What was our favourite country on our 14-month trip around the world? We have many favourites, but the biggest standout for us was Georgia. Its creative culture, cuisine, wine, fashion and architecture blew us away so much so, that it was the first country we visited again after our world trip ended.
Our 1 week Georgia itinerary first takes you through unique experiences in the creative capital of Tbilisi. Next, you'll venture to the renowned wine region of Kakheti to explore the romantic town of Signagi. Your 1 week in Georgia will include the best in food, wine, art and design.
1 Week in Georgia
How to get to the Kakheti region |
Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, we will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Regardless, we only recommend products or services we have used or that we believe will add value to our readers. Thank you for supporting us!
Best months to visit Georgia
Georgia has a dynamic climate throughout the year. From December - February temperatures can reach below 0°C and from July-August, it's uncomfortably hot and humid. April and May are the rainiest months.
The best time to visit Georgia is in June and September-October when the weather is warm, but not too hot. A benefit of visiting around mid-September is that it's grape harvest season.
1 Week Georgia Itinerary
Days 1-5: Tbilisi
In Tbilisi, you are exposed to so many architectural styles, artistic designs and unique experiences that it's impossible not to leave inspired.
The cafes, restaurants and creative spaces we visited each had a distinct style and feel. Unlike other capital cities that may be known for one thing or another, this city has an eclectic mix of experiences to offer the traveller.
Getting around Tbilisi
The easiest and best mode of transport to get around Tbilisi is by Bolt, a ride-sharing service like Uber. It's very affordable compared to other Western countries. Most of our rides around the city were around 4- 8 GEL (~$1.50 - $3 USD).
For our airport arrival, we arranged a private driver through Welcome Pickups, as they meet you in the arrivals section with a sign. We had a very early arrival time, so this ensured a smooth ride to our hotel. The price was half of what our hotel quoted us.Where to stay in Tbilisi
A BnB or design hotel in Marjanishvili
Staying in an apartment is a great way to have an authentic local experience. BnBs in Tbilisi are unique, colourful and a great value. We loved making breakfast in the morning after shopping at the local bakery and produce stalls. Marjanishvili also offers a selection of boutique hotels that foster a creative atmosphere.
Our top accommodation picks in Marjanishvili
- Peaceful Bohemian Apartment - beautifully designed BnB that is quiet but in the heart of Marjanishvili neighbourhood
- Centrally Located, Sunny Apartment - quirky BnB with a beautiful view of the city and river.
- Unfound Door Design Hotel - a 19th-century building in Marjanishvili that has been wonderfully restored to capture Old Tbilisi.
At Fabrika, a former Soviet factory turned creative space
Stamba Hotel or ROOMS Hotel in Vera
What to do in Tbilisi
There are so many fun things to do in this creative city from hanging out at art cafes and dancing at world-renowned techno clubs to eating delicious Georgian cuisine and soaking in thermal baths.
Read our list of 16 unique things to do in Tbilisi.
Here are the highlights:
🎨 Hang out at Fabrika, a former factory turned creative space
☕ Discover Tbilisi's art-cafe scene
👀 Wander the city to see unique architecture
🎵 Go dancing at one of the city's iconic techno clubs
🥟 Discover Georgian cuisine and Georgian wines
👢Treasure hunt at vintage shops, boutiques with Georgian designers and a flea market
♨️ Relax at a thermal bathhouse
🍸 Enjoy late night drinks with edgy locals
Best Restaurants in Tbilisi
Georgian cuisine is a distinct and integral part of the country's culture and way of life. Georgians love their food and are passionate about sourcing local, fresh ingredients. If you are a foodie, you're in for a treat. There are so many dishes and new flavours to try.
For comfort food, try khachapuri adjaruli, a bread boat stuffed with melted cheese, or Khinkali, a meat filled dumpling you eat with your hands.
For a healthier dish, try Pkhali, a dish of vegetable patés with beans, beets and walnut sauce.
Other dishes we love are Shashlik, skewered charcoal roasted meat, and Ajapsandali, a Georgian Ratatouille with unique spices.
Shavi Lomi Tbilisi
Our favourite restaurants in Tbilisi
- Best if you could only pick one: Shavi Lomi
- Best for Georgian classics: Salobie Bia
- Best for a locals experience: Mapshalia
- Best for modern Georgian fusion: Cafe Littera
- Best for fresh Megrelian cuisine: Alubali
- Best for after the sulphur baths: Culinarium Khasheria (get their Georgian/Vietnamese soups)
- Best for eating all the Georgian dishes in one go: Pasanauri
- Best for Khachapuri: Retro
Tired of Georgian? Eat a mouth-watering American pizza at Ronny's or international classics at Lolita.
