This article may contain compensated links. Learn more in our disclaimer.
What are the best day trips from Tbilisi? What to see around Tbilisi?
Georgia is a small country, and its size is one of its advantages. Since it’s so small, you can be based in Tbilisi, and explore the country from there. There are many cool day trips from Tbilisi you can go on, and be back in Tbilisi late in the evening. In this article, we will tell you about some of our favorite Tbilisi day tours.
Check them out! You can book these day trips online.
Table of Contents
Beautiful Day Trips From Tbilisi, Georgia
What are the options? What Tbilisi tour you must not miss?
Check out our favorite excursions from Tbilisi.
1. Kazbegi, Stepantsminda, and Gudauri Tour (click for more details)
A fun and interesting Kazbegi tour from Tbilisi.
One of the best day trips from Tbilisi, our favorite.
The final destination of this excursion is Kazbegi. You may also agree with a tour company to drop you off there, and stay a few days in Kazbegi like we have done. And then, for example, go on some beautiful hikes in Kazbegi. Kazbegi (also known as Stepandsminda) is a top tourist destination in Georgia. With its iconic mountain views and hill-top church, Gergeti Trinity Church, it is a must-visit when traveling to Georgia.
One the way from Tbilisi to Kazbegi, you visit the iconic Ananuri Castle. Mostly there is also an opportunity to partake in tandem paragliding from take-off sites around Gudauri ski resort. Gudauri boasts wonderful mountain and canyon views, making it one of the best destinations for paragliding in Georgia.
DURATION: 10 hours
HIGHLIGHTS:
- exploring the impressive Ananuri Castle;
- enjoying mountain views in Gudauri;
- tasting traditional Georgian cuisine;
- an opportunity to partake in tandem paragliding;
- visiting the Gergeti Trinity Church – one of the most iconic places in Georgia.
2. Mtskheta Half-Day Tour (click for more details)
A half-day excursion to Mtskheta – one of top attractions in Tbilisi.
Mtskheta is an ancient capital of Georgia. It is one of the best places to visit in Georgia. Located close to the modern-day capital of Georgia, Tbilisi, Mtskheta is a very popular place to visit for locals and tourists alike.
You’ll be visiting the iconic hill-top Jvari Monastery which boasts impressive views of Mtskheta, as well as the views of the confluence of the two rivers, the Aragvi and Kura. The guide will also take you to Svetitskhoveli Cathedral — an ancient church and a UNESCO Heritage Site located in the historic town of Mtskheta. Besides that, you will visit Samtavro Monastery and the Shio-Mgvime monastery.
DURATION: 4 hours
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Visiting the iconic hill-top Jvari Monastery;
- Marveling the confluence of the two rivers, the Aragvi and Kura, the Jvari Monastery;
- Exploring the UNESCO-listed Svetitskhoveli Cathedral that dates back to 4th century AD.
3. Full-Day Tour of Vardzia, Rabati, and Borjomi (click for more details)
A full-day tour of southern Georgia.
One of the most interesting day trips from Tbilisi. Two if its highlights are a unique cave monastery and Borjomi, a popular resort town in south-central Georgia.
First, you’ll visit an impressive 9th-century medieval castle complex which has been influenced by different cultures. Then you’ll enjoy the views of the beautiful valley with rocky hillsides, and explore the unique cave city of Vardzia. This city is known for its wall paintings and one-of-a-kind architecture. Finally, you’ll explore the tranquil resort town of Borjomi and try the famous mineral water. Borjomi is well-known internationally for its mineral water industry.
DURATION: 14 hours
HIGHLIGHTS:
- visiting a medieval castle and marvelling at the impressive architecture;
- enjoying beautiful landscapes of southern Georgia;
- visiting a cave monastery;
- relaxing in the famous resort town of Borjomi.
4. Kakheti Wine Region Full-Day Group Tour (click for more details)
A popular wine region tour from Tbilisi, a fun tour to be on.
Excursions to Kakheti wine region are among the best day tours from Tbilisi.
With a plenty of beautiful places to see, Kakheti is one of the best regions in Georgia. Located in the eastern part of the country, at the foot of the Caucasus Mountains, Kakheti is known not only for good wine but also for its picturesque scenery.
During the excursion, you will have an opportunity to explore the centuries old Monastery of St. Nino at Bodbe. The monastery is situated on the hillside overlooking the Alazani Valley. You’ll visit Sighnaghi, which boasts gorgeous, unobstructed views of the vast Alazani valley. Sighnaghi is a small yet very popular town both among local and foreign tourists alike. It is known for its cute houses and narrow, cobblestone streets. If the weather is good, the Caucasus Mountains are visible at a distance. You will walk on Sighnaghi Wall which is one of the best places to visit in Georgia.
At the end of the day, you will visit a winery to try local wine and chacha (a Georgian pomace brandy).
DURATION: 12 hours
HIGHLIGHTS:
- enjoying the splendid views of the Alazani Valley;
- visiting Bodbe’s St. Nino’s Convent;
- exploring Sighnaghi and walking on Sighnaghi Wall;
- tasting Georgian wine and chacha.
5. Off-road Tour to David Gareja Monastery and Rainbow Mountain (click for more details)
It’s your chance to see some awe-inspiring natural wonders.
If you want to see unique, out-of-this-world-landscapes and visit ancient rock-hewn Georgian Orthodox monastery, do not miss this Tbilisi day tours! Georgian Rainbow Mountain is one of the most unusual natural landmarks in Georgia. Not many people know about this place, and it is often overlooked by tourists.
