Wondering what to see in Georgia and where to go in this beautiful country in the Caucasus? After spending almost one year here (and returning for more visits), I made a list of the 15 best and most beautiful places to visit in Georgia.
Georgia, a land of rock and stone, medieval fortresses and monasteries, green hills, majestic mountains, deep caves, and rocky beaches. A country where culture and history lovers will have the feeling they’ve been transported to the past while walking through the villages and towns.
Outdoor lovers will be amazed by the stunning landscapes of the mountains and every traveler will experience the incredible hospitality of the people and will be treated to a feast of delicious food and wine (and the additional hangover).
I spent almost one year in Georgia and I’m grateful that I had the chance to discover so many beautiful regions and unique places.
It was hard to make a selection of the most beautiful places to visit in Georgia as there are so many of them, but here are the top 15 places and the best cities to visit in Georgia, the country!
Tip: See my Georgia Travel Page for a complete overview of all my travel guides and blog posts about Georgia!
Disclaimer: This posts might contain affiliate links, meaning that if you make a purchase through these links, I may earn an affiliate commission. Thank you for helping to support this website!
The best places to visit in Georgia
1. Tbilisi
Tbilisi is the capital city and one of the best cities in Georgia to visit! Tbilisi lies on the banks of the Mtkvari (also known as the Kura) river and is surrounded by hills and mountains.
It has been the capital of Georgia since the 6th century and its diverse architecture reflects its long and complicated history.
One of the best ways to appreciate this unique place is to wander its streets, especially in the colorful Old Town.
During your walk in the city you’ll come across over-renovated and hyper-modern buildings but you’ll also find yourself in a warren of backstreets surrounded by ramshackle buildings that are beautiful in their own unique way.
Make sure you walk (or take the cable car) to the Narikala Fortress where you can enjoy the stunning panorama over the city.
Top Things to do in Tbilisi:
- Visit the Holy Trinity Cathedral
- Go for a stroll in the old town of Tbilisi
- Take the cable car to Narikala Fortress and meet Kartlis Deda, “mother of Georgia”
- Enjoy the delicious Georgian food in one of the many traditional restaurants
- Visit the Chronicle of Georgia, Tbilisi’s hidden gem
Recommended Tbilisi City Tours
There are many lovely guided walking tours you can take in Tbilisi to learn more about the history of the city while visiting its main points of interest.
Here’s a guided walking tour I highly recommend:
How to get to Tbilisi:
Just like all the roads in Europe lead to Rome, all the roads in Georgia lead to Tbilisi! You can easily get there by plane (the main airport of Georgia is located in this city), by train, by bus, by mini-bus and by hitchhiking!
Read more about traveling by public transportation in Georgia and Tbilisi here.
Where to stay in Tbilisi:
You can pay as much or as little as you want to stay in Tbilisi. You can find a bed in a hostel starting from €7 (10 GEL) per night or you can spend a few nights in a lovely guesthouse for only €12 per night.
- Hostels and guesthouses I recommend for less than €20/night:
- Hotels and guesthouses for less than €50/night:
- Luxury Hotels and guesthouses for more than €50/night:
2. Mtskheta
Mtskheta is the religious capital, the spiritual heart, and therefore the most important city of Georgia. It used to be the capital city before King Gorgasali changed his base to Tbilisi.
It’s also one of the oldest cities in Georgia, where 4000-year-old traces of human settlements were found. Mtskheta is home to three of Georgia’s most important churches: Svetitskhoveli (try to say this 3x in a row…), Jvari and Samtavro Monastery.
Saint Nino lived in this city. She’s known as the Enlightener of Georgia, is one of the most important saints in this country (many girls are named after her). She’s the woman who preached Christianity in Georgia and the reason why this religion was adopted as the state religion in the year 330.
Important Note: if you want to enter the churches, dress appropriately! Men aren’t allowed to wear shorts or hats while women have to wear a long skirt and cover their hair with a scarf.
Places to visit in Mtskheta:
- Jvari Monastery
- Svetitskhoveli Cathedral
- Shio-Mgvime Monastery
- Old Mtskheta
- Bebristsikhe Fortress
Guided tours to Mtskheta:
Mtskheta is definitely worth visiting with a knowledgeable guide while visiting the most ancient and holy places of Georgia!
I highly recommend going on a guided (half-) day tour from Tbilisi to Mtskheta you’ll get a thorough tour and background info of all the important monasteries and churches.
How to get to Mtskheta:
If you prefer to visit Mtskheta independently, it’s a 30-minute drive from Tbilisi. You can easily hitchhike there from the Tbilisi Mall (take minibus nr. 50 to get there) or take a minibus (mashrutka) all the way to Mtskheta for only 1 GEL. Here’s a very detailed guide on how to go from Tbilisi to Mtskheta.
3. Vardzia
Vardzia is a spectacular cave monastery near Aspindza in southern Georgia. It looks like one of the movie sets of Lord of the Rings, although it wasn’t the home of dwarves but of many monks.
This underground monastery was built in the 12th Century, under the reign of King Tamar, the first woman that was ever crowned as a king (not a queen!) in Georgian history. It used to be completely hidden until a severe earthquake exposed and destroyed the cave monastery.
Things to do in Vardzia:
Read my Travel Guide to Vardzia for a complete overview of how to visit all the highlights of Vardzia.
Guided Tours to Vardzia:
It’s a bit of a journey to get to Vardzia independently. Taking a tour to Vardzia, maybe combined with a visit to Akhaltsikhe and Borjomi, might give you a more enjoyable experience and you’ll learn a lot about the cultural and historical background of these wonderful places!
How to get to Vardzia:
You can take a mashrutka from Akhaltsikhe to Vardzia. The ride takes one hour, it costs 7 GEL and they operate 3 times a day.
