12 Best Things to Do in Georgia (Country) in 2023
Are you looking for incredible things to do in Georgia (the country in Europe – not the US state!)? Well, you’ve come to the right place because these 12 ideas for what to do in Georgia will leave you wanting to come back to this incredible country again and again.
I’ve traveled to over 75+ countries around the world. And, in my mind, none of them beats the incredible country of Georgia. Seriously, not one.
So get pumped for your Caucasian adventure by checking out these incredible things to do in Georgia (country). Oh, if you need more inspiration for what to do in Georgia, be sure to bookmark my list of the best places to visit in the country of Georgia and my complete Georgia travel itinerary.
Oh, and watch this video where I walk through my 10 personal favorite activities in Georgia:
Table of Contents
- 12 Best Things to Do in Georgia (Europe)
- 1) Soak Up Tbilisi’s Old Town
- 2) Attend a Traditional Supra
- 3) Taste Georgian Wine
- 4) Visit Svaneti, a Medieval Land
- 5) Trek in the Caucasian Mountains
- 6) Eat Khachapuri
- 7) Hike to the Gergeti Trinity Church
- 8) Marvel at Ananuri Castle
- 9) Tour the Caves of Gareji
- 10) Or the Remarkable Caves of Uplistsikhe
- 11) Relax on the Beach in Batumi
- 12) Martivili Canyon
- FAQs About Travel to Georgia
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12 Best Things to Do in Georgia (Europe)
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Top Tour from Tbilisi
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MUST TRY Experience
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Best for Wine Lovers
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- Authentic wine & dine experience in a family home
- Mini cooking class & local cuisine
- Stops at ancient historic sites
- Experience the quintessential Georgian feast
- Free-flow artisan wine & tons of homemade food
- Hosted at a local family home
- 6 course wine pairing lunch
- Visit the mountain village of Signagi
- Family dinner with the winemaker
1) Soak Up Tbilisi’s Old Town
For most travelers, Georgia’s capital Tbilisi will be the first stop in the country. And with so many incredible things to do in Tbilisi, you could even spend your entire Georgian vacation in this awesome city.
The highlight of any visit to Tbilisi is a stroll through the Old Town. Ancient churches, monuments, and buildings are set against a dramatic hillside. You can climb to the top or zip up via a modern cable car. And if your bones ache from all that walking, you can literally soak in the city at the thermal springs located right in the middle of Tbilisi’s Old Town.
Cross a bridge and on the other side of the Kura river you’ll find incredible modern architecture, which makes for an interesting juxtaposition against Old Town. The best way to take in Tbilisi’s Old Town is to join a free walking tour.
👉 Pro Tip: Tbilisi traffic can be a pain. Make sure you book your hotel in Old Tbilisi or any of the surrounding neighborhoods (like Vake, Sololaki, or Rustaveli). Here’s a map of those areas courtesy of Booking.com. Personally, I think you can’t go wrong with the Rooms Hotel Tbilisi.
Booking.com2) Attend a Traditional Supra
👉 Book an Authentic Georgian Family Supra
A supra is basically a traditional Georgian feast. Picture plate after plate of delicious Georgian cuisine served up in a Georgian home, all while copious amounts of homemade wine is poured until late into the evening. It’s a can’t miss experience in Georgia.
When locals attend a supra, its through invites from friends. That’s hard if you don’t speak Georgian and are just visiting for a short period of time.
The best way to attend a supra as a tourist in Georgia is to book The Supra Feast by Eat This! Tours. It’s an 8 hour tour that picks you up in Tbilisi and whisks you to the Kakheti wine region for an interactive group dinner involving cooking classes, fantastic food and wine, singing, and traditional toasts. The supra tour runs every Saturday or, if you are with a large group, you can private book your own.
- Experience the quintessential Georgian feast
- Free-flow artisan wine & tons of homemade food
- Hosted at a local family home
3) Taste Georgian Wine
👉 Book a food & wine tour to Kakheti
The secret about Georgian wine, which many locals even make in their home, is officially out. Georgian wine is quickly becoming renowned as some of the highest quality vino in all of Europe.
