12 min
Autumn gently yields to winter, and Georgia shifts its pace: wine courtyards fall silent after the harvest, the streets of Tbilisi light up, mountain passes take their first frost, and ancient chants echo through churches. This is a time to experience on the road in a quality vehicle that suits your rhythm: attend a morning service in a centuries-old cathedral, catch a sunny window on the mountain pass by day, and find yourself at a city center stage by evening. Imagine the warmth of a sunlit cabin, the silky pull of a modern engine along the sweeping arcs of the Gombori Range, the confident stance of a crossover on winter asphalt, and that special hush in narrow streets as you turn off the headlights at a festive square. Below is a detailed calendar from November to March with route tips, local etiquette, and vehicle recommendations, ensuring every date becomes an occasion for a beautiful journey.
November in Georgia: Festivals, Traditions, and Routes
November opens the church and urban segment of the autumn-winter season. On November 23, the entire country celebrates Georgoba, the Day of Saint George. Liturgies take place in city churches and ancient monasteries, while in Mtskheta and Telavi the day is associated with family gatherings and quiet walks along historic streets. For an ideal route, depart from Tbilisi for a morning service in Mtskheta, stroll along the Aragvi River, and return to the capital by lunch via the scenic loop at Jvari, offering the classic view of the river confluence. For such a day, a C- or D-class sedan equipped with winter tires and hill-hold assist is sufficient; plan parking near historic centers and complete the last meters on foot. The rest of November is about intimate festivals and film screenings, anticipation of the winter light, and the first night frosts on the passes: if you venture into the mountains, a crossover with ground clearance and a Snow mode adds peace of mind on icy stretches and sudden gusts. Georgoba’s fixed date makes planning easy—it’s an official public holiday in the national calendar.
December in Georgia: Christmas Lights, Markets, and Winter Drive
December in Tbilisi means illuminations, the opening of the New Year’s village on Orbeliani Square and nearby gardens, concerts, and daytime markets. The city traditionally launches holiday venues at the end of the month, usually December 24, keeping them active through the Old New Year and Christmas, roughly mid-January; stages and food courts are distributed between Orbeliani, Dedaena, and adjoining streets, while the main concert stage on New Year’s Eve is at Europe Square along the embankment. Logistics are simple: leave your car in underground parking near Freedom Square or Rike, then switch to pedestrian mode; to exit after the concert without traffic, pre-select the parking level and park nose-out. For families and groups, a crossover with heated rear seats, blind-spot sensors, and a spacious trunk for market purchases is ideal. During the same period, the Tbilisi International Film Festival takes place, in 2025 from December 4 to 10, with screenings at multiple central venues—again, comfort wins with the “park once, explore on foot” approach.
January in Georgia: Christmas, Alilo, Bedoba, and the Old New Year
January in Georgia unfolds as a graceful sequence of traditions. January 1 is New Year’s Day with family visits and home feasts. January 2 marks Bedoba, the Day of Luck and Fate, when one is meant to live the day as they wish the year to unfold: visiting loved ones, choosing a bright path, welcoming a lucky “first guest” into the home, with gozinaki—a sweet of nuts and honey—on the menu. January 7 is Christmas according to the Julian calendar and the citywide Alilo procession: a daytime singing parade through Tbilisi to the Holy Trinity Cathedral (Sameba), where by evening the Christmas light takes on a particularly dense glow. January 14 is the Old New Year, and January 19 marks Epiphany with the blessing of water. These dates are perfect for urban itineraries: park in underground lots in the morning, go on foot for services and processions, take a short excursion to viewpoints by day, and return to the city lights in the evening. For January travel, select a car with windshield heating, winter tires, and hill-start assist; for trips between Tbilisi and ski resorts, opt for all-wheel drive and traction control modes on slippery roads. These key dates are well-established: Bedoba – January 2, Alilo – January 7, and the city procession route is long-standing and widely recognized.
February in Georgia: Mountain Resorts, Events, and the Right Road
February is the heart of winter and the best window for snow in the Greater and Lesser Caucasus. Gudauri along the S3 above the Jvari pass and Bakuriani in Samtskhe-Javakheti offer distinct skiing experiences and lightscapes: long open fields and panoramic views in the former, cozy forested trails and night skiing near Didveli in the latter. Seasonal schedules converge in one point—the overall operating period begins mid-December and runs through April with adequate snow, with the peak of comfortable skiing conditions typically in February. On the road, three elements are crucial: proper tires, sufficient traction, and engine-braking on long descents; a modern crossover with all-wheel drive and stability assists significantly reduces fatigue on switchbacks. Parking near lifts and in towns is marked, though weekends are better for early arrivals, and for night skiing in Bakuriani keep warm layers and a thermos in the trunk—the valley cools the night air and clears the sky. Practical details are confirmed by official and specialized sources: resorts have a stable winter schedule December–April, and night skiing at Didveli is a recognized “feature” of Bakuriani.
