When to travel to Georgia?

Visitors often ask, When is the best time to travel in Georgia? What to do in winter, or what the weather will be like in October, is it possible to go to Tusheti in May or do rafting in September? In this article, I will try to give the most answers to such questions to help you plan your trip to Georgia and make the right decisions.

January: Winter Sports & New Year Celebrations

The best time in January to travel is the New Year period, and the most popular places in the capital of Georgia, Tbilisi, and ski resorts are Gudauri, Bakuriani, and Mestia.

In Tbilisi temperature is normally above 0 up to 10 degrees Celsius, but in some years it can go below zero, so take warm clothes. In ski resorts, be ready for -10 -15.

Also, a nice place to visit is Kakheti. Good wine 🍷 will warm you up on a cold winter day.

✓ Pros: Skiing conditions, festive atmosphere, lower prices after New Year

✗ Cons: Cold weather, limited mountain access, shorter daylight hours

February: Low Season Advantage

February is the low season. In Easter Georgia, it’s usually sunny but cold. If you travel to Georgia in February, you will enjoy popular places without crowds of tourists. Recommendations are the same as for January.

Best Strategy: Same recommendations as January, but with fewer tourists and better prices. Perfect for travelers who prefer peaceful exploration.

✓ Pros: Cheapest month, no crowds, authentic local experience

✗ Cons: Cold weather continues, some attractions have reduced hours

March: Unpredictable Spring Awakening

The first month of spring is still very chilly, and the weather is often unpredictable. We Georgians say “mad March” because of that. It can be sunny and warm in the morning, very windy at noon, and snowy in the evening. So be ready for everything.

What to Pack: Layers are essential. Bring both warm clothes and lighter options.

Activities: You can still ski if you like. Cities are comfortable to explore, though mountain roads remain challenging.

✓ Pros: Spring starts emerging, fewer tourists, good prices

✗ Cons: The Weather is very unpredictable, and muddy conditions

April: Spring Blossoms & City Exploration

Finally, you can feel Spring and it gets warmer, but the weather is still absolutely unpredictable.

Best Destinations: The lowlands are perfect this time of year. Excellent time to explore cities – Tbilisi, Kutaisi, and Batumi.

On sunny days, it is highly recommended to visit Kakheti. The Alazani valley is spectacular when you can see flowering peach gardens against the snow-capped Caucasus mountains. In dry weather, visit Vashlovani National Park or David Gareja monastery.

Western Georgia: April is perfect when the weather is mild and not yet hot. If landing in Kutaisi, explore the Imereti and Samegrelo regions. Visit caves, canyons, and enjoy local wines and food.

✓ Pros: Beautiful blossoms, comfortable temperatures, fewer tourists

✗ Cons: Still unpredictable weather, high mountains are inaccessible

May: Peak Season Begins – Nature at Its Best

From late April, the high season starts. May is usually an excellent time to travel to Georgia. Nature is fresh and green. The temperature is very mild – around 20-25 degrees in the lowlands, and the weather is more predictable.

Top Destinations:

• Tbilisi, Kutaisi, Batumi: Still pleasant, not too hot
• Kakheti: Perfect for wine tours
• Samtskhe-Javakheti: Fantastic time! Mtkvari gorge is full of historical monuments: Vardzia and Vanis Kvabebi cave monasteries, Khertvisi and Tmogvi fortresses, stunning Saro megalith fortress
• Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park: Perfect for hiking
• Racha: Very beautiful, though slightly early for Svaneti trekking due to snow on high passes

Adventure Sports: May is a great time for rafting with good water levels.

✓ Pros: Ideal weather, green landscapes, most regions accessible

✗ Cons: Prices increase, more tourists, high mountain trekking is still limited

June: Summer Begins – Mountain Roads Open

The hot summer starts, but June is not as busy as July and August, and not so hot either.

Temperature: Around 30°C in the lowlands and 20-25°C in the mountains. For high mountains, take warm jackets and raincoats – they’re a must.

Major Opening: From mid-June, roads to Khevsureti and Tusheti open, allowing you to visit these remote high mountain regions where spring starts in June.

Trekking in Svaneti: Very good time, as it’s not very busy yet, though rainy weather is frequent.

Seaside: Warm enough to swim and normally not too hot. Rafting is highly recommended, as water levels in rivers are at their maximum.

✓ Pros: All regions accessible, perfect mountain weather, swimming season starts

✗ Cons: Cities getting hot, frequent rain in the mountains, peak season prices

July: High Mountain Paradise (Cities Too Hot)

High season for everything. In cities, it gets too hot. Not the best time to explore Tbilisi, Kutaisi, or Batumi unless you can easily handle 35-40 degrees. Kakheti is also not ideal – while you can enjoy food and wine, the heat makes the air hazy, so you won’t enjoy views of the Caucasus mountains from the Alazani valley.

Where to Go: Fantastic time for high mountains! Only from July to early September can you do challenging treks like Atsunta Pass or Tobavarchkhili lakes. In Svaneti, you can explore every corner. Racha offers rafting and hiking.

Avoid: Lowland Imereti and Samegrelo are too hot and humid.

✓ Pros: Best trekking season, all high passes accessible, vibrant mountain life

✗ Cons: Cities are unbearably hot, very crowded, highest prices

August: Mountains & Festivals (Tbilisi Empties)

The hot season continues! In Tbilisi, nothing happens. It’s very hot (35-40°C), and most people take a vacation and leave the city. Theaters are closed, and most clubs don’t operate.

Batumi: On the opposite side, Batumi is full and bustling. Perfect for seaside city life and nightlife, even if it’s very hot and humid.

Best Option: Skip directly to the mountains for relief from summer heat. In Tusheti and Khevsureti, you’ll have chances to participate in local festivals. Perfect time for trekking. For rafting, it’s a bit late, but in Racha-Lechkhumi, you can still catch waves.

✓ Pros: Mountain festivals, peak trekking conditions, beach season

✗ Cons: Extreme heat in cities, the most crowded month, and expensive

September: The Perfect Month Returns

Finally, the hot summer months are over! September is the best overall time. Trekking in high mountains is still excellent. In cities, temperatures drop, and life returns to Tbilisi.

Wine Harvest (Rtveli): In Kakheti, grape harvest time starts, and tourists can participate in this traditional celebration. David Gareja and Vashlovani become nice destinations again after being too hot in summer.

Weather: Usually very good – sunny and warm without being oppressive.

Activities: Perfect time for any activity you can imagine.

✓ Pros: Ideal weather everywhere, wine harvest, fewer crowds than summer

✗ Cons: None significant – truly the best month

October: Photographer’s Paradise

If October is sunny, it’s the best month for photographers. Forests change colors first in high mountains, then gradually in lowlands.

Recommended Places: Svaneti is the most beautiful, along with Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park, for stunning autumn foliage.

Important Note: Trekking season finishes, as snowfall can start anytime in the high mountains. The first half of October is your last chance to visit Tusheti or Khevsureti. After mid-October, roads aren’t cleaned anymore and are closed officially.

Best Activities: Perfect time for food & wine tours and cultural tours.

What to Pack: Don’t forget raincoats! Take jackets, and if visiting Svaneti, bring warm clothes too.

✓ Pros: Spectacular autumn colors, comfortable temperatures, wine tours

✗ Cons: High mountain roads closing, unpredictable rain

November: Low Season Peace

Usually, November is low season, but the weather can still be nice. If you visit Georgia this month, you’ll enjoy sightseeing without crowds.

Good Destinations: Tbilisi, Kakheti, Vardzia, and the Western Georgia lowlands.

Weather: Pretty cold but not freezing. In mountains, it can snow.

✓ Pros: No crowds, low prices, authentic atmosphere

✗ Cons: Cold weather, shorter days, many mountain roads closed

December: Ski Season Preparation

For skiing, it’s still early – usually the season opens around December 20th. If visiting Georgia, explore Tbilisi and enjoy Kakheti, where it’s relatively warm. Learn more about snow in Georgia.

Season: Also low season. The temperature in Tbilisi is around 0°C.

Late Month: Ski resorts open, New Year preparations create a festive atmosphere.

✓ Pros: Christmas/New Year atmosphere, low prices until late month

✗ Cons: Cold weather, early skiing may be limited