The first mashrutka leaves at 10.30 am, the last one from Akhaltsikhe to Vardzia leaves at 1.20 pm. The last mashrutka is at 3 pm from Vardzia to Akhaltsikhe where you can still catch another one to Tbilisi (if you want to return the same day).
You can also take a taxi to Vardzia but that will cost you at least 50 GEL (unless you’re with a group, then you can share the costs and stop along the way at the Khertvisi Fortress).
4. Uplistsikhe
Uplistsikhe is located in eastern Georgia, about 100 km from Tbilisi. It literally means “Lord’s Fortress” and it’s an abandoned rock-hewn town that is more than 3000 years old.
It was founded around 1000 BC and was continuously inhabited until the 13th century AD. At one point Uplistsikhe even had 20000 inhabitants!
The cave city covers an area of almost 40.000 m2 and used to have a pharmacy, a bakery, an amphitheater and even a prison. All the structures are connected by tunnels.
On top of the whole complex is a church that was built in the 9th century. This colorful building sticks out against the gray and sober caves.
tours to Uplistsikhe:
You can opt for taking a day tour from Tbilisi to Uplistsikhe, combined with a visit to Mtskheta (see above) and Gori (I used to live there!).
There are many day tours to Uplistikhe from Tbilisi offered by local travel companies. I highly recommend the following:
How to get to Uplistsikhe:
The cheapest way to get from Tbilisi to Uplistsikhe is by taking a shared taxi (5GEL) or a mashrutka (3GEL) from Didube station to Gori. There you can take another mashrutka to the nearby village Kvakhvreli for 1 GEL. You can also negotiate with the driver and he’ll take you to Uplistsikhe for 1 extra GEL.
If you’re with a group, you can share a taxi that will cost you around 20 GEL.
Entrance fee for Uplistsikhe: 15 GEL.
5. Katskhi Pillar
Georgia doesn’t only have unique places on the ground or in the mountains, but also in the air. Take the Katskhi Pillar, for example, a 40-meter high limestone monolith that is also known as “the Pillar of Life”.
Around the 4th century, this rock became a place of seclusion for the ‘Stylites’, a religious group who had a “slight” obsession with sitting on top of narrow pillars to come closer to God. How they got up on the Katskhi Pillar and were able to build a church on top of there is still a big mystery!
It was only in 1945 that the first researchers were able to climb it. Oh, and the most extraordinary thing: a monk has been living on top of that remote pillar for 20 years!
Day tour to Katskhi Pillar
You can go on a day tour from Tbilisi to Katskhi Pillar, combined with a visit to Chiatura (see below).
Here’s the day tour I recommend:
How to get to the Katskhi Pillar:
From Tbilisi to the Katskhi Pillar: take a mashrutka from Didube Station to Chiatura. The earliest leaves at 8 am and after that nearly every hour. The ride takes about 3 hours and costs 6 GEL.
In Chiatura take a taxi to the Katskhi Pillar, which shouldn’t cost much as it’s only 20 km away or you can hitchhike like I did.
From Kutaisi to Katskhi Pillar: take a mashrutka from Kutaisi bus station to Chiatura. It costs 6 GEL and the journey lasts an hour and a half. Once in Chiatura, you can hitchhike or take a taxi to the Katskhi Pillar.
6. Chiatura
Another point of interest in Georgia is Chiatura, a small town nestled between steep valleys and deep gorges.
Chiatura was founded in the late 1800s as a mining colony. In 1954 the Stalinist government installed a system of cable cars, also referred to as a “rope road” to get the workers more quickly to the mines, instead of them walking to the sites on the steep cliffs.
Every corner of the town was connected with the mines through these cable cars and Chiatura became known as “the cable car city”.
Most of these cable cars have rusted away but there are still some of these “air tramways” functioning today as a form of (free) public transportation.
It’s truly an amazing (and a little frightening) experience to step into these rusty flying cabins that are known as the “death-defying metal coffins”. Chiatura is a strange and charming city where you can still feel the ghost of the Soviet Empire.
Day tour to Chiatura & Katskhi Pillar:
Combine a visit to Chiatura with the Katskhi Pillar (see above) on this guided day tour from Tbilisi:
How to get to Chiatura:
From Tbilisi to Chiatura: take a mashrutka from Didube Station to Chiatura. The earliest leaves at 8 am and after that nearly every hour. The ride takes about 3 hours and costs 6 GEL.
From Kutaisi to Chiatura: take a mashrutka from the Kutaisi bus station (near McDonald’s) to Chiatura. It costs 6 GEL and the journey lasts 1,5 hours.
Where to stay in Chiatura:
When I first visited Chiatura in 2017, there was one guesthouse. Nowadays you can find about 10!
Here are my recommendations:
7. Batumi
Batumi is a modern city on the coast of the Black Sea. It’s the second biggest city in Georgia and honestly, it doesn’t really feel like you’re in Georgia. One moment you can hear the church bells ringing, and the next you hear the muezzin’s call to prayer coming from the mosques (Batumi is right near the border with Turkey).
The architecture is a combination of European and Asian styles, often mixed with fairy-tale-like towers, statues and buildings created by some hallucinating architects. This is especially visible at night when the majority of the building is lit up and bathing in the colors of the rainbow.
Batumi is a ‘glamorous’ city, designed to attract tourists and gamblers to play in one of its many casinos. You love it or you hate it but I absolutely enjoyed living there for three months when there were barely any tourists around.
How to get to Batumi:
You can get from Tbilisi to Batumi by mashrutka, which also stops in Kutaisi. It takes about 4,5 hours and costs 15 GEL. Shared taxis or buses are also possible but will cost you at least double the price.
