When is the best time to visit Georgia?
The best time to visit Georgia is May to June or September to October. Tbilisi averages highs of 24 to 29°C in May and June and 20 to 26°C in September and October, against 32°C in July and August, and you miss the August peak, though September is still busy.
- Treks in the high mountains of Kazbegi, Svaneti and Tusheti are best from July to September, and some high passes can be crossed from late June or early July.
- The wine harvest in Kakheti usually runs from early September to mid October.
- The Black Sea is warm from June to early October. July and August have the most air passengers, and September has fewer, with the sea still 25°C.
- Skiing runs from late December to April, with the surest snow in January and February.
Georgia month by month, at a glance
May, June, September and October suit most trips, while the mountains, the sea and the slopes each keep their own best months.
- Best months: Best time: May to June; Best time: September to October.
- Tbilisi: Cold: January to February; Cool: March; Best: April to June; Hot: July to August; Best: September to October; Cool: November; Cold: December.
- High mountains: Opens: June; Best: July to September; Risky: October.
- Wine country: Cold: January to February; Cool: March; Green: April to May; Good: June; Hot: July to August; Harvest: September to October; Cool: November; Cold: December.
- Black Sea: Cool sea: May; Warm: June; Best: July to August; Warm: September to October.
- Skiing: Surest snow: January to February; Late season: March to April; Opens: December.
Sources
Best months: (Georgian National Tourism Administration at georgia.travel, and Tbilisi 1991 to 2020 normals from NCEI, read 12 October 2026) Tbilisi: (Tbilisi 1991 to 2020 normals, NCEI and Pogoda, read 12 October 2026) High mountains: (Trekking season from Georgian trekking guides; Abano Pass dates, 2022 to 2026, compiled from Roads Department of Georgia road notices) Wine country: (Telavi 1991 to 2020 normals, NCEI; harvest timing, National Wine Agency, read 12 October 2026) Black Sea: (Batumi sea temperature, Climate-Data.org model, read 12 October 2026) Skiing: (2025/26 lift dates from the state ski-lift operator, Mountain Trails Agency, at mta.ski, read 12 October 2026; 2026/27 opening via travelnews.ge, 9 October 2026) Checked 12 October 2026.
The best time for what you want to do
Georgia’s best month for a city break is not its best month for a mountain trek.
| What you want | Best months | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Tbilisi and the cities | April to June, September to October | Highs of 19 to 29°C, not 32°C |
| The high mountains | July to September | The passes clear of snow for hiking in Georgia |
| Svaneti | July to September to walk, winter to ski | The Mestia to Ushguli trek, and skiing at Mestia |
| The wine harvest | Early September to mid October | Rtveli, the Georgian grape harvest, in Kakheti |
| The Black Sea | June to early October | A sea of 23°C in June and 25 to 27°C from July to September |
| Skiing | Late December to April | The surest snow in January and February |
Tbilisi and the cities
Average highs run from 19 to 29°C in those months, against 32°C in July and August, when long walks in the old town are hard going in the afternoon.
- Tbilisoba, the city festival, is usually on the first weekend of October
- Rain falls on 4 to 10 days a month, so no month is a washout
- Our guide to Tbilisi
Kazbegi, Svaneti and Tusheti
Serious treks wait for the end of June or early July, when the snow clears from the high passes. Good conditions usually last through most of September, and a fine first half of October is possible but not reliable.
- Stepantsminda averages 14 to 15°C in July and August, day and night together
- Pack a warm layer even in high summer
- Hiking trips we pick
Rtveli, the harvest in Kakheti
The grape harvest usually starts in early September, earlier after a hot summer, and runs to about mid October. It has no fixed date, because families pick, press and feast when the grapes are ripe.
- In spring, the New Wine Festival fills Mtatsminda Park each May
- Wine and food trips we pick
Batumi and the coast
The sea at Batumi averages 23°C in June, 26°C in July and 27°C in August. July and August have the most air passengers, and September has fewer, with the sea still 25°C before it falls to 21°C in October.
- Rain is the trade-off, with Batumi's heaviest months from September to November
- A family holiday in the summer break
The best time to visit Tbilisi
The best time to visit Tbilisi is April to June and September to October, when average highs run from 19 to 29°C. October brings the harvest in the countryside and Tbilisoba in town, with cool evenings.
- April to June19 to 29°CMay has the most rainy days, about 10, and the New Wine Festival fills Mtatsminda Park, usually on its second Saturday.
