small country of Georgia in the South Caucasus region has only recently begun to gain attention from nations further afield.

Whether it’s the dramatic Caucasus mountains, the world-class cuisine and viticulture, the hip atmosphere of Tbilisi or the famous hospitality that draws you to Georgia, there is no doubt that this country has a lot to offer.

Table of Contents

How Many Days in Georgia?

How long do you need to spend in the Republic of Georgia in order to do it justice, visit where you want to visit and not feel rushed or unfulfilled?

You could be forgiven for thinking that, because it is so small geographically, you wouldn’t need to spend that much time in Georgia. However, you would be surprised by just how much there is to see and do in this seemingly small country.

That is why we wouldn’t recommend staying less than one week in Georgia and would only suggest staying fewer days if you are only planning a short city break to Tbilisi.

Even one week really isn’t enough to give Georgia the justice it deserves, but it does give you an adequate amount of time to get a feel for the country.

If you’re able to take more time to explore Georgia, then that is all the better. If you can, we would really suggest planning to spend at least 2 weeks in Georgia.

However, 3 weeks would be the most ideal length of time for a Georgia trip. When you have 3 weeks in Georgia, you will be able to see a good portion of the country and really feel as if you’ve got a good feel for all of the diverse places and the incredible culture.

In our experience travelling through this country (we also lived in Tbilisi for a couple of years), we have come to agree that that length of time is optimal to see as much of Georgia as possible without overwhelming yourself.

Best Time to Visit Georgia

It is fair to say that Georgia experiences a typical continental climate with cold winters and hot summers. Outside of the mountain areas, you can expect the winter months to be the coldest with temperatures hovering somewhere around freezing.

Because of its southern location, winters do tend to be fairly short (the coldest months will be December and January) and not all that snowy in the bigger cities like Tbilisi and Kutaisi.

However, it will still be necessary to have proper winter clothing if travelling to Georgia between late November – late March. Winter is also an attractive time to visit if you want to take advantage of some of the most affordable ski resorts in Europe.

In contrast, summers in Georgia can be incredibly hot, with temperatures in the lower regions and capital soaring to well over 35-40 degrees Celsius (95-102 degrees Fahrenheit), with the mountainous offering some respite from the heat.

Summer is the ideal season to visit if you plan to do a lot of hiking or trekking while in Georgia as it is the only season where mountain trails and roads are sure to be open. It is also the best time to visit the coastal area of Batumi.

Like most everywhere else in the world, I would say that the ideal time to visit Georgia would be in the shoulder seasons between March-May and September-November. Here is where you will experience the mildest of weather, fewer crowds (though there aren’t many crowds in Georgia to begin with), and the most availability when it comes to accommodation.

What is worth noting is that, if you do plan to travel in spring, the few weeks surrounding Easter tend to get as busy as it does in peak season. That is because people from countries that celebrate both Orthodox and Catholic/Protestant Easter usually have a bit of time off and use it to travel to Georgia.

Getting To & Around Georgia

Unless you arrive in Georgia overland via Russia, Turkey, Armenia or Azerbaijan , it is likely that you will come into Georgia via air. There are three main airports where you could fly into: Batumi, Kutaisi, and Tbilisi.

Kutaisi airport is the hub for the budget airline WizzAir and is where many European tourists will arrive into, however, the highest-traffic airport is in Tbilisi.

All three airports are well-connected to other major cities with buses timed with arrivals to shuttle you onto another destination. For instance, if you fly into Kutaisi (located in Western Georgia) but want to begin your trip to Georgia in Tbilisi, there is a bus connection leaving directly from the airport for those cities.

Georgia is actually a relatively easy country to travel in and has a fairly easy-to-navigate public transport system. If you’re travelling to Georgia on a budget , then your best bet is going to be to rely upon the bus, train and shared taxi network, as it will undoubtedly save you a lot of money.

The most common mode of transport is by minibus, most commonly referred to as a marshrutka in Georgia. These usually seat about 15 people and are incredibly affordable. Popular routes between various cities run frequently, though they don’t often run on absolute set schedules, rather they depart when they are full.

The train network in Georgia exists, but it is neither as developed nor as convenient as the marshrutka system. There are train routes connecting most major cities in Georgia, however, they tend to leave at odd times and can be slow going depending on the route. Trains are, however, also quite an affordable way to travel and can offer a bit more comfort than a minibus.

Travelling by shared taxi is also a popular option in Georgia, and you can usually find a driver to whichever destination you looking to travel to at the bus station.

The car usually has a set price and you will wait until there are enough people to split the fare between before you will depart. Usually, they accommodate up to four people, however, taxis will depart with only one or two provided you pay the entire fare. You can pre-book drivers here .

If you would rather not rely on public transit while in Georgia, then your best bet is going to be to rent a car. Driving in Georgia can prove to be a daunting task as the road can be in poor repair and the drivers can be aggressive and erratic, but it is nonetheless a popular option amongst travellers looking to be a bit more flexible with their Georgia travel itinerary.

If you want to rent a car in Georgia, you can rent directly from locals by using LocalRent which connects private individuals renting a car with drivers.

1-Week Georgia Itinerary

As stated above, one week can very much seem like not enough time to spend in Georgia, however, it is long enough to give you an excellent taste of the country. The only harm of this itinerary is that you are sure to leave ready to plan another trip.

Days 1-3: Tbilisi

The most logical first stop through this beautiful country is in the capital city of Georgia, Tbilisi. A metropolis known to charm all of those who care to explore it, this hip capital has a tonne of great things to do and can easily keep visitors occupied for a number of days.

However, for your 7 days in Georgia, we recommend spending three days in Tbilisi .

This will give you a solid amount of time to be able to explore all of the main sites in Tbilisi and maybe take an easy day trip to nearby Mtskheta , which was the former capital of Georgia, to the incredible Chronicles of Georgia Monument or to Stalin’s birthplace of Gori and nearby Uplistsikhe.

Spend your first day exploring Tbilisi’s old town, seeing the Narikala Fortress and the Mother of Georgia statue and wandering over to the gorgeous botanical garden.

On your second day, hunt for interesting antiques at the Dry Bridge Market before crossing the Mtkvari River to the Marjanishvili neighbourhood.

And on your third day, you can either spend it exploring more of Tbilisi or opting to head out on one of the aforementioned day trips.

Where to Stay in Tbilisi

Pushkin 10 Hostel — A high-rated hostel located in the centre of the city, this is a great option for budget and solo travellers looking to meet others. They have both private and dorm rooms available and good common areas available to mingle with other travellers.

Guest House Rampa – A budget guesthouse located in the Abanotubani neighbourhood is an excellent option for those looking for more of a local experience. They have a range of private rooms available for both solo travellers and couples and a kitchen available for guests to use.

Hotel Flower — This centrally-located hotel is an excellent place to stay if your budget allows for a bit more luxury hostel or guesthouse. It is within walking distance of most of Tbilisi’s main attractions, they have numerous rooms available (some with their own hot tub!) and a great breakfast included in your nightly rate.

Not quite what you’re looking for? Click here to browse more Tbilisi hotels

Days 4-5: Kazbegi

After spending your first few days in Tbilisi, it’s time to head north and venture into the beautiful Caucasus mountains. One of the most famous places to do this and one of the best places to visit in Georgia, is in the town of Stepantsminda, commonly referred to as Kazbegi .

Nestled in a valley surrounded by the Greater Caucasus, Kazbegi may well be one of Georgia’s most picturesque areas. And while the town itself isn’t anything to write home about, the scenery surrounding it is truly spectacular.

The most popular thing to do in Kazbegi is to hike up to the Gergeti Trinity Church, which is perched in an incredible location in view of the imposing Mount Kazbek — the 7th highest peak in the Caucasus and a site to numerous legends.

Because of its small size, many treat Kazbegi as a day trip from Tbilisi, however, we would recommend spending one full day (two nights) here in order not to rush yourself and to truly be able to enjoy the incredible scenery.

Where to Stay in Kazbegi

Guest House Kavtarashvili 38 — A small, family-run guesthouse well-located within a short walk of the main drag in Kazbegi and the bus station. They have a handful of clean and comfortable rooms available and a great breakfast option.

Red Stone Guest House — Located in Gergeti Village, this guesthouse is a great option if you want to get an early start on the hike to the Gergeti Trinity Church. They have a number of great rooms available and a hearty breakfast option included.

Rooms Hotel Kazbegi — This is the place to stay if you want to live in luxury during your time in Kazbegi. They have a number of chic and comfortable rooms to choose from, great facilities such as a swimming pool and sauna and a great restaurant with commanding views of Mount Kazbek.

Not quite what you’re looking for? Click here to browse other options in Kazbegi!

View of Mount Kazbek in Stepantsminda, Georgia

Days 6-7: Sighnaghi

After enjoying the cosmopolitan vibes of Tbilisi and taking in the imposing Greater Caucasus in Kazbegi, it’s time to discover another aspect that makes Georgia famous — its wine! And there is no better place to do this than the postcard-perfect town of Sighnaghi in the Kakheti region .

You will need to head back to Tbilisi in order to easily get from Kazbegi to Sighnaghi, but it isn’t far from the Georgian capital.

This walled hill town is often referred to as the prettiest town in Georgia and it is an excellent place to escape for a couple of days. Located in the heart of Georgia’s main wine-producing region, you can also opt to go on a wine tour to local vineyards and cellars and learn about Georgia’s ancient viticulture techniques — the oldest in the world!

Again, Sighnaghi is often treated solely as a day trip, however, as we believe that both the surrounding wine country and the town itself are worth exploring, we recommend spending as much time as your itinerary allows.

Where to Stay in Sighnaghi

Maya Guesthouse – This well-located family guesthouse is a fantastic budget option in Sighnaghi. They have a few clean and comfortable rooms available, a beautiful balcony commanding spectacular views of the Alazani Valley and an option to add breakfast and dinner to your room rate. They will also organise tours of the surrounding area.

Guesthouse Wine – An excellent family-run guesthouse in the town centre that has numerous comfortable and clean rooms with friendly and helpful owners. They also make and sell their own delicious wine on site.

Boutique Hotel BelleVue – A boutique hotel in the town centre, they have myriad rooms to choose from. This is a great option if you’re looking for a romantic getaway in Sighnaghi and your budget allows for more than a guesthouse.

Not quite what you’re looking for? Click here to browse more Sighnaghi hotels!

2-Week Georgia Itinerary

If you have a fortnight, this will give you a great amount of time to really dig deep and visit a number of different destinations and really get to know the country and its people. Here is what to do in Georgia in two weeks:

Begin your 14 days in Georgia with three days in Tbilisi. Follow the suggestions above as to how to spend your time and where to stay in the city.

Like in the one-week itinerary, your next stop should be Kazbegi, the beautiful mountain with imposing views of the stunning Mount Kazbek. Again, you only really need about two nights here (one full day) to be able to get the most out of these destinations.

Days 6-8: Sighnaghi

Like in the one-week itinerary, make your next stop be the lovely town of Sighnaghi and spend a couple of days tasting wine, walking the town walls, and enjoying the prettiest town in Georgia.

Days 9-11: Borjomi

From Sighnaghi, you can easily head to the town of Borjomi with a quick connection in Tbilisi. Borjomi is a beautiful spa town located to the west of Tbilisi and is famed for its healing, sulphuric waters.

You can spend one day exploring the lovely town of Borjomi, taking a walk through its lush central park and going for a swim in naturally warm sulphur pools which is one of the most iconic things to do in Georgia!

