Top 12 Things To Do In Georgia: The Ultimate Travel Guide

GEORGIA

Top 12 Things To Do In Georgia

THE ULTIMATE TRAVEL GUIDE

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Tbilisi Travel Guide Telavi Travel Guide Sighnaghi Travel Guide
12 Unmissable Things to Do in Georgia (Country) – Ultimate Insider Guide

12 Unmissable Adventures: The Ultimate Things to Do in Georgia

Georgia isn’t just a country — it’s an addiction. 8,000-year-old wine cellars, churches at 2,200 m, cave cities, Black Sea nightlife, and the warmest hospitality on Earth. This is the only guide you’ll ever need.

1. Lose Yourself in Tbilisi Old Town

A living museum where Persian hammams steam beside Soviet courtyards and wooden balconies drip with grapevines. Over 1,500 years of history in every cobblestone.

History
Founded 5th century by King Vakhtang Gorgasali after discovering hot springs. Capital of Iberia, then Eastern Georgia. Survived 29 invasions. Silk Road caravanserais still operate as cafés. 2010–2022 restoration cost $240 million. Home to 12 ethnic groups living side-by-side.
Area: 3 km² with 65 alleys
Must-see (12 spots): Abanotubani sulfur domes, Narikala Fortress (4th c.), Anchiskhati Basilica (6th c.), Sioni Cathedral, Peace Bridge, Clock Tower puppet show (every hour), Gabriadze Theatre, Meidan Bazaar, Legvtakhevi waterfall, Betlemi stairs, Fabrika graffiti, Dry Bridge flea market
Cable car: 2.5 GEL (7 AM–midnight)
Funicular to Mtatsminda: 8 GEL return
Sulfur bath VIP room: 120–250 GEL/hour (Chreli Abano, Orbeliani blue tiles)
Free walking tours: Daily 11 AM & 5 PM (tip 30–60 GEL)
Best food street: Shardeni (wine bars), Leselidze (multicultural)
Khinkali record: 137 in one sitting at Shemoikhede
GPS hidden gem: Rainbow stairs Fabrika 41.7095° N, 44.7971° E
Metro stations: Liberty Square, Avlabari, Rustaveli
Tbilisi has more wooden balconies per capita than any European capital — over 8,000 still standing.
Start at 4 PM: Narikala golden hour → sulfur bath massage → rooftop dinner at Stamba or Rooms Hotel. Book bath 24h ahead.
2. Kazbegi & Gergeti Trinity Church

The single most photographed spot in Georgia: 14th-century church at 2,170 m beneath 5,047 m Mount Kazbek — Europe’s highest permanently inhabited village (Stepantsminda).

History
Built 1352 during Mongol invasions as refuge. Stored national treasures during wars. Soviet authorities closed it 1930s–1990s. Restored 2008. Featured on every Georgian postcard since 1980s.
Hike: 6 km return, 450 m gain, 2–3 hrs
4×4 Delica: 20–30 GEL pp (15 min)
Rooms Hotel Kazbegi: 400–800 GEL/night (infinity pool facing Kazbek)
Sunrise tour: 120 GEL pp (3 AM departure)
Other hikes: Juta (5 lakes), Truso Valley (mineral lakes), Devdoraki Glacier, Sno Valley
Marshrutka Tbilisi–Kazbegi: 10 GEL (3 hrs, Didube station)
GoTrip driver full day: 200 GEL (includes Ananuri + Gudauri)
GPS church: 42.6625° N, 44.6207° E
Drone rules: Allowed except within 50 m of church
Winter snow: 3–5 m deep (ski touring paradise)
Kazbek is a dormant volcano — last eruption 750 BC.
Stay 2 nights minimum. Milky Way photos at 3 AM above church are bucket-list material. Book Rooms terrace table 2 weeks ahead.
3. Mtskheta – Spiritual Soul of Georgia

UNESCO World Heritage Site where Saint Nino converted King Mirian III in 337 AD — making Georgia the second-oldest Christian nation after Armenia.

Combo ticket: 25 GEL (Svetitskhoveli + Jvari + Samtavro)
Svetitskhoveli Cathedral: Burial place of Christ’s robe + Georgian kings
Jvari Monastery: 6th c., inspired Lermontov’s poem “Mtsyri”
Samtavro Nunnery: Saint Nino’s blackberry bush still grows
Distance from Tbilisi: 20 km (Bolt 25–35 GEL)
Marshrutka: 2 GEL from Didube
Best food: Salobie (bean bread) 8 GEL, mchadi + lobio
Hidden gem: Bebris Tsikhe fortress ruins (free)
Annual festival: Svetitskhovelioba (14 October)
Sunday 10 AM — experience polyphonic chanting that gave UNESCO status. Dress code: knees/shoulders covered.
4. Kakheti – 8,000 Years of Wine

Birthplace of viticulture. 500+ indigenous grape varieties. Qvevri method UNESCO Intangible Heritage.

Top wineries: Pheasant’s Tears (organic), Okro’s (natural), Cradle of Wine (50 qvevris), Shumi Museum (3,000 artifacts), Giuaani (women-led), Kindzmarauli Corporation
Full-day private tour: 180–300 GEL (GoTrip driver + 4 wineries)
Best value: Numisi Cellar (30 GEL unlimited tasting)
Hidden garage wineries: Baba Jumber (Telavi), Zaza Koshkelishvili (Napareuli)
Rtveli harvest: 15 Sep–15 Oct (free wine everywhere)
Must-try grapes: Saperavi, Rkatsiteli, Kisi, Khikhvi, Mtsvane
Amber wine: 6-month skin contact (Georgia invented orange wine)
Stay with dinner: Lost Ridge Inn, Seventeen Winery, Schuchmann Château
Food pairing: Churchkhela, pkhali, badrijani nigvzit
Ask for “family reserve” — cellar masters hide best bottles. Bring empty 5L bottle — fill with Saperavi for 40 GEL!
5. Uplistsikhe – 3,000-Year-Old Cave City

Rock-hewn metropolis from 1st millennium BC with theaters, pagan temples, wine presses, and secret tunnels.

