Which day trip from Tbilisi should you take?
With half a day, go to Mtskheta; with a full day, go to Kazbegi for the mountains when the forecast is clear, to Kakheti for wine, or to David Gareja for desert cave monasteries.
Best with half a day
Mtskheta half day5 hours, private$44a person the same for 1 to 6 guestsBookSee the dayWe may earn a commission. You pay the same.
Best for wine on a budget
Kakheti wine day10 hours, up to 18from$39a personBookSee the dayWe may earn a commission. You pay the same.
Best for desert and cave monasteries
David Gareja by 4x49 hours, up to 6$79a person a seat in the shared 4x4, six at mostBookSee the dayWe may earn a commission. You pay the same.
Best for the mountains
Private Kazbegi day10 hours, private$110a person for 2 guestsBookSee the dayWe may earn a commission. You pay the same.
Jvari monastery, Mtskheta Pick 1 of 4Half a day, your own car
Mtskheta half day
$44a person the same for 1 to 6 guests
Book with GetYourGuideWe may earn a commission. You pay the same.
Mtskheta private tour with the Shio-Mgvime caves. Run by Friends of Georgia, booked through GetYourGuide.
Mtskheta's three UNESCO churches and a cave monastery in a canyon, from your door, in five hours.
Your guide is also your driver, and one stop is for souvenir shops.
- 5 hoursfrom your door, starting 08:00 to 15:00
- Privateyour own car and guide, for 1 to 6
- 4 sitesJvari, Svetitskhoveli, Samtavro, Shio-Mgvime
The day
- 08:00 to 15:00Pickup where you stay in Tbilisi, at the start time you choose
- First stopJvari Monastery, above the meeting of the Aragvi and Mtkvari
- ThenSvetitskhoveli Cathedral and free time in the old town, with wine and sweet tastings
- ThenSamtavro, then a stop with souvenir shops
- Last stopShio-Mgvime, a cave monastery in a limestone canyon
- BackWhere you were picked up, about five hours after the start
Why it's great, and who should skip it
Why it's great
- You choose the start, from 08:00 to 15:00, so it fits a free morning or a free afternoon in Tbilisi.
- Jvari, Svetitskhoveli and Samtavro, the churches of Mtskheta's UNESCO listing, with wine and sweet tastings in town.
- It ends at Shio-Mgvime, a monastery founded in the 6th century, with its monks' caves still in the limestone canyon.
Skip it if
- You have a whole day and want wine at a family cellar: the Kakheti wine day.
- You came for the mountains rather than churches: the Private Kazbegi day.
In the price
- Private car and driver-guide, with pickup where you stay
- Jvari, Svetitskhoveli and Samtavro
- Shio-Mgvime cave monastery and the St Demetrius viewpoint
- Wine and sweet tastings in Mtskheta
- Bottled water
Not in the price
- Lunch (optional, extra)
- Tips
CancellationFree cancellation up to 24 hours before
Price checked 5 October 2026.
Sighnaghi, over the Alazani plain Pick 2 of 4Wine, at the lowest price
Kakheti wine day
from$39a person
Book with GetYourGuideWe may earn a commission. You pay the same.
Kakheti wine region tour with 9 wine tastings. Run by Gamarjoba Georgia Tours, booked through GetYourGuide.
Nine wines at a village bakery, a family qvevri cellar and a large winery, with Sighnaghi on the way.
Up to 18 in the minibus, lunch on top, and the last tasting is at a big commercial winery.
- 10 hoursAvlabari metro 08:30, back about 19:00
- Up to 18in a shared minibus
- 9 winesand a chacha, at three stops
The day08:30 to 19:00
- 08:30Meet the guide's flag at Avlabari metro; leave at 09:00
- 10:10A traditional bakery in Badiauri, and a first glass
- 11:20Bodbe Monastery, then the Sighnaghi walls
- 13:05Lunch and free time in Sighnaghi, paid on the day
- 15:15A family winery, qvevri and three wines
- 17:00KTW, a large winery, five wines and a chacha
- 19:00Back at Avlabari metro
Why it's great, and who should skip it
Why it's great
- Eighty minutes and three wines at a family winery that shows how wine is made in qvevri, the buried clay jars.
- Bodbe, where St Nino is buried, and a walk on the Sighnaghi walls above the Alazani valley before lunch.
- Nobody in your party drives after nine tastings, and the guide, the transport and the wine cost $39.
Skip it if
- You want small cellars and lunch at the winemaker's table: our Kakheti wine tours.
- You would rather not share with 17 others: the Mtskheta half day is private for $5 more.
In the price
- Certified guide and transport from Tbilisi
- A glass of wine at a Badiauri bakery
- Three wines at a family qvevri cellar
- Five wines and a chacha at KTW winery
- Entry to both wineries
Not in the price
- Lunch in Sighnaghi (optional, paid on the day)
- Bread and cheese at the bakery, about $1.15 (3 GEL)
CancellationFree cancellation up to 24 hours before
Price checked 29 September 2026.
David Gareja, Kakheti Pick 3 of 4Walkers, aged 12 and up
David Gareja by 4x4
$79a person a seat in the shared 4x4, six at most
Book with GetYourGuideWe may earn a commission. You pay the same.
4x4 off-road: hidden rainbow mountains and the Gareji caves. Run by Friendly.ge, booked through GetYourGuide.
Six seats in a real 4x4 to the painted hills and two cave monasteries, one of them reached only off-road.
A 4 km walk that can be muddy and steep, and not for under-12s or a bad back.
- 9 hoursfrom Europe Square, Tbilisi
- Up to 6in one 4x4, one group a day
- 4 kmon foot, can be muddy and steep
The day
- 08:30Europe Square, Tbilisi, in the car park by Rike Park
- ThenOff-road to Lake Mravaltskaro, then a walk of about 4 km in the rainbow hills
- ThenSt John the Baptist cave monastery, reached off-road
- ThenThe David Gareja Lavra
- Last stopLunch at a family place in Udabno, paid on the day
Why it's great, and who should skip it
Why it's great
- A 4 km walk in the rainbow hills above Lake Mravaltskaro, in a party of six at most.
- Two cave monasteries: the David Gareja Lavra, and St John the Baptist, which the coach days skip.
- $79 a seat when we checked in October, and free to cancel up to 24 hours before.
Skip it if
- You bring children under 12, or have back trouble: the Kakheti wine day takes children from five.
- It is high summer and you mind the heat, which can pass 30°C in the hills: the Private Kazbegi day.
In the price
- Guide and driver in a 4x4, six guests at most
- A walk of about 4 km in the rainbow hills
- St John the Baptist cave monastery and David Gareja Lavra
- Bottled water
Not in the price
- Lunch in Udabno, about $8 to $13 (20 to 35 GEL), paid on the day
- Hotel pickup (private option only)
- Tips for the guide and driver
CancellationFree cancellation up to 24 hours before
Price checked 6 October 2026.
Gergeti Trinity Church, Kazbegi Pick 4 of 4Mountains, at your own pace
Private Kazbegi day
$110a person for 2 guests
Book with GetYourGuideWe may earn a commission. You pay the same.
Kazbegi private day tour from Tbilisi to Gergeti and Gudauri. Run by Visit Georgia With George, booked through GetYourGuide.
Gergeti Trinity Church under Mount Kazbek by the Military Highway, in a car that waits at every stop.
More than five of its ten hours are on the road, and the view at the top depends on the cloud.
- 10 hourspickup where you stay, 07:30 to 10:00
- Privateyour own car and driver-guide
- 2,170 mGergeti Trinity Church, under Mount Kazbek
The day
- 07:30 to 10:00Pickup where you stay in Tbilisi, at the start time you choose
- First stopZhinvali reservoir, 30 minutes
- ThenAnanuri fortress, 45 minutes, then where the two Aragvi rivers meet
- ThenThe Friendship Monument above Gudauri, 30 minutes
- Last stopGergeti Trinity Church, 30 minutes, then an optional lunch
- Drive backAbout 2.5 hours to Tbilisi
Why it's great, and who should skip it
Why it's great
- Ananuri's fortress above the reservoir and the Friendship Monument's viewpoint above Gudauri break up the drive north.
- Gergeti Trinity Church at 2,170 metres under Mount Kazbek, the church that has become the symbol of Georgian travel.
- Priced by the car: $110 each for two, $75 each for four, with a start time you pick.
Skip it if
- You travel alone: the car costs $219 for one; see our Kazbegi day trips for a shared 4x4.
- The Stepantsminda forecast shows low cloud: take the Kakheti wine day instead, and cancel free up to 24 hours before.
In the price
- Private car and local driver-guide, with pickup where you stay
- Stops at Zhinvali, Ananuri, the Aragvi confluence and the Friendship Monument
- Gergeti Trinity Church, weather permitting
Not in the price
- Lunch (optional, about an hour)
CancellationFree cancellation up to 24 hours before
Price checked 5 October 2026.
What does a day trip from Tbilisi cost?
A day trip from Tbilisi costs from $25 a person on a big group bus to Kazbegi; the four picks run from $39 a person on the shared Kakheti wine day to $219 for one traveller alone on the private Kazbegi day, which falls to $75 each when four share the car.
Mtskheta half day
$44a person
$44 for 1
$88 for 2
$176 for 4
- 5 hours, your own car
- Lunch extra
- Free to cancel 24h ahead
Private; the same price a head for 1 to 6.
BookWe may earn a commission. You pay the same.
Kakheti wine day
from$39a person
$39 for 1
$78 for 2
$156 for 4
- 10 hours, up to 18
- 9 wines included
- Lunch extra
- Free to cancel 24h ahead
Shared; the lowest price on the day. Lunch and the bakery's bread and cheese extra.
BookWe may earn a commission. You pay the same.
David Gareja by 4x4
$79a person
$79 for 1
$158 for 2
$316 for 4
- 9 hours, up to 6
- Lunch extra
- Free to cancel 24h ahead
A seat in a 4x4 of six at most; lunch extra, paid on the day.
BookWe may earn a commission. You pay the same.
Private Kazbegi day
$219a person
$110a person
$75a person
$219 for 1
$220 for 2
$300 for 4
- 10 hours, your own car
- Lunch extra
- Free to cancel 24h ahead
Priced by the car; lunch is extra.
BookWe may earn a commission. You pay the same.
Sources and exchange rates
Mtskheta half day: GetYourGuide booking form, 1 to 6 guests, October 2026 dates, checked 29 September and 5 October 2026, prices in USD. Kakheti wine day: GetYourGuide, 29 September 2026; the same $39 on gamarjobageorgiatours.com, 5 October 2026, prices in USD. David Gareja by 4x4: GetYourGuide listing, checked 6 October 2026; friendly.ge $69 on its free-cancellation ticket, 29 September and 5 October 2026, prices in USD. Private Kazbegi day: GetYourGuide booking form: 2 guests 5 October 2026; 4 and 6 guests 29 September 2026 (12 October date); 1 guest 5 October date, read by the Kazbegi lane, prices in USD. Checked 6 October 2026. Dollars and euros at the official rate of the National Bank of Georgia in force on 5 October 2026 (2.6039 GEL to the dollar, 2.9257 GEL to the euro), rounded.
How much of each day is spent in the car?
Mtskheta is 45 minutes from Tbilisi, so most of its five hours are spent at the churches; Kazbegi is about 3 hours away, so more than five of its ten hours are on the road. Kakheti and David Gareja sit in between, at about 2 hours each way. For the deeper wine days, see our shortlist of wine tours in Kakheti.
Mtskheta half day
45 min each way, stops not timed
Kakheti wine day
4 h 15 in the car, 5 h 45 there
David Gareja by 4x4
4 h 30 in the car, 4 h 35 there
Private Kazbegi day
5 h 25 in the car, 3 h 25 there, 1 h 10 untimed
Sources
Mtskheta half day: About 5 hours from a start you choose; the listing names the stops but gives no times, so the stops and the drives between them are one outline. (GetYourGuide listing, checked 6 October 2026; Tbilisi to Mtskheta 45 minutes, wander-lush.org, read 24 September 2026). Kakheti wine day: Stop lengths from the operator's itinerary, arrival times from the GetYourGuide itinerary. (gamarjobageorgiatours.com, Kakheti group day, read 5 October 2026; GetYourGuide t213765, read 29 September 2026). David Gareja by 4x4: Stop lengths from the listing, about 9 hours from 08:30; the drives between stops are not published, so the stops sit end to end between 2 hours of road each way. (GetYourGuide listing, checked 6 October 2026; Tbilisi to David Gareja 2 hours, wander-lush.org). Private Kazbegi day: Every drive and stop as the listing times them; they add up to 8 hours 50 minutes, against the listing's about 10 hours. (GetYourGuide listing, checked 6 October 2026). Checked 6 October 2026.
