- In 2026 most paid sights in Georgia cost about 5 to 40 GEL ($2-15) for a foreign adult, and churches, monasteries and most fortresses are free.
- The caves and canyons around Kutaisi became noticeably dearer on 1 April 2026: Prometheus Cave and Martvili Canyon are about 40 GEL ($15) each for foreigners, with boat rides extra, while Georgian residents pay much less.
- Combo tickets from the Agency of Protected Areas save money: Prometheus Cave, Martvili Canyon and Kinchkha Waterfall together cost about 90 GEL ($33) instead of about 100 GEL bought separately.
- The Georgian National Museum in Tbilisi charges foreigners about 40 GEL ($15) and closes on Mondays; Uplistsikhe and Vardzia are about 15 GEL ($6) each.
- All prices here are approximate 2026 figures converted at about 2.7 GEL to the dollar; they change often, so treat them as a budget guide and check on the day.
A foreign adult usually pays between 5 and 40 GEL (about $2-15) to enter a paid sight in Georgia in 2026, and many of the country's best places, from Gergeti Trinity to Gelati, cost nothing at all. The big exceptions are the caves and canyons near Kutaisi, where prices for foreign visitors rose on 1 April 2026, and the main museums in Tbilisi, which now charge foreigners about twice the local rate.
Below you will find approximate 2026 ticket prices and typical opening hours for about 60 sights, grouped by region, with the combo tickets that cut costs, the discounts that actually apply to visitors, how to pay, what is free, and sample entrance budgets for common routes. Figures are given in GEL first, then US dollars, converted at roughly 2.7 lari per dollar. They are approximate, they change without much notice, and the ticket desk always has the final word.
How much do sights cost in Georgia in 2026?
Georgia runs three kinds of ticketed sight, and each sets prices its own way. The Agency of Protected Areas manages caves, canyons and national parks; the Georgian National Museum runs the big Tbilisi museums and several regional ones; and the National Agency for Cultural Heritage Preservation looks after cave towns and fortresses such as Uplistsikhe and Vardzia. A handful of private or municipal attractions, such as the Argo cable car in Batumi and the glass bridge at Dashbashi, set their own fares.
| Type of sight | Typical foreign adult price (approx. 2026) | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Churches, monasteries, most fortresses | Free | Svetitskhoveli, Jvari, Gergeti, Gelati, Ananuri, Narikala |
| National parks | Free entry; some charge about 5 GEL ($2) | Borjomi-Kharagauli, Lagodekhi, Tusheti free; Vashlovani about 5 GEL |
| Small regional museums | About 3-10 GEL ($1-4) | Kutaisi History Museum, Svaneti Museum, Dmanisi |
| Cave towns and heritage sites | About 15-20 GEL ($6-7) | Uplistsikhe, Vardzia, Rabati upper citadel |
| Caves and canyons near Kutaisi | About 12-40 GEL ($4-15) | Navenakhevi 12, Okatse 30, Prometheus 40, Martvili 40 |
| Big Tbilisi museums | About 40 GEL ($15) | Georgian National Museum, Art Museum of Georgia |
| Cable cars | About 1-39 GEL ($0.40-14) | Turtle Lake 1, Narikala 2.5, Mtatsminda 12, Argo 39 |
Why foreigners pay more
Since the 2024 to 2026 price rounds, most state sites have two tariffs: one for Georgian citizens and residents, who must show ID, and a higher one for everyone else. At Prometheus Cave a resident pays about 16 GEL and a visitor about 40 GEL. Children under 6 enter free almost everywhere, and children aged 6 to 18 usually pay a flat 5.50 GEL at protected areas, although the official wording ties that rate to residents, so expect the adult price for teenagers at some desks.
