One of the most charming and beautiful countries that many people often overlook is Georgia, or Sakartvelo, as the locals call it. This small country has everything from breathtaking mountain landscapes to a beautiful coastline along the Black Sea, not to mention its unique and delicious cuisine and rich culture, unmatched by anyone.
Best of all, it's affordable to travel around, and within this itinerary, you'll find all the information you need to plan a perfect backpacking trip to Georgia. We will spend 2 weeks exploring the vibrant cities of Tbilisi, Kutaisi, and Batumi, hiking in the Greater Caucasus Mountains, and much more. So, without further ado, here is a complete itinerary for Georgia.
- 2 Weeks Georgia Itinerary Map
- 2 Weeks in Georgia Itinerary
- When to Visit Georgia?
- How to Get to Georgia?
- How to Get Around Georgia?
- How Much Money Do I Need For A 2-week Trip To Georgia?
- What to Pack for Georgia?
- Further Reading for Georgia
2 Weeks Georgia Itinerary Map
2 Weeks in Georgia Itinerary
Day 1 - 2: Tbilisi
Our journey begins in Tbilisi, the charming and vibrant capital city of Georgia. It is one of my favorite cities in the Caucasus, and there’s no better place to start our 2-week itinerary than here.
On your first day, we begin by visiting the Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi, probably one of the most recognizable landmarks in the city. The cathedral is located on top of a small hill, and although it is a bit of a walk from Tbilisi Old Town, I guarantee it is well worth it.
After you're done, head over to Liberty Square to start exploring Tbilisi's Old Town. The square is the beating heart of the city, and from here, you can visit most of Tbilisi's tourist attractions on foot.
- Day Trip to Kakheti Wine Region Including Seven Wine Tastings (12 hours) 👍 Top Pick
- Highlights of Caucasus Mountains-Jinvali,Ananuri,Gudauri,Kazbegi (Group tour) (14 hours)
- Kutaisi Canyons and Caves from Tbilisi Full Day Tour (11 to 15 hours)
You can visit the Georgian National Museum, a large museum that features an extensive collection of archaeological artifacts and permanent exhibitions highlighting the struggles of the Georgian people, so you can learn more about Georgia.
Or you can go for a stroll around Zion Cathedral of the Dormition of Tbilisi, a massive Orthodox church that dates all the way back to the Middle Ages, and make your way towards Narikala Hill, where the center of the old town is.
Be sure to spend some time exploring Narikala Hill. The streets are not only lined with souvenir shops and restaurants but also feature many interesting attractions, such as Vakhtang Gorgasali Square, a perfect photo spot for Tbilisi Old Town, St. George Cathedral of Tbilisi, a 13th-century church with a distinct tower, and Tbilisi Juma Mosque, one of the few mosques still standing here.
For sunset, I recommend hiking up to the Mother of Georgia statue, a massive silver monument situated atop a hill overlooking the entire city, not far from Narikala Castle. To get up there, you can either hike or take a cable car. The hike is moderately steep but not particularly difficult, and it should take you no more than 20 minutes to get from the trailhead to the top.
Before retreating for the night, be sure to try some local Georgian cuisine at Racha, a family-run restaurant located in the basement of a building not far from Liberty Square. It’s my favorite restaurant in the city, and I’ve been going there since my first trip to Georgia in 2015, they’re still rocking it today!
For the second day, you can go up and check out the view from Mtatsminda Park, a hilltop amusement park located at the highest point in Tbilisi, offering, without a doubt, the best viewpoint in the entire city.
Getting to Mtatsminda Park is pretty straightforward. You can take a funicular from this station, and you'll be at the top in less than 10 minutes. Depending on the time of your visit, you might have to wait around 15-20 minutes before boarding one of the funiculars as they are not particularly fast and run in rounds.
Once you are done, you can go and check out the Chronicles of Georgia, a striking monument built atop a hill overlooking the Tbilisi Sea (an artificial lake), located around 15 km away from Tbilisi's city center. To get to the Chronicles of Georgia, you can hail a taxi via Bolt Taxi from the city center, and the ride should take around 30 minutes. The fare is typically around 15 GEL one way.
The monument consists of 16 pillars, each standing between 30 and 35 meters tall. The top half features kings, queens, and heroes from Georgian history, while the bottom part depicts stories from the life of Christ. It is truly quite a sight to behold. I recommend visiting the monument in the evening for the best light if you are into photography.
Getting from Tbilisi to Kakheti
Since we will be visiting Kakheti as a day trip, you should be able to find plenty of day trips from Tbilisi, but I highly recommend this Kakheti Tour organized by Gamarjoba Georgia Tour. Our guide, Elena, was fantastic, she made sure everyone in the group felt comfortable with one another, which made the experience even more fun.
The tour costs around 40 USD and takes about 12 hours, starting in Tbilisi at 9 AM and returning you to town around 9 PM. It was one of the best day trips I took in Georgia, so I highly recommend it!
