Kakheti, Georgia’s premier wine region, is a must-see when travelling in the Caucasus. Here are the most up-to-date, detailed instructions for travelling from Isani/Samgori in Tbilisi to Sighnaghi or Telavi by bus, taxi or car in 2024.

In Georgia, wine is so tied up with local culture, it’s difficult to imagine one without the other. Visiting the Alazani Valley in Kakheti, the main wine-growing region in eastern Georgia, is an experience you won’t soon forget.

Kakheti is Georgia’s largest region by area and has a whole lot to offer travellers apart from wine – including fortresses, cave monasteries, hilltop churches, isolated villages, and trekking in some of the nation’s most spectacular national parks.

Telavi, the region’s biggest city, and Sighnaghi, it’s most picturesque, are both logical starting points for exploring Kakheti.

A row of houses with colourfully painted wooden balconies.
Balconied houses in Sighnaghi, Kakheti.

Since moving to Tbilisi, I’ve visited Kakheti more times than I can count. I first went during our big Caucasus trip, and have been many times on a day trip from Tbilisi.

I’ve driven around the wine region in my own car, and have also passed through Kakheti when I travelled overland from Azerbaijan to Georgia. If this border crossing is on your agenda, Sighnaghi is perfectly positioned to break up the long journey.

Essential reading: The perfect Georgia Azerbaijan travel itinerary.

This Tbilisi Kakheti transport guide draws on my own experience travelling between Tbilisi, Sighnaghi and Telavi. Transit days are often a blur – so to refresh my memory and bring you the most detailed and accurate information possible, I recently spent an afternoon revisiting bus stations in Tbilisi and replicating stages of the journey.

I can safely say this is the most comprehensive and up-to-date Tbilisi to Kakheti transport guide currently available online.

Use the links below to skip to the section that’s most relevant to you, or scroll through to explore the different options for getting to Kakheti. As always, if you have any updates or questions, please feel free to leave a comment at the end of the page.


Please note: This post contains affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission if you make a purchase by clicking a link (at no extra cost to you). Learn more.


Why visit Kakheti?

Kakheti is very diverse. From the semi-desert plains and ‘rainbow’ hills around the southern border with Azerbaijan, to Tusheti Protected Landscape, one of Georgia’s most pristine and remote mountain areas, in the far north.

In between, the Alazani Valley that cuts north-south through Kakheti has fertile soil and micro-climates perfect for growing different varieties of grapes.

Most of Georgia’s commercial winemakers operate in Kakheti. Their cellar doors, scattered across the valley floor, outnumber Kakheti’s churches and monasteries and are open to visitors year-round for tastings and tours of the traditional Qvevri wine-making process.

Wine bottles, glasses and a cheese platter set out on a wooden table.
Ready for a wine degustation at Chateau-Marani Giuaani, halfway between Tbilisi and Sighnaghi.

The town of Sighnaghi is the most touristy part of Kakheti. Re-branded ‘The City of Love’ by Georgia’s third president, it attracts lots of day trippers and local couples (it’s also the wedding capital of Georgia). Sighnaghi’s old city walls and bastions tell a fascinating story about the 15th century Kingdom of Kakheti.

One of my favourite spots in Kakheti is Bodbe Monastery. Dating back to the 9th century, the complex houses the remains of St. Nino, the woman responsible for bringing Christianity to Georgia, and a holy water spring surrounded by stunning gardens and views of the Alazani Valley.

The red-roofed city of Sighnaghi.
The one and only Sighnaghi.
A man on the road from Tbilisi to Sighnaghi, leaning on his car with fresh fruit and jars of jam displayed on the hood.
A fruit vendor on the road from Tbilisi to Sighnaghi.

What is the road to Kakheti like?

There are two roads drivers might take to reach Sighnaghi and Telavi from Tbilisi. I have travelled on both many times.

The Kakheti Highway

The main road, the Kakheti Highway or S5, is a two-lane highway. It is constantly being upgraded and is one of the better roads in the country. Most marshrutka vans and taxis with Sighnaghi as their final destination take this highway. Travel time is 1.5-2 hours on average by taxi, slightly longer for the marshrutka.

For the most part, the road is straight, smooth and flat, with few turns or climbs. The final stretch into Sighnaghi (about 18 km or 30 minutes of driving) is still bitumen, but more like a country road with thick forest on either side. As you ascend into the town, there are some twists and turns. The first time we travelled, our taxi approached Sighnaghi from the north. The road between Anaga and Sighnaghi is by far the windiest stretch in the area.

