Best Time to Visit Georgia Country | Seasons & Festivals

Are you wondering when the best time to visit Georgia is? This guide provides detailed information on the best time to go to Georgia with seasonal comparisons, events, and festivals. 

For a somewhat small country, the climate in Georgia is very diverse, where the Black Sea and the Caucasus Mountains play their part.

As a local, I often get asked the best time to visit Georgia, and my answer is almost always the same – it depends on what you want to do here. My response is that there is no actual best time to visit Georgia as each region is quite different from another and has its microclimates. 

ADVICE: always travel with comprehensive travel insurance that also covers COVID. I personally use SafetyWing. 

Georgia truly is a year-round destination with skiing opportunities in winter, sunbathing on the coast of the Black Sea in summer, and gorgeous hiking trails that are best in spring and autumn. 

Generally, eastern regions are drier and colder, while the west is warmer but wetter. And to quickly answer your question on what is the best month to visit Georgia, I would say mid-April, May, June, September, and mid-October. However, each month here has its advantages and disadvantages I will talk about later on. 

These months that I have listed above are also among the best times to visit Tbilisi and the lowlands to escape unbearable heatwaves and humidity during summer. It is also the best time to visit Georgia if you plan to hike in the Caucasus Mountains and the highlands, while winter is best for high-altitude ski resorts that offer powder snow. 

If you’d like to take part in the autumn grape harvest, Rtveli, in Kakheti, the best time to visit Georgia is in September, when most wineries start their preparations for winemaking. 

→ Read my detailed Georgia travel guide, providing some best tips to know before going.

Short Overview of best months to visit Georgia

Georgia’s peak season is July and August, when tourists crowd the country, accommodation prices are high, and the weather in Tbilisi and the lowlands tend to be quite hot. Although, these are the best months to visit Georgia if you want to go to the mountain areas such as Svaneti, Racha, and Tusheti to enjoy lush nature and short or long hiking trails. 

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Georgia has had surprisingly warm autumn that has lasted till mid-October for the past few years. September and maybe the beginning of October (depending on the weather conditions) are the best months to visit Georgia for grape harvest in Kakheti. At this time, snow starts to fall in the mountain regions as early as September and sometimes blocks the roads.

Weather in Georgia starts to change into the freezing temperatures from mid-November and lasts the entire winter season. Snow is infrequent in Tbilisi during winter, but it’s common elsewhere, especially around the capital and in other cities. 

The ski season in Georgia starts from December and lasts till March, sometimes even till April, depending on the year’s temperatures. 

June is the best time to travel to Georgia and explore the capital and the mountains before the summer crowns flood the country and temperatures rise. 

Tip: I use the Yr.no website and mobile app for Georgia weather forecasts. It’s the most reliable source I have found thus far. 

Best time to visit Georgia country by season

Georgia is an all-year-round destination with distinctive four seasons. However, spring and autumn might be short or unexpectedly long, depending on the year. And there are some seasons and months that are the best time to visit Georgia, while others need to be avoided. Therefore, in this section, you’ll find answers on which season is the best time to visit Georgia. 

Spring in Georgia: March-May

Spring in Georgia means flower and tree blossoms around the country, a rise in temperatures, and longer days. Spring season comes early in the western regions as the climate there is quite different from the rest of the country. It’s a perfect time to travel to the lowlands for gorgeous nature awakening with blooming wildflowers. 

Is March a good time to visit Georgia? The short answer is yes and no, but it depends on where you plan to go and what you want to do. March in Georgia still feels like winter, so it’s the best month to visit Georgia if you’re going to hit the slopes of the ski resorts or enjoy cities in the off-season with lower prices and much fewer crowds. 

→ Read my detailed post on spring activities in Tbilisi.    

March isn’t an ideal time to travel to Tbilisi, as the temperatures are pretty low, the weather is very unpredictable, and therefore limits the outdoor activities. In terms of climate, expect wind and rainy days in March. Surprisingly, we got almost two weeks of snowfall in Tbilisi in March 2022, which almost never happens, not even during the entire winter season. 

Later months of spring are the best time to visit Tbilisi when the days are much warmer, cherry, lilac, and almond trees are in bloom, and there are many more activities to do outdoors. 

The start of April can be quite cold; however, the temperatures slowly increase from mid-April, making it a somewhat good time to visit Georgia and its cities. May is usually much warmer, with average temperatures of 21.8C (71.2F) in Tbilisi.

Spring also brings a few public holidays and festivals. Easter in Georgia falls either at the end of April or the beginning of May. It’s the most significant celebration in the country and an excellent excuse for you to experience what Orthodox Easter in Georgia looks like. Georgia celebrates Independence Day on May 26, with massive exhibition stalls scattered on Rustaveli Avenue. 

During this season, winemakers open qvevri vessels for the first taste of wine made from the last harvest in the autumn. In May, Tbilisi even hosts the New Wine Festival, where local winemakers, both small and big, bring out their best products for the public to enjoy. 

Even though spring arrives earlier in western Georgia, traveling to the Black Sea coast is not ideal – rainy days are pretty standard at this time of the year. Spring in Georgia is also not great for hiking in the mountains as snow is still present and the days are cold.

However, if you still want to experience hiking in Georgia, I suggest sticking to the lowlands and exploring Birtvisi Canyon and some trails in national parks in Georgia, including Borjomi National Park and Lagodekhi.  

Summer in Georgia: June-August

In Georgia, summer is a high season bringing many tourists to Tbilisi, the mountains, and the Black Sea coast. However, July and August are the hottest months in Tbilisi and the lowlands. 

Higher temperatures that go above 32C (89.6F), sometimes even hitting 40C (104F), are typical in the cities, making it unbearable to spend more than a few hours outdoors for some.

Therefore, locals leave Tbilisi in July and August to escape the heatwave and vacation in higher altitude regions and the sea. This means that it’s the season for Adjara, the Black Sea coastal region, a favorite holiday spot for many Georgians.

However, this also suggests that prices in mountain and sea resorts go high, and the tickets for train and domestic flights to Batumi sell out quickly. 

For me, summer on the coast has too many tourists, and the prices are unreasonably high. So, if I want to spend a few days in Batumi or its neighboring towns, I opt in for ‘velvet season’ in September when the days are still warm to enjoy a dip in the sea, but the crowds are fewer. 

However, summer is still the best time to travel to Georgia and explore its regions. The days are longer when the sun sets quite late, and you can pack your Georgia itinerary with plenty of outdoor activities.

It is also ideal for visiting mountain regions such as Tusheti, Svaneti, Racha, Upper Adjara, and Guria highlands for hiking or a simple mountain-getaway holiday. However, rainy days and landslides happen during summer in this part of the country. 

Many festivals and events are scheduled for summer, both in Tbilisi and elsewhere in the country, so if you want to experience cultural events, this could be the best time to visit Georgia. 

Autumn in Georgia: September-November

Autumn in Georgia is the shoulder season with somewhat fewer tourists, but still warm days in the lowlands and Tbilisi. The skies are clear, the sun is shining, and the evenings are breezy. 

Visiting Georgia in September is ideal for those who want to participate in the grape harvest in the Kakheti region, enjoy early autumn hikes in the lowlands, and experience some cultural events. While the dates for the vintage season vary due to weather, it typically starts in September in Kakheti and lasts until November in western Georgia. 

Open-air markets are still present in September and early October in Tbilisi, where you can buy some handcrafted souvenirs to bring home. 

October also brings an annual event of Tbilisioba, the celebration that marks the foundation of Tbilisi over the weekend. There are various exhibition stalls in the old town where farmers from different parts of the country bring their handmade products for selling.

Although it’s not my favorite event in Tbilisi as the central parts smell of grilled meat, there are too many people in the streets, and traffic is insane. As a local, that’s my personal opinion, but it can be an exciting event for a foreigner. 

