Georgia is yet an undiscovered gem in the Caucasus region. Nestled right in between Asia and Europe. This lovely country lets you explore the authentic lifestyle of Georgians, as well as carries Europe’s modernism, being so close by. Georgia offers you all the things a traveler could want – ancient city ruins, amazing mountains, beautiful beaches and, most importantly, delicious food, wine, and, for the brave drinkers, chacha. In this Georgia travel itinerary, you’ll find all the necessary information to get you ready for your Georgia trip, keep reading!

 

Georgia Travel Itinerary

Tbilisi – 2 Days

The capital of Georgia is definitely a place of contrasts. One moment you are walking across the Bridge of Peace and later you are eating khachapuri in one of many ancient cafes around the city. While in Tbilisi you must visit the Old Town and wander around its little streets packed with colorful houses. Local people will wander around the narrow streets and greet you with a smile. Make sure to visit Holy Trinity Cathedral, it is just gorgeous! Also, while exploring Tbilisi, do not miss Rustaveli Avenue and Liberty Square. Statue of Mother of Georgia,  Mtatsminda Park, and Dry Bridge Flea Market are also places to include in your Georgia itinerary. This city is full of cool things to do so we have made a separate Tbilisi Travel Guide, where you can learn more about the best places to visit in Tbilisi.

 

 

Mtskheta Ancient Capital of Eastern Georgia – 1/2 – 1 Day

Most likely your Georgia travel itinerary will start in Tbilisi as the biggest airport is located in the capital. Thus, while exploring Tbilisi, you have to take a day (or even a half-day) trip to Mtskheta. It was the ancient capital of Eastern Georgia Kingdom and still carries a majestic and authentic feeling. We suggest starting your trip with the visit to Jvary Monastery. From the top, you will be awarded a great view of two rivers Mtkvari and Aragvi coming together. Afterward, just take a walk around the beautiful town and get to know its anciency.

You can easily get to Mtskheta from Tbilisi by marshrutka or taxi from Didube station. You can hail any of the marshrutkas nearby the main marketplace. In fact, drivers will try to catch you even before you catch them. If not, just ask the first local “marshrutka Mtskheta” and he will point you in the right direction. Georgians are very helpful and happy to help out a tourist.  The ride to Mtskheta will take only 20 minutes and cost 1 GEL (0.35 EUR). A bargain, isn’t it? If you decide in favor of a taxi, always negotiate the price and haggle at least 35% down to what the driver has initially asked.

 

 

Sighnaghi – The City of Romance – 1 Day

If you are a romantic person you should take a day trip to Sighnaghi. It is the most romantic town in Georgia and it makes you fall in love again and again – both with your significant other and the town itself. You should visit even if you are not a romance geek!  This town is located in the Kakheti region which is known as the wine region of Georgia. While wandering around the town you should see Bodbe Monastery, Sighnaghi City Wall, Kvelatsminda Church, and Gremi. Besides that, if you are in the region make sure to visit one of the wineries. The winemakers will happily invite you for a tasting. And let us tell you, Georgian wines are very famous across Russia and Europe. Georgia is a wine lovers’ paradise!

Signaghi is easily accessible from Tbilisi by marshrutka from Samgori station in Tbilisi.  The ride to Sighnaghi cost only 6 GEL (2 EUR/ $2.30). Marshrutkas start their service at 9 am and continue until 6 pm with a 2-hour interval. Also, you can arrange a private taxi which would be a great deal if you are at least 2 or 3 people traveling together.

 

 

Stepantsminda (commonly known as Kazbegi) – 1 Day

One could not imagine the Georgia Travel Itinerary without going to Kazbegi. It is one of the most iconic places to visit in Georgia due to its stunning views, nature, and hiking routes. While in Kazbegi, you should visit Gergeti Trinity Church and Gveleti Waterfall. If you are an experienced hiker, challenge yourself by climbing the Mount Kazbek. However, there are various hiking routes suitable for both experienced hikers and also beginners.

To get to Kazbegi from Tbilisi, you need to go to Didube station and take a marshrutka or taxi. The marshrutka will cost 10 Gel which is roughly 3.30 EUR or $4. The journey will take around 3 hours and there is no set schedule, for when the minivans leave. It fills up and hits the road. However, you will not have to wait longer than 20 minutes, usually.

 

 

If you want to know more about Kazbegi, have a look at our adventures:

 

Borjomi – 1 Day

One more iconic thing when thinking about Georgia is Borjomi water (at least for Europeans). Borjomi mineral water has a very unique taste like no other mineral water has. It is a bit more on the saltier and bubblier side. Linda’s father drinks ONLY Borjomi mineral water, he has proclaimed it the best in the world and it helps his digestion. (Oke, papa, you know better!) Well, guess what, the homeland of Borjomi mineral wonder drink is Georgia. So this Georgia Travel Itinerary continues by taking you to Borjomi – a small town located in the middle of Georgia. When visiting Borjomi, your must-see in Borjomi list should include the Borjomi Central Park, Mtsvane Monastery, and Gogia Fortress.

From Tbilisi, you can go to Borjomi by marshrutka from Didube station, train from Tbilisi central station or just as always by taxi. The marshrutka will cost you 7 Gel and leaves on every round hour starting at 6 am. The ride takes roughly 2 hours, to get from Tbilisi to Borjomi. 