Day 3: Kakheti (Day Trip)
Today, we’re going on a day trip to explore the romantic wine region of Kakheti, where you'll visit vineyards, sample some of the finest Georgian wines, and learn more about the history of winemaking in Georgia.
There are many day trips from Tbilisi to Kakheti each day, but I highly recommend this Kakheti Tour organized by Gamarjoba Georgia Tour. Our guide, Elena, was fantastic, she made sure everyone in the group felt comfortable with one another, which made the experience even more fun.
As you make your way from Tbilisi to Kakheti, you will pass through a small town called Badiauri. This town is known for its traditional way of making shoti, a type of traditional Georgian bread made of white flour and shaped like a canoe. It makes for a great stop to try some of those for breakfast.
You will find plenty of bread and cheese shops along the main road of Badiauri, but I recommend you check out this bread and cheese shop. The family here was very friendly, and they have a lovely backyard with a small vineyard where they will serve you homemade bread, cheese, and wine. Yes, it's okay to drink wine in the morning when you are in Kakheti 😛.
Next, you can visit Bodbe's St. Nino's Convent Cathedral, a Georgian Orthodox monastery perched on a cliff and one of the most iconic landmarks in Kakheti. Built in the 9th century, the complex features a beautiful basilica, a free-standing bell tower in classic Russian architectural style, and a newly built cathedral nestled among tall cypress trees on a steep hillside overlooking the Alazani Valley.
The 9th-century basilica is particularly worth visiting, as many of its old frescoes remain remarkably intact, despite being covered in paint during the Soviet era as part of a broader campaign to suppress religious practices and promote atheism.
After that, you will have time to explore Sighnaghi, the main tourist town of Kakheti, known as the "City of Love." The town's cobblestone streets, quaint buildings, and panoramic views of the Alazani Valley remind me of Tuscany in Italy, which is probably why the vibe here feels different from other Georgian towns.
You can visit one of the many viewpoints, check out the museums like the National Museum, or find a charming restaurant or café where you can sit back, relax, and enjoy a glass of wine.
While exploring Sighnaghi, be sure to take a walk along parts of the Sighnaghi Wall, a 4-km medieval structure built in the 18th century to protect the city and provide refuge for those threatened by conquerors and marauders.
Of course, a trip to Kakheti wouldn't be complete without visiting some of its wineries. I recommend two places: JSC Corporation Kindzmarauli, one of the largest wine producers in Georgia, and a small local winery, Old Vine. This way, you can compare the winemaking process between large corporations and how locals craft their wines in their backyards.
After the tour, you should be back in Tbilisi at 9 PM, possibly drunk, so you can either go out and explore the nightlife with your new friends from the tour or retreat for the night and prepare for the trip to the mountain the next day.
Getting from Tbilisi to Kazbegi
You can either take a marshrutka van from Didube Bus Terminal, which is connected to the city center via Didube Metro Station. Vans leave between 8 AM and 6 PM daily, cost 15 GEL per person, and take about 3-4 hours, or you can go with an organized tour from Tbilisi, as I did, and drop off in Kazbegi.
Your ride will be much more comfortable, not overly expensive, and you'll make stops at the Ananuri Complex, the Russia-Georgia Friendship Monument, and more along the way. The day trip costs around 25 USD per person, and you can book the tour here.
Day 4-6: Kazbegi
After 3 days in Tbilisi, it’s time to head to the mountains and see firsthand why Georgia is one of the most beautiful countries in the world. Today, we’re traveling to Kazbegi and visiting all the tourist attractions along the way via an organized tour. However, instead of returning with the tour, you'll get off in Kazbegi and spend a few nights here.
Technically not in Kazbegi, but any trip to Kazbegi will have to pass through the Ananuri Fortress Complex, an iconic landmark that was featured on the cover of Lonely Planet's guidebook about the Caucasus, and this is going to be your first stop.
Inside the castle, you'll find a church and a watchtower. You can climb the watchtower for a nice view of the castle and its surroundings from above. That said, keep in mind that the path is quite narrow and can get crowded, especially if you visit the castle during the peak season, so you might need to wait a bit to enter and exit.
After you are done, you will then stop at Panorama Gudauri, formerly known as the Russia-Georgia Friendship Monument, an impressive Soviet-era monument perched photogenically on top of a cliff's edge overlooking the stunning mountains of Gudauri.
The monument is a large tile mural that spans the entire circumference of the structure and displays several scenes of Georgian and Russian past history and accomplishments. It was built in 1983 to celebrate the friendship between Soviet Georgia and Soviet Russia, although that has since deteriorated after Russia invaded Georgia in 2008.
Once you arrive in Kazbegi, of course, you have to visit the most important attraction of all, the photogenic Gergeti Trinity Church, one of the most recognizable landmarks in all of Georgia. Set against Mount Kazbegi, at over 2,170 meters (7,120 ft) above sea level, this magnificent hilltop church is probably the reason why you are in Kazbegi in the first place.
