Things to do in Georgia: best places to visit
Georgia in one sweep: old Tbilisi with Narikala Fortress, the sulphur baths and the Bridge of Peace; Mtskheta's Jvari and Svetitskhoveli half an hour away; Gelati and Bagrati Cathedral in Kutaisi; the seafront boulevard and the Ali and Nino statue in Batumi; and the spa park of Borjomi.
Sights in Georgia
50 places in 5 cities
Abanotubani Sulphur Baths
Tbilisi, Georgia
1 h 30 min≈ Private room ≈ 50–250 GEL/hourhistorywaterwalks
Itineraries across Georgia
City itineraries in Georgia
Georgia travel guide
Before you go: where to go, visa and money, getting around, weather by month, food and wine.
Georgia on your own: the essentials
- Visa
- Visa-free for many passports, often up to a year
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Currency
- Georgian lari (GEL); cards widely accepted
- First trip
- Tbilisi, Mtskheta and Kazbegi; Batumi in summer
- When to go
- April–June and September–October; the sea July–September
- How many days
- A week: Tbilisi, Mtskheta, Kakheti and Kutaisi
- Time zone
- UTC+4 all year
officiali
Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Key facts
Sourcei
UNESCO World Heritage ListSourcei
UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, 2013Sourcei
Wikipedia, “Mount Kazbek”Sourcei
UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, 2016Best places to visit in Georgia
For a first trip, give Tbilisi three days with day trips to Mtskheta and Kazbegi. For the sea, Batumi from July to September. Caves and canyons are around Kutaisi; mineral springs and mountains in Borjomi. Every place with its YesGo score is in the list above; the “Map” button shows them on a map.
| Tbilisi | Old town, sulphur baths, wine | Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct |
|---|---|---|
| Batumi | The sea, boulevard, gardens | Jul–Sep |
| Kutaisi | Gelati, caves, canyons | Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct |
| Mtskheta | Jvari and Svetitskhoveli — UNESCO | Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct |
| Borjomi | Spa park, springs, national park | May–Oct |
Also popular: Kazbegi, Kakheti with Sighnaghi, Svaneti and Vardzia — we will cover them next. Ready trips around the country are above on this page.
Georgia visa and currency
Citizens of many countries — including the EU, UK, US and Canada — can enter Georgia visa-free, often for up to a year. The currency is the Georgian lari (GEL); cards are accepted almost everywhere in cities, with cash useful in villages and markets.
Check the current entry rule for your passport on Georgia’s official government site before you travel.
Restaurant bills often include a 10–18% service charge; check before adding a tip.
Getting around Georgia
Trains and minibuses link the cities, but the most convenient way is a car with a driver or a rental: mountain roads are spectacular, and many sights are hard to reach without one.
- Train — Tbilisi ↔ Batumi ≈ 5–6 h, Tbilisi ↔ Kutaisi ≈ 3–4 h.
- Minibuses — from Didube and Tbilisi station to every town.
- Car — rent or hire a driver for Kazbegi, Kakheti and the canyons.
- Flights — airports in Tbilisi, Kutaisi and Batumi.
Georgia weather by month
The best time to visit Georgia is April–June and September–October — warm, not hot. Summer in Tbilisi passes 30 °C; Batumi on the coast is humid and often rainy. Winter in Tbilisi is mild, with snow in the mountains. Below is Tbilisi.
TbilisiiLong-term averages, °C: day and night air, sea water near the shore, rain — rainy days a month. Any given year can be warmer or cooler. Tap a month for details below. | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day | 7° | 9° | 14° | 19° | 24° | 29° | 32° | 31° | 27° | 20° | 13° | 8° |
| Night | -1° | 0° | 4° | 8° | 12° | 17° | 20° | 20° | 15° | 10° | 4° | 0° |
| Rain | 5 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 13 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 |
Warm — 20 °C and above by dayBest time to go: April–May and September–October
- day ≈ 7°
- night ≈ -1°
- rain 5 days
Mild winter, about 7°. Skiing in the mountains.
- day ≈ 9°
- night ≈ 0°
- rain 6 days
Cool, few tourists.
- day ≈ 14°
- night ≈ 4°
- rain 8 days
Spring, orchards in bloom.
- day ≈ 19°
- night ≈ 8°
- rain 10 days
Warm and green — city time.
- day ≈ 24°
- night ≈ 12°
- rain 13 days
Warm, with showers. The mountains open up.
- day ≈ 29°
- night ≈ 17°
- rain 10 days
Hot, the beach season begins.
- day ≈ 32°
- night ≈ 20°
- rain 7 days
Hot in Tbilisi, the sea in Batumi.
- day ≈ 31°
- night ≈ 20°
- rain 6 days
Hot and dry. Mountains and the sea.
- day ≈ 27°
- night ≈ 15°
- rain 6 days
Warm, the wine season begins.
- day ≈ 20°
- night ≈ 10°
- rain 6 days
Grape harvest — the best month for Kakheti.
- day ≈ 13°
- night ≈ 4°
- rain 6 days
Cool. Baths, wine and museums.
- day ≈ 8°
- night ≈ 0°
- rain 5 days
About 8°, a festive Tbilisi.
Each city page has its own weather: Batumi is wetter and more humid, Borjomi cooler.
Georgian food and wine
Georgian food is a reason to come in itself: khinkali, khachapuri, mtsvadi kebabs, pkhali and cheeses. Wine is made in qvevri — clay jars buried in the ground, a method on UNESCO’s list.
- Khinkali & khachapuri — everywhere, with regional versions.
- Wine — saperavi, rkatsiteli, kisi; Kakheti is the place for tastings.
- Churchkhela — nuts dipped in grape juice, the best edible souvenir.
Tips
- Hire a driver for a day for the mountains and Kakheti — the roads are winding.
- In churches, cover shoulders and knees; women cover their hair.
- Exchange money in town rather than at the airport.
FAQ
Do I need a visa for Georgia?
Many nationalities, including EU, UK, US and Canadian citizens, can visit visa-free, often for up to a year. Check the rule for your passport before you go.
What currency is used in Georgia?
The Georgian lari (GEL). Cards are widely accepted in cities; carry some cash for villages and markets.
Is Georgia safe for tourists?
Georgia is generally considered safe and welcoming for visitors; take the usual precautions and check your government’s travel advice for border areas.
What are the best places to visit in Georgia?
Tbilisi, Mtskheta, Kazbegi, Kakheti’s wine country, Kutaisi with its caves and canyons, Borjomi and, in summer, Batumi on the Black Sea.
When is the best time to visit Georgia?
April–June and September–October; October adds the grape harvest. July–September for the beach in Batumi.
Sources and fact-check
- UNESCO World Heritage List — sites in Georgia; UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage (2013, 2016)
- Wikipedia, “Georgia (country)”; “Mount Kazbek”; Tbilisi climate (1991–2020 normals)
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia — visa-free entry