We may earn affiliate commissions from websites we link to, at no cost to you. Click here for details.
If you have three or four weeks, you can travel slowly and enjoy this beautiful part of the world.
I would suggest spending a little bit more time in Georgia, which is undoubtedly the gem of this region.
This Georgia Armenia Azerbaijan itinerary is helpful for any first-time visitor as these countries are relatively unknown to many. Perhaps it’s due to their location?
Located in between Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, it’s harder to include them in regional travels, and international travellers have discovered them only recently.
But don’t expect not to see tourists – there are plenty of them, especially in Georgia.
Firstly, there are three countries known as the Caucasus: Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan.
Secondly, there are also three disputed territories in the Caucasus: Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Nagorno-Karabakh.
The borders between Armenia and Azerbaijan are completely closed and it is impossible to travel between the two. Therefore it makes sense to follow this itinerary and do it in reverse.
The best time to visit is during the warmest months of summer (July & August) and the shoulder season of May, June and September.
On the other hand, if you love wine you can visit for rtveli – an annual grape harvest held in September in Georgia.
All three countries, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, are affordable. For example, we spent around 30 euros per person per day staying in guesthouses or apartments (we used Booking.com) and primarily used public transport.
In a nutshell, we found Armenia to be the cheapest and Azerbaijan more expensive, mainly due to the higher accommodation cost.
Each country has its local language: Georgian, Armenian, and Azeri. Armenian and Georgian languages have their alphabet.
But most young people do speak English, especially in Georgia. Older locals speak Russian, as all three countries were once part of the Soviet Union.
The three countries use different currencies. In Georgia, they use the Lari; in Armenia the Dram; and in Azerbaijan, they use the Manat.
There are plenty of ATMs, and it’s helpful to have some euros in cash, sometimes, you can get a better exchange rate on the ground.
Most nationals travelling to Georgia or Armenia as tourists do not require a visa. Currently, British and EU citizens enjoy a visa-free regime.
However, you will need a visa for Azerbaijan. Visit the Evisa page to get more info: https://evisa.gov.az/en/
Cover up when visiting orthodox churches in Georgia and Armenia. Women must cover their heads and must wear long skirts (even if you’re wearing pants). Please note that men must wear long pants.
Many monasteries will provide a box of scarves for women to borrow during your visit, but it’s better to bring or buy your own. The large scarves provided are to be tied around your waist.
Arrive in Baku, Azerbaijan. A few flights connect Baku internationally. For instance, Qatar Airways & Etihad flights are usually the best for intercontinental travellers.
And Wizzair offers low-cost flights to Budapest, Europe.
Check-in and head out to the UNESCO World-Heritage-listed Old City. The main highlights of the city centre are the Palace of the Shirvanshahs, the Maiden Tower, Baku Boulevard, and Fountain Square.
The Flame Towers are a symbol of Baku and for the best views, you can enjoy a drink or meal in the Fairmount Hotel restaurant.
Set out early to visit Qobustan. You could certainly try to negotiate a taxi to drive you there and back as public transport can be challenging. But, to save you a lot of hassle, we recommend you book this day trip on Viator. It will provide you with much in-depth experience.
Qobustan is home to UNESCO World Heritage-listed petroglyphs, and it has a small museum.
It’s located 67km away from Baku along the Caspian Coast. Therefore organising a day trip instead of public transport might be a great idea.
On your final day in Baku – visit places in the old town you missed on your first one. Enjoy cafes and shopping.
You can either book a flight with Skyscanner from Baku to Tbilisi in Georgia with Azerbaijan Airlines ( around 140 USD) or choose the overnight train!
There are three types of train tickets. I recommend the first class, which is a private compartment with two beds for two people. It costs around 35 USD.
If that is not available, book the second-class sleeper, which consists of a private compartment with four beds for four people. We shared this with a teacher from Dagestan. Train travel is a fantastic way to see the countryside and to meet locals.
Train 38 leaves Baku every day at 20:40, arriving in Tbilisi at 08:55. You can easily buy a ticket from Baku to Tbilisi at https://ticket.ady.az – select English top right and book from Baku-Pass to Tbilisi-Pass.
