Georgia celebrates New Year with a unique energy. Tbilisi's Freedom Square hosts a giant Christmas tree and fireworks visible from across the city. Rustaveli Avenue comes alive with music and festivities. And just 2–3 hours away, Kazbegi and Gudauri are buried in snow.
Georgian New Year (January 1) is a major national celebration. Orthodox Christmas is January 7, adding another festive highlight. This 5–7 day tour covers the best of both — the urban celebration and the mountain escape.
December 28–30: Festive Tbilisi. The Old Town glows with holiday lights — Freedom Square with the main Christmas tree, Shardeni Street lined with garlands. Dezertirka market is the place to pick up gifts and souvenirs: churchkhela ₾3–5 each, homemade wine ₾15–25/litre. In the evenings, Narikala Fortress is lit in blue and gold — walk up or take the cable car for views over the illuminated city.
December 31: New Year's Eve. This is the centrepiece of the tour. Timur books a restaurant table in advance — popular spots fill up 4–8 weeks ahead. The festive Georgian feast (supra) includes satsivi, pkhali, khachapuri, and Georgian wine. At 23:45, head to Freedom Square for the city fireworks. Georgians celebrate loudly and sincerely: live music, toasts in Georgian, dancing in the streets.
January 1–2: Kazbegi or Gudauri. Winter Georgia in the mountains is a completely different experience. Kazbek at 5,047 m covered in snow looks unlike anything in summer. Frozen Terek river, Gergeti Church in the clouds. Gudauri ski resort: day ski pass ₾80–100, equipment rental ₾40–60. Apres-ski by a fireplace in a mountain chalet — this is winter Georgia done right.
January 3–5: Quiet Kakheti. Winter Kakheti without the tourist crowds is one of the best times to visit. The wine is already fermenting in the barrels. Hosts are happy to welcome guests. Tasting from kvevri in a wine cellar (around +15°C — warm even in winter), lunch with the family around a wood stove.
Georgian New Year is not a tourist package — it is a genuine national celebration. Tbilisi has been decorated since early December: the Christmas tree at Freedom Square, lights on the Peace Bridge, markets in Rike Park. The temperature (+5–10°C) is comfortable for walking without a heavy winter coat. In the mountains at Gudauri there is a full ski resort at 2,200 m altitude with the season running until March. December 31 features a special program: dinner with a Georgian family, homemade wine, and the fireworks viewed from Narikala Fortress.
New Year in Tbilisi means celebrations along Rustaveli Avenue and fireworks at the Peace Bridge. Book your restaurant table well in advance — on December 31 there are no free spots anywhere in the city. Average NYE dinner cost: ₾80–120 per person. Temperature in Tbilisi: +5–10°C, so you will not need a heavy coat for the city — but bring thermals if you are heading to the mountains.
10:00 — Old Town walk with Christmas decorations. Freedom Square with the main tree, Shardeni Street with garlands. Dezertirka market — best for gifts and souvenirs (churchkhela ₾3–5 each, homemade wine ₾15–25/L). 18:00 — Narikala Fortress in holiday lighting: blue and gold illumination, panoramic views over the lit-up city. Dinner at a restaurant with views over the Mtkvari River and live Georgian music (book 3–4 weeks ahead — I will handle this).
Winter Mtskheta is a completely different experience from summer — no crowds, fog in the valley, the smell of candles inside Svetitskhoveli Cathedral. Borjomi in winter: the snow-covered park with warm mineral springs — outdoor bathing in sulfurous water at +37°C when it is freezing outside (entry ₾15–20).
19:00 — Festive dinner at the pre-booked restaurant (I book this for you in advance upon request). The holiday Georgian table: satsivi, pkhali, khachapuri, wine. 23:45 — Narikala and Freedom Square: fireworks over the city. Georgians celebrate New Year loudly and with genuine joy — live music, toasts in Georgian, everyone becomes friends on the street.
Winter Kazbek — 5,047 m in snow — looks entirely different from the summer version. White slopes, the frozen Terek, Gergeti Trinity Church hidden in the clouds. Gudauri: day ski pass ₾80–100, equipment rental ₾40–60. The slopes are excellent in January — this is peak powder season. Apres-ski by the fireplace at a mountain chalet is the right way to end the day.
Quiet Kakheti without tourists is one of the best-kept secrets of Georgian travel. All the wine is now in the barrels fermenting. The hosts are delighted to receive guests in this off-season. Wine tasting from kvevri in a cellar (about +15°C inside — warm and cosy even in January), lunch at the family table beside a wood-burning stove.
The tour departs from your hotel in Tbilisi. I drive a comfortable air-conditioned vehicle with a maximum of 7 people — which means a genuinely personal experience, not a bus tour. The itinerary is flexible: stops can be added or removed based on your preferences and energy levels.
Message me on WhatsApp (+995 511 272 623) — I reply within 10–15 minutes, even late in the evening. A 10% deposit secures your booking; the balance is paid on the day of the tour. I accept cash in Georgian lari, bank transfer, and cryptocurrency. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the tour starts. During the New Year period, I strongly recommend booking at least 3–6 weeks in advance — spots are very limited.
Comfortable shoes even for vehicle-based tours — there will be walking sections of 30–60 minutes. A bottle of water (I provide extras). Cash in lari for lunch and souvenirs. In winter: a warm jacket and gloves for city days, full layering for mountain days.
Ready to Book?
Timur is a private English-speaking guide with a 4.9 rating. Groups up to 7 people, hotel pick-up included, 10% deposit to confirm.
Learn more about private guiding in Georgia →Georgians celebrate New Year on a grand scale: fireworks over Tbilisi, festive tables with traditional dishes, live music at Freedom Square and in restaurants across the city. The Georgian New Year feast (supra) with a tamada (toastmaster) is a cultural experience in itself — expect 20-plus dishes, homemade wine, and heartfelt toasts.
Snow-covered Kazbegi for dramatic winter photography, Christmas markets in Tbilisi, ski slopes at Gudauri and Bakuriani, wine tasting in Kakheti — winter Georgia is just as impressive as summer Georgia, with far fewer tourists and a more authentic atmosphere.
For the December 30 – January 5 period, availability goes fast. We recommend booking at least 2–4 weeks in advance, and ideally 6–8 weeks for the best restaurant and accommodation options. Contact Timur as early as possible.
Yes — Gudauri has beginner-friendly slopes and a ski school. Day ski passes are ₾80–100 and equipment rental is ₾40–60. January and February offer the best snow conditions of the season.
Related Tours
Kazbegi Day Trip from Tbilisi · Kakheti and Sighnaghi · Gudauri Ski Day Trip · Georgia 5-Day Tour · Tbilisi — Svaneti Tour
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Wonderful trip to Kakheti! The wine was amazing — everyone should visit Georgian vineyards at least once.
Booked a private tour for four. Timur is a true professional: knows the history and tells it in a fascinating way.
Wonderful excursion, thank you so much! Everything was top-notch.
Everything went perfectly, highly recommend!
We went to Kazbegi — Timur convinced us the special atmosphere was worth it. Snow by the church, silence. The most romantic day of the trip.