Mestia (Svaneti)

Svaneti & Kazbegi, Georgia

The main town of Svaneti, with medieval towers, two ski resorts (Hatsvali and Tetnuldi), and a food scene of a dozen restaurants.

Places in Mestia (Svaneti)

Mestia restaurant scene Part of a well-established food scene with a dozen great restaurants in Mestia.
Mestia specialty coffee shops At least two specialty coffee shops in Mestia's growing food scene.
Mestia cocktail bars and cafés A couple of cocktail bars complement the specialty coffee shops in Mestia.
Mestia cocktail bars A couple of cocktail bars as part of Mestia's well-established food and drink scene.

Best time to visit: June to September, when mountain passes are clear and hiking conditions in both Svaneti and Kazbegi are at their best.
Getting around: Kazbegi (Stepantsminda) is reached via a scenic 3-4 hour drive from Tbilisi; Mestia in Svaneti is more remote, with the Hatsvali Cable Car providing access to mountain views in summer and skiing at Hatsvali and Tetnuldi in winter.
Currency: Georgian Lari (₾)
Language: Georgian; Russian and English are widely understood.
Timezone: GET (UTC+4)
Current trends: The Svaneti-versus-Kazbegi debate remains a defining feature of Georgia's Caucasus tourism, with Kazbegi's more accessible 3-4 hour drive from Tbilisi and the iconic Gergeti Trinity Church view from Rooms Hotel Kazbegi's terraces drawing day-trippers, while Svaneti's remoteness, medieval towers, and growing food scene of a dozen restaurants and specialty coffee shops in Mestia reward travelers willing to go further into the High Caucasus.

Stepantsminda / Kazbegi town — Home to Rooms Hotel Kazbegi and Intourist Kazbegi, with views of Gergeti Trinity Church and Mount Kazbek.
Gergeti Trinity Church district — A stunningly located church providing superb hiking, framed against Mount Kazbek.