I would suggest you take the train from Tbilisi to Batumi, which is very comfortable and cheap (18 GEL). The journey lasts about 5 hours and will take you along some beautiful landscapes.
Where to stay in Batumi:
- Hostels and guesthouses for less than €20/night:
- Hotels and guesthouses for less than €50/night:
- Luxury Hotels and guesthouses for more than €50/night:
8. Ushguli & other villages in Svaneti
Located in northwestern Georgia and locked in the heart of the Caucasus mountains lies the historic province of Svaneti. The only way to get there is by driving from Zugdidi to Mestia along steep windy roads looking over beautiful gorges, wild rivers, and majestic mountains.
Svaneti consists of several small villages, built on the slopes of the snow-covered mountains and surrounded by the breathtaking scenery of alpine meadows.
Walking around in these picturesque villages that are dominated by tower houses, gives you the feeling that you’re thrown back into the European Middle Ages.
One village truly mesmerized me: Ushguli. This village is part of one of the highest inhabited settlements in Europe, at about 2200m above sea level.
It is very remote, the only road to get there is very rough and bumpy but oh so beautiful! The inhabitants live a remote and unique life. They ride on horses through the cobblestone streets while pigs, dogs, cows and goats walk next to them on the little paths. It feels like time stood still there!
Unfortunately, it’s also the most touristic village in the area (Mestia not included) but there are plenty of other villages in the area that not many tourists visit.
Tours to Svaneti
Svaneti is a beautiful region with a very unique history. It could be interesting to travel there on a guided tour.
On this 4-day tour, you travel into the Caucasian Mountains to visit Svaneti, Mestia, Hatsvali and Ushguli. You’ll visit a typical Svan house and get a taste of the local unique cuisine and folkloric music.
You can also go on a 4-day guided trekking tour to Svaneti! You will be hiking along the beautiful trails to the Chalaadi Glacier, the Shkhara Glacier, and the Ushba waterfalls while also visiting Mestia and Ushguli where you get to learn more about the Svan history and culture, and maybe even participate in Georgian folk dances.
How to get from Tbilisi to Mestia:
Mestia is the central village of Svaneti.
You can go from Tbilisi to Zugdidi by train and you can opt for the night train (8 hours) or day train (5,5 hours) – check the schedule here. Tickets cost between 16 and 21GEL.
You can also take a mashrutka from Tbilisi to Zugdidi, which departs every day from “Vagzali” bus station (in front of Tbilisi Central building). Look for the platform with the sign ‘Mestia’. The bus departs at 7 AM, tickets cost 30 GEL and the journey will take about 9 hours.
From Zugdidi to Mestia: catch a mashrutka at the Zugdidi train station (look for the sign Mestia). They leave every time the bus is full, a ticket costs 20 GEL and the ride takes between 3 – 4 hours.
How to get From Mestia to Ushguli:
You’ve got three options to get to Ushguli:
1) Hitchhike like I did. I was told that it was nearly impossible to hitchhike there but I got very lucky that day and caught a ride within 2 minutes!
2) Walk from Mestia to Ushguli. This hike takes about 3 to 4 days and you’ll walk along the majestic valleys and meadows of the Caucasus. More about this hike here.
3) Take a shared taxi. The drivers know that this is your only way to go to Ushguli and back so they’ll easily charge USD $100. Your best option is to share the taxi with other people.
Where to stay in Mestia and Ushguli:
You’ll have plenty of space to camp in Svaneti and it’s definitely worthwhile! You can also find many guesthouses in Mestia starting from $20/night for 2 people.
- Best guesthouses in Mestia (budget):
- Best hotels in Mestia (from mid-range to high-end):
Ushguli has also facilities to accommodate guests if you’d like to spend the night in this little village. Here are my top 3 recommendations for homestays and guesthouses in Ushguli:
9. Omalo & other villages in Tusheti
Tusheti is one of the most beautiful and fascinating regions of Georgia. It’s located in northeast Georgia, on the northern slopes of the Great Caucasus Mountains.
There is only one road that goes to the area over the treacherous 2900m Abano Pass. It’s a beautiful mountain pass but it’s also considered one of the most dangerous roads in the world.
You need a 4×4 vehicle and nerves of steel to cross the pass but it is definitely worth it! The road to Tusheti is only open for 5 months (late May to early October).
The inhabitants, the Tushs or Tushetians, nowadays only go up there during summer to graze their cattle, organize traditional festivals, provide accommodation and tours for tourists and reconnect with their roots. In winter they live in the lowland villages of Alvani and Akhmeta in Kakheti.
Tours to Tusheti
As Tusheti is so remote and hard to access, I’d highly recommend taking a tour there unless you have your own vehicle and are an experienced off-road driver.
I highly recommend my own Adventure Tours in Georgia as both tours have Tusheti on the itinerary!
Discover Georgia’s Highlights or go on a unique Georgia Trekking Adventure to Tusheti, Racha, Vardzia, Katskhi and Chiatura on one of my Georgia Adventure Tours!
How to get from Tbilisi to Tusheti
It’s quite hard to get to Tusheti by public transport. Even if you’re renting a car, you have to be very cautious as it’s a very dangerous road!
Take a mashrutka from Tbilisi to Alvani. Get off in the towns of Zemo-Alvani or Kvemo-Alvani. From there you will find Delica’s (4×4 Mitsubishi mini-van) going to Omalo. It costs around 40/50 GEL per person (around $20) one way and the Delica leaves once it’s full.
The ride takes at least 5 hours so make sure to arrive in the morning in Alvani. The cars mostly leave from the central crossroads which is impossible to miss.
Another possibility is to book a private transfer from Tbilisi to Tusheti. More info & prices here.
10. Sighnaghi
Georgia has its share of big cities and tourist attractions but what’s really special about the country are the small towns. Sighnaghi is one of them.
