The short answer: Georgia has 14 fixed public holidays plus four days around Orthodox Easter, which moves each year[1][2]. In 2027 the dates that matter most to travellers are New Year (1–2 January), Orthodox Christmas (7 January), the Easter block from Good Friday 30 April to Easter Monday 3 May, and a cluster of holidays in May. On these days banks and government offices close, some museums close, roads out of Tbilisi are busy and churches are full, while most restaurants, shops and sights in tourist areas stay open.
Public holidays in Georgia, 2027
- 1–2 January (Friday–Saturday): New Year[1].
- 7 January (Thursday): Orthodox Christmas[1].
- 19 January (Tuesday): Epiphany (Baptism of the Lord)[1].
- 3 March (Wednesday): Mother's Day[1].
- 8 March (Monday): International Women's Day[1].
- 9 April (Friday): Day of National Unity, remembering the victims of 9 April 1989 in Tbilisi[2].
- 30 April – 3 May (Friday–Monday): Orthodox Easter: Good Friday, Holy Saturday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday[1].
- 9 May (Sunday): Day of Victory over Fascism[1].
- 12 May (Wednesday): St Andrew the First-Called Day[1].
- 17 May (Monday): Day of Family Purity and Respect for Parents, a public holiday since 2024[2].
- 26 May (Wednesday): Independence Day, the national day[1].
- 28 August (Saturday): St Mary's Day (Mariamoba)[1].
- 14 October (Thursday): Svetitskhovloba, the feast of Svetitskhoveli Cathedral in Mtskheta[1].
- 23 November (Tuesday): St George's Day (Giorgoba)[1].
Christmas falls on 7 January because the Georgian Orthodox Church follows the Julian calendar. For how Georgians celebrate the winter holidays, read Christmas and New Year in Georgia.
Easter moves every year
Easter follows the Orthodox calculation, so it often falls on a different Sunday from Western Easter. In 2027 Orthodox Easter is on 2 May[1], which puts four holidays in a row from Friday 30 April to Monday 3 May, only a week before the 9 and 12 May holidays and three weeks before Independence Day. That makes late April and May the busiest holiday season of the Georgian year. When you plan future trips, check the Easter date for that year first.
What closes, and what doesn't
- Banks and government offices close on public holidays. ATMs keep working.
- Museums and heritage sites: state museums may close or shorten their hours on the main holidays, especially over Easter[3]. Many museums are also closed on Mondays anyway, so a Monday holiday doesn't change much.
- Restaurants, cafés and supermarkets in Tbilisi, Batumi and tourist towns mostly stay open, sometimes with shorter hours[3]. Small family restaurants and village shops may close, particularly on 1–2 January and Easter Sunday.
- Churches are open and very busy, with long services on 7 January, 19 January, Easter and the big saints' days. Visitors are welcome at the back, dressed appropriately.
- Wineries and guesthouses usually receive guests, but family-run places may be celebrating. Book ahead rather than turning up.
How holidays affect travel
- Roads: many Tbilisi families head to their home villages for Easter and New Year, so expect heavy traffic out of the city before the holiday and back into it afterwards[3].
- Trains and hotels: seats on the Tbilisi–Batumi and Zugdidi trains, and rooms in Kakheti, Borjomi and Batumi, fill up on long holiday weekends. Book early.
- Ski resorts: the New Year and Christmas period, from late December to mid-January, is the busiest time in Gudauri and Bakuriani, so book rooms and ski hire early.
- Kakheti: the second half of September and October bring the grape harvest (not a public holiday, but the busiest time in wine country).
- Mtskheta on 14 October: Svetitskhovloba brings crowds and services to Svetitskhoveli; a good day to watch, a slow one for sightseeing.
Holidays worth planning a trip around
Orthodox Easter is the most interesting for visitors: the midnight service, red eggs, family visits to cemeteries on Easter Monday and, in the village of Shukhuti in Guria, the Easter ball game of lelo burti. Our post on Georgia in spring covers the Easter season alongside the weather. Orthodox Christmas on 7 January brings the Alilo processions through Tbilisi's streets; see Georgia in January. Giorgoba (23 November) honours Georgia's patron saint, with services in churches named after St George across the country.
Holidays and the church calendar
Several holidays are church feasts, and they mean more than a day off. On 19 January, Epiphany, many people collect blessed water at church. On 28 August, St Mary's Day, churches dedicated to the Virgin hold festive services. On 14 October, Svetitskhovloba honours Svetitskhoveli Cathedral in Mtskheta, where tradition says Christ's robe is buried. Visitors are welcome at the services if they stand quietly at the back and dress for church: covered shoulders and knees, and a head covering for women.
The secular holidays are quieter for visitors. 26 May, Independence Day, brings public celebrations in Tbilisi, and 9 April is a day of remembrance rather than celebration.
Practical tips
- Don't schedule a museum-heavy day on a public holiday or a Monday without checking.
- Carry some cash over long holidays in case smaller places don't take cards.
- Leave extra time for airport transfers on the evening Easter Monday ends.
- If you're travelling over Easter or New Year, book guesthouses and trains as early as you can.
Travelling over the holidays with us
Our tours run on public holidays; we plan around closures and busy roads. The Georgia Highlights 5-day private tour covers Tbilisi, Kakheti and Kazbegi and suits a long holiday weekend. The Classic Georgia 8-day private tour, from April, adds Uplistsikhe, Borjomi and Vardzia (part of Vardzia has been closed since the 27 May 2026 rockfall). For Svetitskhovloba, the Mtskheta, Jvari and Château Mukhrani half day takes you to the cathedral itself. All are private, with your own car and English-speaking driver-guide; see each tour page for the current price, or build your own route. Nothing to pay now.
Sources
- Office Holidays, "Public holidays in Georgia, 2027": officeholidays.com
- Wikipedia, "Public holidays in Georgia": en.wikipedia.org; Labour Code of Georgia: matsne.gov.ge
- Wander-Lush, "Easter in Georgia: essential travel tips and traditions": wander-lush.org
Last checked: September 2026. The government can change or add holidays; check closer to your dates.