March in Georgia: Early Spring, Winter’s End, and Intimate Festivals
March is a transitional month: parks below bloom and street terraces open, while snow still lingers at higher altitudes under clear morning skies. It’s a time for intimate festivals, small city programs, provincial weekend markets, and final ski runs. In Tbilisi, short daytime strolls through historic quarters pair conveniently with evening performances—symphonic and jazz series at the Concert Hall and smaller venues run in blocks, while one-day excursions to monasteries and viewpoints are ideal outside the city. In March, a versatile choice is justified: a compact sedan for city and road if snow has melted; a crossover for those seeking final days in the mountains, seamlessly switching from skis to urban shoes in a single day. A simple driving tip: the early sun warms actively, but nighttime frost persists at altitude—morning shadows on switchbacks may be slippery, softening by noon.
Autumn and Winter Route Bundles: Planning a Week on the Road
For a week-long itinerary, build arcs from city to events. November bundle: Tbilisi for evening programs and museums, Mtskheta for Georgoba and quiet streets, optionally Telavi and Sighnaghi for the late-golden vineyards. December bundle: city lights and New Year’s village, night concert along the embankment, next day warming in Abanotubani baths and a late lunch in Sololaki. January week: Alilo by day, intimate concert in the evening, then a gentle drive to Borjomi or Akhaltsikhe to catch snow on conifer slopes; good weather allows two days in Gudauri or Bakuriani. February week: pure skiing with one day in Tbilisi for gastronomic breaks and galleries. March week: a mix of daytime excursions and evening city life. In all cases, one principle applies: the car is delivered to the hotel early, routes are preloaded with parking marks and travel times, the trunk holds a checklist of seasonal items, and assist settings reduce unnecessary steering on switchbacks. When the vehicle suits you, the journey ceases to drain energy and begins to accumulate memories.
Festival Etiquette and Road Safety: Experiencing the Country Properly
During church festivals, follow a modest dress code, remove headgear inside churches, and disable flash photography. In Mtskheta and near cathedrals, arrive early and park in authorized zones. On New Year’s Eve, plan pedestrian movement and group meeting points after concerts; traveling with children requires checking stage layouts and sanitary facilities. In winter mountain driving, maintain distance, avoid wheel locking on descents, monitor weather and Jvari pass conditions, and keep warm layers, gloves, a power bank, scraper, and small flashlight in the trunk. At markets and villages, be generous with thanks—attention to local craftsmanship is valued, and conversations at stalls often provide the best regional guidance.
Choosing a Vehicle for Autumn-Winter Travel in Georgia
City trips and nearby excursions call for a sedan with a warm cabin, solid soundproofing, adaptive cruise control, and a 360° camera for underground parking. Mountain roads and winter conditions highlight a crossover’s strengths: ground clearance, all-wheel drive with intelligent torque distribution, Snow and Downhill Assist modes, and a trunk for equipment, roof boxes, and child seats. For large families or groups, seven-seat configurations with dual-zone climate and heated rear seats work best; for a couple valuing driving feel, an all-wheel-drive crossover with balanced suspension and refined wheel-arch insulation is ideal. We deliver the car to your hotel or airport at your chosen time, equip it with winter accessories, and preprogram the navigator with parking spots at Orbeliani, Rike, Freedom Square, and resort lifts—letting you focus on light windows rather than maneuvering in unfamiliar streets. Imagine a morning departure from Tbilisi at minus two degrees, the asphalt glistening in Avlabari, steering gently weighing more on the mountain arcs, and how effortlessly the car tuned for you carries you to the snow-covered plateau where the air rings and the horizon fades into icy blue.
Dates and Key Points to Note Before Your Trip
Georgoba is celebrated on November 23 and is an official public holiday. The Alilo Christmas procession in Tbilisi takes place on January 7, starting during the day and concluding at the Holy Trinity Cathedral (Sameba). Bedoba, the Day of Luck, is traditionally observed on January 2 as a symbolic “reset” for the year. Tbilisi’s New Year’s village typically opens at the end of December on Orbeliani Square and operates until mid-January; on New Year’s Eve, the main concert stage moves to Europe Square along the embankment. The Tbilisi International Film Festival kicks off at the start of winter, in 2025 running from December 4–10. Ski resorts open in December and remain operational until April, depending on snow coverage; in Gudauri, the standard period is mid- or late December through mid-April, while Bakuriani offers night skiing at Didveli on weekends.
Car Rental in Georgia Any Season
Whatever dates you choose—Tbilisi’s November lights, the quiet January ritual of Alilo, February snow on the passes, or March sunshine in the valleys—we’ll select a rental car to suit your rhythm and routes, making the road part of the celebration. Picture a morning when the city still slumbers, the warm cabin and smooth sedan glide onto an empty avenue; next, the crossover’s gentle pull on the long ascent to Gudauri, precise steering and ample clearance bringing peace of mind on the curves; by evening, an elegant arrival at Rustaveli Hall in a premium sedan, where quiet and light leather interiors matter. For family trips, we’ll prepare a seven-seat SUV with dual-zone climate and space for strollers and souvenirs; for rural roads, all-wheel drive with winter tires and downhill assist; upon request, child seats, ski mounts, and roof boxes; and a navigator preloaded with parking spots at Orbeliani, Rike, Freedom Square, and resort lifts. Delivery to the hotel or airport at your chosen time, transparent conditions, and prompt roadside support—everything ensures you focus on scenic windows, concerts, and services, not logistics. Name your dates and trip style, and we’ll offer several configurations with clear reasoning, making the choice a pleasure from the first turn of the wheel.
