Guide to visiting Vardzia in Georgia

Updated: December 25, 2023

Complete guide for visiting Vardzia, the largest cave city in Georgia, now converted into a cave monastery.

Georgia is a mountainous country and you will find rock-cut caves everywhere.

However, the most remarkable cave complexes in the country are the trio:

1. Vardzia's which are the largest;
2. David Gareja monastery cave World Heritage Site since 2007; and
3. the Uplistsikhe cave city of the Iron Age near Gori.

History of Vardzia

It was King George III who He began to build the city in the 12th century. The objective of this rock complex was to have a safe place during the invasion of the Mongol Empire.

For the construction of this underground city, they dug in the mountain and had only access a secret tunnel which was next to the Mtkvari River.

Later, when Tamar, the king's daughter, was proclaimed king, He continued with the construction of this underground city to give a safe place to his people, preserve culture and religion. of the invaders.

👆 Fun fact: Tamar was the first woman to reign in Georgia. Although in Spanish it would be the "queen", In Georgian at that time there was only the word "king" That's why she is sometimes called "King Tamar" even though she was a woman.

The city It once had 6,000 caves spread over 13 floors. with 13 churches with their sanctuaries and where they could keep vigil for their dead, the throne room and 25 wineries with 185 jars, so that there would never be a lack of wine. 😁🍷

Self-sufficient

The great secret of the Georgians' survival in this cave city was that they were self-sufficient.

Key to this was irrigation system they created for their terrace crops that combined with the fertile lands of the area allowed them to have food.

The irrigation system also provided drinking water, which is why the pipes can still be seen inside some caves and continue to function for this purpose.

Earthquake

Only a century after its construction, The earthquake of 1283 destroyed a large part of the caves that fell down the side of the mountain and exposed the caves that were inside.

Therefore, today only about 300 caves remain from what was once the impressive city of Vardzia.

Likewise, today Vardzia is a complex of caves connected by tunnels that It extends about 500 meters along the mountain.

Name's origin

According to legend, Tamar, as a girl, had gone hunting with her uncle and got lost.

When her uncle called her, she answered «aq var dzia» which means in Georgian «I'm here uncle».

What to see when visiting Vardzia?

Although the earthquake considerably reduced the size of what was once Vardzia, This ancient cave city remains the largest in the country.

From the road before arriving you can appreciate the large size of the complex with all its levels.

Vardzia is a place that is easy to get lost in and at the same time fascinating.

Especially, when you start to get into their tunnels that connect caves to the different floors and inside the mountain.

The most interesting thing about Vardzia:

1. The church frescoes a remarkable example of medieval Georgian painting, including a painting of Queen Tamar;
2. the exterior frescoes on the ceiling which are in the corridor between the church and the bell tower;
3. he Bell tower which is outside the church and can be seen from various points;
4. some caves where vestiges of the amphorae remain their wineries;
5. the Tamar's tears which is the name of the spring that is seen at the bottom of a cave and its water is supposed to be healing. The spring is protected by a methacrylate screen, but the monks leave water nearby so pilgrims can refill their bottles;
6. the apothecary which is at one of the highest levels with its shelves carved into the rock where they kept the medicines;
7. in the first caves you can see holes in the ground that were used to place the fire to heat the cave and cook, some even as bread ovens;
8. some clay pipes which is the irrigation system that dates back to the 12th century.

Practical Info

• Opening Hours:
  • March 1 to May 1: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • May 1 to October 1: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
  • October 1 to November 15: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • November 15 to March 1: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Entry Fee:: 15 lari (5.33 euros)
• Audio guide: 15 lari
• Private guide: 45 lari (15.99 euros)
• Internal mini bus: 4 lari (1.42 euros), you can buy it with the ticket and it is highly recommended.*
• Pay: You can pay in cash or by card.
• Duration of visit: This depends on how long you stop, I went with a guide and it took us less than 2 hours, without a guide it might have been longer because it would have been difficult for me to find the exit.

* This is a transfer that takes you from the parking area where the ticket sales office is, almost to where the caves begin.

The journey is about 200 m, somewhat steep, which doesn't seem like much, but then with everything you are going to walk, you are grateful for that minibus.

Do you need to book in advance to visit Vardzia?

No not at all. If you are going on your own you can get there and buy your ticket directly at the entrance.

Visiting tips

1.- Accessibility

These caves They are not suitable for people with reduced mobility, very elderly people or very young children because there are quite a few stairs.

Above all, the exit is a very steep staircase.

2.- Best time to visit Vardzia

So much The end of spring and the beginning of autumn are the best times to visit these caves.

During the summer the visit is a little hard due to the heat, although when you are inside the caves the temperature is a bit cool and makes the visit a little more bearable.

On the other hand, in winter the snowy landscape is very beautiful to see. Although if you are going to drive keep in mind that to visit this area you will need chains.

