Best Day Trips from Tbilisi 2026: 3 Private Tours at current prices & 10 Ideas with Live Prices
Tbilisi is the perfect base for exploring Georgia, because almost every famous sight in the country — alpine peaks, cave cities, desert monasteries and the world's oldest wine region — sits within a day's drive of the capital. This 2026 guide ranks the ten best day trips from Tbilisi, with honest distances, drive times and fixed private-transfer prices, so you can plan a week without ever changing hotels. At the end we explain how to choose between a group tour, a public marshrutka and a private driver.
Which Tbilisi day trip? 3 private tours with fixed prices
| Tour | Stops | Time | Current price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kazbegi & the Mountain Road | Ananuri fortress, Gudauri panorama, Stepantsminda (Kazbegi) | 10 h | current quote per car, up to 4 guests | First-timers: Georgia’s signature mountain day |
| Kakheti: Bodbe & Sighnaghi | Bodbe monastery grounds, Sighnaghi old town, Alazani Valley views | 9 h | current quote per car, up to 2 guests | Couples: wine-country views and a long lunch |
| Mtskheta, Gori & Uplistsikhe | Jvari, Mtskheta, Gori town, Uplistsikhe cave town | 8 h | current quote per car, up to 4 guests | History: UNESCO Mtskheta plus an ancient cave town |
The price covers a private car and driver, pickup and return in Tbilisi, and the listed stops. Entrance tickets, food, wine tastings and a guide are not included; walks are self-guided. Payment for day tours: cash to the driver (online payment for day tours is not available yet). Transfers (A→B rides) can be paid in cash to the driver, no prepayment, no surcharge.
Day tour, one-way transfer, marshrutka or taxi?
| Option | Price | Waiting and return | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private day tour (above) | current quote per car | Driver waits at every stop and brings you back to Tbilisi | Several stops in one day, no planning |
| One-way private transfer | Tbilisi → Mtskheta from 102 GEL, → Sighnaghi from 252 GEL, → Kazbegi from 287 GEL per car | Free waiting and stops; arrange the return separately | Staying overnight or moving on |
| Marshrutka (minibus) | Cheapest, paid per person in cash | Fixed routes and departure times from Tbilisi bus stations; no stops on request | Budget solo travellers with time |
| Taxi app | Metered, one way | A return pickup from Kazbegi or Kakheti is not guaranteed | Short hops within Tbilisi |
| Group tour | Per person | Fixed schedule and fixed stops | Solo travellers on a budget |
How we ranked these day trips
The ranking balances three things: how spectacular the destination is, how comfortably it fits into a single day, and how easy it is to reach without your own car. A four-hour drive each way can still earn a top spot if the payoff is big enough, but we flag the long ones so you can plan an early start. The one-way prices below are live OrbiTrip quotes for a sedan, per car, not per person; see current offers for a 4x4 or minivan, and sharing between three or four travellers keeps the per-person cost low.
The 10 best day trips from Tbilisi
| # | Day trip | Road distance | Drive time | One-way transfer (sedan, per car) | Private day tour |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kazbegi & Gergeti | ~155 km | ~3 h | To Kazbegi: 287 GEL | current quote |
| 2 | Kakheti wine region (Telavi) | ~95 km | ~2–2.5 h | To Telavi: 191 GEL | current quote (Bodbe & Sighnaghi) |
| 3 | Mtskheta | ~27 km | ~30 min | To Mtskheta: 102 GEL | current quote (with Gori & Uplistsikhe) |
| 4 | David Gareja | ~99 km | ~2 h | 194 GEL | — |
| 5 | Sighnaghi & Bodbe | ~110 km | ~2 h | To Sighnaghi: 252 GEL | current quote |
| 6 | Gori & Uplistsikhe | ~85 km | ~1.5 h | To Gori: 183 GEL | current quote (with Mtskheta) |
| 7 | Vardzia cave city | ~227 km | ~4 h | 345 GEL | — |
| 8 | Borjomi | ~160 km | ~2.5 h | 292 GEL | — |
| 9 | Dashbashi Canyon | ~95 km | ~2 h | 191 GEL | — |
| 10 | Ananuri & Zhinvali | ~66 km | ~1–1.5 h | To Ananuri: 168 GEL | stop on the Kazbegi tour |
One-way prices are live OrbiTrip quotes for a sedan, for the whole car, excluding the return; see current offers for a 4x4 or minivan. Day-tour prices include waiting and the return to Tbilisi. For a destination without a listed tour, book the ride there and a separate ride back.
1. Kazbegi & Gergeti Trinity Church
The country's signature day trip. The Georgian Military Highway climbs past Ananuri fortress, the Zhinvali reservoir and the mosaic Friendship Monument to Stepantsminda, where Gergeti Trinity Church stands beneath the 5,054 m cone of Mount Kazbek. It is a long day, so leave by 8 am; full route notes are in our Tbilisi to Kazbegi day trip guide.
2. Kakheti wine region
Georgia is the birthplace of wine, and Kakheti is its heartland. A day here covers two or three family wineries, the qvevri (clay-vessel) winemaking that is on the UNESCO list, and a hilltop town. Because you will be tasting, a driver is the safe choice — see our Kakheti wine day trip guide.
3. Mtskheta
The ancient capital of Georgia and a UNESCO site, just 30 minutes from Tbilisi. Svetitskhoveli Cathedral and the hilltop Jvari Monastery can be seen in half a day, which makes Mtskheta easy to combine with Gori or a winery. Details in our Tbilisi to Mtskheta guide.
4. David Gareja
A remarkable rock-hewn monastery complex on the semi-desert border with Azerbaijan, with painted cave cells and sweeping views over striped hills. The road is rough toward the end, so a higher-clearance vehicle helps; our David Gareja day trip guide has the practical details.
