- For a first trip mixing Tbilisi, the mountains and wine country, aim for late May through June, or September to mid-October: warm days, open roads and moderate crowds.
- Multi-day treks in Svaneti, Tusheti and Khevsureti work best from July to mid-September, the only dependable window for the 4x4 road over the Abano Pass into Tusheti.
- The Black Sea is warm enough for swimming from June to September; August is the hottest, busiest and priciest month on the coast.
- Skiing runs from mid or late December to March, often into April in Gudauri and at Tetnuldi, with the deepest snow in January and February.
- March, April and November are the cheapest months, while New Year, Orthodox Easter, August and harvest weekends book up first.
The best time to visit Georgia for most travellers is late May to June or September to mid-October. Those weeks bring warm days in Tbilisi, open valleys around Kazbegi, green or golden vineyards in Kakheti and far fewer people than August. Beyond that, the answer depends on what you came for. The high Caucasus has a short summer, the Black Sea needs heat and the ski slopes need snow, so a trekker, a beach family and a skier would each circle a different month.
Below you will find a month-by-month table for Tbilisi, the coast and the mountains, then each season in depth, the windows that matter region by region, the ski calendar, the holidays that shape crowds and prices, advice by type of traveller and a packing list. We plan trips for guests all year, so this reflects what works on the ground, including the weeks when one snowfall can change the plan.
Georgia weather by month: Tbilisi, the coast and the mountains
Georgia is small, but its climate splits three ways. Tbilisi and the east have hot, fairly dry summers and cold winters with little lasting snow. The Black Sea coast around Batumi is humid and subtropical, mild in winter and wet in every season. The Greater Caucasus has long winters and a short, fresh summer. Figures are typical daytime highs and night lows, with Stepantsminda (about 1,740 m) and Mestia (about 1,500 m) standing in for the mountains.
| Month | Tbilisi (high / low) | Batumi and the coast | Mountains (Kazbegi, Mestia) | Crowds | What is open |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7 / -1°C | 10 / 3°C, rainy | About 0 / -10°C, deep snow | Low; ski resorts busy at the holidays | Ski resorts, cities, Kakheti cellars; Tusheti and high trails shut |
| February | 8 / 0°C | 10 / 3°C, damp | Coldest nights, best snow | Low in cities | Skiing; mountain roads can close after storms |
| March | 13 / 4°C | 13 / 5°C, showers | Full winter above 1,500 m | Low | Late skiing, lowland sights, first blossom |
| April | 19 / 8°C | 17 / 8°C, changeable | Thaw, mud, late snow | Rising at Easter | Tbilisi, Kakheti, caves, David Gareja |
| May | 24 / 13°C | 21 / 13°C, sea about 17°C | Mild valleys, snowy passes | Moderate | Lowlands; Juta and Tusheti not yet |
| June | 29 / 17°C | 25 / 17°C, sea near 22°C | Pleasant, afternoon storms | Rising | Kazbegi valleys, beaches, Tusheti from early June |
| July | 32 / 20°C | 27 / 20°C, sea about 25°C | About 20°C by day, cool nights | High | Everything, including long treks |
| August | 32 / 20°C | 28 / 20°C, warmest sea | Steadiest hiking weather | Peak | Everything; book well ahead |
| September | 26 / 16°C | 24 / 17°C, more rain | Clear and crisp | Moderate | Everything; harvest begins |
| October | 20 / 11°C | 20 / 12°C, very wet | First snow, autumn colour | Moderate, then falling | Rtveli, Tbilisoba; Tusheti closes early in the month |
| November | 13 / 5°C | 16 / 8°C, wet | Winter sets in | Low | Cities, wine regions, monasteries |
| December | 8 / 1°C | 12 / 5°C, wet | Snow, short days | Low until the holidays | Ski lifts from mid or late month |
Visiting Georgia in spring (March to May)
Spring arrives from the bottom up. Tbilisi and the Alazani valley turn green in March, orchards flower in April, and by May the lowland hills are at their brightest. Above about 1,500 m everything runs six to eight weeks behind, so Gudauri can still have skiable snow in April while you eat lunch outdoors in Kakheti.
March and April
These are quiet, good-value months for a trip built around history. Mtskheta, Uplistsikhe, Kutaisi, Gelati and the Imereti caves are all comfortable, and this is the ideal season for David Gareja, the cave monastery in the semi-desert by the Azerbaijani border, before summer heat bakes the ridge. Expect sunshine and cold rain in the same week. Orthodox Easter, in April or early May, is the busiest weekend of spring.
