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This post is very complicated: I try to describe the best of Georgia in five days, discarding the trekking part. A trip to Georgia without trekking is very good. What I am about to describe is, therefore, very interesting. Georgia, however, is a real paradise for mountain lovers. I have the firm intention of returning to this magnificent country soon to do some good trekking, especially in the Svaneti area near the town of Mestia.
Best of Georgia: Ananuri
The first things to see in Georgia are along the historic road that connects Tbilisi to the Caucasus Mountains and, later, to Russia. This road is often busy, but there is no shortage of beauty! About seventy kilometers away from Tbilisi you can see the Ananuri Fortress. The fortress, whose construction was finished in the 17th century, consists of two castles (the upper one is in excellent condition) and two churches. From the tower of the upper castle there is a beautiful view of the Aragvi River: the walk is not suitable for those suffering from vertigo and claustrophobia.
The visit to Ananuri is spectacular: there is an excellent view from the bridge in the vicinity of the fortress! I recommend devoting 45 minutes to the visit. Here is a VIDEO demonstrating the beauty of the place!
Best of Georgia: Kazbegi
Continuing the journey along the old Soviet road, it is possible to arrive in the mountainous areas of Georgia. There are two mountain centers that are definitely worth a visit-Gudauri and Kazbegi. At Gudauri (which is a renowned ski center) it is possible to visit the Peace Arch (which is not so much peace: the 1783 armistice between Russia and Georgia is commemorated, but currently relations are not great). The Peace Arch, built in 1983, represents Georgian and Russian cultures: the mountain environment surrounding the Peace Arch is, to say the least, spectacular!
Near the town of Kazbegi, however, it is possible to admire a beautiful church. The Trinity Church of Gergeti, in fact, is spectacular. It stands at an altitude of 2170 meters and, therefore, in a high mountain location. It was built in the 14th century and immediately became a symbol of Georgia: indeed, the visit is spectacular! Ananuri, Gudauri, and Kazbegi can be visited on a day tour from Tbilisi.
Best of Georgia: castle of Rabati
Another one-day tour provides insight into two pearls of southeast Georgia. The first visit is to Rabati Castle. It is located near Akhaltsikhe, which is about three hours from Tbilisi. The castle was built starting in the 9th century. Currently it is possible to visit the castle that was renovated in 2011(many Georgians criticize the restoration, which is considered exaggerated). I personally enjoyed the tour of the castle very much.
At Rabati Castle, in fact, you can see a mosque, a castle, a citadel, baths…and the views from the towers are simply splendid! Admission to Rabati Castle costs about 6 euros: definitely well spent!
Best of Georgia: Vardzia
Also in the Rabati region is the place I liked best in Georgia. Vardzia, in fact, is a spectacular place to say the least. Vardzia is a monastery consisting of as many as six thousand rooms, built in the late 12th century. Its construction was desired by Queen Tamara, whose figure is remembered in church paintings.
Vardzia Monastery was built near the Kura River. More than 3,000 people lived here in 1283, when an earthquake destroyed more than 75 percent of the monastery. Despite the very strong earthquake, it is still possible to visit the monastery today and be amazed at the beauty of the place. Personally, admiring the human labor, rock constructions, narrow passages and medieval paintings…left me impressed!
Vardzia is a good four hours from Tbilisi: it is closer to Kutaisi, a city connected to Italy by Wizzair (it is still a three-hour drive). Admission to Vardzia costs about six euros. A thorough visit to Vardzia requires at least two hours. Here is a video demonstrating how beautiful Vardzia is!
Best of Georgia: Gori and Stalin
Near Tbilisi it is possible to see Gori. This small town in itself would not be interesting, but it was the birthplace of Stalin, leader of the Soviet Union for two decades. In Gori it is possible to visit the museum dedicated to Stalin. Admission to the museum costs about five euros, and the visit is very interesting. In fact, you can see various memorabilia from Stalin’s life, period photos, and also various gifts (official and unofficial) received by Stalin over the years. In the museum, it is also possible to see the train used by Stalin to reach the sites of the famous conferences with Roosevelt and Churchill.
I highly recommend hiring a guide so that you can get a more in-depth view of what Stalin did, for better or worse. Gori is only an hour from Tbilisi. I devoted about an hour to visiting Stalin’s museum.
