Georgia fits an absurd amount of diversity into a country smaller than South Carolina. Snow-capped peaks, subtropical coastline, semi-desert canyons, 8,000-year-old wine valleys, medieval tower villages, and Soviet ghost towns all sit within a few hours of each other. The trick is planning your route so you are not constantly backtracking. Here are 30 destinations organized by region, in the order you would actually encounter them on a road trip.
Starting Point: Tbilisi
Every trip starts here. Georgia's capital is a collision of Persian bathhouses, Orthodox churches, Art Nouveau facades, Soviet concrete, and a fast-moving wine bar and restaurant scene. Spend two to three days walking the Old Town, riding cable cars for rooftop views, exploring the neighborhoods, and eating your way through the city before heading out.
Key stops: Narikala Fortress, the sulfur baths of Abanotubani, Dry Bridge flea market, Fabrika, Rustaveli Avenue museums, and Mtatsminda Park via funicular.
North from Tbilisi: The Military Highway and Mountains
Mtskheta
Twenty minutes north of Tbilisi, Georgia's ancient capital and a UNESCO site. Svetitskhoveli Cathedral and hilltop Jvari Monastery overlook the confluence of two rivers. Stop on your way north rather than making a separate day trip.
The Georgian Military Highway
One of the most scenic drives in the Caucasus. The road from Tbilisi to Kazbegi passes Ananuri Fortress on the reservoir, climbs through Gudauri ski resort, crests the Jvari Pass at 2,395 meters (the Soviet Friendship Monument viewpoint is here), then drops into the Terek River gorge. Allow a full day with stops. This road is paved and manageable in any car year-round, though winter requires snow tires.
Kazbegi (Stepantsminda)
Georgia's most photographed scene: Gergeti Trinity Church perched on a green hillside with Mount Kazbek (5,054m) towering behind. The hike to the church takes about 90 minutes. The town itself is small but has excellent food and the famous Rooms Hotel. Stay at least one night to catch the mountain at sunrise.
Juta and Sno Valley
A side valley off the Military Highway, nicknamed the "Georgian Dolomites." Pointed rock peaks, alpine meadows, and the Chaukhi Massif. Day hikes from the trailhead are straightforward. Giant stone head sculptures in Sno village are worth a quick stop.
Tusheti
Georgia's most remote mountain region, accessible only via the Abano Pass from late June to early October. Requires a proper 4x4 vehicle. Medieval stone tower villages (Dartlo, Omalo), multi-day hiking trails, and one of the last genuine off-grid experiences in Europe. Allow four days minimum.
Khevsureti
Fortified villages, wildflower meadows, and deep valleys between Tbilisi and the Russian border. Less developed than Kazbegi, more accessible than Tusheti. The stone settlement of Shatili and the hilltop stronghold of Mutso are the standouts. Seasonal access but roads are gentler than Tusheti.
East from Tbilisi: Kakheti Wine Country
Telavi
The main town of Kakheti wine region, set in the Alazani Valley with the Caucasus rising behind vineyards. King Erekle II's palace, a lively market, and family wine cellars (maranis) where you can taste qvevri wines made using 8,000-year-old clay vessel methods. Better base than Sighnaghi for exploring both sides of the valley.
Sighnaghi
A hilltop walled town with cobblestone streets, pastel balconies, and valley views. Charming but touristy. Best visited in late afternoon after the tour buses leave. Bodbe Monastery nearby is worth the stop.
The Alazani Valley Wine Route
The road between Telavi and Sighnaghi passes dozens of family wine cellars, larger estates like Tsinandali, and hilltop monasteries including Alaverdi and Nekresi. This is the heart of Georgian winemaking and best experienced with a rental car at your own pace.
Vashlovani
At the far eastern edge of Georgia, Vashlovani National Park is a semi-desert landscape of eroded mud volcanoes, dry canyons, and solitary plateau grasslands. Requires a 4x4 and advance registration. Almost no cell coverage. Georgia's wildest corner.
South from Tbilisi: Kartli and Javakheti
Gori
Stalin's birthplace and home to the fascinatingly unfiltered Stalin Museum. Beyond the Soviet connection, the hilltop fortress has sweeping views over the Kartli plains. Quick stop on the way west.
Uplistsikhe
A sprawling cave city carved into riverside cliffs, dating back 3,000 years. More accessible than Vardzia, easier to combine with Gori as a half-day loop from Tbilisi.
