Georgia With Kids: A 10-Day Family Itinerary From a Family Who Lives Here

If you’re planning a Georgia family itinerary (Georgia the country, not the US state), this is the route we’d hand to any family coming to visit us. We’ve lived in Tbilisi for just over two years, and this 10-day plan only uses places we’ve actually been to with our son, who is now 10: Tbilisi, the Kazbegi mountains, the Kakheti wine region, Mtskheta, the caves and canyons around Kutaisi, and the Vardzia cave monastery.

We first came to Georgia for a month when our son was six, during our four years of full-time family travel. We liked it so much that we came back and make Tbilisi our home base, and we’ve written separately about why we chose to live in Tbilisi. This guide is for visitors.

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⛪ Top family day trip from Tbilisi: Mtskheta, Jvari, Gori and Uplistsikhe

One guided day from Tbilisi covers Mtskheta, Georgia’s ancient capital, the hilltop Jvari Monastery and the ancient cave town of Uplistsikhe. It’s a good option if you’re short on time or don’t want to drive.

Read more about Mtskheta and Jvari in Day 8 below

Our route: where to base yourself

Here’s where you’ll sleep each night:

• Tbilisi: 2 nights (Days 1 and 2), including the Kazbegi day trip
• Sighnaghi: 1 night (Day 3)
• Lake Lopota, near Telavi: 1 night (Day 4)
• Tbilisi: 1 night (Day 5)
• Near Vardzia: 1 night (Day 6)
• Tbilisi: 1 night (Day 7)
• Kutaisi: 2 nights (Days 8 and 9), stopping in Mtskheta on the way

Tbilisi works as the hub between each region, so you’ll pass back through it a few times. The longest drives are to Vardzia and back, at around 4 to 5 hours each way. Everything else is 4 hours or less.

Our 10-day Georgia family itinerary, day by day

Day 1: Tbilisi Old Town and Mtatsminda Park

Spend your first afternoon in the Old Town. Walk down to Abanotubani, the sulphur bath district with its low brick domes, then cross to Rike Park and take the cable car up to Narikala Fortress. The ride only takes a couple of minutes and costs 2.5 GEL each way, paid with a Metromoney transport card rather than cash. From the top you can walk to the Mother of Georgia statue, then wander back down through the Old Town.

If it’s your first time in Tbilisi, a walking tour with a local guide is a great way to get your bearings. You’ll get the stories behind the Old Town’s churches, courtyards and carved wooden balconies, plus tips on where to eat for the rest of your stay.

See the Tbilisi photo and cultural walking tour with a local guide on GetYourGuide

Later in the day, head up to Mtatsminda Park, the hilltop amusement park above the city, with rides, a big Ferris wheel and the best views over Tbilisi. It’s one of our favourite places to take our son, especially on hot days, because it’s noticeably cooler up there than in the city below. Entry to the park itself is free, and the rides cost 3 to 10 GEL each.

We like to take the funicular up from Daniel Chonkadze Street, stopping at the Pantheon halfway if you want, and then ride the cable car back down to Rustaveli Avenue. The cable car reopened in 2024 after more than 20 years out of service, and the ride down takes about 4 minutes. Both cost 12 GEL per person each way. Children under 6 ride free, and from age 6 they pay the adult fare.

You’ll need a Mtatsminda Park card, which you use for the funicular, the cable car and most of the rides in the park. The card costs 2 GEL and you can reuse it any time. Top it up with whatever amount you like, then just tap it at each ride.

Day 2: Kazbegi day trip

This is the trip we did with our son when he was six, on a group tour along the Georgian Military Road. It’s a 10 to 11 hour day, with stops at the Zhinvali Reservoir, Ananuri Fortress and the Friendship Monument, then a bumpy 4×4 ride up to Gergeti Trinity Church below Mount Kazbek. He loved it, and the stops come often enough that he never got bored.

Our Kazbegi day trip guide has every stop, the 2026 prices and our tips on layers, altitude and car sickness. If you have more time, stay a night in Stepantsminda instead (see how to extend the itinerary below).

