Where Europe and Asia meet over a very old glass of wine.
Georgia sits at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, its capital Tbilisi mixing sulfur bathhouses and hillside churches with a wine-growing tradition claimed to be the oldest in the world.
Khachapuri
Cheese-filled bread, with the Adjarian version topped with an open egg and butter.
Khinkali
Twisted dumplings filled with spiced meat broth, eaten by hand.
Georgian wine
Made using an 8,000-year-old method of fermenting in buried clay qvevri vessels.
Churchkhela
A candle-shaped snack of nuts dipped repeatedly in grape juice and dried.
Old Tbilisi
A district of balconied wooden houses, sulfur bathhouses, and narrow cobbled lanes climbing toward the hilltop Narikala Fortress. A cable car connects the old town directly to the fortress for sweeping views over the city and the Kura River below. The area's natural hot springs have drawn bathers for centuries and remain in use today.
Kazbegi & Gergeti Trinity Church
A 14th-century church perched dramatically on a hilltop below the snow-capped Mount Kazbek, reached by a scenic drive along the Georgian Military Highway followed by a hike or 4x4 ride up. On clear days, the mountain backdrop makes it one of the most photographed churches in the Caucasus. The surrounding Kazbegi region offers extensive hiking beyond the church itself.
Kakheti wine region
Georgia's main wine-producing region, where winemaking using large buried clay vessels called qvevri has continued for an estimated 8,000 years, recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage. Family-run wineries throughout the region offer tastings alongside traditional supra feasts. The walled town of Sighnaghi adds hilltop views over the Alazani Valley's vineyards.
Uplistsikhe cave town
An ancient rock-hewn settlement carved into a cliffside, inhabited from around the early Iron Age through the medieval period and once an important stop on Silk Road trade routes. Visitors can climb through excavated chambers, including a large hall believed to have served ceremonial functions. It offers a quieter, less crowded alternative to Cappadocia's more famous rock-cut settlements.
Svaneti's medieval towers
A remote highland region in the Caucasus, its villages dotted with medieval defensive stone towers built by local families for protection during clan conflicts. The village of Mestia, now more accessible by paved road, serves as the main base for hiking trails with views of some of Georgia's highest peaks. Its isolation has helped preserve distinct local traditions found nowhere else in the country.
Tbilisi's sulfur bathhouses
A district of brick-domed bathhouses fed by natural underground hot springs, a tradition that gave Tbilisi its name, meaning roughly 'warm place'. Private rooms and communal halls both offer hot mineral soaking, often followed by a vigorous scrub treatment. It remains a genuinely local experience rather than one built solely for tourists.
9 days covers Tbilisi, Kazbegi, Kakheti wine country, and Svaneti without rushing. 6 works if you drop Svaneti; 12+ lets you slow the mountain regions down considerably, which rewards patience.
1. Days 1–2
Tbilisi
Old town, the sulfur bathhouses, and the Narikala Fortress cable car.
2. Days 3–4
Kazbegi
The Georgian Military Highway and a hike up to Gergeti Trinity Church.
~3h drive from Tbilisi
3. Days 5–6
Kakheti
Wine tastings and a stop at the ancient qvevri wineries and Sighnaghi.
~2.5h drive from Kazbegi via Tbilisi
4. Days 7–9
Svaneti
A longer drive into the highlands for Mestia's medieval defensive towers.
~8h drive or 1h flight from Tbilisi
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa for Georgia?
Not for most Western passport holders (EU, UK, US, Canada) for stays up to a year, an unusually generous allowance.
Which airport should I fly into?
Tbilisi International (TBS), the country's main gateway.
Is the road to Svaneti difficult?
It's a long, winding mountain drive (or a short flight) — doable in a rental car but many visitors prefer a hired driver given the terrain.
Is Georgian wine really that different?
Yes, genuinely distinctive — the traditional qvevri method (fermenting in buried clay vessels) produces amber and orange wines unlike almost anywhere else, recognized by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage.