Georgia in 7 days — old Tbilisi, Mtskheta and the high Caucasus at Kazbegi

Tbilisi

💬 Use Bolt or the official taxi desk in arrivals; 25–40 minutes to the centre depending on traffic.

Tbilisi

💬 A former Soviet publishing house in Vera; the garden courtyard bar fills with locals in the evening.

Tbilisi

A Soviet-era sewing factory converted into a hostel and creative hub with bars, cafés and studios.

💬 Cafés, bars and street-art in the yard; an easy first night with craft beer and cheap food.

Tbilisi

💬 Pay with a Metromoney card; two minutes up with the best view over the old town.

Tbilisi

Ruined fortress dating back to the 4th century, on the ridge above the old town and the sulphur-bath district.

💬 Walk the walls, then continue along the ridge to the Kartlis Deda (Mother of Georgia) statue before heading down.

Tbilisi

Historic district of domed bathhouses fed by natural hot sulphur springs.

💬 Book a private room for an hour at one of the bathhouses (the blue-tiled Chreli Abano is the photogenic one); add the scrub.

Tbilisi

💬 Glass-and-steel footbridge; best when it lights up after dark.

Tbilisi

💬 Order khinkali by the piece (start with five each), hold them by the knot and don't eat the knot.

Tbilisi

The main cathedral of the Georgian Orthodox Church, consecrated in 2004 on Elia Hill.

💬 Dress modestly; women cover their hair — scarves are available at the entrance.

Tbilisi

The national museum on Rustaveli Avenue, known for its Archaeological Treasury of ancient gold.

💬 Head straight to the Archaeological Treasury in the basement — Colchian gold jewellery.

Tbilisi

💬 Soviet medals, old cameras and enamel; best on weekends, bargain politely.

Tbilisi

💬 Ask for amber (qvevri) wines — rkatsiteli or mtsvane — and pair with pkhali and cheese.

Mtskheta

💬 Meets at Liberty Square; a Bolt taxi also works (~$10–15 each way).

Mtskheta

6th-century monastery on a hilltop above Mtskheta, part of a UNESCO World Heritage site.

💬 The view down on the meeting of the Aragvi and Mtkvari rivers is the reason to come.

Mtskheta

11th-century cathedral in Georgia's ancient capital, one of the country's holiest churches.

💬 Look for the frescoes inside and the stalls selling churchkhela outside the walls.

Mtskheta

💬 Lobiani (bean bread) and a salad with walnut dressing, then back to Tbilisi for a free evening.

Stepantsminda

💬 Agree the stops in advance; the road is about 3 hours without stops.

Stepantsminda

17th-century fortress with two churches on the shore of the Zhinvali reservoir.

💬 Climb the tower for the view over the Zhinvali reservoir.

Stepantsminda

💬 Soviet-era mosaic viewpoint hanging over the gorge; windy and cold even in summer.

Stepantsminda

💬 Ask for a room facing Mount Kazbek; the terrace at sunset is unforgettable.

Stepantsminda

14th-century church at about 2,170 m, standing below Mount Kazbek.

💬 About 1.5 hours up from the village; a 4x4 costs ~$15–20 per car if you'd rather ride.

Stepantsminda

💬 Shared 4x4 from Stepantsminda to Juta (~40 min), then an easy walk up the valley toward the Chaukhi peaks.

Stepantsminda

💬 Mountain khinkali and mtsvadi (grilled pork skewers).

Tbilisi

💬 Marshrutkas leave from the main square roughly hourly and arrive at Didube bus station.

Tbilisi

💬 Order badrijani, pkhali, mtsvadi and let the table fill up — that's the point.

Tbilisi

💬 Many flights leave in the small hours; Bolt works 24/7.