You must collect your ticket at least 1 hour before departure. Or buy the ticket a day before.
Where to stay in Baku? View ALL Accommodation Options here.
*You might arrive the night before if taking the flight instead of the overnight train
You will fall in love with the capital of Georgia, Tbilisi. The old town is full of amazing eateries, bars, and cafes, and people are smiley and welcoming. In other words, it is a city that will get under your skin.
Next, find the famous clock tower. Then try the local khinkali and more of the fantastic Georgian cuisine. You can find some great recommendations for Georgian meals to try in our posts about what to eat in Georgia.
Spend the day exploring the old town, walk across the Peace Bridge and then head up to Narikala Fortress which offers excellent views of the city.
Where to stay in Tbilisi:
Georgia is known for amazing wine, and it is considered the birthplace of today’s winemaking. Georgian wines are named according to the source region, village, or district just like in France.
We recommend this day trip to Kakheti wine region (includes 7 tastings) from Tbilisi. This is the most popular region to visit from the capital.
If you have some extra time, you could also spend a day or two here in the beautiful cobblestoned village of Sighnaghi.
You can reach Kakheti by shared or private taxi from ISANI Metro Station – pay 40 GEL for a private car or 10 GEL per seat. You won’t wait longer than 30-40 minutes.
If you’re on a budget and have more time you could get there on a minibus or local Mashrtuka for just 6 GEL. They depart from Samgori Metro station every 2 hours and usually take up to 2.5 hours.
While you could easily spend another day (or a week) in Tbilisi, you should consider another day trip to Kazbegi.
You have probably seen a picture of the Gergeti Trinity Church before – it might have been a reason you put Georgia on your bucket list.
To get to Kazbegi you will need to take a Marshrutka to the town of Stepantsminda. Marshrutkas leave every 4 hours from the outside of Didube Metro station and take about 3 hours.
Due to the time getting up and down and possibly trekking to the Gergeti Trinity Church (which takes around 4 hours as a round trip if walking, but hiring a taxi would be faster), an overnight in Kazbegi is required – we stayed at this wonderful guesthouse.
You could visit Kazbegi on a day trip and return to Tbilisi the same day.
You could spend the full day in Tbilisi, but for a nearby experience, visit the former capital and UNESCO-listed Mtskheta.
Getting there on local transport is easy and cheap, or hire a taxi (40 minutes). While you’re there, check out the sixth-century Georgian Orthodox Jvari Monastery. If you head there early, you will have the afternoon-evening back in the capital – for more delicious food.
Here are the Top 9 best cafes in Tbilisi.
Alternatively, you could also visit Davit Gareja Monastery.
You would return from Kazbegi or Mtshekta the day before and overnight in Tbilisi. Now it’s time to head up to the famous Svaneti region and the town of Mestia. Known for the famous stone towers and villages isolated from the rest of Georgia and the world.
The Svaneti region is so unique its people have their own Svan language.
Getting here takes all day or nine hours by marshrutka from Tbilisi Station Square. However, there are some epic views en route, and you will stop for lunch.
Alternatively, you could choose to fly up here with Vanilla Sky Airlines (Which can be booked via a local agent only), or you could break the journey in Kutaisi, but I suggest doing that on the way back.
It is up to you how you spend the free day. You could hike up to the Mestia Cross, explore the small town of Mestia and check out the Svaneti Museum of History and Ethnography. You could trek to Chaladi Glacier.
Or, ideally, head to the picturesque town of Ushguli – the highest settlement in Europe at an elevation of 2,200m above sea level.
We have spent five days in Svaneti, so trust me, there is plenty to do, but even two nights will give you a taste of this region.
Where to stay in Svaneti: Set in Mestia, Mestia House is an excellent place to stay—clean, spacious rooms with comfortable beds and a great breakfast.
View more hotels/guesthouses in Mestia
Take a marshrutka from Mestia to Kutaisi, it takes about 5 hours. Spend the afternoon exploring the town. Check out the Kutaisi Green Bazaar and the old town. You could add two nights here and visit Imareti – another wine region on a free day.