And with good reason: the temperate environmental conditions in Georgia’s province of Kakheti, combined with centuries of experience by the local vintners, make for seriously delicious stuff. The Kakheti wine region is basically “Georgia’s Napa Valley,” and going on a vineyard tour is a must-do in Georgia.
You can easily do this via a day tour from Tbilisi to Kakheti. I recommend booking this highly-rated Vines & Mountains food and wine tour to Telavi.
- Authentic wine & dine experience in a family home
- Mini cooking class & local cuisine
- Stops at ancient historic sites
4) Visit Svaneti, a Medieval Land
📍 Google Maps | 👉 Svaneti Private Tour
One of the most enchanting places on the planet is locked high in Georgia’s Caucasian mountains. The province of Svaenti is dotted with hundreds of ancient watchtowers, which for years helped the locals keep invaders at bay.
Primarily accessible only through a single long and winding road, Svaneti has recently become one of the more popular things to do in Georgia thanks in part to a small Georgia airline that runs flights from Tbilisi. Flights are usually booked up months in advance, but if you can’t snag one you can still get there from Tbilisi via this private tour.
👉 Pro Tip: Be sure to check out my mega Svaneti, Georgia guide for insider tips on how to plan your trip to this top destination in Georgia.
5) Trek in the Caucasian Mountains
You’ll feel a bit like Marco Polo crossing the famous Silk Road when you set out for your trek through the Georgian countryside. With soaring mountain peaks, expansive farmland, and lush forests broken up by tiny but welcoming villages, Georgia is probably one of the most underrated trekking destinations in the world. One of the more popular routes is the multi-day trek from Mestia to Ushguli, though there are dozens to choose from around the country of Georgia.
👉 Pro Tip: Georgia is pretty safe, but any travel during a pandemic is risky. Be sure to get travel insurance that covers Georgia.
6) Eat Khachapuri
I’m not much of a foodie, so if a food captures my heart you know it must be truly magical. And Khachapuri is the stuff of legends.
This traditional Georgian cheese bread can be prepared a number of different ways, but by far my favorite is Acharuli. You’ll have to try it for yourself, but let’s just say that it involves an egg cracked over layers of doughy, cheesy goodness. Just trust me, trying khachapuri is a can’t-miss thing to do in Georgia (country)!
7) Hike to the Gergeti Trinity Church
📍 Google Maps | Phone: +995 598 97 89 98 | Hours: 9 am – 5 pm daily; 9 am – 10 pm Friday | 👉 Day trip in Kazbegi
High in the mountains of the Kazbegi region of Georgia lies the Gergeti Trinity Church. If you’ve seen one photo of the country of Georgia, it’s probably of this iconic building set against the backdrop of majestic Mount Kazbegi. And, given the gorgeous scene, it’s no wonder why visiting the Trinity Church is one of the most popular things to do in Georgia.
While it is possible to visit the church as part of day trip from Tbilisi, an even better thing to do in Georgia is to spend a night in the nearby town of Stepantsminda, then wake up early for a steep climb that will reward you with peaceful time at the iconic church before the tour buses roll in.
👉 How to Get to Kazbegi: You could rent a car through Discover Car Hire and drive your self. Or you could just take a tour from Tbilisi and let others handle the logistics. This tour from Viator conveniently combines Kazbegi with a trip to our next attraction:
8) Marvel at Ananuri Castle
📍 Google Maps | Website | Hours: 9 am – 8 pm daily | 👉 Day trip in Kazbegi
Technically two castles joined by a wall, the Ananuri complex is an impressive work of ancient architecture made all the more fascinating by its stunning setting against the backdrop of the Aragvi river. Located a mere 90 minutes or so north of Tbilisi, a visit to Ananuri is an easy day trip.
👉 Pro Tip: you can combine Ananuri with a trip to Kazbegi via this Viator tour I mentioned above. It’s an awesome way to really take in the best of northern Georgia and knock out two of the best sites in Georgia on the same day!
