Planning a Georgia road trip itinerary 7 days that actually works requires more than a list of places. You need driving distances, the right car for each route, honest information about road conditions, and clear rental rules before you leave the airport. This guide covers all of it — day by day, with no filler.
This itinerary starts and ends in Tbilisi. Pick up your rental car at Tbilisi Airport on Day 1 and return it on Day 7.
How Much Does Car Rental Cost in Georgia?
Before planning your route, know your daily car rental cost. Car Rent Deme pricing is based on vehicle type and rental duration — the longer you rent, the lower your daily rate.
| Vehicle Type | 1–3 Days | 4–6 Days | 7–13 Days | 14+ Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy Car | $40/day | $35/day | $32/day | $30/day |
| Sedan / Comfort | $50/day | $45/day | $42/day | $40/day |
| Mid-Range SUV | $60/day | $55/day | $52/day | $50/day |
| Standard SUV | $70/day | $65/day | $62/day | $60/day |
| Premium SUV | $100/day | $95/day | $92/day | $90/day |
| Luxury / Large | $120/day | $115/day | $112/day | $110/day |
All prices include basic third-party insurance. Zero deposit required. No hidden fees.
For a 7-day itinerary, the discount applies automatically from Day 4 onwards — no coupon or request needed.
What Car Do You Need for This Georgia Road Trip Itinerary 7 Days?
The wrong car will cause real problems on certain routes. This is the most important decision before you book.
| Route | Minimum Car Required |
|---|---|
| Tbilisi city, Mtskheta, Gori | Economy or Sedan |
| Kazbegi — Gergeti Church road | Standard SUV — mandatory |
| David Gareja monastery | Standard SUV recommended |
| Kakheti, Batumi, Kutaisi, highways | Any vehicle |
| Full 7-day itinerary | Standard SUV |
Bottom line: For the complete 7-day self-drive route, rent a standard SUV. A sedan or economy car will not make it up the Gergeti Church road in Kazbegi.
Best Time to Visit Georgia for a Road Trip
Choosing the wrong month can close mountain roads and ruin key stops on this itinerary.
May – June (Recommended) The best overall window. Mountain roads are fully open, landscapes are green, temperatures are comfortable, and Kazbegi is at its most beautiful. Accommodation is available without booking weeks in advance.
July – August (Busy but good) All routes are open and weather is reliable. Batumi beaches are at their peak. Kazbegi and Signagi fill up quickly — book accommodation at least 2 weeks ahead. Tbilisi city temperatures can hit 38°C.
September – October (Excellent) Kakheti wine harvest season — the best time to visit the wine region. Cooler temperatures, quieter roads, and stunning autumn colours in the mountains. Highly recommended for this specific itinerary.
November – April (Avoid for this route) The Kazbegi mountain road can close completely due to snow from November through March. David Gareja becomes muddy and difficult. Batumi is off-season. If you visit in winter, this Georgia road trip itinerary 7 days needs to be adjusted — skip Kazbegi and David Gareja entirely.
Day 1 — Tbilisi
Drive: 0 km — city exploration on foot
Pick up your car at Tbilisi Airport and check in. Do not drive inside the Old Town — streets are extremely narrow. Park once near Rike Park and walk everything. The entire historic centre is under 2 km end to end.
What to see:
- Narikala Fortress — take the cable car up, walk down through the Old Town
- Bridge of Peace — 5-minute walk from the fortress
- Holy Trinity Cathedral (Sameba) — one of the largest Orthodox cathedrals in the world
- Old Town (Kala) — wooden balconied houses, small churches, carpet shops
Where to eat: Leghvtakhevi Street has the best traditional Georgian restaurants. Try khinkali (Georgian dumplings) and Adjarian khachapuri (cheese bread with egg) on your first night.
Day 2 — Tbilisi → Mtskheta → Gori → Uplistsikhe
Drive: 120 km total | 2.5 hours driving
Three different historical sites in one comfortable day — all within easy reach of Tbilisi.
Mtskheta (20 minutes from Tbilisi) Georgia’s ancient capital and UNESCO World Heritage Site at the confluence of two rivers.
- Svetitskhoveli Cathedral — 11th century, the spiritual centre of Georgian Orthodox Christianity
- Jvari Monastery — 10-minute drive up the hill. Views over the river junction below are exceptional. Do not skip this.
Gori (80 km from Mtskheta) Visit the Stalin Museum — historically thorough and genuinely interesting regardless of your views. Allow 1.5 hours.
Uplistsikhe (15 km from Gori) A cave city carved into a cliff above the Mtkvari River — 3,000 years old, once home to 20,000 people. Carved rooms, tunnels, and an amphitheater cut directly into rock. Allow 1 hour.
Return to Tbilisi for the night.