Theater and ballet/opera season also start in autumn if you’d like to see a Georgian ballet troupe performing in the Tbilisi State Opera House. Sadly, there are not many theaters in Tbilisi that have English subtitles, and your best option is Gabriadze Marionette Theater, which is for adults rather than for kids.

Alternatively, there are annual international theater festivals held in Tbilisi that you can attend to enjoy various performances in English. 

If you are after fall foliage in Georgia, I advise you to go to the highlands of Svaneti and Rach in September; however, tree leaves in Tbilisi start to turn a bit later, around mid-October.

Hiking enthusiasts can still enjoy most of the trails in September and October but expect pretty cold nights, depending on where you go. The beginning of autumn is also great for hiking the Black Rock trail in Lagodekhi.

Winter in Georgia: December-February

Winter in Georgia is off-season in general, but it’s a high peak season for ski resorts such as Gudauri, Bakuriani, and Svaneti. The ski season in Georgia starts from mid-December and lasts till March, and sometimes even prolongs till April. Therefore, expect lots of tourists and high accommodation prices. 

Since Gudauri is very close to Tbilisi, many locals go there for weekend ski sessions, resulting in very busy slopes. Unless that’s the only time you can visit it, I don’t recommend going there over the weekend. 

Alternatively, you can go to Bakuriani (a more family-friendly resort) or Svaneti (for those who love adrenaline rush) for a heavy-snow winter vacation.

Tbilisi in winter is milder than elsewhere. The sun is still shining, and occasionally the skies are clearer.

Since our Christmas falls on a different date, our Christmas markets also start slightly late. The central parts of the city, mainly part of Rustaveli Avenue in front of the Youth Palace and streets surrounding the newly renovated Orbeliani Square feature small wooden hut-like stalls for selling various products and goods.

January is the coldest month in Tbilisi and almost everywhere in the country. Snow is very rare in Tbilisi during the winter months, so the city is primarily pleasant during this time of the year. And despite short and cold days, there are plenty of things you can do in Tbilisi in winter, including going to various wine bars for wine tasting and enjoying warm natural sulfur baths in Abanotubani. 

The high-altitude mountain regions are most frequently closed during winter due to heavy snow blocking the roads. Although, the roads to the ski resorts of Svaneti and Gudauri remain open. Therefore, you can also visit Kazbegi and enjoy the snow-covered iconic Gergeti Trinity Church nestled under the foot of Mount Kazbegi. 

Best time to visit Georgia through festivals & events

Georgians love celebrating anything. Therefore there’s always something scheduled throughout the year. And to truly experience local traditions and culture, attending one or a few such events is a must-do when in Georgia. Most festivals do happen in Tbilisi, but several regional ones give you an excuse to visit other parts of the country. 

One thing to note is that the dates of these festivals are not available on the internet far ahead and are only announced a couple of weeks (sometimes even days) earlier, which makes trip planning around these festivals quite hard. 

However, annual festivals and some religious events are known far ahead, while seasonal ones, such as the vintage season, depend on weather and are difficult to predict. 

January in Georgia

Georgians still party at the beginning of January as the Christmas and New Year celebrations are not yet over. We follow the Julian Calendar, so some dates are celebrated later than in the rest of the world. Because of that, there are not that many things happening this month. 

The highlights of January are the Orthodox Christmas on January 7, Old New Year on January 14, and Epiphany on January 19. 

February in Georgia

Svaneti, Georgia’s one of the highest mountain regions, hosts an annual celebration called Lamproba, which translates as the festival of lamps in English.

Various legends and myths explain the tradition, but the most relevant I find is that it’s a way of asking nature/gods/universe for better harvest, population growth, and well-being of the cattle and the well-being of their dead relatives in the afterlife.

That’s why the locals gather at the ancestors’ graves with handcrafted torches from oak and birch branches. The event takes place in Mestia and its surrounding villages. 

March in Georgia

A quiet village in Kakheti, Didi Chailuri, keeps the tradition going and celebrates springtime, fertility, and rebirth through the Berikaoba festival that dates back to pagan times. Each year, the date varies, but it falls around 50 days before the Orthodox Easter Sunday.  This year it falls on March 17.

