8 Day Georgia Itinerary: The Complete Highlights Tour
Eight days is the sweet spot for visiting Georgia. It's long enough to hit the mountains, the wine country, the cave cities, and the capital — without spending your entire vacation in a car. It's short enough to fit into a standard two-week vacation with buffer days on each end. And it's exactly the amount of time you need to go from "I've never heard of Georgia" to "when can I go back?"
We've run this 8-day itinerary dozens of times with real travelers. We know where the bottlenecks are, where the magic moments happen, and which stops are worth the detour. Here's exactly how we'd spend 8 days in Georgia — down to the meal recommendations.
This itinerary is modeled on our Grand Highlights tour — the 8-day, max-12-person route that covers the four essential regions of Georgia: Tbilisi, Kazbegi, Kakheti, and southern Georgia (Vardzia/Borjomi). If you'd rather someone else handle the logistics, see our full tour with pricing and dates →.
The Route at a Glance
| Day | Region | Overnight | Drive Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrive Tbilisi | Tbilisi | — |
| 2 | Old Tbilisi | Tbilisi | Walking |
| 3 | Tbilisi → Mtskheta → Kakheti | Kakheti | 1.5 hours |
| 4 | Kakheti → Tbilisi | Tbilisi | 2.5 hours |
| 5 | Tbilisi → Kazbegi | Kazbegi | 3 hours |
| 6 | Kazbegi → Vardzia | Vardzia area | 5 hours (with stops) |
| 7 | Vardzia → Borjomi → Tbilisi | Tbilisi | 4 hours |
| 8 | Depart Tbilisi | — | — |
Total driving: Roughly 1,200 km. Longest single stretch: ~5 hours on Day 6 with scenic stops along the way.
Day 1: Arrive in Tbilisi — Welcome to the Caucasus
Theme: Land, settle in, get your first taste
You'll arrive at Tbilisi International Airport (TBS). The city center is 20 minutes away — use the Bolt app (Georgia's Uber equivalent) for a 15-20 GEL ride (~$6). Don't negotiate with airport taxi touts.
Afternoon: Drop your bags at your hotel in Old Tbilisi and walk. This is the best way to absorb the city's contradictions: medieval churches next to Soviet ruins, Art Nouveau balconies leaning at precarious angles, sulfur bath domes rising from the ground like hobbit holes.
Start at Meidan Square, the central hub of Old Town. From there, wander into Abanotubani — the sulfur bath district with its distinctive brick-domed buildings. Walk up to Narikala Fortress for your first panoramic view of the city. The cable car from Rike Park costs 2.50 GEL one way if your legs object to the climb.
Evening: Your first Georgian meal should be memorable. We recommend Shavi Lomi (Black Lion) — modern Georgian cuisine in a converted mansion. Order khachapuri (cheese bread), pkhali (walnut-veggie spreads), and a bottle of amber wine from a Kakheti producer. Budget: 40-60 GEL per person with wine.
Where to stay: Old Town Tbilisi. Budget: hostels from $8/night. Mid-range boutique: $40-80. Premium: GT Hotel in Old Town — where we base our own tour guests.
Download Bolt before you land. It works instantly, prices are fixed, and you'll use it dozens of times in Tbilisi. Airport taxis without Bolt will charge 2-3x the fair price.
Day 2: Old Tbilisi — Markets, Churches & Wine Bars
Theme: Deep dive into Georgia's capital
Morning: Hit the Dezerter Bazaar (the central market) before it gets busy. This is where Georgian grandmothers buy their churchkhela, sulguni cheese, and mountain herbs. Buy some churchkhela for the road — it keeps for weeks and makes a great snack. Then walk to the Sioni Cathedral (6th century) and the Anchiskhati Basilica (the oldest surviving church in Tbilisi, 6th century).
Midday: Lunch at Machakhela on Pushkin Street — unpretentious, beloved by locals, and serving some of the best khinkali in the city. Order 6-8 khinkali per person (the standard is spiced pork, but mushroom is excellent too). Eat them with your hands: bite the top, slurp the broth, eat the filling, discard the dough knot. Budget: 20-30 GEL with drinks.