Where to Stay in Kutaisi: My top pick is the comfortable Old Kutaisi Bed & Breakfast, just a short walk from the centre of town and fantastic breakfast included in the room rate, from $15/night.
Check out more accommodations in Kutaisi
Continue the journey to Tbilisi on local marshrutka. This will take you about 4 hours. Then spend the afternoon at your leisure.
However, this is a great opportunity to check out some of the best cafes in Tbilisi or explore different neighbourhoods.
If you were trying to make up some time you could head to Yerevan the same day – please note it takes 6 hours so it would be a full day of travel.
Start your day early and say goodbye to Georgia. Take the minivan (marshrutka) from Metro Station Avlabari. The journey will take about 5 or 6 hours.
Where to stay in Yerevan:
Yerevan feels very different to Baku or Tbilisi. It is a huge city; there are cafes, cool wine/jazz bars and some epic squares. Furthermore, the food is also incredible, and the capital has a few fantastic places to eat.
Don’t miss the Yerevan Cascade, the Vernissage, the Armenian Genocide Memorial and the Republican Square. Also, if you want to try something very Armenian – try Ararat brandy.
Or let a local guide take you around to see the city’s highlights in a classic car on this Yerevan City Tour.
If you were short on time you could fly out today after spending 2 weeks in the Caucasus making the perfect Georgia Armenia Azerbaijan itinerary.
But I do hope you have more time to see more of Armenia because it’s worth it.
Today, head out to Dilijan – known as the Switzerland of Armenia. You want to leave on the first mashrutka so you can return on the last one, which goes around 4 pm. The journey takes about 1.5 hours.
Dilijan is home to a few Armenian cultural sites like the Haghartsin Monastery or Goshavank Monastery.
But I suggest you go to Parz Lake first – a popular spot for locals during summer. This is the largest body of water in Armenia. Also, you can rent a boat or enjoy the scenery.
Tell the driver in Yerevan that you want to go to Lake Sevan. He will charge you a little bit more to drop you off, but it will save you the hassle of getting another bus from Dilijan.
On the other hand, you could also visit Garni, Gegard and Lake Sevan on a day trip.
After the lake, head into Dilijan town. You can spend some time in the spa town or, if you are keen – Visit Haghartsin Monastery, which is about 30 minutes away.
After that, return to Yerevan in the late afternoon.
Enjoy having Yerevan as a base. Next up, head to the World Heritage Site carved out of the rock face at the Azat River Gorge – the famous Geghard Monastery.
The monastery is incredible, but you will probably be one of the few visitors there. The monastery was built in the 13th century; you can visit its grounds.
If you are taking public transport, you must pay for a taxi from the town of Goght, but it was no problem for us.
I would understand if you prefer to spend an extra day in Yerevan.
But if you wish to get out there again and see another fantastic monastery, this time with amazing landscape views, then Noravank is perfect.
There are day trips you can choose here to make it easier, or head out here on public transport. Come early (depart at 8 am), and you will have the place to yourself.
Consisting of different tower-like churches, Noravank is different to Geghard.
To get here, catch a marshrutka from the Arshakunyats Bus Station heading to Yeghednadzor – it will take 2 hours.
During the trip, tell the driver that you are going to the monastery. As a result, he will drop you off outside Edem Restaurant.
Then, you can catch a taxi, hitchhike, or walk the 6 km to the monastery.
The time has come to leave. However, with some great cheap flights with Wizzair (always find the best deals on Skyscanner), you can get to Europe for a fraction of the cost!
If you are flying internationally, you can fly with Qatar Airways via Doha and virtually anywhere.
Get Connected with eSIM
Get connected easily on your travels—buy an eSIM! It works like an app: buy it, download it, and get connected in minutes! It’s easy, affordable, and convenient. Keep your original phone number, too!
Planning the perfect Georgia-Armenia-Azerbaijan itinerary can seem overwhelming at first – but if you fly into Baku and follow this itinerary, you’ll be able to visit the highlights.
If you have less time, then I recommend flying in and spending your time between Georgia and Armenia. If I had to choose a week, I would stick to Georgia – you could base yourself in the capital and do day trips.
