Travel guide from India

Georgia

Georgia sits in the Caucasus, between Russia to the north and Turkey to the south, with the Black Sea on its western edge. In a small area it fits glaciers and high peaks, dry wine valleys in the east and a subtropical coast, plus a long Christian history told in cliff churches and cave towns. Vegetarians eat well: the national tourism board calls the cuisine heaven for vegetarians and vegans, with dishes such as aubergine with walnuts, pkhali made from greens and cheese-filled khachapuri, though strict vegetarianism is less familiar, so ask whether a dish has meat.

Best time: May–Jun, Sep–Oct
First trip: 8–12 nights
Visa: e-Visa, 30 days
Return flights: from ₹37,283 ●; Mumbai, checked in the last 48 h

Places to visit in Georgia

10 places in the order you would meet them on a first trip. Tap one for what to do there.

Tbilisi

City

The capital: domed sulphur baths, cobbled old-town lanes, clifftop churches, cafes, restaurants and wine bars.

3 nightsabout 30 min from Tbilisi airport

Tbilisi has been the centre of Georgian life for some fifteen centuries, and its name comes from tbili, Georgian for 'warm', after the hot springs that, legend says, persuaded King Vakhtang Gorgasali to found it. Old Tbilisi, on the Mtkvari river below the ruined walls of Narikala, is a small quarter of domed bathhouses, old balconies and cobbled lanes where Georgian Orthodox and Armenian churches stand near a mosque and two synagogues. The airport is about 17 km east of the centre.

What to do in Tbilisi

Sulphur baths of Abanotubani. Under the brick domes of the bath district, pools of naturally hot sulphur water have been in use since the 17th century, and a scrub and massage from an attendant is part of the experience.
Walk Old Tbilisi. Wander through Sololaki and the old town's lanes, past old-style balconies, art galleries and Anchiskhati, a 6th-century basilica and the oldest church in the city.
Metekhi church viewpoint. The church on a cliff above the river has a statue of the city's founder, King Vakhtang Gorgasali, in its courtyard, and from there you look out over the whole old town.
Funicular to Mtatsminda. The funicular climbs to Mtatsminda, the highest point above the city, where a park with rides and a Ferris wheel suits children and the views take in all of Tbilisi.
Eat meat-free, Georgian style. Order pkhali (greens mixed with walnuts), aubergine with walnut paste and cheese-filled khachapuri; in the Orthodox fasting periods, when the church asks believers to give up meat and fish, vegetarians find ordering easier still.

Sources: Georgia Travel (GNTA): Tbilisi, Georgia Travel (GNTA): Tbilisi sulfur baths, Georgia Travel (GNTA): Georgian delicious cuisine, Georgia Travel (GNTA): St. Nicholas Church at Narikala, Wikivoyage: Tbilisi, Wikivoyage: Georgia (country) (checked 14 Oct)

Mtskheta

HeritageDay trip

Georgia's ancient capital and religious heart, with UNESCO-listed churches where two rivers meet.

about 1 h from Tbilisi airport

Mtskheta, about 20 minutes' drive north of Tbilisi, was the capital of the ancient kingdom of Kartli, also called Iberia, and it was from here that Christianity was declared the state religion in the 4th century. It is still the seat of the Georgian Orthodox Church, and three of its churches are on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Most visitors come on a day trip from Tbilisi or stop on the way north to Kazbegi.

What to do in Mtskheta

Svetitskhoveli Cathedral. Rebuilt in the 11th century on the site of the country's first church, it is believed to hold Christ's robe and keeps the graves of Georgian kings; the name means 'life-giving pillar'.
Jvari Monastery. This 6th-century church on the hilltop across the river looks down on the meeting of the Mtkvari and Aragvi; the road up is too far and busy to walk, so take a taxi.
Samtavro. Legend says St Nino, who brought Christianity to Georgia, lived and prayed here, and the larger of its two churches holds the graves of King Mirian and his queen.
Browse the old street to the cathedral. The lane leading to Svetitskhoveli is lined with stalls of local crafts, wine and souvenirs, and cafes for a Georgian lunch.
Dress for church. Women are expected to cover their heads in Georgian churches, so carry a scarf, and ask before taking photos inside.

Sources: Georgia Travel (GNTA): Mtskheta, Georgia Travel (GNTA): Svetitskhoveli, Georgia Travel (GNTA): Jvari Monastery, Georgia Travel (GNTA): 4 seasons in Georgia, Georgia Travel (GNTA): UNESCO heritage in Georgia, Wikivoyage: Mtskheta, Wikivoyage: Georgia (country) (checked 14 Oct)

Kazbegi (Stepantsminda)

Hill country

Gergeti Trinity Church below Mount Kazbek, mountain walks and the drive up the Georgian Military Road.