Afternoon: Cross the Bridge of Peace into Rike Park. Walk through the Fabrika district — a former Soviet sewing factory turned creative hub with street art, cafés, a hostel, and a bar scene. This is where Tbilisi's youth culture lives. If you're into contemporary art, MOMA Tbilisi is worth an hour.
Evening: Wine bar crawl. Start at Vino Underground — the epicenter of Georgia's natural wine scene, serving qvevri amber wines from small Kakheti producers that you've never heard of and will never forget. From there, follow the night. Tbilisi's bar and music scene is genuinely world-class — from jazz at Tsinandali Garden to techno at Bassiani if it's a weekend.
Georgia is the oldest wine-producing country on Earth — 8,000 years of continuous winemaking. The traditional qvevri method (fermenting in clay vessels buried underground) is UNESCO-recognized. Tbilisi's natural wine scene is where the world discovered Georgian amber wine.
Where to stay: Tbilisi (same hotel).
Day 3: Tbilisi → Mtskheta → Kakheti — Wine Country Begins
Theme: Ancient capital, rolling vineyards, first wine tastings
Drive time: ~1.5 hours total
Morning: Leave Tbilisi by 9 AM. Your first stop is Mtskheta — Georgia's ancient capital, 20 minutes north. This is where Christianity became the state religion in 337 AD, making Georgia one of the first Christian nations. Visit Svetitskhoveli Cathedral (11th century, UNESCO World Heritage) and then drive up to Jvari Monastery (6th century) perched on a hilltop with a view of the confluence of the Aragvi and Mtkvari rivers. The view from Jvari is one of the most iconic in Georgia.
Midday: Continue east into Kakheti — Georgia's wine region, responsible for about 70% of the country's wine production. Check into your guesthouse in the Telavi or Sighnaghi area.
Lunch at a local guesthouse — homemade khinkali, lobio (bean stew), fresh bread, and wine from the family's own cellar. This is the kind of meal that changes your definition of "hospitality." Budget: 25-40 GEL per person at a guesthouse.
Afternoon: Drive to Sighnaghi — a fortified hilltop town known as the "City of Love" with cobblestone streets, 18th-century walls, and views across the Alazani Valley to the snow-capped Greater Caucasus mountains. Walk the town walls, visit the Bodbe Monastery (2 km from town, where St. Nino is buried), and browse the artisan shops.
Evening: Wine tasting at a family winery. Kakheti has hundreds of small producers, most of whom don't have websites or TripAdvisor pages. The best introductions come through local guides who know the families. Taste qvevri amber wines, Saperavi reds, and Rkatsiteli whites straight from the clay vessels.
Dinner at your guesthouse or a local restaurant. Kakheti's food is heartier than Tbilisi's — expect more meat, more cheese, more bread.
Where to stay: A family guesthouse in the Sighnaghi/Telavi area. Expect $30-60/night for a private room with homemade breakfast.
In Kakheti, the best wine tastings don't happen at commercial wineries — they happen in family cellars where the winemaker pours directly from the qvevri and tells you the story of every vintage. Ask your guide to arrange this.
Day 4: Kakheti → Tbilisi — One More Vineyard, Then Back to the Capital
Theme: Morning wine, afternoon return
Drive time: ~2.5 hours
Morning: One last Kakheti experience. Visit Tsinandali Estate — a 19th-century aristocratic estate with one of the oldest wineries in Georgia, a beautiful park, and a museum dedicated to the Chavchavadze family (the Georgian equivalent of the Medici). The estate's wine cellar still produces excellent wines using both traditional qvevri and European methods.
Alternatively, visit a larger commercial winery like Khareba Winery — famous for its tunnel-tasting room carved into a mountain. The tunnel is impressive, and the guided tasting covers a wide range of Georgian grape varieties.
Midday: Lunch in Telavi — the main town of Kakheti. Zega is a solid choice with Georgian and European dishes. Or find a local supra (feast) experience if your timing aligns.
Afternoon: Drive back to Tbilisi (~2.5 hours). Check into your hotel and use the afternoon for anything you missed on Day 2 — the Dry Bridge Market (Soviet antiques and art), the Kartlis Deda statue, or a cooking class where you learn to make khinkali and khachapuri yourself.
