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The capital of Georgia, Tbilisi, is filled with great historic sites, museums, and places to eat and drink. While it can be tempting to just stay in the city, there are also several great day trips from Tbilisi that allow visitors to experience even more of Georgia (and beyond!). These easy day trips include UNESCO World Heritage Sites, wine regions, outdoor recreation, and more.
It’s possible to rent a car & do many of these Tbilisi day trips on your own, but organized tours are also reasonably priced. This is an especially good option if you plan on drinking Georgian wine & chacha.
Kakheti Wine Region
Georgia is famous for its wine, as it’s the oldest winemaking region in the world. Eighty percent of Georgian wine is produced in the Kakheti region. There are many day trips to Kakheti that showcase the area’s excellent wineries & historic sites.
The town of Signagi is one of the most beautiful in Georgia. Located on a hill overlooking the expansive Alazani Valley, it’s the most popular destination on Kakheti tours.
Additionally, most Kakheti tours stop at local wineries. These wineries range from small, family-run producers to some of the largest in Georgia.
At each, you will learn about the historic qvevri winemaking process that makes Georgian wine special.
I went on an outstanding wine tour to Kakheti & Signagi, which you can read more about here.
Mtskheta
The historical town of Mtskheta is just a short distance outside of Tbilisi, and it is one of the most popular day trips from the area.
Mtskheta was once the capital of Georgia. It is home to the Historical Monuments of Mtskheta, a UNESCO World Heritage Site comprised of three religious buildings: Holy Cross Monastery of Jvari, Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, and Samtavro Monastery.
Jvari Monastery is unmissable from the road out of Tbilisi.
The beautiful building is located high on a hill overlooking Mtskheta.
Svetitskhoveli Cathedral is the impressive centerpiece of Mtskheta.
Street vendors line the road to the cathedral, selling authentic Georgian items.
Mtskheta’s popularity is helped by its proximity to Tbilisi, as it’s possible to see it in just half a day if necessary. However, its beautiful views, including riverside restaurants, are sure to make you want to stay longer.
I recommend Kera Restaurant, which serves an array of excellent Georgian dishes, including seafood. There are also several wineries nearby, including Iago’s Winery.
Stepantsminda (Kazbegi)
Stepantsminda, formerly Kazbegi, is a town located north of Tbilisi in the Caucasus Mountains, near the Russian border.
The area is home to one of the most famous views in Georgia. Gergeti Trinity Church is a mountaintop building with even taller mountains located behind it, including Mount Kazbek, resulting in breathtaking views.
The town is also great for outdoor activities such as hiking, mountain biking, paragliding, and horseback riding.
Gudauri Ski Resort
Georgia is rapidly becoming known as a ski destination thanks to its plentiful snow and lower prices than other European mountain resorts. In addition to Mestia in Svaneti, Gudauri is one of Georgia’s top ski resorts.
While Gudauri has plenty of hotels and resorts for a longer mountain trip, skiing and snowboarding can be done on a day trip from Tbilisi.
The drive from Tbilisi to Gudauri takes between two and three hours, depending on traffic and weather conditions. Although this can mean missing the first morning runs, skiers and snowboarders can still spend a long day on the slopes.
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Uplistsikhe
Uplistsikhe is an ancient cave town near Gori. The name means “The Lord’s Fortress.” It’s one of the oldest settlements in the Caucasus. The Uplistsikhe Cave Town was inhabited from around 1000 BC until the 13th century.
At one point, some 20,000 people lived in the town, which combines Christian and Pagan architectural elements with rock-cut styles also found in Turkey and Iran.
Uplistsikhe declined in importance as Christianity rose and Mtskheta and Tbilisi grew. However, during the period of Arab rule in those parts of the country, it later saw a renaissance as the kings of Kartli inhabited the town. Uplistsikhe was finally abandoned following Mongol raids in the 13th century.
Today, the remaining cave structures of the Inner City include homes, halls, a theater, a pre-Christian temple, and two basilicas.
An important place in Georgia’s history, Uplistsikhe is on the tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Book a day trip to Uplistsikhe here
Armenia
The Armenian border is less than two hours away from Tbilisi. Northern Armenia is a beautiful area filled with history, from old churches to Soviet-era industry.
Organized day trip tours to Armenia include visits to UNESCO World Heritage Site monasteries, museums, and even lunches with local Armenian families.
Read about my day trip to Armenia from Tbilisi.
Book a day trip to Armenia here
Here are some other great Tbilisi tours & activities.
For Georgian wine experiences, I recommend taking a day trip to Kakheti from Tbilisi. Also, you can visit the many wine bars in Tbilisi.
If wine isn’t your thing, Tbilisi also has excellent cocktail bars & craft beer bars & breweries. Be sure to try the local spirit known as chacha!
Need a place to stay? Check out these Tbilisi hotel options. I enjoyed my stay at the Moxy Tbilisi, and the Radisson Blu Iveria Hotel is another excellent option.
