- November in Georgia is cool and calm: Tbilisi averages daytime highs of about 15°C at the start of the month and about 9°C by the end, with nights falling from about 6°C to near freezing.
- It is the month of new wine: the harvest is finished, the qvevri have been sealed, and family cellars in Kakheti start tasting the young vintage.
- Cities, wine regions, monasteries, caves and canyons are open, but Tusheti and the high trekking routes are closed and ski lifts usually do not open until mid or late December.
- The national holiday of Giorgoba (23 November) honours Saint George; this year it lands on a Monday, so Georgians get a three-day weekend.
- Room rates are among the lowest of the year and sights are quiet, so November suits city breaks, wine trips and history-focused itineraries.
Is November worth it for a Georgia trip? Yes, if you come for cities, wine, food and history rather than high mountain hiking. The weather in Tbilisi is cool and mostly dry, the grape harvest has just ended, and the new vintage is ready to taste in cellars across Kakheti, while the summer and harvest crowds have gone home. You give up the high Caucasus trails and the beach, and you gain empty monasteries, low prices and long evenings at the table.
This guide covers the November weather region by region, with temperatures, rain and daylight, then explains what is open and what is closed, the dates worth knowing (Erekleoba in Telavi and Giorgoba on 23 November), a sample itinerary and a packing list. If you are still choosing a month, our month-by-month article on the best time to visit Georgia compares the whole year; this page zooms in on November alone.
Georgia weather in November: what to expect
November is the month when Georgia slides from autumn into winter, and the change happens fast. The first week often still feels like October, with sunny afternoons in the mid-teens in Tbilisi and the last yellow leaves on the vines. By the last week, mornings in the capital are close to freezing, the peaks of the Greater Caucasus are white, and snow can reach mountain villages such as Stepantsminda.
The east and the west behave very differently. Tbilisi and Kakheti sit in the rain shadow of the mountains, so November there is cool, often grey and fairly dry, with rain on perhaps six to ten days. The Black Sea coast around Batumi is mild but very wet: November is usually its rainiest month of the year.
| Place | Typical high / low | Rain | What it feels like |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tbilisi | 15 / 6°C early in the month, 9 / 1°C by the end | Light; showers on roughly 6-10 days | Crisp mornings, pleasant sunny afternoons, some foggy grey days |
| Kakheti (Telavi, Sighnaghi) | Similar to Tbilisi, a little colder at night in Sighnaghi | Light to moderate | Golden vineyards early in the month, bare vines and woodsmoke later |
| Kutaisi and Imereti | About 15 / 7°C | Wetter than the east | Mild but damp, green hills |
| Batumi and the coast | About 16 / 8°C | Very wet, often around 300 mm in the month | Warm spells between heavy downpours; sea about 16°C |
| Stepantsminda (about 1,740 m) | Around 5 / -3°C | Rain turning to snow | Winter arriving; first lasting snow possible |
| Mestia (about 1,500 m) | Around 7 / -2°C | Rain and early snow | Quiet between seasons, snow on the high peaks |
Daylight shrinks quickly. In Tbilisi the sun rises at about 07:30 and sets at about 17:55 on 1 November; by 30 November it rises at about 08:05 and sets at about 17:30. Georgia does not change its clocks, so plan drives and outdoor sightseeing for the middle of the day, and enjoy the long dark evenings at the opera, a wine bar or a supra.
Should you travel to Georgia in November?
It depends on what you want from the trip. November is one of our favourite months for travellers who care more about food, wine, churches and conversation than about summits. It is a poor month for trekking and for the beach.
| Good in November | Not good in November |
|---|---|
| Tbilisi: museums, Old Town walks, sulphur baths, theatre and opera | Long treks across Svaneti, Tusheti or Khevsureti |
| Kakheti cellars and tasting the new vintage | The road to Tusheti over the Abano Pass (closed for winter) |
| Mtskheta, Uplistsikhe, David Gareja and other historic sites without queues | Swimming in the Black Sea |
| Kutaisi, its monasteries, caves and canyons | Skiing (lifts usually open in mid or late December) |
| Short day trips to Kazbegi on clear days | High trails such as the Gergeti Glacier route or Chaukhi Pass |
| Budget travel: low room rates and easy last-minute booking | Long daylight sightseeing days |
Prices are a real advantage. Outside the ski resorts, hotels and guesthouses drop to some of their lowest rates of the year in November, and you rarely need to book more than a few days ahead, except for the Giorgoba weekend and some city-centre boutique hotels in Tbilisi.
