Tbilisi · Month comparison

December vs September

September ranks #1 overall vs December at #9. The grape harvest arrives — Rtveli season makes September the most culturally charged month in the Georgian year.

Tbilisi December — wooden-balconied houses in the old quarter on a quiet winter evening

December

#9 of 12 months

Strong option

Cold and quiet with New Year approaching — the sulphur baths are at their best and prices are near their floor.

  • ↑New Year is celebrated with real enthusiasm in Tbilisi; Rustaveli Avenue hosts outdoor celebrations and the Georgian New Year tradition (Alilo processions begin in the days before Christmas) gives December a distinctive festive character
  • ↑The sulphur baths of Abanotubani are at their finest in December cold — the contrast between the frigid outside air and the 35–42°C mineral spring baths is exactly what they were designed for; private bathing rooms are available and affordable
Tbilisi September — panoramic view of the city from the hills as autumn begins and the grape harvest season opens

September

#1 of 12 months

Best match

The grape harvest arrives — Rtveli season makes September the most culturally charged month in the Georgian year.

  • ↑Rtveli (grape harvest) begins in Kakheti from mid-September; vineyard visits and harvest participation are available throughout the month — this is the most important event in Georgian agricultural and cultural life, 8,000 years in practice
  • ↑Weather perfects itself: 26°C with 7.6 sunshine hours and minimal rainfall; everything the city offers is available without the July and August heat making outdoor activity uncomfortable
FactorDecemberSeptember
Weather score
3
10
Value score
9
6
Crowd score
9
6
Events score
5
9
Atmosphere
6
10
Avg high temp7°C26°C
Monthly rain28mm42mm
Daily sunshine3.1hrs7.6hrs

December trade-offs

  • ↓Only 3.1 sunshine hours daily; December Tbilisi spends most of its time under grey skies, and the city's considerable visual beauty is substantially reduced without direct light
  • ↓New Year's Eve pushes accommodation prices sharply upward in the Old Town and near Rustaveli Avenue; book ahead or choose the days either side of the 31st
  • ↓Cold nights with temperatures near freezing; the old buildings of Sololaki and Abanotubani are not known for efficient heating, and some smaller guesthouses can be genuinely cold in the early morning

September trade-offs

  • ↓Kakheti gets crowded during Rtveli and accommodation in the wine region must be booked well ahead for harvest weekends — day-tripping from Tbilisi is the pragmatic approach
  • ↓September remains a popular travel month; visitor numbers are still moderately high, particularly around the harvest festival weekends
  • ↓Nights become noticeably cooler from mid-September, requiring a layer for evening terrace dining
See all 12 months for Tbilisi →December in detail →September in detail →
Scores compare months within Tbilisi. Climate data: Open Meteo ERA5 30-year normals (1991–2020). Methodology →