Day 3 — Tbilisi → Ananuri → Kazbegi (Stepantsminda)
Drive: 150 km | 2.5 to 3 hours
The most dramatic drive of this Georgia road trip itinerary 7 days. The Georgian Military Highway climbs through high Caucasus scenery that changes completely every 20 minutes.
Ananuri Fortress (70 km from Tbilisi) A 16th-century castle on the Zhinvali Reservoir. The blue water against old stone is one of the most photographed spots in Georgia. Allow 45 minutes.
Gudauri Viewpoint Stop before descending into Kazbegi. On a clear day the entire Caucasus range is visible in both directions.
Gergeti Trinity Church Medieval church at 2,170 meters with Mount Kazbek (5,047 meters) directly behind it. The road up is steep and rocky — a standard SUV is mandatory. Do not attempt this in a sedan. Drive takes 20 minutes. Alternatively, hike from the village in 1.5 hours.
Stay overnight in Stepantsminda. Book in advance — guesthouses with mountain views fill quickly in summer.
Day 4 — Kazbegi Morning → Kakheti Wine Region
Drive: 270 km | 4 hours
Spend the early morning in Kazbegi — sunrise views of Gergeti Church against Mount Kazbek are worth a 6am alarm. Leave by 10am to reach Kakheti comfortably.
Signagi A hilltop town surrounded by ancient walls, overlooking the Alazani Valley and the Caucasus beyond. Walk the old town, try local wine, have lunch here.
Wine tasting in Kakheti Kakheti produces over 70% of Georgia’s wine using the ancient qvevri method — grapes fermenting in clay vessels buried underground. Stop at any family marani (wine cellar). Most welcome visitors and charge very little.
Stay overnight in Telavi or Signagi.
Day 5 — Kakheti — Monasteries and David Gareja
Drive: 80–100 km within the region
Alaverdi Cathedral An 11th-century cathedral surrounded by monastery walls and vineyards. The monks still produce wine using traditional qvevri methods.
David Gareja Monastery A cave monastery complex carved into desert cliffs on the Azerbaijan border. The landscape here shifts completely from green vineyards to dry, rocky terrain unlike anything else in Georgia. Allow a full half-day.
Driving note: The road is partially unpaved. A standard SUV handles it comfortably. A sedan may struggle on the final section.
Tsinandali Estate Historic manor of Georgian poet Alexander Chavchavadze — well-preserved house, French-style garden, and one of the oldest wine cellars in the country.
Stay overnight in Kakheti.
Day 6 — Kakheti → Borjomi → Batumi
Drive: 350 km | 5 to 5.5 hours
The longest driving day. Break it with a proper stop in Borjomi — do not just pass through.
Borjomi Famous across the former Soviet world for its natural mineral water. Sit in Borjomi Central Park and taste the sulfur mineral water from the public spring — it is free of charge. Have lunch before continuing west.
Batumi The scenery shifts gradually from mountains to subtropical Black Sea coast over the final hour.
- Batumi Boulevard — 7 km seafront promenade, walk it at sunset
- Old Town — 19th-century European architecture, compact and walkable
- Batumi Botanical Garden — 110 hectares on a hillside above the sea
Stay overnight in Batumi.
Day 7 — Batumi → Kutaisi → Tbilisi
Drive: Batumi to Kutaisi 110 km | 1.5 hours. Kutaisi to Tbilisi 220 km | 2.5 hours.
Kutaisi — Morning
- Gelati Monastery — built in 1106 by King David the Builder, considered the greatest medieval monument in Georgia. Byzantine mosaics in near-perfect condition. Located 11 km from the city centre.
- Bagrati Cathedral — UNESCO World Heritage site on a hill above the city
- Prometheus Cave — 20 km from Kutaisi, extraordinary stalactite formations and underground river. Tours run every 30 minutes.
Return to Tbilisi — Afternoon The Kutaisi to Tbilisi highway is Georgia’s best road — fast and well-maintained. Allow 2.5 hours. Return your rental car at Tbilisi Airport or your agreed drop-off point.
7-Day Georgia Road Trip — Full Summary
| Day | Route | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Tbilisi — Old Town, Sameba, Narikala | City walk |
| Day 2 | Tbilisi → Mtskheta → Gori → Uplistsikhe | 120 km |
| Day 3 | Tbilisi → Ananuri → Gudauri → Kazbegi | 150 km |
| Day 4 | Kazbegi → Tbilisi → Kakheti (Signagi/Telavi) | 270 km |
| Day 5 | Kakheti — Alaverdi, David Gareja, Tsinandali | 90 km |
| Day 6 | Kakheti → Borjomi → Batumi | 350 km |
| Day 7 | Batumi → Kutaisi → Tbilisi | 330 km |
Total: Approximately 1,310 km over 7 days.
Car Rent Deme Rental Rules — Know Before You Drive
Understanding the rental policy before you pick up the car avoids problems on the road.