Compare Kazbegi day tours from Tbilisi on GetYourGuide

Day 3: Sighnaghi

Head east into Kakheti, Georgia’s wine region. Sighnaghi is about 1.5 to 2 hours from Tbilisi, and it’s not that close to Telavi (about an hour’s drive), so we’d stay the night here rather than rushing both into one day.

Sighnaghi is a small hilltop town of cobbled streets and balconied houses, wrapped in old defensive walls with more than 20 towers. Things to do with kids:

• Climb the town walls. A stretch of the walls is open to walk along, with views across the Alazani Valley to the Caucasus mountains.
• Wander the old streets and stop at the viewpoints and small squares.
• Visit Bodbe Monastery, about 2 km outside town, where St Nino, who brought Christianity to Georgia in the 4th century, is buried. It’s an active convent, so dress modestly.
• Taste local wine at one of the town’s small wineries and wine bars.

For the night, BelleVue Hotel has a pool, balconies looking out over the valley and a central location, which makes it an easy pick with kids.

Prefer a guided day? See the Kakheti wine region tour from Tbilisi on GetYourGuide

Day 4: Telavi, then Lake Lopota

Drive across to Telavi, the main town of Kakheti. Batonis Tsikhe, the fortified residence of the Kakhetian kings, is right in the centre. Inside its old walls you’ll find the palace of King Erekle II and the Telavi History Museum. Nearby is a giant plane tree that’s estimated to be 900 to 1,000 years old, with a trunk about 12 m around, which is fun to show children.

One of our favourite stops in the whole region is Odlisi, a small family-run cheese factory in Telavi with its own restaurant. They have different packages, so you can either just taste their cheeses and wines or order a whole meal. Tasting Georgian wines, cheeses and food in such a lovely, relaxed atmosphere was a beautiful experience.

In the evening, carry on to Lopota Lake Resort & Spa, a short drive north of Telavi, where we stayed. It’s a beautiful resort nestled by a lovely lake. There are several pools, and the best part – a water park that our son absolutely loved! There are many other activities you can do at the resort, such as horse riding, wine tasting, and taking a boat or catamaran ride on the lake.

Day 5: Back to Tbilisi

Drive back to Tbilisi over the Gombori Pass, which takes about 2 to 2.5 hours from Lake Lopota. With a slow morning at the lake, you’ll still have the afternoon free in the city. Tbilisi is hilly, with lots of steps and uneven pavements, so you’ll move more slowly than in a flat city. If your child can walk most of the day, leave the stroller at the hotel.

Day 6: Tbilisi to Vardzia

Vardzia is in the far south of the country, around 4 to 5 hours from Tbilisi, so we suggest driving down today and staying the night nearby, either in Akhaltsikhe or close to the monastery. That way you can be at the gates when it opens the next morning, and nobody spends a whole day in the car.

If you’d rather not move hotels, you can do Vardzia as a day trip from Tbilisi instead and keep Day 7 for the city. Be aware that it means around 9 to 10 hours of driving in one day, which is a lot for most children.

Day 7: Vardzia, then back to Tbilisi

Vardzia is a 12th-century cave monastery carved into a cliff above the Mtkvari River, with hundreds of rooms, tunnels and staircases linked by a one-way route. Get there when it opens at 10:00 and allow 2 to 3 hours. There are a lot of steps and some narrow tunnels, which makes it a great place for kids who like exploring, but keep younger ones close near the edges.

Vardzia was started around 1175 by King Giorgi III as a frontier fortress, and his daughter, Queen Tamar, Georgia’s most celebrated ruler, turned it into a monastery. At its height, thousands of rooms were cut into the cliff over many levels, linked by tunnels, stairways and balconies, with churches and wine cellars. A powerful earthquake in 1283 sheared away the front of the cliff and exposed the rooms you see today, and in 1551 the monastery was raided and looted by a Persian army.