I’m prone to car sickness, but I’ve never had a problem when travelling from Sighnaghi to Tbilisi or back on the Kakheti Highway.

The scenery is pleasant: Rolling hills, farmhouses, and of course lots of grape vines! Not long into the journey you’ll start noticing brick-coloured road signs that bear the names of different wineries in the area.

The Gombori Pass

The second way to reach Sighnaghi from Tbilisi is via the Gombori Pass. This road runs through the Gombori mountains and therefore has more twists and turns. It’s fully paved and smooth.

I prefer travelling via the Gombori Pass because it affords spectacular views of the mountains and the dense forest around Tetri Tsklebi. If you’re travelling to Telavi, this road gets you there much faster than the Kakheti Highway (in about 2 hours rather than 3 hours).

Because the Gombori Pass is more difficult to navigate in a van, marshrutka vans travelling from Tbilisi to Telavi tend to take the Kakheti Highway. Taxis, on the other hand, usually take the Gombori Pass.

An old brick city wall and tower.
Sighnaghi’s city wall. Unfortunately this archway was badly damaged in 2022.

How to get from Tbilisi to Sighnaghi

The table below provides an overview of the transport options currently available. Note that there is no passenger train service between Tbilisi and Kakheti.

Note: Prices and times are correct at the time of writing. I encourage you to double-check the schedule locally, either at the bus station or at your guesthouse.

1. BEST OVERALL OPTION

SHARED TAXI

  • On demand (from Isani M/S)
  • 1.5-2 hours travel time
  • From 15-20 GEL/person

[Buy a ticket at the station]

2. BUDGET OPTION

MARSHRUTKA MINIVAN

  • 6 daily departures (from Samgori M/S)
  • 2-2.5 hours travel time
  • 10 GEL/person

[Buy a ticket at the station]

3. FLEXIBLE OPTION

GOTRIP TRANSFER

  • 24/7 on demand
  • 1.5 hours travel time (without stops)
  • From 150 GEL/car

4. DAY TRIP OPTION

DAY TOUR TO KAKHETI

  • Daily departures
  • From 35 USD/person

5. DIY OPTION

HIRE CAR

  • On demand
  • From 20 USD/day

If you’ve already been travelling around Georgia or you’re doing research in preparation for your trip, you’ll have noticed there are multiple bus stations in the city.

Both taxis and marshrutka vans bound for Sighnaghi depart from less formal ‘hubs’ outside the Isani Metro Station (see location here on Google Maps) and the Samgori Metro Station (see location here on Google Maps) – not from Didube. These stations are located along the First Metro line in the southern part of the city.

To get to Isani or Samgori from Liberty Square, ride the red metro south in the direction of Varketili for 3 or 4 stations respectively. A single fare costs 1 GEL (MetroMoney card required), and the ride takes about 10 minutes. Alternatively, a taxi from Liberty Square to Isani costs 8-10 GEL when booked through Bolt.

An added benefit of arriving at Isani or Samgori station by taxi rather than metro is that your first driver will drop you off in the right spot and probably liaise with other drivers on your behalf to find your next ride. The way taxi drivers always seem ready to help clueless tourists like me is just one of the things I love about travelling in the Caucasus.

Racks of wine bottles.
Wine, glorious wine!

Tbilisi to Sighnaghi taxi

I’m a huge advocate of public transport, especially in Georgia where every marshrutka ride is an adventure! However, when it comes to travelling from Tbilisi to Sighnaghi, I highly recommend choosing a shared taxi over a marshrutka.

Shared taxis are more comfortable (especially in summer), and usually a bit more reliable in terms of road safety. Travelling by car, you will almost certainly reach your destination faster, and you can ask to be dropped off in a convenient location. The price for a shared taxi to Sighnaghi is only a few dollars more than a marshrutka (from 15-20 GEL per person for a taxi compared with 10 GEL per person for the marshrutka).

Shared taxis to Sighnaghi depart from Isani Metro Station in Tbilisi. When you arrive at the metro station, exit, turn left, and start walking up the one-way street that runs parallel to the east side of the station building.

On the right-hand side of the road you’ll see a row of grey shops with cars parked out front (see photo below). These are the unmarked taxis that run between Tbilisi and Kakheti. See the location here on Google Maps.

Parked cars and vans outside a shopping street waiting to travel from Tbilisi to Sighnaghi.
Around the side of Isani M/S, where shared taxis wait to travel to Sighnaghi and other parts of Kakheti.

Outside the pharmacy and orange Bank of Georgia is a marked taxi rank. Groups of drivers will be leaning on their cars and chatting to each other.