Best of Georgia: Uplistsikhe
In the vicinity of Gori it is also possible to visit Uplistsikhe, a very ancient city carved into the earth. Uplistsikhe is located near the Kura River and, like Vardzia, was hit by a strong earthquake, this time dating from 1920. Again it is interesting to see the structures carved out of the rock, although, in my opinion, it is a less scenically impactful center than Vardzia. Still, it is worth a visit: it is a historic center about 2,000 years old!
I recommend devoting about an hour to the visit. The entrance fee costs about 5 euros.
Best of Georgia: caves of Prometheus
Prometheus Caves are a jewel of the eastern part of Georgia. They are located about half an hour from Kutaisi, which is three hours from Tbilisi. To visit the Prometheus Caves, one must participate in a guided tour, lasting one hour (cost about 8 euros).
The Prometheus Caves are very beautiful: there are three large rooms full of stalactites and stalagmites. The walk is about 1.5 kilometers long, and there are several steps to negotiate. The visit is often accompanied by classical music motifs and light shows. I found the visit very interesting although, unfortunately, tourists did not respect the place much, which deserves a silent visit and not the noise that accompanied my visiting hour. Here is a video of the Prometheus caves!
What to see in Georgia: monasteries of Gelati and Motsameta
Two beautiful monasteries can be seen near Kutaisi. Gelati Monastery was commissioned by King David II, known as the Builder, in 1106. Gelati Monastery is part of the Unesco heritage and consists of three churches: the main one is the Nativity Church. Inside the Gelati Monastery it is also possible to admire paintings and manuscripts dating back to the 13th century. The visit is definitely very interesting and worth at least 45 minutes.
Also near Kutaisi is the Motsameta Monastery. The location of this monastery is idyllic: it is located in a mountainous area near the Tskaltsitela River. Although the monastery is recent, the history is ancient and tragic. In fact, the monastery is meant to commemorate the brothers David and Constantine, who fought the Islamic powers in the eighth century. Following their defeat, they received an offer to have their lives saved, but in return they would have to convert to Islam. The brothers refused and were tortured and killed. The bodies were thrown into the river: legend says that the river turned red, and to this day Tskaltsitela means red river. A visit to Motsameta Monastery is worth about 30 minutes.
What to see in Georgia: Tbilisi
Tbilisi is the capital of Georgia and definitely worth a visit. I, personally, was based in Tbilisi and participated in day trips to see the other places described above. Tbilisi is a very interesting city with various sights to see.The cuisine, wine, beers, and schnapps make a visit to Tbilisi enjoyable! The old city, in particular, is worth a walk: I recommend reading what to do in Tbilisi in this post!
USEFUL INFORMATION ABOUT THE BEST OF GEORGIA
- The best seasons to visit Georgia are spring and fall. In summer, temperatures easily rise above 35 degrees, while in winter the cold weather could be very harsh.
- For visiting the mountains in Georgia, however, the situation changes. I highly recommend going to Georgia in July and August so that you can go on the fantastic treks that Georgia offers.
- Discarding trekking, I recommend devoting at least five days to visiting Georgia. Personally, I stayed five nights and it seemed the minimum.
- There is the possibility of visiting all the places listed by participating in daily tours that leave from Tbilisi. Some of these are quite long, particularly that of Vardzia and that of the Kutaisi area. Civitatis organizes various tours: this is the link to the one in Vardzia.
- Also WST Georgia, based in Tbilisi, organizes various tours. They are divided by reading order: on the first day you can visit Ananuri and Kazbegi, on the second day Rabati and Vardzia, and so on.
- Georgian cuisine is excellent ! In Tbilisi I ate divinely at Khinkali Bar and Khinkali House (of course I recommend trying the khinkali, a kind of giant dumpling stuffed with meat or vegetables). Sakhli #11 and Ninia’s Garden are two very good restaurants where you can try other Georgian delicacies: the meat stews and the innards sausages are divine things!
- Drinking in Georgia is a sacred thing! I start by suggesting Modi’s wine, a stone’s throw from Maiden Square-the Georgian wine is superlative! My favorite Tbilisi breweries are Sma, Tsota Tsota, 2 Tones. I would also definitely add Envoy Hostel’s: the hostel terrace is spectacular! At Maclaren Pub, a stone’s throw from Maiden Square, you can watch soccer games and drink typical Georgian schnapps: great!
- My podium of what to see in Georgia consists of Vardzia, Galati Monastery and Kazbegi.
- I recommend that you also visit Armenia! Here you can see a tour of Armenia, while here what to do in Yerevan. To go from Georgia to Armenia I recommend you use this magnificent Envoy Hostel tour.
- Here is a map of what to see in Georgia!
