One of Georgia’s many beautiful mountain towns.
Is it Kazbegi or Stepantsminda? Stepantsminda is the town, Kazbegi is the mountain. But people just call the whole area Kazbegi (its old name). It’s not just the mountains that are beautiful but also the ride on the way here (from Tbilisi).
The big question is should you stay here or just do a 1-day tour from Tbilisi. I will absolutely recommend staying here. It’s beautiful and you need to see the sunrise and sunset for the full experience. Also being able to go around and take your time to take in the views. Instead of being rushed to take photos and jump back on the bus.
Weekend stay would be perfect. 2 nights for sure.
Where to stay:
- Guest House Elli & Cottages – my favorite place. Local but beautiful. Amazing view and acommodations. Although staying in the house is super cheap, super comfortable, and more than adequate…the private cottages/cabins are super fun! (Book early or else they’re taken.) Feels like you’re living in your own little mountain house. The views here feel like you’re living right in the mountains. If you can’t stay here, pick anything in the nearby range is also a good idea.
- Rooms Hotel – super expensive but totally worth it if you can afford, or if prices are cheap. The views here feels like you’re outside of the mountains, but on the same vertical level. Good thing is that you can still visit this hotel and eat at the cafe outside here (go in morning and afternoon) and enjoy the views without staying here. Combine this view with the one at Elli’s or any other mountain home and you’ll have multiple views of the beautiful mountains.
- Elsada – nice and cheap!
- Valley town center – DO NOT STAY HERE. It’s at the very bottom and not a beautiful view since you’ll have many city buildings around and also seems like you’re too low to appreciate the grandeur of the mountains. Also, I think it’s more expensive.
The main thing to consider when picking a place is the view you’re going to have and the accommodations or activities on-site. Since you’ll be home most of the time, except for maybe the occasional hike or tour to the monastery on the mountain, or going into the valley town for food.
Things to consider when picking a place with the best view:
- Easy outdoor access – easy way to quickly get outside, like a balcony or patio, is most ideal. So you can run out and enjoy a drink or smoke with the view.
- Window view – so you can enjoy the mountain view from the warm indoors.
- FRONT vs BACK view – the front mountains (with the monastery) is the main and best view. But if you have a place with back windows that let you see the mountain range in the back, it’s also nice. For sure the FRONT VIEW is the main one. The back is just a bonus but not necessary.
If you absolutely can’t find a place with a nice view, don’t worry. You can just go outside and see the view there from the street. Of course, it won’t be as magical as waking up to the view from your bed in the morning. Or having a nice balcony from which you can drink wine at sunset.
Hostels:
- sdfdf
Neighborhoods & Walking areas:
- Uphill (Rooms Hotel) –
- Central (mountain homes) –
- Downhill area (valley center) –
These are official area names, it’s just how I divided to help give you an understanding. Basically…the Kazbegi mountain town centers in the valley…with the town center at the bottom of the valley (considered “downhill”). The main Kazbegi mountains (with the monastery) are on one side of the valley. Other side of the valley has another set of mountains…and the hotels and mountain homes with nicer views are placed from the town center uphill towards these other mountains. Obviously they have better views since they’re situated higher and have a more direct view of the mountains without ugly buildings and city stuff in the way. You see much more “nature” in your view.
Activities to do:
- Gergeti Trinity Church – you can hike here (1-1.5hrs) or take the shuttle bus (much more recommended), because why waste time walking when you can save time to spend at the top? In case you’re wondering if the hike is picturesque, I’d guess it’s not. The path my shuttle van took had lots of trees and ugly power lines and rocks. We didn’t get much of a view until we nearly reached the top. Because I think the path goes BEHIND the mountain. So it’s not like you’re getting a view of the town below. Anyway, you can try the hike and report back to me.
- Walk around the streets – by our accommodation. Enjoy the mountain views, cows and horses. Watch for street dogs.
- Walk around town center – not much to do or see IMO. Just go here to buy wine and eat at a restaurant.
- Wine-tasting @ monastery – there’s wine tasting right at the mens/womens monastery. I gotta go get the name.
- Mountain trekking – yeah, you can hike up the Kazbegi mountain. Takes about 10 hours and you will get oh such amazing views. But I really had no interest in it. The shuttle bus up the Gergeti Trinity Church was enough mountain visuals for me. But my friends who went had incredible photos…so there’s that.
Restaurants & Cafes:
- Rooms Hotel – awesome place to go for lunch and be amazed by the mountain view.
- Otherwise…you can go down and each in the town center.
Bars & Clubs:
- Rooms Hotel – a great place to catch views of the mountain.
Tour stops:
In case you want to do a 1-day tour…these are generally the things you’d see along the way. I list them here for you to look up.
- Jinvali Water Reservoir – big open water with tourist shops and photo ops
- Ananuri Castle – cute castle by the water
- Russian Georgian Friendship Monument – awesome giant tiled wall with picturesque mountain views
- Gergeti Trinity Church – beautiful church on top of mountain offering views of the town below
- Rooms Hotel – probably the best (elevated) view of the Kazbegi mountain
Miscellaneous tips:
Nearby towns:
- Tbilisi –