What is the best half-day trip from Tbilisi?
Mtskheta is the best half-day trip from Tbilisi. The old capital of Kartli, about 20 km from the city, is where Christianity became the state religion of Georgia in 337, and its three churches, Jvari, Svetitskhoveli and Samtavro, share one UNESCO listing.
Which day trips from Tbilisi are too long for one day?
Vardzia and the canyons around Kutaisi are too long for one day from Tbilisi. Vardzia, a 12th-century cave monastery, is about 267 km and 4 to 5 hours away each way, and Martvili Canyon and Prometheus Cave are 4 hours or more away, so both leave more time in the car than at the place; give either a night. Our Vardzia trips compares the 14-hour day with two days and a night by the caves. Uplistsikhe, a rock-hewn town near Gori, is the cave town that fits a day, at about 87 km and 1.5 hours.
Private, small group or shared minibus: which suits you?
A shared minibus costs least for one or two travellers; a private car pays off for a family or four friends, who pay $75 each for the Kazbegi day against $110 each for two, and who choose the start time and are collected where they stay. Compare the rest of our hand-picked experiences the same way.
Your own car, guide and a pickup where you stay
The Mtskheta half day costs $44 a head from one to six. The Kazbegi day is priced by the car, so a head pays less the more of you share it, up to five.
- You choose the start time, and the car collects you where you stay
- Alone, the Kazbegi day costs $219; four pay $75 each
A 4x4 shared with up to five others
The David Gareja day seats six in one 4x4 and runs one group a day, at $79 a seat when we checked.
- It meets at Europe Square at 08:30
- Not recommended for children under 12, and no child seats
A guided minibus day at the lowest price
The Kakheti wine day takes up to 18 people from Avlabari metro for $39, with nine wines in the price.
- Lunch is a restaurant stop you pay for yourself
- Nobody in your party has to drive after the tastings
Four questions to ask before you book a day trip
- How many people share the vehicle, and is it a car, a van or a minibus?
- How long do you spend at each stop?
- What does the price leave out: lunch, entry fees, the last 4WD ride?
- Do all the seats have working seat belts?
Can you do a day trip from Tbilisi without a tour?
Yes, to Mtskheta, Gori and Kazbegi by marshrutka, a fixed-route shared minibus from Didube station, and to Gori by train. David Gareja has no marshrutka, and Kakheti’s cellars need a driver once you arrive.
- 1 hourby train to Gori, for Uplistsikhe; at least three trains a day leave Tbilisi's Central Station
- Every 20 minor so, a marshrutka to Mtskheta from Didube station, about $0.77 (2 GEL) a seat
- 3 hoursby marshrutka to Kazbegi from Didube, straight through with no stops on the Military Highway
- No marshrutkato David Gareja; a tourist shuttle leaves central Tbilisi in the main season
Should you hire a driver for the day?
Yes, if you want your own timetable without a guide. A driver hired for the day is priced by the car and waits at each stop. Agree the route, the stops and the return time before you set off, check that the seat belts work, and book through an app rather than a car in the street, as the FCDO advises for taxis.
When is the best time for each day trip?
Kazbegi is best from late May to mid June and in September, David Gareja from mid March to the end of April, and Kakheti at the grape harvest from September; Mtskheta works in any month.
- Mtskheta half day: Good in any month: all year.
- Kakheti wine day: Daily tour: January to August; Harvest season: September to October; Daily tour: November to December.
- David Gareja by 4x4: Runs on set dates: January to February; Spring bloom, best: March to April; Runs on set dates: May to December.
- Private Kazbegi day: Pass can close: January to March; Runs: April to May; Best: June; Runs: July to August; Best: September; Runs: October to November; Pass can close: December.
