1 Week Georgia Itinerary - Tbilisi and Kakheti Wine Region

1 Week Georgia Itinerary - Tbilisi and Kakheti Wine Region

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


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Best months to visit Georgia

Kakheti wine region

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

Fabrika courtyard in 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

Dry Bridge Flea Market 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

Our quirky bnb in Tbilisi
We have stayed three times in the bohemian neighbourhood of Marjanishvili, our favourite area of the city. It's close to many happening cafes, restaurants and art spaces, and lies just a bit off the beaten path

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
🛏️ Browse more stays in Marjanishvili

At Fabrika, a former Soviet factory turned creative space

Fabrika Tbilisi
Another awesome spot to consider staying at is Fabrika. The former Soviet sewing factory has been turned into a creative space with hip restaurants, cafes, bars, boutiques and the coolest hostel ever. It is also located in the Marjanishvili area.

Stamba Hotel or ROOMS Hotel in Vera

STAMBA Hotel Tbilisi
If you're looking to splurge on a higher-end hotel, consider the gorgeous Stamba Hotel, which was once a Soviet publishing house. The chic hotel is located in the historic neighbourhood of Vera and has a hip cafe and restaurant that is worth checking out alone. The hotel is within walking distance from trendy cafes, restaurants and designer boutiques.

If Stamba is above your price point, consider staying at their sister property, ROOMS Hotel Tbilisi, which is connected by a courtyard. It also has a wonderful design and a vintage-chic feel. If you stay there, we advise not booking a room with a street view since it can get noisy.

🛏️ Browse more stays in the Vera neighbourhood

What to do in Tbilisi

Art cafe 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

Read our full list here.

Best Restaurants in Tbilisi

Adjaruli Khachapuri at Retro

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.

Georgian Khinkali Dumplings

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.

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

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

Signagi perched on a hilltop

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

A typical sight in the Georgian countryside

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

Our cute guesthouse in Signagi
We recommend staying in a guesthouse in one of the historic buildings to soak in the local culture. We loved staying at Guesthouse Honeymoon - our spacious private room had a beautiful view of Signagi and it was within walking distance to the main strip, wineries, restaurants and cafes.

🛏️ Browse more stays in Signagi

What to do in Signagi

Main strip of 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

The Terrace 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

Pheasant's Tears 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

Schuchmann Wines Chateau & Spa in Telavi

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:


Looking for more travel inspiration? Check out our list of Gastronomic Experiences Around the World to inspire your next trip.


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1 Week Georgia Itinerary for the Arts, Food & Wine Lover

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