If you have luggage with you, there’s a good chance someone will approach you first. Otherwise, just ask the first person you make eye contact with for Sighnaghi. In my experience, drivers here are not at all aggressive and are not inclined to extort tourists.

The going rate for a shared taxi to Sighnaghi is 15-20 GEL per person or 60-80 GEL for the whole car. There may also be 7 seater minivans that charge 20 GEL per person.

Tbilisi to Sighnaghi is a popular route, so cars generally fill up fast, especially in the morning from about 10am. There might be a lull around lunch time; but as a general rule, you’ll always find someone who is prepared to drive you. Travel time by taxi is approximately 1.5-2 hours.

The first time we took a shared taxi to Sighnaghi, we waited for about 30 minutes for our car to fill up. That was enough time to buy breakfast at one of the many bakeries on the street, change our leftover dram into lari at one of the currency exchanges, and use the toilet.

Pro tip: There is a public toilet in the back of the parking lot located at the top of the street on the right. It is staffed and costs 50 tetri to use. If you fancy a warm snack, the best kebab joint in Tbilisi (or so I’m told!), Aziz Shawarma, is the last shop at the top of the street on the left.

If you don’t want to wait, you can just pay the ~60-80 GEL for the whole car and depart immediately.

We travelled with two Georgians, a woman carrying a freshly plucked chicken who got out in a village near Tsnori, and a very friendly gent who travelled on to Telavi. It’s up to the driver who gets dropped off first. We made one stop for churchkhela on the way (the friendly gent was buying!).

We approached Sighnaghi from the north and got dropped off at the top of the park, outside Kabadoni hotel. The driver might take you all the way to your accommodation as long as it’s in a central location.


Tbilisi to Sighnaghi bus (marshrutka)

The marshrtuka vagzali (station) for Kakheti is called Navtlugi intercity Bus Terminal. It is adjacent to the Samgori Metro Station (see the location here on Google Maps). Some vans start up the road at Isani, and some stop in at Isani on their way to the Kakheti Highway. But your safest bet is to go straight to Samgori where 95% of Kakheti-bound vans originate.

Direct vans to Telavi also leave from here.

The bus station is not immediately obvious. First, exit the Samgori Metro Station in the direction of Ketevan Dedofali Avenue. You should see this avtosadguri ‘bus station’ sign pointing the way:

A sign in the Samgori Metro pointing the way towards the exit for the bus terminal.
This sign in the Samgori Metro points the way towards the exit for the bus terminal.

Once you’re above ground, walk out to main avenue and turn right. Walk a few more steps and you will come to a small waiting area with marshrutka vans parked out front (not the first large carpark, but the second smaller one) with the blue sign:

The bus waiting area for vans to Sighnaghi and Telavi from Tbilisi.
The bus waiting area for Sighnaghi and Telavi.

Turn the corner and you should find vans waiting with ‘Sighnaghi’ signs on their windshields. There is a cash desk on the right, but usually staff will ask you to pay the driver directly.

The ticket desk at Navtlughi Bus Terminal – where vans to Sighnaghi and Telavi depart.
The ticket desk at Navtlughi Bus Terminal – where vans to Sighnaghi and Telavi depart.

Vans are timetabled to depart from Samgori at 9am, 11am, 1pm, 3pm, 5pm and 6pm daily (same schedule for weekdays and weekends). In summer there might be an additional van at 7am.

The driver might wait until he’s satisfied with the number of passengers on board, but if it’s a busy day, the van will leave as soon as it’s full. It’s a good idea to arrive at least 30 minutes early to make sure you get a seat.

Tickets for the Tbilisi to Sighnaghi bus cost 10 GEL and can be bought directly from the driver, either on-board or when you alight.

Travel time is approximately 2-2.5 hours. In Sighnaghi, vans let passengers off at the bus stand opposite the District Court building or at the top of the park.

Direct marshrutka vans to Telavi also depart from this location and are timetabled to leave at 9am, 11am, 1.15pm, 2.45pm and 4.45pm. The fare to Telavi is 12 GEL.

Important: Double check the final destination with your driver before you board. Some marshrutka vans terminate in Tsnori, which is a 15-minute (approx. 10 GEL) taxi ride from Sighnaghi.


Tbilisi to Sighnaghi with GoTrip

If you want maximum flexibility, consider booking a car and driver through GoTrip. It’s a long-distance Uber that pairs drivers and passengers for intercity journeys. This option might be more economical if you’re travelling with a group, and I definitely recommend it if you have kids with you.

