Best Time to Visit Georgia Country: Seasons, Events & Tips

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. So when is the best time to visit Georgia? This guide provides detailed information on seasonal comparisons, events, and festivals.

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

For a somewhat small country, the climate of Georgia is very diverse, and the Black Sea and the Caucasus Mountains contribute to it.

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

These months are also the best time to visit Tbilisi and the lowlands to hike around the capital or escape unbearable heat waves and humidity during summer. If you plan to hike in the Caucasus Mountains and the highlands, the ideal time starts in June and lasts until September.

Autumn in Georgia brings beautiful foliage and a few cultural events, such as Tbilisoba, the day of Tbilisi, and the Rtveli grape harvest in Kakheti. 

The winter is the time to hit the slopes of high-altitude ski resorts, which have fewer crowds than top European ski resorts, powder snow, and heli-skiing opportunities. If the weather permits, the Georgia snow season starts in mid-December.

Short Overview of best time 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 is quite hot. 

Nevertheless, these are the best months to visit mountain areas such as Svaneti, Racha, and Tusheti, where you can enjoy lush nature and short or long hiking trails. 

Georgia has had a surprisingly warm autumn that has lasted till mid-October for the past few years. September and the beginning of October (depending on the weather conditions) are the best for grape harvest in Kakheti. Snowfall in Georgia might start as early as September in the mountain regions, and depending on the conditions, it might even block the roads.

Georgia’s weather starts to change into cold temperatures in mid-November and gradually becomes freezing, which lasts the entire winter. It rarely snows in Tbilisi during the season, but it’s common elsewhere, especially around the capital and other cities. For instance, in mid-October 2024, it snowed in Kazbegi and Upper Adjara mountains.

Georgia ski season starts in mid-December and lasts until March, sometimes even until April, depending on the year’s temperatures. 

June and mid-July are ideal for traveling to Georgia, especially for exploring Tbilisi and the mountain regions before the summer crowds flood the country and temperatures rise. 

I personally love summer, and the heat doesn’t bother me that much. However, I’d say that the best weather in Georgia is in late spring and early autumn—when the temperatures are mild, the skies are relatively clear, and rainy days are few.

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

Public holidays in Georgia

Georgia has 16 public holidays related to events and the Orthodox religion throughout the year. These days, public and governmental institutions are closed, including some of the museums in Tbilisi and nationwide.

However, grocery stores, shopping malls, supermarkets, and dining venues stay open. Here’s a list of all the public holidays in Georgia to consider.

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. Some seasons and months are ideal for traveling in Georgia, while others need to be avoided.

Spring in Georgia: March-May

Spring in Georgia means flower and tree blossoms around the country, a rise in temperatures, and longer days. The season comes early in the western regions, as the climate 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. 

March in Georgia still feels like winter, so it’s a good time to hit the slopes of the ski resorts or enjoy cities in the off-season with lower prices and fewer crowds. 

Tbilisi in March sees pretty low temperatures and very unpredictable weather, which limits outdoor activities. Expect wind and rainy days, so pack a packable raincoat. Surprisingly, we got almost two weeks of snowfall in Tbilisi in March 2022, which seldom happens, not even during the entire winter season.

The later spring months in Tbilisi have much warmer days with cherry, lilac, and almond trees in bloom, offering many more events, festivals, and activities. 

The start of April can be quite cold; however, the temperatures slowly increase from mid-April, making it a good time to explore some of Georgia’s most beautiful places. 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. Moreover, 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 standard. Neither is hiking in the mountains, as snow and cold days are still present.

However, if you still want to experience hiking in Georgia, stick to the lowlands and explore Birtvisi Canyon, some trails in the national parks, or the Black Rock Lake trail in Lagodekhi.

Summer in Georgia: June-August

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

Higher temperatures above 32C (89.6F), sometimes even hitting 40C (104F), are typical in the cities, making it unbearable for some to spend more than a few hours outdoors. Therefore, locals leave Tbilisi in July and August to escape the heatwave and take vacations in higher-altitude regions and the sea.

July and August are the peak seasons for Batumi, the Black Sea coastal region, and Mestia (Svaneti). Prices in mountain and sea resorts go high, and 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 for ‘velvet season’ in September, when the days are still warm enough to enjoy a dip in the sea, but the crowds are fewer. Alternatively, I go to Poti, a very underrated city in Georgia, or Anaklia beach town of Samegrelo.

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

Summer is the only and best time to visit the Georgian mountains and explore areas such as Tusheti, Svaneti, Racha, Upper Adjara, and Bakhmaro (Guria) for hiking or a simple mountain getaway holiday. At other times of the year, these highlands are covered in snow and mainly inaccessible.

The season also brings many festivals and events nationwide, so if you want to experience cultural events, this could be a good time to plan your Georgian trip.

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 shines, and the evenings are breezy. 

The theater and ballet/opera seasons also start in autumn if you want to see a Georgian ballet troupe perform in the Tbilisi State Opera House. Sadly, only a few theaters in Tbilisi have English subtitles, and your best option is Gabriadze Marionette Theater, which is for adults rather than kids.  

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

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

Georgia in October transforms into a festive mood with several celebrations and cultural events, such as the annual Tbilisioba festivities, which marks the foundation of Tbilisi over the weekend. Gurjaani, the small town in Kakheti, also hosts its annual wine festival mid-month.

If you are interested in fall foliage in Georgia, I advise you to visit the highlands of Svaneti and Racha in September. Tbilisi in autumn is quite charming, with tree leaves changing color from mid-October.

Hiking enthusiasts can still enjoy most of the trails in September and October, but depending on where you go, expect pretty cold nights.