New wine season: why November is the wine lover's month
The grape harvest, Rtveli, runs in Kakheti from about mid-September into October, and later in Imereti and Racha. Once the grapes are crushed, the juice ferments in qvevri, the large clay vessels buried in the cellar floor. When fermentation calms down, the winemaker seals the qvevri and the wine starts to settle. By November many family cellars are ready to draw off the first glasses of the young vintage for guests.
That makes November a lovely time for cellar visits. The winemakers are no longer exhausted from the harvest, the courtyards are quiet, and you taste wines at the very start of their life, often next to older vintages for comparison. Expect amber wines made with long skin contact from Rkatsiteli and Mtsvane, deep red Saperavi, and in the west lighter wines from Tsitska, Tsolikouri and, in Racha, the semi-sweet Khvanchkara.
The last harvest of the year in Guria and Adjara
In the humid west, a few late grapes are still being picked in November. In Guria, around Ozurgeti, and in mountain Adjara, the rose-coloured Chkhaveri often comes in from November into December. Few visitors see it, and small family wineries rarely advertise, so a local guide is the way in.
Churchkhela, chacha and the autumn table
Autumn food is at its best now. Churchkhela, walnut chains coated again and again in cooked grape juice, are fresh from the harvest, and markets sell persimmons, pomegranates, feijoa, quince and new-season walnuts. Many families distil chacha, the grape spirit, from the leftover skins in late autumn. Hearty dishes such as chakapuli, khinkali and lobio in clay pots suit the cooler evenings.
Festivals and holidays in Georgia in November
November has no huge street festival like Tbilisoba in early October, but it has two dates worth knowing, and the harvest mood lingers in the wine regions.
| Date | Event | Where | What happens |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31 Oct - 1 Nov 2026 (last weekend of October) | Phazisoba | Poti | City festival with concerts and fairs on the coast |
| 7 November | Erekleoba | Telavi | Concerts, exhibitions and services honouring King Erekle II, born in Telavi in 1720 |
| November into December | Late harvest | Guria and Adjara | Picking of Chkhaveri and other late grapes |
| 23 November (Monday in 2026) | Giorgoba, Saint George's Day | Everywhere | Public holiday: liturgies, family feasts, pilgrimages to Saint George churches |
| Early December (2026 dates not yet announced) | Tbilisi International Film Festival | Tbilisi | A week of Georgian and international films, a good add-on to a late-November trip |
Giorgoba: Saint George's Day, 23 November
Saint George is Georgia's patron saint, and his image is on the coat of arms and in the names of hundreds of churches and countless families. The church honours him twice a year, on 6 May and on 23 November, the day linked to his martyrdom. Only the November feast is a public holiday. Families gather for long meals, churches dedicated to the saint hold services, and in some mountain communities old shrines still receive offerings. Because the 23rd is a Monday this year, expect many Georgians to travel over the weekend, busy restaurants on Sunday and Monday evenings, and closed offices and banks on the day.
Erekleoba in Telavi, 7 November
Telavi remembers Erekle II, the 18th-century king of Kartli-Kakheti, whose equestrian statue stands in front of his palace at Batonis Tsikhe. Expect a town celebration aimed at locals, not visitors. This year the 7th is a Saturday and pairs well with a weekend of cellar visits in northern Kakheti.
Tbilisi in November: what to do in the capital
Tbilisi is at its most local in November. The tour groups have thinned out, cafes move their tables indoors, and the cultural season is in full swing, with ballet and opera at the Opera and Ballet Theatre on Rustaveli Avenue, concerts and plays most nights. Cool weather is perfect for long walks through the Old Town, Sololaki and the courtyards of Chugureti.
- Soak in the sulphur baths of Abanotubani on a chilly evening. A public section costs about 15 GEL (about $6) in 2026, and private rooms run about 130-200 GEL (about $48-74) per hour for the room; book private rooms ahead for weekends.