The GoTrip platform allows you to select a driver based on the make of their car, the language they speak, and their star-rating (all drivers are vetted and reviewed). You can book in advance or up to a few hours before your intended departure time. The price is fixed in advance and cash payment is made directly to the driver.

There are lots of advantages to using GoTrip. Cars are usually comfortable, drivers experienced, and you can stop as often as you like, wherever you like. The only rule is that you must complete the trip you booked within 24 hours. You can also specify precise pick-up and drop-off locations.

GoTrip also has a ‘Tour’ option. Their preset Kakheti itinerary includes Bodbe Monastery, Sighnaghi town, and a few popular wineries plus return to Tbilisi for around 150 GEL. You can customise the stops as you like using the itinerary planner. Personally, I think it’s excellent value.


Tbilisi to Sighnaghi tours

If you prefer to travel with a guide, there are lots of Tbilisi to Sighnaghi tours to choose from. Day tour itineraries typically include pick up and drop off from your accommodation in Tbilisi. If you’re wanting to stay in Kakheti, you could try requesting for the driver to leave you in Sighnaghi at the end of the day.

My preferred company for this route is Eat This! Tours. They curate intimate tours of family run vineyards led by local sommelier-guides. Book their popular Telavi day tour here and mention wanderlush in the coupon code box to get a 5% discount.

Alternatively, this full-day small group tour includes multiple wine tastings and a visit to one of my favourite monasteries in Georgia, Bodbe.

This itinerary allows you to visit Kakheti wineries and David Gareja Monastery in the same day – excellent if you’re on a tight schedule. (As of 2024, parts of David Gareja still remain closed. Check my guide, linked above, to avoid disappointment.)

A heritage brick house in Telavi, Georgia.
Beautiful Telavi!

How to get from Tbilisi to Telavi

If you want to start your Kakheti itinerary in Telavi, you’ll need to take a taxi from Isani for 20 GEL per person (departing from the same spot adjacent to the metro station, as described above), or catch a marshrutka from Navtlughi Bus Terminal or Ortachala Bus Station.

Ortachala (AKA Central Bus Station) is a much bigger, more formal bus station. To get there, you can either take a taxi from Liberty Square (around 8 GEL when booked through Bolt) or use city buses 301, 343 or 346. See the location of the bus station here on Google Maps.

Vans leave from the upper level of the station off Dimitri Gulia Street, so if you arrive at the main entrance, you’ll need to take the stairs up. There are bakeries, cafes, money exchange desks and public toilets near the departures area.

A bus ticket to Telavi costs 12-15 GEL and should be purchased from the white ticket kiosk before you board. There are 13 scheduled vans every day, departing between 7.30am and 6.20pm. Check times on Biletebi (you can also pre-purchase tickets on this website if you wish).

As with all routes, vans will leave early if full, so it’s advisable to arrive at the station at least 30 minutes prior to the scheduled departure.

You can also find vans to Pankisi Valley, Alvani (for Tusheti) and Tsalka at this bus station.

As mentioned, taxis to Kakheti usually take the Gombori Pass (2 hours travel time to Telavi), while marshrutka vans use the Kakheti Highway, turning off at Chalaubani (3 hours travel time). Once in Telavi, marshrutka drivers usually drop passengers off at the new bus station near the bazaar (see the location here).


How to get around Kakheti

Many of the best things to do in Kakheti are located outside the cities of Sighnaghi and Telavi – another reason why a chartered car or tour is a great way to go. If you’re travelling independently, you can still see a lot. Bobde Monastery, for example, is a lovely walk from Sighnaghi.

If you want to visit wineries, it’s not a bad idea to charter a taxi in Sighnaghi to drive you around. The first time we travelled to Georgia, our guesthouse organised a shared taxi to take us around Kakheti for a full day. We visited half a dozen wineries and monasteries and paid 25 GEL each (for three people). These days you can expect to pay 40-50 GEL per person.

You can find my full list of recommendations for things to do in Sighnaghi and Telavi – including my favourite wineries and monasteries – in my three-day Kakheti itinerary.


How to get from Sighnaghi to Telavi

If you’re travelling around Kakheti independently, you might need to get between Sighnaghi and Telavi. There is just one marshrutka that leaves Sighnaghi in the morning at approximately 9.30am every day except Sunday. It costs around 10 GEL per person, and because it’s a local bus that stops very frequently, it typically takes upwards of 2 hours to travel the 70km.

I recommend reserving your seat in advance, either at the bus stand or by asking your guesthouse to phone ahead for you.