9) Tour the Caves of Gareji
📍 Google Maps | 👉 Gareji and Signagi Private Full Day Tour
In the southeast of the country of Georgia, near the boarder with Azerbaijan, lies the David Gareji monastery complex. This Georgian Orthodox complex is set against a rocky hillside, the complex includes hundreds of dwellings, churches, chapels and more.
There is also a hill you can hike for incredible views. It’s possible to visit the David Gareji complex as part of a day trip from Tbilisi, taking in the gorgeous Georgian countryside along the way on this tour that won Viator’s “Badge of Excellence.”
10) Or the Remarkable Caves of Uplistsikhe
📍 Google Maps | Website | Hours: 10 am – 5 pm daily | 👉 Book a tour to Uplistsikhe from Tbilisi
Alternatively, you can visit another set of ancient cave homes at Uplistsike. These ones are much easier to reach, as they are located just outside of Gori and only a 1 to 1.5 hour trip away from Tbilisi. This 5,000 year old complex is seriously impressive. It’s set on a cliff-side overlooking a river, meaning you’ll get some incredible views of the Georgian countryside.
The best way to visit Uplistikhe is on this guided day tour from Tbilisi. The tour takes you to the caves and the UNESCO site of Mtskheta. It also includes a home-cooked lunch and wine at a local family’s vineyard!
11) Relax on the Beach in Batumi
📍 Google Maps | Hours: 24 Hours daily |
There’s no sand to be found here, but don’t tell that to the hoards of Georgian and Russian sun-seekers who pack the pebble beaches of Batumi each year. The top thing to do in Georgia during the summer is clear: chill out (or get your party on) in Batumi.
Georgia’s Black Sea resort town Batumi feels like it belongs in a different country altogether, as the modern architecture reminds one more of Singapore or Dubai. But, for all its modern facade, Batumi remains a uniquely Georgian experience.
So if you need a break from all those stunning mountains, do what the locals do and head to Batumi for some summer fun. It’s definitely one of the most unique places in the country of Georgia.
12) Martivili Canyon
📍 Google Maps | Phone: +995 579 80 28 42 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 6 pm daily | 👉 Waterfall and Canyons Private Tour
Located in the western part of Georgia, the Martivili Canyon is a gorgeous formation carved by the teal waters of the Okatse River. There are suspension bridges that make it easy to walk around and get different view points of the dramatic waterfalls. And you can also take a small trip on a raft, which I thought was fun when I did it a couple years ago.
For a special treat, combine a visit to Martivili Canyon with a trip to the nearby famous Prometheus Cave, which you can do taking this highly-rated tour from Tbilisi.
FAQs About Travel to Georgia
Is Georgia a safe country?
Georgia is generally a very safe country for travel. Despite having had an armed conflict in 2008, the majority of the country is perfectly safe for travel. Travelers to the breakaway provinces of Abkhazia and South Ossetia should exercise caution, however. It is still a good idea to purchase travel insurance for Georgia though.
What is the best time to visit Georgia?
The best time to visit Georgia is generally from May through August, when the mountains are warmer and the temperature is better for exploring all that the country has to offer. Tbilisi can technically be explored year round (although it may be a bit chilly), and winter tourism is slowly growing in Georgia as more Europeans discover the benefits of Georgia’s ski slopes.
How expensive is Georgia?
Georgia is an inexpensive country for travel. Your exact costs will depend upon your style of travel, but as a general matter costs are comparable or even more affordable than most destinations in Eastern Europe.
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There are so many things to do in Georgia the country, that it’s really not possible to list them all here. So for further inspiration for your trip to the country of Georgia, be sure to check out:
Those posts are packed with more suggestions and information to help you figure out what to do in Georgia and to make the most of your trip.
And if you have any comments or want to share your experience traveling in Georgia, just scroll down and tell me about it in the comments!
Safe travels in Georgia!
Hi. I am going to Georgia in June and have about 4 full days set out in Svaneti. I am a bit confused about how to spend it… Would like to stay in Mazeri, Adishi and Ushgali, but quite a lot to fit in with proper hikes. Any advice or suggestions? Or perhaps I should just do a trek from Mazeri to Usgali via Adishi, but traveling alone and not sure if alone is advisable.
Thanks.