May
May brings long evenings and wildflowers on the slopes around Kazbegi, but it is also among the wettest months in the east. The Military Road to Stepantsminda is open and Gergeti Trinity Church is usually reachable, yet Juta and the higher passes often hold snow into June. Tbilisi hosts its New Wine Festival on the second weekend of May, a relaxed day of tasting young wines from small producers.
Visiting Georgia in summer (June to August)
Summer is high season and the only time the whole country is open. Snow clears from the mountain roads, remote guesthouses reopen, minibuses run to Mestia and Omalo, and Batumi fills up. The trade-off is lowland heat and more company at the famous sights.
June
June is the sweet spot for a mixed trip with some walking. Kazbegi is green and full of flowers, Juta and Truso open up from about mid-month, and Tbilisi is hot but not yet sweltering. Storms often build over the peaks after lunch, so start hikes early.
July and August
These are the months for the high Caucasus. The Mestia to Ushguli trek, the crossings of Tusheti and Khevsureti and the long climb toward the Gergeti Glacier are at their most reliable. Down in Tbilisi and Kakheti, highs above 32°C are normal and heatwaves can push the capital close to 40°C, so sightsee in the morning and evening. August is the busiest month nationwide, and room rates peak.
On the coast, July and August mean sticky days, the warmest water and packed beaches in Batumi, Kobuleti and Ureki. Mariamoba, the Feast of the Assumption on 28 August, is a public holiday when churches overflow.
Visiting Georgia in autumn (September to November)
If we had to choose one season, it would be autumn. September keeps the warmth without the crush, October adds harvest and colour, and November is calm, cheap and full of young wine.
September
Early September is excellent for everything at once: trekking in Svaneti and Kazbegi, swimming in Batumi and the first picking in Kakheti. Later in the month, nights in the high villages fall close to freezing, some remote guesthouses close and the coast enters its rainiest stretch.
October
Rtveli, the harvest, is under way across Kakheti and Racha, roadside stalls sell churchkhela and fresh grape juice, and families invite visitors into their cellars. Forests around Borjomi and Lagodekhi turn yellow and red. Tbilisoba fills the Old Town with food and music for a weekend, and 14 October draws enormous crowds to Mtskheta for Svetitskhovloba. Snow usually dusts the peaks by mid-month, and the road to Tusheti closes once it settles.
November
November is grey and cool but calm and good value. The new vintage is ready to taste, Tbilisi's theatre and concert season is in full swing, and you may have Mtskheta or Sighnaghi nearly to yourself. Giorgoba, Saint George's Day on 23 November, is a public holiday. The high mountains are between seasons, too late for hiking and too early for skiing.
Is Georgia worth visiting in winter? (December to February)
Yes, if you pick the right places. Tbilisi seldom keeps snow for long and is atmospheric in the cold months: hot sulphur baths, cosy wine bars, opera and almost no queues. Kakheti is peaceful, with fires burning in the cellars. The mountains belong to skiers, and snow is dependable from late December.
What you give up is access. Tusheti is cut off, Khevsureti and upper Truso are snowbound, and the long treks are out of the question. The Jvari Pass on the road to Kazbegi stays open on most days but can close for hours, occasionally days, after heavy snow or avalanche warnings. Daylight is short, so start long drives early.
Christmas and New Year
New Year's Eve is the biggest night of the Georgian year, with fireworks over every neighbourhood and a long family feast. Christmas follows the Orthodox calendar on 7 January, when the Alilo procession moves through Tbilisi and other towns: people in costume sing carols and collect food and gifts for families in need. Ski resorts are full and at their priciest from about 28 December to mid-January.
Best time to visit each region of Georgia
Seasons matter most in the mountains, where a few weeks either way decide whether a road is open at all.
| Region | Best months | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Tbilisi | April to June, September to November | Very hot in midsummer; mild winters |
| Kazbegi (Stepantsminda) | June to September | Gergeti reachable all year; Juta from about mid-June |
| Upper Svaneti | July to mid-September; late December to March for skiing | High rivers and snowy passes in late June |
| Tusheti | July to early September | Road usually open early June to early October |
| Khevsureti (Shatili) | July to September | Datvisjvari Pass road opens in late May or June |
| Kakheti | May to June, mid-September to October | Harvest in autumn; hot in midsummer |
| Black Sea coast | June to September | August is the peak; heavy rain from September |
| Kutaisi, caves and canyons | April to June, September to October | Humid in midsummer; caves cool all year |
| Borjomi and Vardzia | May to October | Bakuriani skiing late December to March |
Kazbegi
Stepantsminda is the easiest mountain base in any season, because the Military Road is paved and kept open in winter whenever the weather allows. Walk from June to September, and save the Gergeti Glacier route for July to early September with a guide. Winter brings a snowy village, cold clear mornings and a 4x4 ride up to Gergeti Trinity Church.
