Kakheti
Go to Kakheti for qvevri wine, family wineries and the walled hill town of Sighnaghi, on a slow trip through vineyards with the Caucasus in view.
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Kakheti is a wine region in eastern Georgia, southeast of Tbilisi, where the Alazani valley sits below the Caucasus mountains. Georgia has made wine for thousands of years, and many Kakheti families still make it in qvevri, large clay vessels buried in the ground. You can visit small family cellars and larger estates, with Telavi as the main town of the region.
Sighnaghi, a hilltop town inside old city walls, is a common base for visitors. The monasteries of Bodbe, near Sighnaghi, and Alaverdi, in the valley, add history to a trip built around wine, food and countryside. Kakheti suits slow travelers who want days of tastings, meals and walks. Autumn brings the grape harvest, and spring is green and mild. Plan at least two or three days, and longer if you want to add the mountain roads to the north.
Kakheti in five
- Take a marshrutka from TbilisiMinibuses run from Tbilisi to Telavi and Sighnaghi, and the ride to Telavi takes about 1.5 to 2 hours. Ask your guesthouse which station the bus leaves from, since departure points differ by route.Getting around
- Carry lari for villages and marketsSmall guesthouses, village cellars and roadside stalls may take only cash. Change money in Tbilisi or Telavi before you head into the valley.Money and costs
- Get a SIM or eSIM before the hillsSignal fades on rural roads and between villages in the hills. Download offline maps before you leave Tbilisi.Phones and eSIM
- Book cellar visits and supra aheadMany family wineries and supra feasts take bookings, so ask your guesthouse to arrange them before you arrive.Tours and tickets
- Hire a driver for the wine villagesThe villages are far apart and public transport between them is sparse. A driver lets you taste wine without driving yourself.Getting around
Things to do in Kakheti
See all attractions in Kakheti
Need to know
- Currency
- Lari (GEL)
- Entry
- Visa-free for many passports; check yours before you book
- Emergency
- 112 for police, ambulance and fire
- Tipping
- About 10% in restaurants if no service charge is added
- Time
- UTC+4, no daylight saving
Weather by month
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryCold, quiet
- FebruaryCold, quiet
- MarchThaw, vines waking
- AprilSpring green
- MayMild, green
- JuneHot, long days
- JulyHot, dry
- AugustHot, ripening
- SeptemberHarvest begins
- OctoberHarvest, autumn color
- NovemberHarvest ends
- DecemberCold, quiet
Right now in Kakheti
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
13
- Feels like
- 13°
- Humidity
- 87%
- Wind
- 4 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 18%
Kakheti
12:47 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today15°9°18%Tuesday: Fog. High 15°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 18%.
- Wed15°9°15%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 15°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 15%.
- Thu15°9°73%Thursday: Rain. High 15°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 73%.
- Fri9°6°32%Friday: Rain. High 9°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 32%.
- Sat8°3°29%Saturday: Rain. High 8°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 29%.
- Sun8°1°9%Sunday: Partly cloudy. High 8°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 9%.
- Mon7°-2°5%Monday: Partly cloudy. High 7°, Low -2°. Chance of rain 5%.
Updated 08:54 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 2.595 GEL
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Every year
- OctTbilisobaTbilisi, a day trip
Day trips by train
- Sighnaghiabout 45 min by car from TelaviA walled hilltop town with valley views; a good half-day from Telavi.Read the guide
- Tbilisiabout 1.5 to 2 hours by roadThe capital, with old streets and museums to fill a day.Read the guide
- Gremiabout 40 min by car from TelaviAn old royal town with churches and ruins in the Alazani valley.
Before you go to Kakheti
Rules for Kakheti, checked
- Check the entry rules for your passport with the Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs before you book, since many passports enter visa-free but not all.
- Georgia enforces strict drink-driving rules, so the person driving on a wine day should not drink at all.
- Carry your passport when you check in to a guesthouse or hotel, since staff may ask to see it.
- Check the customs limits on wine and spirits you take out of Georgia with the Revenue Service before buying bottles to carry home.
Plan around Kakheti
Sighnaghi, Telavi and village guesthouses among the vineyards
Read the guideSighnaghi travel guideThe walled hilltop town and its valley views
Read the guideGetting around KakhetiMarshrutkas from Tbilisi and driver days in the valley
Read the guideMoney and costs in GeorgiaLari, typical prices and where cash is needed
Read the guideVisas and entry rulesWho enters visa-free and what to check before booking
Read the guideAll of GeorgiaTbilisi, regions, entry rules and transport for a Georgia trip
Read the guideKakheti FAQ
How many days do you need in Kakheti?
Two days cover Sighnaghi, Telavi and a few wineries. Add a third day for the villages of the Alazani valley or a longer tasting. One day works if you come from Tbilisi with a driver.
Is Sighnaghi worth visiting?
Yes, for the walled hilltop town and its views over the Alazani valley. It is small, so a morning and an afternoon are enough. Stay one night if you want the streets after day visitors leave.
How do you get from Tbilisi to Telavi?
By marshrutka minibus or by car, in about 1.5 to 2 hours. A car lets you stop at wineries on the way, but traffic and road conditions can slow the trip.
When is the best time to visit Kakheti?
September and October for the grape harvest, when the vineyards are busy and the weather is still warm. April to June suits green hills and quieter roads. Winter is cold and the hills can be snowy.
Can you visit Kakheti as a day trip from Tbilisi?
Yes, but only for one town and one or two wineries. The round trip is long, so a night in Telavi or Sighnaghi gives you more time for tastings and walking.