Dreaming of an unforgettable road trip through Georgia (country)? Picture breathtaking mountain landscapes, hidden hot waterfalls, and the irresistible aroma of freshly baked Georgian bread. In this guide, I’ll take you through our Georgia itinerary, based on my personal 7-day road trip from Batumi to Tbilisi and back.
This journey across the whole country covered everything from Georgia’s modern cities to ancient cave towns, allowing us to experience both historic Georgia and new Georgia. We drove ~853 kilometers, walked until our sneakers wore out and indulged in 7 Adjarian khachapuri. It was amazing.
Ready to embark on a Georgia road trip yourself? Let’s roll!
Georgia Road Trip Itinerary
We landed in Batumi at 5 AM and were greeted by a culture shock. The airport is glowing with countless “FREE SIM”, “FREE SIM”, “FREE SIM” signs, and nearly every vendor offers their own version of an “almost free” SIM card. One stand even has two signs—one is the official one, the other hastily handwritten on cardboard—advertising a better deal than the first. This is the moment we realized our Georgia road trip will be an adventure, in the best way possible.
Day 1 of our Georgia Itinerary : Batumi
I was surprised by how modern and “touristy” Batumi is—a stark contrast to the rest of Georgia, where the emphasis is on history and culture.
After a short afternoon nap, it is time for a stroll between the palm trees and the sea to explore some of Batumi’s most famous attractions.
Today’s itinerary includes:
- Miracle Park – This area is home to several striking landmarks competing for attention, including the Ali and Nino statue, the Alphabet Tower, and the Chacha Tower. Nearby, vendors sell fresh fruits and pomegranate juice pressed right before your eyes, along with a variety of souvenirs.
- Batumi Boulevard – More than just a seaside promenade, this beautifully landscaped park offers a serene escape. And there is bamboo growing here as well. How fun is that!
- Europe Square and its architecture – A showcase of elegant buildings and an impressive astronomical clock.
To learn more about these places read my full travel story about Batumi, Georgia.
First Lesson of the Day in Georgia
On a cold day, don’t be surprised if a kind-hearted coffee vendor offers you a shot of chacha to warm you up.
First Lesson of the Night in Georgia
Finding a place to eat in Batumi at 5 a.m. is quite a challenge. After landing, we caught a taxi and asked the driver to take us somewhere for a meal. He confidently said he knew just the place.
Spoiler alert—he didn’t really know. We drove around the streets for a while as the taxi driver hopefully scanned every shop window, but everything was dark. With time, his expression grew more and more desperate.
Eventually, we did find a 24-hour eatery serving Turkish cuisine (from the previous day) and the taxi driver’s reputation was saved.
Day 2 of our Georgia Itinerary: From Batumi to Kutaisi
In the morning, it’s time to rent a car and pick up some fresh Georgian bread for the road trip. If you come across a small bakery, you might even get to see how traditional Georgian bread is made—stuck to the walls of the oven as it bakes. Fascinating! Unfortunately, I was too shy to take out my phone and snap a photo, but you have to believe me that it tastes incredible.
Today on the itinerary are the following Georgia attraction:
- Nokalakevi Hot Springs and the hot waterfall (yes, such a wonder actually exists!).
- Nokalakevi Archaeological Park, which, beyond its ancient ruins, offers breathtaking views.
- Prometheus Stalactite Caves—a must-see stop in Georgia just outside Kutaisi.
This day was my favourite out of our whole Georgia road trip, so I have a full travel story for it. Check it out to learn more about each attraction.
Third lesson of our Georgia Road Trip
Stray dogs can be found in the most unexpected places, even outside the cities. But they seem friendly, and once they’ve chosen you as their person (for the day), they’ll even follow you up into the ruins.
Day 3 of our Georgia Itinerary: Kutaisi to Tbilisi
The day starts with a quick mission: snapping a photo of the Colchis Fountain, a dazzling landmark adorned with golden replicas of ancient artifacts.
Here you can also catch a fleeting glimpse of Bagrati Cathedral in the distance. I do believe it is worth a stop, but turns out, we may have enjoyed breakfast for a bit too long, and now we’re racing against the clock to reach the day’s main attraction: Uplistsikhe, an ancient cave city with limited visiting hours.