Svaneti
Mestia is reachable all year on the paved road from Zugdidi, but the region has two separate seasons. Trekking season lasts from July to mid-September. In those weeks the passes between Mestia, Adishi and Ushguli are clear and the route's guesthouses are open, although early in summer snowmelt makes the river crossing beyond Adishi deep and fast. Skiing at Tetnuldi and Hatsvali starts in late December. Festivals such as Kvirikoba in late July and the midwinter torch festival of Lamproba are worth catching if your dates line up.
Tusheti
Tusheti has the shortest season of all. Its only road crosses the Abano Pass, roughly 2,850 m high, on an unpaved, single-lane track with long drops. It usually opens in early June, once the snow is cleared, and closes in early October, though both dates move with the weather. July to early September is the safest bet. Tushetoba, the summer festival in Omalo with horse races and folk music, is held once a year in the short Tusheti season; ask locally for the date.
The Black Sea coast
Late June and the first half of September give you warm water, thinner crowds and lower prices than high summer. Batumi is far wetter than Tbilisi in every month, with the heaviest downpours in autumn, so allow for a rainy day at the Botanical Garden or in the old town.
Kakheti and the harvest
Kakheti is lovely in late spring, when the vines leaf out below the still-white Caucasus, but the high point is Rtveli, from about mid-September into October. Alaverdoba, the old religious and harvest festival at Alaverdi Monastery, takes place in late September.
When is ski season in Georgia? Gudauri, Bakuriani and Tetnuldi
Skiing in Georgia is good value, quiet on weekdays and higher than many people expect. Lifts generally open in mid or late December and run until March, with the most reliable snow in January and February, and Gudauri and Tetnuldi often keep their lifts turning into April.
| Resort | Where | Typical season | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gudauri | Military Road, about 2 to 2.5 hours north of Tbilisi | Mid-December to mid-April | Wide open pistes, freeride and heliskiing, easy access from Tbilisi |
| Bakuriani | Above Borjomi, about 3.5 hours west of Tbilisi | Late December to March | Families and beginners, forest runs, cross-country skiing |
| Tetnuldi | About 19 km from Mestia in Upper Svaneti | Late December to mid-April | Long runs, spring snow and empty slopes |
| Hatsvali | Directly above Mestia | Late December to March | Short, easy runs with views of Ushba |
| Goderdzi | Mountain Adjara, about 2.5 to 3 hours from Batumi | Mid-December to early April | Deep snow, gentle pistes and guided off-piste |
Gudauri's base is at about 2,200 m and its top lifts reach well above 3,000 m, while Tetnuldi's lifts top out at about 3,160 m. Weekends and the stretch between New Year and Orthodox Christmas are busy with skiers from Tbilisi; weekdays in February and March are calm. In Svaneti, storms can delay flights and the road from Zugdidi, so build a spare day into a ski week there.
Georgian festivals and holidays to plan your trip around
Religious holidays and a few big festivals change the mood of a trip, and they also fill hotels and roads.
| Event | When | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| New Year | 31 December; 1 and 2 January are holidays | Fireworks, family feasts and gozinaki, a honey and walnut sweet |
| Orthodox Christmas | 7 January | Night services and the Alilo procession of carol singers |
| Epiphany (Natlisgheba) | 19 January | Blessing of water; some people bathe in rivers |
| Orthodox Easter | 2 May 2027; 16 April 2028 | Night services and busy roads; Good Friday to Easter Monday are holidays |
| New Wine Festival | Usually the second weekend of May | Young wines from small producers in Tbilisi |
| Independence Day | 26 May | Events on Rustaveli Avenue |
| Mariamoba | 28 August | Feast of the Assumption, with full churches |
| Alaverdoba | Late September | Religious and harvest festival at Alaverdi |
| Rtveli | Mid-September to October | Harvest feasts in Kakheti and Racha |
| Tbilisoba | Usually the first weekend of October | Regional food, wine and folk music in the Old Town |
| Svetitskhovloba | 14 October | Very large crowds in Mtskheta |
| Giorgoba | 23 November | Saint George's Day, a public holiday |
Easter in Georgia
Easter is the most important date in the Orthodox year. During Lent before it, many restaurants serve a vegan Lenten menu, a pleasure in itself thanks to beans, walnuts and pkhali. On Saturday night churches fill for a long service that ends after midnight. Families dye eggs red, bake sweet paska bread and visit relatives, so roads out of Tbilisi are busy and guesthouses fill. Book early and expect festivity rather than quiet.