Don’t be afraid to choose fabulous day trips with Viator or Get Your Guide if you are not keen on travelling independently.
In short, these will make your travels effortless. Firstly you’ll learn a lot from your guides, and secondly, you will meet other visitors too.
Since many tours are very reasonably priced, it’s worth considering them while here.
We recommend G Adventures. This small-group adventure in Georgia & Armenia is ideal.
Alternatively, search Tourradar for the best tour suited to your travel style!
This region of the world has some incredible cuisine. Check out our detailed post about what to eat in Georgia – a food lover’s guide.
We’ve found the 9 best cafes in Tbilisi, and we explain where to stay in Tbilisi and some fantastic areas to choose from.
And when you’re visiting Azerbaijan, I recommend you visit Nakhchivan, the fascinating exclave of Azerbaijan.
The cuisine in Azerbaijan is fantastic! Don’t miss these 10 most popular dishes.
We have many travel guides and tips for Asia— a fascinating continent!
Delicious cuisine can be enjoyed across Asia, and our food map of Asia will inspire your food journey.
These top 5 best street foods in Asia are unmissable! We explain Central Asian food, including seven popular foods in this region.
Our Southeast Asia packing list will be helpful if you’re travelling here.
Furthermore, if you plan to travel long-term (or at least until the money runs out), these 21 cheapest countries to visit will help you make your hard-earned dollars stretch a bit further.
Not surprisingly, our top 10 best countries for food lovers include a few Asian countries.
You’ll need to stay connected while travelling in Asia. We recommend eSIM. It’s easy, reliable and affordable. View eSIMs for individual Asian countries, or consider a regional eSIM for Asia (which covers 18 countries).
If your travels in Asia are part of a much larger global adventure, then a Global eSIM may be the answer. It connects you in 124 countries, offering data-only eSIM and data/call/text eSIM. The Global eSIM has been a game-changer; we couldn’t imagine travelling without it now.
If you want to travel with like-minded travellers, consider joining a group tour. Check out our Group Tours first for any upcoming departures in Asia, or view Tourradar for great deals on tours in Asia.
Check out our best-ever travel tips compiled from more than twenty years of experience.
✈️ Flights: We use Skyscanner to book cheap flights worldwide.
🏨 Accommodation: Booking.com is our preferred platform for booking hotels and accommodation. We use Vrbo to book apartments and long-term stays.
🏥 Travel Insurance: We recommend Heymondo (Get 15% off Heymondo) & SafetyWing
🚌 Transportation: Trainline is the best website to reserve trains. We use Omio to book transport worldwide. For travel in Asia, we use 12Go.
🚘 Car Rental: We use DiscoverCars to book rental cars worldwide.
👫 Group Tours: We now offer Group Trips; view them here! Alternatively, we recommend searching the Tourradar website. For Europe, Expat Explore is a good choice. *Get 5% off when you quote code VERYHUNGRYNOMADS to your Expat reservations agent. (*Valid for new clients only).
📸 Day Tours & Trips: GetYourGuide & Viator are the only two platforms you need.
📚 Lonely Planet: The Best Range of Travel Guides & Ebooks, and FREE Shipping! (use code RACHELDAVEY10 for a 10% discount)
🎒 Luggage: Osprey Farpoint 40L Backpack or Samsonite Luggage Range.
🛄 What to Pack: Don’t forget your Universal charger and a good power bank. To help you pack the essentials, here is our ULTIMATE Packing List for all Travellers.
🐶 Become a House Sitter: Join Trusted Housesitters and enjoy FREE accommodation worldwide. Use our invite to receive 25% off your new membership.
💰 Send Money Anywhere: WISE & Revolut are the best online accounts that let you send money, get paid, and spend money internationally. Both are so easy to use and way cheaper than any bank transfer.
📶 Stay Connected: Airalo eSIM lets you get connected when you land at your destination. We LOVE this product! Use code MARTIN9009 to get $3 off your first Airalo eSIM (new users only) OR click here to SAVE 15% off your eSIM(valid till 31/12/2025).
✅ Check out our Travel Gear and Travel Resources for more valuable tips to save you money!