Vardzia
Georgia's most spectacular cave monastery, carved into a sheer cliff face in Samtskhe-Javakheti. Hundreds of rooms, frescoed churches, and irrigation tunnels spread across the rock. The drive through the Kura River gorge to reach it is half the experience.
Borjomi
Famous for its mineral water (you will drink it at every restaurant in Georgia). The town has a beautiful forested park with natural hot springs, a cable car, and the narrow-gauge Borjomi-Bakuriani railway, one of the most scenic short train rides in the country.
Rabati Castle, Akhaltsikhe
A massive restored fortress complex blending Georgian, Ottoman, and Persian architecture. The regional hub of Samtskhe-Javakheti and a good overnight base for Vardzia, Borjomi, and the high plateau lakes.
West from Tbilisi: Imereti and the Center
Kutaisi
Georgia's second city and the heart of western culture. Kutaisi straddles the Rioni River with leafy parks, a lively central market, and excellent restaurants. Gelati Monastery (UNESCO, 12th century) sits just outside town. Use Kutaisi as a base for exploring all of western Georgia.
Tskaltubo
A former Soviet spa town 20 minutes from Kutaisi. Grand sanatoria built around natural warm mineral springs, most now beautifully abandoned. One of Georgia's most photogenic and unusual destinations.
Chiatura
A Soviet mining city famous for its network of cable cars ("Stalin's rope roads") stretching across a deep gorge. Brutalist architecture, cliffside apartment blocks, and new parks mixing with crumbling infrastructure. Pair with nearby Katskhi Column, a church perched on a 40-meter limestone pillar.
Prometheus and Sataplia Caves
Illuminated limestone caves with underground rivers, just outside Kutaisi. Sataplia also has dinosaur footprints and a glass walkway over the forest canopy. Good rainy-day activity.
The Mountains: Svaneti and Racha
Mestia and Upper Svaneti
Medieval defensive towers, glacial valleys, and some of the most dramatic mountain scenery in Europe. Mestia is the regional hub with museums, hiking trails, and growing infrastructure. The four-day Mestia to Ushguli trek is one of Europe's great walks.
Ushguli
One of the highest continuously inhabited settlements in Europe (2,200m). UNESCO-listed stone towers, a tiny church with medieval frescoes, and the end of the road in every sense. Reachable by 4x4 from Mestia or on foot over several days.
Racha
The "Georgian Tuscany." Rolling green hills, Shaori Reservoir, the Nikortsminda Cathedral with its extraordinary carved facade, and Khvanchkara wine (Stalin's favorite). Peaceful, uncrowded, and underrated.
The Black Sea Coast
Batumi
Georgia's Black Sea capital. A mix of Belle Époque architecture, bold modern towers, a long seafront promenade, and the subtropical Botanical Garden. Excellent food scene with strong Adjarian and Turkish influences. The gateway to highland Adjara's mountains.
Martvili Canyon
Turquoise water flowing through mossy limestone walls. Boat rides through the lower canyon and walking trails above. Best combined with Okatse Canyon (a suspended walkway over a deep gorge) and Kinchkha Waterfall for a full day from Kutaisi.
Zugdidi
The largest city in Samegrelo, known for the Dadiani Palace (which houses a Napoleon death mask) and the region's fiery Megrelian cuisine. Good overnight stop between Kutaisi and Svaneti.
Guria
A lush, green corner of western Georgia with overgrown Soviet tea plantations, family-run tea estates reviving traditional production, and mountain retreats like Bakhmaro above the clouds.
Building Your Route
Most visitors have 7 to 14 days. Here is how to structure it by available time:
- 7 days: Tbilisi (2 days) → Military Highway and Kazbegi (2 days) → Kakheti wine country (2 days) → return to Tbilisi (1 day)
- 10 days: Add Kutaisi, Tskaltubo, and one canyon/cave trip from the west
- 14 days: Add Svaneti (Mestia, Ushguli) or Samtskhe-Javakheti (Vardzia, Borjomi) plus Batumi
- 21+ days: Include Tusheti, Racha, Guria, and deeper Kakheti exploration
A rental car unlocks every destination on this list. Public transport covers major cities but does not reach mountain trailheads, wine cellars, canyon entrances, or cave monasteries. For mountain roads, our 4x4 fleet handles everything from Abano Pass to Ushguli.
For more planning, see our road trip guide, seasonal guide, driving tips, first-time visitor guide, and packing list.