Borjomi is also an excellent jumping-off point to explore the incredible cave city of Vardzia, which is located about 100 kilometres south of Borjomi and accessible as a day trip from the city.

You could also venture into nature at the lovely Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park, the largest national park in Georgia. Here you will find ample trekking opportunities.

Where to Stay in Borjomi

Guesthouse Metreveli – This is an excellent guesthouse located in a quiet neighbourhood about 10 10-minute walk from the city centre. They have three comfortable rooms available, a delicious breakfast option, and friendly owners who will fill you with their homemade wine and chacha.

Crowne Plaza Borjomi – This is the place to stay if you want a swanky, luxury hotel in Borjomi. Located next to the Central Park in a beautiful historic building, they have a myriad of luxe rooms available and numerous amenities.

Not quite what you’re looking for? Click here to browse more Borjomi hotels!

Days 12-14: Kutaisi

End your trip to Georgia in the country’s third-largest city of Kutaisi. Though it has now become a hub for low-cost airlines that have affordably connected Georgia with continental Europe, this city is often overlooked by tourists.

We find this to be a huge mistake as there are a number of really great things to do in Kutaisi and the surrounding Imereti region. Take one day to explore the laid-back city, take in the bustling Green Bazaar, visit the Bagrati Cathedral and head to the lovely botanical gardens.

On your other days, use it as a base to explore the region and maybe go on a day trip to the impressive Prometheus Cave or lovely Martvili Canyon. There are also some excellent wineries to head to in the Imereti region and the nearby town of Tskaltubo is popular for urban explorers, as well.

Kutaisi also has a very good restaurant scene and you can eat very well in this city. All in all, Kutaisi is an excellent way to see a smaller city in Georgia and a great place to end your trip.

Where to Stay in Kutaisi

Pospolita Guesthouse – A small, family-run guesthouse with very friendly owners, this is an excellent budget option in Kutaisi. Well-located within easy walking distance of all of the Kutaisi attractions, there is also a large homemade breakfast included.

Hotel Green Town – If you’re looking for a proper hotel rather than a guesthouse, then this is a great option. Located a stone’s throw from the beautiful and historic Bagrati Cathedral, they have a range of rooms available, offer a shuttle service from Kutaisi Airport and a hearty breakfast included in the nightly rate.

Not quite what you’re looking for? Click here to browse other hotels in Kutaisi!

3-Week Georgia Itinerary

3 weeks is really the ideal amount of time to really get to know the country.

With this amount of time, you will be able to see and do as much as possible without totally exhausting yourself. If you’re wondering what to see in Georgia for three weeks, follow these suggestions:

Days 1-4: Tbilisi

Begin in the capital of Tbilisi. While we recommend spending three days here in the other routes above, we suggest upping that to 4 days if you have 3 weeks for your trip.

This will allow you to see a lot of the capital city while giving you time to go on a day trip or two. Popular and easy-to-organise day trips from Tbilisi include to Mtskheta, Gori, Telavi and beyond.

Days 5-6: Kazbegi

After spending four days in Tbilisi, head up to Kazbegi and follow the suggestions above for how to spend your time there and where to stay.

Days 7-9: Sighnaghi

Like the one- and two-week Georgia routes outlined above, we recommend heading to the lovely town of Sighnaghi to taste some fantastic wines and enjoy the lovely atmosphere.

Days 10-12: Borjomi

After visiting Sighnaghi, Borjomi makes an excellent next stop on this three-week trip.

Spend one day on a day trip to Vardzia and the Rabati Fortress complex in Akhaltsikhe and the other day either exploring the town of Borjomi itself or trekking in the national park.

Days 13-15: Kutaisi

Georgia’s third-largest city of Kutaisi is the logical next stop from Borjomi and it is worth spending a couple of days exploring the city and its surrounding area and enjoying its gastronomic scene.

Days 16-18: Mestia

After enjoying laid-back Kutaisi, it’s time to head into the Greater Caucasus once more and explore the beautiful Svaneti region. The most developed, easy-to-reach and tourist-friendly town here is the lovely village of Mestia.

While this three-week trip doesn’t give you enough time for it (unless you cut out the last stop!), Mestia is well-known as the starting point for the four-day Mestia to Ushguli trek, a hiking route that takes you from village to village until you reach what claims to be the highest town in Europe: Ushguli.

However, if you don’t have the time for this trek, you can spend one day in Mestia and going for one of the day hikes that are easily accessible from the town. On the other day, you can hire a 4WD or take a tour up to the town of Ushguli and even trek to the glacier from there.

This is truly a beautiful place in Georgia and very much cannot be missed on your 3-week itinerary for Georgia.

Where to Stay in Mestia

Guesthouse Guram Baba – This family-run guesthouse is an excellent place to stay if you’re visiting Mestia on a budget. They have a number of clean and comfortable rooms available, a kitchen available for guests’ use, and the friendly owners will organise transport to Ushguli if you’d like.

Hotel Level – This hotel is a great option if you’re looking for a more high-end place to stay in Mestia. They have numerous rooms available and an option to include breakfast in the nightly rate.

Not quite what you’re looking for? Click here to browse more accommodation in Mestia!

Days 19-21: Batumi

After ascending some of the highest peaks in Georgia, it’s time to soothe those sore muscles in the saltwater of the Black Sea in Georgia’s premier resort town of Batumi!

Batumi has been a popular holiday destination since the days when Georgia was under the rule of the Russian Empire, however, these days its grand colonial past also shares space with modern high-rises, futuristic architecture, and plenty of casinos. Acting as something like a mini Las Vegas on the sea, Batumi isn’t for everyone.

However, it is possible to have a mellow beach holiday here as well. You can spend one of your days soaking up the rays on the beach and swimming in the Black Sea and another getting lost in the massive botanical garden located a few kilometres outside of the city centre.

Batumi is a little bit out of the way for shorter Georgia routes, however, it is the perfect place to end your trip.

Depending on where you plan to visit after Georgia, it is possible to travel on to Turkey from Batumi. There are also easy connections from Batumi to Kutaisi or Batumi to Tbilisi.

Where to Stay in Batumi

Hotel N16 – This hotel is an excellent place to stay in Batumi. Located within walking distance of the beach and the promenade, they have numerous rooms available, an incredible view and a helpful staff.

Hotel Monarch – This hotel is a great option if you’re looking for a nice place to stay while still supporting a local business. Well-located close to the beach and the main sites, they also have an array of clean and comfortable rooms available.

Not quite what you’re looking for? Click here to browse more Batumi hotels!

Planning a trip to Georgia can seem daunting when you consider just how much there is to see and do in such a small country. However, regardless of how long you have you’ll be sure to make your trip a memorable one.

Are you planning to visit Georgia? Have any questions about these routes? Let us know in the comments!

How to Get from Tbilisi to Borjomi & Things To Do in Borjomi

Tbilisi to Kazbegi: How To Get There & Things To Do

Armenia to Georgia: Gyumri to Tbilisi & Dilijan to Tbilisi

About Maggie Turansky

Maggie is a co-founder and writer for The World Was Here First. Originally from the US, she has lived in five different countries and has travelled to dozens more, both solo and with her partner, Michael. She particularly loves exploring Spain and spending time in the Caucasus and the Baltics. Read more about Maggie

thank you so much.. this is very helpful. Can u give more details where to visit during december? we are plannig on a trip to Georgia by december end- january start. am assuming, many places will be blocked due to snow? we plan to rent a car for traveling within the country. Will snow be an issue for this? Any info would be helpful. Thank you.

Good morning,

thanks for this excellent blog, it really helps me planning my trip! I have one question: how do you get from Borjomi to Kutaisi by train? I’ve read it somewhere but cannot find it anymore, I’ve also checked the Georgian railway’s website … are you familiar with this option? Or do you recommend the marshrutka?

Thank you in advance! Katya

The most frequent and easiest way to get between Kutaisi and Borjomi is going to be the marshrutka 🙂

Thank you for these information about Georgia. This will help a lot those travellers who are planning to visit Georgia, and I hope we will also be able to visit this beautiful country soon.

Thanks for your comment! I hope that you’re able to get to Georgia soon 🙂

Georgia Travel Guide

Looking for an in-depth Georgia travel guide ?

Then you’re in the right place!

Is Georgia on your mind? Then this is your sign to start planning a trip to the Peach State!

There’s so much to see in this southern state, so we’ve put together a guide with all the Georgia visitor information you could need. From historic sites to vibrant cities to beaches to breathtaking mountain views, Georgia has a little something for everyone.

The state of Georgia is separated into several different regions, each with its own unique personality.

Up north, you’ll find Georgia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, a gorgeous area offering tons of great opportunities for hiking, fishing, and other fun outdoor activities. Honestly, it’s home to some of the best trails in the world !

At the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, you can explore the gorgeous river valley via raft, canoe, or kayak even if you’re a beginner paddler.

Northern Georgia is also home to Atlanta, one of the most populous cities in the United States and a must-visit for anyone looking to learn more about U.S. history. From Oakland Cemetery to Martin Luther King, Jr. Historic Park, the city and surrounding area are full of historic sites that shed some light on the state’s storied past.

Central Georgia offers plenty of southern charm as well as lots of opportunities to get outside.

The Presidential Pathways region in western Georgia is home to five gorgeous Georgia state parks, including the popular Stone Mountain Park.

The region was also a favorite of two U.S. presidents. President Jimmy Carter grew up in the town of Plains, GA (now home to the Jimmy Carter National Historic Site) and Franklin D. Roosevelt even built his “Little White House” in Warm Springs.

Once you take a dip in the lake at Pine Mountain, you’ll definitely see why these great men loved the area so much.

To the east you’ll find the Classic South region, a charming area on the Atlantic coast. Take a swim in gorgeous Lake Oconee or visit Augusta National Golf Club, home of the famous Masters Tournament.

Looking to explore Georgia even further?

Head down to the southern part of the state for gorgeous beaches, cute small towns, and more.

In Scenic Southwest Georgia, you’ll find plenty of quaint southern towns, lush vineyards, and lakeside retreats to explore.

To the east, you’ll find Coastal Georgia, a region known for its gorgeous beaches and islands.

The waterfront city of Savannah is a favorite of many travelers for its old-world charm, vibrant arts scene, and many delicious restaurants.

Jekyll Island and St. Simons Island, once retreats for America’s elite, now offer anyone the chance to relax in style.

Additionally, the more laid-back Tybee Island is also perfect for families looking to chill out in the sand.

Keep reading to dive into resources that will help you with planning a trip to Georgia, a must-visit destination when traveling in America .

Note: This ultimate Georgia guide contains affiliate links to trusted partners!

Georgia Map

Use this Georgia tourism map to begin planning your trip to this incredible country!

Click here for an interactive Google Map version of the above graphic.

Atlanta Travel Guide

Looking for an Atlanta visitor’s guide ? These posts can help!

Food is an important part of any Georgia travel guide

Eco-Friendly Atlanta: Green Places To Go, Stay & Eat

Seeing the Martin Luther King mural while visiting Atlanta, Georgia

Exploring Black History In Atlanta’s Often Overlooked Sweet Auburn Neighborhood

Eating Sunday brunch in Atlanta during a trip to Georgia

Delicious Discoveries: Exploring Atlanta Through Sunday Brunch

Savannah Travel Guide

Looking for a Savannah visitor’s guide ? These posts can help!