The highlight is the Church of the Dormition, carved into the rock in the 1180s, with frescoes that include a rare portrait of Queen Tamar painted during her lifetime. Around 750 rooms survive, and a small community of monks still lives at the site.

Prefer a guided day? See the Borjomi, Rabati and Vardzia tour from Tbilisi on GetYourGuide

A rockfall in May 2026 damaged part of the path near the Secret Tunnel, so ask at the entrance which sections are open. After your visit, drive back to Tbilisi, which takes around 4 to 5 hours.

Day 8: Mtskheta, then on to Kutaisi

Mtskheta, Georgia’s ancient capital, is about 25 km from Tbilisi and right on the road west, so stop there on the way to Kutaisi. Jvari Monastery sits on a hilltop above the point where the Aragvi and Mtkvari rivers meet, and Svetitskhoveli Cathedral is in the town below. Both are UNESCO-listed and free to enter. They’re also active churches, so women should cover their heads and wear a skirt, and men need long trousers.

After Jvari, drive down into the town of Mtskheta itself, a few minutes away. It’s small and fairly touristy, but it’s very cute and worth a wander. The old streets around the cathedral are lined with stalls and little shops selling local souvenirs, churchkhela, honey and homemade wine, so it’s a good place to pick up gifts.

Don’t miss Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, one of the most important churches in Georgia. The current building dates from the early 11th century and is the second-largest church in the country. According to legend, Christ’s robe is buried beneath it. The story goes that a local Jewish man brought the robe back from Jerusalem, and his sister Sidonia died holding it and was buried with it. A cedar tree grew from her grave, and the cathedral’s name means “life-giving pillar”, after a column carved from that tree. Ten Georgian kings are known to be buried here, including Vakhtang Gorgasali, the founder of Tbilisi.

Short on time? See the Mtskheta, Jvari, Gori and Uplistsikhe day tour from Tbilisi on GetYourGuide

From Mtskheta, it’s roughly 3 to 3.5 hours to Kutaisi.

Day 9: Martvili and Okatse canyons

Both canyons are about an hour from Kutaisi and around 40 minutes from each other, which makes one full day. At Martvili, a 700 m trail passes waterfalls and viewpoints, and a short boat ride takes you along the turquoise Abasha River. Everyone in the boat helps to row, and passengers must be taller than 1 m.

Okatse is a walkway that hangs off the canyon wall, reached by a 2 km forest path or an optional off-road transfer. Children must be over 6 to walk the trail, and anyone nervous about heights may find parts of it hard.

Our son was a tiny bit scared walking on the Okatse pathways, because you can see through the metal grating straight down into the canyon, but they felt very safe.

We loved both canyons, but Martvili was especially beautiful, mainly because of the boat ride. It’s very short, but floating between the canyon walls on that turquoise water is magical.

The Martvili boats don’t run in rain or snow, and the Okatse trail closes in bad weather, so check the forecast and swap this day with Day 10 if you need to.

See the Martvili, Okatse and Prometheus Cave tour from Kutaisi on GetYourGuide

Day 10: Prometheus Cave, then home

Prometheus Cave is about 30 to 35 minutes from Kutaisi and opens at 10:00. The guided route takes about an hour through six lit halls full of stalactites and stalagmites, and you can finish with an optional boat ride along the underground river. It stays around 14°C inside all year, so bring a layer even in summer.

Our son’s favourite part was the boat ride along the underground river at the end. It’s an extra ticket, but worth it.

Book your tickets online in advance through the Agency of Protected Areas. Entry is timed and guided, so without a booking you might have to wait a while for a free slot.

After the cave, fly home from Kutaisi International Airport or drive back to Tbilisi, which takes around 3.5 to 4 hours.

