Top 10 road routes across Georgia

1. Tbilisi → Kazbegi via the Georgian Military Road

Length 158 km, 3–4 hours one way without long stops. Must-see points: Ananuri fortress, the Zhinvali reservoir, the Gudauri pass and Gergeti monastery at the foot of Kazbek.

The road is paved, but you need chains on the pass in winter. Best time — June to September. Slow down on the switchbacks — there are many tourist buses and trucks coming from Armenia.

2. Tbilisi → Kakheti (Sighnaghi, Telavi)

A wine region 80–120 km from the capital. Sighnaghi is the 'city of love' on a hill above the Alazani Valley. Telavi is the capital of Kakheti with tastings at family wineries.

The road is smooth and any class of car will do. At tastings only the passenger drinks — there is zero alcohol tolerance for drivers in Georgia.

3. Tbilisi → Borjomi → Bakuriani

Borjomi is a mineral-water resort with a park and a cable car. Bakuriani is a ski resort in winter and hiking in summer. The drive is 160 km, 3 hours.

Tip: don't buy souvenir water by the road in Borjomi — it's a 2x markup. The spring inside the park is free.

4. Batumi → Mestia (Svaneti)

The most spectacular and challenging road in the country. 360 km, 8–10 hours. Switchbacks, bridges and views of the Greater Caucasus range. You need a crossover or an SUV.

Don't set off in the rain — the ground washes out in places. Petrol stations are scarce, so fill up to a full tank in Zugdidi.

5. Tbilisi → the cave city of Uplistsikhe → Gori

A one-day round trip. Uplistsikhe is a city carved into the rock from the 1st century BC. Gori is Stalin's birthplace, with a museum. 90 km one way, 1.5 hours.

What to bring on the road

Bottled water (at least 2 L per person per day), offline maps (Google Maps + Maps.me, which don't rely on mountain signal), cash in lari for markets and old-style petrol stations, and a first-aid kit with motion-sickness tablets — the switchbacks are serious.

There's often no 4G in the mountains. Download the region in an offline map in advance. In case of a breakdown, save the provider's phone number and emergency service 112.