The short answer: yes, as long as you plan around what closes. From December to March, Tbilisi, the sulphur baths and the Kakheti wine country carry on as usual, the ski resorts of Gudauri and Bakuriani open in late December, and there are fewer visitors almost everywhere. The high mountain regions are a different story: Tusheti and Khevsureti are cut off, the road to Kazbegi closes from time to time, and some passes in Svaneti are shut until late spring.
What works well in winter
Tbilisi and the sulphur baths
The capital is a year-round city. Winter days are often grey and cold, with the odd snowfall, but the Old Town, the cable car to Narikala, the museums and the wine bars are all open, and it is the right season for the sulphur baths of Abanotubani. A private room with a hot sulphur pool is the obvious way to end a cold day; book it ahead. See our guide to Tbilisi's sulphur baths.
Kakheti's wine cellars
Wine is made in autumn, but tasted all year. Family cellars and estates in Kakheti receive visitors in winter, the new wine from the autumn harvest is resting in its qvevri (UNESCO Intangible Heritage since 2013), and a long supper by the stove suits the season. Sighnaghi is about 2 hours from Tbilisi; when the Gombori pass is icy, drivers take the lower Sagarejo road instead.
Skiing and snow
- Gudauri: about 120 km and 2–2.5 hours from Tbilisi on the Military Highway. Lifts run from about 2,000 m to 3,279 m. The 2025/26 season ran from 27 December to 19 April [1][2]. Off-piste has no avalanche control.
- Bakuriani: about 180 km and 2.5–3 hours from Tbilisi, 30 km above Borjomi, at about 1,700 m in pine forest. The 2025/26 season ran from 20 December to 29 March, and it suits families and beginners [3].
- Tetnuldi and Hatsvali (Mestia): ski areas above Mestia in Svaneti; Tetnuldi's lifts reach 3,168 m. They are 8–10 hours from Tbilisi by road, so they need a longer trip [2].
- Goderdzi: a small resort in the mountains of Adjara, reached from Batumi; known for deep snow, usually at its deepest from late January to early March [2].
Kazbegi in snow
Gergeti Trinity Church (2,170 m) under snow with Mt Kazbek (5,054 m) behind it is a fine sight, and there are far fewer people than in summer. But the road from Gudauri to Stepantsminda crosses the Jvari Pass (2,379 m), which can close for a few hours, or for 1–3 days, after heavy snow or when the avalanche risk is high. Keep Kazbegi on a flexible day and never the day before your flight. The road up to Gergeti needs a 4x4 in snow and is sometimes impassable. How winter closures work and where to check.
Day trips that don't depend on the weather
Some of the classic day trips from Tbilisi are low enough to be unaffected by snow on the high passes. Mtskheta, with Jvari Monastery and Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, is 30–40 minutes away. Uplistsikhe, the town cut into the rock above the Mtkvari, and the Stalin Museum in Gori are 1.25–1.5 hours west. The Lavra monastery at David Gareja is open, while the Udabno monastery above it is closed or unpredictable. With a driver-guide these make good use of short winter days, and they are the natural Plan B when the road to Kazbegi is closed.
Holidays: New Year and Christmas on 7 January
New Year's Eve is the big family celebration in Georgia, with fireworks over Tbilisi at midnight and long suppers at home. Georgian Orthodox Christmas falls on 7 January, following the Julian calendar. On Christmas Day the Alilo processions walk through Tbilisi and towns across the country: clergy, choirs and people dressed as shepherds and angels, singing carols and collecting gifts for those in need. In Tbilisi the procession usually crosses the city centre towards Sameba Cathedral [4][5]. Expect some businesses to close on 1–2 January and 7 January, and ski resorts to be at their busiest from Christmas to mid-January [3].
What closes in winter
- Tusheti: the Abano Pass is closed from autumn to June; the region is cut off.
- Khevsureti (Shatili, Mutso): the Datvisjvari pass is closed.
- Svaneti: the Zugdidi–Mestia road stays open, with winter tyres required, but the Mestia–Ushguli road can close in heavy snow and the Ushguli–Lentekhi road over the Zagari pass is shut. Flights to Mestia are often cancelled for poor visibility.
- Mountain hikes: Truso, Juta and other valley walks around Kazbegi are summer products.
- Short days: in December and January it is dark by late afternoon, so long days such as Vardzia need an early start.
Practical tips
- Bring proper winter clothes for the mountains and warm layers for Tbilisi evenings.
- Winter tyres are compulsory on the Military Highway in winter; our vehicles carry chains as well.
- Leave a spare day between any mountain trip and your flight home.
- If you plan to ski, check that your insurance covers winter sports. Travel insurance with at least 30,000 GEL of cover has been mandatory for visitors since 1 January 2026.
Who winter suits
Winter suits skiers, food and wine lovers, city travellers and anyone who likes quiet sights and lower demand. It doesn't suit a first visit built around mountain hiking, Tusheti or Ushguli; for that, come between June and September. For a Borjomi-and-Bakuriani trip, see our Borjomi guide.
Winter tours with us
Our Georgia in Winter, 6-day private tour combines Tbilisi, a night in Kakheti's wine country and two nights at Gudauri, with Kazbegi if the pass is open and Bakuriani as the Plan B if the Military Highway is closed. Skiers can take the Gudauri Ski Week, 7 days with private transfers and hotel, and families the Bakuriani Family Ski Break and Borjomi, 4 days. See each tour page for the current price, or build your own winter trip and we send you a plan and a price. Nothing to pay now.
Sources
- Friendly.ge, "Gudauri ski resort guide 2025/26": friendly.ge
- Wander-Lush, "Skiing in Georgia: ski resorts compared" (updated July 2026): wander-lush.org
- Friendly.ge, "Bakuriani ski resort guide": friendly.ge
- Georgia Today, "Alilo: the living tradition of Christmas in Georgia": georgiatoday.ge
- Wikipedia, "Public holidays in Georgia": en.wikipedia.org
- Wander-Lush, "How to Travel From Tbilisi to Kazbegi in 2026": wander-lush.org
Last checked: September 2026. Ski season dates for 2026/27 are announced in December, and winter road closures are announced on the day.