How to shorten it to 7 days or extend it to 14

7 days in Georgia with kids

Drop Vardzia, which is the biggest detour, and skip the night at Lake Lopota:

• Day 1: Tbilisi Old Town and Mtatsminda Park
• Day 2: Kazbegi day trip
• Day 3: Sighnaghi, staying the night
• Day 4: Telavi, then back to Tbilisi
• Day 5: Mtskheta, then on to Kutaisi
• Day 6: Martvili and Okatse canyons
• Day 7: Prometheus Cave, then fly home from Kutaisi or head back to Tbilisi

14 days in Georgia with kids

With two weeks, slow everything down rather than adding more places:

• Stay a night in Stepantsminda instead of doing Kazbegi as a day trip. We haven’t stayed there ourselves, but Rooms Hotel Kazbegi and Intourist Kazbegi are both well reviewed.
• Add a second night at Lake Lopota to slow down by the lake and visit more wineries.
• Add a third night in Kutaisi and split the canyons and the cave across two easier days.
• Spend two nights near Vardzia so neither long drive has to share a day with sightseeing.
• Add a day or two in Tbilisi at the start or end.

If you’d rather see a second country, Baku is a short flight from Tbilisi. Our Azerbaijan with kids itinerary covers the 5 days we spent there.

Getting around Georgia with kids

Private driver (what we did)

We used a private driver for every trip in this itinerary except Kazbegi. With a child, it’s the option we’d recommend: you stop whenever someone needs a toilet or a snack, and nobody has to concentrate on the road.

We book our drivers through GoTrip.ge. We’ve used them several times and never had any issues. The drivers have always been reliable and polite, and they didn’t drive like crazy, which matters a lot on Georgian roads.

Group tours

For Kazbegi, a group tour worked really well for us. Group day tours also run from Kutaisi to the canyons and Prometheus Cave, and they’re cheaper than a private driver if you don’t mind a fixed schedule.

Hiring a car

We haven’t driven ourselves on these trips. Self-driving is possible, but the mountain roads, especially the road to Kazbegi with its heavy lorries, take confidence. If you’re not used to driving in the region, a driver is the easier choice.

Trains and marshrutkas (general information)

Trains run between Tbilisi and Rioni station near Kutaisi in about 3 hours. Marshrutkas (shared minibuses) go almost everywhere and are cheap, but they’re cramped and hard work with luggage and a child, and you’d still need taxis to reach the canyons and Vardzia.

Car seats

Our son no longer needs a car seat, so we didn’t use one. If your child does, ask your driver or tour company before you book, or bring your own.

Food in Georgia that kids actually eat

Georgian food is easy with children. Our son always orders one of two things: khinkali, the big soup dumplings you eat with your hands, or shkmeruli, chicken baked in a creamy garlic sauce.

Our own favourites include ojakhuri (pork fried with potatoes), kubdari (bread stuffed with spiced meat, from Svaneti) and, of course, khachapuri (cheese bread). The Adjarian version, an open boat of bread filled with melted cheese, butter and an egg, is a hit with most kids.

Many Georgian dishes use fresh coriander and walnuts, so ask before you order if your child is a fussy eater or has a nut allergy.

Our favourite places to eat:

• Khinkali Collection, Freedom Square, Tbilisi
• Khinkali Bar N1, Tbilisi, with branches on Kote Afkhazi Street and Orbeliani Square
• Khinkali Pub, Vakhtang Gorgasali Square, Tbilisi
• Shatre, Rustaveli Avenue, Tbilisi
• Odlisi Cheese Bar, Telavi

How much a 10-day trip costs for a family of three

The lari has been trading at about 2.65 GEL to 1 USD in 2026. Here’s what the sights in this itinerary cost for two adults and one child aged 10, at 2026 prices. Children aged 6 to 18 pay a reduced 5.50 GEL at the protected areas (the canyons and Prometheus Cave), and under-6s go free.

