Day trips from Tbilisi and Borjomi
Most day trips to this part of Georgia start in Tbilisi. Borjomi is the closest stop at about two hours by road. Akhaltsikhe with Rabati Castle lies further on, and Vardzia is the farthest. From Borjomi itself you can reach Bakuriani in 40 to 45 minutes, Rabati in about 50 minutes and Vardzia in about two hours.
Road times are planning values between towns, not guaranteed travel times. Stops, traffic and mountain weather come on top. Entry fees are in Georgian lari (GEL) for 2026, and each site sets its own price, so add them up yourself.
If you would rather have a car of your own, see our Borjomi private tour options.
Our picks: day trips to Borjomi
The two Borjomi, Rabati and Vardzia days from Tbilisi differ mainly in guide and group style, so pick by start time and reviews. The Bakuriani day suits you if you prefer mountains over castles, and the Kakheti day is the choice for wine.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide and Viator. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Borjomi and Bakuriani day trip
- Borjomi Central Park
- Bakuriani sightseeing
- English-speaking guide
Central Park in Borjomi plus sightseeing in the mountain resort of Bakuriani, with an English- and Russian-speaking guide. The narrow-gauge train ride is not running at the moment, so do not book this for the train.
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Ancient Georgia: Vardzia, Rabati, Borjomi
- Professional guide
- Wi-Fi on board
A group day trip with a professional guide in an air-conditioned vehicle with Wi-Fi on board. Ask before booking whether site entries are part of it.
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Vardzia, Rabati and Borjomi in one day
- Professional guide
- Live commentary
- Air-conditioned vehicle
A minibus day with a professional guide and live commentary on board. Entries to the castle and the cave monastery are paid on site.
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Kakheti wine day with nine tastings
- Nine tastings
- Two winery entries
- Certified guide
A ten-hour day with a certified guide, entry to two wineries and tastings at a bakery and both estates. Bread and cheese tasting at the bakery and lunch cost extra.
Check availability →Borjomi, Rabati and Vardzia from Tbilisi
- Guide and car transport
- Borjomi, Rabati, Vardzia
A long guided day by car through three of the region's best-known stops. Entry to the sites is paid on the spot, so ask before booking what your date includes.
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Borjomi, Rabati and Vardzia with driver and guide
- Air-conditioned transport
- Driver and guide
The same classic route with an air-conditioned vehicle and a professional guide. Site entries are extra, and you bring your own lunch money.
Check availability →Borjomi tours and day trips from Tbilisi
Day trips to Borjomi, Vardzia and Rabati, trips to Bakuriani and longer routes, with live prices and availability.
Day trips from Tbilisi compared
Road times and adult entry fees for 2026.
| Stop | Road time from Tbilisi | Entry in 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Borjomi | About 2 hours | Central Park about GEL 5, check at the gate |
| Akhaltsikhe and Rabati Castle | About 2 hours 45 minutes | GEL 20 for foreign visitors |
| Vardzia | About 4 hours (3 hours 45 minutes to 4 hours 10 minutes by route) | GEL 15 for adults |
| Bakuriani | Via Borjomi, plus 40 to 45 minutes | Lift passes by season |
| Kazbegi (Stepantsminda) | About 2 hours 55 minutes | Pay per activity |
For most visitors with a single day, Borjomi with a stop at Rabati is the realistic choice. Vardzia works as its own long day or from a night in Borjomi. A guide at Vardzia in a foreign language costs GEL 45 and an audio guide GEL 15. At Rabati an audio guide costs GEL 15, and a guided visit for one or two guests costs GEL 20 as a group price, not per person.
Borjomi as a day trip from Tbilisi
The town, the Central Park and the path to the pools.
Borjomi is the easiest trip of the group. The Central Park runs along the Borjomula, with mineral springs and a path of about 2 km to open-air sulphur pools behind the park. Entry to the park is about GEL 5, so check at the gate. The park is open from 06:00 to 20:00 and the cable car from 10:00 to 20:00 (GEL 15 one way). Hours change by season, and the pools do not open on a fixed daily schedule. Read the Borjomi park page before you plan the day.
The Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park needs more time and a registration at the visitor center. For walks beyond the town, see hiking around Borjomi.
Vardzia and Rabati: a long day
Two sites that do not fit into a short trip.
Tbilisi to Vardzia takes about 4 hours each way. With Rabati, Borjomi and time at the sites, this is not a half day. Vardzia is a cave monastery from the 12th century. Monks still live there. Dress rules apply inside the church, and photos are not allowed there. Part of the site, including the Secret Tunnel area, is cordoned off after rockfall, so expect a shorter route. Opening hours run from 10:00, with the closing time between 17:00 and 19:00 depending on the season. See Vardzia for the full list.
Rabati Castle in Akhaltsikhe is a complex of buildings from the 9th to the 19th century. The Orthodox church, synagogue, mosque and Catholic church stand within its walls. Autumn hours from 1 October are 09:00 to 18:00. A museum in the complex has its own conditions. More on the Rabati Castle page.
Bakuriani and Kazbegi as extra stops
Two mountain places that need their own day.
Bakuriani lies at about 1,700 m and is a ski resort in winter. Lifts also run in summer, with season dates that change each year. By road it is 40 to 45 minutes from Borjomi. The narrow-gauge railway is under restoration, so count on the road. Read about it on the Bakuriani page.
Kazbegi (Stepantsminda) is about 2 hours 55 minutes from Tbilisi by road. It points the other way, north into the Greater Caucasus, so it does not combine with Borjomi on the same day. Plan it as a separate trip, and see Georgia tours for routes that link several regions.
Day trips from Tbilisi: frequently asked questions
Can I visit Borjomi, Rabati and Vardzia in one day from Tbilisi?
Not comfortably. Vardzia alone is about 4 hours each way from Tbilisi. Borjomi with Rabati is a full day. Splitting the trip over two days, with a night in Borjomi, leaves room for the sites.
How long does it take to drive from Tbilisi to Borjomi?
About two hours by road. Add time for traffic and stops. By train the trip takes about four hours, and timetables change, so check the current times before you go.
Is Vardzia fully open?
The monastery can be visited, but the area around the Secret Tunnel is cordoned off after rockfall, and a full walk through the complex is not available. Check the current state before you travel.
Is there a combined ticket for these sites?
Each site sets its own entry price, so you pay at each one. Do not expect one ticket to cover Borjomi, Rabati and Vardzia.
When is the best time for these day trips?
It depends on the stop. Vardzia has its longest hours from 1 May to 1 October (10:00 to 19:00) and its shortest from 15 November to 1 March (10:00 to 17:00). Bakuriani is a winter ski place and a summer hiking base. See the weather page.