Frequently Asked Questions

You can book a shared group tour, hire a private driver, or rent a car. Group tours cost $40-90+ USD. Driving yourself takes 4 to 4.5 hours one way.

The entry fee for foreign adults is 15 GEL. There is an optional 2 GEL shuttle bus to skip the uphill walk to the caves. Read our Ticket Price Guide guide for details.

Yes, it is the standard day-trip itinerary from Tbilisi. It requires 12 to 14 hours and covers over 500 kilometers round-trip. See One Day Itinerary for logistics.

The lower courtyard with shops and restaurants is free. To enter the upper historic citadel and mosque, you must pay a 20 GEL fee. More info is in our Rabati Entry Guide guide.

Wear grippy hiking shoes for the stone paths. To enter the Church of the Dormition, modest dress is strictly required: shoulders and knees must be covered, and women must cover their hair. Read our Vardzia Dress Code guide.

Entry typically costs around 5 GEL, though the fee is sometimes waived depending on the season.

Yes. You can taste the natural, warm, uncarbonated mineral water for free at the pavilion inside the park. It has a sulfuric and salty taste.

The drive takes 4 to 4.5 hours one way by car. Group tours stretch this by stopping at Borjomi and Rabati along the route.

Yes. Many operators offer shared group minibus tours and private car tours. Prices start at $43 USD for group trips and up to $175 USD for private tours. Check Tickets for options.

The famous lifetime portrait of Queen Tamar is located as a fresco inside the Church of the Dormition, situated within the cave complex.

Yes, it is a significant 12th-century historical site with 13 levels and over 300 surviving rooms carved directly into the mountain.

While an exact count is not verified, you will climb multiple steep flights across the 13 vertical levels of the complex.