1–2 nightsabout 3 h from Tbilisi airport

Stepantsminda, still widely known as Kazbegi, is a mountain town at about 1,740 m on the Georgian Military Road, around three hours north of Tbilisi and some 10 km short of the Russian border. Above it the 14th-century Gergeti Trinity Church stands alone on a ridge, with the snows of Mount Kazbek, a peak of more than 5,000 m, behind. It is chilly at night in every season and cold in winter, when snow can stay on the ground into April.

What to do in Kazbegi (Stepantsminda)

Gergeti Trinity Church. Reach the church on its ridge by a climb of more than 400 m on foot or by 4x4 taxi; modest clothes are expected and photography inside is not allowed.
Ananuri on the way. This fortress of walls, towers and churches, put up between the 14th and 18th centuries, looks over the turquoise Zhinvali reservoir and is a popular stop on the drive north.
Gveleti waterfalls. From Gveleti village, 7 km from town in the Dariali Gorge, a signposted walk leads to two waterfalls about 750 m apart, the larger roughly 30 m high.
Juta and the Sno valley. A jeep takes you up to Juta, a village in the Sno valley, for a day hike up the valley towards the high peaks.
Eat like a mountaineer. Try khinkali dumplings, which come with mushroom or cheese fillings as well as meat, or pkhlovana, the local khachapuri stuffed with vegetables.

Sources: Georgia Travel (GNTA): Stepantsminda (Kazbegi), Georgia Travel (GNTA): Gergeti Trinity Church, Georgia Travel (GNTA): Ananuri fortress, Georgia Travel (GNTA): Gveleti waterfall, Georgia Travel (GNTA): Gudauri, Wikivoyage: Kazbegi, Wikivoyage: Georgian Military Highway, Wikivoyage: Georgia (country) (checked 14 Oct)

Sighnaghi and Kakheti

Heritage

A walled hill town above the Alazani valley, the base for Kakheti's wine cellars and St Nino's grave at Bodbe.

1–2 nightsabout 2 h from Tbilisi airportBest Sep

Sighnaghi is a small hill town in Kakheti, Georgia's main wine region, about an hour and 40 minutes' drive east of Tbilisi. King Erekle II ringed it with walls in 1762 as a shelter from raiders, and its cobbled lanes and red roofs look across the Alazani valley to the snowy Greater Caucasus. Restored since 2007, it makes a good base for day trips to wineries, monasteries and Telavi.

What to do in Sighnaghi and Kakheti

Walk the town walls. The wall has 23 towers and six gates, the towers named after nearby villages, and a path along one stretch gives wide views over the Alazani valley.
Bodbe Monastery. A short drive or walk from town, this convent holds the grave of St Nino, who brought Christianity to Georgia in the 4th century, and is one of the country's most important places of pilgrimage.
Taste qvevri wine. Family-run cellars around Sighnaghi and Telavi pour wine fermented in qvevri, large clay jars, a method on UNESCO's intangible heritage list, often with a Kakhetian feast to go with it.
Sighnaghi Museum. Its upstairs gallery holds paintings by the folk painter Niko Pirosmani, and the ground floor shows archaeological finds, many of them from the area.
Telavi and Tsinandali. A day out takes in Telavi, with King Erekle II's palace and a 900-year-old plane tree, and the 19th-century Chavchavadze family estate and garden at Tsinandali.

The grape harvest, rtveli, begins in Kakheti in September with the Rkatsiteli grapes, and the weather during the harvest is almost always fine.

Sources: Georgia Travel (GNTA): Sighnaghi, Georgia Travel (GNTA): Telavi, Georgia Travel (GNTA): Kakheti, Georgia Travel (GNTA): Rtveli (grape harvest) in Georgia, Georgia Travel (GNTA): UNESCO heritage in Georgia, Wikivoyage: Sighnaghi, Wikivoyage: Kakheti (checked 14 Oct)

Uplistsikhe

HeritageDay trip

A town cut into a cliff above the Mtkvari, a pagan religious centre before Christianity and later a Silk Road stop.

about 2 h from Tbilisi airport

Uplistsikhe is a town carved into the cliffs above the Mtkvari river, 10 km from Gori and west of Tbilisi, with a history going back to the late Bronze Age. It was a major centre of pagan worship before Georgia turned Christian in the 4th century, and stayed a stop on the Silk Road until the 15th century. It works as a half-day trip from Tbilisi or a break on the road west.

