Georgia Travel Guide – Discover the Gem Between Europe and Asia
- Ankitha
- Oct 29, 2018
- 7 min read
Updated: Sep 24
At the crossroads of Europe and Asia lies a country that is a combination of both uniqueness and diversity. Although small, Georgia is surrounded by the Caucasus Mountain range and Black Sea coastline. This Georgia travel guide will take you through our 4-day trip covering Tbilisi, Gudauri, Annanuri, Mtskheta, and Uplistsikhe.
The country has a rich history, diverse culture and traditions, delicious cuisine (even for us vegetarians) and a very rich wine culture. I felt it had a hint of Russian architecture and the charm of a quaint European town.
My family and I made this trip at the end of March last year. This is one of the easiest trips you can do from India or the Middle East.
ITINERARY FOR OUR TRIP TO GEORGIA
Arrival at night and rest
Day 1 – Tbilisi New Town: Metekhi Church, Bridge of Peace, Narikala Fortress, Freedom Square, Liberty Monument, Mtskheta
Day 2 – Day trip to Annanuri and Gudauri
Day 3 – Day trip to Gori and Uplistsikhe
Day 4 – Tbilisi Old Town and departure
BEST TIME TO VISIT
Summers are warm and pleasant, while winters can be extreme with snow and temperatures dropping below freezing. We visited in spring (March/April), but it still felt like winter with some rain.
Check seasonal travel tips on the Georgia Official Tourism Website.
FLIGHTS + VISA
We flew with Fly Dubai – short, direct flights are available all week.
Visa: On-arrival for GCC residents. Indian passport holders need to apply in advance (quick and straightforward process).
More details available on the Visa Information Portal.
LANGUAGE
The official language is Georgian. While it’s unique and challenging to pick up, most people in Tbilisi speak English, especially in tourist areas.
CURRENCY
The official currency is the Georgian Lari (GEL). USD is also accepted in some places. 💡 Pro tip: Avoid credit cards – carry enough local cash for restaurants, cabs, and shopping.
GUIDE
Back in 2017, there wasn’t much information available online, so we traveled with a reliable local guide throughout. Now, you can find plenty of Georgia tours on TripAdvisor if you prefer not to go solo.
WHERE TO STAY
We stayed at Hotel Old Metekhi, located in the heart of Tbilisi. The balcony views were incredible – overlooking the city and river. While not fancy, it was convenient, affordable, and just 10 minutes from restaurants.
Pro Tip: The hotel is on a hill, so if you don’t want to walk up and down, consider a cab or another property nearby.
COSTS + GETTING AROUND
Cabs, metros, and buses are affordable.
Walking through cobbled alleys is also a highlight.
Taxis are reliable and inexpensive compared to Europe.
SAFETY
Had no issues with safety. We felt everyone we met was warm and helpful.
Fun Fact: They even have a "TbilisiLovesYou" Wi-Fi throughout out the city. The connectivity wasn't great but it's the thought that counts right?
VEGAN + VEGETARIAN FOOD
Georgia is heaven for juice lovers – fresh, no sugar, no preservatives. It’s also famous for its wine culture, with over 7,000 years of winemaking tradition.
Read more about Georgian food and drinks on Lonely Planet Georgia.
Fun fact: It's also famous for its wine with wine making being practiced for over 7000 years!
WHAT TO PACK
We traveled in late March – it was still cold. Bring rain jackets, winter coats, scarves, and beanies. If visiting in summer, lighter layers will do.
HIGHLIGHTS
Tbilisi & Mtskheta
We started by taking a short walk near our hotel to explore the Old Metekhi church. This place is sort of a hidden view point to see the city without the crowd.
Walked to Old Metekhi Church for city views.
There is something incredibly charming about these rooftops.
We walked to the cable car station, took the trip up to the Narikala Fortress. The view from the cable car was spectacular. If you have the time, you can also opt to do a short climb from the foot of the hill.
Cable car ride to Narikala Fortress → 360° panoramic views.
Explored Freedom Square, Liberty Monument, and the Bridge of Peace.
As you drive by the Freedom Square, you can see the liberty monument, the parliament and the bridge of peace.