Uplistsikhe is like something out of an Indiana Jones movie—an entire city carved into the cliffs, with tunnels, hidden chambers, and rock-hewn staircases leading to panoramic viewpoints. Every twist and turn reveals something new. While it’s an awe-inspiring place, we hear that Vardzia—a similar but even larger cave monastery—is the ultimate cave-city experience. Sadly, it’s far off our route, so we’ll have to save it for the next trip to Georgia.
Before wrapping up the day, we can squeeze in one final stop: Jvari Monastery, perched high on a hill. Some come here for the monastery’s deep historical significance, others for the jaw-dropping view over the valley and the city below. Either way, it’s a place that leaves an impression.
If you want to learn more about any of the places on the third day of our Georgia road trip itinerary check out the full travel story.
Forth lesson of our Georgia Road Trip
Borjomi mineral water (the bottled version, not the one flowing straight from the source) tastes better in Georgia than in Latvia. Or… maybe that’s just a placebo effect? You’ll have to try it yourself and let me know—am I onto something, or am I just fooling myself?
Day 4 of our Georgia Itinerary: Tbilisi
After spending so much time in the car, we’re ready to stretch our legs—and what better way than a deep dive into Tbilisi’s Old Town?
My favorite part of Tbilisi has to be Leghvtakhevi Canyon. Hidden right in the heart of the city, its towering cliffs make it feel like you’ve been teleported far away from the urban buzz.
Other must-see stops include the Narikala Fortress, where the panoramic view over the city is nothing short of breathtaking, and the Botanical Garden, home to bamboo groves and even a waterfall. A little slice of nature in the middle of a busy the city!
Read more about these attractions and other things to see in Tbilisi, Georgia in my full travel story about Georgia’s capital.
Fifth lesson of our Georgia Road Trip
A flea market can be just as much of an attraction as a historical landmark! In the capital of Georgia we stumbled upon the Dry Bridge Market in Tbilisi, and what a treasure trove it was—everything from vintage jewelry to old TV remotes.
Day 5 in Georgia: Tbilisi
Today’s Itinerary:
The Chronicles of Georgia – Towering 35-meter-tall stone columns covered in intricate carvings make this monument an absolute spectacle. Standing beneath them, one can’t help but feel as small as an ant in the presence of giants. The sheer scale alone is enough to leave you in awe.
Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi (Sameba) – Sticking with the theme of Georgia’s grand architecture, our next stop is this monumental cathedral. Once again, I feel tiny—this time, more like a speck of dust caught in the wind. Its golden dome and towering presence make it one of the most striking landmarks in the city.
Mtatsminda Park – For the evening, I’d recommend heading to this amusement park, perched high on a hill with stunning panoramic views of Tbilisi. We actually visited on our first day in the city, but in hindsight, it fits better here—there’s only so much sightseeing you can cram into one day! When we went, the views were magical, the atmosphere lively, but exhaustion got the better of us sooner than we’d hoped.
Sixth lesson of our Georgia Road Trip
If you want to visit the Sulfur Baths, make sure to book in advance. This would have been the perfect day to soak our tired muscles in the hot, mineral-rich water, but unfortunately, we weren’t forward-thinking enough to make a reservation. The result? No bath for us. Don’t be like us—book ahead!
Day 6 of Our Georgia Itinerary: Long Drive from Tbilisi to Batumi
No matter how we spin it, with just 7 days in Georgia, one day has to be dedicated to a long drive between cities (~6 hours). But to stretch our legs and break up the journey, one can still make a couple of stops.
On the route, you’ll find the Surami Fortress, which offers the perfect spot for some stunning panoramic views. Then, there’s the black sand beach—or, in our case, the black mud beach since it was pouring rain when we passed through. I have to admit, the rainy weather didn’t do the beach any justice. Instead of a tropical paradise, it looked more like a potato field! But I’ve heard it’s absolutely stunning when the sun’s out.
Since we were completely exhausted from the long drive, we didn’t learn much this day.
Day 7 in Georgia: Back in Batumi
Finally, the sun comes out, and the beach stones are so hot that the air above them seems to shimmer. Let’s spend the most of the last day of our Georgia itinerary lounging on the beach loungers. A quick tip: on a stone-covered beach, both loungers and water shoes are an absolute must!