- July and August32°CLows of 20°C, and long walks in the old town are hard going in the afternoon.
- September and October20 to 26°CTbilisoba is usually on the first weekend of October, and hotel prices in the centre rise that weekend.
- December to February7 to 8°CMostly dry, with the Christmas Village from December into January. November and March average 13°C.
Rain in Tbilisi falls on 4 to 10 days a month, about 70 days a year, so no month is a washout.
Georgia’s weather by place
Georgia has several distinct climates in one small country. Tbilisi and Kakheti in the east have hot summers and cold, dry winters, the Black Sea coast is mild and wet, and the mountains stay cool even in July.
Tbilisi and Kakheti
Telavi, the main town of Kakheti, runs a degree or two cooler than Tbilisi in most months.
| Month | Tbilisi high | Tbilisi low | Wet days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7°C | minus 1°C | 4 |
| February | 8°C | 0°C | 4 |
| March | 13°C | 4°C | 5 |
| April | 19°C | 8°C | 9 |
| May | 24°C | 13°C | 10 |
| June | 29°C | 17°C | 8 |
| July | 32°C | 20°C | 6 |
| August | 32°C | 20°C | 5 |
| September | 26°C | 16°C | 5 |
| October | 20°C | 11°C | 6 |
| November | 13°C | 5°C | 5 |
| December | 8°C | 1°C | 4 |
The figures are the 1991 to 2020 averages. A wet day has at least 1 mm of rain. May is Telavi’s wettest month, with 119 mm on 12 days, and snow lies in Telavi on about 19 days a year, against about 9 in Tbilisi.
The Black Sea coast
The sea is a modelled average for Batumi, the air is Kobuleti on the coast north of Batumi (1991 to 2020), and the rain is Batumi airport (1981 to 2010).
| Month | Sea | Air high | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 11°C | 11°C | 235 mm |
| February | 10°C | 11°C | 183 mm |
| March | 9°C | 14°C | 157 mm |
| April | 12°C | 17°C | 90 mm |
| May | 17°C | 21°C | 93 mm |
| June | 23°C | 25°C | 141 mm |
| July | 26°C | 28°C | 165 mm |
| August | 27°C | 28°C | 221 mm |
| September | 25°C | 26°C | 330 mm |
| October | 21°C | 22°C | 322 mm |
| November | 17°C | 17°C | 306 mm |
| December | 13°C | 13°C | 278 mm |
Batumi gets about 2,500 mm of rain a year, and its heaviest months are September to November. The swimming season is usually given as mid May to mid October, though the sea averages only 17°C in May. Batumi’s velvet season is early autumn, September into October, with the sea still at 21 to 25°C.
Kutaisi and the west
Kutaisi is milder in winter than Tbilisi, and its caves and canyons open every day of the year; see day trips from Kutaisi. Its average highs run from 10°C in January to 30°C in August, its average lows stay above freezing, and its 1,358 mm of rain a year falls most heavily from October to March.
The mountains
Stepantsminda, the town below Mount Kazbek at 1,740 metres, averages about 14 to 15°C in July and August, warm by day and cold at night. Mestia, in Svaneti, is a ski resort in winter, and the high pass to Tusheti shuts with the October snow, apart from brief reopenings, until late May or June.
Crowds and prices through the year
August is Georgia’s busiest month, and January and February are its quietest. July to September brings 38% of the year’s international visits.
- 79%Hotels full in August 2025, the peak
- 36 to 37%Hotels full in January and February 2025, the quietest months
- February, NovemberNamed the cheapest hotel months by price sites
- New YearWhen ski resort prices jump
Hotel occupancy is from STR, the hotel data company, via the Georgian National Tourism Administration.
Spring: March, April and May
Spring is the green season in Georgia, warm in the lowlands while the high mountains are still under snow.
Georgia in March
Best for late skiing and a quiet city break.- Weather Tbilisi 13°C by day and 4°C at night. The sea is at its coldest, 9°C.
- Crowds One of the quietest months to fly in.
- Dates 3 and 8 March are public holidays.
- Slopes and roads Still skiing (Bakuriani to 29 March in 2025/26). The Tusheti road is closed.
Georgia in April
Best for Tbilisi, David Gareja and the last of the ski season.- Weather Tbilisi 19°C, Telavi 18°C. David Gareja is green and cool enough to walk.
- Crowds Quiet, with under two thirds of August’s air passengers in 2025.