- Take the cabin lift that climbs from Rike Park to Narikala Fortress for the city view at sunset, which in November comes before 18:00. A ride is about 2.5 GEL (about $1) in 2026, paid by transport card or contactless bank card, and from 1 November it usually runs until about 22:00.
- Spend a rainy morning in the Georgian National Museum, whose treasury holds Colchian gold. Adult entry is about 40 GEL (about $15) in 2026, usually Tuesday to Sunday 10:00-18:00.
- Eat your way through Dezerter Bazaar for persimmons, churchkhela, cheeses and spices, then try the new wine in one of Tbilisi's natural wine bars.
- Take an evening at Fabrika, the former Soviet sewing factory turned hostel, bars and studios, when the courtyard is full of students on a weekend night.
Kakheti, Mtskheta and the best day trips in November
The lowland day trips from Tbilisi are all comfortable in November, and several are better now than in summer.
- Kakheti: Sighnaghi, Bodbe and family cellars
Sighnaghi's walls look across the Alazani Valley to the snow-capped Caucasus, a view that is clearest on crisp November mornings. The Sighnaghi Museum, with its Pirosmani paintings, costs about 5 GEL (about $2) in 2026 and usually opens Tuesday to Sunday 10:00-18:00. Telavi is a 2-hour drive from Tbilisi when the Gombori Pass is passable (check its status first), or roughly 2.5 hours on the longer highway via Gurjaani. - Mtskheta and Jvari
The old capital is half an hour from Tbilisi. In midsummer and on 14 October it is packed; in November you may have Svetitskhoveli Cathedral and the hilltop church of Jvari nearly to yourself. Both are free to enter. - David Gareja
The cave monastery on the semi-desert ridge by the Azerbaijani border is too hot in summer but ideal now, with cool air for the walk up to the cave frescoes. Go early in the month and leave by mid-afternoon, as the light fades before 17:30. - Uplistsikhe and Gori
The rock-cut town of Uplistsikhe is about an hour west of Tbilisi. Entry is about 15 GEL (about $6) in 2026. Combine it with Mtskheta on the way back. - Kazbegi on a clear day
Stepantsminda and Gergeti Trinity Church (2,170 m) are reachable on most November days, and the first snow makes the view of Mount Kazbek striking. The Jvari Pass can close for hours or days after storms, so keep the day flexible and go with a driver who has winter tyres or chains.
Western Georgia in November: Kutaisi, caves, canyons and Batumi
Imereti stays green into November, and its caves keep the same temperature all year, which makes them good rainy-day plans. Kutaisi is a calm, inexpensive base, with Bagrati Cathedral in town and Gelati Monastery, a UNESCO site with 12th-century mosaics, a short drive away.
- Prometheus Cave: about 40 GEL (about $15) in 2026 for foreign adults, guided walk included, usually 10:00-17:30 daily. The underground boat ride costs extra and stops when the river runs high.
- Sataplia, with its dinosaur footprints and cave: about 30 GEL (about $11) in 2026, usually 10:00-17:30. The glass viewing deck closes in rain and snow.
- Okatse Canyon walkway: about 30 GEL (about $11) in 2026. The main season runs until November, and the walkway closes in rain and snow, so treat it as a fair-weather option.
- Martvili Canyon: about 40 GEL (about $15) in 2026; still worth it in November, though boats depend on the water level and the weather.
Batumi in November is for people who like a seaside town out of season. It is warmer than Tbilisi, the boulevard is empty, and the Botanical Garden, about 25 GEL (about $9) in 2026, is bright with autumn colour. But it rains hard and often, so build in indoor plans and do not expect to swim: the sea is down to about 16°C.
