This seven-day itinerary covers the best things to do, from Tbilisi to Kakheti
March 5, 2025
Georgia is a country that rewards a curious traveller. There’s so much to see and do that it would be easy to spend months exploring, zig-zagging across the country from Batumi on the Black Sea, all the way east to the border with Azerbaijan. With over 1,751 sky-puncturing mountain peaks – covered in a blanket of snow throughout November to April – there are endless activities for nature lovers, skiers and hikers to enjoy, for foodies there are an abundance of restaurants to uncover, and the remote countryside is populated with ancient churches and ornate monasteries to sate a love of history.
Worth exploring in each city or town are the mainstay fruit and vegetable markets where residents catch-up while shopping for seasonal produce and traditional Georgian food like churchkhela, a candle-shaped sweet treat made from grape juice, flour and a variety of nuts. Along with this traditional candy, you’ll find market stalls selling the nutty Kakhetian sunflower oil that’s used for dressing on the staple Georgian salad of plump tomatoes, walnuts and cucumber. It’s in these traditional markets, along with Georgia’s bakeries – typically hole-in-the-wall joints selling freshly baked bread straight from clay ovens – where the local community unites and a true sense of daily life in the Caucasus unfolds. Beautifully tiled public bathhouses are also a celebrated part of Georgian culture. As are the creative arts: Tbilisi is home to a plethora of museums, public monuments and tombs commemorating some of Georgia’s most prolific creatives – memorials to many of which can be viewed at the Mtatsminda Pantheon.
With so much to keep travellers captivated, it’s tricky knowing where to begin, so for first-timers to the country with just a week to explore, we’ve simplified the process. Here’s how to make the most of a seven-day trip to Georgia.
Stay at the Stamba hotel Nikoloz Paniashvili
Day 1: Explore Tbilisi and sample epic Georgian cuisine
After arriving at Tbilisi International Airport, take a 30-minute taxi to the Stamba Hotel (one of Tbilisi’s best hotels) in the historic Vera neighbourhood. Housed in a Soviet-era brutalist building that was once a publishing house, its exposed concrete, mid-century furniture, and the preservation of original design elements, gives it tons of personality. It even has its own vertical farm on-site, supplying herbs and micro greens to its kitchen.
Once suitably refreshed it’s time to take in the sights, starting with a hike to the top of Mount Mtatsminda, the highest point in Tbilisi at 710 metres and renowned for its views over the city. Head back down by way of the Tbilisi Funicular Railway, which stops close to Vilnius Square in the old town, and grab a light lunch at nearby Eleven Window or Plant Lovers, two of the best cafes in Tbilisi.
Continue with a stroll past the crumbling facades of the grand mansions in the historic neighbourhood of Sololaki, before checking out one of the city’s sulphur bathhouses located in the Abanotubani district; Chreli Abano is a must-see for its colourful mosaics or Sulphur Bathhouse No. 5 for a massage treatment.
Depending on energy levels, continue on to the eclectic open-air Dry Bridge antique market, Holy Trinity Cathedral, and buzzy Dezerter Bazaar where piles of fresh fruits and vegetables await. Round off the perfect first day in Georgia with a late dinner at Salobie Bia, one of Tbilisi’s best restaurants . Serving plates of garlic-laden shkmeruli (slow cooked chicken), lobio (bean stew) and khashlama (a popular boiled beef and coriander dish) make an ideal introduction to Georgian cuisine.
Day 2: Ski or hike in the stunning surrounds of Mount Kokhta
Start the day by eating breakfast in Cafe Stamba, which serves a great selection of healthy plates created with produce from Udabno, the largest regenerative farm in Europe, before making the three-hour car journey across the country to Mount Kokhta. Situated in the Borjomi district of Georgia, bracing mountain air and endless pine forests create breathtaking scenery that presents perfect skiing conditions during the snowy winter months, and is a popular place for hiking and horse-riding excursions through the mist-wrapped Bakuriani forest during the summer.
Check into cosy, contemporary Rooms Hotel Kokhta, in which spacious bedrooms decked out in neutral tones and natural materials contain standalone bathtubs, and large floor-to-ceiling windows display the forest outside to full effect.