- Dates 9 April is a public holiday, and Easter falls on 16 April in 2028.
- Slopes Gudauri usually skis into April, and ran to 19 April in 2025/26.
Georgia in May
Best for Tbilisi and green wine country, with showers.- Weather Tbilisi 24°C, with its most rainy days, about 10. Telavi’s wettest month too.
- Crowds Building, at about two thirds of August’s air passengers in 2025.
- Dates The New Wine Festival, usually on the second Saturday, free. Easter on 2 May in 2027. 9, 12, 17 and 26 May are holidays.
- Roads Snow on the high passes. The Tusheti road opens between late May and late June.
Summer: June, July and August
Summer is the season for the mountains and the sea, and the hottest time in Tbilisi.
Georgia in June
Best for the first of the mountains and the beach before the peak.- Weather Tbilisi 29°C, with about 15 hours of daylight, the longest of the year, which suits a long day trip such as Kazbegi. The sea at Batumi reaches 23°C.
- Crowds Still well below July and August.
- Roads The Tusheti road opens to 4x4s (20 June in 2026). The first high treks can start at the end of the month, once the passes clear.
Georgia in July
Best for the mountains and the Black Sea.- Weather Tbilisi 32°C. Stepantsminda 14 to 15°C, day and night together. The sea 26°C.
- Crowds Hotels 74% full in 2025, so book the mountains and the coast early.
- Dates Tbilisi Open Air (4 to 5 July in 2026), Black Sea Jazz in Batumi (10 to 12 July in 2026), Art-Gene (23 to 26 July in 2026). Kvirikoba in Kala, Svaneti (28 July).
Georgia in August
Best for the mountains and the warmest sea, at the busiest time of year.- Weather Tbilisi 32°C. The sea at its warmest, 27°C, and 221 mm of rain at Batumi.
- Crowds and prices The peak, with hotels 79% full in 2025, and hotel price sites put August among the dearest months.
- Dates Tushetoba in Omalo, Tusheti, early to mid August. 28 August, Mariamoba, is a public holiday.
Autumn: September, October and November
Autumn is harvest season in Georgia, with Tbilisi still warm and families picking grapes in the wine villages.
Georgia in September
Best for the harvest, the last treks and a warm sea.- Weather Tbilisi 26°C, Telavi 25°C. The sea 25°C, in Batumi’s wettest month (330 mm).
- Crowds Hotels 70.5% full in 2025, busy but easier than August.
- Dates The Kakheti harvest usually begins early in the month, and trekking weather holds for most of it.
Georgia in October
Best for Tbilisi, wine country and the end of the harvest.- Weather Tbilisi 20°C by day and 11°C at night. The sea 21°C, with 322 mm of rain at Batumi.
- Crowds Easing, at about three quarters of August’s air passengers in 2025.
- Dates Tbilisoba (3 to 4 October in 2026), Gurjaani’s wine festival (10 October in 2026), Svetitskhovloba (14 October). The harvest ends about mid month.
- Roads The Tusheti road can close at the first snow. In 2026 it shut on 4 October, reopened to high-clearance vehicles on 8 October and was closed again from km 22 to km 72 on 24 October (Roads Department notices).
Georgia in November
Best for a quiet, cheaper city and wine trip.- Weather Tbilisi 13°C by day and 5°C at night. Snow in the high mountains, 306 mm of rain at Batumi.
- Crowds and prices Quieter than October, and hotel price sites name it the cheapest month for hotels.
- Dates 23 November, Giorgoba, is a public holiday.
Winter: December, January and February
Winter in Tbilisi is cold and mostly dry, with snow on the ground about 9 days a year. The slopes open in late December, and on a cold day Tbilisi’s sulphur baths are the warm answer.
For what to book in winter, see Georgia in winter.
- Mountain roadsShut To Tusheti until late May or June, and to Shatili until the spring clearingOpen To Kazbegi apart from short closures, and Mestia to Ushguli with chains
- Things to doShut The high treksOpen Tbilisi, and the four ski resorts, due to open on 20 December 2026, subject to snow
Georgia in December
Best for Christmas lights in Tbilisi and the first ski runs.- Weather Tbilisi 8°C by day and 1°C at night, with rain on about 4 days. About 9 hours of daylight, so start a Kazbegi day trip early.
- Crowds Quiet, with under two thirds of August’s air passengers in 2025.