Visit Savannah when planning a trip to Georgia

22 Things To Do In Savannah For An Amazing Trip

Having a picnic in Savannah while traveling Georgia

Falling In Love In (And With) Savannah, Georgia

Visiting a church in Savannah during Georgia travel

Is Savannah The USA’s Most European City? The To-Go Beer Says “Yes”!

Best Georgia Tours

Explore local culture with a Georgia tour guide through these unique excursions:

Savannah Riverboat Dinner Cruise
Savannah’s Historic & Secret East Side Walking Food Tour
Savannah Bonaventure Cemetery Journey
Atlanta Black History & Civil Rights Tour
Ponce City Market Food, History and Street Art Tour in Atlanta
Tybee Island Paddleboard Tour and Yoga
Bartram Trail Hike + Wine Tasting Tour from Clayton

Renting A Car In Georgia

Need a rental car for your Georgia trip?

Use Discover Cars to quickly compare your car rental options.

Public Transportation In Georgia

Getting around Georgia by train, bus, or ferry?

Omio is a must! You can use this tool for all of your public transportation needs when traveling around Georgia.

The site is straightforward and user-friendly — and you can pre-book your tickets in advance at a discount.

They even offer flight and car deals!

Georgia Hotels

Click here to browse the best Georgia travel hotels!

Prefer self-contained stays?

Click here to check out unique local rentals!

You can also use this map to search for local properties:

Georgia Travel Insurance

It doesn’t matter if you’re traveling solo or with a group on a Georgia tour. When visiting Georgia — or any other country in the world — make sure to get travel insurance to protect your health and safety.

In my opinion, the best travel medical insurance for travelers is SafetyWing as they’ve got a large network and offer both short-term and long-term coverage — including coverage if you’re traveling for months as well as limited coverage in your home country).

Additionally, SafetyWing is budget-friendly and offers $250,000 worth of coverage with just one low overall deductible of $250.

With coverage, you’ll have peace of mind as you embark on your Georgia travel itinerary.

Click my referral link here to price out travel insurance for your trip in just a few clicks .

Georgia Travel Guide FAQ

Below, find answers to frequently asked questions about traveling in Georgia .

Q: What is the best month to visit Georgia?

The spring and fall seasons are generally considered the best time to visit Georgia. The weather throughout the state is fairly mild during this time, making it the perfect time to explore.

Summers in Georgia can get excruciatingly hot and humid, particularly in areas like Savannah and Atlanta, but you’ll find cooler summer temperatures in the mountains.

Beach destinations like Tybee Island also tend to get extra crowded from Memorial Day through Labor Day, so you may want to consider a visit in late spring or early fall for a quieter, more relaxed vacation.

Q: What should I know before going to Georgia?

There are a few things to know about Georgia before you visit.

If you’re planning on dining out a lot in Georgia, be prepared for big portions. Georgians are very generous when it comes to food and you may be presented with more than your stomach can handle.

Southern food is also fairly heavy, so don’t plan a multi-mile hike after a big lunch of shrimp and grits. Once you taste one of these delicious dishes, though, you’ll absolutely get the hype.

Speaking of food and drinks, sweet tea is the default iced tea option in Georgia. If you want unsweetened iced tea, be sure to let your server know.

There’s usually no need to rent a car if you’re visiting Atlanta. The city has a robust public transportation system featuring a subway, buses, and street cars. This is also the best way to avoid the notorious Atlanta traffic and get to all your desired destinations on time.

And if all else fails, rideshare services like Uber and Lyft are ubiquitous in this big city, so there are plenty of ways to get around.

You’ll also run into lots of classic southern accents throughout the state of Georgia. As it is anywhere else in the world, it’s extremely rude to make fun of the local accent.

Don’t imitate it and if you can’t understand what someone said, just ask them to repeat themselves. A little kindness and respect goes a long way wherever you are in the world.

Q: How much money do you need for a trip to Georgia?

Your budget for a trip to Georgia will depend on your itinerary, but the average traveler spends around $128 USD per day in Georgia on transportation, accommodations, food, activities, and other travel expenses.

You’ll tend to spend more in cities like Atlanta and Savannah and a bit less in rural destinations like the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Q: How many days do you need in Georgia?

For a full Georgia road trip, you’ll probably want to plan for at least one week away.

A seven-day trip will give you enough time to spend a few days exploring the city of Atlanta, nearby destinations like Callaway Gardens and Macon, Savannah, and the Golden Isles of St. Simons Island and Jekyll Island.

Q: What are the best things to do in Georgia?

You’ll find many of Georgia’s top attractions in Atlanta and the surrounding area. Atlanta is home to major museums like the High Museum of Art , the Fernback Museum of Natural History , the Center for Puppetry Arts , and the World of Coca-Cola .

The city is also a major hub of civil rights history .

At the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Park , you’ll find the iconic civil rights leader’s childhood home and gravesite as well as the Ebenezer Baptist Church where Dr. King once served as pastor.

You can also visit the National Center for Civil and Human Rights , a museum dedicated to civil and human rights struggles around the world, in Downtown Atlanta.

For a more laid-back southern vibe, visit Savannah, a coastal city that blends the state’s historic charm with a vibrant art scene.

The city’s smaller size makes it perfect to explore on foot or via a classic trolley tour.

Savannah is home to plenty of historic sites including Bonaventure Cemetery (the setting for Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil ), the Juliette Gordon Lowe Birthplace (home of the founder of the Girl Scouts), the First African Baptist Church (the oldest Black church in America), and the Telfair Academy (the oldest public art museum in America).

One of the best things to do in Savannah is to stroll through the many parks and squares in the Historic District featuring gorgeous fountains and Spanish Moss trees. While you’re there, stop into some of the galleries displaying works from local Savannah artists.

There are also plenty of ways to enjoy active outdoor adventures throughout the state of Georgia.

The iconic Appalachian Trail runs through the northwestern part of the state and you can enjoy the Blue Ridge Mountains at Chattahoochee National Forest . The forest features tons of trails perfect for all levels of hikers and has both campgrounds and cabins available for those who want to stay the night.

Water sports fans should make a point to visit Callaway Gardens , home to Robin Lake , a major destination for waterskiing and wakeboarding.

Not ready to get out on the lake?

Stroll through the gorgeous gardens featuring hundreds of gorgeous blooms.

And of course, you can’t miss Georgia’s beaches. Jekyll Island and St. Simons Island offer picturesque views that have attracted beachgoers from across the country for decades.

Q: Where is Georgia?

Georgia is located in the Southeastern region of the United States .

It shares borders with Tennessee and North Carolina (north), South Carolina (northeast), the Atlantic Ocean (southeast), Florida (south), and Alabama (west).

Q: Are credit cards accepted in Georgia?

Credit cards — mainly Visa and Mastercard — are widely accepted around Georgia. That being said, it is always wise to carry some cash for smaller establishments and in case of emergency.

Q: Can you drink the tap water in Georgia?

Yes, you can drink the tap water in Georgia.

Q: What is the local currency in Georgia?

The local currency in Georgia is the US Dollar (USD).

What would you add to this Georgia travel guide?

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10 must-see places when you visit Georgia

Georgia on your mind?

If you’re looking for something extra-special, look no further. From the peaks of the Caucasus mountains to Kakheti’s rolling semi-deserts, the stony Black Sea coastline to Imereti’s lush inland forests, there’s a landscape and a slew of activities that go with it to suit just about every taste.

Add to this a vivid history of kingdoms and conquest, plus a progressive arts and food scene, and there’s a serious case to be made for Georgia’s towns and cities, too.

It’s true: In this traveller’s humble opinion, Georgia might just be the perfect all-rounder. To help you experience the best of what the country has to offer, here are 10 essential spots to you need to explore.

Discover our Georgia Trips

The top 10 places to visit in Georgia

Georgia’s capital city, Tbilisi, is a hybrid of different influences. The religion, the culture, the food, the vernacular architecture and the very way of life here is all fundamentally Georgian. If you have no idea what that means, you’ll have a wonderful time finding out.

The tumbledown courtyards and elegant balconies of the old town. Abanotubani’s Turkish-style domed baths and right next door, Betlemi Street, Tbilisi’s Jewish quarter. Provocative street art, and a fashion and electronic music scene that is coming into its own. From Bangkok-style food markets to Parisian-style boulevards, Georgia’s biggest city offers up an enticing blend of East and West. Spend at least a few days getting to know Tbilisi, an up-and-coming capital to keep an eye on.

RELATED: 8 MUST-TRY GEORGIAN DISHES TO EAT IN TBILISI

Just three hours north of Tbilisi via the spectacular Georgian Military Highway, Kazbegi (also known by its new name, Stepantsminda) has long been a popular high-altitude retreat. If you’re on a tight timeline, it’s the perfect place to get a taste for Georgia’s dramatic mountain scenery without straying too far from the city.

The small town of Kazbegi is encircled by the surreal, perennially snow-capped Greater Caucasus mountains. Gergeti Trinity Church – perched over Kazbegi at 2,000m above sea level – is a must-see. Outside of winter, you can reach the church on a two-hour climb through alpine meadows. For the more intrepid, there are plenty of single and multi-day hikes that push deeper into the mountains and glaciers along the Russian border.

Back in town, relax at a homestay or treat yourself to a suite at Rooms Kazbegi, a former Soviet spa that has been transformed into Georgia’s premier boutique hotel.

In case you didn’t know, wine is kind of a big deal in Georgia – one of the first countries in the world to pioneer viniculture. Georgian wine is made by fermenting whole grapes (stems, skins and all) in an underground clay vessel called a qvevri . After a few days in Kakheti, Georgian wine country, you’ll be very familiar indeed with this unusual technique and the distinctive vino it yields.

Base yourself in historic Sighnaghi, a charming town protected by high stone walls and watchtowers. Organise a driver and trace your way between dozens of wineries and cellar doors, including favourites Kindzmarauli and Shumi. The impressive Khareba winery consists of a series of long tunnels cut into a mountainside. It was supposed to be a bomb shelter; turns out the natural climate control creates the perfect conditions for storing wine!

Wine and worship go hand in hand in Kakheti. The area is also famous for its churches perched proudly on mountain tops, including Gremi and Nekresi Monastery.

Lagodekhi Protected Areas

Located at the tripoint of Georgia’s Kakheti region, Azerbaijan and Dagestan (Russia), the Lagodekhi Protected Areas cover 24,000-hectares of pristine forest and prime hiking territory.

Georgia’s oldest nature reserve includes beech forests and alpine zones and is home to East Caucasian tur and brown bears. Of the four hiking trails (Black Grouse Waterfall, Ninoskhevi Waterfall, Machi Fortress and Black Rock Lake), the latter is the park’s main drawcard. The 50km circuit can be completed in three days, sleeping in shelters along the way. The lake itself is shared between Georgia and Russia; you don’t need a visa, but you will need to carry your passport in case you’re approached by border patrol. All trails are weather dependent so make sure you do your research and check in with the visitor centre in Lagodekhi before setting off.

Georgia’s position at the crossroads of Asia and Europe has meant living under the constant threat of invasion. In centuries past, Georgians looked to cloisters and hidden settlements for protection – none of them more impressive than Vardzia, a colossal self-sufficient ‘cave village’ in the country’s south.

Set on the slopes of Erusheti Mountain, Vardzia was constructed in the 12 th century by locals seeking sanctuary from invading Mongols. In its heyday, Vardzia stretched for 500m and was 13 tiers high, boasting more than 6,000 individual grotto apartments, an irrigation system, a church, and a throne room for Queen Tamar, the monarch who decreed this incredible feat of engineering. Most of the complex was destroyed by an earthquake less than a century after it was finished, but much of the stone architecture can still be seen and appreciated today.