Kutaisi caves and canyons: Prometheus, Sataplia, Martvili and Okatse
This is where most visitors spend real money on tickets. All six sights below belong to the Agency of Protected Areas, which publishes its tariffs on apa.gov.ge, and all of them now open every day of the week. The Georgian-language pages carry the April 2026 prices; some of the English pages still show older, lower figures.
| Sight | Foreign adult (approx. 2026) | Extras | Usual hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prometheus Cave | 40 GEL ($15) | Boat on the underground river 30 GEL ($11); audio guide 7 GEL | 10:00-17:30 daily |
| Sataplia (dinosaur tracks, cave, glass deck) | 30 GEL ($11) | Guide included | 10:00-17:30 daily |
| Navenakhevi Cave | 12 GEL ($4) | Guide included | 10:00-17:30 daily |
| Martvili Canyon | 40 GEL ($15) | Boat about 20 GEL ($7); some guides report 30 GEL | 10:00-17:30 daily |
| Okatse Canyon walkway | 30 GEL ($11) | Local jeep to the trailhead optional | 10:00-17:30 daily |
| Kinchkha Waterfall | 20 GEL ($7) | None | 10:00-17:30 daily |
Combo tickets worth buying
If you plan two or three of these in one or two days, ask at the first ticket desk for a combined ticket. The approximate 2026 combos for foreign adults are:
- Prometheus Cave and Navenakhevi Cave: about 45 GEL ($17)
- Prometheus, Sataplia and Navenakhevi: about 75 GEL ($28), against about 82 GEL separately
- Prometheus, Martvili Canyon and Navenakhevi: about 85 GEL ($31)
- Prometheus, Martvili Canyon and Kinchkha Waterfall: about 90 GEL ($33), against about 100 GEL separately
- Martvili Canyon and Kinchkha Waterfall: about 50 GEL ($19)
- Okatse Canyon and Kinchkha Waterfall: about 40 GEL ($15), against about 50 GEL separately
- Martvili, Okatse and Kinchkha: about 80-90 GEL ($30-33); the agency's own pages disagree on the figure
Boat rides are never part of a combo. Prometheus sells the boat only to people holding an entry ticket, and both boats stop when heavy rain raises the water. Martvili's boat also has a minimum height for children, so families with small children should plan on the walking route only.
Our private canyons day from Kutaisi includes the tickets for Okatse, Kinchkha and Martvili and the Martvili boat when it runs, so you do not queue at any desk.
Tbilisi museums, sulphur baths and cable cars
Tbilisi's best views are free: walk up to Narikala, cross the Bridge of Peace, climb to the Chronicles of Georgia. You pay for the big museums, the cable cars and a soak in the baths.
| Sight | Foreign adult (approx. 2026) | Usual hours |
|---|---|---|
| Georgian National Museum (Simon Janashia) | 40 GEL ($15); students 15 GEL | Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00, last entry 17:30; closed Mondays |
| Art Museum of Georgia | About 40 GEL ($15) | Tue-Sun; treasury 11:00-17:00 |
| Open Air Museum of Ethnography | About 5-10 GEL ($2-4) | Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00 |
| Rike Park to Narikala cable car | 2.5 GEL ($1) one way | About 10:00-24:00 in summer, to 22:00 from November |
| Mtatsminda funicular | 12 GEL ($4) one way | Roughly 11:00-23:00 in summer |
| Rustaveli to Mtatsminda cable car | 12 GEL ($4) one way | Roughly 11:00-23:00 in summer, earlier in winter |
| Vake Park to Turtle Lake cable car | 1 GEL ($0.40) | Daytime into the evening; check it is running |
| Sulphur baths, public section | Under 15 GEL ($6) per person | Varies by bathhouse |
| Sulphur baths, private room | About 130-200 GEL ($48-74) per hour per room | By booking |
| National Botanical Garden | A few lari; last confirmed at 4 GEL | About 09:00-17:00 or later in summer |
Paying for the cable cars
The Narikala and Turtle Lake lines take the Metromoney card, which costs 2 GEL and also works on the metro and buses, or a contactless bank card tapped at the gate. Mtatsminda is different: the funicular and the newer cable car from Rustaveli Avenue both use a separate Mtatsminda Park card, also about 2 GEL, and the same card pays for rides in the amusement park at the top. Entry to the park itself is free.