Winter in Georgia: December-February

Winter in Georgia is generally off-season, but it’s a high-peak season for ski resorts such as Gudauri, Bakuriani, and Svaneti. The ski season in Georgia starts in mid-December and lasts until March, sometimes even prolonging until 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, I don’t recommend going there over the weekend. 

Tbilisi in winter is milder than elsewhere. The sun is still shining with occasional clear skies. January is the coldest month almost everywhere in the country. Snow is rare in Tbilisi, so the city is mostly pleasant this time.

Despite short and chilly days, there are plenty of things to do in Tbilisi in winter, including going to various bars for wine tasting and enjoying warm natural sulfur baths in Abanotubani. 

The high-altitude mountain regions are closed during winter due to heavy snow blocking the roads. However, the highways to 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 for festivals & events

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

One disadvantage of these festivals is that their dates 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 them quite challenging.

Moreover, some dates aren’t fixed and move each year. Seasonal events, such as the Rtveli grape harvest, depend on the weather and are difficult to predict. 

Unfortuantely, we don’t have a specific platform or a website for cultural and social events scheduled in Georgia throughout the year. Your best bets are the Facebook events section or ticketing websites such as Tkt.ge and Biletebi for theater, movie, opera, and concert shows.

Georgia in January

Georgians still party at the beginning of January as the Christmas and New Year celebrations are still ongoing. 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 are the Orthodox Christmas on January 7, the Old New Year on January 14, and Epiphany on January 19. Check out my Christmas in Georgia guide for more information.

Georgia in February

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 one is that it’s a way of asking nature/gods/universe for better harvest, population growth, the 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 made from oak and birch branches. The event takes place in Mestia and its surrounding villages. 

Georgia in March

A quiet village in Kakheti, Didi Chailuri, keeps the tradition going and celebrates springtime, fertility, and rebirth with the Berikaoba festival, which dates back to pagan times.

Each year, the date varies, but it falls around 50 days before Orthodox Easter Sunday. In 2024, it was marked on March 17.

Georgia in April

Like the previous months, April is not a great month for festivals and events unless Orthodox Easter falls this month. If that’s the case, Guria region’s sleepy village of Shukhuti becomes a battlefield of Lelo Burti, a folk rugby-like sport that Georgia has played for over 300 years.

Georgia in May

As days get warmer, more festivals and events are organized nationwide. May kicks off with a Gviriloba festival in Kutaisi on May 2, featuring live music and stalls selling 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 from the latest harvest. Winemakers, big and small, bring their best products for the first taste. 

If you are into books or looking for another read, make sure to attend the Tbilisi International Book Festival. Here, not only do local publishing houses display their books at great prices, but there are also imported English-language books. 

Georgia in June

The annual international music festival, Tbilisi Open Air, brings electric and rock music performers to the outskirts of Tbilisi, near Lisi Lake. The festival lasts three days, from Friday to Sunday. It has several local and international headliners yearly, drinks and food stalls, and a camping ground.

Georgia in July

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

In summer, the National Ballet Sukhishvilebi returns from its international tours and holds performances in Tbilisi. They are one of the first dance troupes to create traditional Georgian dances into performances. With the strict requirements from the dancers and their professional skill sets, Sukhishvilebi is a favorite dance ensemble for many locals, including me.

They only have a few traditional dance performances in Tbilisi, and the tickets almost always sell out. They also offer modernized and short shows at the Takara outdoor stage on the outskirts of Tbilisi.

If you can’t find any concerts of Sukhishvilebi during your time in Georgia, Erisioni is another famous ensemble for traditional dances. Monitor Tkt.ge or Biletebi for their performances in Tbilisi. 

Georgia in August

August is a busy month for cultural events in Georgia’s mountainous regions. One of them is Tushetoba, where you can enjoy Khinkali-making (Georgian dumplings), horse riding, song performances, and a public display of Tush traditions. 

Bakhmaro resort in the Guria region holds an annual horse race, or Doghi in Georgian. The area 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. Check out my detailed regional guide to Guria for the best activities and cities to visit.

Georgia in September

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

For music lovers, the Tsinandali Music Festival, held in Prince Chavchavadze Estate in Kakheti, is a three-day event that brings famous local and international composers to perform on the outdoor stage. 

Rtveli harvest note: My friends and partners at Eat This! Tours offering small group authentic premium tours have a variety of harvest and classic wine tour options to choose from. Remember to use code RFD5 at checkout for a 5% discount. If you want to know what to expect, read my review of their Sighnaghi Wine Tour. Alternatively, check out WT Georgia, which also offers wine harvest tours nearby at a local family.

Georgia in October

If you can’t make it to September and want to participate in the grape harvest, Western Georgia starts the season later than Kakheti.

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 the Tbilisoba celebration to the capital. The exact date of Tbilisi’s foundation is unknown; therefore, dates always vary, but it is mostly held on the first weekend of October. 

The second weekend of October also brings the Gurjaani Wine Festival to the small town of Gurjaani, in Kakheti, about an hour’s drive from Tbilisi. It is one of the best wine festivals in Georgia I have attended, with many wine producers, a good layout of stalls, plenty of food options, and a good selection of artisans for some nice handcrafted souvenirs.

Georgia in November

There is no special event or festivity in Georgia in November. However, since the cultural programs return in theaters and opera, you can see as many shows, concerts, and performances as possible. 

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

Tkt.ge or Biletebi are the go-to websites for concert, event, show, and performance schedules and tickets.

Georgia in December

Fewer things happen in Georgia in December as the days become colder and shorter. Most of the activities you can enjoy are focused indoors, such as theaters, galleries, museums, and opera.

December brings Christmas festivity to the country from mid-December and Georgia is slowly getting ready for its massive, two-week long New Year celebrations. See my Christmas guide to learn what to expect, what the dates are, and how to celebrate like a local.