Top 10 Viewpoints in Georgia
Georgia, at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, rises from the Black Sea coast to the glaciated peaks of the Greater Caucasus along its northern border. Ancient churches crown hilltops, medieval stone towers stand in remote mountain villages, and cave cities are carved into cliffs. Its viewpoints take in some of the highest mountains in Europe and a deep, layered history. These ten capture Georgia's mountains, monasteries and dramatic terrain.
Gergeti Trinity Church, Kazbegi
The Gergeti Trinity Church stands alone on a hill at 2,170 metres beneath the glaciated cone of Mount Kazbek (5,054 metres), one of the highest peaks of the Caucasus. The viewpoint, reached by a steep walk or 4x4 from the town of Stepantsminda, frames the 14th-century church against the snow peak. It is the most iconic image of the Georgian mountains.
Ushguli and the Svaneti towers
Ushguli, one of the highest continuously inhabited villages in Europe at around 2,200 metres, is famous for its medieval defensive stone towers. Viewpoints from the village and the surrounding slopes frame the towers against the wall of the Greater Caucasus, including Mount Shkhara (5,193 metres), Georgia's highest peak. It is a UNESCO World Heritage landscape.
Mtatsminda, Tbilisi
The Mtatsminda ("Holy Mountain") rises above Tbilisi, reached by a historic funicular. The viewpoint at the top, around 770 metres, looks down over the capital spread along the Mtkvari River, with its old town, churches and modern buildings. It is the classic urban overlook of Tbilisi, especially atmospheric at night when the city is lit.
Vardzia cave city
The cave monastery of Vardzia is carved into a cliff face above the Mtkvari River, a 12th-century complex of hundreds of rooms on multiple levels. Viewpoints from the opposite valley side and within the caves frame the honeycombed cliff and the river valley below. It is one of the most dramatic historical viewpoints in Georgia.
Juta and the Chaukhi massif
The remote village of Juta sits at around 2,200 metres beneath the jagged Chaukhi massif, sometimes called the "Georgian Dolomites." Viewpoints from the village and the trail toward the Chaukhi Pass frame the dramatic rock peaks and alpine meadows. It is one of the finest and least crowded mountain viewpoints in the country.
Narikala Fortress, Tbilisi
The ancient Narikala Fortress overlooks the old town of Tbilisi from a ridge, reached by cable car or on foot. The ramparts give a sweeping view over the historic centre, the sulphur baths, the river and the surrounding hills. It combines centuries of history with the best close-up panorama of the Georgian capital.
Gveleti and the Dariali Gorge
The Dariali Gorge, near the Russian border, is a dramatic defile where the Terek River cuts through the Caucasus. Viewpoints from the Georgian Military Highway and the trail to the Gveleti waterfalls frame the towering gorge walls and the rushing river. It is the historic gateway through the mountains, steeped in legend.
Katskhi Pillar
The Katskhi Pillar is a natural limestone monolith around 40 metres high, topped by a small church reached only by a monk's ladder. Viewpoints from the base frame the extraordinary pillar rising from the green hills. It is one of the most unusual religious-and-landscape viewpoints in Georgia, long inaccessible to ordinary visitors.
Tusheti
The remote Tusheti region, reached by one of the most dangerous mountain roads in the world over the Abano Pass at 2,900 metres, holds medieval tower villages in a high valley. Viewpoints from the pass and the villages frame the deep gorges and the surrounding peaks. The isolation and the towers make it one of Georgia's most atmospheric mountain landscapes.
Batumi and the Black Sea
On the coast, the city of Batumi gives viewpoints over the Black Sea from its seafront and the cable car to the surrounding hills. The view frames the modern skyline, the curving bay and the wooded slopes of Adjara behind. It is a coastal counterpoint to the high mountains of the interior.
Explore on the map
From the Gergeti church beneath Kazbek to the towers of Svaneti and the cave city of Vardzia, every viewpoint above is plotted on the interactive map. Use it to see which require a mountain drive or hike, which are hilltop churches or city fortresses, and plan a route across the Caucasus and beyond.