Sulphur bath prices in practice
A private room is priced for the room, not per person, so four friends sharing one for an hour pay about 35 to 50 GEL each. A kisi scrub adds about 10 to 20 GEL. Book a room for Friday or Saturday evening a day or two ahead; on weekday mornings you can usually walk in.
For more on each of these, read our Tbilisi things-to-do article; the Tbilisi itinerary piece shows how they fit into two or three days.
Mtskheta, Gori, Uplistsikhe and Kvemo Kartli
The classic day west of Tbilisi is cheap. Mtskheta's churches are free, and two tickets cover the rest of the day.
| Sight | Foreign adult (approx. 2026) | Usual hours |
|---|---|---|
| Svetitskhoveli, Jvari, Samtavro (Mtskheta) | Free | Roughly 08:00-20:00; Jvari to about 19:00 |
| Uplistsikhe cave town | About 15 GEL ($6); audio guide about 10 GEL | About 10:00-18:00 daily, shorter in winter |
| Stalin Museum, Gori | About 15 GEL ($6) for halls, birth house and rail carriage | About 10:00-18:00 daily |
| Gori Fortress | Free | Open access |
| Ananuri Fortress | Free | Daylight; churches close in the evening |
| Dashbashi Canyon glass bridge | About 49-79 GEL ($18-29) | Daytime; closes in high wind |
| Dmanisi Museum-Reserve | A few lari (official page shows 3 GEL) | Tue-Sun 11:00-17:00 |
Uplistsikhe's price is reported to be the same for locals and foreigners, which makes it one of the better-value tickets in the country. At Dashbashi, walking down into the canyon is free; the fee is for the diamond-shaped glass bridge, and the swing, zip-line and sky-bike are sold separately.
For drive times and how to combine these places, see our guide to day trips from Tbilisi.
Vardzia, Rabati and Borjomi
| Sight | Foreign adult (approx. 2026) | Usual hours |
|---|---|---|
| Vardzia cave monastery | About 15 GEL ($6) | About 10:00-18:00, to about 17:00 in winter |
| Rabati Castle upper citadel, Akhaltsikhe | About 20 GEL ($7); lower courtyard free | About 09:00-18:00; museum closed Mondays |
| Khertvisi Fortress | Usually free | Daylight |
| Borjomi Central Park | A few lari (about 2-5 GEL) | Daytime |
| Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park | Free; registration compulsory | Visitor centres 09:00-18:00 weekdays, 09:00-16:00 weekends |
A rockfall in May 2026 closed a small part of Vardzia; most of the cave city is open, but the route may be shorter than older guides describe. Vanis Kvabebi, the older cave monastery a few kilometres away, has been closed to visitors for years, so you see it from the road. In Borjomi, the park cable car and the open-air sulphur pools beyond the park charge their own small fees.
Batumi and Adjara
| Sight | Foreign adult (approx. 2026) | Usual hours |
|---|---|---|
| Argo cable car | 39 GEL ($14), ages 5-11 9 GEL | 10:00-22:00 daily |
| Batumi Botanical Garden | About 25 GEL ($9); sources range from 15 to 25 | About 09:00-19:00 daily |
| Gonio-Apsaros Fortress | About 5-10 GEL ($2-4) | About 10:00-18:00 daily |
| Batumi Archaeological Museum | About 6 GEL ($2) | About 10:00-18:00, closed Mondays |
| Mtirala National Park | Free entry; zip-line 15 GEL, rope park 15 GEL | Season May-October |
| Machakhela National Park | Free entry | Season May-October |
The Argo ticket office sells combos with the attractions at the upper station for about 49 to 75 GEL; the plain cable car ticket is all most people need for the view. The Batumi Card, sold in the city, gives roughly a quarter off at the Botanical Garden and some other sights, which pays off if you stay several days.
Our Batumi travel guide has more on the garden, Gonio and the beaches.
