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Gudauri

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Alpine Adventures Await You

Gudauri stands high in Georgia’s mountains at over 2,000 meters above sea level. The town serves as a gateway to the Caucasus National Park and attracts visitors for skiing in winter and hiking in summer. Roads lead toward ancient churches and traditional villages where stone houses dot green valleys. Local cafes serve hearty Georgian food alongside views of snow-capped peaks. In spring, wildflowers line mountain trails while locals gather for festivals celebrating harvest and faith. Gudauri combines natural beauty with cultural traditions without needing extra embellishment.

Town in Georgia
Climate zone: Warm continental

Warm continental: Humid continental climates with warm summers, cold winters and evenly distributed precipitation, typical of northern interior mid-latitudes.

See climate table
Price level: $$$
$Cheap
$$Medium
$$$Expensive, upscale
$$$+Very expensive, luxury
See price details
Safety: 6.5
General Safety:7
Health & medical:6
Accessibility:4
Tap water:7
Read details
Tourist English: 3/5
While Georgian is the official language, English is moderately spoken, especially in tourist areas, hotels, and by younger residents.
Last update: 12 Oct 2026
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Gudauri Summary

These place ratings give you a quick overview of how well a destination matches different types of trips.

‘Best for’ scores:
The specific interest scores show where this place really shines – whether it's ideal for hiking, food & drink experiences, museums or other activities. These highlights help you understand what makes the destination special at a glance.

‘Your personal’ scores:
This reflects how well a place matches your personal preferences. You can adjust the importances of travel topics or other personal requirements categories in your account settings.

‘Suited for’ badges:
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Read how our scores work
Great for mountain skiing and alpine views. Ski wide slopes, try snowboarding or paragliding and enjoy dramatic Caucasus mountain scenery.
Place score
7.0
Best at:
Snow
9
Natural sites
9
Mountains
7
Skiing
7
Hiking
7
Personal score
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Log in to see how this place matches your personal travel interests.
Suited for
👶 7
Families
🧓 6
Seniors
🛡️ 8
Travel Beginners
💻 8
Digital Nomads
Georgia – Quick facts
Power Grid: 220 V, 50 Hz
Plug: Type C , Type F
Type C:
Diagram of a Type C power plug
Type F:
Diagram of a Type F power plug

Read about power adapters
Currency: Georgian Lari (GEL)
£1 ≈ GEL 3.45
Cashless info: Rating 5/5
Cashless payments are widely accepted in Georgia, especially in larger cities and tourist areas. Credit cards are commonly used in hotels, restaurants, and shops.

Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers: Best value: Saily
Flexibility: Airalo
Read our in-depth comparison
Tipping: Tipping is appreciated in Georgia, but not mandatory. A 5-10% tip is common in restaurants, and taxi drivers may expect small tips for good service.
Public drinking: Public drinking is prohibited in some areas of Georgia, but it is generally accepted in parks and other public spaces. Alcohol is commonly consumed in restaurants and bars.
Public smoking: Smoking is prohibited in indoor public spaces but allowed in designated outdoor areas.
Independence Day
(26 May)
Celebrates Georgia's independence from the Soviet Union
Christmas
(7 January)
Orthodox Christmas, widely celebrated
Emergency contact: Emergency Number: 112
Taxi apps: Bolt, Yandex
Other: Georgia is known for its stunning landscapes, ancient history, and unique culture. Popular attractions include the Caucasus mountains, vineyards, and historic monasteries.
Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Gudauri, Georgia
🌨️
Jan
🌨️
Feb
🌨️
Mar
🌨️
Apr
🌨️
May
⛈️
Jun
🌦️
Jul
🌦️
Aug
☀️
Sep
🌨️
Oct
🌨️
Nov
🌨️
Dec
High season: Jan. - March, Dec.
Shoulder season: April, June - Sep.
Crowdedness: 6 (Many tourists)
Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info
Ski season mid December to mid April, with lifts up to 3,250 m
Georgian Military Highway to Gudauri can close in heavy snow or avalanche risk, check conditions before driving
Tandem paragliding is offered in winter over the slopes and in summer over the valleys

Why travel to Gudauri?

Gudauri boasts pristine slopes suitable for all levels of skiers and snowboarders, complemented by modern lift systems and minimal crowds. Beyond winter sports, the resort offers year-round activities like hiking and paragliding, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the stunning natural beauty of the region.

