What to see, where to stay and the best time to visit Telavi, Georgia.
Photo: Ramaz Bluashvili / Pexels
Telavi is a small Georgian city of about 19,509 people. Its centre is compact and easy to explore on foot. You can walk between Batonis Tsikhe (King Erekle II's Palace), the Giant Plane Tree, Nadikvari Park and the Central Market. Many visitors use the town as a base for nearby sights: the Alaverdi, Ikalto and Shuamta monasteries, the Gremi Royal Citadel and the Tsinandali Estate. The best months to visit are July, August and September.
Plan a full day for the centre, where most sights take between 30 minutes and 2 hours each. Add at least another day for trips out. Tsinandali Estate alone takes 2–3 hours, and Alaverdi, Shuamta and Gremi each need 1–2 hours.
Telavi centre
This walled fortress complex was the seat of the Kakhetian kings. Inside are King Erekle II's palace, old churches and a museum. It is the best place to start learning about the region's history.
Telavi centre
This huge old plane tree is one of the best-known symbols of the city. It stands a short walk from the fortress, so most visitors see both together.
Telavi centre
This hilltop park is a short walk from the centre. It has wide views over the Alazani Valley towards the Greater Caucasus mountains, especially on clear days.
Alaverdi, near Telavi
This large medieval cathedral rises from the vineyards of the Alazani Valley. It is still an active monastery, and the monks also make wine. Dress modestly to go inside.
Tsinandali, near Telavi
This is the former home of the poet and prince Alexander Chavchavadze. The house is now a museum, and it sits in landscaped gardens. There is also a historic wine cellar on site.
Ikalto, near Telavi
This monastery complex once held one of medieval Georgia's main academies, and you can still see the ruins of the academy building. The site is quiet and sits in the hills just outside Telavi.
Shuamta, near Telavi
There are two monastery sites in the forest on the road towards Gombori. Old Shuamta has small early churches. New Shuamta is a working convent a short distance away.
Gremi, Kvareli road
This hilltop citadel and church were once part of a royal capital of Kakheti. You can climb the tower for views over the valley, and a small museum is on site.
Telavi centre
This local market sells fruit, spices, cheese, churchkhela and homemade wine. It is a good place to see everyday life in the city.
Average weather and our month score, from 10 years of climate data.
| Month | High / low | Rain days | Sunshine | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6°C / -3°C | 7 days (38 mm) | 7.1 h/day | 3.5/10 |
| February | 7°C / -1°C | 7 days (34 mm) | 7.6 h/day | 3.6/10 |
| March | 11°C / 2°C | 15 days (108 mm) | 8.3 h/day | 3.3/10 |
| April | 16°C / 6°C | 14 days (115 mm) | 9.7 h/day | 6.2/10 |
| May | 20°C / 11°C | 17 days (179 mm) | 11.0 h/day | 7.0/10 |
| June | 25°C / 16°C | 13 days (122 mm) | 12.5 h/day | 7.4/10 |
| Best month: July | 27°C / 18°C | 10 days (87 mm) | 12.7 h/day | 7.5/10 |
| Best month: August | 28°C / 18°C | 7 days (63 mm) | 12.2 h/day | 7.7/10 |
| Best month: September | 23°C / 14°C | 11 days (97 mm) | 10.4 h/day | 7.9/10 |
| October | 17°C / 9°C | 11 days (95 mm) | 8.3 h/day | 7.1/10 |
| November | 11°C / 3°C | 7 days (58 mm) | 7.3 h/day | 5.0/10 |
| December | 7°C / -1°C | 7 days (36 mm) | 6.6 h/day | 3.3/10 |
Cold, with highs of 5.8°C and nights down to -2.6°C. Only 6.5 rain days, but the chill gives a low score of 3.5.
Still wintry: highs of 7.4°C and lows of -1.2°C. Dry, with 6.6 rain days. The cold keeps the score low at 3.6.
Milder at 10.6°C, but wet and grey. There are 15.1 rain days and 108 mm of rain, so it scores just 3.3, one of the lowest.
A good month as spring warms up to 15.9°C. Expect showers on 13.8 days. It scores 6.2.
Pleasant at 19.9°C but the wettest month: 16.8 rain days and 179 mm of rain. Still rated good, with a score of 7.
Warm at 25.1°C with 12.5 sun hours. Rain falls on 12.9 days, often in short spells. A good month, scoring 7.4.
