Georgia is a captivating country in the Caucasus region where ancient traditions meet stunning mountain landscapes and world-class wine culture. From the charming cobblestone streets of Tbilisi to the dramatic peaks of the Greater Caucasus, Georgia offers extraordinary hospitality, unique cuisine, and eight millennia of winemaking heritage.
Top day trips
Handpicked excursions within easy reach.
Mtskheta
Mtskheta was Georgia's ancient capital before the seat of power moved to Tbilisi, and it remains the seat of the Georgian Orthodox Church. The town sits at the confluence of the Mtkvari and Aragvi rivers, and its two major churches — Svetitskhoveli Cathedral in the town centre and Jvari Monastery on the hill above — are both UNESCO-listed. It's compact enough to see properly in half a day, which makes it easy to combine with another stop like Uplistsikhe on the same outing.
Highlights: Svetitskhoveli Cathedral (UNESCO World Heritage Site) · Jvari Monastery with panoramic river views · Samtavro Convent · Walking the ancient walled city
Kazbegi (Stepantsminda)
Stepantsminda (still commonly called by its Soviet-era name, Kazbegi) is a mountain town in the Greater Caucasus, reached via the Georgian Military Highway, one of the more dramatic road routes in the country. The draw is Gergeti Trinity Church, perched on a ridge with Mount Kazbek behind it, and the surrounding high-mountain scenery. Because the drive alone takes the better part of three hours each way, this is a long day out rather than a relaxed one, and it depends heavily on the weather — Kazbek is frequently in cloud.
Highlights: Gergeti Trinity Church at 2,170m altitude · Dramatic Greater Caucasus mountain scenery · Hiking trails to Gergeti Glacier · Mt. Kazbek (5,047m) views
David Gareja Monastery
David Gareja is a monastery complex cut into the cliffs of a semi-desert ridge on the Azerbaijan border, founded in the 6th century by one of the Thirteen Assyrian Fathers. It's less a single building than a cluster of cave cells and churches spread across the hillside, with the most striking part — the Udabno monastery with its surviving frescoes — on the far side of the ridge that marks the border. The setting, dry, eroded hills with almost no vegetation, is as much the experience as the monastery itself.
Highlights: 6th-century cave monastery complex carved into semi-desert cliffs · Remarkable Byzantine frescoes · Semi-arid badlands landscape · Border viewpoint into Azerbaijan
Kakheti Wine Region (Sighnaghi)
Sighnaghi is a hill town in Kakheti, Georgia's main wine-producing region, ringed by a restored 18th-century town wall with views out over the Alazani Valley toward the Caucasus. It functions as the accessible, day-trippable face of Kakheti wine country — closer to Tbilisi than Telavi and easy to pair with a stop at Bodbe Monastery just outside town. The town itself is small, and most of a day here is really split between walking it and tasting wine, either in a cellar in town or at a producer nearby.
Highlights: Sighnaghi walled town with cobblestone streets and wine houses · Bodbe Convent and gardens · Alazani Valley vineyard panoramas · Winery tastings in Telavi and Kvareli
Uplistsikhe Cave Town
Uplistsikhe is a rock-hewn settlement carved into a cliff above the Mtkvari river near Gori, occupied from around the early Iron Age through the medieval period and once an important stop on trade routes before Tbilisi existed as a city. Unlike David Gareja, it's an entire town cut from the rock — streets, a theatre, wine cellars, and a later brick basilica are all still identifiable as you walk through it. It's exposed and largely unshaded, so it's a different kind of visit depending on the season.
Highlights: Ancient rock-hewn city dating to early Iron Age · Carved halls, wine cellars, and pagan temples · Mtkvari River valley views · Option to combine with Stalin Museum in Gori
Trips by distance
How far you can go in a day.
Getting there
Transport options for day trips.
- Tours
- Organized shared day tours from 30-80 GEL per person for Kazbegi, Mtskheta/Ananuri, David Gareja, and Kakheti wine country. Book through hostels.
- Private
- Private car with driver from 120-300 GEL/day for complete flexibility; recommended for David Gareja and custom routes
- Public
- Marshrutkas to Mtskheta (1 GEL), Gori (5 GEL), and Kazbegi (10 GEL) from Didube or Samgori stations; trains to Gori (6 GEL) and Kutaisi (10 GEL)
- Rental
- Car rental from 60-150 GEL/day from multiple agencies near Tbilisi airport; 4WD required for mountain regions (80-200 GEL/day)
Multi-day tours from Georgia
If you have longer than a day, these are organised multi-day trips that start here.
Browse multi-day tours from GeorgiaWe may earn a commission from bookings made through this link.
Day trip tips
Make the most of your excursions.
The daily Kazbegi marshrutka from Didube departs at 10AM - arrive 30 minutes early as it fills quickly
David Gareja has no public transport - join a shared tour or split a private taxi with other travelers from your hostel
Mtskheta can be combined with Ananuri Fortress and Gori on a single day with a rental car
Kakheti wine country (Sighnaghi, Telavi) deserves a full day or overnight to properly experience winery tastings