The 15 Best Things to See and Do in Georgia

The Great Silk Road passed through the capital city, Tbilisi, making it an important place for many centuries. Its spot on the route also made it a hub of cultural interchange but also brought many invasions. The capital was burned down and rebuilt several times. But despite the violent past, the Tbilisi of today is all narrow cobblestone lanes, old residential houses with wooden balconies, and art nouveau buildings.

The western part of Georgia, bounded by the Black Sea, is a go-to summer destination for locals – Batumi being the central coastal city. In a subtropical zone, the weather here varies – it’s hot in summer and is covered in snow in winter. Besides being a bustling seaside resort, Batumi – one of the most beautiful towns in Georgia – is an important seaport. In recent years, however, it has changed drastically, with high-rise buildings, world-renowned hotel brands and modern architecture constructed and the 19th-century buildings in the Old Town restored.

Georgia has three cave towns. The closest to Tbilisi is Uplistsikhe, which has a blend of styles from rock-cut cultures in Iran and Anatolia. Another is Vardzia, known as the Georgian jewel of Medieval architecture, which is carved into a steep mountain wall, 1,300m (4,265ft) up. The third is the David Gareji Monastery Complex in the Kakheti region, which was established in the sixth century by St David Gareji, one of the 13 Assyrian Fathers to spread Christianity in the country. The desert complex includes 13 monasteries built on the hills bordering Azerbaijan.

Georgia has a few ski resorts, but Gudauri is the most popular, with multiple ski lifts and 26 pistes. It sits on the Greater Caucasus Mountains, bringing magnificent views as you make your way down the slopes. The hills are also free of trees, which makes them great for skiing or snowboarding. It’s also avalanche-safe, so more adventurous travellers can try heli-skiing here.

Khinkali is the Georgian dish every visitor should try. The original meal, called khevsuruli, comes from the Khevsureti region and is made with minced meat, onions, salt, pepper and cumin. The modern version, kalakuri, (the one you’ll eat in most restaurants in Tbilisi) uses fresh parsley and coriander. To eat them, use your hands. First, take a small bite and then suck the broth out so you don’t spill a drop. It might take some practice.

Georgia is a perfect place for wild nature lovers. It offers interesting hiking trails, national parks, lakes and much more. The most popular walking routes are the Chaukhi Pass, Omalo to Shatili, Mestia to Ushguli, the Abudelauri Lakes, the Tobavarchkhili Lakes, Svaneti to Racha, and the Black Rock Lake.

Georgia is considered to be one of the oldest wine-making regions in the world. Georgians have been producing wine for at least 8,000 years and have their own unique process; Unesco listed the qvevri wine-making method as an Intangible Cultural Heritage. Traditional Georgian wine is made in egg-shaped clay jars, called qvevri, that are buried underground to ferment, store and age the wine.

Georgia is home to Ushguli, the highest settlement in Europe, which sits 2,100m (6,890ft) above sea level near the foot of Shkhara Mountain, one of the highest summits in the Greater Caucasus Mountains. The village is inhabited by approximately 200 people and the area is covered with snow for six months of the year.

In its long, 2,000-year history, the city of Telavi has been moulded by the preferences of Kakheti kings, Roman leaders, Eastern invaders, Russian Tsars and Georgian monarchs, resulting in a breadth of cultures and architectural styles throughout the city. Start your visit by admiring the defences of the Dzveli Galavani, the fortress of the first Kakhetian kings, then head for the Batonis Tsikhe, one of the few well-preserved medieval royal palaces in Georgia. Also you should visit the city’s 900-year-old sycamore tree, where you can make a wish: it’s said that any wish made near it will come true. If you have more time, head out of the city to the Alaverdi monastery, home to one of the largest cathedrals in Georgia.

Sighnaghi, also known as the City of Love, is a popular wedding destination. High up a steep hill, it offers views over the Alazani valley, making it one of the most charming places in the country. Take your time to enjoy the city’s beauty and stroll hand in hand with your loved one down cobblestone streets and past pastel-coloured houses. Look up and you can admire the view of neatly ordered red rooftops against the impressive Great Caucasus mountains.

Tusheti National Park, a protected area in northeast Georgia, with scenic terrain and protected species such as the wild goat, is a must-see for nature enthusiasts. Awaiting Unesco World Heritage Site designation, the larger region of Tusheti is one of the most ecologically unspoilt regions in the Caucasus. Known for the scenery, old defence towers, warm hospitality and fascinating folk culture, the park and the surrounding region are well worth a stop on your itinerary.

Just a short drive from Tbilisi is the Jvari Monastery of Mtskheta, a Unesco World Heritage Site and one of the only early medieval Georgian churches to have survived almost unchanged to the present day. Legend notes that in the early fourth century, Saint Nino converted King Mirian III of Iberia to Christianity and erected a large wooden cross on the site of a pagan temple. The cross was reportedly able to work miracles and a small church was later erected over its remnants; named the Small Church of Jvari, it can still be seen from within the monastery complex next to the main church. Take time while you’re here to also visit the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral and admire the medieval frescoes.

Named after Stephan, a Georgian Orthodox monk who built a hermitage in the region, Stepantsminda makes for a scenic stop on your road trip through Georgia. Popular with mountain climbers and rafters, it also offers activities such as hiking through the Kazbegi Nature Reserve and visiting cultural sights such as the Kazbegi Ethnographic Museum and Gergeti Holy Trinity Church.

The Rabati Fortress is a prominent landmark in southern Georgia built in the ninth century and renovated in 2011. Originally known as Lomisa Castle, its modern name, Rabati, is of Jewish and Arabic origin, meaning a fortified place. The fortress is unique due to the myriad cultures – Georgian, Ottoman, Jewish – that influenced its development over centuries.

Zugdidi, in Samegrelo province in the west, is a quaint, charming city with impressive architecture. For your daily dose of culture, head to Dadiani Palace, where you can get lost exploring the 19th-century structure and the grounds. Make your way to the capital, Tbilisi, where you can see the rare death mask of Napoleon Bonaparte on display at the Zugdidi Historical Museum. If you’ve had enough of the city sights, head out of town, take to the water and find your sense of adventure in Martvili Canyon.