One of the best months. Highs of 27.2°C, 12.7 sun hours and fewer rain days, at 9.7. It scores 7.5.
The hottest month at 27.6°C and one of the driest, with 7.3 rain days. Rated best, with a score of 7.7.
The top month, scoring 7.9. Highs ease to 22.9°C, with 10.4 sun hours and 10.5 rain days.
Cooler at 16.5°C, with 10.7 rain days and lows of 8.5°C. Still a good month, scoring 7.1.
An ok month as it gets colder: highs of 11.2°C and lows of 2.9°C. Fairly dry, with 7.3 rain days. It scores 5.
Cold and dark, with highs of 7°C, lows of -0.8°C and 6.6 sun hours. There are 6.9 rain days. It scores just 3.3.
Climate averages 2015–2024 · Best time to visit Georgia →
The best areas to base yourself and who each one suits.
Good for first-timers, sightseeing on foot
The historic core around Batonis Tsikhe, the fortress and palace of King Erekle II, with old wooden-balconied houses and the town's famous giant plane tree close by. Most sights, cafes and wine bars are within walking distance, so you rarely need a taxi. The lanes are hilly and partly cobbled, and parking near guesthouses can be tight.
Good for couples, views, quiet evenings
A leafy hilltop area around Nadikvari Park, known for its wide views over the Alazani Valley towards the Caucasus mountains. It feels calmer than the centre but is still a short walk from the Old Town. The walk back up after dinner is steep.
Good for wine lovers, families, longer stays
A semi-rural edge of Telavi where many family guesthouses have gardens, vines and home-made wine. It is quieter and more spacious than the centre and gives a feel for village life in Kakheti. You will need a taxi or car to reach the Old Town and restaurants.
Good for wine tourism, slow travel
A village just outside Telavi, best known for the Tsinandali estate of the Chavchavadze family, with its gardens and historic wine cellar. It suits travellers who want a base close to wineries rather than town life. Evening options are limited, and getting into Telavi means a drive or taxi.
Wine fermented and aged in large clay jars buried in the ground, a Georgian method. Telavi sits in Kakheti, the country's main wine region, so locals drink it with most meals and at family feasts.
Saperavi is a deep red grape and Rkatsiteli a white grape, both widely grown around Telavi. Family cellars and wineries in the area often pour them for guests to taste.
Strings of walnuts dipped again and again in thickened grape juice, then dried. Locals make it after the grape harvest, and you will see it hanging at market stalls.
Skewers of grilled pork or other meat, often cooked over dried vine cuttings in Kakheti. It is a standard dish at outdoor gatherings and supras, the traditional Georgian feast.
A long, boat-shaped bread baked on the inside wall of a round clay oven called a tone. Locals buy it warm from small bakeries and eat it with almost every meal.
Twisted dumplings filled with spiced meat and broth, eaten by hand. Hold the top knot, bite a small hole and drink the broth first. They are a common order in local restaurants.
July, August and September have the best weather in Telavi. September is the top month, with highs of 22.9°C, lows of 14°C and 10.5 rain days. August is hotter at 27.6°C but drier, with 7.3 rain days and 12.2 hours of sun a day. July is similar, with highs of 27.2°C and 9.7 rain days.
May is warm and green in Telavi, but it is the wettest month of the year. Highs reach 19.9°C and lows 10.9°C. You can expect about 16.8 rain days and 179 mm of rain. There are still 11 hours of sun a day, so pack a rain jacket and keep your plans flexible.
Yes, October is a good month for Telavi. It is mild, with highs of 16.5°C and lows of 8.5°C. Rain falls on about 10.7 days, a total of 95 mm, and there are 8.3 hours of sun a day. Evenings are cooler than in summer, so bring a warm layer.
Winter in Telavi is cold but fairly dry. In January, highs are 5.8°C and lows drop to -2.6°C, with 6.5 rain days and 38 mm of rain. December is similar, with highs of 7°C, lows of -0.8°C and 6.6 hours of sun a day. Nights often go below freezing, so warm clothes are essential.
The town centre needs only a few hours, but the sights around it take longer. In the centre, Batonis Tsikhe takes 1–2 hours, and Nadikvari Park and the Central Market take 30 minutes–1 hour each. Nearby, Tsinandali Estate takes 2–3 hours. Alaverdi Monastery, Gremi Royal Citadel and the Shuamta monasteries take 1–2 hours each.
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