If you’re not one to shy away from dark tourism, pay a visit to the hometown of one of Georgia’s most notorious exports, Joseph Stalin. The infamous leader of the Soviet Union was born and raised in Gori, less than 100km east of Tbilisi. Unlike just about everywhere else in Georgia, in Gori, the former dictator is not entirely hated.

One of the first things you see after arriving in Gori is a massive Stalin poster advertising the local grocery store. The eponymous main avenue still bears Stalin’s name, as does the city park and a number of civic buildings. The zenith of Gori’s Stalin subculture is the Joseph Stalin Museum, an institution wholly dedicated to preserving his memory through photographs, documents and memorabilia. On the grounds of the Museum is the wooden house where Stalin was born and the personal armoured train carriage he used later in life. Tour guides do a suspiciously good job of glossing over the gory aspects of Stalin’s reign in favour of portraying him as a benevolent leader.

RELATED: 5 NEW UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES WORTH A VISIT

Another blast from Georgia’s Soviet past, Chiatura was once a thriving industrial town where 60% of the world’s manganese was mined. Now a shadow of its former self, Chiatura is a wonderfully off-beat destination that you won’t find listed in your Lonely Planet.

Its main attraction is the network of ancient cable cars that crisscross the deep valley. ‘Stalin’s ropeway’ as it’s sometimes called was constructed on the leader’s orders in 1954 to improve productivity in the mines. Seventeen separate cable cars linked Chiatura’s colourful apartment buildings and marketplace with mines set high above the town. Incredibly, a handful of the original cars are still running today. The rusted cables may inspire fear in the most seasoned of travellers, but if you can muster the courage, a jaunt on Stalin’s ropeway is an unforgettable experience (ride at your own risk!).

Chiatura is best visited as a day trip from Kutaisi. If travelling by marshrutka (public minibus), ask the driver to stop at Katskhi pillar on the way so you can take a look at this most unusual monastery.

Martvili Canyon

The lush, forested landscapes of Georgia’s western Imereti, Adjara and Svaneti regions are a sharp contrast to the country’s east. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the waterfalls, caves and canyons around Kutaisi.

Okatse Canyon is famous for its ropewalk that rises 140 meters above the valley floor. The nearby Martvili Canyon is lesser-known but every bit as impressive. Mossy and overgrown, this exquisite landscape of countless shades of green was once revered as a site of Pagan worship, and later used as private baths for the noble Dadiani family. Today you can tour Martvili by foot on the paths and pretty bridges that interlace over the canyon – or better still, jump in a canoe and paddle down the waterway for a closer look at the rock formations and trickling waterfalls.

Batumi, Georgia’s Black Sea resort town and the capital of the autonomous Adjara region, is commonly thought of as a mecca for gamblers and sun worshippers. Much more ostentatious than other parts of the country, it’s not for everyone; but Batumi has its own peculiar charm.

The architecture is imaginative and downright whacky – from Alphabet Tower, an homage to the Georgian mother tongue, to a world-famous McDonalds and the Disneyland-esque Europe Square with its belle époque facades. Batumi is home to the stunning Orta Jame mosque (around 30% of Adjarians are Muslim), a great international restaurant scene, two lively local markets and the world’s second-largest botanical garden. One of the best things to do is rent a bicycle and cycle along the promenade. If you’re up for a challenge, you can negotiate the 16km water-front ride all the way down to the Turkish border crossing at Sarpi.

The ancestral home of the Svans – an ethnic group who have dwelled in Georgia’s mountains since time immemorial – Svaneti is where you’ll encounter some of the country’s most breathtaking scenery and unique cultural experiences.

Set in sheltered valleys, Svaneti’s remote hamlets are characterised by their stone towers. These aren’t fortresses but in fact family homes, a few of which are still occupied today. Mestia, Svaneti’s main centre, has great tourist infrastructure and a delightful ethnography museum. From here, you can embark on hikes around the region, including a popular three-to-four-day trek to Ushguli – by some measures, the highest village in Europe. The perilous cliff road that connects Mestia and Ushgul is not for the faint hearted, but when open, makes it possible to visit Ushguli as a day trip.

Ready to eperience Georgia’s highlights for yourself? You need an Intrepid small group adventure !

Words and images by Emily Lush , you can follow her travels at @emily_lush

Feature image: Shutterstock

Originally from Brisbane, Australia, Emily left her job as a magazine journalist in 2015 with the dream of travelling and living overseas for as long as possible. In between stints working for NGOs in Thailand, Cambodia and now Vietnam, she likes to travel to unusual and off-beat destinations. Emily has a passion for learning about different cultures through textiles, crafts and handmade objects, and often writes stories on these topics for her own website, wander-lush.org.

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Living the Life My Mom Warned me About

The Perfect 9 Days Itinerary for Georgia (The Country)

So here goes—what you can do with 9 days in Georgia.

Here are some fantastic tours I recommend based on my experience in Georgia.

About Georgia

The country of Georgia is located in the Caucasus region and is surrounded by Russia, Armenia, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and the Black Sea (phew!). It has a population of 4 million most of whom are Orthodox Christians . Because of its strategic location at the crossroads of continents , it has always been a hotbed for invaders (Persians, Ottomans, Mongols, Russians, you name it). It became an independent state in 1991, after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Georgia is also the birthplace of wine ! Got your attention, didn’t I? It’s true! Archaeologists have traced the world’s first known wine creation to Georgia and this is as early as 6,000 BC! I was happy enough to come to a country which was known to have invented wine, but two other factors moved the needle further for me: the stunning photos of the mountaintop churches and this BBC documentary. Driving in Georgia promised to be a treat.

Georgia was everything I’d expected, and we covered more ground than we thought we could in 9 days. Let me tell you how we did it.

—There are easy group tours in Georgia if you do not want to plan everything yourself. Check them out!—

Know Before

Flying from india.

I flew Air Arabia which offered the best rates from Mumbai (at a USD 500 return fare) with an 8-hour total flying time and a 2-hour layover at Sharjah. The basic fare had no baggage check-in, meals, or seat selection included. Check-in opened 24 hours before flying when (at the time of writing this) online seat selection was free. It was a comfortable enough flight.

Getting a Visa

98 countries allow visa-free entry into Georgia. India is not one of them . Although, Indians with a US/ UK/ Canada visa can get a visa on arrival. If you do not have any of the required visas, apply for a Georgian E-visa online here . Getting a visa on arrival at the airport was easy. It took just a few minutes.

Once You Land

Prices in Georgia are relatively lower than in the rest of Europe. We budgeted about 80-90 dollars or 250 GEL a day per person including stay, food, and transport. Some places prefer cash although credit card was widely accepted (more than I’d anticipated). To withdraw currency at the airport, head to the Bank of Georgia ATM on the right as you exit the Arrival Hall. The ATM is orange in colour.

I wanted to buy a SIM card at the airport since I was going to use a rideshare app. My choice was between Magticom (Magti), Geocell, and Beeline . I chose Magti because of its competitive pricing and also because it’s known to offer better coverage. SIM card counters are open 24/7 in the Arrival Hall, so you can get one even if you land in the wee hours.

The official MAGTI counter (red colour banner) is next to the Bank of Georgia ATM on your right as you exit the Arrival Hall.

Transport to the City

Tbilisi Airport Bus 337 runs every 15 minutes to the city centre, starting at 7 AM up until midnight. The fare for the ride is 1 GEL (you’ll need to buy a Metro Money card for 2 GEL before loading it with the fare). It takes about an hour to get to the city centre by bus .

My preferred option was hailing a BOLT. Download the rideshare app Bolt on your phone. A ride from the airport to my hotel on Rustaveli Avenue cost me 21 GEL or 7 USD. The time taken was 20 minutes.

Avoidable : The normal taxis in Tbilisi are not metered and fare negotiations are involved. This hassle is better avoided.

Hiring a Car

For this itinerary, you don’t need a 4WD. A 2WD is sufficient . The only place you might need a 4WD is to go up to see the Gregeti Trinity Church, but local taxis are available to take you there for 20 GEL.

Words to Know

Gamarjoba (ga-mar-jo-ba) – Hello.

Madloba (mad-lo-ba) – Thank You.

Gaumarjos (gao-mar-jos) – cheers (before drinking) Drinking in Georgia is serious business. A lot goes into it; it’s almost like a ceremony.

And now that you have the basics, let’s go to the details of the 9-day Georgia travel itinerary.

DAY 1-2: TBILISI

Tbilisi is the capital of Georgia with a population of 1.1 million. Because it is the most important city in a country that straddles Europe and Asia and lies on a major trade route, it has witnessed many battles and has been conquered several times. As a result, the city’s architecture and cultural fibre are diverse; Eastern Orthodox churches, ornate art nouveau buildings, Turkish-Ottoman style homes, and Soviet-era brutalist apartments are dotted side-by-side. It makes for an interesting cultural experience.

My detailed Tbilisi itinerary is here but a snapshot is below.

A Do-It-Yourself Walking Tour

There are plenty of great walking tours in Tbilisi but it’s also easy to do one yourself. A typical walking itinerary begins by taking the aerial tramway from Rike Park to the Narikala Fortress (5 GEL if you have the Metro money card, or else 7 GEL; queues can get long on weekends), visiting the Mother of Georgia statue atop, and walking the steps down to land in Old Town . There you can visit the Sulphur Bath Area , go to The Bridge of Love , and admire the old historical buildings with ornate wooden balconies, Art Nouveau facades, and leafy Italian courtyards. Next, you can go to Anchiskhati Basilica, and Meidan Bazaar , ending at Freedom Square .

9 days in Georgia country itinerary A typical Tbilisi walking route

While all of the above takes you along places largely on the right bank of the Mtkvari River there are some attractions also on the left bank, such as the Holy Trinity Cathedral, and Fabrika.

The Holy Trinity Cathedral

The Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi, commonly known as Sameba , is the main cathedral of the Georgian Orthodox Church . It is located on Elia Hill, which rises above the left bank of the Mtkvari River in the historic neighbourhood of Avlabari. Constructed between 1995 and 2004 , it is the third-tallest Eastern Orthodox cathedral in the world and one of the largest religious buildings in the world by total area. It is a stunning church and well worth spending a couple of hours in.

Fabrika and Graffiti Spotting

Tbilisi is graffiti heaven. Apparently, a lot of the graffiti was added during the 2019 Tbilisi Mural Festival and continues to be added each year. The easiest way to see some mind-boggling street art is simply to visit Fabrika . Fabrika is a former Soviet sewing factory turned into a hotel/ hostel. We stayed here for a night to experience the hostel’s trendy/grungy vibe. The other places to see graffiti are Avlabari, the Marjanishvili area, Vake Park, and the underground passages at Heroes Square.

The Gabriadze Theater

We watched a Marionette show at the delightfully crooked Gabriadze Theater in Tbilisi. As if the twisty clock tower outside and the theatre inside were not cute enough, I was tickled and amazed to watch the show which was called “ The Autumn of My Springtime ”. The show is interspersed with Georgian folk songs and dance, all performed by the puppets. The dialogues were spoken in Georgian but English subtitles were available. This is an unmissable opportunity in Tbilisi. Tickets were pricey, at about USD 25/ ticket. Purchase tickets at https://tkt.ge/

9 days on Georgia itinerary Rezo Gabriadze Marionette Theater

Wine Tasting

As soon as I knew that Georgia was (arguably) the birthplace of wine, I was eager to taste everything it had to offer. Georgian wines are uniquely flavourful, because of the kind of grape used, and the way the wine is fermented. 8000 Vintages offers exciting wine-tasting experiences. Individual tastings cost 70 GEL; for 2-5 guests, the cost is 45 GEL each; and for 6 + guests it is 35 GEL each. Tasting is available Monday- Friday, 13:00-19:00. A reservation for large groups is recommended.