Later in the evening, it is time to take a cable car ride to get a stunning view of Batumi from above and, of course, buy a few souvenirs. Now, I proudly own a pair of pink socks with khinkhali on them. But if you’re more of a khachapuri fan, don’t worry—there are socks and keychains with those on them, too!
Since our flight is at 5 a.m., we decided to soak in the nighttime beauty of Batumi. After the sun goes down Miracle Park is beautifully lit up, and many of the towering buildings in the center of the city shimmer in neon. And, of course, the Dancing fountains wake up for their performance— did you know there are 2 of them in Batumi?
If you haven’t yet read the full travel story about Batumi and all you can see there, you still have the chance.
Final lesson of our Georgia road trip
Georgia is awesome.
Driving on Your Georgia Road trip
Before we went on our trip to Georgia, we were told all sorts of scary things about why we shouldn’t drive there by ourselves. The road signs outside the cities would only be in Georgian, the navigation would show a blank spot, and the locals would drive in such a way that you would need spare pants.
As you can see, we have returned safe and sound. We had no problems with navigation or orientation (at least on the main roads). We bought a local SIM card and used it with Google Maps to figure out where to go. But when it comes to driving style – I would be lying if I said it wasn’t scary. Even sitting in the passenger seat (my boyfriend was driving).
How Does a Foreigner Feel When Driving in Georgia
“One must constantly focus fully on the road, attention cannot be lost for even a moment. But otherwise, it’s okay”
Quoted from Miks, who was driving.
Outside the cities, you need to watch out for cows and pigs. These animals walk freely on the street and tend to be immune to honking. Also, be cautious of sharp turns in mountainous areas. We drove on the main highways, but there were still places where the road on the other side had a steep cliff, and you had to be especially careful.
In cities, you need to watch out for other drivers.
“After a while, you realize that everyone drives not by the rules, but by feelings and mutual communication”
Miks, reflecting on the Georgia road trip.
This driving style is quite unusual for us. For example, it seems that pedestrians already know it’s not worth risking crossing the street when a car is approaching. They most likely won’t let you cross. Even at crosswalks. But we made an interesting observation – if someone does want to let a pedestrian go, they turn on their hazard lights before stopping, so others can see they’re slowing down. Otherwise, this kind of situation might not be expected. We also noticed flashing lights and other gestures, but we never figured out what they meant.
Car Rental in Georgia
Our deciding factor was the price.
Since we were four people, and the route was planned along the main highways, not off-road, we chose a Toyota Prius 1.8. Miks who was driving said that a hybrid is a very good choice in Georgia, as it’s much easier to start driving uphill. I’ll take his word for it.
We rented from localrent.com, and for a small fee, they delivered the car to our guesthouse in Batumi, so we didn’t have to go pick it up or drop it off, which was very convenient. When signing the contract, though, you can never be too sure, so we photographed the car to have proof of its condition at the time of pick-up. We’ve heard all sorts of stories about car rentals abroad, but we had no problems ourselves.
What else you should know about car rentals in Georgia:
- To rent a car in Georgia, the driver must be at least 21 years old.
- When booking accommodation, make sure the place is easy to reach by car. One of the places we stayed at was so high up on a mountain that even the taxi drivers had a hard time getting there.
Alternative to Car Rental in Georgia – Taxi / Personal Driver
If you don’t feel safe on the road, or, for example, don’t want to limit the amount of wine you drink, you can get a private driver to take you on a tour almost everywhere you want. Both taxi drivers, accommodation owners, and various transfer services offer this. You can find one driver to take you to all the sightseeing spots, or if your budget doesn’t cover the taxi driver’s accommodation, you can take a taxi from one city to another, and in the second city, hire a local driver to take you to nearby attractions.
Tip: If you agree beforehand or use Bolt (the same app available in Latvia), taxi prices are very reasonable. But if you don’t agree on the price, you might get some surprises. On our last evening, when we were heading to the airport, they applied a much higher rate than expected with the explanation that “they had to carry the luggage too.
As I mentioned – Georgia is amazing, the trip was very exciting. Is there anything I would do differently next time? Yes, I would choose a less ambitious route (stay in one or two regions) or have a longer travel time, so there isn’t such a rush from one place to another. But other than that, I definitely recommend going on a trip to Georgia and I hope my Georgia roadtrip itinerary helps you to plan one.
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