Another option is to take any Tbilisi-bound van from Sighnaghi and get off in Chalaubani at this petrol station. Tell the driver you want to continue to Telavi, and they will show you the spot to stand on the corner to flag down a Telavi-bound marshrutka. This should cost around 12 GEL all up.

It’s much faster and easier to take a taxi from Sighnaghi to Telavi (around 90 minutes). This would be best organised in advance through your guesthouse. Expect to pay around 70-85 GEL.


How to get from Telavi to Sighnaghi

Travelling in the opposite direction is a bit different again.

The same van that makes the trip to Telavi returns to Sighnaghi at 3.15pm. If that timing doesn’t work out, then you’ll first need to take a marshrutka from the New Bus Station in Telavi to Tsnori. There should be multiple vans departing throughout the day, including one at 9am. A ticket costs around 7 GEL.

Once in Tsnori, your first driver will help you transfer to another marshrutka bound for Sighnaghi. This second leg of the journey should cost around 3 GEL. All up, it will take you 3 hours to get from Telavi to Sighnaghi by van.

A taxi costs the same or slightly less, around 50-70 GEL (simply because there are more taxi drivers in Telavi). Journey time is around 90 minutes.

If you have any additional information, please leave a note in the comments below. (A big thanks to travellers Michiel, Bogdan and Radek for providing extra info about the Telavi to Sighnaghi route!)

A church tower framed by tall trees.
Bodbe Monastery outside Sighnaghi.

How to get from Sighnaghi to Tbilisi (return trip)

Marshrutka vans travelling the opposite way depart from the bus stand in Sighnaghi approximately every 2 hours between 7am and 6pm (i.e. 7am, 9am, 11am, 1pm, 4pm & 6pm).

Travel times and prices are the same. In Tbilisi, vans either terminate at Samgori or at Isani. Again, it’s wise to reserve seats in advance, either directly with staff at the bus kiosk or by asking your guesthouse to phone ahead.

Shared taxis from Sighnaghi to Tbilisi are best organised in advance through your accommodation. Or you can head to the main square (near the donkey statue) or the top of the park where drivers wait to make the return trip to Tbilisi.

A GoTrip transfer back to Tbilisi from Sighnaghi starts from 160 GEL per car and takes less than 2 hours.

A taxi in Sighnaghi waiting under a tree.
Taxis waiting at the top of the park in Sighnaghi.

How to get from Telavi to Tbilisi (return trip)

Marshrutka vans from Telavi to Tbilisi are much more frequent, departing at least every hour between 9am and 9pm from the New Bus Station. Tickets cost 12 GEL and the trip takes 2-3 hours depending on traffic.

These vans terminate at either Ortachala Central Bus Station or Samgori metro station in Tbilisi. From there, you can jump on a bus or order a Bolt to get back to Freedom Square. The first time we travelled, we connected to a Gori marshrutka from Didube Station on the same day and continued our travels in Western Georgia.

Alternatively, a shared taxi from Telavi New Bus Station to Tbilisi costs 20 GEL per person. A private door-to-door transfer to Tbilisi starts from 130 GEL per car when booked through GoTrip.

A beautifully coloured desert with a cave monastery in the foreground.
David Gareja Monastery in Kakheti, Georgia.

Other places to visit in Kakheti: Onward travel from Sighnaghi or Telavi

Most people associate Kakheti with wine. In reality, this region of eastern Georgia is incredibly diverse and has a lot more to offer than just vineyards. Here are a few other places worth visiting in Kakheti, plus basic instructions for how to plan your onward travel.

Sighnaghi to David Gareja Monastery

David Gareja (Davit Gareja) is located southwest of Sighnaghi on the border with Azerbaijan. It takes almost as long to reach the monastery complex from Sighnaghi as it does to travel from Tbilisi. For this reason, I always recommend visiting the monastery as a day trip from Tbilisi using the Gareji Line shuttle bus (40 GEL per person) instead.

There is no direct public transport between Sighnaghi or Telavi and David Gareja. If you want to visit the monastery from Kakheti, you should hire a private driver to take you there and back. Prices start from 220 GEL per car from Sighnaghi when booked through GoTrip.

It might also be possible to get there by van. Start by taking a Tbilisi-bound marshrutka from Sighnaghi and get out near the turn-off for the town of Sagarejo, where the newly sealed road to the cave monastery branches off from the highway. In summer, you can find taxis waiting at the crossroads. A round-trip should cost about 100 GEL.

Telavi to Pankisi Valley

If you want to get off the beaten track in Georgia, the village of Jokolo in Pankisi Valley hosts an interesting community based tourism project. My recommended accommodation and tour provider in Pankisi is Nazy’s Guest House.