April in Georgia

Like the previous months, April is not a great month in terms of festivals and events unless Orthodox Easter falls during this month. If Easter is in April, then there’s a Leloburti (folk rugby-like sport) event in the small village of Shukhuti in Guria.

→ Read my detailed guide on how to celebrate Easter like a local.

May in Georgia

As days get warmer in Georgia, more festivals and events get organized in Tbilisi and other parts of the country. 

May kicks off with a Gviriloba festival in Kutaisi on May 2, with live music and stalls presenting food and wine from the Imereti region. 

On the second Saturday of May, Tbilisi hosts the New Wine Festival, an annual celebration of new wines made from the latest harvest. Winemakers, big and small, bring their best products for the first taste. 

If you are interested in books or looking for another read, attend the Tbilisi International Book Festival. Here, you’ll find local publishing houses and English language imported books.  

June in Georgia

The annual international music festival, Tbilisi Open Air, brings electric and rock music performers to the outskirts of Tbilisi, somewhere close to Lisi Lake. The festival lasts for a few days and has a designated tent area if you’d want to stay there instead of hotels in Tbilisi.

July in Georgia 

If you are interested in local folklore and dances, Art-Gene Festival is set sometime in July in the Ethnography Museum in Tbilisi. Lasting for several days, you can enjoy various folk performances from all over Georgia. 

And if you are after a mind-blowing performance of traditional Georgian dances, see the Sukhishvilebi dance troupe. They are one of the first and most famous dance ensembles established in Georgia; therefore, most of the year, they perform abroad. However, in summer, they come back to Tbilisi and run short performances on the outskirts of Tbilisi on an outdoor stage. Monitor Tkt.ge for their performances in Tbilisi. 

August in Georgia 

The month of August sees lots of cultural events in the mountainous regions of Georgia. One of them is Tushetoba, where you can enjoy Khinkali-making (Georgian dumpling), horse riding, song performances, and public display of Tush traditions. 

Bakhmaro resort in Guria holds an annual horse race or Doghi in Georgian. Guria has very long horse riding traditions, and many Gurians even participated in Wild West Shows in the USA at the end of the 19th century. 

September in Georgia 

The start of fall means the vintage season in Kakheti. Several wineries let people participate in the harvest and showcase the winemaking traditions. 

For music lovers, Tsinandali Music Festival, held in Chavchavadze Estate in Kakheti, brings famous local and international composers to perform on the outdoor stage. The festival lasts for several days. 

October in Georgia

If you can’t make it to September and want to participate in the grape harvest, Rtveli, western Georgia, starts the season later than Kakheti, so this could be a good time to visit Georgia. 

On October 14, Georgia celebrates Skvetitskovloba in honor of Svetitskhoveli Cathedral in Mtskheta, Georgia’s finest example of Early Middle Age architecture. Pilgrims flock to Mtskheta, where the Catholicos-Patriarch hosts a mass and baptism. 

Autumn also brings Tbilisoba celebration to the capital. Sadly, the exact date of the foundation of Tbilisi is unknown; therefore, dates always vary, but most are held on the third or fourth weekend of October. 

November in Georgia

There is no special event or festivity in the autumn months in Georgia. However, opera and theater art and culture programs open their season after the summer break. You can see as many shows and performances from November through the winter season as possible. 

Tbilisi International Festival of Theater is an annual event bringing local and international theater troupes to Tbilisi for several day performances. The GIFT festival is another annual theater festival bringing international and local performers to Tbilisi in autumn.

Kolga Tbilisi Photo holds the leading exhibition in autumn in Tbilisi but showcases other projects throughout the year. 

December in Georgia

Fewer things happen in the country as the days become colder and shorter. Most of the activities you can enjoy are focused indoors, such as theaters, galleries, and opera. There is another photo festival Tbilisi Photo Festival, held for you to check out. 

December brings Christmas festivity to the country, and Georgia is slowly getting ready for the New Year celebrations. 

Tip: I suggest monitoring Facebook events for more Tbilisi and regionally focused events. 

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