Europe
Georgia
Caucasus peaks, cheese-filled bread and wine made in clay pots, at prices that feel too good to be true.
Georgia packs a lot into a small country. Tbilisi is a city of sulphur baths, balconied old houses and late-night wine bars, and the snowy peaks of Kazbegi are only three hours away by minibus.
In summer, walk from Mestia to Ushguli past the stone towers of Svaneti, or ride a 4x4 into remote Tusheti. Finish in the vineyards of Kakheti or on the Black Sea at Batumi. Georgians take hospitality seriously, so expect to be fed.
Good to know
- Time zone
- GMT+4
- Plugs
- Types C and F, 220V
- Emergency numbers
- 112 for all emergencies
- Tap water
- Safe to drink
- Traffic drives on the
- Right
- Tipping
- Most restaurants add a 10–15% service charge to the bill; if not, rounding up is plenty.
- SIM cards
- Magti and Silknet SIMs with plenty of data cost about 15–30 lari at the airport or any phone shop in town.
When to go to Georgia
Best months to go: May to June and September to October. Pick a month to see what it’s like.
Bars show rainfall; numbers are the average daytime high. Amber marks the best months to go.
SeptemberBest time to go
Still warm, with fewer crowds. The grape harvest begins in Kakheti.
- Daytime high
- 26°C
- Rainfall
- 45 mm
- Crowds
- Busy
| Month | Daytime high | Rainfall | Crowds | Best time to go |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7°C | 20 mm | Quiet | No |
| February | 9°C | 25 mm | Quiet | No |
| March | 14°C | 35 mm | Quiet | No |
| April | 19°C | 55 mm | Busy | No |
| May | 24°C | 80 mm | Busy | Yes |
| June | 28°C | 75 mm | Busy | Yes |
| July | 31°C | 45 mm | Peak season | No |
| August | 31°C | 45 mm | Peak season | No |
| September | 26°C | 45 mm | Busy | Yes |
| October | 20°C | 40 mm | Busy | Yes |
| November | 13°C | 30 mm | Quiet | No |
| December | 8°C | 20 mm | Quiet | No |
What Georgia costs
Work out a budget for your trip, then check what everyday things cost.
$434for 14 days, about $31 a day (₾1,170 in total)
| Cost | Per day | For the trip | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed | $12 | $168 | |
| Food and drink | $10 | $140 | |
| Getting around | $4 | $56 | |
| Things to do | $3 | $42 | |
| Everything else | $2 | $28 |
Per person, in US dollars. Flights and insurance not included.
What things cost
- Adjarian khachapuri₾18, about $6.67
- Khinkali dumpling (priced each)₾1.50, about $0.56
- Glass of house wine₾8, about $2.96
- Half-litre of local beer₾6, about $2.22
- Hostel dorm bed in Tbilisi₾30, about $11
- Marshrutka, Tbilisi to Kazbegi₾20, about $7.41
- Tbilisi metro ride₾1, about $0.37
Routes through Georgia
Where to go and how long to stay, for the time you’ve got.
14 nights, 5 stops
Tbilisi and the two great mountain regions, Kazbegi and Svaneti, finishing on the Black Sea.
Tbilisi
3 nights
The old town, the sulphur baths and the cable car up to Narikala Fortress.
Kazbegi
3 nights
Walk up to Gergeti Trinity Church and hike to the Gergeti Glacier.
Kutaisi
2 nights
Gelati Monastery and the Prometheus and Martvili caves and canyons.
Mestia
4 nights
Svan towers, the Chalaadi Glacier and a day trip to Ushguli.
Batumi
2 nights
A seaside boulevard, botanical gardens and a last khachapuri by the sea.
Getting around
Minibus
$2–15 for most trips
Marshrutkas connect almost everywhere and leave when full. In Tbilisi most leave from Didube or Samgori stations.
Train
$5–15 for a seat
Comfortable trains run from Tbilisi to Batumi, and a night train goes to Zugdidi, the gateway to Mestia.
Jeep / 4x4
$25–40 a seat to Tusheti
Shared 4x4s are the only way to reach Tusheti and are handy for the rough road to Ushguli.
Private car
$2–5 across Tbilisi
Bolt and Yandex Go are cheap in the cities. Shared taxis also cover the main routes a little faster than marshrutkas.
Walk
Free, plus guesthouse beds
The best way to see the mountains. Trails in Svaneti and Kazbegi are well marked and busy in summer.
What to eat and drink
Khachapuri
Cheese-filled bread. The boat-shaped Adjarian version comes with an egg and butter stirred in.
₾18, about $6.67
Khinkali
Twisted dumplings filled with spiced meat and broth. Eat them by hand and leave the knot.
₾1.50, about $0.56
Badrijani nigvzit
Fried aubergine rolled around a walnut and garlic paste.
₾12, about $4.44
Mtsvadi
Pork or veal skewers grilled over vine cuttings, served with raw onion.
₾20, about $7.41
Churchkhela
Walnuts threaded on string and dipped in thickened grape juice. The perfect hiking snack.
₾3, about $1.11
Qvevri wine
Amber or red wine fermented in clay jars buried in the ground, a tradition 8,000 years old.
₾8, about $2.96
Say it like a local
A few words go a long way. Tap “Hear it” to listen, where your browser can.
Hello
გამარჯობა
Say it like: gah-mar-jo-bah
Thank you
მადლობა
Say it like: mad-lo-bah
How much is it?
რა ღირს?
Say it like: rah ghirs
Delicious
გემრიელია
Say it like: gem-ree-eh-lee-ah
Yes
დიახ
Say it like: dee-akh
No
არა
Say it like: ah-rah
Cheers!
გაუმარჯოს!
Say it like: gow-mar-jos
Goodbye
ნახვამდის
Say it like: nakh-vam-dis
Questions travellers ask
Do I need a guide for the Mestia to Ushguli trek?
No. The trail is well marked and there are family guesthouses in every village, so you only need to carry a day pack. Go between late June and September.
Do I need travel insurance to enter?
Georgia has brought in a rule requiring visitors to hold travel health insurance for their stay. Carry proof of your policy, as border officers may ask to see it.
What is a supra?
A Georgian feast led by a toastmaster, the tamada, with long toasts and a lot of wine or chacha. If you are invited, pace yourself and only drink when a toast is made.
Can I visit Abkhazia or South Ossetia?
South Ossetia is closed to foreign visitors. Abkhazia can only be entered from Georgia with special permission, and most governments advise against all travel there.
Do I need cash?
Cards are accepted in most of Tbilisi and Batumi, and ATMs are easy to find. Carry lari for marshrutkas, markets and guesthouses in the mountains.