Vans travelling to Akhmeta (the nearest city to the valley) and Jokolo depart from behind the Telavi market. The first time we travelled to Jokolo, we took a taxi from Telavi for 25 GEL.

Telavi to Tusheti National Park

Tusheti National Park is one of Georgia’s most remote mountain regions. If it’s summer and the road is open (usually from June to mid-October), drivers bound for Omalo depart from Telavi Bus Station.

Only experienced drivers who know the notoriously dangerous road well (and have the right kind of vehicle) are able to make the trip. It’s best to organise a reliable car and driver in advance (see my tips and recommendations in this Tusheti transport guide).

If you’re travelling on the fly, it is possible to show up in Telavi on the day and find a place in a shared taxi. You have a better chance of finding a spot in mid-morning to early afternoon, so plan to take one of the first buses to Telavi or overnight in Kakheti the night before.

Sighnaghi to Lagodekhi Nature Reserve

Shared between Georgia, Daghestan and Azerbaijan, Lagodekhi National Park is prime hiking territory. One of the most popular routes is the multi-day hike to Black Rock Lake, which straddles the Russian border.

If you want to hike, it makes sense to start in the border town of Lagodekhi. There are at least 5 daily marshrutky that travel the 80 km between Telavi and Lagodekhi, departing from the bus station in Telavi. The trip takes around 2 hours, and a ticket costs around 10 GEL.

Kakheti to Azerbaijan

The Kakheti region borders northern Azerbaijan, making it a great place to transit through on your way from Georgia to Baku.

Sheki, my favourite place in Azerbaijan, is a mere 160 km from Sighnaghi and can be reached within a day by changing vans in Qax. We travelled the opposite way before returning to Tbilisi on the overnight train. Here’s more information about getting to Sheki and Baku overland from Georgia.

Importantly, Azerbaijan’s land borders are currently closed to inbound travellers, making overland travel from Georgia impossible (you can exit Azerbaijan by foot, but the only way to get into the country is by flying). These restrictions were implemented in 2020 and will remain in place until at least July 1, 2024.


Where to stay in Kakheti

→ See my full list of recommended accommodations in Kakheti Wine Region.

If you’re visiting Kakheti for longer than a day, you’ll first need to decide where you’re going to base yourself. Sighnaghi and Telavi are the most popular options but I urge you to also consider staying on a wine estate. Tsinandali is my top pick.

Both Sighnaghi and Telavi have their merits. Certain wineries and churches are more conveniently reached from Telavi, while the walled town of Sighnaghi is more charming.

Telavi is bigger and so has more transport options. It also has a local feel and lots and lots of things to do within walking distance of the centre. It’s easier to get back to Tbilisi from Telavi, so if you’re staying in both Sighnaghi and Telavi like we did, I suggest starting off in smaller Sighnaghi.


In Sighnaghi, we stay at Zandarashvili Guest House. Comfortable rooms with a view of the old city walls, laundry, generous breakfasts and dinners, homemade wine, tours around Kakheti, onward transportation, great conversation – this place has you sorted for all of it.

In Telavi, we stay at Guest House Lilia, a beautiful property owned by a Georgian woman who takes immense pride in both her vegetable garden and her cooking! Lilia is the perfect host and can also help organise transportation around Telavi.


Have you recently travelled from Tbilisi to Sighnaghi or Telavi? If you have any updates – or any questions for me about Kakheti – feel free to leave me a note in the comments below.


Tbilisi to Sighnaghi: Save it for later

39 Comments

  1. I’m sorry if you answered this already, trying to soak up all the info you have on Georgia and make decisions on where to go.

    For a day trip from Tbilisi without a guide relying on shared taxis and self-exploring, would you prefer Telavi over Sighnaghi? From what I got, Sighnaghi is more touristic.

    1. Hi Anna, Sighnaghi is the popular choice but I would consider Telavi. It is down in the valley with wineries nearby, which would make it easy to explore without a driver. I prefer Telavi because it’s more local. Tons of excellent restaurants and wine bars. The bazaar is outstanding and the history museum is worth visiting too. Plus Telavi is in a better location for the must-see churches (Alaverdi, Gremi).

  2. Minibus from Signaga to Telavi 9:30 AM
    From Telavi to Signagi 3:15 PM
    phone to the driver: 593 911 442
    cost: 10 lari … I think I overpaid
    From Signagi to Tbilisi: 7:00 AM, 9:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM, 4:00 PM, 6:00 PM
    Current 10.05.2023

  3. Hi Emily, you doing fantastic work by updating and sharing such minute details, and trust me its very handful, me and my wife visiting Tbilisi on 27th June for 1 week but don’t know how the weather might be as we both love walking. I hope it’s not that hot.