To get up there, you can either hike for about an hour from Kazbegi or take a local 4WD, which is not included in the tour price, for about 20 GEL per person to take you to the church. You can either leave your tour and hike on your own or go with them, and they will organize the 4WD for you.
The place is truly quite a sight to behold, and if you only have a backpack, I recommend you start the tour here and enjoy the sunset before heading down to the town on foot. The trail down should lead you to this trailhead, and you should be able to walk back to Stepantsminda in 1 hour.
On our second day here, we are going to spend the entire day hiking Juta Valley, one of the most popular day trips to make from Kazbegi. In the valley, you will find Juta village, which is a remote mountain village, best known for its stunning scenery and allows you to get a peek at the traditional way of life of the local people living here.
To get here, you can go with a shared transfer organized by Mountain Freaks, and they will drop you off at the roadblock located here. As of 2024, about 3 km of the road is closed for renovation, meaning you'll need to hike an additional hour to reach the village. Be sure to book your spot early as they have limited seats and they get booked out days in advance.
With the tour, you will have around 7.5 hours to hike around Juta Valley. It should take you about 2 hours to hike to the Fifth Season, where the best view of the valley is. From there, you can either choose to rest for the rest of the day or continue on and hike about 1 hour further to visit Juta Waterfall and Juta Lake.
The hike is easy to moderate and it is a great way to get a sense of how beautiful the mountains in Georgia are. At about 4 PM, you can start making your way back to the roadblock so you can get there in time for the pick-up time at 5:30 PM. You should be back in Kazbegi by 6:30 PM where you can retreat for the day and prepare for another epic hike the next day.
On our last day in Kazbegi, we are going to hike Truso Valley, another epic hiking day trip you can make from Kazbegi. This epic valley is home to many stunning attractions like the impressive hilltop Zakagori Fortress, Truso travertines, Abano Lake, and more.
The hike in Truso Valley begins at this trailhead and runs along the valley for about 15 km, all the way to Zakagori Fortress. The trail is mostly flat with a few ups and downs, but it's a long trek that will take approximately 7 hours to complete, about 4 hours to reach the fortress and around 3 hours to return.
Despite its relatively flat profile, I found this hike more challenging than the one in Juta Valley, as you'll be covering nearly 30 km if you plan to reach Zakagori Fortress. The hike is undeniably beautiful throughout, and it's worth experiencing, but due to its length and the minimal shade for rest stops, it can be quite demanding, especially if you tackle it during the summer months as I did.
To get to Truso Valley, I highly recommend using the daily shared transfer organized by Mountain Freaks. They depart from their office in Kazbegi at 9:15 AM and will pick you up at the trailhead at 4:30 PM, giving you about 6 hours to hike. While this may not be enough time to reach Zakagori Fortress, unless you hike fast without rest, you'll still get a good view of it from a distance.
After your hike, you'll be back in Kazbegi around 5:30 PM, giving you the rest of the day to explore the town, enjoy some delicious local cuisine at Lunch at Maia, and prepare for your journey to Kutaisi the following day.
Getting from Kazbegi to Kutaisi
From Kazbegi, you can catch the Marshrutka van from Kazbegi Bus Stop at 7 AM. They leave between 7 AM and 6 PM, but the earlier, the better as you will have to catch another bus in Tbilisi to Kutaisi. This trip should cost 15 GEL and takes about 3 to 4 hours.
Once you arrive at Didube Bus Terminal, you should be able to catch another marshrutka van to Kutaisi right away. They leave from the same terminal and since you should arrive in Tbilisi by 11 AM, there should be plenty of cars waiting for you.
A marshrutka van from Tbilisi to Kutaisi should cost you 20 GEL and take another 4 - 5 hours. Be sure to stock up on some water and snacks before you get on the marshrutka van to Kutaisi. You should arrive at Kutaisi Central Bus Station by 6 PM.
The bus station is 4 km away from the city, so you can either get a Bolt Taxi or take the city bus #1 straight to the city center for 0.8 GEL. You can get off at Colchis Fountain, and walk to your accommodation from there. You can see the entire bus route here.
Day 7-9: Kutaisi
Being one of the oldest cities in Georgia, Kutaisi was once the capital of the ancient Kingdom of Colchis that inhabited much of the east coast of the Black Sea from the 13th century BC to the 1st century BC. That's over 3,000 years of history, and we are going to spend a few days exploring this ancient city and its surroundings.
The first place I recommend visiting is Bagrati Cathedral, a stunning 11th-century church regarded as a masterpiece of medieval Georgian architecture. It also offers a fantastic vantage point for sweeping panoramic views of Kutaisi, making it a great way to start your journey here.
The cathedral is located on top of a hill overlooking the city, so it is quite a climb from the city center, but I guarantee you, the place is worth the climb. You can cross the river via the Chain Bridge and begin making your way up Bagrati Street. As you approach the hill, you should see a pedestrian stairway that will lead you up to the cathedral.