- Dates The Christmas Village opens in Tbilisi. 25 December is a working day, as Christmas is on 7 January. New Year’s Eve fireworks from balconies across Tbilisi.
- Slopes and roads The 2026/27 season is due to open on 20 December 2026, subject to snow. Winter tyres on the mountain roads.
Georgia in January
Best for skiing and the Christmas season.- Weather The coldest month, 7°C by day and minus 1°C at night in Tbilisi.
- Crowds Hotels 35.8% full in 2025, the emptiest month, holidays included.
- Dates 1 and 2 January, with almost everything shut on the 1st. Christmas and the Alilo procession on 7 January. Epiphany on 19 January.
Georgia in February
Best for skiing, and a month hotel price sites name the cheapest in Georgia.- Weather Tbilisi 8°C by day and 0°C at night, when snow is likeliest to lie in the city.
- Crowds and prices The fewest air passengers of 2025.
- Dates Lamproba in Svaneti, mid February (14 February in 2026).
Skiing, snow and the road to Kazbegi
The four ski resorts keep different seasons, as their 2025/26 lift dates show.
| Resort | Opened | Closed |
|---|---|---|
| Gudauri | 27 December 2025 | 19 April 2026 |
| Bakuriani | 20 December 2025 | 29 March 2026 |
| Goderdzi | 27 December 2025 | 29 March 2026 |
| Mestia | 27 December 2025 | 29 March 2026 at Hatsvali, 9 April 2026 at Tetnuldi |
The road to Kazbegi crosses the Jvari Pass and stays open all winter, but snow and avalanche risk closed it to all traffic 13 times in the 2025-26 winter, and about half of those closures were lifted within a day. Leave a spare day either side of a winter trip to Kazbegi. For a ski day from Tbilisi and what it costs on the mountain, see skiing in Georgia.
Families who want snow without a ski holiday have a simpler option. A private 12-hour day from Tbilisi to the Sabaduri forest, Ananuri and Gudauri costs $125 an adult and $22 a child, and the snow day for families is on our family trips page.
When do the mountain roads open?
The highest road, to Tusheti, opens to 4x4s between late May and late June and first closes for snow in October, while the roads to Kazbegi, Ushguli and Goderdzi stay open in winter apart from short closures.
| Road | Pass | When it is open | What to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| To Tusheti | Abano Pass, 2,826 m | Late May or June to October | 4x4s only. Opened 20 June 2026; shut by snow 4 October, reopened to high-clearance vehicles 8 October, closed again from km 22 to km 72 on 24 October |
| To Shatili | Datvisjvari Pass, 2,676 m | Spring clearing to late autumn | Shut by snow in winter |
| To Kazbegi | Jvari Pass, 2,379 m | All year | Closed 13 times in winter 2025-26, half for under a day |
| Mestia to Ushguli | None | All year | Short rockfall and avalanche closures. Chains in winter |
| Batumi to Akhaltsikhe | Goderdzi Pass, about 2,025 m | All year | Brief snow closures. A ski resort on the pass |
Since 2022 the first winter closure of the road over the Abano Pass has come between 4 and 27 October. The road to Kazbegi is the Georgian Military Road, and in winter it is the road to the ski slopes at Gudauri too.
Festivals and holidays, by date
Georgia’s calendar mixes fixed church and national holidays with dates that move, such as Easter, Tbilisoba and the harvest.
| Date | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| December to January, dates set each year (to 14 January in 2025/26) | Christmas Village | First Republic Square, Tbilisi |
| 31 December | New Year’s Eve fireworks | Tbilisi |
| 1 and 2 January | New Year, public holidays | Across Georgia |
| 7 January | Orthodox Christmas and the Alilo procession | Across Georgia, Alilo in Tbilisi |
| 19 January | Orthodox Epiphany | Across Georgia |
| Mid February (14 February in 2026) | Lamproba | Svaneti |
| 2 May 2027, 16 April 2028 | Orthodox Easter | Across Georgia |
| Usually the second Saturday of May | New Wine Festival | Mtatsminda Park, Tbilisi |
| 26 May | Independence Day | Across Georgia |
| July (4 to 5 July in 2026) | Tbilisi Open Air | Lisi Lake, Tbilisi |
| July (10 to 12 July in 2026) | Black Sea Jazz Festival | Batumi |
| July (23 to 26 July in 2026) | Art-Gene festival | Open Air Museum of Ethnography, Tbilisi |
| 28 July | Kvirikoba, the feast of Saints Kvirike and Ivlita | Kala, Svaneti |
| Early to mid August, date set each year | Tushetoba, the shepherds’ festival | Omalo, Tusheti |
| 28 August | Mariamoba, Saint Mary’s Day | Across Georgia |
| Usually early September to mid October | Rtveli, the grape harvest | Kakheti |
| Usually the first weekend of October | Tbilisoba, the city festival | Tbilisi |
| October (10 October in 2026) | Gurjaani Wine Festival | Gurjaani, Kakheti |
| 14 October | Svetitskhovloba, a public holiday | Mtskheta |
| 23 November | Giorgoba, Saint George’s Day | Across Georgia |
The other public holidays are 3 March, 8 March, 9 April, 9 May, 12 May, 17 May and the Easter days from Good Friday to Easter Monday (30 April to 3 May in 2027). A holiday that falls on a weekend is not moved to a weekday.
