Georgia · 7 days · checked 31 October 2026

Georgia itinerary: 7 days (Tbilisi, Kazbegi, Kakheti, Batumi)

A first trip to Georgia for people who want the mountains, the wine country and the Black Sea in one week without renting a car. You land at Tbilisi (TBS), spend two days in the capital, go up the Georgian Military Highway to Kazbegi for one night, do Kakheti as a day trip, then take the morning train to Batumi and leave from there. The pace is moderate: no day has more than about 4.5 hours of travel. Expect about $230 per person on a shoestring, $600 mid-range and $1,080 comfortable, excluding flights. Popular with Dubai residents: Tbilisi is a short direct flight from the UAE, but check fares and airlines yourself; we do not price international flights.

TbilisiMtskhetaStepantsminda (Kazbegi)TbilisiSighnaghi (Kakheti)Batumi

Budget, per person$230hostels, street food

Mid-range, per person$600double rooms, sit-down meals

Comfort, per person$1,080upper mid-range

On the ground for the whole trip, excluding international flights. Per person, 7 days / 6 nights (Tbilisi 4, Stepantsminda 1, Batumi 1), excluding international flights, visas and the mandatory travel insurance.

When to go

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Best mid-June to end of September, when the Kazbegi valleys are clear and road closures are rare. July and August trains to Batumi sell out, so book early. Late October is still workable: Batumi's 'velvet season' runs late September to October, but rain and thunderstorms are common on the coast. From November to February the Jvari Pass between Gudauri and Kazbegi can close for avalanche risk, sometimes for 1-3 days, and winter tyres are compulsory on this road. In winter take a van to Kazbegi by 2:30pm at the latest, keep a spare day, and swap Kazbegi for an extra Kakheti day if the pass is shut. Batumi in winter is quiet; summer-only shows such as the Dancing Fountains stop.

Before you go: UK FCDO (updated 15 Sep 2026) advises against all travel to the Russian-occupied regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, and against all but essential travel to areas immediately next to their administrative boundary lines (ABL). US State Dept rates Georgia Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions) and South Ossetia and Abkhazia Level 4 (Do Not Travel). This route does not enter either region or the ABL zone: Mtskheta, the Military Highway to Stepantsminda, Sighnaghi and Batumi are all outside it. Do not add side trips to the Truso Valley near Kazbegi or to villages north of Gori, which run up to the South Ossetia line; the Tbilisi-Batumi train passes through the Gori area, so simply stay on it. FCDO also warns that protests can turn violent with little warning and that people who take part may face questioning on exit or be refused re-entry; avoid demonstrations around Rustaveli Avenue. It advises pre-booking taxis in an app rather than hailing them, watching for pickpockets in crowded places, and notes that heavy rain, landslides and snow at altitude can close mountain roads.

Visa and entry

UAE residents: you can enter Georgia visa-free for 90 days in any 180 if you hold a UAE residence permit or visa that is valid on the day you enter and the day you leave, and a passport valid for at least 90 days. Citizens of 17 countries (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cameroon, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Ghana, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Uganda, Yemen) only qualify if the UAE permit is multiple-entry and valid for at least one more year on the day you cross; otherwise apply for a C1 tourist visa. The embassy page is loosely worded, so run your passport and permit through the official eligibility check at geoconsul.gov.ge before booking. Emirati citizens are visa-free for a full year. Indian passport holders: apply online at evisa.gov.ge for a short stay (passport valid 3 months beyond the visa; a mandatory DuVerify step adds USD 15 per applicant; the consular fee is not shown on the page, so check), or enter visa-free for 90 days in any 180 if you hold a visa or residence permit, valid on the day you enter, from one of the countries Georgia lists: these include the UAE, other GCC states, the US, the UK, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea and the Schengen countries (Kutaisi International Airport's passport-control page, citing the government rule). Run your exact documents through the eligibility check at geoconsul.gov.ge before booking. US, UK and EU passport holders: visa-free for up to one year. Everyone: travel health or accident insurance is mandatory, covering at least 30,000 GEL (about $11,500) for the whole stay including arrival and departure days; carry proof, as you may have trouble entering or leaving without it.

Official sources: uae.mfa.gov.ge, geoconsul.gov.ge, evisa.gov.ge, gov.uk.

Is a transport pass worth it?

No pass is worth buying for this route, because Georgia has no national rail or bus pass. In Tbilisi, get a Metromoney card (2 GEL, refundable deposit within 30 days with the receipt) and load it: every metro, bus or minibus ride costs 1 GEL and gives you 90 minutes of unlimited transfers. The 1-day unlimited ticket is 3 GEL but needs a separate subscription card, so it only pays off on a day with four or more separate trips. Paying with a foreign bank card works but costs about 1.5 GEL a ride. The Narikala cable car is a separate 2.5 GEL fare. Between cities you pay per trip: marshrutkas in cash, the Batumi train online.

