Things to see in Georgia by car: easy routes

The top things to see in Georgia by car are Mtskheta, the Georgian Military Road to Kazbegi, Kakheti, the caves and canyons around Kutaisi and the hills of Adjara. With your own car, you decide where to stop and how long to stay.

Things to see in Georgia by car from Tbilisi

• Mtskheta and Jvari. The old capital and a hilltop monastery above the meeting of the Aragvi and Mtkvari rivers. Both are close to Tbilisi, so a short trip is enough.
• Georgian Military Road. On the way you pass the Zhinvali Reservoir, Ananuri Fortress and Gudauri, and the road ends at Stepantsminda and Gergeti Trinity Church. Outside summer the pass can get fog and snow, so check the forecast on the morning you leave.
• Kakheti. Sighnaghi, Bodbe Monastery, Telavi and Alaverdi Cathedral fit into one route, with a night in Sighnaghi or Telavi.
• David Gareja. A cave monastery in semi-desert near the border with Azerbaijan. There is almost no shade, so bring water and a hat in summer.
• Uplistsikhe. A rock-cut town near Gori, an easy stop on the way to Kutaisi or Borjomi.

Kutaisi and Imereti: caves, canyons and monasteries

• Prometheus Cave near Tskaltubo: a walk through lit halls. It stays cool inside even in summer, so bring a sweater.
• Sataplia: a karst cave, dinosaur footprints and a viewing deck.
• Okatse Canyon: a trail and a platform that hangs over the gorge. The access road is narrow, so pull over early for oncoming cars.
• Martvili Canyon: turquoise water, footbridges and boat rides. In high season, arrive at opening time to skip the queue.
• Gelati and Motsameta: two working monasteries near Kutaisi that fit into one trip. Shoulders and knees must be covered inside.

From Batumi: the coast and the hills

• Gonio and Kvariati: a fortress and pebble beaches south of Batumi.
• Makhuntseti: a waterfall and Queen Tamar's arched stone bridge in the Adjaristsqali valley. A short path leads from the parking area to the falls.
• Mtirala National Park: humid subtropical forest, hiking trails and a waterfall.
• Kobuleti and Ureki: beaches north of Batumi, with black magnetic sand at Ureki.
• Machakhela Valley: arched stone bridges and villages along the river. Mobile signal drops out in places.

Borjomi, Akhaltsikhe and Vardzia

• Borjomi: a park with a mineral spring and forest trails in the Borjomi gorge.
• Rabati in Akhaltsikhe: a restored fortress with a mosque, a church and a museum inside the same walls.
• Khertvisi: a fortress on a rock where two rivers meet, right on the road to Vardzia.
• Vardzia: a cave monastery from the time of Queen Tamar, cut into a mountainside. In summer, come in the morning, because the slope bakes in the sun by noon.

Mountain roads and rental rules

You can take a rental car into the mountains, except premium cars and low sedans. Unpaved roads are not off limits, but the insurance does not cover tires or the underbody, so the renter pays for that damage. On unpaved roads, keep your speed low and steer around potholes and sharp stones, and take the paved detour when there is one. Winter tires go on the cars from November.

How to plan the route

Plan the trip region by region: the east from Tbilisi, the west around Kutaisi, Adjara from Batumi. That way you spend less time crossing the whole country.

Mileage is unlimited, so a detour to a viewpoint or a side valley adds nothing to the rental price. Download offline maps before the mountains, because signal drops in the gorges. For a route like this, it is easiest to pick up a car in the capital: see terms and available cars on our car rental in Tbilisi page.

In short

For a first trip, Mtskheta and the Georgian Military Road are enough, and you can add Kakheti and the west later. Pick your dates and book a car.