The months to avoid, and for what
Most mistakes come from matching the right place to the wrong month.
- A Tbilisi city breakAvoid July or August, with 32°C afternoonsGo April to June, or September and October
- A high trekAvoid May or early June, with snow on the passes and in some years a closed road to TushetiGo From July, or late June once the passes clear
- A trip to TushetiAvoid October, when the road can close in the first days of the monthGo July to September, while the road is open
- A Batumi beach weekAvoid May or November, with a 17°C seaGo June to early October
- A ski weekAvoid Early December, before the resorts open, and the New Year fortnight, when ski resort prices jumpGo Mid January to February, cheaper and with surer snow
Trips we pick, by season
Each season suits a different trip, with mountains in summer, wine and food in spring or autumn, and a family holiday in the summer break. The shortlists below hold our picks for each.
A summer mountains trip
Guided hiking and trekking tours in Svaneti and Kazbegi compared on price, stages, group and how hard the walking is.
A spring or autumn wine and food trip
Three wine and food trips of two to eight days compared on price, nights, cellars, meals and when each one runs.
A family holiday in the summer break
Three family holidays in Georgia: two with every hotel booked, one cheaper with a driver while you book the rooms.
Questions people ask about when to visit Georgia
Visas, insurance and getting around are covered in our guide to plan a trip to Georgia, the next step once you have the month.
Which is the cheapest month to visit Georgia?
Hotel price sites name February or November as the cheapest month for hotels in Georgia, and January and February are the quietest months, with hotels 36 to 37% full in 2025. Avoid the New Year fortnight, when ski resort prices jump, and August, the busiest month for hotels.
What is the weather like in Georgia in January?
January weather in Georgia is the coldest of the year. Tbilisi averages a high of 7°C and a low of minus 1°C, with little rain and a few days of snow, while the coast at Kobuleti averages a high of 11°C and the mountains are under snow for skiing.
What is the weather like in Georgia in September?
September weather in Georgia is warm and settled in the east, with Tbilisi averaging 26°C by day and 16°C at night. The sea at Batumi is still 25°C, though September is Batumi’s wettest month, and the grape harvest begins in Kakheti.
Is December a good time to visit Georgia?
Yes, for Tbilisi’s Christmas season and, from late December, the ski slopes. Tbilisi averages a high of 8°C and a low of 1°C, the Christmas Village opens in December, and the 2026/27 ski season is due to open on 20 December 2026, subject to snow.
Does Tbilisi get snow?
Yes, but it rarely stays. Snow lies on the ground in Tbilisi on about 9 days a year, mostly in January and February.
How rainy is Tbilisi?
Tbilisi is mostly dry, with rain of 1 mm or more on 4 to 10 days a month. May has the most wet days, about 10, and December to February the driest, with about 4.
Is Tbilisi cold in October?
No, not by day, but the evenings are cool. Tbilisi averages a high of 20°C and a low of 11°C in October, so a jacket helps after dark.
Is there snow in Georgia in May?
Yes, in the high mountains. The road to Tusheti opens between late May and late June, and serious treks wait for the end of June or July, while Tbilisi averages 24°C in May.
When does the Tusheti road open?
The Tusheti road over the Abano Pass opens to 4x4s between late May and late June and first closes for snow in October. In 2026 it opened on 20 June, shut at the first snow on 4 October, reopened to high-clearance vehicles on 8 October and was closed again from km 22 to km 72 on 24 October.
When is the grape harvest in Georgia?
The grape harvest in Kakheti usually starts in early September, earlier after a hot summer, and runs to about mid October.