The Open Road Travel

Georgia is situated on the border of Eastern Europe and Western Asia and is a country full of rich culture, wonderful landmarks, and diverse landscapes.

Despite its mall size, Georgia has a lot to offer and is increasingly becoming a popular destination for tourists who are discovering its beauty and charm.

With so many wonders to enjoy, Georgia is a location that you must add to your bucket list.

With that in mind, allow me to show you the 10 best things to do in Georgia, to ensure you enjoy every second of your stay in the country.

Located in The South Caucasus, nestled between Russia, Armenia, Turkey, and Azerbaijan, Georgia is an immerging destination for tourists.

A former Soviet republic state, Georgia is bordered to the west by the Black Sea and is home to ancient cities, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, mountains, and lush nature.

Georgia's climate is extremely diverse and has not only subtropical, dry semi-deserts, but also cold snowy mountains.

The Georgians also have their own alphabet, and their language is one of the oldest spoken languages in the world.

What time of year you decide to visit Georgia will all go down to what areas you decide to visit and what activities you will be doing.

Temperatures are generally mild in the spring and autumn and can get very hot during the summer months of June, July, and August.

This is especially evident around the capital city and lowlands. With temperatures sometimes reaching 40 degrees Celsius (104°F), it can get uncomfortably hot and make exploring difficult.

This time of year can also mean tourist destinations are a lot busier. You may find that visiting some of the places mentioned in this article is a little nicer if there are no crowds.

However, this is a pleasant time of year to travel if you’re planning on visiting the mountain areas, which can be difficult to reach and hard to cross during the colder months.

As we move to our list of the 10 best things to do in Georgia, I am going to suggest a broad range of options.

These will include things to appeal to travellers of all different interests while ensuring you have something to cover everything that the country of Georgia is known for.

Martvili, a small town in Western Georgia, holds one of the country’s most stunning natural wonders, Martvili Canyon.

This picturesque landmark, made up of water and rocks, has been a popular tourist spot since its tourist infrastructure was improved, adding new paths and bridges.

The 2.4-kilometre gorge has been carved out by the Abasha river and features high rock walls and a number of cascading waterfalls.

If you want to experience the contrast between the tranquil Abasha River and the energetic waterfalls, the canyon is worth a visit.

Visitors can explore the area via a 700-metre walking trail which starts at a visitor centre. You will also have the opportunity to take a short ride down the river in an inflatable boat.

The canyon welcomes visitors throughout the year and the high humidity of the area means the foliage is green practically all year round.

Martvili Canyon is the most popular day trip from Kutaisi, so if you plan on staying in the city, why not book a guided tour that includes transport to and from the canyon?

If you’d rather do things your way and don’t feel you require a tour guide, there are buses that travel between the landmark and the city, and it takes around an hour each way.

Batumi is the second-largest city in Georgia and is in the Southwest of the country, on the coast of the Black Sea.

The premier resort town is an up-and-coming destination, with big hotels continuously being built, and is the ideal location to visit in Georgia if you want a day at the beach.

There are a few beaches in Batumi but the most popular one is the central beach, as it has a lot of entertainment surrounding it. The pebbly beach stretches 7 kilometres along Batumi Boulevard.

The boulevard is the most visited part of Batumi and there is always a lot happening on and around it. Visitors can rent a bike or an electric scooter and enjoy riding up and down in the sunshine or chilling out on the grass or beach with a picnic.

Make sure to keep an eye out for the unique landmarks and wildlife in the area.

However, you needn’t stay on the beach all day on your trip to Batumi, as there is plenty to do all over the city.

Batumi has a superb café and restaurant scene, plus the Old Town features picturesque streets to stroll down and beautiful historic buildings to take in.

In Tbilisi, the capital city of Georgia, an ancient fortress overlooks the city. It is not easy to miss, as the 4th-century Narikala Fortress can be seen from almost every part of Tbilisi and from it, you can enjoy some of the best panoramas of the city.