What to do in Uplistsikhe

Explore the cave town. Paths climb between rock-cut halls, temples, wine presses and cellars, and spaces that are thought to have been a theatre and pharmacies.
The church on the temple. A 9th-century church, still in use, stands on the ruins of a pagan temple to the sun god.
The tunnel to the river. A tunnel cut through the rock leads from the cave town down to the Mtkvari.
Gori and the Stalin Museum. Gori, Stalin's birthplace, has a large museum with his armoured railway carriage and the small house where he lived as a child, and a 13th-century fortress on a rocky hill in the centre looks over the town.

Sources: Georgia Travel (GNTA): Uplistsikhe cave town, Georgia Travel (GNTA): Gori, Wikivoyage: Gori, Wikivoyage: Georgia (country) (checked 14 Oct)

Kutaisi

City

Western Georgia's old capital, with Bagrati Cathedral, UNESCO-listed Gelati, and caves and canyons close by.

1–2 nightsabout 4 h from Tbilisi airport

Kutaisi, on the Rioni river about three and a half hours' drive west of Tbilisi, is Georgia's third-largest city and was the capital of ancient Colchis, where Greek myth placed the Golden Fleece. Its centre has a 150-year-old garden boulevard and old bridges over the river, and most of its sights are short drives out: the monasteries of Gelati and Motsameta, the Prometheus and Sataplia caves, and the Okatse and Martvili canyons.

What to do in Kutaisi

Bagrati Cathedral. Built by King Bagrat III, who united Georgia, and dated by an inscription to 1003, the cathedral was later wrecked and was rebuilt in 2010 on its hill, which is visible from across the city.
Gelati Monastery. Founded in 1106 by King David the Builder, 11 km from the city, it was a medieval academy; its church has a 12th-century mosaic of the Virgin and Child, and the king lies buried under a gate.
Motsameta Monastery. An 11th-century monastery on a ridge about 6 km from the city, with far fewer visitors than Gelati.
Prometheus and Sataplia caves. Prometheus has a coloured-lit path of almost 1.5 km and a short boat ride underground; Sataplia, 7 km from the city, has dinosaur footprints, a cave and a glass viewing platform.
Okatse and Martvili canyons. At Okatse a 780 m walkway hangs over the gorge, and at Martvili guides take rubber boats along a short stretch of the Abasha river between mossy cliffs when it is not raining.

Sources: Georgia Travel (GNTA): Kutaisi, Georgia Travel (GNTA): Bagrati Cathedral, Georgia Travel (GNTA): Gelati Monastery, Georgia Travel (GNTA): Prometheus Cave, Georgia Travel (GNTA): Sataplia Cave and Nature Reserve, Georgia Travel (GNTA): Okatse Canyon, Georgia Travel (GNTA): Martvili Canyon, Georgia Travel (GNTA): UNESCO heritage in Georgia, Wikivoyage: Kutaisi (checked 14 Oct)

Batumi

Beach

The Black Sea resort city: a seafront boulevard, a cliffside botanical garden, nightlife and family beaches nearby.

2–3 nightsabout 6 h by train from Tbilisi airport

Batumi, the capital of Ajara and Georgia's second-largest city, is a port and resort on the south-eastern shore of the Black Sea, about 350 km from Tbilisi. A seafront boulevard links an old town of squares and statues with a skyline of new towers and casinos, and in summer its beach clubs make it the region's party capital. The climate is humid subtropical with frequent showers, and the tourism board especially recommends the 'velvet season' of early autumn, when it is warm but not too hot.

What to do in Batumi

Batumi Boulevard. Walk or ride a shared bicycle along the seafront promenade past the Alphabetic Tower, the statues of Ali and Nino and a lighthouse from 1863.
Landmarks of the centre. Batumi's sights include Piazza, the Neptune fountain, the astronomical clock and the Medea statue, and a walk takes you past the Orthodox Cathedral of the Mother of God, the Catholic Church of the Holy Spirit and the Orta Jame mosque.
Botanical Garden. A very large, green garden on a high cliff above the sea; allow half a day or more.
Cable car at night. A cable car climbs a hill of about 250 m above the city, and the view is best after dark.
Beaches beyond the city. Ajara's beaches are rocky: the quieter resorts of Gonio, Kvariati and Sarpi, a few kilometres away, suit families and Kvariati is known for diving, while for sand head to Ureki in Guria, with its grey-black magnetic sand.

Sources: Georgia Travel (GNTA): Batumi, Georgia Travel (GNTA): Beaches of Georgia, Black Sea, Georgian Railway: Traffic general schedule, Wikivoyage: Batumi, Wikivoyage: Georgia (country) (checked 14 Oct)

Gudauri

Hill country

One of Georgia's best-known ski resorts, about two hours from Tbilisi, with lifts to 3,276 m and paragliding.

