Beyond the city
Day trips from Tbilisi
Georgia is small: in two or three hours from Tbilisi you can stand beneath a 5,000-metre peak, walk through a 6th-century cave monastery or taste wine in Kakheti. Here is how to reach each one.
By Mikheil Papava · Updated | Destination | Distance | Each way | How | Best time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mtskheta | ~20 km | 30 min | Minibus from Didube, every few minutes | All year |
| Kazbegi (Stepantsminda) | ~155 km | 3 h | Minibus from Didube, a tour, or a car with a driver | June–October |
| Ananuri fortress | ~70 km | 1 h 15 min | On the way to Kazbegi — minibus from Didube or a car | April–November |
| David Gareja monastery | ~100 km | 2–2.5 h | Tour or taxi/car — no regular public transport | April–May, September–October |
| Sighnaghi and Kakheti wine country | ~110 km | 2 h | Minibus from Samgori, a wine tour, or a car | May–June, September–October (harvest) |
| Uplistsikhe cave town and Gori | ~100 km | 1.5 h | Minibus from Didube to Gori, then a taxi (about 10 km) | April–October |
| Borjomi | ~160 km | 2.5–3 h | Minibus from Didube, or a car | May–October |
Distances and times are by road from central Tbilisi and rounded; minibus (marshrutka) times depend on traffic and stops.
1.Mtskheta
~20 km30 minAll year
Georgia’s ancient capital and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where the Mtkvari and Aragvi rivers meet. It is the easiest half-day trip from Tbilisi and the spiritual heart of the country.
Don’t miss: Jvari Monastery (6th century) on its hilltop · Svetitskhoveli Cathedral · Samtavro Monastery · the old streets and cafés around the cathedral
How: Minibus from Didube, every few minutes
Local tip: Minibuses stop in town, not at Jvari — take a taxi up to the monastery and walk back down.
2.Kazbegi (Stepantsminda)
~155 km3 hJune–October
The drive north along the Georgian Military Highway is one of the most beautiful in the Caucasus, ending beneath Mount Kazbek (5,047 m) and the hilltop Gergeti Trinity Church — the postcard image of Georgia.
Don’t miss: Gergeti Trinity Church (14th century) with Mount Kazbek behind · Ananuri fortress on the way · the Jvari Pass and the friendship monument viewpoint near Gudauri
How: Minibus from Didube, a tour, or a car with a driver
Local tip: The road over the Jvari Pass can close in winter after snow — check before you go. Walk up to Gergeti (about 1.5 hours) or take a 4×4 from the village.
3.Ananuri fortress
~70 km1 h 15 minApril–November
A fortress with two churches above the turquoise Zhinvali reservoir. Most people stop here for half an hour on the road to Kazbegi; it is also a short trip on its own.
Don’t miss: The carved façade of the Church of the Assumption · the tower walk · views over the reservoir
How: On the way to Kazbegi — minibus from Didube or a car
Local tip: Combine it with Kazbegi in one long day.
4.David Gareja monastery
~100 km2–2.5 hApril–May, September–October
A cave monastery founded in the 6th century, carved into the rock of a semi-desert on the border with Azerbaijan. The striped red-and-green hills and the medieval frescoes make it unlike anywhere else in Georgia.
Don’t miss: The Lavra monastery · the ridge path to the Udabno caves and their frescoes · the painted hills
How: Tour or taxi/car — no regular public transport
Local tip: The last part of the road is rough and there is little shade — bring water and a hat, and wear proper shoes. Avoid midsummer heat.
5.Sighnaghi and Kakheti wine country
~110 km2 hMay–June, September–October (harvest)
A hilltop town of tiled roofs and 18th-century walls looking over the Alazani valley to the Caucasus, in the heart of Georgia’s main wine region. Come for the views, stay for a long lunch and a wine tasting.
Don’t miss: The town walls and towers · Bodbe Monastery, where St Nino is buried · family wineries and qvevri cellars in the surrounding villages
How: Minibus from Samgori, a wine tour, or a car
Local tip: In September and October you can join the grape harvest (rtveli) at many family wineries — ask ahead.
6.Uplistsikhe cave town and Gori
~100 km1.5 hApril–October
One of the oldest towns in Georgia: halls, streets, a theatre and a pharmacy carved into a rocky hill above the Mtkvari, inhabited for well over two thousand years.
Don’t miss: The rock-cut halls and the main street of Uplistsikhe · the view over the river · in Gori, the fortress and the Stalin Museum
How: Minibus from Didube to Gori, then a taxi (about 10 km)
Local tip: The rock is smooth and slippery when wet; there is almost no shade.
7.Borjomi
~160 km2.5–3 hMay–October
The spa town of the famous mineral water, in a forested gorge. Drink the water straight from the spring, walk in the old park and breathe mountain air — a long but relaxing day.
Don’t miss: The Central Park and the mineral-water spring · the cable car above the park · trails of the Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park
How: Minibus from Didube, or a car
Local tip: It is far for a day trip — leave early, or stay a night.
Questions about day trips from Tbilisi
What is the best day trip from Tbilisi? +
Kazbegi for mountain scenery (June–October), Mtskheta for the easiest half day, Sighnaghi for wine and views, and David Gareja for something completely different.
How do I get to Kazbegi from Tbilisi? +
Minibuses leave from Didube bus station (next to Didube metro) and take about 3 hours along the Georgian Military Highway. A tour or a car with a driver lets you stop at Ananuri and the viewpoints on the way.
Can I visit David Gareja by public transport? +
There is no regular public transport. Most people go with a tour or by taxi or car; the last part of the road is rough.
Where do minibuses to Kakheti leave from? +
Minibuses to Sighnaghi leave from Samgori bus station next to Samgori metro.