Some of the best food & wine in Georgia, beautiful tiny streets and houses with colorful wooden balconies, breathtaking views over the Alazani valley, the smell coming from the bakeries, a variety of fancy castles and small family-owned wine cellars and vineyards.
Day trips to Sighnaghi:
Sighnaghi is known for having some of the best wine producers in Georgia. Going on a day tour from Tbilisi to Sighnaghi will not only allow you to see the highlights of this beautiful town but you’ll also get to taste some of the best wines in Georgia (and you’ll arrive safely back in Tbilisi afterward):
How to get to Sighnaghi:
It’s quite easy to get to Sighnaghi from Tbilisi by public transport. Take the minibus to Sighnaghi at the Samgori Metro Station in Tbilisi. The ride takes about 1 hour 45 minutes and it costs 6 GEL.
Where to stay in Sighnaghi:
There are many lovely guesthouses in Sighnaghi. You can already find a room for $15/night for 2 people. If you travel by yourself, you can find a bed in a dorm for $8/night:
- Hostels and guesthouses for less than €20/night:
- Hotels and guesthouses for less than €50/night:
- Luxury Hotels and guesthouses for more than €50/night:
11. Shatili Khevsureti
Shatili Khevsureti is a mysterious medieval fortress village, surrounded by huge green mountains. Be sure that the diversity of the scenery will amaze any traveler and inspire incurable travel lust in everyone.
Modern life hasn’t penetrated this region in Georgia yet. Locals put all of their efforts into pleasing their guests, assuring that they are always comfortable and happy.
During important feasts, the local people put on their folk costumes and go to the church where ancient pagan traditions, mixed with Christian beliefs, are still being practiced.
Hiking Tour to Shatili
Shatili is a destination for outdoor and hiking lovers! As it’s not so easy to get there and navigate the trails by yourself, I’d recommend going on a hiking tour with a professional guide.
On my 14-day Best of Georgia Trekking Adventure, you’ll visit the highlights of the Khevsureti region (including Shatili) and Tusheti (see above). You’ll go on off-the-beaten-path hikes in both regions. It’s a tour that gets highly rated!
Discover Georgia’s Highlights or go on a unique Georgia Trekking Adventure to Tusheti, Racha, Vardzia, Katskhi and Chiatura on one of my Georgia Adventure Tours!
How to get to Shatili:
Shatili is about 140 km north of Tbilisi. Because of the snow, the road is only accessible from May to October.
Since you have to cross the Datvijvari pass, I highly recommend taking a minibus from Didube Metro station (it costs about $15), or renting a 4X4 car with an experienced local driver, because the road is unpaved and dangerous.
Where to stay in Shatili:
There are currently just a couple of guesthouses in Shatili. Check their availability here. There are also plenty of camping areas close to the river.
12. Juta
Juta is the most peaceful and green place in Georgia and one of the most popular climbing and trekking areas among professional climbers. There are also many equally pleasant walks to be done around the village.
Day Tour to Juta
The easiest way to reach Juta is by going on a guided day tour from Tbilisi or Kazbegi. Here are two tours I recommend:
From Tbilisi to Juta:
From Kazbegi to Juta:
How to get to Juta:
There are no buses going directly from Tbilisi to Juta.
You can take a minibus from Didube Station in Tbilisi to Stepantsminda for only 10 GEL ($4 – $5). The journey takes around 3 hours. Once you’re in Stepantsminda you can rent a Delica or any other 4×4 car to reach Juta, which is 24 km away. This will cost around 80 GEL.
Where to stay in Juta:
Whether you’re looking for a nice camping spot or a beautiful wooden guest house to stay at, Juta will suit all your needs. Check their prices and availability here.
13. Kazbegi (Stepandsminda)
Kazbegi is really an amazing travel spot for every taste and budget. From luxury lovers to hitchhikers, everyone can find something here to his or her liking.
There are plenty of walks through the amazing valleys and one will lead you to the Gergeti Trinity Church, located at an altitude of 2170m.
On the way from Tbilisi to Kazbegi, along the Military Highway, you’ll pass the Ananuri Castle, the Jinvaly water reservoir, the Sto Head sculptures and the Russia-Georgia friendship monument.
How to get to Kazbegi:
You can take a minibus from Didube Station in Tbilisi to Stepantsminda for only 10 GEL ($4 – $5). The journey takes around 3 hours.
You can also go on a day tour from Tbilisi to Kazbegi and visit all the main sights in one day:
Where to stay in Kazbegi
You can put up your tent facing the stunningly beautiful Mount Kazbek (5047 m) and enjoy nature’s grand surroundings. If this is not your thing, there are plenty of guesthouses where you can book a room for 2 people starting from €20/night.
Here are my recommendations for Kazbegi:
- Anano Guesthouse (prices starting from €8 p.p.)
- Giorgi’s Guesthouse (starting from €18 p.p.)
- Wooden Hotel Kazbegi (starting from €30 p.p.)
14. Martvili Canyon
Martvili is located in the Samegrelo region in the western part of Georgia, about 280km from Tbilisi. Despite its remote location, it’s one of the more popular places to visit in Georgia.
The Martvili Canyon is a little oasis of emerald green mossy trees, 70-meters high rock walls, cascading waterfalls and turquoise-blue natural pools.
The Canyon used to serve as the bathing place for the Dadiani Family, Georgian nobles who used to rule over Samegrelo.
You can take a boat ride down the 300-meter long river through the canyon (for USD $15 per person) or follow the 700-meter long walking path leading to limestone bridges and viewing decks where you can see the waterfalls up close.
Martvili Canyon is a National Park of Protected Area so you can only visit it during opening hours (from 10 am until 6 pm). The entrance fee is 17,5 Gel (around USD $6).