Caves: 700+ (only 150 accessible)
Entrance + audio guide: 25 GEL
Time needed: 2–3 hrs
Combine with: Gori Stalin Museum (15 GEL), Ateni Sioni (7th c. frescoes)
Hidden tunnel: Emergency escape to Mtkvari River
Best light: 8–10 AM
Distance from Tbilisi: 90 km
Wear sturdy shoes — slippery rocks. Bring flashlight for dark tunnels.
6. Batumi – Black Sea Las Vegas

Subtropical skyscrapers, 12 km boulevard, singing fountains, and 24/7 casinos.

Boulevard: 12 km (world’s longest seaside promenade)
Argo cable car: 30 GEL return (2,580 m long)
Botanical Garden: 20 GEL (108 hectares, 6,000 species)
Ali & Nino statue: 8 m tall, moves every 10 min
Batumi Eye: 15 GEL (60 m wheel)
Flight Tbilisi–Batumi: 80–120 GEL (45 min)
Overnight train: 35 GEL (luxury cabin)
Casinos: 20+ (Shangri La, Eclipse)
Beaches: Free public + private loungers 20 GEL
Rent e-scooter (0.5 GEL/min) for full boulevard at sunset. Book Argo cable car online to skip lines.
7. Telavi – Royal Kakheti Capital

Ancient seat of Kakhetian kings with 900-year-old plane tree and panoramic Caucasus views.

Batonis Tsikhe: 15 GEL (17th c. palace + museum)
Giant plane tree: 900 years old, 48 m wide
Tsinandali Estate: 25 GEL (Chavchavadze palace + English garden)
Alaverdi Cathedral: 11th c., 2nd tallest in Georgia
Ikalto Academy: 7th c. university ruins
Saturday bazaar: Best churchkhela 5 GEL, spices, honey
Stay: Seventeen Winery Guesthouse (120 GEL with breakfast)
Visit Saturday morning for bazaar chaos and free wine samples.
8. Sighnaghi – City of Love

24-hour marriage office, 4.5 km fortress walls, 23 towers, endless Alazani Valley views.

Marriage registration: 100 GEL (anytime, even 3 AM)
Wall circuit: FREE (Tower #9 best sunset)
Bodbe Monastery: 2 km (Saint Nino’s tomb + holy spring)
Pirosmani Museum: 10 GEL (16 originals)
Best hotels: Kabadoni Boutique, Hotel Brigitte
Restaurants: OKRO’s Rooftop, Pheasant’s Tears
Book Lost Ridge Brewery terrace 2 weeks ahead — best sunset dinner in Georgia.
9. Vardzia – Queen Tamar’s Cave Empire

12th-century underground city with 13 levels, 6,000 rooms, church with original frescoes.

Rooms: 6,000 (monastery, bakery, wine cellars)
Entrance + tunnel: 25 GEL
Queen Tamar fresco: Only lifetime portrait
Combine with: Rabati Castle, Khertvisi Fortress, Borjomi
Full-day tour: 250 GEL (GoTrip)
Hidden cave hotels: Vardzia Resort (cave rooms)
Visit at opening (10 AM) — perfect light in church frescoes.
10. Mestia & Svaneti – Land of Towers

UNESCO medieval defensive towers, Europe’s highest villages, glaciers, untouched nature.

Towers: 175+ in Ushguli alone
Ushguli: Europe’s highest permanently inhabited village (2,100 m)
Flights Kutaisi–Mestia: 90 GEL (40 min)
Ushguli 4×4: 50 GEL pp
Best hikes: Koruldi Lakes, Shkhara Glacier, Mazeri–Ushba
Museum of History: 20 GEL (Margiani tower house)
Food: Kubdari (meat pie) at Laila Café
Stay in Ushguli guesthouse (60 GEL with kubdari dinner) — zero light pollution.
11. David Gareja Monastery Complex

6th-century caves on Azerbaijan border with 1,500-year-old frescoes in rainbow desert.

Caves: 20+ monasteries over 25 km
Tour with 4WD: 80 GEL pp
Hike to Udabno: 2 hrs return (border ridge views)
Best season: March–May (poppies bloom)
Hidden frescoes: Bertubani cave (11th c.)
Bring passport — occasional border patrol. Wear long pants (monks live here).
12. Borjomi & National Park

Famous mineral water, Romanov palaces, and Europe’s largest national park (85,000 hectares).

Mineral spring: FREE (fill bottles at source)
Cable car: 5 GEL to plateau
Park trails: 12 marked (3–48 km)
Crowne Plaza spa: Day-pass 120 GEL
Romanov Palace Likani: Guided tour 15 GEL
Rope park: 30 GEL (ziplines)
Fill 5L bottle for free — natural fizzy water lasts 2 days!

Disclaimer: All prices in GEL are current. Check gotrip.ge, vanilla-sky.ge, tkt.ge for transport. Use Bolt/Yandex taxis. Tap water safe except mountain streams. Dress modestly in churches (scarves provided). No drones near military zones. Emergency: 112. Support family guesthouses — they’ll treat you like royalty. Georgia is the safest country in Europe (Numbeo). Safe travels and prepare to fall in love!

Georgia Tbilisi Old Town
Georgia Kazbegi
Georgia Mtskheta
Georgia Khaketi Wine Region
Georgia Uplistsikhe
Georgia Telavi
Georgia Sighnaghi