Vardzia is remote — about 250 km from Tbilisi and 200 km from Kutaisi. A minibus runs daily from Tbilisi's Didube bus station, departing in the morning and taking around five hours. From the nearby town of Akhaltsikhe (30 km), marshrutkas make the trip several times a day. Hiring a car or joining a tour from Tbilisi is the most practical option for a day trip.