You can also book the following day trip from Tbilisi, Kutaisi or Batumi to the Martvili Canyon:
How to get to Martvili Canyon from Tbilisi:
Minibusses leave every day from Tbilisi Didube bus station to Martvili (20 GEL).
Where to stay in Martvili:
Here are my 2 top recommendations for Martvili:
15. The Tea Route in Guria
Guria is one of the least-visited regions of Georgia, famous for its rich culture and natural wonders, including mineral waters, alpine meadows, green forests, and sandy beaches.
Here you can feel the real vibes of rural Georgia, catch a glimpse of the sun setting on the Black Sea, enjoy magnificent views, pick berries and mushrooms in the forest, and cuddle up by the campfire, wake to the faint hint of the early morning sunlight and enjoy the sweet sounds of nature.
Guria is also known for its tea fields. Plump wild blueberries hang like treasure in Guria’s mountains from July until September.
Oceans of wild blueberry bushes blanket the slopes. Each spring, families from mountainous villages across Western Georgia head into the forests and hillsides to pluck the young leaves of these bushes, as generations before them.
They hand roll the leaves to make wild blueberry leaf tea, a delicious tea that tastes like black tea with notes of blueberry.
If you decide to visit Guria, I highly recommend following its newly introduced Tea Route! I also recommend reading this in-depth travel guide to Guria.
Book a Tea tour in Guria
I highly recommend booking the guided day tour to Guria to follow the Tea Route and learn about the interesting history and tea culture in Georgia:
How to get to Guria
The best place to get to Guria is Ozurgeti, the main municipality of the region.
There’s a train from Tbilisi to Ozurgeti, which departs in the early morning (check the train schedule here). It takes about 9 hours to get to Ozurgeti as it’s an old slow train (but worth the journey and experience!) Tickets cost between 10 to 35 GEL and can be bought online or at the station.
You can also take a marshrutka (minivan) from every major town and city in Georgia to Ozurget. From Tbilisi, the journey takes around 6 hours.
Where to stay in Guria:
You can find many nice guesthouses in the region of Guria. Here are some I recommend:
Are there any places you would add to this list? Are you having plans to travel to Georgia? Let me know in the comments!
Related Posts:
Kazbegi Travel Guide 2026: Best things to do, Hiking Trails & Essential Tips to visit Kazbegi, Georgia
How to visit Tusheti National Park, Georgia’s most beautiful and remote region
Georgia Itinerary – 3 Great Travel Itineraries to see the best of Georgia (country)
The Complete Svaneti Georgia Travel Guide – 21 Things to do in the Wild Heart of the Caucasus Mountains
How to get to the Chronicles of Georgia in Tbilisi
The Complete Georgia Travel Guide: 19 Useful Things you should know for backpacking in Georgia in 2026
More Georgia Travel resources
- Guide to Tbilisi, Georgia’s capital city
- Visit the 15 most beautiful and unique places in Georgia
- Plan your trip with these 3 awesome Georgia travel itineraries
- Discover the Chronicle of Georgia, Tbilisi’s hidden gem
- Guide to Batumi, Georgia’s most quirky beach city
- Hiking in Georgia: 7 beautiful off-the-beaten path hikes
- Visiting ghosts of the past in Chiatura, the cable car city of Georgia
- Visit Katskhi Pillar, the most incredible cliff church in the world
- Travel Guide to Vardzia, the ancient cave city of Georgia
- Visit Svaneti, the wild heart of Georgia
- Visit Tusheti, Georgia’s most remote region
- Visit these 10 beautiful historical places in Georgia
- Everything you need to know about skiing in Georgia
- 10 Georgian dishes you absolutely have to try
- Georgia, motherland of wine
- From Past to Present, a guide to Georgian Tea
The line about ‘the additional hangover’ made me smile—it’s such an honest, playful nod to the feasts Georgia is known for, and it captures the warmth and generosity of the culture without glossing over the messy
I just found some great flight deals to Georgia, but I honestly had no idea what the country looked like … but thank you for this post, it was really helpful and made me want to go!
Anaïs
Hello Anaïs, I’m very happy to hear this! You can find more blog posts and guides for Georgia to help you prepare your trip. When would you go? Best wishes,Cynthia
I’ve been traveling to Georgia about three times a year since 2022, and have been able to visit many of the places listed in this article. Georgia is truly a wonderful place to visit. If you need translation to English, find English speaking tour guides when visiting historic sites (pretty much everywhere is a historic site) as you’ll learn amazing details you otherwise might miss. Go see the church where the robe worn by Jesus is believed to be buried and the massive cave in Kutaisi…the large cave city was one of my favorite places to visit along with paired paragliding in Kazbegi. There are many amazing places to visit in Georgia and the people are very welcoming. Make friends and roast salted pork on skewers over dried grape vines in Telavi…you’ll create many good memories in Georgia and the younger crowd know English and will help you if you get lost. The food is the best too!
Interesting website with a lot of info. Thanks.
Google maps lists to cave towns named Vardzia.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/CnLGbeu2LWfK8m3J7
https://maps.app.goo.gl/fZAxgEMLevQgtwsC6
They are at totally different locations.
One is near little village Gogasheni, in the Mtkvari Canyon
The other near Lakhundara and Achara.
Are they both cave towns?
Which is the one you describe?
Kind regards
Frank
Hi Frank, here’s the correct location of the Vardzia Caves, the one I describe. Google Maps isn’t always accurate in Georgia…
Hi Dear,
We are planning our visit in the upcoming month of October ( end of October around 25th Oct) and will be there for a week. Can you tell us the must-cover places and also what would be weather out there? I and my husband are visiting and we would love to see the village, nature, its culture, wine history etc
Hi Pooja, if you have a week, I would highly recommend visiting Svaneti as it will be beautiful in autumn. It’s hard to predict the weather but definitely bring warm clothes for the evenings. For wine history, you should visit Telavi and Sighnaghi in the Kakheti region.