The day-by-day plan

Day 1: Land at TBS, Old Tbilisi, Narikala and the sulphur baths

Base: Tbilisi

Morning

Clear immigration at Tbilisi International Airport (TBS) and get into town.

How: Cheapest: city bus 337 from the municipal stop in front of the Arrivals hall. It runs Kakheti Highway - Black Sea St - Queen Ketevan Ave - Baratashvili St - Rustaveli Ave - Kostava St - Station Square 1, and stops near Freedom Square for Old Tbilisi. Tap a Metromoney card or a bank card. Easiest: order a Bolt in the app inside the terminal so the price is fixed before you get in.

Time: Bus about 50-75 min; Bolt about 30-40 min (check traffic) · Cost: Bus 1 GEL ($0.40) with Metromoney, about 1.5 GEL with a foreign bank card. Bolt about 25-35 GEL ($10-13), dynamic pricing

Tip: Bus 337 runs roughly 07:00-23:00 from the airport; the airport lists 06:59 and 22:59 as its times. Land later than that and take Bolt. The Bank of Georgia desk at arrivals sells a Travel Card, not Metromoney; buy Metromoney at a metro station 'MS' cash desk or the Rike Park cable-car station. Flights from Dubai land at TBS; have your UAE residence permit and insurance certificate ready at the passport desk.

Afternoon

Check in, then walk Old Tbilisi: Freedom Square, down to Rike Park, and up to Narikala Fortress by cable car.

How: Walk to Rike Park on the east bank, take the Rike-Narikala ropeway up, then walk down through the fortress lanes to Abanotubani (the bath district).

Time: 3-4 h · Cost: Cable car 2.5 GEL ($1) one way, Metromoney or bank card. It is not covered by the 1 GEL 90-minute fare

Tip: The cable car runs about 10:00-22:00 in winter and to midnight in summer. Ride up, walk down: the descent is the best part.

Evening

Soak in a sulphur bath in Abanotubani, then dinner.

How: Walk. Book a private room at least a day ahead (2-3 days for weekends). Chreli Abano (Orbeliani Bath, the blue-tiled one) is the only bath with working online booking; Gulo's Thermal Spa is the newly renovated option.

Time: 1 h in the bath · Cost: Public hall 5-10 GEL ($2-4) a person. Private room priced per room per hour: about 70-150 GEL at Gulo's, 80-250 GEL at Chreli Abano ($27-96). Kisi scrub 15-25 GEL extra

Tip: Prices are per room, not per person, so private rooms are good value for two to four people. Public halls are gender-separated.

Where to sleep: Old Tbilisi or Sololaki, around Freedom Square. Bus 337 stops at Freedom Square, the cable car and baths are a walk away, and Liberty Square metro is on the red line for Didube (day 2-3).
Budget: Hostel dorm from about $5-10 a bed (Booking.com, Nov 2026) · Mid: Typical double about $54 a night (median on Booking.com for a mid-November weeknight) · Comfort: 4-5 star double about $77-97 a night (Booking.com median to 75th percentile, Nov 2026)

Eat: Khinkali (Georgian dumplings) at about 1-1.5 GEL each in ordinary Tbilisi places; order 5-10 per person. A dinner for two with wine runs about 80-130 GEL ($31-50) in a mid-range restaurant. Check the bill for a 10% service charge.

If it rains: The baths are indoors and the cable car runs in the rain. Do Narikala on day 2 if visibility is poor.

Day 2: Rustaveli Avenue and a half day in Mtskheta

Base: Tbilisi

Morning

Get a SIM, then walk Rustaveli Avenue from Freedom Square towards the Opera and Parliament.

How: Magti stores are in the centre (and 24/7 at the airport, at higher prices). Walk Rustaveli Avenue; it is about 1.5 km.

Time: 2 h · Cost: Magti SIM 10 GEL (includes 1 GEL credit); 7-day unlimited data 10 GEL; 20 GB for 30 days 30 GEL. Bring your passport

Tip: Buy in town, not at the airport: airport packages start at 60 GEL. Book your train to Batumi (day 6) today on gr.com.ge or TKT.GE if you have not already.

Afternoon

Mtskheta, Georgia's old capital and a UNESCO site: Svetitskhoveli Cathedral and the old town lanes.

How: Metro red line from Liberty Square to Didube (1 GEL). At Didube bus station (main part), buy a Mtskheta van ticket at the desk; vans leave every 20-30 minutes from 08:00. Return the same way.

Time: Van about 30-40 min each way (check); 2-3 h in town · Cost: Van 2 GEL ($0.80) each way

Tip: Jvari Monastery is on the hill across the river and needs a taxi from Mtskheta; agree the return price before you go (check). Cover shoulders and knees in churches; women may be asked to cover their heads.

