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Most visitors to Georgia stick to Tbilisi, the Kakheti wine region, and the coastal city of Batumi. However, the country is also blessed with mountainous landscapes that, although remote, are worth the journey. Mestia in the Svaneti region is the perfect hub for enjoying the outdoors. My Mestia travel guide will help you find your way to the area, pick a great place to stay, and learn about all the things to see and do, including food & drink.
Or you can go on an organized tour to Mestia and Svaneti and leave the planning to local experts! Find tours on Get Your Guide and Viator.
Where is Mestia?
Mestia, Georgia, is located in the Caucasus Mountains, which form the border between Georgia and Russia. The town is in the Svaneti region, part of the Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti province.
Although Mestia is just a few miles from Russia, the mountains prevent any land crossings (even if relations between the two countries allowed them).
Getting to Mestia
Getting To Mestia by Car
Mestia is not the easiest place to get to. Due to the country’s geography, driving from Tbilisi to Mestia takes a minimum of eight to nine hours. The mountains require driving almost all the way west to the Black Sea coast before heading north and east again.
Batumi & Kutaisi (which has a nice small airport with an increasing number of flights from around Europe) are much closer, but the journey still takes five hours or more.
Seasonal road conditions can make the drive even longer. Snow can lead to avalanches and landslides in winter, causing delays and road closures.
Of course, during the summer months, there is no snow, but the winding roads are still not for the faint of heart.
A four-wheel-drive car is highly recommended. When I was in Mestia in the winter, I watched a guy in a Prius get stuck in the snow for about half an hour, only to immediately get his car stuck again about 20 feet away. There’s a reason why most vehicles in the region are 4x4s.
While you can rent a vehicle and drive yourself, shared & private transfers are available from Batumi, Kutaisi, and Tbilisi, so you can let a professional who knows the area take you there. Or, as I mentioned above, you can do a fully organized tour.
Getting to Mestia By Air
There is a small airport in Mestia called Queen Tamar Airport. Vanilla Sky Airlines has flights to Mestia from Kutaisi and Natakhtari (just outside Tbilisi). However, weather conditions (especially during the winter) can make flying unreliable. The airport was closed for several days due to snow when I visited.
Mestia & Svaneti Tours
Several companies also offer multi-day tours from Tbilisi to Mestia and Svaneti. These tours are a great way to let someone else handle the logistics and driving so you can focus on enjoying the region. Learn more about Mestia & Svaneti tours here.
Hotels in Mestia
As tourism has rapidly grown in Mestia, more and more hotels & guesthouses have been popping up.
I stayed at the Gistola Hotel, and I highly recommend it due to its comfortable rooms & excellent amenities. Read more about my stay here.
Some of my friends stayed at the Hotel Posta & enjoyed their stay. I visited & had an excellent dinner in their upstairs dining room, which features live Georgian folk music.
Find Mestia hotel deals on Booking.com & Hotels.com
Things to Do in Mestia
There are plenty of things to do in Mestia year-round. During the snow season, there are plenty of winter sports to partake in, while the summer months also allow for mountain enjoyment.
Skiing & Snowboarding
Plentiful snow has led to Mestia’s rapid expansion as a skiing and snowboarding destination. As access to the area improves, skiers & snowboarders have found that it’s a great budget alternative to expensive Alpine resorts.
During the winter months, the town is filled with skiers & snowboarders from around the world.
Hatsvali Ski Resort is the largest and closest ski area to Mestia. The resort features ski lifts, including a gondola, and a few runs. Most are geared for intermediate and advanced skiers, as there’s not much of a bunny hill. While there is a road up to the base, there is also a chair lift from Mestia.
There are also cafes and restaurants at both the bottom of the hill and the summit. While skiing and snowboarding are not my thing, I enjoyed eating Georgian food and drinking local craft beer while watching from the warm restaurant.
Another ski area is located in nearby Tetnuldi.
Heliskiing is also an option.
Hiking
When the snow melts, Svaneti turns into a hiking paradise. There are several nice hikes from Mestia.
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The hike from Mestia to Chalaadi Glacier can be done in a single day (or even shorter if you get a ride to the base of the trail rather than hiking from town). The hike is possible year-round, but the glacier views are more dramatic when there’s no other snow around.
Another popular hike is the hike from Mestia to Ushguli. This hike typically takes four days. Guided tours are available.
Day Trip to Ushguli
If you don’t want to trek to Ushguli, you can also visit on a day trip. Tours are available from Mestia. Book an Ushguli tour here
Ushguli is one of the highest permanently inhabited settlements in Europe. The area is gorgeous, with snow-capped mountains and beautiful valleys.
In the past, Ushguli was typically only visitable during the non-snow months, but in recent years, winter travel has also become possible, although treacherous.
Ushguli has hiking trails, restaurants, and historic Svan towers. The area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Svaneti Museum of History & Ethnography
History lovers will enjoy the Svaneti Museum of History & Ethnography.
The excellent museum showcases the region’s rich history from the Stone Age to the present, including many unique artifacts & works of art.
Read about my visit to the Svaneti Museum of History & Ethnography
Svan Towers
Svaneti is famous for its Svan towers. These tower houses were built for defensive purposes between the 9th and 12th centuries.
Today, some of these towers have been turned into museums where visitors can learn more about life in Svaneti.
Other towers are closed to the public, but their presence makes for a memorable landscape.
Cooking & Local History Demonstrations
While several local restaurants serve great regional dishes (see below), you can have an even deeper experience by seeing local demonstrations.
Cooking and local history demonstrations in Mestia include dishes such as kubdari and craft items such as Svan hats.
Read about a kubdari-making demonstration here
Paragliding
If seeing the beautiful Caucasus Mountains from the ground by hiking, skiing, or snowboarding isn’t enough for you, paragliding is another popular activity in Mestia.
Pub & Cinema DEDE
Pub & Cinema DEDE is a unique gathering spot in Mestia.
The cinema shows only one film, “Dede,” which was filmed in the region & tells a local love story.
Get yourself a drink at the bar & settle in to enjoy this glimpse into life in Svaneti.
Restaurants in Mestia
Several restaurants in Mestia serve local favorites and dishes from around the rest of Georgia.
Cafe Laila (Facebook) is one of the most popular Mestia restaurants, always packed with visitors and locals. It’s proudly Georgian and features an excellent selection of national dishes.
You can also sign the wall to commemorate your visit.
Other restaurants & bars include Cafe Panorama, Blue Mountains, Sun-Seti Cafe, Lushnu Qor Restaurant Beer Garden, and Twin Peaks.
I also enjoyed ERTI KAVA Mestia Specialty Coffee, another local cafe and coffee shop.
Many of the hotels in Mestia also have excellent restaurants.
Svaneti is truly a magical place. While it’s not easy to get there, especially during the winter, the spectacular mountain views will leave you stunned, no matter when you visit.
Book a tour to Mestia & Svaneti 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.
Note: My visit to Mestia was part of a Traverse press trip sponsored by Visit Georgia. All opinions are 100% my own.