Thanks, Cynthia, We were thinking of covering Kazbegi and Juta in the mountain region instead of Svaneti, what do you suggest among the two?
If you want to go to a less-visited mountainous area, then Juta will be nice. Svaneti is stunning with its tower houses and the mountains there are also very beautiful but more touristy.
Hi this is an excellent post…I’m planning to visit Georgia around Middle of March for around 6 to 7 days..Could you please suggest a good itinerary…would love to have a village stay n visit some important places..thank you
Hi Santosh, I’m happy to refer you to my Georgia Itinerary Post. Check out the backpacker’s route and cultural route for itinerary inspiration. Hope this helps!
I am visiting Georgia for 4 days in first week of May.
Could you please let me know what are the places I can cover. (mostly by public transport)
Also if you can share me a map with all the public transport route. That would be appreciated.
Hi Souvik, this itinerary might help you: https://www.journalofnomads.com/georgia-itinerary/
Hello Cynthia,
I would like to ask you for help.
Me and my partner are planning to visit Georgia by july 2023 for 10 days, may you please recommend us some towns or cities to visit that include historical places, bridges, natural, restaurants and shopping places.
Thank You for your help
Hello Mariam,
Please see my Georgia Itinerary as this guide will give you lots of ideas and recommendations on what to do in Georgia for 10 days! If anything isn’t clear, let me know 🙂 Best wishes, Cynthia
Hi dear we are visiting Georgia in December month end.
Do you have any recommendation of city to spend on? We have 7 nights.
Hi Serene,
What would you mainly like to see and do? Are you more interested in big cities, small towns or nature? Depending on your preferences, I can give you recommendations 🙂
nice article…is it possible to visit all these places during December? or any places to avoid during this month?
Thank you! Not all these places are accessible during December, like Tusheti and certain villages in Svaneti, due to snowfall.
Hi, I am planning to visit georgia in the month of noenjoyvember for 7 to 9 days with wife and 2 daughters (5 yrs and 8 month old).We are looking for calm short vaccation,so we would like to stay at places were we can enjoy the nature peacefully.can you suggest some places, thank you.
Hi Ajmal, have a look at this post: https://www.journalofnomads.com/georgia-travel-itinerary/ It includes 3 itineraries with places that you’ll enjoy! On the top of my head, I’d suggest Kazbegi and Sighnaghi.
Thanks a lot
This post is really helpful
Was planning to put a schedule for the last few days & find it difficult
But your review make the life easy
Happy to hear this Aalaa!!
Hii
I am also planning to travel georgia in the month of July.
Will I be able to see Ice and I have only 4 days and places are more. What best I can do in this short span visit. Can you suggest.
Hi Ruchika, to answer your question, it depends on what you’d like to see/do. I’m not sure if you’re still going to be able to see ice and snow as it probably will all have melted by July. Would you like to go to the mountains, do you want to see historic places and/or cities,…? Let me know and I can give you suggestions 🙂
Just tripped over this and I love the info. Well done! I’m a “young” active 65 year old looking to start traveling alone to places more intriguing than Paris or Rome( which I love ,but…)
Tbilisi is a great and safe city to visit by yourself Sourab! 🙂
Hi Cynthia,
Thanks for this list!! My husband and I are planning to spend 6 weeks in Georgia this summer, and we’re looking for a home-base that will provide a balance of culture and nature. Preferably a historic town or village, with restaurants within walking distance, where we can work from home and which will be a good base for weekend hiking adventures. We love good food, (we REALLY love Georgian wine), and we love hard hikes in high altitude.
There are so many interesting places in Georgia, we are having a hard time narrowing our search. We’d appreciate your recommendation!
Hi Aubrey, I’m happy to hear this post was useful!
What I would recommend in your situation is to spend 2 weeks in a different region. F.eg. 2 weeks in Sighnaghi (you’ll love it there as a wine lover ;)), 2 weeks in Kazbegi and 2 weeks in Mestia (Svaneti). I’d highly recommend Omalo in Tusheti for the hiking opportunities but I assume you need internet for your work? There should be a decent enough wifi connection in the 3 towns I recommended (except if you’re an online teacher, then I’d recommend Tbilisi, Kutaisi and Batumi to have fast internet :)).
I hope this helps? Let me know if you’d have more questions!
THANK YOU Cynthia!!
XOXO
Aubrey
Great article! Traveling is awesome in Georgia! I lived in Batumi for several months and visited Tbilisi often, too. Only 5 hours by train, super easy! 🙂 It seems like – long-term – these are two most popular cities to live, or would you recommend another city where it is fun to stay for a few months? thanks a lot!
Hi Lana, glad to hear you enjoyed my article!
I think that Tbilisi and Batumi are probably the most fun cities to live for expats who like social activities and events. It really depends on what you’re looking for of course.
Sighnaghi is beautiful and, as I’m an outdoor lover, I wouldn’t mind living for a while in f.eg. Mestia (Svaneti) as I’d be so close to the mountains!:)
We have visited Georgia last year and rented a 4×4 Toyota 4Runner at GSS Car Rental. It’s a local company and they have a lot of other 4×4 SUV’s available for rent. I can recommend GSS as they have a really good service…
Thank you for your suggestion Viktor!
Just want to say thanks, this website Inspired my travels to Georgia last year. I used these details base from my travels and went to 10 of the 15 places recommended (they were amazing). Some prices had gone up slightly but most of the information was still relevant. Not many websites have practical details on how to get around and expected prices to pay which was useful. thanks 🙂
Hi Kim, I’m so happy to hear this! I’m very glad that my website inspired your travels and super happy you had a great time there!
thanks for this topic
You’re welcome 🙂
Hello!