3.- Comfortable footwear

Although you will not need special footwear, I recommend that they be comfortable footwear, at least some sneakers and if possible with a little grip.

It will be good for you to exit the caves, which is a descent of many stairs dug into the rock.

4.- Clothing

To enter the church part you will need to cover up.

Keep this detail in mind if you travel in summer because they will not let you enter with shorts or a tank top.

5.- Water

Bring plenty of water, especially in summer.

There is no place to buy in the caves themselves, but you can buy in the area where they sell tickets.

6.- Guide

The visit to Vardzia is well worth doing with a guide so as not to miss any details and not get lost inside. 😅

If you go on your own, you can hire a private guide or an audio guide who can share the headphones with another person.

I went with an excursion and I think it would have taken me a long time to find the exit if it hadn't been for the guide, because there are almost no signs.

Where to eat in the area?

On the main road, just before reaching the caves, there is a restaurant that is very good, the Vardzia Maspindzeli.

It's a Georgian restaurant with good food and at a good price.

In addition, they have tables inside and outside with excellent views towards the slope over the caves.

Where is Vardzia?

Vardzia is in the Meskheti-Yavakheti region a few kilometers from Türkiye.

This region also borders Armenia and its population is ethnically majority Armenian.

The distance to Tbilisi depends on the route you take, it is between 228 and 267 km and it takes about 4 hours by car and something.

From Akhaltsikhe it is 60 km, which is the capital of the region and the largest city in the area and a good place to stop and even spend the night.

The highest point of the caves is 1,462 m above sea level.

🔔 Important: if you are going to visit Vardzia on your own be careful, because in Georgia there are two Vardzia! The right place is this (Google Maps link). The other place is a town near Zestaponi without much attraction.

What attractions are there near Vardzia?

1. Rabati Castle

The most interesting place near Vardzia is the Rabati castle in the city of Akhaltsikhe, the capital of the region.

The castle dates back to the 9th century and was later rebuilt by the Ottomans, hence there is a mosque as well as a church inside.

⭐ In this other article you can read more about the Visit to Rabati, Akhaltsikhe Castle.

2. Borjomi

Another of the most popular visits that are usually combined with a visit to Vardzia is Borjomi which is halfway before reaching Tbilisi.

Borjomi is a resort town that became famous for its waters with therapeutic properties.

During Soviet times it was a favorite destination for therapies in its spas and sanatoriums, where Tchaivkovsky and Leo Tolstoy were.

The town has a lot of charm, especially the valley area where the river is, the sources of its famous waters and the central park.

Generally, Borjomi is one of the places where excursions stop, but there is no time other than to visit the park and a little more.

Although they are the most beautiful places in the town, I personally think that Borjomi is worth visiting in advance and if possible at least spending one night there.

😍 In this article you can read more about 11 ideas of What to see in Borjomi.

How to get to Vardzia?

1.- Driving

The road to Vardzia is good and you can get there with a normal car, you won't need a 4×4. Besides, is well indicated.

If you want to rent a car in Georgia, I recommend this search engine that works only with serious Georgian companies.

It's a good way to get competitive prices and help local companies instead of international ones.

⭐ Check out this article for further insights on How to rent and drive a car in Georgia and neighboring countries.

2.- Marshrutka

To go to Vardzia by public transport there is no direct marshrutka from Tbilisi.

The best option is go from Tbilisi to Akhaltsikhe and from there another mini bus to Vardzia.

The marshrutkas in Tbilisi leave from Didube from 6:20 in the morning until 17:30.

Once you are in Akhaltsikhe you have 4 buses to Vardzia (10:30; 12:20; 4:00 and 5:30 p.m.) and then there are 3 returning (8:30; 10:30 and 3:00 p.m.).

If you are going to go by marshrutka, in theory you could go and return in the day if you leave from Tbilisi on the first bus, but it is a very tiring option, it is best that you spend at least 1 night there in Akhaltsikhe.

🚙 You may also be interested in this article about How to get around Tbilisi, Georgia and visit neighboring countries?

3.- Excursion

The visit to Vardzia is one of the most popular and the excursion usually includes Vardzia, Rabati and Borjomi like this one in the link, which is what I made.

It is a classic tour in Georgia that includes three very different places, each with a special charm.

If you're traveling to Georgia for a short time, the tour is a convenient way to see several sites in a short time.

4.- Yoga Retreat next to Vardzia

If you have more time and want to combine the trip with a yoga retreat, I recommend this link with daily yoga, meditation and pranayama (breathing exercises) classes.

The withdrawal also includes visit to the Vardzia caves, like other tours, accommodation and all meals included.

More about Georgia and the Caucasus

• 24 things to see in Tbilisi
• What to see in Mtskheta: 8 most interesting places
• What to bring to Georgia?
• Kutaisi Monasteries: Motsameta and Gelati
• What to do in Yerevan: 14 best plans