Georgia Weather in December
Georgia weather in December brings the start of the ski season. Gudauri, Bakuriani, Tetnuldi and Goderdzi usually open during the month, with Gudauri staying around -1 °C (30 °F) at midday and close to -8 °C (18 °F) overnight. Tbilisi is cool and dry, about 8 °C (46 °F) in the afternoon and near freezing after dark, and its streets fill with New Year lights. The coast is the soft option: Batumi averages about 14 °C (57 °F), the mildest figure in the country, though it rains on about 13 days.
Black Sea coast
Batumi is the warmest spot in the country this month: highs near 14 °C, lows near 7 °C. The sea, at about 14 °C, is warmer than at any point from January to April. It is wet, with about 277 mm over 13 days, and Gonio near the Turkish border gets more, around 322 mm. Anaklia is the least rainy, about 147 mm. Expect a quiet, off-season seafront.
Kutaisi and the western lowlands
Kutaisi stays mild, with highs of about 11 °C, lows of about 5 °C and roughly 143 mm of rain over 11 days. Zugdidi is milder still at about 13 °C. Frost is rare in the lowlands, but upland towns such as Oni in Racha slip below freezing at night. It is a grey, damp month, yet it still suits monastery and cave visits around Kutaisi and Tskaltubo.
Tbilisi, Kakheti and the east
Tbilisi has a dry, chilly December: about 8 °C by day, 1 °C at night and just 21 mm of rain or snow over 4 days. Snow is possible but seldom stays long. The Tbilisi International Film Festival runs early in the month, and New Year markets and lights take over the city centre from mid-December. Around Kvareli and Lagodekhi, afternoons are slightly milder at about 9-10 °C, while Gori and Borjomi fall to -2 or -3 °C at night.
Mountains (1,300 m and higher)
Lifts usually start turning in December, often in the second half. Gudauri stays below freezing by day, about -1 °C; Tetnuldi above Mestia is colder, near -10 °C at night, and Goderdzi in Adjara is the snowiest of the four resorts, with about 134 mm over 15 days. Kazbegi is surprisingly dry, about 28 mm. The Jvari Pass road can close for snow or avalanche risk, and winter tyres are required on listed mountain roads from 1 December.
December weather in every place
| Place | High °C | Low °C | Rain | Rain days | Sea °C |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Sea coast | |||||
| Batumi | 14° | 7° | 277 mm | 13 | 14° |
| Anaklia | 13° | 8° | 147 mm | 12 | 14° |
| Gonio | 13° | 7° | 322 mm | 15 | 14° |
| Sarpi | 13° | 7° | 304 mm | 14 | 14° |
| Grigoleti | 13° | 4° | 189 mm | 13 | 14° |
| Chakvi | 13° | 6° | 322 mm | 14 | 14° |
| Shekvetili | 13° | 4° | 232 mm | 13 | 14° |
| Poti | 13° | 5° | 162 mm | 13 | 14° |
| Ureki | 13° | 4° | 209 mm | 13 | 14° |
| Kobuleti | 13° | 4° | 270 mm | 12 | 14° |
| Kutaisi and the western lowlands | |||||
| Zugdidi | 13° | 4° | 143 mm | 11 | |
| Lanchkhuti | 13° | 3° | 217 mm | 14 | |
| Ozurgeti | 13° | 2° | 258 mm | 14 | |
| Tskaltubo | 12° | 5° | 193 mm | 13 | |
| Martvili | 11° | 3° | 177 mm | 13 | |
| Kutaisi | 11° | 5° | 143 mm | 11 | |
| Chiatura | 9° | 0° | 111 mm | 11 | |
| Ambrolauri | 7° | −2° | 91 mm | 10 | |
| Khulo | 7° | −1° | 198 mm | 15 | |
| Oni | 6° | −2° | 87 mm | 10 | |
| Lentekhi | 6° | −3° | 142 mm | 12 | |
| Sairme | 6° | −3° | 88 mm | 13 | |
| Tbilisi, Kakheti and the east | |||||
| Rustavi | 10° | 1° | 19 mm | 4 | |
| Lagodekhi | 10° | 3° | 40 mm | 6 | |
| Kvareli | 9° | 2° | 42 mm | 6 | |
| Gurjaani | 9° | 2° | 32 mm | 5 | |
| Marneuli | 9° | 0° | 19 mm | 4 | |
| Telavi | 8° | 0° | 29 mm | 5 | |
| Tbilisi | 8° | 1° | 21 mm | 4 | |
| Bolnisi | 8° | 0° | 21 mm | 4 | |
| Mtskheta | 8° | 0° | 26 mm | 5 | |
| Sighnaghi | 8° | −1° | 32 mm | 5 | |
| Dedoplistskaro | 7° | −1° | 21 mm | 5 | |
| Gori | 7° | −2° | 34 mm | 7 | |
| Borjomi | 6° | −3° | 38 mm | 7 | |
| Ananuri | 6° | −4° | 36 mm | 6 | |