Also called the ‘Mother Fortress’, Narikala is a majestic symbol of Tbilisi's defence from ancient times. Unfortunately, the fortress now is mainly ruins, and a 12th-century Orthodox church is one of the only undamaged structures.

However, it is worth taking a trip up to the fortress, even if just for the gorgeous views of the city below. Take a walk up to the fortress if you have the energy, or if you don’t like the idea of that, why not get a cable car up?

Admission is free, so wander around the ruins and take in the views for as long as you like.

Abanotubani is one of the oldest districts of Tbilisi and is famous for its public sulphur baths, which are one of the most iconic Tbilisi sights.

The word itself literally means ‘bath district’ and the origin of the bathhouses dates back to when Tbilisi was founded and plays an important part in its history.

Fed by underground bubbling sulphur springs, the historic bathhouses are below ground level, and some have domed ceilings that look charming from the outside.

The hot, sulphur-rich water is not only relaxing but apparently has healing benefits, including treating skin irritations and infections such as eczema.

Situated in northwestern Georgia, along the Caucasus mountains, Svaneti is arguably the most beautiful region of the country. Svaneti consists of two parts. Upper (Zemo) Svaneti and Lower (Kvemo) Svaneti.

Upper Svaneti is by far the more picturesque of the two parts. Beautiful, lush green valleys and stunning, snow-covered mountains, along with charming historical stone villages, make it a must-see location.

Lower Svaneti is separated from Upper Svaneti by the Svaneti mountain range.

Although it too has beautiful mountain views, unlike its northern counterpart, there are no medieval-looking villages or towers. This makes Lower Svaneti much less of a tourist destination.

Svaneti has for thousands of years been home to the Svan people, an indigenous group related to Georgians.

Mestia, the main regional centre of Upper Svaneti, has a museum that allows you to see some of the best treasures of Georgia and learn a bit more about the Svans.

Svaneti Museum of History and Ethnography holds ornaments, jewellery, weaponry, and ethnographic pieces with the story of the Svan people.

Tourists visit Svaneti all year round, but during the winter most visitors are there for skiing, as there are two skiing resorts within Mestia.

If you have any knowledge on Georgia, you will know that the country is known for its wine.

Georgia has the ideal soil and climate for growing grapes and making wine. This is why, for at least 8,000 years, the country has been producing the beverage and is known as the birthplace of wine.

Located to the east of Tbilisi, the region of Kakheti is where approximately 70% of all Georgian grapes are grown.

The wineries in Kakheti can be visited throughout the year, but during harvest season, from September to October, you will get the chance to see how the wine is actually produced, so bear this in mind if you are a wine enthusiast.

You can choose from a wide selection of wine tastings and tours if you plan on visiting Kakheti, and full day trips are offered from Tbilisi.

However, Kakheti doesn’t only boast fantastic wineries, it also has gorgeous landscapes, mountains, lakes, waterfalls, and cave monasteries as well.

Close to the Georgian city of Gori, is the Uplistsikhe Cave Town. Built on the rocky bank of the Mtkari River, the cave town consists of hundreds of rooms and chambers and began as a religious centre and place of Pagan worship.

It then became home to about 20,000 people before being abandoned around the 14th century.

Living quarters, communal spaces, and ceremonial halls occupy a cliff territory of almost 8 hectares and are connected by tunnels and staircases.

Georgia is home to several cave towns, but Uplistsikhe is the country’s oldest and is identified by archaeologists as one of the oldest urban settlements in the country.

Archaeological excavations have led to the discovery of extraordinary artefacts from different eras, including beautiful gold, silver, and bronze jewellery, plus ceramics and sculptures.

Not an obvious spot for most tourists, Chiatura stands out as one of Georgia's most unconventional, niche destinations.

Located about an hour east of Kutaisi and around 3 hours northwest of Tbilisi, the town of Chiatura is known for its extensive network of Soviet-era cable cars and is a favourite destination for urban explorers and photographers.

