Explore Beyond Tbilisi
One of the best things about Georgia is how easy it is to escape the city. Within just a couple of hours you can be standing beneath snow-capped mountains, wandering through ancient monasteries or sipping wine in one of the oldest wine regions in the world.
Here are my favourite day trips from Tbilisi.
Chronicles of Georgia, Mtskheta
& Jvari
5 hours, €23
Ok here... 1000% do not leave your drone behind if you have one.
This trip completely exceeded my expectations. The Chronicles of Georgia monument is one of the most impressive places I've ever seen, with enormous stone pillars towering above the city, each carved with scenes from Georgian history and religion.
The scale is difficult to appreciate from ground level alone, which is exactly why a drone comes in handy.
The tour continues to Mtskheta, Georgia's ancient capital, before finishing at Jvari Monastery overlooking the meeting point of two rivers.
Highlights
✦ Chronicles of Georgia
✦ Mtskheta Old Town
✦ Jvari Monastery
✦ Svetitskhoveli Cathedral
Kazbegi & The Georgian Military Highway
10 hours, €30-55
The weather unfortunately wasn't entirely on our side by the end, but it was incredible seeing such a different side of Georgia. Within just a couple of hours, the city disappears and you're surrounded by dramatic mountain landscapes that genuinely look like they've been painted. It's probably one of the best trips you can do if you want to appreciate just how diverse Georgia really is.
Highlights:
✦ Zhinvali Reservoir – A striking turquoise lake.
✦ Ananuri Fortress – One of Georgia's most picturesque castles.
✦ Gudauri Panorama – Spectacular mountain views.
✦ Georgian Military Highway – One of the country's most scenic drives.
✦ Gergeti Trinity Church – Georgia's postcard view beneath Mount Kazbek.
David Gareja & the Rainbow Mountains
7 hours, €30
This was probably the biggest surprise of the trip. I'd never have imagined Georgia had landscapes like this. Between the colourful striped hills and the ancient monastery carved into the cliffs, it almost feels like you're in another country entirely.
Highlights:
✦ David Gareja Monastery – An ancient monastery carved into the cliffs.
✦ Rainbow Mountains – Striped hills unlike anywhere else in Georgia.
✦ Semi-desert landscapes – A completely unexpected side of the country.
Kakheti Wine Region
10 hours, €25-50
Before visiting Georgia, I stupidly had no idea how important wine was to the country. Georgia is actually considered one of the oldest wine-producing regions in the world, and after doing this trip it's easy to see why they're so proud of it. The wine tasting itself was fantastic, but what I loved most were the villages, scenery and traditional atmosphere throughout the region.
Highlights
✦ Traditional wineries – Discover one of the world's oldest wine cultures.
✦ Wine tastings – Sample a variety of local wines.
✦ Sighnaghi – The charming "City of Love".
✦ Bodbe Monastery – A peaceful stop surrounded by countryside.
Diamond Bridge
8 hours, €30
I'll admit... I mainly booked this trip because I wanted to see the bridge. It looked so unusual that I couldn't quite believe it was real. But what actually surprised me most was the canyon itself. The scenery is beautiful, there's a lovely walk down and the whole area makes for a really easy day trip from Tbilisi if you're looking for something a little different.
Highlights
✦ Diamond Bridge – A spectacular glass bridge suspended high above Dashbashi Canyon.
✦ Dashbashi Canyon – Dramatic cliffs, waterfalls and beautiful walking trails.
✦ The Diamond Café – A café suspended beneath the centre of the bridge.