    1. Thank you Mitesh! It’s still quite cool (late winter, late running spring) so maybe in June it will still be pleasant, but I can’t promise anything!!

      Have a wonderful trip and thank you again!

  4. Hey, I Love your blog thanks for all the information!
    How can I book a place for a shared Taxi? Ist there a phone number? Do they speak English? I want to go from Tiblisi to Sighnaghi. Since I life in an air bnb I cannot ask any hotel staff to book. Thanks in advance.

    1. Hi Linda, thanks for your comment! No need to book – just go to Isani Metro Station, exit and turn left, and you will see the drivers waiting. Someone will likely approach you first, otherwise you can go out to the road and ask around. Some drivers speak a bit of English, if you say Sighnaghi and show them your accommodation address on your phone then you will be fine.

      Have a safe journey!

  5. Thanks for the great guide! We took the Mashrutka from Tbilisi to Sighnaghi and back today – 11 am and 6 pm worked out perfectly. It took us about 2 hours though because of fog and snow. The price was 10 GEL per person per ride. Sighnaghi in December is worth a visit, too, despite possible bad weather, there are only a few tourists!

    1. Thank you very much for the report, Johanna!

      I agree – I love Kakheti in winter! I was there 2 winters ago and it was so clear and sunny, then again last year when everything was covered in snow! So beautiful. I hope you had a wonderful day trip!

  6. Thank you so much Emily. All the information that you wrote where really helpful for us. Filled with details as for the time tables, prices for mashroutka, taxi …
    It made our 3 weeks georgian holidays a lot easier. And we definately enjoyed travelling to Kakhetie and discovering the process of Georgian wine. Thanks again. Warm regards Emy and Stephane

  7. Hey

    from Telavi to Signaghi the only one Mashrutka is leaving at 1pm from Telavi.

    Signaghi -Tbilissi costs now 10 lari (not 7). From Signaghi, departures are 7am, 9am, 11am, 1pm, 4pm and 6pm.

    1. Thanks for confirming those times! Travelling from Telavi to Sighnaghi, I recommend going through Tsnori – there are more frequent connections for this route.

  8. Some practical information about traveling from Sighnaghi to Telavi: the marshruta from Sighnaghi to Telavi was not running (bus broken) today. Normally leaves around 9am-9.30am from Sighnaghi bus stop according to locals. Guesthouse owner organized a shared taxi for 80 lari in total.

    1. I can confirm this, we left at 9:30, make a stop in Gurjaani 10:20-10:30 and arrived to Telavi at 11:20. same marsutka leaves Telavi for Signashi at 15:15. it costs 10 lari.

      Also going from Telavi to Tbilisi trough Gombori, there is marsutka 11:15, coats 15 latí and leaves not from the old bus station, but from the new bus station (as names in Google maps). there are probably some other times.

      By the way thank you for all your guides, I am using them as one of two primary sources of information for last two years, they’re very helpful (especially marshutkas)

  9. Hi Emily,

    Thanks (again) for the perfect and up-to-date information. Your website is the perfect guide for us. Traveled today from Tbilisi to Sighnaghi just as you described (shared four person taxi for 15 GEL a person).

    Kind regards,

    Maurits

  10. Hey there,
    Me and a friend of mine are going on a bicycle trip from Telavi and into the caucasus mountains. Do you know if it is possible to bring two bicycles on a marshrutky or any other transportation? We are looking for the cheapest possible option to bring ourselves and our bikes to Telavi.
    Kind regards,
    Jørgen

    1. Hi Jørgen – are you coming from Tbilisi? There shouldn’t be any issue with putting bicycles on the roof of a marshrutka van (if you’re happy to do that). I once saw a bicycle disassembled and put in the back of a van headed to Telavi from Ortachala.

      There are no trains of course, so the only other option would be a private taxi – if you can take the tyres off your bike that might work too?

  11. I am considering using GoTrip for a one-day tour of Kakheti. The price quoted is for car only. What do you think would be considered fair compensation for the driver, who will also be the guide?
    Thanks, as always for your very current and insightful articles!

    Paul

  12. Your blog has been incredibly helpful! This is my first trip to Georgia (probably not the last, what a country!) from the states and your writing has been a godsend! Thanks so much!

  13. Wanted to drop a comment saying thanks for the specific instructions. This past week I took a shared taxi to Sighnaghi from Isani M/S for 15GEL per person, exactly as you described. The drive was about 1.5 hours with one stop for the driver to pick up some wine. Could not have been any simpler after reading your post. Much appreciated!