Day 3-4: Batumi

Batumi is the second largest city in Georgia , after Tbilisi, and has a population of 150,000 people. It is the capital of the Adjara region , with its flag, dialect, and cuisine. Batumi is also known as the mini Las Vegas of Georgia, which was enough to put me off at first, but that’s only a small part of the city; there are plenty of interesting things to do!

The detailed itinerary is here but a snapshot is below.

A typical walking tour of Batumi will commence at the Argo Cable Car, passing through the seafront promenade with its many interesting inhabitants, sculptures, and towers, and ending at the eclectic, bustling Europe Square . You could do all this on a guided walking tour. When we visited, only a few walking tours were operating in Batumi. We took this (Message Tornike at 555423477 to confirm the time, costs 20 GEL, and lasts for 2-3 hours) and were happy with it. Another option is the Free Walking Tour listed here . Or you can just do it yourself, by following the route below.

9 days Georgia country itinerary Batumi walking route

Botanical Garden

The Batumi Botanical Park is a top-rated activity to do on Tripadvisor and well worth so. The Botanical Park is spread over 100 hectares and is located on the outskirts of Batumi. Use Bolt to reach there easily. It costs less than 15 GEL and takes about 20 min. The Botanical Gardens consist of nine primary sections representing fauna from various regions, such as Japan, New Zealand, Australia, South America, the Himalayas, and the Mediterranean. There are also some awesome picnic spots with great views of the Black Sea. If timed well, you can watch trains passing along the coastline. Tickets cost 20 GEL (~USD 7). When we went (in summer), the Park was open from 10 AM to 10 PM .

The Promenade

It felt as if everyone in Batumi came out to the Promenade when the sun set. We had a good time just sitting there, eating corn and cookies, drinking coffee, and watching people. A cultural show was ongoing at the stage area in support of Ukraine—a very energetic dance form called the Mtiuluri was being performed. It was mesmerizing. If you walk along a little, at 8:30 PM , the dancing fountains come alive. Nearby is also the Batumi Theatre . The promenade is home to many sculptures and monuments (El and Nino, Alphabet Tower, Cha Cha Tower) that are worth gawking at.

48 hours in Batumi itinerary A Batumi Sunset

Watching the sun go down on the Black Sea is a must-do activity, provided the sky is not cloudy. You could take a sunset cruise or watch the sun go down from the promenade . Another interesting way to see the sunset is from the Argo Cable Cars . The cable cars are open from 11 am to 11 PM. The ticket price, at the time of writing this, was 30 GEL (~USD 10) for a round trip.

Europe Square

Batumi’s central square is bustling with people, stalls, and action. There are also some really cute cafes and bars you can hang in. Coffeetopia and Blue Elephant are the ones we tried out and loved.

If you like to try your luck at the table, there are many options in Batumi. Popular choices are Princess Casino at Wyndham and Eclipse . Passports are essential if you are a first-time entrant. Casinos are open 24/7.

A 36-Hour Alternative

If you want to spend less time at Batumi, your Day 2 can look like this. Take a Bolt to the Central Railway station, keep your bag at the station locker for 5 GEL, and head to the Botanical Garden. After you’re done, you can head back to Tbilisi by getting on the 5:30 or 6:20 PM train.

Day 5-9: Other Parts of Georgia

Group Tours

We were spoiled for choice for Group Tours which were both highly rated and inexpensive, ranging between USD 30-80 depending on the region covered. Popular day trips from Tbilisi are as follows.

Route 1: Mtskheta, Jvari, Gori, Uplistsikhe, optional: Oni-Racha

This route is an easy drive and none of the sites is far from Tbilisi. It is what most people start with doing. Mtskheta lies 20 km north of Tbilisi . It’s Georgia’s former capital and a UNESCO world heritage site. The impressive 6th-century Jvari Monastery is located here, whose clifftop setting offers impressive views of the valley, the town of Mtskheta, and the confluence of the two rivers: Mtkvari and Aragvi.

9 days in Georgia itinerary Mtskheta Jvari Monastery

At Gori, the birthplace of Joseph Stalin, visit the Stalin Museum , which houses memorabilia from his life. Given the museum deifies Stalin, I’d little interest in visiting it and skipped it. The next interesting stop is the Uplistsiche Cave Town, on the left bank of the Mtkvari River, 15 km eastward from Gori. Uplistsikhe was an important religious, political and cultural centre, thriving in the 9th – 11th centuries, destroyed by Mongols in the 13th century.

Instead of returning to Tbilisi after ticking off all the sites on this route, you could head to Oni , a town in the Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti region. The drive is stunning and the roads are remote, surrounded by mountains, vineyards, and lush streams. Alternatively, you could stop at Ambrolauri , a town in Lower Racha. Oni and Ambrolauri are good places to do some hiking or simply chill in one of the family-owned vineyards and sample the local Khvanchkara wine .

Another reason to stay a night at Oni or Ambrolauri is you can start Route 2 from here.

Route 2 : Katskhi, Chiatura, Borjomi, Rabati, Vardzia

Today we will go through some odd little cities which are home to some mind-boggling man-made and natural wonders.

Katskhi Pillar

The Katskhi pillar is a natural limestone monolith , approximately 40 metres high, overlooking the river valley of Katskhura. Believe it or not, there is a church on top of it ! It’s known to be the most isolated church in the world; until 2015, a priest lived there alone, for nearly 20 years, coming down only twice a week. The complex on top comprises a church dedicated to Maximus the Confessor, a burial vault, three hermit cells, and a wine cellar. Each day, monks use a thin metal ladder to climb to the church. Visitors are not allowed up but can visit the museum below which shows how the church evolved over the years. A car will go close to the complex before a 5-minute steep uphill walk. Entry is free.

There are usually four lines running, Sanatorium, Mukhadze, Lezhubani and Naguti , but when we went only Sanatorium and Lezhubani were operational. Tickets cost 50 tetri one-way.

The Castle of Rabati or Akhaltsikhe is a 9th-century medieval fortress located on a mountaintop overlooking the town of Akhaltsikhe. It has been elaborately restored. Inside are the Akhmediye Mosque, a large beautiful courtyard, the Jakeli castle, the citadel, and an Orthodox Church. The castle was open from 9 AM to 10 PM when we went and cost us 20 GEL per person to enter. We reached late (at around 7 PM) and literally saw no one else the entire time. Tickets are to be purchased right as you enter but the actual castle complex is a bit ahead. You don’t need a ticket to be in the lower part of the complex which houses a few restaurants and shops.

Borjomi is a resort town famous for its mineral waters that are bottled and sold across the world. A worthwhile stop in the city of Borjomi is the Borjomi Central Park, where you can stroll about, taste the mineral water under the dome, and go to the amusement parks and eateries. Entry is 5 GEL per person . You can also take a cable car ride to go to the Ferris wheel on top and savour the stunning views of the city. Riding the cable car costs 10 GEL one way. The park is open from 10 AM to 11 PM.

Vardzia is a twelfth-century cave monastery site , excavated from the slopes of the Erusheti Mountain. It was built on the orders of Queen Tamar to protect her subjects from invading Mongols. The caves stretch up for about five hundred meters and reach nineteen floors. Excavations suggest that the caves were inhabited as early as the Bronze Age. It was terribly hot when we visited but the place was fascinating. Entry costs 15 GEL and the site is open from 10 AM to 5/6/7 PM (depending on the season). An additional audio guide costs 15 GEL. There is an option to take minivan services for some distances up to 2 GEL but this is not needed (Ours broke down midway). There is some climbing and walking involved, but the shade within the caves cut into the mountain provides occasional relief. The site is home to a small church as well as several tunnels, rooms, and halls.

Although it’s a long one, we drove from Vardzia to Kakheti . It takes 5 hours but is a stunning drive.

Route 3: Kakheti wine region: Telavi, Signagi, Bodbe Monastery

The Kakheti wine region is located in southeast Georgia . More than half of Georgia’s wine grapes are grown here. Telavi is its biggest town, and Signagi is another popular base to set yourself up for the night to do some local wine tasting. There are some spectacular resorts and hotels in the region and it makes for a very nice 1-2 days break. The Monastery of St. Nino at Bodbe is a Georgian Orthodox monastic complex located 2 km from the town of Signagi.

A point to note : You can consider doing the Kakheti wine region last. Telavi is just 1 and a half hours away from the Tbilisi airport by road . So, if you want to maximize your 9-day stay in Georgia, you could leave for your flight straight from Telavi without repeating a night at Tbilisi.

—There are easier ways to do Kakheti. Check them out—

Route 4: Zhinvali, Ananuri, Gudauri, Kazbegi

As promised to us, this drive turned out to be the highlight of Georgia . The sightseeing typically starts at Zhinvali Dam which is a hydroelectric dam on the Aragvi River. The spot is gorgeous and the reservoir has shimmering turquoise water but it can get terribly crowded. It is a 5-10 min stop. Next, we drove to the Ananuri fortress, a medieval defensive fortress which was once home to the Aragvi feudal dynasty in the 18th century, and witnessed numerous battles, and ultimately the massacre of the Aragvi clan. The fortress was terribly crowded too, and hot when we went, and we came out soon enough. But things got better thereon. Next on our route was the Russia–Georgia Friendship Monument which was stunning, to say the least. The Friendship Monument is located between the ski resort town of Gudauri and the Jvari Pass. It’s a stone and concrete structure overlooking Devil’s Valley. Inside the monument is a large tile mural that spans the whole circumference of the structure and depicts scenes of Georgian and Russian history. It was a sight to behold. Lastly, we visited the 14th-century Gergeti Trinity Church near the village of Stepantsmindia. It was delicious icing on the cake. You can either trek up to the church or reach the base in a normal car and hire a local 4WD (at 20 GEL p.p.) to take you to the church. The views from the top are spectacular. As part of our tour , our last stop was the Rooms Hotel . We spent an hour there sipping coffee and enjoying the stunning views of Kazbegi from the hotel’s lobby.

Parts of this itinerary fall within the Georgian Military Road which runs for 212 kilometres between Tbilisi (Georgia) and Vladikavkaz (Russia).

Go Armenia: You can tick another country off your list by embarking on a day trip to Armenia ! Check out popular group tours here . Indian citizens will need visas which can be obtained online. It’s issued within 3 days.

Where to stay

For a short visit, the best neighbourhoods to stay in are Old Town, Sololaki, and Rustaveli Avenue. Inexpensive hotel rooms can be found at Envoy and Pushkin 10 in the Old Town area. Other economical and popular options are Vagabond and Fabrica located in New Tiflis (a quirky part of town on the other side of the Mtkvari River). Slightly more expensive, but equally value-for-money accommodations are Shota @Rustaveli Boutique Hotel and British House Boutique Hotel. We stayed at Shota @ Rustaveli which was a fantastic value at USD 80/ night, and at the grungy/ hip Fabrika another night.