Svaneti, Kazbegi and the mountains
In the high Caucasus you pay for transport far more than for tickets. Gergeti Trinity, the Ushguli villages and Lamaria church cost nothing to visit; the money goes on 4x4 rides and drivers.
| Sight | Foreign adult (approx. 2026) | Usual hours |
|---|---|---|
| Svaneti Museum of History and Ethnography, Mestia | About 10 GEL ($4) | Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00 |
| Hatsvali lifts, Mestia (winter day pass) | About 50 GEL ($19) | Ski season about late December-March |
| Ushguli villages and Lamaria Church | Free; small village museum a few lari | Daytime |
| Gergeti Trinity Church | Free; 4x4 up from Stepantsminda about 50-70 GEL per car | Daytime |
| Tusheti National Park | Free | Road open roughly June to early October |
The Svaneti Museum is the one ticket in Mestia that every visitor should buy: its icons, manuscripts and metalwork explain the towers you have been looking at all day. Allow an hour and a half.
For the Kazbegi side, our Kazbegi travel guide covers the walk to Gergeti and the 4x4 options.
National park fees and registration
Georgia's national parks rarely charge for entry. What they do ask is that you register, especially near borders, and that you pay for shelters, campsites and kit hire. Approximate 2026 figures from the Agency of Protected Areas:
| Park | Entry | Useful prices | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Borjomi-Kharagauli | Free | Shelter 30 GEL per person; campsite 5 GEL | Register at the Borjomi or Kharagauli visitor centre before hiking |
| Lagodekhi | Free | Shelter 30 GEL; tent hire 20 GEL | Bring ID copy for the Black Rock Lake and Machi trails |
| Vashlovani | About 5 GEL ($2) | Bungalow 40-50 GEL per room | Register in Dedoplistskaro; 4x4 only |
| Tusheti | Free | Shelter about 10 GEL | Border-zone trails need registration |
| Mtirala | Free | Zip-line 15 GEL | Season May-October |
| Kintrishi | Free | Shelter 15 GEL | 4x4 beyond Tskhemvani |
What is free to visit in Georgia
A surprising share of the country's headline sights have no ticket office at all. Working churches and monasteries never charge for entry, though some sell candles and ask for small donations. Free places include:
- Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, Jvari and Samtavro in Mtskheta
- Gelati Monastery, Bagrati Cathedral and Motsameta near Kutaisi
- Gergeti Trinity Church above Stepantsminda
- Ananuri Fortress on the Military Highway
- David Gareja Lavra (the Udabno ridge section has been closed to visitors since 2019)
- Bodbe Monastery and Alaverdi Cathedral in Kakheti
- Narikala Fortress, Sameba Cathedral, the Chronicles of Georgia, the Mother of Georgia and the Bridge of Peace in Tbilisi
- Katskhi Pillar, seen from the base (the top is not open to visitors)
- Chiatura's new cable cars, reported free or a token fare
Churches expect modest dress: shoulders and knees covered, and women cover their hair. Most large churches keep scarves and wrap skirts by the door. Services are free to watch from the back; keep phones silent and avoid flash.
Discounts, children, students and how to pay
Children and students
- Children under 6 enter free at almost every state site, museum and park.
- At protected areas, ages 6 to 18 pay about 5.50 GEL; check at the desk, as some staff apply it to resident children only.
- The Georgian National Museum gives foreign students and pupils a reduced rate of about 15 GEL with a valid card; the very low student prices you may see (0.5 to 2 GEL) are for Georgian students.
- At Navenakhevi Cave a European Youth Card brings the foreign price down to about 8.40 GEL.
Is there a museum pass?
There is no countrywide museum or sightseeing pass for visitors in 2026. The nearest things are the APA combo tickets for the Imereti caves and canyons, and the Batumi Card for Adjara. The Georgian National Museum's friends scheme and the Culture Card are aimed at residents.
Cards or cash
Large sites such as Prometheus, Martvili, the National Museum, Argo and the Tbilisi cable cars take Visa and Mastercard. Smaller museums, fortress towers, village museums and 4x4 drivers often want cash, so carry 50 to 100 GEL in small notes. Pay in lari: dollars and euros are not accepted at ticket desks. Card terminals do go down, especially in the mountains, so keep cash as a backup even where cards work.
