Distance Tbilisi-Vardzia 269 km, approximate travel time 4 hours
By train
There are no trains to Vardzia
By minibus
According to some sources there is a direct minibus from Tbilisi to Vardzia, but it leaves not from Tbilisi, but from the neighboring city of Rustavi and stops in the capital only sometimes, so we do not recommend to consider this transport.
Since there are no direct minibuses from Tbilisi to Vardzia, we are left with the option of going through the city of Akhaltsikhe. How to get from Tbilisi to Akhaltsikhe see here. Then there is a minibus Akhaltsikhe – Vardzia, of which there are only four per day and they are often overcrowded, so if you want to sit, come early.
- Place of departure: bus station in the center of Akhaltsikhe
- Schedule: 10:20, 12:20, 16:00, 17:20
- Travel time: about 1 hour 30 minutes
- Price: 9 GEL
* The last minibus from Vardzia leaves at 15:00, which makes you stay overnight in Vardzia or Akhaltsikhe, because the first flight from Tbilisi to Akhaltsikhe arrives at about 11:30.
By transfer
The lack of direct shuttles and few alternatives encourage you to book a transfer, especially since there are several other interesting sights along the way (Rabat Fortress and Hertvisi, Vanis Kwabebi Monastery Complex and hot springs).
With a transfer you will not only see everything at once, but also save a lot of time. In most cases, a whole day, because getting from one place to another by public transportation is very, very problematic.
- Departure point: your location
- Schedule: any time convenient for you
- Travel time: transfer 4 hours, tour 8 hours 25 minutes plus sightseeing time
- Price: transfer from 275 GEL (≈ 101$), tour from 297 GEL (≈ 108$)
- Book transfer: gotrip.ge/transfer
- Book a tour: gotrip.ge/tours
Information
Vardzia is a man-made cave monastery complex of XII-XIII centuries, which is considered a monument of medieval architecture of Georgia.
Inside it there are about 600 rooms on eight floors, where once there were libraries, baths, medical centers, chapels and other necessary rooms for comfortable living.
The main building in the complex is considered to be the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which has still preserved its grandeur and many frescoes.
Recommended
- We recommend renting a car for independent travel here localrent.com
- When traveling to Vardzia for an overnight stay, don’t forget to book accommodation. You can do it easily and simply at www.booking.com