  14. Hi! I found your blog today and I’m more than happy because of that! A lot of helpful informations I couldn’t find anywhere else. Thanks!
    I’m landing in Tbilisi on Monday at 4am and I would like to go to Omalo same day. From what hour I can catch taxi from Isani to Telavi? Do you think that going to Tabori Monastery to watch sunrise, while waiting for the taxi, is good idea?

    1. Hi Ana, thanks for your comment!

      I would consider booking a GoTrip car to Telavi or even better to Kvemo Alvani directly from the airport. You can do it any time, 24/7.

      I’m not sure what time the regular taxis start but it would be safe to say not before 8am at the earliest. It’s busy in the morning so you might have to wait, then there’s a chance you could miss your car to Tusheti. You are organising your Tusheti driver in advance I hope?

      I hope this helps!

  15. Thanks for your useful information. My wife and I’ll want to go to Georgia on 25th October, but I don’t know that Is it the appropriate time to go to Sighnaghi? (maybe it is too cold or autumn is not as beautiful as summer days) and is there any limit about luggage in marshrutka? (because we want to stay about two weeks in Georgia and we have two big suitcases)

    Pardon my mistakes, English is not my first language.

    1. Hi Armin!

      I haven’t been to Sighnaghi in October, but I think it’s beautiful any time of year. It will be after the grape harvest, so you might be able to see the first stages of wine making.

      As for your bags – marshrutky only have a limited amount of space in the back. I recommend getting to the station well in advance so you can fit your things in.

      I hope this helps!

  16. This was really helpful for me travelling solo Tbilisi to Sighnaghi, thanks a lot! The photo of the taxi zone near Isani metro was really helpful. In the end I paid for a whole taxi (as it was a super hot midday, I’d waited long enough with no one else coming along). The driver swore at every driver who tried invading ‘his’ territory in a horrible roadworks traffic jam on the way out of town by calling them ‘Ruski’. Then picked up a local family (with 2 babies) along the way. Fair enough – he got some extra cash and stopped chatting at me in endless Georgian while pinching my knee (which was a bit unusual as I’m a 67yr old lady 🙂

    1. Hi Gabe!

      So glad this was helpful. Sounds like an adventure! Good idea to take the whole car – it’s such a fair price (I think), it’s really worth it if you’re in a hurry or the weather is bad.

      I hope the knee pinching was all in good humour and didn’t make you feel too uncomfortable! I never experienced anything like that. A good tip for solo female travellers is to sit in the back of the car, as you would a regular taxi.

      Enjoy the rest of your time in Georgia!

  17. Thank you so much for this guide! We very much enjoyed our three days in Kakheti and were able to get around thanks to your guide! Maybe some useful extra information: if you are staying in Telavi like we did and want to get to Sighnaghi: there is a Mashrutka leaving from the New Bus Station to Tsnori at 08:00 AM (price 5 GEL) where the driver put us on an immediate Mashrutka to Sighnaghi (price 2 GEL). The trip took us about three hours. On our way back we opted for the quick but expensive option: a private taxi that cost us 60 GEL but took a bit more than one hour.

    Also we can very much recommend the guesthouse / wine cellar in Telavi Milorava Guesthouse. Wonderful people and great wine!

    Thanks again for your guide!

    1. Hi Michiel!

      Thanks so much for your comment and the update. I’m glad to hear your trip went smoothly and that you enjoyed Kakheti! I honestly didn’t think of including info for Telavi to Sighnaghi – I’m going to add a line to the post now as it might be helpful to other travellers.

      It’s amazing how slow the bus between Telavi and Sighnaghi is! The scenic route for sure 🙂

      Thanks also for the guesthouse recommendation!

  18. Your information was a Godsend for us after our rental car booking was unexpectedly cancelled, thanks so much for a brilliant post! It gave is all the information we needed to get a ride to Sighanagi, much appreciated

      1. Hi, thanks for useful guide.

        We are planning spending a couple of days in Sighnaghi before moving on to Pankisi (Jokolo) for the next two. Any tips on how to make the journey from Sighnaghi to Jokolo by mashrutka. I had assumed via Telavi, but it seems like there isn’t much between Sighnaghi and Telavi? I’d rather not come back to Tbilisi but will if it makes the journey faster.
        cheers

        1. Hi Joe – yes I would recommend going via Telavi. You might need to take a local taxi for the first leg. There are regular vans and taxis to Pankisi from there – if you are staying with Nazy, she can advise and also save you a seat.

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