Once done, you can make your way back down and visit Colchis Fountain, a beautiful monument located right at the heart of the city center, on a roundabout where all roads in Kutaisi lead to. Be sure to check out Kutaisi Park, a great place to escape the bustling city and enjoy some quiet time, and the beautiful Meskhishvili Theatre, while you are here.
Next up, you can visit Kutaisi State Historical Museum, a cultural heritage museum housed inside a 19th-century bank where you will find a collection of archaeological artifacts, pieces of religious art, medieval weaponry, and more, to learn more about the history of this ancient city.
Not into history? Don't worry, Kutaisi has plenty of other cool and quirky museums to explore. One of my favorites is the Museum of Georgian Sports. This museum showcases a collection of sports memorabilia from various eras, including the Olympics, spanning from Soviet times to the present day.
Another awesome museum to visit is Photo-Cinema Chronicle Museum, an excellent collection of vintage analog cameras, lenses, films, and recorders from the Soviet era and beyond. As a photographer myself, this museum was particularly interesting to me.
In the evening, you can go hang out at White Bridge, a beautiful 19th-century metal pedestrian bridge painted in white with a great view over the river. You will also find a Soviet-era cable car where you can take to Besik Gabashvili Amusement Park next to it.
You can take the cable car from this cable car station. The ride costs around 3 GEL and takes less than 5 minutes to reach the park. Just riding the Soviet-era cable car with questionable safety is a pretty unique and fun experience in itself.
Once you arrive at the top, take a ride on the Ferris wheel and enjoy the sunset from up there. The view is stunning, offering a clear panorama of the city and its mountainous surroundings. Just be cautious, as the Ferris wheel's safety standards may not be up to par. After that, you can come back to the city center and retreat for the night.
The next day, we are going to visit Prometheus Cave, a stunning network of caves located about 20 km from the city and an awesome day trip to make. The cave's name comes from ancient Greek mythology, where Prometheus, a hero, was said to have been chained to the mountains in this region.
The cave features around 22 halls, 6 of which are open to tourists. Inside, you'll walk along a 1.4 km path, which takes about an hour to explore. The halls vary in size and scale, showcasing stunning stalactites and stalagmites. Many of the halls feature impressive centerpieces that will keep you occupied throughout the entire walk.
To get to Prometheus Cave, you can take a day trip from Kutaisi with an organized tour, which will also include Martvili Canyon, another recommended place to visit. The day trip should cost around 35 USD and take about 10 hours.
After visiting Prometheus Cave, you will then be visiting Martvili Canyon, a stunning canyon straight out of a fairy tale. The river, with its breathtakingly blue water, flows through narrow, towering cliffs surrounded by lush green vegetation, and you can even row a boat through it! It doesn't get any more magical than this.
The canyon is located about 45 km away from Kutaisi, and you will be visiting the canyon as part of the organized tour to Prometheus Cave. The whole tour should take about 10 hours and cost around 35 USD per person.
Once you arrive at the canyon, you have several options to explore it. You can hike through the enchanting forest along the crisscrossing paths that hover over the canyon, zip-line across the canyon to admire it from above, or row a boat along the river to experience it from below. Better yet, you can do all three!
After the tour, you should be back in Kutaisi around 7 PM, giving you the rest of the evening to enjoy the night before retreating for the day and preparing for the long journey to Svaneti the following day.
Getting from Kutaisi to Svaneti
To get from Kutaisi to Svaneti, I highly recommend you go with a shared transfer organized by Budget Georgia. It is the easiest and most convenient way to get to Svaneti directly without having to transit in Zugdidi. It costs 35 USD and takes about 6 hours. They leave every morning at 7 AM from the organizer's office in Kutaisi city center.
If you want to take a marshrutka, you will have to get to Kutaisi Central Bus Station again, and you should be able to find a Marshrutka van to Zugdidi leaving at all hours during the day. The journey should take about 2 hours and cost 7 - 10 GEL per person.
From Zugdidi, you should be able to catch a Marshrutka just outside the train station. It should take another 3-4 hours and cost around 40 GEL before you arrive in Mestia.
Day 10-13: Svaneti
Mestia is going to be your home base as you explore Svaneti, and even though the true beauty of this region lies in its incredible surroundings, there are also many awesome things to do here that you should not miss.
Since you will be arriving at 1 PM, you will have some time to explore Mestia and its famous feature, the Svan Towers. The towers are unique to the region and were primarily built between the 9th and 12th centuries, during Georgia kingdom's golden age. You can climb up to the top of these towers and enjoy the view from up there.
One of my favorites is Sergo Khergiani's Tower, a larger tower situated on the hillside overlooking Mestia. You can not only enter the tower but also climb all the way to the roof for an even more breathtaking view of your surroundings.
Afterward, head over to the Svaneti Museum of History and Ethnography to learn more about the local people and their unique culture and traditions. This extensive museum in Mestia is dedicated to preserving Svan culture and traditional ways of life, housing over 4,000 artifacts found in Svaneti.