🏯Places worth seeing
  • 1 Gergeti Trinity Church
  • 2 Jvari Monastery
  • 3 Kazbegi National Park
  • 4 Gveleti waterfall (small)
  • 5 Darial Gorge
  • 6 Truso Valley
  • 7 Georgia-Russia Friendship Monument
  • 8 Tsikhisdziri fortress
  • 9 Gergeti
🎡Places for activities
  • 1 Snow Park
  • 2 Gudauri tandem paragliding
  • 3 Gudamaqris Aragvi
  • 4 Goodaura
  • 5 Firni
  • 6 Kobi 1
🏞️Natural landmarks
  • 1 Truso Valley
  • 2 White Aragvi
  • 3 Jvari Pass
🛍️Shopping
  • 1 Authentic Georgian wines
🎈Events
  • Gudauri Ski Fest
  • Kazbegi Marathon
  • Tbilisi Open Air Festival
  • Rtveli Wine Harvest Festival
  • New Year Celebrations
  • Orthodox Christmas Festivities
  • Easter Feasts
  • Georgian Independence Day
  • Tushetoba Festival
  • Shatiloba Festival

Knowledge before you go

  • Winter road conditions change fast; plan flexible transfer times.
  • Stay in New Gudauri for ski-in access, rentals and easier dining options.
  • Pack layers and goggles; high altitude brings strong sun, wind and sudden whiteouts.
  • Take the Kobi–Gudauri cable car for huge Caucasus views, even if you don’t ski.

How to travel to Gudauri

The most common route to Gudauri is via Tbilisi, Georgia's capital. From Tbilisi International Airport, it's approximately a 2-hour drive along the Georgian Military Highway to Gudauri. Travelers can hire private taxis, join shuttle services or rent cars. Ensure vehicles are equipped for mountain driving, especially during winter months.

Access summary

  • From Tbilisi Airport (TBS): taxi or prebooked transfer, usually 2–3 hours.
  • From Tbilisi city: shared minibus or private transfer, around 2–3 hours.
  • Winter: mountain road can close or slow significantly during heavy snow.

Where to stay in Gudauri

Gudauri offers a range of accommodations, from luxury hotels to cozy guesthouses. Many establishments are ski-in/ski-out, providing direct access to the slopes. It's advisable to book in advance during peak seasons to ensure availability.

How to get around Gudauri

Getting around Gudauri is straightforward. The resort area is compact, making it easy to navigate on foot. For farther destinations like nearby villages or natural landmarks, local taxis and organized tours are available. During winter, shuttle services operate between major hotels and ski lifts.
Budget snapshot
Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-55 %
Daily expenses in the region are around 55% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend a lot less on meals and getting around.
Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

+7 %
Your exchange rate (GBP to GEL) is 7% worse than in recent years. That means travelling now is more expensive compared to the past.

Travel costs (Data for Vladikavkaz, Russia - 62 km away)

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

Backpacker Mid-range Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation
£41
£87
£201
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person
£19
£45
£105
🍝 Food per day
£21
£40
£92
🚕 Transportation per day
£2
£2
£4
Notable additional fees: Adult day pass about GEL 130 (£37.63). Ski, boot and pole hire runs roughly GEL 60 – 90 (£17.37 – 26.05) a day.
Food & Drink
🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person
£15
🍛 Lunch Set, per person
£12
🍟 Fast food combo
£10
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day
£6
☕ Cappuccino
£1
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l
£1.30
Transportation
🚌 Public transport ticket
£0.34
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi
£2.10
⛽ Petrol, 1 l
£0.55
Other
🎞️ Cinema ticket
£3.10
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult
£17
🤧 Cold medication
£4.80
💇 Basic haircut
£3.40

Safety information overview

General safety
7
Gudauri is generally safe for tourists. However, exercise standard precautions, especially during nighttime and in secluded areas.
Health & Medical
6
Medical facilities in Gudauri are basic. For serious conditions, Tbilisi offers comprehensive healthcare services. Travel insurance is recommended.
Accessi­bility
4
The mountainous terrain may pose challenges for travelers with mobility issues. Winter conditions can make certain areas less accessible.
Tap water
7
Tap water in Gudauri is generally safe to drink. However, some travelers prefer bottled water, readily available in local stores.

Packing recommendations for Gudauri

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