Best Cafes in Tbilisi
Top: Art-Cafe Home | Bottom: Cafe Gallery (left) & Ciskari (right)
Tbilisi is home to eclectic art-cafes. Not only are they daytime hangouts, some of them turn into nighttime parties.
Our top cafe picks in Tbilisi
- Best for a creative atmosphere: Fabrika
- Best for a glamorous atmosphere: Cafe Stamba
- Best for the party: Cafe Gallery
- Best for a nature escape: Ciskari located at Turtle Lake
- Best for the coffee and a pastry: Entree
- Best for dessert: Cafe Littera
- Best for the discreet location: Linville (tucked away in the backstreets on the 2nd floor of a 19th century building).
Make sure to check out our list of uniquely designed cafes and restaurants in Tbilisi!
Days 6-7: Signagi in the Kakheti Wine Region
With just 2 nights, the best place to stay in the Kakheti wine region is the romantic town of Signagi (also known as Sighnaghi). The quaint town has narrow cobblestone streets and beautiful old buildings with wooden balconies and terracotta roofs. You will see why the Geogians call it the "city of love"!
How to get from Tbilisi to Kakheti wine region
There are a few ways to get from Tbilisi to Signagi in the Kakheti wine region.
The cheapest way is by grabbing a Marshrutka (shared minivan). It leaves from Samgori station every two hours and costs 10 GEL (~3.75 USD) per person. The minivan won't leave until it fills up with people. It takes around 2 hours to get to Signagi depending on how many stops the driver takes to pick up or drop people off along the way. One time our driver even picked up groceries from a food stall on the side of the road. We were there during August, so it was also uncomfortably hot in the vehicle.
The more expensive, but convenient way is to get a shared taxi or private taxi from Isani station. It costs 15-20 GEL (~$5.60-$7.50 USD) per person for the shared taxi. If you don't want to wait for it to fill up it will cost you around 60-80 GEL (~$22.50-$30 USD) for the car. The journey should take you about 1.5 hours. We recommend taking a taxi rather than the shared minivan!
Where to stay in Signagi
What to do in Signagi
Signagi is a charming city to explore by foot. You'll discover wineries, markets and cute cafes and restaurants in the tiny streets.
See our list of the top 9 things to do in Signagi.
Best restaurants in Signagi
These two spots were our favourite to hang out and eat:
- Pheasant's Tears - best for the food & wine (reserve in advance)
- The Terrace - best for the view and to watch the sunset
Best wineries to visit in Signagi
Have a wine tasting at these awesome wineries located in town:
- Okros - a boutique winery that produces natural wines free of additives and sulphates.
- Pheasant's Tears - one of the most famous wineries in the Kakheti region.
- Cradle of Wine - a lesser known winery with an eccentric owner who's passionate about Georgian culture.
Itinerary Extension Options
Explore Telavi
If you're able to spend a couple more nights in Georgia, consider exploring more of the Kakheti wine region in the Telavi area. Telavi is a 1.25 hour drive from Signagi and is the larger central city of the Kakheti region. We recommend staying at Schuchmann Wines Chateau & Spa. The large chateau and winery is a beautiful place to stay and has great amenities, like their restaurant with outdoor seating, an outdoor pool, and a spa with a sauna. They also offer free wine tours.Book a wine tour of the Kakheti wine region as a day trip
You could also consider adding a night to your stay in Signagi and asking your host at the guesthouse/hotel to organize a wine tour of the Kakheti region for you as a day trip. There are so many wineries to discover.
Enjoy your 1 week in Georgia!
Get started on planning your trip to Georgia
- 🌃 Book your accommodation: Booking.com is our go-to for finding places to stay. Sort by top reviewed.
- 🚖 Book your airport transfer: with WelcomePickups
- 🍷 Browse tours with local guides: with Viator or GetYourGuide
Don't miss our other Georgia travel guides:
- Tbilisi 3 Day Itinerary for Food, Culture and Nightlife
- Tbilisi 2 Day Itinerary for Food, Culture and Design
- 16 Unique things to do in Tbilisi
- 7 Best things to do Signagi
- Best nightlife in Tbilisi
Looking for more travel inspiration? Check out our list of Gastronomic Experiences Around the World to inspire your next trip.
Save and pin our 1 Week Georgia Itinerary for later:
