The Best Road Trips in Georgia by Car

With a car, Georgia turns into a country of road trips. In a week you can drive from alpine passes to Black Sea beaches and ancient wine cellars. Here are the routes worth planning your trip around.

Tbilisi → Kazbegi (Georgian Military Highway)

The classic. Three hours north of Tbilisi, the Military Highway climbs past Ananuri fortress, the Jvari Pass and the famous friendship monument to the village of Stepantsminda, where Gergeti Trinity Church stands under Mount Kazbek (5,047 m). Any car manages it in summer; in winter take a 4x4.

Svaneti: Mestia and Ushguli

High in the Caucasus, Svaneti is a region of medieval stone towers and glaciers. The road to Mestia is paved, but the track up to Ushguli — one of Europe's highest inhabited villages — needs a high-clearance 4x4. Give it two or three days.

Kakheti wine route

East of Tbilisi, Kakheti is Georgia's wine country, where winemaking goes back 8,000 years. Loop through Sighnaghi, Telavi and the family cellars in between, tasting as you go. The roads are easy and the drive itself is gentle — perfect for a relaxed day or two.

The Black Sea coast

From Batumi, the coastal road runs past botanical gardens, waterfalls and beach towns. Combine it with the climb up to Goderdzi and the alpine meadows of Adjara for a striking contrast between sea and mountains in one day.

Tips for the road

Download offline maps — signal drops in the mountains. Fuel up before mountain sections. Check that your rental is allowed on routes like Mestia–Ushguli and the Abano pass. And don't over-plan: in Georgia the best stops are usually the ones you find along the way.