Sources
Mtskheta half day: The operator gives advice for summer and for winter visits; its calendar showed every October day open. (GetYourGuide listing and booking calendar, checked 29 September 2026) Kakheti wine day: A daily tour that runs in all weather. The grape harvest, rtveli, usually starts in September and runs to about mid October. (gamarjobageorgiatours.com and GetYourGuide, checked 29 September 2026; georgia.travel rtveli page, read 24 September 2026) David Gareja by 4x4: Runs all year on set dates. Mid March to the end of April is the best time, with mild days and almond and wild cherry in bloom; in summer it can pass 30°C and the day starts early. (Friendly.ge and GetYourGuide listings, checked 29 September 2026; wander-lush.org day trips from Tbilisi, read 24 September 2026) Private Kazbegi day: Late May to mid June and September are the best months. The Jvari Pass between Gudauri and Kazbegi often closes for short periods between mid November and early May. (wander-lush.org Georgian Military Highway guide, updated 15 September 2026; GetYourGuide booking calendar, checked 29 September 2026) Checked 29 September 2026.
What if the weather turns on your mountain day?
Swap it. All four picks cancel free up to 24 hours before the start, so check the forecast for Stepantsminda two days ahead, and if low cloud will hide Mount Kazbek, take the Kakheti or Mtskheta day instead, which lose little to the weather.
Is the road to Kazbegi open in winter?
Yes, most of the time, but the Jvari Pass between Gudauri and Kazbegi often closes for short periods between mid November and early May. The Juta and Truso trails do not usually open until the end of May.
Can you do a day trip from Tbilisi to Armenia?
Yes, northern Armenia fits a long day from Tbilisi, with a land border crossing each way. The monasteries of Haghpat and Sanahin, built between the 10th and 13th centuries and on the UNESCO list since 1996, are about 120 km from Tbilisi, roughly 2.5 hours each way plus the border. British citizens need no visa for Armenia for up to 180 days in a year, with a passport valid for the stay.
Can you do a day trip from Tbilisi to Azerbaijan?
No, not as a day out. Whether you need a visa for Azerbaijan depends on your passport: UK citizens, for example, need an e-visa, by the UK Foreign Office’s advice read on 11 November 2026, and that advice still describes the land border with Georgia as temporarily closed. Azerbaijan’s State Migration Service says the Baku to Tbilisi train has carried passengers across the border again since 25 May 2026, but only Azerbaijani citizens and foreigners who may enter Azerbaijan without a visa. Baku is a long journey from Tbilisi, so treat it as a trip of its own, and check the rules for your passport and the current train before you plan one.
Questions before you book
Can children join a day trip from Tbilisi?
Yes, with limits that differ by day. The Kakheti wine day takes travellers aged 5 to 79, and the private Mtskheta half day suits families at the same price a head from one to six. The operator does not recommend the David Gareja 4x4 day for children under 12, and it has no child seats.
Are day trips from Tbilisi safe?
Yes, if the car, the driver and the timing are right. The FCDO warns that roads outside city centres are often badly lit and in poor repair, that many cars are poorly maintained, and that snow, heavy rain and landslides can close mountain roads. Ask for a seat belt in every seat and a return before dark.
How many day trips can you fit into a stay in Tbilisi?
With three or four days in Tbilisi, take one full day out and the Mtskheta half day, and keep the rest for the city. With a week, two full days out work well, but not back to back if one of them is Kazbegi.
Do you need cash on a day trip?
Yes, carry lari. The FCDO warns that cards and cash machines are scarce outside the main towns, and on the Kazbegi group day the 4WD ride up to Gergeti, about $8 (20 GEL), is paid in cash.
What should you wear to the churches?
Dress modestly, because every one of these days stops at a working church or monastery. Men wear long trousers; women bring a headscarf and a long skirt, though many monasteries lend both at the door. Shorts and sleeveless tops are not welcome inside.
Is the David Gareja day cheaper booked direct?
Yes, in early October 2026. GetYourGuide sold a seat at $79, while Friendly.ge’s own site charged $69 for a seat that cancels free up to 24 hours before (its cheapest seats, on some dates, start at $59).
How we picked
Each day here had to beat the alternatives on one test, which version of the trip shows you the most for the hours you give it and the money you pay. We read the itineraries, group sizes and cancellation terms of the day trips sold from Tbilisi on GetYourGuide and on the operators’ own sites, set the time at the places against the time in the car, and checked prices for October dates between 29 September and 6 October 2026.