48 hours Tbilisi Itinerary Shota Rustaveli Hotel

We stayed at the delightful O.Galogre in Batumi and heartily recommend it. It is a lovely central hotel with great rooms with views, service, and breakfast. We were offered room 312 (in the old building) as an upgrade to the suite (new annexe) which we gladly took because of the views. Note though there is a pub downstairs which has live music until the wee hours of the night, and the noise from the road carries up. We didn’t mind so much. The hotel is a ten-minute walk from Europe Square and right beside Piazza Square. The other options we evaluated were Kartuli and Admiral , both good choices by the looks of them.

In Oni/Ambrolouri

We stayed at Chateau Dio in Ambrolouri which is a family-run winery cum B&B with stunning views. Sadmeli Winery is another option where you can also do some wine tasting. In Oni, Family House is a great choice but is frequently sold out. Note though, in our experience, most family-run B&Bs did not serve (or have available) any food unless requested in advance. Carry your own.

We reached Vardzia late at night and were welcomed with open arms and plenty of wine by Aleksandre . Guest House Aleksandre is a ten-minute drive to the cave city. The B&B’s rooms are basic but value for money. We got a taste of the famed Georgian hospitality at Aleksandre’s place. We had a great time.

You’ll be spoilt for choice at Kakheti for wonderful places to stay. We stayed at Seventeen Rooms which was beyond fantastic.

What to Shop

The best keepsake to take from Georgia is the Georgian Blue Tablecloth which is a UNESCO material monument! It is a gorgeously done piece of indigo-dyed cotton fabric decorated with intricate patterns, dating back 400 years. Churchkhela (Georgian candies made with dried fruit dipped in fruit syrup) and Tklapi (thin sheets of cooked fruit puree) make good treats to carry back home and gift to people to get a taste of Georgia. And the Chacha (pomace brandy) bottles are so attractive! They make for good souvenirs or gifts as well. I purchased a few T-shirts with Georgian phrases from Yuliko & Friends Concept Store . It was a great gifting option.

9 days Georgia itinerary things to buy from Georgia

What to Eat

A supra is a traditional Georgian feast which goes on for hours and has sumptuous amounts of food served. In between copious servings of alcohol, the following are usually served.

Considered the national dish of Georgia, these meat-filled dumplings are delicious, and also, thankfully, lower in calories. Traditional dumplings are made of dough stuffed with meat (beef or pork), red pepper, butter, garlic and cheese. The dumplings are served boiled or steamed.

Khashlama refers to a traditional boiled meat and vegetable dish . It’s a simple dish made of beef or lamb that’s boiled for several hours with onions, garlic, bay leaves, black peppercorn, and salt.

The Georgian version of Dolma, Tolma is a family of stuffed dishes associated with Ottoman cuisine. It is usually by stuffing cabbage or vine leaves with meat or vegetables and bell peppers .

Satsivi refers to a thick walnut paste or sauce made from walnuts, garlic, vinegar, dried herbs, red pepper, and salt. It is usually served as an accompaniment to meals but I could have a whole tub of it as a meal. It is simply delicious.

Mtsvadi refers to the Georgian equivalent of the shish kebab . It consists of marinated cubes of meat that are skewered and then grilled over an open fire. It’s typically made with pork, mutton, or veal, though beef can be used as well.

What to Drink

Georgian Wine

Georgia is one of the oldest wine regions in the world where wine cultivation dates back 8000 years! The country has seen kind of a boom in recent years in winemaking and tourism. Georgia’s mild climate and humid air (due to the Black Sea) allow favourable conditions for vine cultivation. The country has at least 4o0 indigenous grape varieties. While wine is grown in the whole country, the main region is Kakheti , divided into the two micro-regions of Kvareli and Telavi . The wine is skin-fermented without yeast and chemicals in egg-shaped clay jars called qvevri (also a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity).

Chacha is the second national drink of Georgia. It’s clear pomace brandy with alcohol percentage ranging between 50 and 60 . The brandy is made from grape pomace, and the name ‘chacha’ is derived from the grape residue that is left after winemaking. All the chacha bottles are very attractive and you will not be able to resist buying some for yourself or gift-giving.

That’s it, folks. Hope you enjoy your Georgian sojourn. It will truly be one of a kind.

First, I go to TripAdvisor and check out top things to do, top places, and experiences. I use this to make a rough itinerary.
From TripAdvisor I often go to Viator to book day tours. I love their user friendly platform and flexible cancellation policies. Compare their offers with GetYourGuide , which is great too.
I book my accommodations in Booking because of their flexibility and that the bookings are easily cancellable. The mobile app is great and the genius discounts are on point.
I recommend getting the Priority Pass . It gives you access to airport lounges and has helped me through many long waits. It’s definitely well worth the money.
And I am literally always on Skyscanner . I get to see the best airfares, and the airline / third party providers offering them. Try the “From: origin city” to “To: Everywhere” option to ignite your imagination on where to travel to next.

Discover Unique Georgia

Tbilisi - The Capital of Georgia

Kakheti - Region in Eastern Georgia

Sea, mountains, resorts and culture in one place . We’ve got you covered.

Explore top attractions.

Gergeti Trinity Church

Okatse Canyon

Abudelauri Lakes

Prometheus Cave

The Legend of Ali and Nino

Svetitskhoveli – A Treasure of World Art

Truso Valley

Dariali Monastery

Tbilisi Sulfur Baths

Tsalka (Dashbashi) Canyon

Gveleti Waterfall

Sataplia Cave

365 days with lots to do.

A Taste of Georgia, Literally...

Ajarian Khachapuri

You must try our world famous wine.

Fall in love with georgia.

Ushguli - The Highest Inhabited Point in Europe

Why You Should Vacation with Your Family in Georgia

New Year’s Eve in Georgia

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Georgia travel blog — the fullest georgia travel guide for first-timers.

Georgia is a country located between Europe and Asia, a small but extremely charming. Traveling to Georgia, visitors will be surprised by the beautiful natural scenery, which is a blend of pristine, wild and romantic features of Europe. Besides, this place also gives you interesting experiences through destinations, diverse cuisines and more than 8,000 year old wines.

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So, is Georgia worth visiting, how to visit Georgia, what to do in Georgia and how to plan a budget trip to Georgia for the first-time perfectly? Let’s check out our Georgia travel blog (Georgia blog) with the fullest Georgia travel guide (guide to Georgia, Georgia visitor guide, Georgia tourist guide, Georgia city guide, Georgia guide) from how to get to Georgia, best places to visit, best time to come, what to eat as well as top things to do in Georgia to help you maximize your trip as follows!

Through the following Georgia travel blog, we will guide you through fully visiting the beautiful country like part of the Middle East but with romantic European vibes.

Overview of Georgia (#georgia travel blog)

The beautiful country of Georgia, nestled in the South Caucasus region of Eastern Europe, right at the tip of Asia, is one of the most exciting, historical and fascinating places to visit in the world. Known for its stunning natural scenery, hospitable people, great cuisine and wine culture dating back more than 8,000 years. Despite the growing interest in Georgia tourism over the past few years, it is still considered a relatively unknown and unusual destination. And although it has just become popular among tourists, traveling to Georgia actually poses some challenges not found elsewhere in Europe.

This is also the birthplace of Stalin. Once belongs to the Soviet Union, it was a favorite vacation spot for Russians. It will be suitable for you who want to combine with a trip to Europe, Central Asia or the Middle East. Not only a crossroads of civilizations, this small country is also the cradle of caucasian Christianity.

Coming to this country, visitors will have to admire the splendid cathedrals and unbelievable beautiful scenery. The capital Tbilisi is proud to contribute to that treasure with beautiful medieval architecture, attracting millions of visitors each year.

Is Georgia safe to visit? (#georgia travel blog)

A key question travelers will ask before traveling is, is Georgia safe to visit? Due to the fact that it is a relatively unknown and little-visited destination for many Westerners, this is an understandable and quite common question. Georgia isn’t in the news very often, and it can be difficult to know a safe destination to travel to.

In fact, the country is really safe to visit. The country has one of the low crime rates, although Georgia is certainly not a completely crime-free place, petty crime there will rarely affect tourism and in general, it is a much safer destination than many countries.

Also, as mentioned in the transport section below, taxi scams still exist, so it’s a good idea to use a ride-hailing app like Bolt to make sure you don’t overpay when traveling from A point to B point in Georgia. One thing to consider when traveling in Georgia is travel insurance.

Language (#georgia blog)

One thing that can be difficult when traveling in Georgia is the language barrier, especially if you only speak English. Apart from Tbilisi and Batumi, English is not widely spoken in Georgia and communication can become quite difficult.

The Georgian language is a unique language that uses its own alphabet and is not particularly easy to understand for foreigners, especially when it comes to reading. The older generation speaks Russian widely, however, those under the age of 30 are more likely to have learned English as a second language, if they have learned a second. The good thing to keep in mind is that you’ll almost always come across English descriptions of things, even if that language isn’t used at a high level.

Religion (#georgia travel guide)

Georgia is a deeply Orthodox country and is, in fact, only the second country in the world to adopt Christianity as the state religion – neighboring Armenia being the first. Thus, it can be said that Georgia has a vast Christian tradition dating back many centuries.

Because Georgia has been Christian through its own history, there are countless religious sites to visit in Georgia. Beautiful churches and monasteries scattered the country, and holidays like Easter and Orthodox Christmas are truly events to behold.

While you won’t see things like business affected in Georgia for religious reasons but there is a very conservative religious ideology in Georgia that deserves attention. Also know that if you are planning to visit some of the many churches in Georgia you will need to dress modestly to enter. Both men and women must cover their knees and women must also cover their heads. Overall, Georgia is a very Christian country with countless beautiful churches and monasteries around the country.

When to visit? (#georgia blog)

Georgia can be a year-round destination so figuring out the best time to visit Georgia may depend on your travel preferences and what you’re expected for when you plan a trip here. Georgia has relatively mild temperatures throughout the year, so there aren’t many bad times, but some times are better than others.

Georgia is located in a temperate climate zone with four distinct seasons. Summer here is very hot, the temperature in Tbilisi can exceed 40 degrees Celsius on peak hot days. However, this is the time when most tourists visit Georgia. Winter is not too cold but long, the coldest months are January and February.

The most popular season to visit is summer. Summer in Georgia is the peak of the tourist season and although the country doesn’t welcome as many international tourists as other European destinations, the main attractions and tourist hotspots are not overcrowded.

Summers in Georgia are also very hot. How hot it gets usually depends on where you’re going unless you’re up in the Caucasus. In Tbilisi, it can be much hotter with temperatures soaring past 40 degrees Celsius on some days. Temperatures in the mountains can be cooler 10 degrees, so this is where many city dwellers flock during the hotter months.

Spring lasts from April to May, the weather is nice and quite warm, the average temperature is about 20 degrees Celsius. Visitors should explore this country in the autumn months, from September to November At this time, the temperature will fluctuate between 22-25 degrees Celsius, cool, suitable for outdoor activities. In addition, September and October also coincide with the grape harvest and wine making in Georgia.

Spring can bring very mild temperatures, with some nice days in April and May hovering around 20 degrees and warming up as May arrives.

In contrast, winters in Georgia tend to be relatively mild, with temperatures rarely dropping below freezing even during the coldest months of January and February. It is quite sunny and the days in winter are usually longer than elsewhere in Europe. Georgia is also home to a number of great ski resorts.