Chiatura is quite a new city, being established at the end of the 19th century, when deposits of manganese and iron ore were discovered in the area.

In the 1950’s, a vast cable car system was installed to transport workers up to the mines, as previously miners would have had to trek up and down the steep hills.

Today, some of the original cable car stations have been replaced while others lie abandoned and sealed off. This is because the original Soviet-era system was deemed unsafe. However, the government plans to preserve its stations as heritage sites.

Also nearby is the Mgvimevi Monastery. Located on the outskirts of the Chiatura, this Orthodox monastery is partly carved into the rocks. If you decide to take a look, keep in mind that it is quite a climb up the steps to the top of the cliff.

Although not the typical choice of tourist destination, Chiatura is absolutely worth including on your Georgia itinerary, especially if you’re interested in Soviet history and architecture.

Near to the village of Gergeti, sits the isolated 14th century Gergeti Trinity Church, also called the Holy Trinity Church. It sits on top of a mountain in one of the highest and most beautiful peaks of the Caucasus.

It is probably Georgia's most famous church, and there is a good chance you've seen it featured in many photos promoting the country.

At an elevation of 2170 meters (7120 feet), the church can be reached by a steep hour and a half climb up the mountain and is a popular waypoint for people trekking in the area.

If you're not feeling up to it, the church can also be reached by vehicle, and tours, as well as full day trips, are offered from surrounding towns.

The church itself is simple in design and the architecture is traditional for Georgia. Even if you have no interest in visiting the church, the surrounding landscape is absolutely stunning and well worth the trip there.

As I mentioned previously, Georgia is home to several cave towns. Vardzia is another one of these fantastic landmarks.

Located in southern Georgia, excavated from the slopes of the Erusheti Mountain, Vardzia is the country’s most remarkable cave city. The caves stretch along the cliff for around five hundred metres (1640 feet).

First constructed as a fort in the 12th century, the magnificent medieval monastery once consisted of 6,000 rooms spread across 19 levels. There were also wine cellars, a nunnery, numerous chapels, and an apothecary.

Vardzia was once home to 2000 monks, but sadly, in 1283, a devastating earthquake destroyed more than two-thirds of the city. However, it remains an active monastery to this day, and a few monks still inhabit the caves.

Not only is the cave town a spectacular sight, but the surrounding area also has a few attractions, including more monasteries.

Opposite the cave town is the Vardzia Cavetown Viewpoint. This is a great stop-off point to take it all in from afar.

As for the best hotel to stay at in Georgia, I have selected one that is located in the country’s capital city Tbilisi.

Shota Rustaveli is conveniently located in the heart of the city, within half an hour's walk of both Narikala Fortress and the sulphur baths at Abanotubani.

The boutique hotel offers elegantly decorated rooms with free wifi, a flat-screen TV, air conditioning, an electric kettle, minibar, and a safety box. Family rooms come with kitchenettes.

Each room also has a private bathroom with bathrobes and slippers.

Shota Rustaveli Hotel features an à la carte restaurant on-site that offers fresh, local food, creating delicious meals inspired by Georgian and Italian cuisine. If you would prefer, room service is also provided.

Not only this, a hot breakfast buffet is provided, and if you plan on spending the day exploring, packed lunches are available on request.

The hotel's bar serves diverse drinks, including craft beers, and of course a wide selection of wines. Guests visiting the bar on Friday evenings can enjoy lively Jazz events that take place weekly.

For a more in-depth look into the best areas to stay in Georgia and our suggested hotels, read our article here.

Georgia is a beautiful, unique country, and a cultural gem. With historic, heritage sites plus natural wonders, the country has something to offer all and should leave you plenty of options to fill out your Georgia itinerary.

I hope this list of the 10 best things to do in Georgia has helped you decide on exactly what you’d like to do and see during your trip, so that you can now get to booking an unforgettable vacation to this unique country and experience it all for yourself.