Before retreating for the night, be sure to go and try some of their delicious dishes like Kubdari, or Svan meat pie, Chishdvari, a cornbread with cheese, Petvaraali, the Svan version of the famous Georgian dish, Kachapuri, and more.
One of the best places to try all of these is Cafe Laila, located right in the city center of Mestia. I went there almost every day as they serve a variety of local Svan dishes, and the ones I tried were all delicious.
On our first full day in Mestia, we are going to visit Ushguli, one of the most photogenic villages in Svaneti. Ushguli is a collection of small mountain villages located deep inside the Great Caucasus Mountain Range, about 1 hour away from Mestia. It is considered to be one of the highest inhabited villages in Europe, standing at 2,345 meters above sea level.
To visit the village, you can take a day trip from Mestia which will give you several hours to explore the town, or if you have time to spare, you can travel there by a Marshrutka van that leaves from Mestia Bus Station to Ushguli every morning at 8 AM and spend the night. Personally, I think a day trip should be enough to see everything here.
In Ushguli, you will find not just the famous medieval watchtowers, but also many sites of historical and religious importance like Queen Tamar Castle, where the famous Queen/King of Georgia used to reside. This location provides an awesome vantage point over Ushguli, allowing you to see most of the villages and their incredible towers from up here.
Another important site is Lamaria Church, an ancient Pagan pantheon turned Orthodox church set against the stunning 5,201-meter-high snow-capped peaks of the Shkhara Mountain.
The winding streets of Ushguli are also worth exploring, as much of the village is still preserved. Many old buildings are still inhabited, and the Svan Towers have been left largely untouched. It's like taking a time machine back to the medieval age when walking around Ushguli.
In the evening, you can go on another tour and visit Chalaadi Glacier, one of the most accessible glaciers in Svaneti, with its glacier tongue standing at only 1,850 meters above sea level. It's also the only glacier that cuts through a forested area, making it a great option for a half-day hike.
To get here, you can join a Chalaadi Glacier hiking tour, which will pick you up from Mestia at 4:30 PM. Since you should be back from Ushguli around 3 PM, you will have time to rest before going on this tour (they are run by the same company, and you will probably get the same driver).
The tour will take about 3 to 4 hours, and you should be back in Mestia by 8 PM. The hike is relatively easy and should take you about 1 hour to reach the glacier tongue. You can spend around 30 minutes there before starting your return journey, hopefully before nightfall.
After you get back to Mestia, you can go to a grocery store and prepare yourself lunch and breakfast for tomorrow as we will be spending the entire day hiking to Koruldi Lakes, which can take over 10 hours, so rest up.
Tucked away in the rolling hills of Ushba Mountain, you will find Koruldi Lakes, a collection of small lakes with possibly one of the most beautiful views you can get in Svaneti. It is one of my favorite spots here, not because it is the most beautiful, but because of how much effort it requires to get there... well, of course, unless you hire a local driver to take you there.
The best way to get to Koruldi Lakes is to hike from Mestia as the scenery you see along the way is absolutely breathtaking, but I am not going to sugarcoat it, it was a hell of a hike. The trail begins at this trailhead, and it will take you straight up for 2.5 hours to the Cross Over Mestia, an incredible viewpoint located on top of a mountain that overlooks Mestia and the entire valley.
At the cross, you can also hike a little further up and you will find a lovely cafe run by a Ukrainian family where you can rest, have a morning coffee, and take in the view at your own leisure. They serve coffees and other drinks (like a Georgian lemonade) and they cost around 5 GEL per drink, which is surprisingly affordable considering the incredible view.
You can spend some time resting here, having your morning coffee, before continuing on for another 2 hours to Koruldi Lakes. Along the way, you'll be treated to increasingly better views of the stunning Ushba Mountain, with its jagged peaks soaring over 4,690 meters, majestically towering above you throughout the hike.
After you arrive, you can admire the view from one of the many lakes up there. The farther you hike up the ridge, the more lakes you will see. You can wait for the wind to calm down and capture the still water of one of the lakes, creating a perfect mirror that reflects the beautiful surroundings. It sure was quite a sight to behold.
You can rest up there, have lunch, and take in the view for an hour or 2 before making your way down to Mestia. That will take another 3 - 4 hours depending on how much pain you want to feel in your knees the next day. 😂 You can stop at the cafe again on your way down to break up the trip a bit.
It took me about 4.5 hours to hike non-stop from Mestia to Koruldi Lakes and another 3 hours to get down. I ended up spending almost 10 hours up there, including many MANY rests!
Of course, hiking is not for everyone, especially given how crazy steep the trail to the lake is. So, if you do not want to hike the whole way, you can also go with an organized tour, which you can book here or organize from any tour agency in town a day before. It should cost around 250 GEL (90 - 100 USD) to hire someone to drive you up there and back, and it takes around 4 hours in total.