Evening: Dinner at Café Littera — upscale Georgian in a beautiful courtyard setting. This is the place for a special night. Try the chakapuli (lamb stew with tarragon and tkemali), badrijani nigvzit (eggplant with walnut paste), and a Saperavi from a small Kakheti producer.
Where to stay: Tbilisi (same hotel).
Day 5: Tbilisi → Kazbegi — The Georgian Military Highway
Theme: Mountains, fortresses, one of the world's great drives
Drive time: ~3 hours (with stops: 5-6 hours)
Morning: This is the day you'll remember. Leave Tbilisi by 8-9 AM and head north on the Georgian Military Highway — one of the most scenic roads in the world.
Stop 1: Ananuri Fortress (1 hour from Tbilisi). A medieval castle complex with two churches perched above the Jinvali Reservoir. The turquoise water below and the stone towers above make this one of Georgia's most photographed spots. Free entry, 30 minutes.
Stop 2: Gudauri (2 hours from Tbilisi). Georgia's premier ski resort at 2,196m altitude. In summer, it's a base for paragliding and hiking. Stop for coffee and photos. The Russia-Georgia Friendship Monument nearby has a panoramic viewpoint that stretches across the entire Caucasus range.
Afternoon: Continue to Stepantsminda (Kazbegi) — a mountain town of about 3,000 people at the foot of Mount Kazbek (5,047m). Check into your guesthouse and have lunch. Traditional mountain food: kubdari (meat-stuffed bread), khinkali (the mountain version is even better than the Tbilisi version), and local beer.
After lunch, drive or hike up to Gergeti Trinity Church (2,170m) — the iconic image of Georgia. The 14th-century church sits on a hilltop with Mount Kazbek towering behind it. The drive takes 20 minutes by 4x4. The hike takes 2-3 hours and is moderately challenging.
Evening: Dinner at your guesthouse or at Bars restaurant in town. The mountain air makes everything taste better. If the sky is clear, stargazing in Kazbegi is extraordinary — there's zero light pollution.
The Georgian Military Highway can close temporarily due to weather, especially in spring and late autumn. Your driver or guide will monitor conditions and adjust the route if needed. Always have a backup plan.
Where to stay: A family guesthouse in Stepantsminda with a view of Mount Kazbek. Expect $30-60/night. Many include homemade dinner and breakfast.
Day 6: Kazbegi → Vardzia — South Through the Heart of Georgia
Theme: The long drive day — but it's packed with stops
Drive time: ~5 hours total (with stops: full day)
Morning: This is the longest driving day, but it's broken up with fascinating stops. Leave Kazbegi by 8 AM and head south.
Stop 1: Zhinvali Dam and Fortress — a quick photo stop on the way back through. The fortress at the reservoir is atmospheric and takes 15 minutes.
Stop 2: Gori — Stalin's hometown. Visit the Stalin Museum (controversial but fascinating — it's a time capsule of Soviet-era hagiography) and the Gori Fortress above the town (medieval, crumbling, atmospheric).
Afternoon: Continue south toward Vardzia — Georgia's most extraordinary archaeological site. A 12th-century cave city carved into a cliff face, with 13 floors of tunnels, churches, living quarters, and storage rooms. At its peak, it housed 50,000 people.
Late Afternoon: Explore Vardzia — allow 2-3 hours. The main church (Dormition Church) has stunning frescoes, and the cave network is genuinely awe-inspiring. Your guide will show you hidden passages and explain how Queen Tamar supposedly lived here in disguise.
Evening: Check into a guesthouse near Vardzia or in the nearby town of Aspindza. Dinner will be simple and hearty — mountain food at its best. If you're lucky, your host will invite you into the family kitchen for the full experience.
Vardzia is one of Georgia's least-visited major attractions despite being world-class. The caves, the frescoes, and the views over the valley are on par with anything in Cappadocia — but with a fraction of the crowds. Take your time here.
Where to stay: A guesthouse near Vardzia or in Aspindza. Basic but warm, $20-40/night. Some have no hot water — ask ahead.