| Surami | 5° | −2° | 75 mm | 10 | |
| Akhaltsikhe | 5° | −5° | 25 mm | 6 | |
| Pasanauri | 4° | −4° | 52 mm | 5 | |
| Mountains (1,300 m and higher) | |||||
| Tsalka | 4° | −7° | 22 mm | 5 | |
| Vardzia | 4° | −6° | 19 mm | 5 | |
| Kojori | 4° | −4° | 31 mm | 6 | |
| Shatili | 4° | −4° | 32 mm | 5 | |
| Abastumani | 3° | −7° | 50 mm | 10 | |
| Akhalkalaki | 2° | −9° | 31 mm | 6 | |
| Bakhmaro | 2° | −7° | 163 mm | 15 | |
| Mestia | 2° | −5° | 77 mm | 11 | |
| Gomismta | 1° | −8° | 260 mm | 17 | |
| Mazeri | 1° | −6° | 93 mm | 11 | |
| Bakuriani | 1° | −8° | 54 mm | 9 | |
| Kazbegi (Stepantsminda) | 1° | −6° | 28 mm | 5 | |
| Goderdzi | 1° | −8° | 134 mm | 15 | |
| Omalo (Tusheti) | 0° | −8° | 28 mm | 5 | |
| Ninotsminda | 0° | −10° | 26 mm | 6 | |
| Paravani Lake | 0° | −11° | 35 mm | 8 | |
| Adishi | −1° | −9° | 103 mm | 12 | |
| Gudauri | −1° | −7° | 95 mm | 10 | |
| Ushguli | −1° | −9° | 136 mm | 13 | |
| Juta | −2° | −9° | 59 mm | 7 | |
| Tetnuldi | −2° | −10° | 99 mm | 12 | |
| Abano Pass | −7° | −15° | 51 mm | 6 | |
| Mount Kazbek | −21° | −27° | 77 mm | 9 | |
Ski season: Gudauri, Tetnuldi, Bakuriani, Goderdzi usually run lifts in December from mid-month.
What December is good for
December is for skiing, festive Tbilisi and a mild coastal break. Ski Gudauri or Bakuriani once the lifts open, ideally after mid-month, and pair the trip with Tbilisi's film festival, markets and New Year lights. Kakheti's cellars are cosy for winter tastings, and Batumi offers seaside walks at about 14 °C. Leave Tusheti, Khevsureti and the Ushguli-Lentekhi road for summer, and keep a buffer day if you drive to Kazbegi. The weather in Georgia in December rules out swimming and high hiking.
Festivals and holidays in December
What to pack for Georgia in December
- Ski gear, goggles and a helmet for Gudauri or Bakuriani
- Warm coat and scarf for the New Year markets
- Umbrella and waterproof boots for Batumi
- Winter tyres or chains for mountain roads
- Thermal base layers for resort nights near -8 °C
Georgia in December: weather FAQ
Can you ski in Georgia over the New Year holidays?
Usually, yes. Gudauri, Bakuriani, Tetnuldi and Goderdzi normally have their lifts running by late December, though opening dates depend on each winter's snow, so check before booking. At Gudauri, late-December afternoons hover just below freezing, about -1 °C (30 °F), and nights reach about -8 °C (18 °F), with snow on around 10 days. The holiday weeks are the busiest of the season.
Does it snow in Tbilisi in December?
Sometimes, but rarely for long. Tbilisi's highs are about 8 °C (46 °F) and its lows about 1 °C (34 °F), and December brings only about 21 mm of precipitation over 4 days. When snow does fall, it rarely survives more than a day or two on the streets. For reliable snow, Gudauri is about two hours' drive north.
Which is the mildest place for a December trip?
The coast. Batumi tops the list with about 14 °C (57 °F) on a typical afternoon and 7 °C (45 °F) overnight, and Anaklia and Zugdidi are close behind at about 13 °C. The trade-off is rain: about 277 mm in Batumi over 13 days, roughly half that in Anaklia. Kutaisi, at about 11 °C (52 °F), is the mild option inland.
Can you drive the Georgian Military Road in December?
Yes, it stays open in winter, but the stretch between Gudauri and Kobi over the Jvari Pass can close completely for hours or days in snowstorms or when avalanche risk is high. Winter tyres or chains are often required. Kazbegi itself averages about 1 °C (34 °F) by day and -6 °C (21 °F) at night. Allow a spare day and check the road notices before setting off.
December in the cities
Planning a trip this month? Read Georgia (the Country) in December: Weather, Ski Season and What to Do (2026 Guide).
Travelling in December?
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