The short answer: October is one of the pleasant months to visit Georgia. Tbilisi averages about 20 °C by day and 11 °C at night, the grape harvest is finishing in Kakheti, and the forests of Kazbegi, Svaneti and Borjomi turn yellow and red. The catch is up high: nights in the mountains are close to freezing, and the most remote roads, such as the Abano Pass into Tusheti, begin to close. Batumi, on the Black Sea, is warm but wet.
Weather by region
- Tbilisi and the east: average highs of about 20 °C and lows of 11 °C, with around 46 mm of rain in the month [1]. Good walking weather for the Old Town, and the summer heat at Uplistsikhe and David Gareja is gone.
- Kazbegi (Stepantsminda, 1,740 m): average highs of about 11 °C and lows of 0 °C [2]. Clear, crisp mornings for Gergeti Trinity Church (2,170 m) and Mt Kazbek (5,054 m), but bring a warm layer. The Jvari Pass (2,379 m) is normally open in October; the winter closures usually start later in the year.
- Batumi and the coast: mild, with highs of about 19 °C, but October is one of the wettest months, with over 300 mm of rain on average [3]. Pack for showers.
- Svaneti: the leaves peak from late September to mid-October, and snow can arrive early and cut off the high areas by the end of the month [4].
The end of the grape harvest
Rtveli, the grape harvest, isn't one festival but weeks of picking that follow the grapes. In Kakheti the 2026 harvest officially began on 10 September and runs into October; in Imereti it is late September to October, and in Racha October [5]. Because each family picks when its grapes are ready, harvest days are fixed at short notice, so keep a spare day in your plans.
On a harvest day you pick grapes with a family, tread or press them, watch the juice go into the qvevri (the buried clay jars behind a winemaking method that has been on UNESCO's Intangible Heritage list since 2013), then sit down to a long lunch. Our private Kakheti grape harvest day runs in September and October, with the date confirmed 7–10 days ahead. Once the harvest is over, cellars, tastings and supras carry on all winter.
The Gurjaani Wine Festival, with over a hundred producers, is on Saturday 10 October 2026 [5].
Autumn colour: where and when
- Svaneti and the high mountains: late September to mid-October [4].
- Kazbegi: the slopes turn gold in October, before the first proper snow.
- Kakheti and the Gombori Pass: around mid-October; in September it is still mostly green [4].
- Borjomi and Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park: mid-October to mid-November, later because it is lower [4].
- Tbilisi: last, from late October into November [4].
If you want colour in several regions on one trip, early to mid-October is the safest window.
What starts to close
- Tusheti. The Abano Pass road, 4x4 only, typically closes between late September and late October, depending on snow. The state road crews work until 1 October; after that you travel at your own risk [6][9]. Don't plan Tusheti for late October.
- Khevsureti (Shatili and Mutso). Many operators sell it only from June to September; the Datvisjvari Pass closes for the winter [10].
- Juta. The walk into the Juta valley is at its most reliable from July to September.
- Truso valley. Usually possible into October, weather permitting.
- Zagari Pass (Ushguli–Lentekhi). Open only from about late May to mid-October; after that you leave Svaneti the way you came, via Mestia and Zugdidi [7].
Kazbegi, Kakheti, Mtskheta, Uplistsikhe, Borjomi and Svaneti by the main road all stay open.
Festivals in October
- Tbilisoba, Tbilisi's city festival with food and craft markets and folk performances, is usually held on the first weekend of October; 3–4 October is listed for 2026 [8]. Check the city's programme before you plan around it.
- Svetitskhovloba (Mtskhetoba), 14 October, at Svetitskhoveli Cathedral in Mtskheta: services and crowds [8].
- Gurjaani Wine Festival, 10 October 2026 [5].
Where to go in October
- Kakheti for the last of the harvest and the first new wine. Our private 3-day Kakheti wine tour has two nights in Sighnaghi and Telavi, a qvevri workshop and a family supra.
- Kazbegi for autumn colour and clear views, with smaller crowds than in August. Our private Kazbegi day trip from Tbilisi takes 11–12 hours. Read what a Kazbegi day involves.
- Tbilisi, Mtskheta and Uplistsikhe: comfortable temperatures for walking on bare rock and cobbles.
- Borjomi and Vardzia for forest colour in the second half of the month. Part of Vardzia has been closed since the 27 May 2026 rockfall, so check what is open before you go.
- Svaneti in the first half of October, if you accept colder nights and the chance of early snow.
What to pack
- Layers: a T-shirt for Tbilisi afternoons and a fleece or down jacket for mornings in Kazbegi or Svaneti.
- A waterproof jacket, especially for Batumi and the west.
- Shoes with grip for cobbles, monastery steps and wet trails.
- Old clothes and closed shoes if you are joining a harvest: grape juice stains.
- A scarf for women and long trousers or skirts for churches.
- Proof of travel health insurance: since 1 January 2026 it is mandatory for visitors, with at least 30,000 GEL of cover.
Travelling with a driver? See what a private driver-guide costs and includes.
Tours for October
Our October favourites are the private grape harvest day in Kakheti (while the harvest lasts), the Kazbegi and Gergeti day trip and the 3-day Kakheti wine tour. All are private, with your own car and English-speaking driver-guide; see each tour page for the current price. Or plan your own autumn route. Nothing to pay now.
Sources
- Tbilisi climate normals 1991–2020, Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org
- Stepantsminda climate table, Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org
- Batumi climate table, Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org
- Wander-Lush, "Places to See Autumn Colours in Georgia": wander-lush.org
- Wander-Lush, "Where to Go for the 2026 Rtveli": wander-lush.org
- Wander-Lush, "Tbilisi to Tusheti" (updated September 2026): wander-lush.org
- Wander-Lush, "Ushguli to Kutaisi via the Zagari Pass" (updated July 2026): wander-lush.org
- Wander-Lush, "Georgia Calendar: Events and Festivals": wander-lush.org
- My Georgia Stay, Tusheti's driving window and the Abano Pass (May 2026): mygeorgiastay.com
- Advantour, Georgia private tours: advantour.com
Last checked: September 2026. Mountain roads open and close with the weather; check the road status before you travel.