Day 7: Vardzia → Borjomi → Tbilisi — The Final Leg
Theme: Castle, spa town, and a triumphant return to Tbilisi
Drive time: ~4 hours total (with stops)
Morning: Drive to Rabati Castle in Akhaltsikhe (30 minutes from Vardzia). This 9th-century fortress was fully restored in 2012 and is now a stunning complex of a mosque, a church, a synagogue, a madrasa, and a museum — all in one walled compound. It's a physical representation of Georgia's history as a crossroads of civilizations. Allow 1-1.5 hours.
Continue to Borjomi (45 minutes) — Georgia's most famous spa town, known for its naturally carbonated mineral water. Taste the water straight from the pump in the central park (it tastes like fizzy salt), and walk through the Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park trails.
Midday: Lunch in Borjomi. The town has several good restaurants serving Georgian and Russian-Caucasus cuisine. Try Lomsia for traditional dishes.
Afternoon: Drive back to Tbilisi (~2.5 hours). Arrive in the late afternoon with time for one last evening in the city.
Evening: Farewell dinner. This is your last night — make it count. We recommend Barbarestan — a restaurant that recreates 19th-century Georgian recipes from the cookbook of Baroness Barbare Jorjadze. It's a culinary history lesson disguised as dinner. Or go for Keto and Kote for a more casual but equally excellent Georgian menu.
Where to stay: Tbilisi (same hotel).
Day 8: Depart Tbilisi — You'll Be Back
Theme: One last khachapuri, then home
Depending on your flight time, squeeze in one last Tbilisi experience: a final visit to the Dezerter Bazaar for last-minute churchkhela and spice purchases, a walk along the Mtkvari River, or one more glass of amber wine at Vino Underground.
The airport is 20 minutes from Old Town. Give yourself 2 hours before an international flight.
Most travelers who complete this 8-day itinerary leave planning their return before they've even landed back home. Georgia has that effect. The food, the wine, the mountains, the hospitality — it's a destination that gets under your skin.
Budget Breakdown — What Does 8 Days in Georgia Cost?
Here's a realistic per-person budget for this itinerary, excluding international flights:
| Category | Budget | Mid-Range | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation (7 nights) | $70-140 | $280-560 | $700-1,200 |
| Food & drink | $150-200 | $250-350 | $400-600 |
| Transport (rental car or private driver) | $200-300 | $300-500 | $600-900 |
| Wine tastings & activities | $50-80 | $100-150 | $200-300 |
| Museum entries & parks | $20-30 | $20-30 | $20-30 |
| Total | $490-750 | $950-1,590 | $1,920-3,030 |
Guided tour comparison: Our 8-day Grand Highlights tour covers this exact itinerary (with a few additions) from $1,895 — including all accommodation, most meals, transport, guide, wine tastings, cooking class, and museum entries. The mid-range DIY budget comes to roughly the same when you factor in the time spent planning, navigating, and negotiating on your own.
Georgia is one of the few countries where a guided tour costs about the same as planning it yourself — because the tour operator's local relationships get guesthouse and restaurant prices that independent travelers can't access.
Practical Tips for This Itinerary
Best time: September-October (wine harvest, perfect weather) or May-June (wildflowers, green valleys). See our month-by-month guide for details.
Visa: Most nationalities get 365 days visa-free in Georgia. Check our visa guide for specifics.
Money: Georgian Lari (GEL). ATMs are widely available. Cards accepted in Tbilisi and major towns, but carry cash in mountain areas.
Language: Georgian. Russian is widely spoken. English is growing in Tbilisi but limited in rural areas.
Safety: Georgia is one of the safest countries in the world for tourists. See our safety guide.
Packing: Layers. Mountain weather changes fast. Good walking shoes are essential. See our packing guide.
Want Someone Else to Handle the Planning?
This 8-day itinerary is exactly what our Grand Highlights tour covers — with a few extras:
- A cooking class in Tbilisi (learn to make khinkali from a local grandmother)
- Wine tastings at family cellars that don't have websites or TripAdvisor pages
- A local Georgian guide who knows every curve of the road and every family along the way
- All logistics handled — you just show up and enjoy
Maximum 12 travelers. Everything included. From $1,895 per person.
Ready to Experience Georgia?
Join our 8-day small group tour through Georgia. From Tbilisi to Kazbegi to Kakheti wine country. Max 10 guests.
See exactly what's included, read reviews from past guests, and check available departure dates. View our 8-day Grand Highlights tour →