Great blog post – Very informative.
What is the weather in Georgia (mainly Tbilisi) like in April? I have read different accounts online, but since you live there, I thought you’d have a very localized perspective.
Thank you!!
Hi Mikhail, we currently don’t live in Georgia anymore but we’ll return there this April 😀
There will still be snow in the mountains in April but the weather should be nice in Tbilisi. Some showers, soft temperatures around 15 degrees Celcius,… Of course we’re not weathermen and lately, the climate has been very unusual so we can’t predict how the weather will be this year 😉
I had never been to Georgia. But after reading this article I would love to go and visit destinations you have mentioned above.
Hi John, this is really great to hear! Georgia is a destination we definitely recommend as we had a fantastic time there visiting all these beautiful and unique places!
Hey, great post! Just one correction. Tbilisi was established in the 5th century but there wasn’t a Georgia to be capital of. It’s been a capital of Georgia since 12th century (1122). It would be great if you corrected that.
And one question, how is the weather for visiting in early May?
Hi, can I ask for the source of this info please?
From the resources I found is that Tbilisi was the capital of Iberia (present-day eastern Georgia) at the beginning of the 6th century, so according to my sources, this info is correct 🙂
The weather in early May is nice, it will still be chilly in the mountains but it will be nice and soft in Tbilisi, Batumi,…
How is March 15-30 , in terms of travelling to Georgia? Will it be very cold and will most places be inaccessible?
Hi Sana,
It will still be cold in Georgia in March but most places should be accessible, with the exception of Tusheti and maybe Racha.
Hi!
we are traveling to Poti, Georgia to visit family. We want to stop in Tbilisi as well. Are there any cities that you would recommend visiting in between Poti and Tbilisi?
Hi Agata,
Depending on how much time you have, you could visit Kutaisi, Chatura, the Katskhi Pillar, Borjomi and Mtskheta.
Wishing you a great trip!
The list is amazing and awesome, It is just wonderful getting knowledge about these beautiful places and will definitely add it in my bucket list. All these places and pictures look amazing!
Thank you 🙂 Georgia is definitely worthy of your bucket list 😉
A chic country with amazing nature and very hospitable people. Food, wine, music … Thanks for your story. Very beautiful photos.
Hi Tori, glad to hear you enjoyed my photos and article. And yes, Georgia is such a great country. We’re going to return soon!
Hi Cynthia & niko
Amazing post with Detials , going through your post I am confused where to go, I need your suggestion, I want to stay in nature (green fields ) and star gaze at night, where do you suggest.?
I am planning to go on November for maximum 7 days
Hi Wahdawi, thank you! I’m glad to hear you enjoy this post!
If you want nature, go to Kazbegi or Svaneti. The road towards these places will still be accessible in November and you’ll see plenty of green fields and stars there!
Enjoy your trip!!
I also enjoyed myself while I was visiting this kind of places.
Happy to hear Marckel!
addendum to Susie & Katie last query– we are now actually wondering if yo could advise us on our dream itinerary, with the intent of knowing if it is realistic for us to think we can drive a 4WD and not do marshrutki (of course we know that some smaller roads will be closed if there are blizzards and/or avalanches)
Day 1: Arrive Tblisi
Day 2 & 3: in Tblisi
Day 4: Drive to Vardzia cave city
Day 6: drive to Kutaisa
Day 7: to Ushguli
Day 9: to Kazbegi
Day 13: to Tblisi, seeing Mtskheta en route
Day 14:Tblisi
Day 15: day trip Davit Gareja
Day 17: home from Tblisi
Hi Susie & Katie, it might be possible that the road from Mestia to Ushguli won’t be accessible during December and January. You’ll be able to drive to Mestia and ask around in the town if the road to Ushguli is open. Same counts for Kazbegi. Just take your time to drive there as it might be very slippery and dangerous on the windy roads. If you’re not sure about the road conditions, ask the locals. They’ll be able to tell you whether it’s safe or not to go.
Wishing you happy and safe travels in Georgia! It will be beautiful and magical in winter!
hello! we are planing a trip to Georgia this December/January and we are finding your website very interesting indeed! We have one question– we take a lot of trips and love to rent a car to have the freedom to come and go as we please. We think this will be fine on the big main roads in Georgia with a 4-WD . However we would like to know if you can tell us about the smaller roads and a 4WD. For example, we would like to spend a few days in Tblisi then rent a car and go to Vardzia cave monastery. It looks like the road would be find for 4WD to Akhaltsihe but from there to Vardzia? We see there is a marshrutka f or that last leg but that would mean getting there intme for that or spending another day. So in short, can you say anything about driving on Georgia roads in winter with a 4WD?
Thanks,
Susie & Katie
Hi Susie & Katie,
You’ll be fine driving on most roads in Georgia during the winter. The main thing you’ll have to watch out for are the other drivers 😉 :D. The Georgians can drive a bit crazy on the roads (they love speeding and overtaking in the most impossible places) but it should be fine for you to drive. If you’re planning on going into the mountains, just make sure you have snow tires and be careful for slippery roads. Wishing you a great trip!!
I’m getting prepared for running the marathon in Erbil in October.
On the way there I’ll need to train. Where do you recommend to run in
Georgia? My idea for my 20 km training was Batumi. What do you think?
Hi Diana, I’m not familiar with the marathon in Erbil so I’m not sure on which terrain you have to run there. But the boulevard in Batumi is definitely a nice place for running! Niko often went for a morning run when we were living there so I’d say you’ll enjoy your training there. Wishing you all the best with the marathon!!
Really very nice !