Once you get down to Mestia, you can spend the rest of the day enjoying a little relaxing time, and depending on how you want to travel to Batumi the next day, you may have to wake up early to catch a marshrutka or you will have almost an entire day free to go with a shared transfer at 4:30 PM.
Getting from Svaneti to Batumi
From Svaneti to Batumi, I also recommend getting a shared transfer organized by Budget Georgia. It costs about 33 USD and takes 6 hours. Transfers leave from in front of Credo Bank at 5 PM, giving you almost an entire day to rest in Mestia, and you should arrive in Batumi by 11 PM.
If not, you can catch a marshrutka van from Mestia Bus Station around 7:30 AM to take you to Zugdidi. From there, you can catch another van to Batumi. If you're lucky, there might even be a direct van from Mestia to Batumi, so it’s worth a try. The journey should take around 6 to 8 hours, depending on the driver, and costs about 50 GEL.
Day 14-15: Batumi
And we arrived at our last stop in this itinerary, and there is no better place to end the trip than Batumi, the Dubai of the Black Sea, and so much more. First and foremost, you can head over to Europe Square, an expansive town square surrounded by stunning European-style buildings, unlike any other square you'll find in Georgia.
The square is surrounded by an impressive array of 19th and 20th-century architecture, fully restored to its former glory. At the center of the square, you’ll find a tall statue of Medea, a dancing fountain, and plenty of cafes and restaurants where you can sit and relax. It definitely feels distinct from the rest of Georgia, which is pretty cool to see.
Another impressive square you should visit is Batumi Piazza Square, a large open-air space surrounded by stunning European-style architecture, with cafes, restaurants, and shops to explore. With its tower and open-air square framed by European-style buildings, the resemblance to Venice's town square is almost uncanny!
It's now time to hit the beach, but before that, make sure you make your way to the famous Ali & Nino Statue, also known as the Statue of Love, and witness its mesmerizing union that happens every 10 minutes throughout the day. The statue is probably one of the most recognizable landmarks in the city!
If you're looking to spend a few relaxing hours in Batumi, head to Batumi Beach, find a nice spot, and enjoy some sun and sea. Despite being a pebble beach, it doesn't stop locals and tourists from coming out in droves to enjoy the beautiful summer weather.
Along the coastline of the Black Sea, you’ll find the beautiful Batumi Boulevard, which stretches over 7 km parallel to the beach. This area is dotted with stunning art installations, flora, and fauna, and monuments that are tourist attractions in their own right.
For the next half of the day, you can go and explore Batumi Botanical Garden, a massive green space located in the Green Cape area, a stunning coastal area 9 km north of Batumi. The garden contains a slew of unique flora and fauna, a subtropical plant collection, centuries-old woody trees, and amazing panoramic views of the Black Sea.
The park is dotted with many cool sculptures, art installations, and viewpoints that will keep you occupied for a few hours. You can also go ziplining along the coast, which is a pretty awesome way to experience the area. The ziplining will cost you 70 GEL per person and the starting point is here.
Since the garden is massive, expect to spend at least 2 - 3 hours here, including travel time. To get to Batumi Botanical Garden, you can take the bus number 31 from Baku Street Ropeway Bus Stop, which runs every 15 minutes. The bus will drop you off at the Green Cape entrance, which is the best entrance to start your exploration. The bus should take about 1 hour and cost 0.5 GEL. You can only pay with a credit card or transportation card.
You can also reach the garden by Bolt Taxi, which takes about 40 minutes and costs around 14 GEL. Be sure to select "Green Cape Side, Batumi Botanical Garden" as your drop-off point, as I believe it's the better entrance for exploring the garden on foot.
While in Batumi, be sure to try Adjarian khachapuri at Acharuli Khachapuri House, a famous local restaurant specializing in this delicious dish with cheese and an egg in the middle. Another great spot to eat is Khinkali Ludi, where you can get a khinkali for 1 GEL and a beer for 2 GEL.
After dinner, you can spend the rest of the night exploring the fun and vibrant nightlife before retreating back to your accommodation and calling it a day, thus completing this 2-week backpacking Georgia itinerary. Congratulations!
Getting out of Batumi
From Batumi, you can fly out via Turkish Airlines, Emirates, Air Astana, and other low-cost airlines like Pegasus and FlyDubai, to the rest of the world, or you can make your way back to Tbilisi on a bus or a train from Batumi Central Station, which will take about 6 hours, and fly out from Tbilisi the next day.
When to Visit Georgia?
The best time to visit Georgia is during the summer months, between June and September. During this period, the weather is generally favorable with minimal rainfall. Although it can get quite hot at times, the conditions are ideal for hiking, which we will be doing quite a bit in this itinerary. Personally, I'd prefer hot days over rainy ones any day.
Georgia does attract quite a lot of tourists during the summer months, so if you want to avoid crowds, consider visiting during the shoulder seasons in May or October. Also, try to avoid visiting popular places or doing day trips on weekends.