2–3 nightsabout 2 h 30 min from Tbilisi airportBest Dec–Mar

Gudauri lies on the Georgian Military Road about 120 km north of Tbilisi, on the way to Kazbegi, and is one of the country's best-known ski resorts. Its base is at 1,989 m and its lifts reach 3,276 m, with about 37 km of marked runs, most of them blue, and one to two metres of snow in a normal season. Outside the ski season visitors come for paragliding and for mountain-bike trails reached by the lifts.

What to do in Gudauri

Ski or learn to ski. Instructors and ski schools teach beginners, and even the Snow Park area, at 2,720 to 2,845 m, counts as a beginner slope.
Ride the lifts for the view. Non-skiers can ride a lift up on a clear day for the mountain views and come back down the same way.
Paragliding. Local pilots take visitors flying from the top of the Kudebi lift in summer and winter alike, whenever the weather allows.
Cable car to Kobi. A cable car crosses from Gudauri to the village of Kobi, about 20 km from Stepantsminda, so a ski stay can be combined with Kazbegi.

The ski season runs from early December to mid-April; January and February have the most stable snow, and late December to mid-January, around New Year, is the busiest stretch.

Sources: Georgia Travel (GNTA): Gudauri, Georgia Travel (GNTA): What you should know before visiting Gudauri in winter, Wikivoyage: Gudauri (checked 14 Oct)

Borjomi

Hill country

A forested spa town of mineral springs, a Romanov summer palace and Georgia's largest national park.

1–2 nightsabout 2 h 30 min from Tbilisi airport

Borjomi lies in a wooded gorge about two hours from Tbilisi by road, and gives its name to the salty sparkling mineral water served in restaurants all over Georgia. It was a summer retreat of the Russian imperial family, whose palace and buildings still mark the town. Hikers come for the Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park, and the cave city of Vardzia is a long day trip away.

What to do in Borjomi

Borjomi Park and the springs. Drink straight from the Ekaterine spring in the old riverside park, then take the cable car from the park entrance up to the cliffs for a view over town.
Sulphur pools in the forest. A marked path of about 2.5 km leads from the park into the forest to open-air sulphur pools, so bring a swimsuit and towel.
Likani Palace. The imperial family's summer residence just outside town, later a holiday home for Stalin, is a landmark of the Romanov years, seen from outside because it is now an official residence.
Hike Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park. Georgia's largest national park has trails for day hikes and longer treks with camping, picnics and birdwatching.
Day trip to Vardzia. This 12th-century cave city of King Giorgi III and Queen Tamar runs for 900 m along a cliff, with a frescoed church at its heart.

Sources: Georgia Travel (GNTA): Borjomi, Georgia Travel (GNTA): Vardzia, Wikivoyage: Borjomi, Wikivoyage: Georgia (country) (checked 14 Oct)

Mestia and Svaneti

Hill country

Medieval Svan defence towers under the high Caucasus, glacier walks, skiing and Ushguli's UNESCO-listed villages.

2–3 nightsabout 8 h from Tbilisi airport

Mestia is the small main town of Upper Svaneti, high in the Caucasus in the north-west, a long day's drive from Tbilisi by way of Zugdidi; small planes also fly in, in about an hour, but often wait on the weather. The town has 45 Svan defence towers, and its museum keeps part of the national treasure that was carried to remote Mestia for safekeeping when invaders threatened. It is a base for walks to glaciers and lakes and, from the end of November to mid-April, for two ski resorts.

What to do in Mestia and Svaneti

Svaneti Museum. Part of the national treasure once sent here for safekeeping is on show, including a Georgian New Testament that ranks among the oldest such manuscripts.
Climb inside a Svan tower. At the house-museum of the mountaineer Mikheil Khergiani, known as the Mountain Lion, the visit goes inside the tower he trained in.
Walk to the cross and Koruldi lakes. An easy-to-follow path climbs from town to a cross above the valley in about two hours, with another two hours of steep going to the Koruldi lakes.
Ushguli. About an hour and a half's drive away when there is no snow, this cluster of villages and tower houses below Shkhara, Georgia's highest peak, is part of the UNESCO listing.
Ski Hatsvali or Tetnuldi. A cable car from the town centre serves Hatsvali, while Tetnuldi, 15 km away, has a 9.5 km main run and draws freeriders.

