🇬🇪 Georgia: everything you need to know before your trip

Georgia is one of the most popular visa-free destinations. Just a 3-4 hour flight and you are already in the homeland of churchkhela and khinkali. In this amazing country you can combine a holiday at sea and a holiday in the mountains. And if you are a fan of sightseeing tours, then even in this case there will be no difficulties in creating a program. I will share my observations with you in this guide.

Entry conditions and visa

There are no restrictions on entry into the country for citizens. A visa is also not required, which is especially nice. You can stay in Georgia for 90 days, then you will have to “reset your period of stay.” To do this, it is enough to travel to any neighboring country for literally an hour.

Best time of year to visit

There is a universal answer: Georgia is beautiful at any time of the year. In winter, it’s worth going here to ski resorts or on excursions, because it’s cheaper and there are fewer other tourists. You will find more reasons to go to Georgia in winter in this text.

In summer you can relax here by the sea. From my experience, the first half of August is extremely unpleasant. Very stuffy and hot. ” Velvet season ” is the end of August – September.

Where to relax in Georgia in winter?

In winter, it’s great to go to Georgia on excursions or on a ski holiday. Now there are five resorts operating in the country: Gudauri and Bakuriani are famous, Hatsvali, Tetnuldi and Goderdzi are just developing. Basic infrastructure is available for all, but there are more opportunities and trails in the first two. There will also be more tourists there.

Young people flock to Gadauri, the highest mountain resort. There are 22 trails, the longest of which is 7 km. They are mainly aimed at amateurs. People come here for freeride, backcountry and heli-skiing. There are also opportunities to go speed riding, paragliding, snowbiking or snowmobiling. There are also various locations such as baths, spas and saunas. There is also a kindergarten where you can safely leave your child.

Bakuriani, the oldest resort, is where beginners should go. There are several schools here, and there are quiet trails. The best option to learn. But even for pros there are areas with a black mark.

Also, Bakuriani should be chosen by those who want to combine both a ski holiday and an excursion, since famous attractions are located near the resort: the Rabat fortress and the rocky city of Vardzia.

Tetnuldi received its first guests in 2016. There are five chairlifts and five main trails, as well as many freeride slopes. In the coming years, it is planned to open several more trails and cable cars. There are ski rentals and several cafes here. A huge plus – there are no queues.

Hatsvali is located near Tetnuldi. It was opened in 2011. There is a cable car, three slopes and rope tows for beginners. You can freeride throughout the resort. For entertainment there are only two cafes.

Goderzi has been operating since 2016 and is located near Batumi. There is one cable car with two stations. One is lifted by a chairlift, the other by six-seater cabins. The infrastructure is the same as in the previous two.

Beach holidays in Georgia

You shouldn’t choose Batumi for a beach holiday, although it is actively promoted. There are rocky beaches, sharp cliffs, big waves and a lot of people, both on the beach itself and in the city as a whole. It is better to opt for villages nearby: Sarpi or Ureki. There is a soft beach, calm waves, and a gentle entrance. Other interesting options are Gonio and Kvariati. Here the sea meets the mountains. Also good in Kobuleti and Shekvetili. Please note that Kobuleti and Ureki are the most popular today, so there may be a lot of people there.

Main cities and attractions

Tbilisi

There are a lot of beautiful places in the capital of Georgia. It's just great and pleasant to walk around the city. Of course, it’s best to start getting acquainted with the old city, the historical district. It has the Abanotubani sulfur baths – you can find them by smell.

Be sure to take the cable car up to the Narikala Fortress. You will have to pay for both the ascent and descent. Therefore, you can take the cable car up and then go down along the fortress or directly to the Botanical Garden. I also recommend visiting it.

And also don’t forget to climb Mount Mtatsminda. There is an amusement park there, as well as a Funicular Restaurant Complex restaurant, which is considered one of the most expensive in the city. Even if you are a budget tourist, be sure to try the donuts at the establishment. You will not regret. There is a funicular going up to Mtatsminda, but it’s better not to take it in both directions. It will be more profitable to go to the park by taxi and then go down by cable car.

Go to the Gabriadze Theater. If you don’t have time or can’t buy tickets, there are a very limited number of them, then watch the mini-performance outside. Every day at 12.00 and 19.00 you can see a mini-performance in the tower – “The Cycle of Life”.