First off, that sounds like a great trip! If you’re trekking that does strike me as a bit much to squeeze in but maybe it’s doable. There is a 4 day itinerary at this site that takes in most of that: https://wikitravel.org/en/Svaneti
It doesn’t cover Mazeri, though, which I think would probably take an extra day. Or you could speed along the process by hitching rides between the places and just going out for day hikes, which are still quite nice. The whole area is so incredible hikeable that you won’t be at a loss of options!
With that said, bear in mind that some trails may still be snowed over in early June, so depending on when you’re going you might need a backup plan. As for traveling solo, I met many solo travelers in Svaneti and I was alone there myself. I didn’t feel unsafe at all. You can also definitely meet other travelers to join up with. Nino’s guesthouse in Mestia is a popular spot for that.
Your article has convinced me! We hope to travel to Georgia in the second week of September. We will be accompanied by two kids, aged 5 and 8 who love a great adventure. We don’t drink alcohal so much of that culture will be missed by us, but enjoy good food. How easy is it to get by in English? How easy is it get around if we rent a car? While Tbilisi has a lot of typical things to with kids (amusement parks etc) we’ve already seen much of the same and more while residing in Dubai. We would like to get out and trek a bit. What would you suggest? We plan to stay for a week. TIA!
I’m so excited for you – you and your family is going to love Georgia! And you’re really going to love the food!
In terms of English, I got by just fine everywhere I went. In Tbilisi, English is spoken nearly as often as Russian nowadays. In some of the smaller villages, you may still encounter a lot of people with very little English. But generally the younger generations learn some English, so I found that more often than not the children ended up acting as translators.
You should be fine renting a car to exploring on your own. Some of the roads in some of the mountain provinces may be a little intense, but they are generally decently maintained and seem ok to drive on (though I never drove myself, I plenty of tourists who did).
I think your kids will really love Georgia. If you make it out to Batumi, there are some family oriented activities there – parks, boat rides, boardwalks, etc. Also, hopefully they enjoy the outdoors, as that is one of the great joys of visiting Georgia. It may be starting to get a bit cold in September in some parts of the mountains, so you’ll need to plan, but if the weather is good, Georgia is a beautiful place to explore outdoors.
Thanks for your reply.
So we’ve purchased our tickets, yay! We arrive Saturday afternoon (Sept 8) and depart the following Saturday morning (Sept 15). There’s so much to do in Georgia that I’m regretting not staying longer. I need your help in narrowing things down:
We plan to walk around Old Town (probably do a local walking tour) our first day. Explore Tblisi a bit more on Day 2 and then I’m stuck for what to do. Does Kazbegi have similar landscape as Sveneti? Because frankly, you’ve sold me on the majesty of Sveneti but I’m worried about the time it takes to get there. There are no flights available, so will have to do the 8 hour bus journey from Tbilsi, or find a car to drive us over. Also, my kids love to hike but doing the 4 day hike will be too much to expect from them. So I’m thinking we skip Sveneti and focus on Kazbegi (if it’s similar landscape…if not, I think we might persevere to Sveneti).
Then I read about David Garega and that looks mysteriously beautiful.
Then there’s Dashbashi Canyon which looks amazing in pictures.
What would you suggest we do?
I know you suggested Bautimi for the kids but it sounds very similar to what we have in Dubai so will skip it. We are more interested in green forests, green mountains as these are landscapes we crave while living in Dubai.
Also, I’m in the process of finding a driver who can take us around (any recommendations?) who can also give us a lesson on history (so we can skip the museums).
Thanks again!
Oh and Racha looks amazing! Have you been? They have a forest reserve that looks very pretty in pictures.
Huda, do you mind sharing your itinerary and transportation/tour companies that you used?
Yes, Kazbegi is a reasonable alternative to Svaneti for someone on a tight schedule. Additionally, as summer is waning, the weather might start getting a bit too cold in Svaneti anyway. So it definitely makes sense in your circumstances to just focus on Kazbegi I think.
Drivers should come relatively affordably in Georgia, or if you prefer a group tour, there are plenty on offer to David Gareja monastery complex (although it is a bit of a drive).