Sources: Georgia Travel (GNTA): Mestia, Georgia Travel (GNTA): Svaneti in winter, Hatsvali and Tetnuldi, Georgia Travel (GNTA): Ushguli, Georgia Travel (GNTA): UNESCO heritage in Georgia, Wikivoyage: Mestia, Wikivoyage: Ushguli (checked 14 Oct)

Start in Tbilisi, drive north through Mtskheta on the Georgian Military Road to Kazbegi, return for a night or two in Sighnaghi's wine country, then head west past Uplistsikhe to Kutaisi and Batumi and take the train back to Tbilisi for the flight home. Come in September to catch the grape harvest in Kakheti; between December and mid-April, swap the Kazbegi walks for skiing at Gudauri on the same road.

Getting around

Tbilisi is the hub and distances are short: by road, Mtskheta is about 20 minutes away, Sighnaghi under two hours, Kazbegi about three and Kutaisi about three and a half, according to the tourism board. Georgian Railway's fast trains link Tbilisi and Batumi in about five and a half hours, and shared minibuses called marshrutkas reach most towns, though they run mainly in the morning and thin out in the afternoon. Country roads can be rough and local driving chaotic, so most visitors are better off as passengers in a taxi, minibus or car with a hired driver than at the wheel.

When to go

Tbilisi month by month: weather and fares →

Peak Shoulder Off-season

Georgia's national tourism site calls April to early June and September to late November the ideal periods for city and cultural trips, and summer a good season for the mountains and coast. In Tbilisi itself July and August highs reach 33°C and December to March highs stay under 10°C, so those months are rated down here.

Flights to Georgia from India

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Visa for Indian passports

Indian passport holders need an e-visa for Georgia, applied for online before travel (allow about 10 days). Visa-free up to 90 days with a valid US, UK, Schengen or Japan visa or residence permit. e-Visa at evisa.gov.ge, at least 5 working days ahead. Travel insurance is mandatory.

Before you book, check the Ministry of External Affairs travel advisories for the latest guidance.

Georgia: questions

What are the best places to visit in Georgia?

Tbilisi: The capital: domed sulphur baths, cobbled old-town lanes, clifftop churches, cafes, restaurants and wine bars. Mtskheta: Georgia's ancient capital and religious heart, with UNESCO-listed churches where two rivers meet. Kazbegi (Stepantsminda): Gergeti Trinity Church below Mount Kazbek, mountain walks and the drive up the Georgian Military Road. Sighnaghi and Kakheti: A walled hill town above the Alazani valley, the base for Kakheti's wine cellars and St Nino's grave at Bodbe. Uplistsikhe: A town cut into a cliff above the Mtkvari, a pagan religious centre before Christianity and later a Silk Road stop. Kutaisi: Western Georgia's old capital, with Bagrati Cathedral, UNESCO-listed Gelati, and caves and canyons close by. Batumi: The Black Sea resort city: a seafront boulevard, a cliffside botanical garden, nightlife and family beaches nearby. Gudauri: One of Georgia's best-known ski resorts, about two hours from Tbilisi, with lifts to 3,276 m and paragliding. Borjomi: A forested spa town of mineral springs, a Romanov summer palace and Georgia's largest national park. Mestia and Svaneti: Medieval Svan defence towers under the high Caucasus, glacier walks, skiing and Ushguli's UNESCO-listed villages.

How many days do you need for Georgia?

A first trip takes about 8–12 nights: Tbilisi (3 nights), Mtskheta (1 night), Kazbegi (Stepantsminda) (1–2 nights), Sighnaghi and Kakheti (1–2 nights), Uplistsikhe (1 night), Kutaisi (1–2 nights), Batumi (2–3 nights). Start in Tbilisi, drive north through Mtskheta on the Georgian Military Road to Kazbegi, return for a night or two in Sighnaghi's wine country, then head west past Uplistsikhe to Kutaisi and Batumi and take the train back to Tbilisi for the flight home. Come in September to catch the grape harvest in Kakheti; between December and mid-April, swap the Kazbegi walks for skiing at Gudauri on the same road.

What is the best time to visit Georgia?

Peak season is May–Jun, Sep–Oct. Georgia's national tourism site calls April to early June and September to late November the ideal periods for city and cultural trips, and summer a good season for the mountains and coast. In Tbilisi itself July and August highs reach 33°C and December to March highs stay under 10°C, so those months are rated down here.

Do Indians need a visa for Georgia?

How much is a flight to Georgia from India?

The lowest return fare FlyBun has seen in the last 14 days is ₹34,563, Mumbai to Tbilisi, for October 2026 departures. Fares change daily.

Places and things to do are written by FlyBun from official tourism, heritage and park sources, linked under each place, last checked 14 Oct. We leave out entry fees and opening hours because they change; check them before you go.

Watch a route and FlyBun alerts you free when its fare drops.