In warm weather, it’s worth going to the Tbilisi Sea, that’s what the lake is called locally. There, overlooking this sea, is the ” History of Georgia” monument, which many call the Georgian Stonehenge. Very impressive design.

It is also worth including Vake Park on your list. There you can walk along Turtle Lake and look at the city from the observation deck. There is a good ethnographic museum on the territory of Vake Park.

In summer, visit Fabrika Tbilisi – it’s a hostel, but various concerts are held on its territory in warmer months. This is a meeting place for Tbilisi youth.

Mtskheta

Mtskheta is literally half an hour's drive from Tbilisi. Mostly people go there on an excursion to see the Samtavro Monastery and Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, which is the one in the photo below. There are also remains of the Bebristsikhe fortress on the northern outskirts of Mtskheta.

A must see is the Jvari Monastery. There you can see the confluence of the Kura and Aragvi rivers. But keep in mind that in bad weather it is very windy and cold there.

Batumi

In Batumi it is worth visiting the Botanical Garden. It’s convenient to take a tour there in an electric car, but it’s also great to just walk around. Be sure to take a stroll along Batumi Boulevard, where local musicians often perform.

The must-see point is the sculpture of Nino and Ali, the calling card of the city. Thus, they showed the infinity of relationships: the desire to meet, a short moment of meeting and forced separation.

There is a Ferris wheel nearby: there is nothing special about it, but it will be interesting to look at the evening city.

It is also worth taking the cable car to Mount Feria. It is best to do this in the morning, because during the day tourists will flock to the cable car. During the ascent you will be able to appreciate how Batumi is a contrasting city.

Sighnaghi

Sighnaghi is a city that I recommend everyone to visit. And preferably not as part of a compressed excursion. It's really worth a walk. It reminded me of something Italian.

The city is famous for the fortress of the same name, the walls of which still frame the city, and the registry office, which registers couples 24 hours, seven days a week from all countries of the world. That's basically all. But the city itself is very cozy.

Not far from it there is the Bodbe Monastery, where the relics of the enlightener of Georgia, Saint Nino, rest. Usually they come here first, then go to Sighnaghi. And just on a hill 10 minutes from Sighnaghi there is a point with a zipline. So you can get to the city faster than your companions by car.

Georgian cuisine

The local cuisine is famous for khachapuri, kharcho, chakhokhbili, ojakhuri, churchkhela, wine and chacha. I talked in more detail about many dishes earlier, in this text. At this point I will touch on the establishments and tell you what you should take from them.

So, for wine, go to the 17th century wine cellar (Irakli II St., 19). There are collected wines from local private wineries. Some of them can only be found here, because if the wine is good, this wine cellar buys out such a batch in full. A tasting will also be held here.

Another place where you should try wine is 8000 Vintages. This is a wine bar where you can try various wines and buy a bottle to take home. Please note that there are mainly snacks to go with wine. You won't be able to have a full dinner.

And the third place where I recommend drinking wine is Modi.wine. Fashionable location right in the city center. They will let you taste the wine, and also tell you about winemaking, wine regions and harvests.

The Usakhelouri restaurant is located near the sulfur baths. The design itself is not particularly surprising, but you will be fed here with all your heart. I recommend the khinkali and fried chicken here. In a tourist place, this is a very budget establishment with delicious food.

The Tsiskvili restaurant chain is another establishment that is definitely worth visiting for lunch. Prices are above average, but the quality of food is excellent. And the design of all establishments is a location for photos on Instagram.

The Tiflis restaurant is located in a tourist area, but is also popular with locals. I advise you to pay attention to the khachapuri on a skewer.

There is also a Turkish quarter and an Elite restaurant in Tbilisi. I highly recommend going there. The cuisine, of course, is not Georgian, but the sweets and dishes will delight you.

And if you are a jazz lover, then be sure to check out the 1984 Jazz Club. Various groups perform here. The schedule can be found in the establishment ’s Facebook group. There are delicious cocktails, great food and good music.

Locals also recommended the restaurants “Zodiac”, “Babilo”, “Mingrelian House”, “Melnitsa”, “In the Shadow of Metekhi”, but, to be honest, I didn’t get to them. If you have been to these places, please share your impressions.