I’ve not been to Racha myself, but it is on my list for a return visit. I’m not sure how easy it is to access, given that it’s on the other side of Russian-occupied South Ossetia, so if you go I’d love to hear all about it!
I’m excited for you and your trip – it sounds incredible!
Great, thanks!
My goal is now to get invited to a supra!!
Good luck! Get outside of Tbilisi and befriend some locals 🙂
Help, am about to go to georgia for football trial I’m 18 years old…but am not very sure about the professionalism and payment of footballers in georgia. I mean is it a good country where one can play football
That’s an interesting question and I’m not 100% sure I have the right answer. Georgians definitely do play football, and I’m sure you can find a scene there, but I’m just not sure how strong it is.
Have you been to turkey, Armenia, and Azerbaijan as well? I’m looking to come to all of these countries but want to spend a month in one of them. Which one would you recommend? The most important thing to me is nice scenic views and healthy cuisine
Hi Noor! Thanks so much for stopping by my blog. Of those, I’ve been to Armenia and thought it was incredible. Great food and very affordable. Here’s an article I wrote about my trip: https://travellemming.com/travel-to-armenia-from-georgia/
Kazbegi
Georgia it the premier country for scenic beauty and healthy food.
Hello!
I am planning for my honeymoon on 22 October 2021 and I am a bit puzzled about the destination. The four choices are Stanbul, Georgia, Greece, Cyprus.
Your advice is appreciated.
Thank you for stopping by! Those are all great choices, though very different. If being near water is important to you, go with Greece or Cyprus of course. But otherwise I am biased and think Georgia is the best country to visit. October is a colder month in the mountains though, so be prepared for that.
Hello Nate,
Happen to chance upon your blog and really liked it. Thanks for sharing offcourse. I am planning a trip to Georgia on my motorcycle from The Nederlands next summer and plan to take the route via Ukraine. Do you think it is a good advice to travel the country on my own motorcycle? I plan to spend 2 weeks, that excludes my travel time though.
Any advice will be highly appreciated.
Thanks
Hi Sanjay,
I’ve never ridden in Georgia, but I do know many people do. You’ll need to check license and registration rules closely. And be aware that Georgia is very hilly, so there is a lot of elevation gain and curves on the road. Also, you probably already know this, but you can’t enter via land from the north. You’ll need to take the Odessa to Batumi ferry.
I hope you enjoy Georgia!
Nate
Hello,
I really liked your article!
I am thinking of visiting Georgia on November.
Do you recommend visit it during this time?
Also, for the transportation, is it enough to have a taxi? In case I don’t want to drive there.
Thank you in advance
Thanks for such an informative and good read. Plan to hire a car (any recommendation?) and drive around sightseeing and hiking in summer. Could you help to suggest a route? Day hike and back to rest in hotel. Thanks.
You can find my suggested Georgia itinerary here! Have fun in Georgia!
Can we travel georgia in earlier months of the year i.e. march or april?
Yes, absolutely you can travel to Georgia then. It just may be cold in the mountains, but Tbilisi should be good (just a little cool). April in particular should be nice.
Hi Nate,
Your blog is very concise and insightful. I’ve read a lot of blogs and I feel like drowning with too much info. This one is short but helped me give a good picture of what to do in Georgia.
My friend and I will be travelling there in early April for few days. There’s so much places to visit so I am wondering where is the best place to start. We will be traveling to Armenia after by a train. Also, if we want to do a DIY trip, will we save more if we get those offering drive tours or it’s possible to go around by public transport? Would appreciate your reply. Thanks!
Hi Gel! It’s possible to get around Georgia with public transport, but you’ll have to be comfortable using and navigating the local marshrutka system for many destinations. From Tbilisi to Batumi, though, there is a nice train you can use. In general, tours can be found pretty cheap in Tbilisi’s Old Town too.
If you only have a few days, by far the easiest way to approach it is to just stay in Tbilisi and do day trips from there (especially suggest Kazbegi and Kakheti). If you have more like a week, you could throw Batumi into the mix too. Hope that helps!
Enjoy Georgia!