Driver Requirements
- Minimum age 21 years — 25 or older for premium and luxury vehicles
- Valid driving licence held for at least 1 year
- International Driving Permit required for non-Georgian licences
- Only the registered driver may operate the vehicle — no exceptions
- Original licence must be shown at pickup — photocopies not accepted
Vehicle Usage Policy
- Return the car with the same fuel level as collected (Full to Full)
- Off-road driving is strictly prohibited — Tusheti, Vashlovani and Juta are restricted zones
- Crossing into South Ossetia or Abkhazia is forbidden
- In case of accident — do not move the car. Call us immediately.
- No smoking inside any vehicle
Payment & Deposits
- Deposit released within 7–14 business days after damage-free return
- Late returns beyond the agreed time incur additional charges
- Fuel shortfalls, fines, and toll fees are charged to the renter
Insurance & Liability
- Basic third-party liability insurance included in all rentals
- Renter is liable for damage not covered by included insurance
- Glass, tyre, and undercarriage damage may not be covered
- Document all pre-existing damage at pickup before driving
Georgia Driving Rules — Important for Foreign Drivers
- Zero alcohol tolerance — any alcohol in your system means full liability falls on you
- Speed is strictly enforced — hidden cameras and plain-clothes officers are active on all major roads
- Never cross the yellow bus lane line
- Paid parking zones A, B, C — register your licence plate before parking or you will be fined
Why Choose Car Rent Deme for Your Georgia Road Trip?
Zero Deposit No money blocked on your card at pickup. You pay only the rental fee — nothing more.
No Hidden Fees The price confirmed at booking is the price you pay. No airport surcharges, no fuel top-up fees, no paperwork charges.
24/7 Availability Pick up your car at any hour — early morning flights, late-night arrivals, delayed connections. Our team is at Tbilisi Airport around the clock.
Automatic Discounts Renting 4 days or more? Your daily rate drops automatically — no request needed. A 7-day rental saves you $8 per day compared to the base rate.
Correct Car for Every Route We will tell you honestly which vehicle suits your planned itinerary. If you are heading to Kazbegi, we will not let you leave with an economy car that will not handle the mountain road.
Well-Maintained Fleet Every vehicle is serviced, cleaned, and checked before each rental. Economy cars, standard SUVs, premium vehicles — all road-ready.
Explore Georgia by Location
Planning your route in detail? These pages cover each destination with specific car options and local pickup information:
- Car Rental Tbilisi Airport — Start and end your road trip here. Zero deposit, 24/7 pickup, full fleet available.
- Car Rental Kazbegi — SUV options specifically suited for mountain roads and the Gergeti Church route.
- Car Rental Batumi — Local pickup for the Black Sea coast section of your trip.
- Car Rental Kutaisi — Convenient option if you are flying into Kutaisi Airport instead of Tbilisi.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many km is a 7-day Georgia road trip? This Georgia road trip itinerary 7 days covers approximately 1,310 km in total. Daily driving ranges from 90 km on Day 5 to 350 km on Day 6. The longest driving day is Kakheti to Batumi via Borjomi.
Do I need an SUV for a 7-day Georgia road trip? Yes — specifically for Kazbegi. The road to Gergeti Trinity Church is steep, rocky, and requires high ground clearance. A sedan cannot handle it. For the full 7-day itinerary as described, rent a standard SUV from the start.
What is the best time of year for a Georgia road trip? May–June and September–October are the best windows. Mountain roads are open, weather is reliable, and accommodation is available. July–August is good but busy — book Kazbegi and Batumi accommodation well in advance. Avoid November–March for this specific itinerary.
Can I do this road trip without a rental car? Not practically. Kazbegi is reachable by marshrutka but on a fixed schedule. David Gareja has no regular public transport. Kakheti wineries are too spread out to visit without a car. A rental car is the only way to complete this itinerary properly.
What documents do I need to rent a car in Georgia? Valid driving licence (held for at least 1 year), passport or national ID, and an International Driving Permit if your licence is not in Georgian or Latin script. Original documents only — photocopies are not accepted at pickup.
Is alcohol completely banned while driving in Georgia? Yes. Georgia has a zero alcohol tolerance law — any detectable alcohol in your system while driving means full liability for any incident falls on you, and insurance will not cover damages. This applies regardless of how little you drank.
Ready to Start Your Georgia Road Trip Itinerary?
A rental car is the only practical way to complete this Georgia road trip itinerary 7 days as described. Car Rent Deme provides vehicles for every route — economy cars for city use, standard SUVs for mountain roads. Zero deposit, no hidden fees, 24/7 pickup from Tbilisi Airport. Automatic discounts apply from Day 4 onwards.
📞 Call: +995 598 70 58 58 🌐 Book: carrentdeme.com