Besides the mountain, you’ll visit David Gareja Monastery. Founded in the 6th century, it is one of the one of the most important religious sites in Georgia. This ancient monastery complex consists of a number of buildings and hundreds of cells. Some of the cells and rooms are hollowed out of the rock face, which makes the monastery unique. The complex is located right at the border with Azerbaijan, and a part of it is located in Azerbaijan. Unfortunately, there’s no guarantee that the border guards will let you across the border to see the other part of the complex.
DURATION: 10 hours
HIGHLIGHTS:
- walking on the colorful earth of the Rainbow Mountain;
- exploring one of the most important religious sites in Georgia.
6. One Day Tour to Armenia From Tbilisi (click for more details)
A Northern Armenia day trip from Tbilisi.
Armenia shares a border with Georgia. And as the border is located a mere 37 miles (60 km) from Tbilisi, it takes just one-and-a-half hour to get to Armenia. It is a great opportunity to add another country to your list!
Armenia is a beautiful country rich with culture and heritage. It is considered that Armenia is one of the oldest countries in the world. This guided tour will take to the UNESCO-listed monasteries of Haghpat and Sanahin, both located some 62-74 miles (100-120 km) from Tbilisi. On your way you’ll visit Akhtala Monastery and enjoy beautiful mountain views.
Find out in advance if you need to obtain a visa beforehand.
DURATION: 11 hours
HIGHLIGHTS:
- visiting the ancient monasteries of Haghpat and Sanahin;
- seeing abandoned Soviet buildings;
- seeing a different landscape — rugged rocky mountains;
- tasting traditional Armenian food.
Hiking to Azeula Fortress (4-6 Hour Hike)
Do you love hiking? There are a number of hiking trails in and around Tbilisi.
One of our favourite ones is the hike to Azeula Fortress.
There are two ways you can do this hike. You can either start from Tbilisi or finish in Tbilisi. We would recommend you the latter – to start at the fortress and finish it at Turtle Lake. It’s much easier this way, because this way it will mostly be a downhill hike. It is also easier to arrange transportation that way. Just take a Yandex taxi to the village nearby (Kojori) and walk up to the fortress. From there start your trek to Turtle Lake Ropeway Station. It takes about 4 hours to complete the 11 mile (18 km) hike.
On your way, you will enjoy beautiful hilly landscapes. If the weather is clear, you can see snow-capped mountains in the distance.
You don’t have to book an excursion to hike this route.
Our Best Tbilisi Travel Tips
Tbilisi is one of our favorite cities in Europe.
First of all, it’s just a very nice place to be. You feel good being in Tbilisi. And there are many interesting things to do in Tbilisi. Here are some of the things we have learned about this city – our best Tbilisi tips.
- Do not underestimate this city. It is larger than you would think, and it boasts a wide variety of tourist attractions.
- There are a lot of places to see in Tbilisi. And even more — outside of it. Since Georgia is a small country, you can go on day trips to various parts of the country and be back in Tbilisi late in the evening. On our first trip to Georgia, we spent more than a month in Tbilisi, and didn’t get bored, partly thanks to these day trips.
- There are plenty of cheap day trips from Tbilisi. Most of them will set you back 30-50 USD, depending on the duration and seller. Most of the tours take a whole day (10-12 hours). So, be prepared for a long day.
- You can book Tbilisi day trips online, too. Excursions can be bought from local travel agents in the city centre, not far from Freedom Square. However, it can also be done online. If you want to plan your Georgia trip ahead, you can book excursions online in advance. Another advantage of booking online is that you can read reviews and compare prices.
- When to visit? Late spring and early fall are great times to visit Georgia.
- Do you love wine? Late September – mid-October is when Rtveli takes place. Rtveli is a traditional wine harvest festival in Georgia. It is a great time to visit if you love wine and fun. There are also wine tours from Tbilisi.
- Use taxi apps in Tbilisi. To avoid overpaying, use Yandex or Bolt app to call a cab. There’s no Uber in Georgia.
- Don’t forget about the dress code! Be aware that there is a dress code for visiting religious sites. Men must wear pants and shirts or t-shirts (no tank tops). Women must wear clothing that covers their shoulders and knees, and cover the head with a shawl. Many religious sites in rural areas require women to wear maxi skirts instead of jeans and other types of fitted pants.
Have you visited Georgia? Did you visit Tbilisi? Did you do any day excursions from Tbilisi? Which, in your opinion, are the best day trips from Tbilisi you could recommend?
Book Your Trip Like a PRO
1. Book Your Flight. Find cheap flights using Kiwi.com, Momondo.com. Or subscribe to Dollar Flight Club, if you don’t want to be searching for the flights yourself. Kiwi currently is my first choice.
2. Book Your Accommodation. Booking.com, Agoda.com and Airbnb. I use Booking and Agoda at least a dozen times a year, and Airbnb – when looking for a long-term stay. My best tip is to ALWAYS compare the price. Sometimes the same hotel is cheaper on Booking.com, other times – on Agoda. Always compare the price!
3. Buy Your Travel Insurance. Ekta and SafetyWings are two companies I can recommend. Ekta offers some extra benefits, that will be important for those doing some higher risk activities (make sure to choose the right plan!), while SafetyWings is better for digital nomads. SafetyWings is also very affordable.
Disclaimer for Amazon Associates: MakeAdventureHappen.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