5. Sighnaghi & Bodbe
The walled "city of love" overlooking the Alazani Valley, paired with the serene Bodbe Monastery. It combines beautifully with a Kakheti winery for a single relaxed day — see the Tbilisi to Sighnaghi guide.
6. Gori & Uplistsikhe
Gori is Stalin's birthplace, with a museum that divides opinion; nearby Uplistsikhe is a 3,000-year-old cave town carved into the rock above the Mtkvari river. Both fit easily into one day, as our Gori & Uplistsikhe guide explains.
7. Vardzia cave city
A vast 12th-century cave monastery dug into a cliff in the deep south, near the Turkish border. It is the longest drive on this list, so it is a dawn-departure day or, better, an overnight; the full plan is in our Tbilisi to Vardzia guide.
8. Borjomi
The leafy spa town famous for its mineral water, with a forest park, a cable car and the start of the road up to Bakuriani. It pairs well with a relaxed pace and is covered in our Borjomi travel guide.
9. Dashbashi Canyon
A dramatic green gorge with a glass diamond-shaped bridge and waterfalls, about two hours south-west of Tbilisi. It is one of the newest attractions and works as a half- or full-day outing, often combined with the wine town of Bolnisi.
10. Ananuri & Zhinvali
If you are short on time, the photogenic Ananuri fortress on the turquoise Zhinvali reservoir is the easiest taste of the Military Highway — about 90 minutes out, and a perfect half-day when paired with lunch on the way back.
Tour vs marshrutka vs private driver
| Option | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Group tour | Solo travellers on a budget | Fixed schedule, limited photo stops |
| Marshrutka (minibus) | Cheapest transport to one town | No stops en route, drops you in town only |
| Private driver | Families, couples, groups of 2–4 | Higher per-car price, but flexible & door-to-door |
For most travellers a private driver wins: split between three or four people the cost rivals a group tour, but you set the pace, stop wherever you like, and skip the early-morning hostel pickups. Compare alternatives in our how to get around Georgia guide.
How OrbiTrip works
OrbiTrip is a platform that connects you directly with local drivers. You choose your route, see a fixed price agreed upfront, and get the driver's details to arrange pickup. The full selected trip price is shown before booking: transfers are paid in cash to the driver (no prepayment, no surcharge), and day tours are paid in cash to the driver.
See drivers & fixed prices for a day trip from Tbilisi
FAQ
What is the best day trip from Tbilisi?
For most first-time visitors the single best day trip is Kazbegi (Stepantsminda) on the Georgian Military Highway: about 155 km by road and roughly 3 hours each way, with Ananuri fortress, the Gudauri viewpoint and Gergeti Trinity Church. If you prefer food and wine, the Kakheti wine region is the strongest alternative and slightly closer.
How much does a private day trip from Tbilisi cost in 2026?
OrbiTrip private day tours from Tbilisi use the current quote per car for Kazbegi & the Mountain Road (up to 4 guests) and current quote per car for Kakheti: Bodbe & Sighnaghi (up to 2 guests); Mtskheta, Gori & Uplistsikhe has a current quote per car (up to 4 guests). The price is for the whole car, not per person, and includes waiting and the return to Tbilisi; entrance tickets, food and tastings are extra.
How much is a one-way transfer from Tbilisi to the main day-trip destinations?
Live one-way prices for a sedan, per car: Mtskheta 102 GEL, Ananuri 168 GEL, Dashbashi 191 GEL, Gori 183 GEL, Telavi 191 GEL, David Gareja 194 GEL, Sighnaghi 252 GEL, Borjomi 292 GEL, Kazbegi 287 GEL and Vardzia 345 GEL. Check current offers for a 4x4 or minivan. One-way excludes the return: you arrange the way back; waiting and stops are free.
Can you visit the Kakheti wine region as a day trip?
Yes. Telavi is about 95 km and Sighnaghi about 110 km from Tbilisi by road, roughly 2 to 2.5 hours, so a day comfortably covers a winery or two plus Sighnaghi and the Bodbe Monastery. A private driver is ideal because you will be tasting wine and should not drive. Our Kakheti: Bodbe & Sighnaghi tour has a current quote per car for up to 2 guests; tastings and meals are paid separately.
Do I need an organised tour or can I hire a private driver?
You do not need a group tour. A private driver shared by 3 to 4 people costs a similar amount per person, lets you set your own pace and stop for photos, and avoids fixed bus schedules. On OrbiTrip you pick a tour or a route, see a fixed price and the driver's details, and arrange pickup directly; the full selected trip price is shown before booking.
How far is Kazbegi from Tbilisi?
Kazbegi (Stepantsminda) is about 155 km north of Tbilisi by road and takes roughly 3 hours each way on the Georgian Military Highway, not counting photo stops. That makes it a long but very doable day; an overnight stay is more relaxed if you also want to hike to Gergeti Trinity Church.
Can I pay online for a day trip from Tbilisi?
Not yet. Day tours are paid in cash to the driver. Transfers (A to B rides) are paid in cash to the driver, with no prepayment and no surcharge.
Is the Kazbegi day trip possible in winter?
Often, but not every day. After heavy snow the road over the Jvari Pass can close for hours or days, so check the road status on the morning of your trip and keep a spare day. Our Tbilisi to Gudauri and Kazbegi winter guide explains how to check.
Whichever direction you choose, a local driver who knows the road makes a Georgian day trip effortless. Compare fixed prices and drivers and build the perfect day out of Tbilisi.
Related guides: Tbilisi to Dashbashi Canyon transfer · Tbilisi Airport to Mestia (Svaneti)