If you're looking to ski, you can also visit Georgia during the winter months, from December to February. Although this itinerary focuses more on summer activities, you could easily swap hiking for skiing. It's also worth considering renting a car, as public transportation tends to run less frequently during this season.
How to Get to Georgia?
This itinerary begins in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, so your first step will be getting there. Direct flights to Tbilisi are limited, so you'll likely need to rely on transit flights, such as Turkish Airlines via Ankara, Qatar Airways via Doha, or Air Astana via Almaty. You can use Skyscanner or Expedia to find the most affordable flights from your home country.
How to Get From Tbilisi Airport to City Center?
By Bus: The cheapest way to get from Tbilisi Airport to the City Center is to take bus #337 from the airport straight to Liberty Square. The bus often waits for passengers at this bus stop on your right from the airport's exit.
The bus runs between 6:59 AM and 10:59 PM every 15 minutes every day, and it takes about 1 hour to arrive at Pushkin Square Bus Stop. You can easily pay for the ticket by tapping your credit card on the machines inside the bus, and it will only cost you 1 GEL.
By Bolt Taxi: If you are arriving outside of the bus operational time, you will be better off hailing a taxi via Bolt Taxi app than getting a random taxi from the airport.
Trust me, there are often scammers in disguise. I have a friend who got scammed by these taxi drivers because they told them that it is going to cost only 20 GEL, but what they didn't know is that that is the per kilometer price. They ended up having to pay almost 200 GEL for the trip! Avoid random airport taxis at all costs!
Make sure you download the Bolt app prior to your arrival and get an eSIM so that you can access the internet when you arrive. Once here, just punch in your hotel and the app will find a taxi for you. It should cost around 40 GEL and takes around 30 minutes.
How to Get Around Georgia?
By Day Trips: One of my favorite ways to get around Georgia as a solo traveler is to go on day trips, but instead of going back to where I left the same day, I ask them to drop me off at the destination I want. This way, I got to meet a lot of people, got to see everything along the way, and get to travel where I want in a comfortable van.
For example, I took a day trip to Kazbegi, got to visit Ananuri Complex, Russia-Georgian Friendship, and Gergeti Holy Trinity Church, all in one day, without having to worry about the logistics, and it cost me only 25 USD.
It is the perfect way to get around the country without wasting time on travel days. You can browse for more day trips you can take in Georgia here: day trips in Georgia. There are many that will take you all over the country, so be sure to check them out.
By Marshrutka Vans: One of the cheapest ways to get around Georgia is by taking marshrutka vans, a local mode of transportation with roots in Soviet-era Georgia. These minivans will take you across the country, though they lack many comforts.
For example, they are rarely equipped with air conditioning, making summer travel quite challenging. The seats often lack cushioning, and sometimes they squeeze in a few too many passengers. While it’s not as cramped as transportation in some parts of Southeast Asia, it's still less spacious compared to taking a larger bus or a shared taxi.
You can usually find these vans at bus stations near the city center, which makes them easily accessible. They often leave when full, so there is no fixed schedule. If you want to take one, I highly recommend you get there 30 minutes before the departure time you want, so you can secure a spot by the window. Trust me, you are going to need it.
By Shared Taxi/Transfer: Another great budget option to get around Georgia is to go with a shared taxi instead of a marshrutka van. These taxis are often waiting for passengers near the bus terminal, and they will often try to pool people until it's full before they leave.
They are a bit more expensive than a marshrutka van and the availability is rather random, but if you can secure one, you are going to have a much more comfortable experience. You can also find shared transfers operated by tour agencies online and book them in advance here, although they only run during the summer months.
By Trains: Georgia has an excellent train system that connects its major cities, and it is an awesome and scenic way to travel around the country. While it's usually a bit slower than buses or marshrutkas, it’s much more comfortable, with European-style double-deck cabins. The trains do tend to get booked quickly though, so be sure to book in advance here.
Private Transfer: If you're looking for the most comfortable way to get around Georgia without driving yourself and don’t mind paying extra, private transfers are a great option. You can browse for private transfers here.
By Car: You can also rent a car from Tbilisi Airport and drive around Georgia. The roads are generally in good condition, except perhaps in Svaneti, but as long as you drive slowly and follow the rules of the road, you should be fine.
How Much Money Do I Need For A 2-week Trip To Georgia?
From this 2-week itinerary, we can calculate approximately how much money you will be spending here (minimum) as follows:
| 🛌 Lodging: | 256 USD (16 USD/Day) |
| 🥘 Food: | 225 USD (15 USD/Day) |
| 🚗 Transport: | 167 USD (11 USD/Day) |
| 🧗 Activities: | 110 USD (7.5 USD/Day) |
| 💰 Total Budget: | 758 USD (50.5 USD/Day) |
What to Pack for Georgia?
As you may already know, I am an advocate of light traveling, and indeed, packing light for a journey like this is a unique art form. Here are some packing tips for your upcoming trip to Georgia:
- Walking/Hiking Shoes: With all the walking and possible hiking during your travel, a comfortable pair of shoes is a must. I recommend the Timberland 3-Eye Classic Boat Shoes that are my go-to pair for long strolls and hikes.