How to get to Georgia? (#georgia travel guide)

To getting to Georgia, visitors must take a flight to Tbilisi International Airport (Novo Alexeyevka). The airport is located in the southeast, about 17 km from the city center. Currently, visitors can reach the Georgian capital Tbilisi by flights with one or two stops, departing from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. The average flight time is from 17-35 hours, operated by famous airlines such as Emirates, Lufthansa…

Visit Google Flights, Kayak or Skyscanner to search for cheap airline tickets to Tbilisi, book tickets and pay directly on airlines websites. Besides early booking, you can also choose the Price Alerts feature to receive weekly information via email about flight routes that match your needs.

Transportation in Georgia (#georgia guide)

If there is one aspect of traveling in this country that can make you a bit confusing and difficult to navigate, it is transportation. Transportation in Georgia are a bit different from the rest of Europe and it can be a bit daunting if you’re new to it.

Traveling around Georgia doesn’t have to be complicated, especially if you’re traveling between heavily trafficked areas as there are so many different options available to you. The public transport network, although quite different from other European countries, is extensive and reliable, and visitors can choose from one of the following modes of transport:

Metro is the most convenient means of transportation when traveling to Georgia. In the capital Tbilisi, there are currently about 22 metro stations in the city, visitors only need to buy a Metro card to be able to travel by this means. Each ride is counted as one hop-on and hop-off, and costs about 0.5 GEL, regardless of the distance. In addition, this card can also be used to ride the Aerial Tramway cable car.

Bus (#georgia travel guide)

If you’re traveling on a budget or want a local experience, the best way to get around Georgia is by marshrutka, or fixed-route minibus, which provide connections across the country. Keep in mind that the majority of vehicles in Georgia do not operate on tight schedules and tend to leave the station only when they are full. They are affordable but can be cramped, hot and a bit uncomfortable, especially during the warmer months.

In Georgia, there are two types of buses, the Marshrutka minibus and the Bohdan bus. All types of buses run according to the fixed routes at a very cheap price. When the they comes, you just need to put your palm down to signal the bus to stop.

It is also quite popular to travel between cities by shared taxi, another affordable option, although this tends to be a bit more expensive than a marshrutka. You should bargain on fare before your journey, and then you’ll wait until there are enough passengers to fill the car before you depart.

Taxis are quite affordable, in fact, a taxi ride through Tbilisi usually costs the same as a bus ride in London. However, it is worth mentioning that it is not recommended to call a taxi on the street. There are no meters in Georgia taxis and you must haggle on a price before getting in the taxi.

Taxi is a means of transportation that helps you take the initiative in your travel schedule. Taxis in Georgia don’t have meters, so bargain before you get in!

Trains are also a popular form of transportation in Georgia with low prices. However, the biggest minus point of this type of vehicle is the speed of travel. The train runs quite slowly, so it is only suitable for those who have a lot of time and like to admire the scenery.

There is a rail network in Georgia, but there aren’t too many routes and it’s not an option for traveling across much of the country. You can travel between Tbilisi and Batumi or if you take the night train between Tbilisi and Yerevan, Armenia or Tbilisi and Baku, Azerbaijan.

If your budget is a bit higher, many visitors choose to hire a private driver for their trips around Georgia. This is a very common practice and there are countless drivers offering their services around the country. You can hire a driver for your entire trip, or you can choose to just hire a driver for the occasional day trip and get around using a combination of public transport and this vehicle type.

Kutaisi: This place is as small as a district of Ho Chi Minh City. It’s almost possible to walk. If you need to go further like the airport, you can take a taxi via the Bolt app – about 1 GEL/km. Airport taxi to the city is about 25-30 GEL.

Tbilisi: You can use a travel card for both metro and bus. Price is 0.5 GEL/trip. Except for some special cable car or bus trips, the price is 1 GEL/trip. Taxi is also using Bolt app to call. From the city center to the airport using Bolt is about 22-27 GEL.

Taxi and book train apps

Bolt App Taxi: https://bolt.eu/en/ .
Book train/activities ticket: https://tkt.ge/ . Choose English and pay by credit card. This page also has information about activities taking place in Tbilisi.

Where to stay?

To get easy for exploring and traveling, you should stay in Tbilisi. In the capital Tbilisi, there are two main types of accommodation: hotel and airbnb. In particular, airbnb are old houses, built in the Soviet era and refurbished, although not new, but still fully equipped. Airbnb rental price usually ranges from 10 – 15 USD/night.

Check out more top and best hotels in Tbilisi on Agoda.com or Booking.com

Where to go and what to do in Georgia?

As a beautiful country nestled in the snowy Caucasus Mountains, Georgia has no shortage of wonderful destinations waiting for you to explore. Traveling to Georgia, visitors must definitely visit the following destinations:

The capital city of Tbilisi

Tbilisi is the capital of Georgia, a multicultural city with a history of more than 1,500 years. This is the gathering place of great civilizations in the world, from Europe, Asia to the Middle East. Besides the scenic spots and unique architectural works, Tbilisi also impresses visitors with its friendliness and hospitality.

Tbilisi’s old town is a great place to start exploring the city and where you’ll find many worthwhile attractions, including stately churches, historic sites, and fortresses. The maze of narrow streets holds surprises at every turn, and even if it’s just a picturesque courtyard, you can’t help but snap a few pictures along the way. The old town is made for walking without a plan, as you really never know where you are going to, be it a small pub, bakery or a khinkali shop.

You can start your tour from the old town, home to fortresses, historical sites and stately churches. The narrow streets with many turns create a mysterious labyrinth that makes visitors feel lost among the bakeries, pubs or khinkali shops.

The monument of St. George in Freedom Square is the great is an iconic work of the capital city of Tbilisi and a must-visit place in Georgian capital. Wherever you go, you must walk past this monument. Besides, Tbilisi is also proud of the monumental churches, standing proudly in the middle of the city, demonstrating the creativity of the Georgians.

The Great St George’s Monument is one of Tbilisi’s iconic landmarks. No matter where you want to go, Rustaveli, the old town or enjoy the nightlife in Tbilisi, you will have to pass this monument.

Tbilisi has been one of the leading cities for generations. The Old Quarter is a vestige of that long history. From the oldest sulfur baths in Georgia, to the transformation of mosques.

Another iconic architectural wonder of Georgia, the cathedral stands in the heart of the sacred city. It’s huge, unique, and beautiful, a perfect symbol of Georgian creativity. Tbilisi is not only a place to display old-style architecture, they also have a lot of modern-style structures. Rustaveli Avenue is an ideal place to see the European side of the city as it tries to integrate with the European Union.

Mtskheta is smaller than you can imagine a small town. It is the former capital of Georgia and is only twenty minutes from its current capital, Tbilisi. The main highlight is the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, which was built in the year of 337 and is one of the most amazing places to see in Georgia. It is believed to be the burial place of Christ’s robe.

Sighnaghi is a town not far from the capital Tbilisi, located in the Kakheti region famous nationally for growing wine grapes. Surrounding this beautiful little town is the 5km long wall of Lightaighi.

Borjomi is located to the west of Tbilisi, about 2 hours by car from the capital. This place is an ideal destination for Georgia tours with majestic streams and a system of lavish and luxurious resorts. In addition, visitors to Borjomi can also visit Borjomi Kharagauli National Park to discover lush forest scenes and beautiful natural landscapes. One of the most beautiful places to visit in Georgia, Borjomi has everything you could want in a day trip location.

A few hours away from Borjomi is the city of caves – Vardzia. The city of Vardzia is carved out of the cliffs, built in the 12th century by Tamar the Great. This tourist attraction Georgia is impressive and confusing and is one of the main attractions in Georgia.

Standing at the window of one of the caves carved into the mountainside in Vardzia, your mind soars and you’ll be instantly transported back 12th century, you’ll wonder how such a feat so it can be done without using the technological advances we have today.

The impressive system of caves and tunnels is located on the banks of the Kura River, stretching 500 meters and 19 stories high. It’s one of the most incredible things being considered as a Unesco World Heritage site, making it a must-see tourist attraction in Georgia.

Located along the mountainside, overlooking the green valley on the banks of the Kura River is a 19-storey cave carved into the mountainside, including a monastery, 15 churches, 25 cellars and an apothecary. With unique architecture and great historical value, this place is being considered by UNESCO to be ranked as a World Heritage Site.

From Vardzia, it’s a 9-hour drive that will bring you to the shores of the Black Sea. With a population of over 160,000, Batumi is one of the cities on the Black Sea coast. There are plenty of things to do on the Black Sea, but most people opt for some action water sports like windsurfing.

It’s nice to be back in the bright lights of a larger city like Batumi, but it certainly doesn’t feel like the atmosphere of a big city. It is an attractive place you will not be bored with this city because there are many Batumi tourist attractions.

If you are looking for new experiences during your trip to Georgia, you must definitely come to Svaneti. Svaneti is a beautiful land with ancient spiers, mountains and villages. Mestia is the largest city in the region, extremely developed in terms of tourism services. Coming here, visitors can visit the mountain bungalows, restaurants, pubs, cafes with impressive decoration style.

It’s very different, but it’s a beautiful, interesting region, very different from the rest of the country. Svaneti is a picturesque place in Georgia, mountains and villages dotted with ancient spiers.

Ushguli is a UNESCO World Heritage village in Upper Svaneti and feels like you’re leaning on the edge of the world. Ushguli includes several villages along the road. Only one, Chazhashi is recognized by UNESCO. The main village, Chvibiani, is where you’ll find most of the tourist amenities.

In addition attractions above, you can visit and try some activities in Georgia as follows:

Martvili Canyon: Going from Kutaisi, this is a canyon with a river below with super beautiful blue color. You can take a small boat ride down the canyon and enjoy the view.
Prometheus Cave: A very long underground cave with many rock formations underneath.
Okatse Canyon: This is the deepest canyon in Georgia, with a bridge above it for you to walk about 1km.
Kazbegi: A highland region north of Tbilisi. The landscape is very beautiful with many majestic mountains. It is possible to go in a day, but if you have time, spending for about 2 days will be more fun.
Gergeti Trinity Church: A hundred-year-old church perched precariously in the middle of a hill in the Kazbergi region. This is roughly the promotional picture you will see when learning about Georgia.
Sulfur Sauna: This is a part of local culture. There are many public baths in Tbilisi. After bathing, you will feel very healthy and comfortable. If you go with a large group, the price will be even cheaper.

What to eat in Georgia? (#georgia travel blog

Traditional Georgian cuisine is influenced by neighboring countries such as Russia or Turkey. However, the dishes here are still “remembering” for visitors thanks to their unique and strange flavors.

Georgian food is gaining popularity around the world, with dishes like Khachapuri (Georgian Cheese Bread) and Khinkali – Georgian Beef and Pork Soup Dumplings… However, there’s much more to this complex and flavorful culinary tradition of the country.

The great thing about Georgia is that in contrast to many other Eastern European countries, there are a wide variety of vegetarian options and vegetables play an important role in traditional cuisine. In fact, it’s actually a pretty easy country to travel to if you’re a vegetarian or vegan. Vegetarian options are always available due to the high percentage of fasting days in the Georgian Orthodox calendar.

Along with the rich and diverse cuisine, it would be remiss if this Georgia travel guide did not mention wine. Georgia is the birthplace of wine, with archaeological evidence dating wine production to more than 8,000 years ago. And Georgian wine is really something special. With a multitude of endemic grape varieties, wine is traditionally fermented on contact with the skin. In the underground crockery is called qvevri.