Thank you Hussain! 🙂
Name of the river in Tbilisi is MTKVARI not kura !!!!
Hi Natia, as you can read, I’ve mentioned that the river in Tbilisi is called Mtkvari and that it’s also known as the Kura river.
KURA it is in russian language and thats why I said so Mtkvari it is in Georgian language. thanks for your reply and attention.
Tbilisi is one of the best places to visit in Georgia middle in the country nice place, I have been there the food is very much delicious and you will find new and unique recipes I might advice do try if you love food.
Yes, we totally agree with you Kanika! The food in Georgia and Tbilisi is finger-licking-delicious!! Tbilisi is also a really fun city to explore!
It sounds like you had a great time there :)!
What a fabulous list, just thinking about the landscape and the food of Georgia wants me to go back!
Thank you Sarah! Yes, those are definitely two great reasons to return to Georgia! Ever since our stay there, we always look out for a Georgian restaurant, haha!
There’s a Korean program called “Wizard of Nowhere” that sent six celebrities to Georgia to meet the people while trying their homemade wine and cheese. Watching that show is what eventually led me to your site. Maybe someday I’ll be able to visit these beautiful places.
Hi Jenny, I never heard about this Korean program but I suppose it must be very entertaining to watch! 😀
I hope you get the chance to visit Georgia one day as it’s an absolutely beautiful destination!! We’ll return one day, that’s for sure!
I am surprised you did not put info on Prometheus Cave – I thought it is gorgeous ;)…
Hi Rati, we also visited the Prometheus Cave and it’s indeed very beautiful! We’ve seen similar caves like this one in other countries and this list is about the unique places that you can only find in Georgia 🙂 But you’re right, the Prometheus Cave is also worth a visit!
We had a project in Social Studies about Asia, and my assigned country happens to be Georgia, it was a total help and made me more interested with this country! Thanks a lot 🙂
Hi Jenel, oh, that’s really cool! When are you going to Georgia and what is your project about?
Sorry to interrupt you . But Georgia is thought to be Europe or else the gate between Europe and Asia it;s not Asia <3
I love mtskheta and I find it very beautiful, especially because of the cuisine.
Hi Denis, Mtskheta is indeed a very special place! What was your favorite dish there? Any recommendations for other travelers where they can enjoy the local cuisine in Mtskheta?
Hey guys !
Thank you for sharing these amazing tips . It definitely made our research easier and provided us with some sort of confidence in pulling this through.
Just about to plan a little 5 day escapade to Georgia 😍… its not long but we’re hoping to enjoy the scenery, green sights , some good long hikes and in general nature with a splash of monuments and hystorical sights on the way . My Bf and I are planning to rent a 4×4 and drive through . Maybe get a guesthouse for a bit of comfort at some point but otherwise car attached 😁. I saw u had an itinerary you were planning to post a link for .. any chance you can share that ?
Thanks again and happy safe travels ahead of you !
Hi Carmen, it’s great to hear from you and I’m very happy to hear you enjoyed this article!
Traveling in Georgia by car is a fun way to explore the country but be careful, not for the windy roads but for the other drivers 😉
Here’s the link to the itineraries, you’ll be able to pick out the places you want to see in those 5 days you’re there: https://www.journalofnomads.com/travel-itineraries-georgia/
Have a beautiful trip and don’t hesitate to contact me if you have more questions!
Very nice article. Come back to see Racha! Should be the 16th if not before on the list 🙂
Thank you Teo and yes, we’d love to go back to Georgia! There are still so many amazing places we have to visit there!
Awesome post. Can’t wait now to explore this beautiful place. I will definitely like to plan a trip this vacation so that even my family can enjoy it.Keep sharing such useful posts.
Thank you Monica! I’m currently working on several travel itineraries for Georgia which I’ll publish in the coming week. Georgia is a wonderful country and there are so many things to see and do there! I’m sure you’ll enjoy it as much as Niko and I did 🙂 Happy travels!!
Good to see Indian Replying and reading articles.
I think you’ve got just about everything covered here. I can’t think of any place to add! Maybe hiking in Lagodekhi? Or something about wine harvest…
Thanks, great to hear that 🙂 Oh yes, Lagodekhi looks very beautiful! We’ll visit that area in the coming month before leaving Georgia. Maybe we’ll call this article ’16 amazing places’ 😉
Great article. We’ve been meaning to return to Georgia and you’ve just given us 11 new reasons why. 😉
Thanks Tim! Haha, glad to hear that. Did you already book your trip? 😉
Really wonderful article! Thank you all for loving and appreciating my country. In rhe beginning of this article , there was mentioned that in Georgia there are many beautiful and amazing places and it’s true! I would add to this list “Prometheus Cave” which is located in Imereti Region, near Tzkaltubo. Also in Samegrelo Region you must visit lake “Tobavarchkhili”. And of course Tusheti Region! Tusheti is the Eastern Caucasus, at 900 – 4 800 meters above sea leveland it is one of the biggest and high altitude parks on the territory of Europe. This is the places which suddenly came in my mind. But believe me there are also many wonderful places to visit. Best wishes 😉
Thank you Tamar! <3
There are so many wonderful places in Georgia that it was hard to make a selection for a post and not write a book 😉 Thank you for your recommendations Tamar! We heard about Tusheti but haven't made it there yet. We hope to visit the area before leaving Georgia!!
Really awesome practical info and great pics! Can’t wait to get back to Georgia and see more of the country!
Thank you Megan! When did you visit Georgia? Did you go to any of the places that are mentioned in the post?
Super useful stuff. Will definitely try to visit all of these once we’re back in Georgia. Thanks a lot!
Thanks guys! Are you planning on returning to Georgia soon? I’m sure you’ll love Chiatura (watch out with the chacha this time 😉 )!