- Breathable Shirts: Given the potential for hot weather, pack a few breathable shirts for your outdoor adventures.
- Shorts/Jeans: Anticipate lots of walking during your travels? Be sure to pack some breathable shorts and a pair of Levi's jeans for when the weather cools. For women, leggings are excellent for both hot and cold climates, so consider packing some as well.
- Fleece Jacket: For colder weather, layering is the key, and a fleece jacket makes an excellent insulating layer. I recommend the Columbia Steens Mountain Fleece (for women).
- Outer Shell Jacket: An outer shell jacket is great for windy or rainy conditions. I highly recommend the Columbia Watertight Jacket (for women). It's lightweight, breathable, and even comes in a cool orange color.
- Microfiber Towel: A Microfiber towel is the ideal backpacker's towel due to its lightness, quick drying, and compressibility.
- Camera: You should also pack a good camera for your trip so that you can capture all the beautiful experiences you might have. I recommend the Sony a7R V camera together with the Sony 24-70mm f2.8 GM II lens, which is probably the highest-performance camera and lens combination you can get right now.
- Power Bank: Keep your electronics charged on the go with a 20,000+ mAh Power Bank.
- Water Bottle: The Hydro Flask Trail Water Bottle is a great insulated water bottle to have with you in cities or on hiking trails. It is lightweight and can keep your water cold or warm for more than 12 hours. It's a total game-changer.
- Universal Adapter: You'll need just one universal adapter to plug in your electronics in any country you visit.
- Packing Cubes: Packing Cubes will help you save space in your backpack and keep all your belongings organized.
- Daypack: The Langly Alpha Globetrotter is my go-to everyday camera backpack. It's large enough to carry all my travel gear, and it comes with plenty of slots and pouches. Plus, it's stylish as hell!
- Large Backpack: You will need a large backpack to carry all of your stuff. I recommend the Osprey Atmos AG 65L backpack. With excellent weight distribution and a lifetime guarantee, you can't go wrong with Osprey.
For more information on what I pack in my backpack for this trip, check out: My Packing List: 60 Travel Essentials.
Now that we have all the information we need, it's time to start planning your trip! Here are some resources to help you get going:
Are you planning to travel independently? Be sure to check out my guide on How To Plan A Backpacking Trip here.
Further Reading for Georgia
I hope you found this Georgia travel guide useful. If you are looking for something to read to help with your Georgia trip planning even further, be sure to check out the articles below:
- Tbilisi is definitely one of my favorite cities in the Caucasus with its vibrancy and liveliness that rival no one. If you are planning a trip here, be sure to check out our guide: 15 Incredible Things to Do in Tbilisi.
- Looking for a great day trip from Tbilisi? How about visiting the romantic wine region of Kakheti? Here is A Complete Travel Guide to Kakheti.
- Nestled between the rolling mountains of the Greater Caucasus Range, Kazbegi is hands down one of the best places to visit in Georgia. From the photogenic Gergeti Trinity Church to all the awesome hikes you can do, here is A Complete Travel Guide to Kazbegi.
- One of the best day trips you can make in Kazbegi is to visit Juta Valley and go hiking around one of the many hiking trails here. Here is A Complete Hiking Guide to Juta Valley.
- An alternative day trip you can make in Kazbegi is to spend a day hiking in Truso Valley, where stunning nature meets incredible history. To help you plan the ultimate trip, here is A Complete Hiking Guide to Truso Valley.
- As one of the oldest cities in Georgia, with a history spanning 3,000 years, Kutaisi has a ton of things for you to see and do. If you're planning a visit, be sure to check out our 10 best things to do in Kutaisi.
- Svaneti is one of the most beautiful regions in Georgia. It is home to not just beautiful mountains, but also the Svans with their rich history, and unique culture. If you want to visit Svaneti, this is the travel guide for you: A Complete Travel Guide to Svaneti
- One of the best hikes you can do in Svaneti is the Koruldi Lakse hike. Here is A Complete Hiking Guide to Koruldi Lakes
- For a complete list of things to do in Mestia, check out: 10 Best Things to Do in Mestia
- Ushguli is one of the highest inhabited settlements in Europe, and it is a must-visit if you are exploring Svaneti. Here is A Complete Travel Guide to Ushguli
- Batumi is more than just the Dubai of the Black Sea; it has a rich history, delicious cuisine, and plenty of things to do. Here are the 11 Best Things to Do in Batumi.
- Wondering where to go after Georgia? Why not drop by Armenia or Azerbaijan afterward?
- For all articles about Georgia, visit our Georgia Travel Guide page.
- Looking to travel to the Caucasus Region? Check out all my articles about the region here: The Caucasus Travel Guide page.
- You can see all my Asia-related articles here: Asia Travel Guide page.
- For more of my travel guides like this, visit my Destinations page.
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