Georgia
Tbilisi's sulphur baths and wine bars, the Kazbegi peaks and Kakheti vineyards, three hours from Dubai and easy on the budget.
In this guide
When to go
Spring arrives in Tbilisi in April, and by May the Caucasus foothills are green, with highs of around 22°C. June is warm and lively. July and August reach the mid 30s in Tbilisi, which is why many UAE families head straight up to Kazbegi, Bakuriani or Borjomi for cooler nights. September and October bring the grape harvest, or rtveli, in Kakheti and golden colour on the mountain roads.
Eid breaks and the UAE summer holidays are the busiest periods for travellers from Dubai, and flights fill quickly. Gudauri's ski season runs from roughly December to March, and the Jvari Pass to Kazbegi can close for a day or two after heavy snow.
Where to stay and how to plan the route
For a first visit, five nights works well: three in Tbilisi with a day trip to Mtskheta, and two in Stepantsminda (Kazbegi) along the Georgian Military Road. Add a night in Sighnaghi for Kakheti wine country, or Borjomi and Bakuriani for families. Our Tbilisi and Kazbegi package follows this route, and the family mountains itinerary slows it down with more time outdoors.
Stay in Old Tbilisi or Sololaki to walk to the baths, the cable car and the best restaurants. Layla Haddad and Elena Volkova plan most of our Georgia trips and can add Batumi on the Black Sea in summer.
Things to do
- Abanotubani sulphur baths, ideally in a private room after a day of walking
- Cable car to Narikala Fortress for views over the old town and the Mtkvari river
- Gergeti Trinity Church below Mount Kazbek, by 4x4 or on a steep morning hike
- Ananuri Fortress and the Gudauri viewpoint on the Georgian Military Road
- Jvari Monastery and Svetitskhoveli Cathedral in Mtskheta, the ancient capital
- Qvevri wine tasting in Sighnaghi and Telavi in Kakheti
- Dry Bridge flea market for Soviet-era curios and old enamelware
Food, money and practical tips
Try khachapuri, khinkali and churchkhela. Halal restaurants are easy to find in Tbilisi and Batumi, and our guides can steer you to them; in the mountains, trout and vegetable dishes are safe choices. Cards are widely accepted in cities, but carry lari for markets and village stops. A local SIM with data costs very little at the airport. Tipping around 10 percent is customary, and many restaurants already add a service charge. Cover shoulders and knees in churches; women are usually asked to cover their hair, and scarves are often provided at the door.
Rules change; we confirm the current requirements before you apply.
Georgia holidays from Dubai
Five nights that pair Tbilisi's sulphur-bath old town with a night under Mount Kazbek and a day among the vineyards of Kakheti, all with a private driver.
A six-night family loop with short drives, cable cars, a cave town, Borjomi's forest park and two nights high in Gudauri, with a private minivan and child seats throughout.
Visa services for Georgia
Georgia: questions we are asked
Do UAE residents need a visa for Georgia?
What is the best month to visit Georgia?
How many days do we need in Georgia?
Is Georgia good for families with young children?
What is the weather like in Georgia in December?
Can we combine Georgia with Azerbaijan?
Travellers back from Georgia
Lovely trip overall and our driver knew every bend of the Military Highway. The Kazbegi day was mostly rain, so the church sat in cloud and we only had the view for about ten minutes. Nobody's fault, but a spare half day in the plan would have helped. The Tbilisi hotel was spot on.
Indian passport, first time visiting Georgia. Imran checked whether my UAE residence visa made me eligible for entry without a separate visa, confirmed the current rules and gave me a checklist for the airport. Took ten minutes of my time.
Very well organised for a family of five. The only niggle was the long transfer from Tbilisi to Bakuriani, about three and a half hours with a toddler, and I would have asked for a lunch stop in the middle had I known. Ski school there was brilliant and very patient with our middle one.
Reading before you go
Georgia in Autumn from Dubai: Wine Harvest, Tbilisi and Kazbegi Colours
Rtveli in Kakheti, golden larches in Kazbegi and mild Tbilisi evenings: how to plan Georgia between September and November, with 5 and 7 night routes, AED prices and visa basics.
Family Holidays from Dubai: A Planner's Guide That Works for Parents Too
Flight times that suit children, short-haul family winners, connecting rooms, child pricing, nanny visas and how to dodge UAE school holiday price spikes, from a family travel consultant and mother of three.
Summer Escapes from Dubai: Cool Places to Go from June to August
Where UAE residents go to escape 43°C: Georgia, Azerbaijan, the Alps, the Dolomites, Kenya, Sri Lanka and Bali, with July temperatures, flying times, real summer prices and when to book.