Day 3: Travel to Kutaisi
Although it’s hard to leave the fresh mountain air and dramatic scenery of Mount Kokhta, one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities, Kutaisi, calls. Newly-opened Communal Kutaisi is the stand-out place to stay and requires booking well in advance, as the quaint property has just 10 rooms. Arrive before lunch and head straight to Bikentia’s Kebabery to sample a delicious spicy kebab served with doorstop-sized chunks of white bread. It’s a standing-only cafe beloved by the locals, and is a great place to fuel up before taking in the city’s sights.
The best way to get acquainted with Kutaisi is on foot. Be sure to visit the White Bridge, built in 1851, and the statue known as Picasso’s Boy perched on its handrail, before heading on to the Pano Kolkheti monument designed by Bernard Nebieridze. Next, meander over to Bagrati Cathedral, an 11th-century medieval masterpiece named after Bagrat III, the first king of united Georgia. End a busy day with dinner at Sisters bar and restaurant.
Day 4: Return to Tbilisi for some lake swimming
Hop into a marshrutkas (a local minibus), departing from Kutaisi’s main bus stop, back to Tbilisi – a four-hour journey. With no booking required, marshrutkas are an affordable way to travel through Georgia and a more reasonable alternative to travelling by taxi. Back in the city, live like a local by checking into one of the best Airbnbs in Tbilisi, then make a beeline for idyllic Lisi Lake. Surrounded by wildflowers, the scenic lake provides an escape from the city during the sometimes unbearably hot summer months. Try one of Georgia’s famous sodas, a Lagidze Water for a post-swim sugar hit, or stop for lunch at Amra restaurant nearby.
Another great swimming spot is Turtle Lake, nestled in the hills surrounding Tbilisi, it is reachable by hiking or via cable car. Beginning in Vake Park, the hike passes the Victory Statue, an emblem of Georgia’s independence, and showcases beautiful views, especially at sunset. For dinner, head to nearby Shemomechama for Georgian salad and khinkali (oversized dumplings) in relaxed surroundings, or dress up for an elegant al fresco meal at Cafe Littera, one of the city’s most romantic outdoor restaurants.
Day 5: Take the scenic route to the Kakheti wine region
The drive to Telavi – the gateway of one of Georgia’s most famed wine regions – is captivating; passing through dry river beds, verdant fields and roadside stalls selling homemade jams and local honey. Check in to Communal Hotel Telavi, before enjoying a long lunch at sublime Doli which is known for its Instagrammable interiors, excellent local wines, and tasty sharing plates that celebrate Georgia’s rich culinary heritage. The quaint town boasts an array of sightseeing opportunities, including a colossal 900-year-old tree that’s the largest in the country, a handful of historic churches, a market and plenty of places to sample the local wines.
Day 6: Relax at Lopota Lake Resort and Spa
After a busy few days, a stop at the picturesque, family-owned Lopota Lake Resort and Spa just a 30-minutes drive from Telavi, will be welcomed. The property encompasses eight swimming pools, a picture-perfect lake and forest, and state-of-the-art spa hidden within a dense canopy of trees. The spa menu includes vinotherapy (bathing in red wine), detox and draining rituals, and indulgent and three-hour wellness journeys. A highlight is the hotel’s Slavik bath, where guests are treated to contrast therapy, sauna whisking and plenty of hydrating herbal teas. Once suitably relaxed, head to one of the hotel’s five restaurants for dinner – the wine-tasting experience at Château Buera is worth trying.
Day 7: Discover the photogenic sights of Sighnaghi
Only 1.5 hours away from Lopota Lake, a drive to Sighnaghi, also known as the city of love, is a must. This small, charming town is topped by an 18th-century fortress perched high on a hill, from where it’s possible to see the Caucasus mountain range in the distance. Take a stroll through its winding cobblestone alleyways lined with pastel-coloured houses, and follow Anthony Bourdain’s lead by lunching at Pheasant’s Tears, a quaint restaurant serving dishes like: raw beet salad with red plum sauce; seasonal mushrooms with tarragon; and locally grown aubergines with strained yogurt, alongside local wines and much loved saperavi. If time allows, just two kilometres away is the ninth-century Bodbe Monastery, known for the tomb of the female evangelist, Saint Nino, one of Georgia’s most venerated saints.
