Best Day Trips from Tbilisi, Georgia: Monasteries, Mountains and More

While Georgia’s capital could keep you happy for days, it would be a shame to miss the chance of a trip or more beyond Tbilisi. and there are plenty of great options to choose from.

I’ve lined up the 9 best choices based on places I’ve visited myself, trips recommended to me, and those still on my list for my return visit. I’ve covered how to get there, either on a tour or independently, where you can. You’ll find mountains, ancient cities, caves and thrill seeking adventures, wine tasting, plus insta-worthy views, and all possible in a day. There’s also an option to ‘tick off’ another country (Armenia) too, if that appeals. So, there’s something here for everybody.

This guide may include a few affiliate links. If you choose to buy something through one of them, I may earn a small commission (at no cost to you). Thank you for supporting One Small Bag.

Map of Day Trips from Tbilisi

Tbilisi day trips: Quick reference

My personal favourite on this list is the trip to the astonishing cave city of Vardzia. It’s one of the longest trips on the list, with stops in the spa town of Borjomi (the picture at the top of this article and Rabati Castle, and it’s totally worth it. I’d also recommend a day trip to Armenia if you don’t have time for a longer trip in the region. And of course, if you like wine, you will definitely want a trip to visit the wineries of Kakheti.

Options for Day Trips if you prefer to travel independently

If you’re like me, you will be reviewing your options for independent travel to each destination, before booking an organised tour. Both Georgia and Armenia are two places where it’s often better to book the tour. Independent travel is not necessarily straight forward or possible, unless you hire a car. On the other hand, tours, were, in my experience, high quality, well organised and very good value.

Here are your options if you want to DIY your day trips from Tbilisi:

• Minibuses (Marshrutkas): Didbube bus station is the starting point for most trips; it’s a little chaotic. The destination should be clearly displayed on the bus dashboard. Minibuses don’t follow a strict timetable and can’t be booked in advance. Take cash in small denominations rather than rely on card payments and pay at the ticket office. Arrive well in advance, so you have time to find your bus, buy your ticket and be there before the set departure time, as it may leave early if it’s full. Best for shorter trips and if you’re flexible with time.
• Coaches: The standards of coaches, ticketing, and timetabling tend to be more reliable and less stressful than the local minibuses (marshrutkas) and can be pre-booked.
• Trains: Mtskheta (Georgia’s ancient capital) and Gori (for Stalin’s birthplace and caves) are on the train line from Tbilisi and within range for a day trip, although timings may not be ideal and sites are some way from the stations. Tbilisi train station is in the east of the city near Dezerter Bazaar.
• Taxis / Bolt: Bolt prices can be reasonable, even for longer journeys. So it’s worth checking the price and useful, even one way, if the timings of buses and trains don’t work for you.
• Car hire: Be prepared for assertive driving in Georgia, variable road conditions, and strict enforcement of traffic laws and bring an International Driving Permit. You might want to pick up your car on the outskirts and avoid driving in central Tbilisi.

1. Mtskheta

Just north of the capital, Tbilisi, the ancient city of Mtskheta is definitely worth your time. Packed with UNESCO World Heritage sites and stunning river views, Mtskheta features Jvari, the 6th-century hilltop monastery perched above the confluence of the Mtkvari and Aragvi rivers, and Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, Georgia’s most sacred church.

Enjoy Mtskheta‘s restored centre with cobblestone streets, local crafts, a market and traditional wine tasting. The city is highly rated for traditional dining, so set aside time for a meal and try a local dish, such as authentic Georgian bean stew.

We visited on a tour. Read my Guide: Visit the Chronicles of Georgia in Tbilisi (And Why It Beats Stonehenge), also visited on the same trip.

2. Gori & Uplistsikhe

A trip to Stalin’s birthplace in Gori and an ancient cave city. Here’s what you can expect to see:

• Gori: A centuries-old trading post along the Silk Road between Tbilisi and Kutaisi, and a popular stop on the Georgian tourist trail. Possibly best known as the birthplace of Stalin, the city features a museum dedicated to his life, including his humble birthplace, personal rail carriage, and numerous artefacts.
• Uplistsikhe: East of the city, this spectacular ancient rock-hewn town features a sprawling maze of dwellings, pagan temples, and rock-cut wine cellars dating from the Early Iron Age

3. The Cave City of Vardzia, Borjomi & Rabati

For me, this was always going to be top of my list. I was blown away by the underground cities in Cappadocia when I visited many years ago, long before it became popular. Since then, I’ve made a point of discovering more jaw-dropping places like this across Europe, including Meteora in Greece and Old Orhei in Moldova. I was very happy to add Vardzia to the list, and my high expectations were met.

The tour is a good mixture. There’s a stop in Borjomi spa town, a little brief but worth it. Rabati Castle, with its mix of styles is spectacular, as is Vardzia.

We visited on a tour. Read my guides:

4. Kazbegi & the Georgian Highway: Into the Caucasus

A chance to explore along the Georgian military highway, the main road connecting Georgia and Russia, and a spectacular, though at times scary, ride. Begin at Ananuri Fortress, set above the Zhinvali Reservoir. Move on to Gudauri, one of Georgia’s top ski resorts, where the views continue. Seek out the Friendship Monument, which symbolises the unity of Georgia and Russia.

Hiking to Gergeti Trinity Church, one of Georgia’s most iconic and spiritual sites, can be physically demanding, so you can switch to a 4×4 jeep to go farther into the mountains. While you are there, enjoy a traditional Georgian meal in the mountains.

5. Kakheti: Georgia’s Wine Country

Explore Kakheti, Georgia’s wine region, located in the eastern part of the country. A tour will typically take you to three separate wineries to learn about winemaking in Georgia and taste the wines, brandies, and maybe chacha, Georgia’s potent grape vodka. Expect a mixture of larger, more commercial wineries and smaller, more family-run affairs.

A tour may also include a visit to Badiauri village for a bread-making demonstration, Bodbe Monastery and Sighnaghi, known as the “City of Love,” famous for its charming streets, colourful balconies, and panoramic views of the Alazani Valley.

After our winery visits in Moldova, we decided to give our livers a rest, but we saved this trip for next time in Georgia.

6. Day Trip to Armenia

If you have just a day, and you want to get a glimpse of another country, then go for it. If you can devote more than one day, then this trip may not be the best fit. I chose to spend more time in Armenia, so I’ve not been on theis day trip myself, but I met people in Georgia who did go and thoroughly enjoyed their day over the border. I definitely recommend a trip to Yerevan, however you do it, and I have a Guide to the Armenian capital.

The main decision to make is if you want to see sites in the northern part of Armenia, closer to the border, or go ‘all-in’ with an incredibly long day including Yerevan.

7. Rainbow Mountain & David Gareja

An opportunity to visit Georgia’s only semi-desert area. This trip takes you close to the border with Azerbaijan.

• Rainbow Mountain: You’ll hike through a landscape of mineral-rich sedimentary rock that looks as if it’s been painted with brightly colored stripes, hence its nickname ‘Rainbow Mountain’. Georgia’s version is smaller and less vivid than the Rainbow Mountain in Peru, but far less crowded, much easier to hike, and only a day trip from Tbilisi — worth it on its own terms.
• David Gareja: A remarkable 6th-century rock-hewn monastery complex. It features caves, chapels, and living quarters carved directly into colourful clay cliffs. One of the most spiritual places in Georgia, so close to the border with Azerbaijan, you may see a soldier guarding it.

If you’re short on time, this pairing is ideal – you get Georgia’s most colourful landscape and one of its most spiritual sites in a single day.

8. Kutaisi Canyons and Caves

A trip to western Georgia to explore waterfalls, caves, and canyons near Kutaisi. The tour includes Martvili waterfalls in the Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region, where you’ll take a boat trip through the canyon. Then you’ll visit Prometheus Caves, famous for their stalactites, stalagmites, petrified waterfalls, underground rivers, and cave lakes. Colourful lights illuminate the cave, creating a magical atmosphere.