Tbilisoba
Tbilisoba was first held in 1979 as an autumn celebration of the city and the harvest. Today it is a free street festival, with regional stalls selling wine, cheese, churchkhela and mtsvadi, and stages for dancers and polyphonic choirs. The date is often confirmed only a few weeks ahead.
The best time to visit Georgia for hikers, wine lovers, families, skiers and budget travellers
| You are | Go in | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A hiker | July to mid-September; May, June and October for lower trails | High passes clear only in summer |
| A wine lover | Mid-September to October, or May | Harvest and new wine, or the New Wine Festival |
| A family | June and September | Warm sea, mild mountains, no extreme city heat |
| A skier | January to March | Deepest snow, most lifts running |
| On a budget | March, April, November, early December | Lower room rates, easy last-minute bookings |
Hikers
For multi-day routes such as Mestia to Ushguli, Juta to Roshka over the Chaukhi Pass, or Omalo to Shatili over the Atsunta Pass, go between July and mid-September; late August and early September usually bring the most settled spell. For lower, quieter walking, Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park and Lagodekhi are good in May, June and October.
Wine lovers
Come for Rtveli, when you can pick grapes, help with the pressing and watch the must go into the qvevri. Many cellars open the new vintage from November, so a cold-season visit can be rewarding too.
Families
June and September are kindest to children: the sea is warm, Tbilisi is bearable and mountain villages are open without being packed. Bakuriani is the most child-friendly ski resort, with gentle slopes and sledging. Our Georgia for Families route is built around these months.
Budget travellers
The shoulder months give the lowest room rates, and late October still offers harvest atmosphere at lower prices. Our guide to what a trip to Georgia costs has daily budgets and real prices.
What to pack for Georgia in each season
Georgia is relaxed about clothing except in churches. There, women cover their heads and wear a skirt, and men wear long trousers, so pack a scarf plus a wrap skirt or light trousers in any month.
Spring and autumn
- Layers: T-shirts, a fleece and a light insulated jacket for mountain evenings
- A waterproof jacket
- Shoes with good grip for wet cobbles and muddy trails
- A warm hat and gloves above 1,500 m in October
Summer
- Light clothes that still cover shoulders and knees for churches
- Sun hat, sunglasses and strong sunscreen for the mountain sun
- A fleece and rain shell for Svaneti, Tusheti or Kazbegi nights
- Swimwear and insect repellent for the coast
- Broken-in boots and poles if you are trekking
Winter
- A warm coat, thermal layers, hat and gloves: even Tbilisi nights drop below freezing
- Waterproof boots with a good tread for icy streets
- Ski kit only if you prefer your own; rental is easy in Gudauri and Bakuriani
- Swimwear for the sulphur baths
Frequently asked questions
Which month is best for a trip to Georgia?
For a first trip, September is hard to beat: settled weather, open mountain roads, a swimmable sea and the start of the harvest. June and the first half of October run it close. For high-altitude trekking, choose July or August.
When is the cheapest time to visit Georgia?
March, April, November and the first half of December, away from the ski resorts. Rooms cost less and you rarely need to book far ahead. The priciest periods are August, New Year, Orthodox Easter and peak ski weeks.
Can you visit Georgia in winter?
Yes. Tbilisi, Mtskheta, Kakheti and Kutaisi are open and quiet, and the ski resorts are at their best from January to March. Tusheti, Khevsureti and the long treks are closed, and the road to Kazbegi can shut briefly after heavy snow.
When can you swim in the Black Sea in Georgia?
From June to September. The water is warmest in August, at roughly 25 to 27°C, and still pleasant in early September. In May and October it is too cool for most swimmers.
When is the road to Tusheti open?
Usually from early June until early October, depending on snow on the Abano Pass. The road is unpaved and narrow, so go with an experienced local 4x4 driver and keep a spare day in case weather closes it.
When is the grape harvest in Georgia?
Rtveli runs from about mid-September into October in Kakheti, shifting each year with the weather and the grape variety. Higher vineyards, such as those in Racha, often pick later.
Is Tbilisi too hot in July and August?
It is hot, with highs of 32 to 35°C most days. It is manageable if you sightsee early and late, rest at midday and spend part of the trip in the mountains, where days sit around 20°C.
When is Orthodox Easter in Georgia in 2027?
On 2 May in 2027 and on 16 April in 2028. Good Friday to Easter Monday are public holidays, so expect busy roads and full guesthouses that weekend.