Mountains in November: what is closed and what still works
November is the dead season in the high Caucasus: too late for trekking and too early for skiing. Know what to expect before you plan.
| Region | Status in November | Our advice |
|---|---|---|
| Tusheti | Road over the Abano Pass (about 2,850 m) closed, usually from early October until June | Not possible; plan it for July to early September |
| Khevsureti (Shatili) | High pass road snowbound or unreliable | Leave for summer |
| Kazbegi | Main road open most days; Juta and Truso valleys snowy and quiet | Day trip or one night in Stepantsminda, flexible dates |
| Upper Svaneti | Mestia reachable on the paved road from Zugdidi; Ushguli usually snowbound from about November | Only for travellers who want winter quiet; many guesthouses close |
| Gudauri and Bakuriani | Ski lifts usually not running yet | Ski season normally starts in mid or late December |
| Borjomi, Lagodekhi | Lower forest trails open; early November colour | Short walks in the first half of the month |
Gudauri has not yet announced its 2026-27 opening date. Recent seasons have started between mid-December and the first days of January, depending on snowfall. If you are combining a November trip with skiing, push the dates to mid-December at the earliest.
A 7-day Georgia itinerary for November
This plan keeps driving short and puts the indoor and outdoor highlights where the weather and daylight suit them. As a private tour it works on any date and for any group size.
- Day 1: Tbilisi
Old Town walk, Narikala by cable car before sunset, then a sulphur bath and dinner. - Day 2: Tbilisi
National Museum in the morning, Dezerter Bazaar, Fabrika or a ballet in the evening. - Day 3: Mtskheta and Kazbegi
Jvari and Svetitskhoveli, Ananuri on the way north, Gergeti Trinity Church if the pass is open. Overnight in Stepantsminda or back in Tbilisi. - Day 4: Into Kakheti
Bodbe and Sighnaghi, lunch and new wine in a family cellar, night in Sighnaghi or Telavi. - Day 5: Northern Kakheti
Alaverdi, Gremi and Tsinandali, with a second cellar in the afternoon. - Day 6: David Gareja and back to Tbilisi
Morning at the cave monastery, back to the city for a farewell supra. - Day 7: Uplistsikhe or departure
A half-day to Uplistsikhe and Gori if your flight is late.
With more time, add two or three days in Kutaisi for Gelati, Prometheus Cave and the canyons. For a longer route that covers the whole country in a warmer month, see our 7-day itinerary for Georgia.
What to pack for Georgia in November
- A warm, waterproof jacket: the single most useful item, especially if you go west to Kutaisi or Batumi
- Layers: a fleece or light down jacket for evenings, which drop close to 0°C in Tbilisi late in the month
- Hat, gloves and a scarf for Kazbegi, where it is often below freezing
- Comfortable shoes with good grip for wet cobbles in the Old Town and muddy monastery paths
- Church clothes: women cover their hair and legs (a scarf plus a long skirt), men avoid shorts
- Swimwear for the sulphur baths
- Proof of travel health insurance, which Georgia has required of foreign visitors from 1 January 2026
Georgia in November: FAQ
Is November a good time to visit Georgia?
Yes, for city breaks, wine, food and historic sites. It is quiet, cheap and the new wine is ready in Kakheti. It is not a good month for high-mountain trekking or the beach, and ski lifts usually open only in December.
How cold is Tbilisi in November?
Daytime highs average about 15°C in early November and about 9°C by the end of the month. Nights fall from about 6°C to around 1°C, so bring a warm jacket for the evenings.
Does it snow in Georgia in November?
Rarely in Tbilisi or the lowlands. In the mountains, yes: Stepantsminda and Mestia often get their first snow during the month, and the high passes are already snowbound.
Can you visit Kazbegi in November?
Usually yes. The Georgian Military Road to Stepantsminda is kept open, and Gergeti Trinity Church is reachable on most days, but the Jvari Pass can close after heavy snow. Keep the day flexible and use a driver with winter tyres or chains.
Is Tusheti open in November?
No. Snow on the Abano Pass (about 2,850 m), the only way in by road, usually shuts Tusheti off from early October, and the track rarely opens again before June.
What holidays are there in Georgia in November?
The big one is Giorgoba on 23 November, the feast of Saint George and a day off for everyone, which is a Monday this year. Telavi celebrates Erekleoba on 7 November, a local festival rather than a day off.
Is the sea in Batumi warm enough to swim in November?
Only if you are hardy. The sea at Batumi is about 16°C, and November is the wettest month on the coast. Treat Batumi as an out-of-season city stop rather than a beach trip.
When does ski season start in Georgia?
Usually in mid or late December, depending on snow. Gudauri has not announced its 2026-27 opening date yet, so for skiing plan from mid-December onwards.