You can end your tour in Kutaisi, use this day as a transfer day, or return to Tbilisi. I wish I’d known this! We caught the Citibus for the transfer between Tbilisi and Kutaisi, and it was easy and very comfortable. Still, the bus stops are not central, and this tour would have been a way to squeeze even more into our itinerary. I thoroughly recommend spending longer in Kutaisi if you can. I have a Kutaisi Travel Guide.

9. Diamond Bridge & Dashbashi Canyon

This trip gets missed off a number of guides as its a newer trip. If you are looking for alternatives to monasteries, caves, and wine tours, and you don’t mind heights, this trip could be for you.

Diamond Bridge is about 2 hours from Tbilisi and is one of Georgia’s most distinctive architectural landmarks. The cutting-edge design spans the breathtaking Dashbashi Canyon. Opened in 2022, it holds a Guinness World Record for the longest glass cantilever bridge.

There’s a viewing platform and a glass cafe suspended in the middle of the bridge, and there are sky bikes too. If the feeling of being suspended in mid-air, with the ground hundreds of metres below, appeals to you, then this trip is for you. For anyone with vertigo, it’s more like your worst nightmare!

The tour to the canyon includes a stop at the tranquil Algeti Reservoir.

Georgia’s Three Cave Settlements: How to Choose

Georgia is one of the best places in the world to see cave cities and settlements. Expect spectacular, multi-tiered historical sites carved directly into mountain cliffs, rivalling destinations like Cappadocia in Turkey. The country features three main historical cave complexes, all accessible as day trips from Tbilisi and offering a glimpse into ancient civilisations, defensive architecture, and monastic life.

If you only want to visit one, make it Vardzia, the largest and most impressive of the three. The easiest of the three to get to and the least physically demanding is Uplistsikhe. If seeing the Rainbow Mountains and Georgia’s desert scenery is your priority, David Gareja on the border with Azerbaijan may be the best option.

Practical tips for Taking Organised Day Tours

Here are some of my thoughts, based on many trips worldwide including the Caucasian countries.

Popular Tour Aggregators

These are the platforms I recommend. I use both. If you book through one of them, you should expect clear descriptions, communication, and often flexible terms, including late cancellation. Local tour operators rely on good reviews which help potential customers choose their tours with confidence. Tours can be for large groups or private tours exclusively for your party. They also provide official transfer services.

• Get your Guide: An international platform that aggregates popular tours worldwide, with wide coverage, especially in Europe.
• Viator: A huge international platform. If I’m looking for something more niche or offbeat, I’ll often try Viator first, but I wouldn’t make a clear recommendation for one platform over another.

Using day Tours for onward travel or to fill the last day of your trip

I’ve found tour operators extremely accommodating if you want to use them as a ‘one way ticket’, if you are travelling onwards to a stop on their itinerary. Shorter tours, which don’t get back too late, work well on the last day of your trip if you have a late flight or other onward connections. Then the last day is used productively without going into ‘waiting mode’ and carrying a bag around all day or arranging for it to be left somewhere. Although check first, if you do this, that there is room for your luggage, if you don’t travel like me, with one small bag.

Where to next

While you are in the area, why not look further afield into the wider Caucasus? Here are some ideas.

• Things to Do in Tbilisi: A Guide to the Capital of Georgia
• Things to Do in Batumi: Georgia’s Unexpected Black Sea Gem
• Things to Do in Kutaisi: A Guide to Georgia’s Ancient City
• Things to do in Gyumri: A Guide to Armenia’s Black and Apricot City
• Things to do in Yerevan: Armenia’s modern capital and pink city
• …and more…

I hope you enjoyed reading this. If you have any questions or comments, do let me know in the comments. Thank you for reading my blog.

• Facebook
• Instagram
• Bluesky
• Pinterest