Entrance fee budget for typical itineraries
Approximate ticket totals per foreign adult in 2026, without transport, guides or food. Our Georgia travel cost article sets these figures inside a complete daily budget.
| Route | What is included | Tickets per adult (approx. 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Tbilisi, 2 days | National Museum, Narikala cable car return, Mtatsminda return, park and transport cards, public sulphur bath | About 90 GEL ($33); about 150 GEL ($56) with a shared private bath room |
| Mtskheta, Gori and Uplistsikhe day | Mtskheta churches, Uplistsikhe, Stalin Museum | About 30 GEL ($11) |
| Kutaisi caves and canyons day | Prometheus, Martvili and Okatse, plus both boats | About 110 GEL ($41) without boats, about 160 GEL ($59) with them |
| Classic Georgia, 7 days | Tbilisi museum and cable cars, Mtskheta, Kazbegi, Uplistsikhe, Gori, Sighnaghi museum | About 120-200 GEL ($44-74) |
| Western Georgia, 5 days | Sataplia, Prometheus with boat, Martvili with boat, Okatse, Kinchkha, Gelati and Racha churches | About 180-210 GEL ($67-78), less with combos |
| Borjomi and Vardzia, 2 days | Borjomi park, Rabati upper citadel, Vardzia | About 40 GEL ($15) |
| Batumi, 2 days | Argo, Botanical Garden, Gonio, Archaeological Museum | About 80 GEL ($30) |
Most of our multi-day private tours include site tickets, cable cars and the Martvili boat in the price; each tour page lists exactly what is covered. They run on any date, for any group size.
Entrance fees in Georgia: FAQ
How much is the entrance fee for Prometheus Cave in 2026?
About 40 GEL ($15) for a foreign adult, with the underground boat ride about 30 GEL ($11) extra. Georgian citizens and residents pay about 16 GEL, children under 6 are free, and the cave is usually open 10:00 to 17:30 every day. Prices rose on 1 April 2026, so older blog figures of 17 to 23 GEL are out of date.
How much does Martvili Canyon cost?
The 2026 foreign tariff is close to 40 GEL ($15), and the boat adds about 20 GEL (some guides report 30 GEL). The canyon is open daily, usually 10:00 to 17:30. A combo with Prometheus Cave and Kinchkha Waterfall costs about 90 GEL.
Are churches in Georgia free to visit?
Yes. Working churches and monasteries, including Svetitskhoveli, Jvari, Gergeti Trinity, Gelati and David Gareja Lavra, have no entrance fee. Dress modestly, with shoulders and knees covered, and women should cover their hair.
Is the Georgian National Museum open on Mondays?
No. It opens Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 to 18:00, with last entry at 17:30, and it closes on public holidays. Visitors from abroad pay roughly 40 GEL ($15) in 2026, or about 15 GEL with a student card.
How much is the cable car to Narikala in Tbilisi?
About 2.5 GEL ($1) each way, paid with a Metromoney card or a contactless bank card. It usually runs from 10:00 to midnight in summer and to 22:00 from November.
How much are Vardzia and Uplistsikhe tickets?
About 15 GEL ($6) each for adults in 2026, up from about 7 GEL a few years ago. Both are usually open from about 10:00 to 18:00, with shorter hours in winter.
Can I pay entrance fees by card in Georgia?
At the large ones, yes: the cave and canyon visitor centres, the main Tbilisi museums, the Batumi ropeway and Tbilisi's cable car gates take Visa and Mastercard. Carry lari in cash for small museums, fortress towers and 4x4 drivers, and do not count on paying in dollars or euros.
Do children pay entrance fees in Georgia?
Children under 6 enter free almost everywhere. At protected areas such as caves and canyons, ages 6 to 18 usually pay about 5.50 GEL, and museums charge reduced rates for pupils.