Along with the richness in cuisine, Georgia is also famous for its famous wines. Visitors to Georgia will have the opportunity to learn about the winemaking process from 8,000 years ago.

The wine is produced from endemic grape varieties, brewed according to the traditional qvevri recipe. The by-product from the brewing process is made into Chacha – a drink that closely resembles the Italian grappa.

Many families make their own wine and with that, they also use grape by-products to produce Chacha (brandy), sometimes called “wine vodka”, “grape vodka”! This is a Georgian drink that resembles the Italian grappa and it’s incredibly strong – some homemade varieties can have an alcohol content in excess of 60%!

Overall, tasting Georgian food and drink is one of the absolute highlights of traveling to the country. And if you want to learn more about the food in Georgia then you can try the following dishes.

Khachapuri is a traditional Georgian bread. The filling is made from cheese or salted eggs, when eaten, it has a greasy taste. Khachapuri are flattened cheese breads, closed and stuffed with sulguni cheese.

Churchkhela

Churchkhela is a famous street food in Georgia. The ingredients of this dish include almonds, peanuts and nuts, topped with eye-catching juice. Churchkhela is not actually a treat but a traditional candle-shaped candy as you can find it everywhere. It basically consists of walnuts and almonds dipped in a super hot and thick grape juice, which they need to dry for a few hours.

Kupati is a fried pork sausage, loved by tourists for its delicious and unique taste. Sausages are fried on a hot cast iron pan, often served with bread.

Kharcho is a soup made with a rather sophisticated recipe and ingredients. The soup is made from beef, rice and coriander. All ingredients will be put in a pot and stewed until tender.

And khinkali are dumplings usually stuffed with meat, though sometimes they also have khinkali with cheese, mushrooms, and potatoes. There are many versions of khinkali – in the mountains of Svaneti, for example, lamb dumplings are quite popular. For vegetarians or Georgians who are fasting for religious reasons, khinkali mushrooms are also very popular.

Most meals in Georgia start with a variety of dipping sauces, usually made with walnuts, and they go with bread. Beets and pomegranate seeds add color. Cheese, walnuts and meat, a lot of meat, is usually the core of any of their meals but they also have many vegetarian options, especially the eggplant dish.

As for the main courses, stews such as the common and familiar dish in the meal are chicken stew with onions and tomatoes with fresh herbs.

A meal in a normal restaurant will be about 10-15 GEL people are full. Khinkali price 0.6-1 GEL/piece. Eating on the street, 1 serving, for example 1 serving of Mtsvadi – grilled meat with bread will be 5-7 GEL.

With unique experiences, Georgia (former Gruzia) promises to be an attractive destination for all “moving” believers. Hopefully the information shared above will be really useful for your upcoming Georgia trip.

Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in, from and to Tbilisi you can refer to

Tbilisi Evening Walking Tour
Kakheti Wine Region Private Day Tour from Tbilisi
Kazbegi Crazy Tour from Tbilisi
Zoo Atlanta Admission in Georgia
Tbilisi Private Walking Tour
Tbilisi: Kazbegi Full-Day Group Tour
From Tbilisi: Kakheti Wine Region, Including 7 Wine Tastings
Tbilisi: Mtskheta, Jvari, Gori and Uplistsikhe Day Tour
From Tbilisi: Borjomi Central Park and Vardzia
Tbilisi: City Highlights Guided Walking Tour
From Tbilisi: Small Group Tour to Armenia with Lunch

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The Perfect Georgia Travel Itinerary: One Week, Two Weeks, Three Weeks
The Perfect 5-Day Itinerary For Zion, Bryce Canyon, Grand Canyon, and Antelope Canyon. Georgia is the birthplace of wine. The area in the Caucasus including Georgia and Armenia is in fact the birthplace of wine. There are records showing wine was made in these parts some 8000 years ago.
Georgia Travel Guide (Updated2024)
Georgia Travel Costs. Accommodation - Georgia is a great budget backpacker destination, with a ton of cheap accommodation options. A bed in a 4-6-bed dorm costs around 15-20 GEL per night. For a private room in a hostel, expect to pay around 50-80 GEL per night.
Visit Georgia the Country in 2024: Georgia Travel Guide
Everything you need to know to visit Georgia in 2024, including up-to-date city and regional guides, insider tips, and a wealth of resources collected from my Georgia travel blog. Last updated: August 2024. If Georgia (the country) features on your travel wish list, then I have good news for you: There has never been a better time to visit Georgia!
The Ultimate Georgia Itinerary: 1-4 Weeks in Georgia the Country
Days 1 & 2: Tbilisi. Every good Georgia itinerary begins in Tbilisi. Tbilisi - the coolest city in the Caucasus and one of Europe's most talked about up-and-comers - is the logical place to begin your Georgia itinerary. This is where you'll find some of the country's best museums, restaurants and wine bars.
Republic of Georgia Travel: What I Wish I Knew (2024)
One of the key reasons tourists head to the Republic of Georgia is the country's location in the lower Caucasus mountain range. This means there is ample hiking (best in spring and fall) as well as skiing in the winter months. But beyond the mountains, which are stunning, the people of Georgia are wonderfully welcoming and hospitable.
A Practical Georgia Itinerary for 7-10 Days (the country!)
Day 9 of 10-day Georgia itinerary: Drive to Kutaisi, Martvili Canyon, Gelati Monastery. Time to head down from the mountains. The last 2 days of the 10-day itinerary are the same as the last 2 days of the 7-day Georgia itinerary, except that you'll be driving to Kutaisi from Mestia, not Borjomi.
Georgia (the Country) Travel Guide For 2024 • Indie Traveller
Few words need to be minced about the visa situation, as most nationalities can travel in Georgia visa-free for up one year. Yes, really! ... This blog is very nice information for the best travel in Georgia looking beautiful. thank you for share this blog. Mandy Roux says: February 26, 2019 at 3:31 PM ...
My 15 Favorite Things to See and Do in Georgia
9. Go Hiking or Trekking. If you like hiking or trekking, then you're going to love Georgia. The Caucasus Mountains stretch from the Black Sea to the Caspian Sea — over 1,000 kilometers (over 600 miles) — so there are plenty of possibilities. The most popular multi-day trek is walking from Mestia to Ushguli (4 days).
The Perfect 2-Week Georgia (Country) Itinerary
The Perfect 2-Week Georgia (Country) Itinerary. January 18, 2024 / By Richard Collett. Pocket-sized Georgia is the greatest destination for an off-the-beaten-track adventure on the edge of Europe. Despite having a small population of just under 4 million people, Georgia has a surprising abundance of historical, cultural, and natural sights for ...
Georgia Travel Guide 2024 · Itineraries, Top Places, Safety
Best time to visit Georgia. Georgia is the perfect place to travel year-round, with each season offering something a little different, from snow-capped mountains in the winter to sunny beach days in the summer. Spring and Autumn: The best time to visit Georgia is in Spring (April, May, June) and Autumn (September and October).
Tips & how to travel to Georgia in 2024
Georgia is the ultimate European travel destination. This Caucasian country is home to, definitely, the most striking mountains in Europe, composed of massive glaciers, fairy meadows, and 5,000-meter snowed capped peaks; and great, vibrant capital, very Eastern European on the one hand but, on the other, with its unique Caucasian and Georgian identity and filled with the most unimaginable chaos.
The perfect 5-day itinerary for Georgia
Kazbegi. Drive back to Tbilisi in the evening. Day 4: Kakheti (Sighnaghi). Optional: Davit Gareji. In our itinerary for Georgia, we decided to keep one day to visit the wine capital, Kakheti and on our way, we took a detour to Davit Gareja Monastery, having heard of very good reviews about this cave monastery.
The Ultimate Georgia Itinerary: 1, 2 or 3 weeks
Days 1-3: Tbilisi. The most logical first stop through this beautiful country is in the capital city of Georgia, Tbilisi. A metropolis known to charm all of those who care to explore it, this hip capital has a tonne of great things to do and can easily keep visitors occupied for a number of days.
Georgia Travel Guide
To the east, you'll find Coastal Georgia, a region known for its gorgeous beaches and islands. The waterfront city of Savannah is a favorite of many travelers for its old-world charm, vibrant arts scene, and many delicious restaurants. Jekyll Island and St. Simons Island, once retreats for America's elite, now offer anyone the chance to ...
2024 Georgia Official State Travel Guide
We're so glad Georgia's on your mind. Start planning your next trip to Georgia with the ideas you'll find in articles from the 2024 Georgia Official State Travel Guide and bonus content available only on here. Embark on your own adventure to see all the sights and experience all the moments that can only be found in Georgia. And, while you're ...
10 must-see places to visit in Georgia
The small town of Kazbegi is encircled by the surreal, perennially snow-capped Greater Caucasus mountains. Gergeti Trinity Church - perched over Kazbegi at 2,000m above sea level - is a must-see. Outside of winter, you can reach the church on a two-hour climb through alpine meadows. For the more intrepid, there are plenty of single and ...
Georgia Travel Itinerary: One to Three Weeks in Georgia
Quick Glance - Best Places to Visit in Georgia. Tbilisi - Capital city. Batumi - City on the Black Sea coast. Signaghi - East Georgia in the wine region, old town also known as the city of love. Mtskheta - Historic capital near Tbilisi. Kazbegi - Central North in the moutains, nice day hike and beautiful views.
The Complete Georgia Travel Guide: 19 Useful Things You Should Know For
It is possible to travel to Georgia by ferry as Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, Russia and Ukraine are bordering the Black Sea from where you can take ferries to the ports of Batumi and Poti in Georgia. It is very hard to get any reliable information online regarding scheduling, so the best is to visit the closest port in the country you're in and ...
Traveling In Georgia (country)
10 beautiful historical places to visit in Georgia. Tbilisi City Guide. The Chronicles of Georgia Travel Guide. Batumi City Guide. Svaneti Travel Guide. Tusheti Travel Guide. Vardzia Travel Guide. Chiatura, cable car city of Georgia. Katskhi Pillar, incredible cliff church in Georgia.
The Perfect 9 Days Georgia Itinerary
And now that you have the basics, let's go to the details of the 9-day Georgia travel itinerary. DAY 1-2: TBILISI. Tbilisi is the capital of Georgia with a population of 1.1 million. Because it is the most important city in a country that straddles Europe and Asia and lies on a major trade route, it has witnessed many battles and has been ...
Visit Georgia
Take a sip of history and discover the variety of flavors of Georgian wine. With a winemaking tradition that dates back over 8,000 years, Georgia is home to some of the oldest and most authentically made wines in the world. Sample the local varieties and discover the unique terroirs of this ancient country. Pour me a glass.
Georgia Itinerary
Georgia Itinerary: Here are 3 great travel itineraries to see the best of Georgia country in one week, 10 days, 2 weeks or 3 weeks: the Backpackers Route,the Culture Route and the Outdoor Route. ... Journal of Nomads is an Adventure Travel Blog for backpackers and adventurous travelers interested in off-the-beaten-path regions like Central Asia ...
Georgia travel blog
Georgia is a country located between Europe and Asia, a small but extremely charming. Traveling to Georgia, visitors will be surprised by the beautiful natural scenery, which is a blend of pristine, wild and romantic features of Europe. Besides, this place also gives you interesting experiences through destinations, diverse cuisines and more than 8,000 year […]
4 fabulous glamping destinations in Georgia
Tent camping in a yurt, at Red Top Mountain State Park, in Georgia. Made of wood and canvas, yurts feature a deck, picnic table and grill/fire ring outside.