Evening

Back in Tbilisi: sunset walk on the Peace Bridge and dinner in Old Tbilisi.

How: Didube metro back to Liberty Square, then walk.

Time: 2 h · Cost: Metro 1 GEL

Tip: Pack a small overnight bag for Kazbegi tomorrow and leave the big bag at your Tbilisi hotel (you are back on day 4). Most vans charge extra for oversized luggage.

Where to sleep: Same Old Tbilisi base. Ask the hotel to hold your large bag for the Kazbegi night.
Budget: Hostel dorm from about $5-10 a bed (Booking.com, Nov 2026) · Mid: Typical double about $54 a night (median on Booking.com for a mid-November weeknight) · Comfort: 4-5 star double about $77-97 a night (Booking.com median to 75th percentile, Nov 2026)

Eat: Adjarian khachapuri (the cheese-and-egg boat) at about 10-14 GEL ($4-5) in Tbilisi, or Imeruli khachapuri at 5-8 GEL. A set lunch of soup and main runs 15-25 GEL.

If it rains: Swap Mtskheta for the museums along Rustaveli Avenue (check opening days and fees) and keep Mtskheta for day 4's afternoon.

Get the full 7-day itinerary (PDF)

Print it, save it to your phone, or attach it to your visa application.

All 7 days in full: exact trains, buses and flights with times and prices
Where to sleep each night at three budgets
What to book ahead, and when
Scams and mistakes to avoid in Georgia
Money, SIM and tipping, plus a packing list for the season
Every source we used, checked 31 October 2026

Price $7 (US dollars; your card converts it). Secure payment by Razorpay, instant PDF download. Days 1 and 2 are free above. Already bought? Get your download · Terms · Refunds

Day 3: Up the Military Highway to Kazbegi and Gergeti Trinity· in the full PDF

Base: Stepantsminda (Kazbegi)

Marshrutka from Didube to Stepantsminda.

Day 4: Gveleti waterfall, then back to Tbilisi· in the full PDF

Base: Tbilisi

Gveleti waterfalls in the Dariali Gorge, about 7 km north of Stepantsminda.

Day 5: Kakheti day trip: Sighnaghi and the wine country· in the full PDF

Base: Tbilisi

Van to Sighnaghi, the walled hill town over the Alazani Valley.

Day 6: Morning train to Batumi and the seafront· in the full PDF

Base: Batumi

Stadler double-deck train 802, Tbilisi Central to Batumi Central.

Day 7: Botanical Garden and departure· in the full PDF

Base: Batumi

Batumi Botanical Garden at Green Cape: 111 hectares on the hills above the sea, about 9 km north of the centre.

Get all 7 days in full →

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Sources

We checked 33 sources for this itinerary, official ones first. Prices change; check before you book.

gr.com.ge: Official Georgian Railway timetable (queried for 3 and 6 Nov 2026): train 802 Tbilisi 08:05-Batumi 12:06, 804 17:10-21:11, 803 Batumi 08:00-Tbilisi 12:00, 801 16:50-20:50; no direct Tbilisi-Kutaisi intercity train listed
gr.com.ge: Official Georgian Railway fares for train 802 on 6 Nov 2026: I class 75 GEL, II class 35 GEL
gr.com.ge: Georgian Railway online ticket sales
railway.ge: Georgian Railway passenger page (links to gr.com.ge for tickets; no timetable on page)
tbilisiairport.com: Bus 337 stop in front of arrivals, route via Freedom Square to Station Square 1, times 06:59/22:59, 1 GEL for 90 min, Metromoney card 2 GEL, day/week passes
ttc.com.ge: Tbilisi Transport Company tariffs: 1 GEL 90-min, 3 GEL day, Metromoney 2 GEL, Rike-Narikala ropeway 2.5 GEL, no 90-min package for cash/app
nbg.gov.ge: Official GEL rates for 30 Oct 2026: USD 2.5959, 10 AED 7.0675, EUR 2.8934, 100 INR 2.7252
uae.mfa.gov.ge: UAE residence permit/visa holders 90/180 visa-free, permit valid on entry and exit, passport 90 days, 17-nationality exception list, C1 visa, UAE citizens one year, insurance 30,000 GEL
geoconsul.gov.ge: Official visa eligibility checker (JavaScript app; linked for readers, not readable by fetch)
evisa.gov.ge: E-visa: apply from outside Georgia, short stay, passport 3 months beyond visa, DuVerify USD 15 per applicant, insurance upload, consular fee not stated
gov.uk: British visa-free up to one year; insurance minimum 30,000 GEL for whole stay
gov.uk: Advice against all travel to Abkhazia and South Ossetia and all but essential travel next to the ABLs; updated 15 Sep 2026

Trip Under is reader-planned, not a travel agency. Prices and rules were checked on 31 October 2026 and move with season and demand. Where a figure could not be confirmed we say "check".