Vardzia ვარძია
Vardzia, Georgia
Vardzia is a cave monastery in the Samtskhe–Javakheti region of Georgia, dating back to the 12th century. It is designated as a Cultural Monument of National Importance and is the 6th most looked-up sight in the country on English Wikipedia. The site, situated at an elevation of 1300 meters, maintains a connection to Eastern Orthodoxy.
Planning a visit
The site experiences distinct seasonal changes, which impact accessibility and comfort. Summers are the most suitable time for a visit, with daily highs reaching 23 °C in July and August. Winters are cold, with temperatures often dropping between -11 °C and -8 °C, while rainfall is most frequent during the spring months, particularly in May when precipitation reaches 102 mm. Planning travel around the warmer, drier months allows for easier exploration of the site.
Vardzia is open to the public daily from 10:00 to 19:00. Transportation to the site is primarily by road. The nearest airport is Shirak International Airport in Gyumri, Armenia, which is 85 km away. Travelers arriving from Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, will find the site 131 km away.
Weather by month
The warmest month is August, with an average high of 23 °C. The wettest is May, with about 102 mm of rain.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high, °C | -1 | 1 | 5 | 11 | 16 | 20 | 23 | 23 | 19 | 14 | 7 | 1 |
| Average low, °C | -11 | -9 | -6 | 0 | 5 | 9 | 13 | 13 | 9 | 4 | -2 | -8 |
| Rainfall, mm | 29 | 32 | 41 | 64 | 102 | 99 | 71 | 64 | 54 | 49 | 45 | 31 |
| Rainy days | 12 | 11 | 14 | 13 | 18 | 17 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 12 |
Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for this spot (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.
