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Weather in Vardzia
Cave monastery carved into a volcanic clifftop
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About Vardzia
Vardzia's cave monastery clings to a vertical cliff 600 metres high—carved into the mountainside during the 12th century, 6,000 chambers house churches, residences, and refectories. The Mtkvari River winds below; footbridges connect carved chambers. The cliff face glows orange at sunset; the interior remains cool and damp.
Best months to visit
July, August
Language
Georgian, Russian, English
Things to do in Vardzia
Exploring the multi-level carved monastery chambers and churches within cliffs
Walking footbridges between carved chambers and looking down at river below
Hiking trails above and around the monastery for panoramic views
Visiting the underground lake inside the cliff face caves
Photography of the monastery facade at sunset with golden light
Staying in nearby village guesthouses and eating Georgian home cooking
Weather by month
Click any month for detailed weather information and travel tips.
January
1C
Cold, with occasional showers.
February
3C
Cold, with occasional showers.
March
7C
Cold, with some rainy days.
April
12C
Cool, with some rainy days.
May
17C
Cool, with regular rainfall.
June
21C
Mild and comfortable, with regular rainfall.
Recommended
July
24C
Mild and comfortable, with occasional showers.
Recommended
August
26C
Warm and pleasant, with occasional showers.
September
21C
Mild and comfortable, with occasional showers.
October
15C
Cool, with some rainy days.
November
8C
Cold, with occasional showers.
December
3C
Cold, with occasional showers.
Vardzia is an extraordinary cave monastery complex carved into a cliff face in southern Georgia, originally housing thousands of monks' cells, churches, and storerooms across multiple levels in the 12th and 13th centuries, much of it now exposed after an earthquake sheared away the cliff's outer face. Set in the dramatic, arid landscape of the Lesser Caucasus near the Armenian and Turkish borders, it's one of Georgia's most remarkable historical sites and is often combined with the nearby Vardzia fortress, hot springs, and the border town of Akhaltsikhe.
Best areas to stay in Vardzia
Vardzia Cave Monastery
The main cliffside complex of carved cave dwellings, churches, and the still-active monastery with 12th-century frescoes.
Akhaltsikhe & Rabati Castle
The nearest town, with a striking restored fortress complex housing a museum, mosque, and church — a good base for visiting Vardzia.
Borjomi
A spa town about an hour from Akhaltsikhe, famous for its mineral water springs and surrounding national park, often combined on the same trip.
Vanis Kvabebi
A smaller, less-visited cave monastery near Vardzia, offering a quieter alternative or addition to the main site.
Getting to Vardzia
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Flights
Fly into Tbilisi International Airport (TBS) and continue by road.
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From London
~5-6 hours from London with one connection to Tbilisi, plus 4-5 hours by road to Vardzia (or 1 hour from Akhaltsikhe).
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Getting around
Shared marshrutkas run from Akhaltsikhe to Vardzia a few times daily; a hired car or tour gives more flexibility, especially if combining with Borjomi.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get to Vardzia?
By car or shared taxi from Akhaltsikhe (about an hour) or as a longer day trip from Tbilisi (around 4-5 hours each way) — most visitors base themselves in Akhaltsikhe or Borjomi and visit as a day trip.
How much time do you need to visit Vardzia?
1-2 hours is enough to explore the main cave complex, including the still-functioning church with its 12th-century frescoes, though the site rewards a relaxed visit given its scale.
Is Vardzia still an active monastery?
Yes — a small community of monks still lives at Vardzia, and the central church remains in use, giving the site a living religious dimension alongside its historical interest.
What else is nearby?
Akhaltsikhe's restored Rabati Castle, the spa town of Borjomi (famous for its mineral water and national park), and Vanis Kvabebi, another smaller cave monastery near Vardzia.
When is the best time to visit?
April to October — the region can be very cold in winter, and the cave complex involves walking along exposed cliffside paths best done in good weather.
Traveler reviews
★★★★★
Vardzia is on another scale than I expected — hundreds of cave rooms carved into a cliff, and you can walk through tunnels and along the cliff face itself. The frescoes in the main church have survived remarkably well.
Salome K. · September 2024
★★★★☆
Combined Vardzia with Borjomi and Akhaltsikhe over two days — Rabati Castle in Akhaltsikhe was a pleasant surprise, beautifully restored, and Vardzia itself was the standout historical site of our Georgia trip.
Robert J. · June 2023
★★★★☆
Quite remote and the drive takes a while, but well worth it — far fewer visitors than the main Tbilisi day-trip sites and a genuinely awe-inspiring sense of scale once you're walking through the cave levels.
Eka M. · May 2024
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