After lunch, you can head to the city of Mtskheta, the old capital of Georgia. The main highlight of this place is the Jvari Church also called Cross Church. Apparently, this is the place where the first cross in Georgia was placed.
Afternoon in Mtskheta, the old capital. The highlight: Jvari Church with stunning views where two rivers merge.
Evening stroll on Chardin Street, lined with colorful buildings and cafes.
Further down you will see the Botanical garden and as you walk past it, you will stumble on to a pretty little waterfall. There are benches here and it's right behind the old Metekhi street, so it's probably the best place to pack a nice picnic and watch the sun go down.
After dinner, the husband and I took a 20 minute walk down to the Peace Bridge. The bridge is quite new and stands out for its contemporary design in the heart of an age old city.
Pro Tip: Even if you visit this place during the day, I highly recommend coming back at night for the beautiful blue lights.
Annanuri & Gudauri
Stop at Annanuri Fortress (17th century) → beautiful mountain backdrop.
Continued to Gudauri Ski Resort – snow-covered slopes, ski lifts, and breathtaking mountain views.
Tried snowmobiles and cable cars – unforgettable white wonderland experience.
Here you will find a small monument that outlines the Russia-Georgia friendship and other monumental spots.. not to mention brilliant views of the mountains on all sides.
As you drive further up, you will start to see snow-capped mountains and the temperatures will start to drop quite a bit. Your next stop will be Guduari.
Once you get here, you can take the cable car to the top of the ski resort. If you want to ski - a ski-pass for a full day is around 30 GEL. If you chose to rent gears, boards it would cost 50 GEL.
The whole place will be covered in snow - absolute white magic. Breathtaking landscape. We still fondly remember being here.
If you’re not into skiing or snowboarding, you can still use the ski pass to ride the cable cars to reach the top. We took turns to ride the snow mobile. SO MUCH FUN. We honestly could not get enough of this place.
If you have never seen snow or experienced it, I would definitely recommend heading to Gudauri (much better than the crowded places in Switzerland). Even though this place is just as touristy, there is enough room for everyone to move around and do their own thing.
On your way back, spend an hour or so walking around in Rustaveli Avenue - later grab dinner at the elegant (slightly expensive) Sanjha Chulla.
Uplistsikhe & Gori
Explored Uplistsikhe Caves – ancient pagan settlement with scenic mountain and river views.
Visited the Joseph Stalin Museum in Gori, showcasing his early life and historic artifacts.
There are short trails you can take once inside the caves. They all lead to different viewpoints. We did quite a few of these - loved them all. The views from this place were gorgeous.
This was also the only place where we saw glimpses of "spring" - mostly it just felt like winter.
Pro Tip: it can extremely chilly inside the caves with the open grounds and river nearby. Be sure to cover up adequately.
On your way back, pick up a hot cocoa at the shop next to the entrance and drive to the town of Gori. Here you can then check out the Joseph Stalin Museum. This was the original house of Stalin. You can see his bath tub inside and his railway carriage on the outside.
Spend the evening in Tbilisi enjoying your last night in town.
Tbilisi Old Town
Ended with a visit to the Holy Trinity Cathedral, the largest in Tbilisi. Quiet, peaceful, and the perfect way to wrap up our trip.
It was a rainy morning, so the whole place was quiet. Make your way to the church - you can't take pictures inside but the outside is gorgeous. You can see the old part of the city from here.
Just the kinda calmness you need to end your trip.
FINAL THOUGHTS
When we visited Georgia in April 2017, information online was scarce, but today it’s much easier to plan with resources like Georgia Tourism.
This Georgia travel guide shows that you can cover a lot of ground in just 4 days – Tbilisi, Gudauri, Mtskheta, and Uplistsikhe. It’s affordable, accessible, and full of surprises – from historic churches to snowy mountains.
If you’re looking for a quick international trip filled with charm, culture, and natural beauty, Georgia should be at the top of your list.
Drop your comments below and show some love. Feel free to shoot me an email with your feedback.
Cheers,
Anki
To explore more European destinations, be sure to check out other blogs for additional insights.
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