 

 

Batumi – 1 Day

Batumi is a well-known resort town by the Black Sea in the Adjara region. It became extremely popular during the Soviet Union rule and still many people from Former Soviet Union countries love to visit Batumi. Nowadays, it has become much more modern with many spectacular buildings by the coastline. However, you can still taste ancient Georgia in food and drinks. Make sure to see the statue of Ali and Nino, Alphabetic Tower, Chacha Tower, Piazza Square, and Europe Square. Additionally, take a long walk down the Batumi Boulevard and take the Argo Cable Car to see the city from above. Make sure to visit Batumi Hilton Hotel as they always have great happy hour deals in the late afternoon as of 5 pm and the views from the rooftop bar are stunning! Who would we be if we would not recommend a good happy hour?

If you are going to Batumi from Tbilisi, the best way is taking the train as it is the quickest choice. It takes around 5 hours and costs around 9EUR (10USD).

 

 

We had a great Chacha tasting night in Batumi and we befriended amazing Georgian people, look how hospitable they are and how we down MANY Chacha shots: 

 

Svaneti Region

We forbid you to put together a Georgia Itinerary and not include the Svaneti region! Seriously, it is the most beautiful region of the country. Getting there might take a bit longer as roads are in different conditions. Yet, you should plan a couple of days for this region. Even on the way there, you will be astonished by the spectacular views. We have been to many mountainous countries before Georgia and still, we were amazed by the Svaneti region. The whole way up to the mountains was like driving through a fairytale.

 

 

Mestia – 3 Days

Mestia is the self-proclaimed capital of the Svanteni Region and is the most known city/village to foreign visitors. Unlike many little villages around, Mestia is quite touristy and full of cafes, hotels etc. And, there are few great hikes starting in Mestia, which include, Koruldi lakes and Chaladi glacier. If you don’t want to take a more than a one-day hike, you can use Mestia as your base and take several shorter day trips and hikes. We did that and visited several villages and did a couple of treks from there.

 

 

Watch our video hiking guide and Mestia to Ushguli route for more information:

 

Ushguli – Daytrip from Mestia

Ushguli is the highest permanently inhabited village in Europe and UNESCO world heritage site. Although it is located only 50km from Mestia, the ride there takes about 2 hours because of the bumpy road. We suggest to go to Ushguli early in the morning, explore the village and go back to Mestia in the evening. If you are lucky enough and the weather clear, you can see the Shkhara which is one of the highest Caucasian summits. Take a few hours hike and brace yourself (and your camera) for brilliant views! If you want to know more about the hike and get some photo information to have a look at this Ushguli Guide by a fellow traveler!

 

 

Mazeri – Daytrip from Mestia

Another way how to spend a day in Svaneti is to take a hike to Ushba glacier. To do that, you need to take a minibus to Mazeri from Mestia. You can hire a private driver or go with a group of people. From Mazeri village the hike takes 9 hours both ways. On the way, you will probably meet the border police but don’t be afraid, they will tell you that you should be down by the dark. Remember to be down by the dark, though! We can guarantee some more great shots on the way up if you are into photography like we are!

 

How to Get Around Georgia

 

To plan your Georgia Travel Itinerary it is important to know the means of transportation. Getting around Georgia is a very easy and very interesting experience. The most expensive choice is taking a train, which we recommend if you have a certain amount of days in Georgia. To get the real Georgian experience marshrutka is the word you should remember. It is a minibus which goes from one place to another, sometimes it follows a schedule while other times only when it is almost full. Unlike some more expensive countries, taking a taxi is also a good idea in Georgia.

Basically, prices vary depending on your negotiation skills. But, trust us, the prices are not high. Additionally, if you are up for an adventure most likely your driver will take you to his cousin’s wife’s brother grandmother to taste some wine or chacha and let you stay a night there. That’s how far Georgian hospitality extends!

 

 

Where to Stay

It is very easy to travel around Georgia on a budget. This is also true when it comes to choosing accommodation. As mentioned above, if you feel adventurous it is easy to get you a place to stay even if you just walk-in to a hotel or a guest house. However, if you are a crazy planner, as we are, book your place in advance! There are endless accommodation options in Georgia for every budget. Most of the accommodations are run by locals and built in a traditional Georgian style, we recommend opting for those!

 

Best Places to Stay in Georgia – Accommodation Guide

 

Is Georgia Safe to Travel to?

This probably is one of the most common questions we get asked when it comes to travel in Georgia. The question is not about putting together the perfect Georgia travel itinerary but rather is it safe to travel in Georgia. Drumroll please, the answer is YES. Georgia is extremely safe and Georgians are very warm-hearted and welcoming! However, you have to be cautious when walking around big cities in the night. We have covered travel safety in Georgia extensively in a video on our Youtube channel where we talk about our experiences and what you need to know before going to Georgia.

 

Summary

 

 

As Georgia is so gorgeous country, Linda came up with a new name for it – Gorgia! And it is not because she couldn’t pronounce Georgia’s name correctly, the country really is just stunning and amazes you by each and every view! If Georgia wasn’t on your bucket list, we hope after reading this Georgia Travel Itinerary it will get there ASAP! We haven’t been to such a diverse country with mountains, seaside and rich history so close to Europe, while very affordable! Perhaps you need to try something new and plan a budget trip to Georgia?