Sight	Family of three (2026)
Kazbegi group tour	$70 (about 183 GEL)
4×4 up to Gergeti	60 to 100 GEL ($23 to $38) per vehicle
Narikala cable car, return	15 GEL ($6)
Mtatsminda funicular up and cable car down	72 GEL ($27), plus 2 GEL for the park card
Mtatsminda Park rides	3 to 10 GEL per ride
Mtskheta churches	Free
Martvili Canyon	85.50 GEL ($32), plus 20 GEL per person for the boat
Okatse Canyon	65.50 GEL ($25)
Prometheus Cave	85.50 GEL ($32), plus 30 GEL per person for the boat
Vardzia	15 GEL per adult and kids 6 and older. Kids under 6 are free

On top of the sights, budget for:

• Private driver: $90 for 8 hours with multiple stops
• Accommodation (9 nights): a good mid-range place costs us about $70 to $80 (185 to 210 GEL) a night with breakfast, so roughly $630 to $720 for the trip. Resorts like Lopota cost more.
• Food: $25 to $30 for three
• Total for 10 days: approximately $2,000 USD

Safety and practical tips

• Travel insurance is required. Since 1 January 2026, visitors need travel medical insurance with at least 30,000 GEL of cover. We’ve never been asked to show ours, but airlines sometimes check, so keep proof handy.
• Pack layers. The mountains and caves are much colder than Tbilisi, even in summer. Our family travel gear list covers what we pack.
• Plan for the long drives. Mountain roads are full of bends, so seat a carsick child near the front, keep meals light before the winding stretches, and bring audiobooks for the hours in the car.
• Toilets on long drives. You’ll find them at the main sights, restaurants and petrol stations, so it’s easy to plan stops. We still have our son go whenever there’s a toilet, whether he needs to or not.
• Stray dogs. There are a lot of them, both in Tbilisi and out in the regions. Most are tagged and neutered, and they’ve never been a problem for us, but they can bother some visitors, so it’s worth preparing a nervous child.
• Cards and cash. Cards work almost everywhere in Tbilisi and at the canyon and cave ticket offices, but carry cash for the 4x4s, small shops and markets.
• Mobile data. Signal is patchy in the mountains, so set up an eSIM before you arrive. Our guide to the best eSIMs for international travel compares the options.
• Driving style. Georgian drivers can be wild on the highways. They drive fast and overtake a lot. We’ve never had an accident, but if you’re not used to it, it can be unnerving, which is one more reason we use a driver rather than driving ourselves.

What we’d do differently

• We’d stay overnight in Stepantsminda rather than doing Kazbegi as a day trip. It would break up the driving, give us time to hike up to Gergeti Trinity Church instead of taking the jeep, and let us see the mountains without rushing.
• We’d also book our Prometheus cave tickets online in advance. We didn’t know about this, and ended up waiting for almost an hour for the next available timed entry.

Georgia with kids: FAQ

Is Georgia good for a family holiday?

For us, yes. Most of what makes Georgia great for children is outdoors: caves, canyons, castles and mountains. Indoor entertainment is more limited, so it suits active families best.

How many days do you need in Georgia with kids?

Ten days covers Tbilisi, Kazbegi, Kakheti and the west without rushing. Seven days works if you skip Vardzia, and with 14 days you can slow the whole route down.

When is the best time to visit Georgia with kids?

May to October. July and August are hot in Tbilisi, often 33°C or more, but the mountains stay cooler, so they’re a good escape. In winter you can still visit the mountains, but some trails may be snowed in, the road to Kazbegi can close after heavy snow, and Okatse Canyon closes in rain or snow. Tbilisi itself is cold and grey, which is why we usually travel somewhere warmer.

Do you need a visa for Georgia?

Citizens of more than 90 countries, including the US, Canada, the UK, the EU and Australia, can visit Georgia visa-free for up to a year. Check the current list for your passport before you travel, and remember the insurance requirement.

Is Georgia safe for children?

We’ve always felt very safe in Tbilisi as a family. The main things to watch with kids are the drops at viewpoints and fortresses, uneven steps and the traffic.

Do you need a car in Georgia?

No. We used a private driver for everything in this itinerary except Kazbegi, which we did on a group tour.

What currency does Georgia use?

The Georgian lari (GEL), at about 2.65 GEL to 1 USD in 2026. Cards are widely accepted, but carry some cash outside the cities.

Thinking about staying longer than a holiday? Read how we chose a home base as a travelling family.