15 useful tips before traveling to Georgia

In the mountains with the flag of Georgia

Traveling around Georgia is always one big adventure. Things don't always go according to plan, buses may not arrive, establishments aren't always open, the political situation means that visiting some areas requires prior approval, and the roads are so hectic that many are probably afraid of losing a wheel. But beyond that, the scenery is simply breathtaking in its rugged natural beauty, the cities are rich in culture and history, and when it comes to food and wine, Georgia is one of the best at it.

At first glance, the setting may seem a bit chaotic, but it's the perfect place to travel and the best place for those looking for something completely out of the ordinary.

Here are the best travel tips for Georgia and some useful things to know before you travel.

Tips for your trip to Georgia


1. Do not visit the mountains under any circumstances

From the lush green meadows and dramatic peaks of Kazbegi to the glacier-covered valleys and dense forests of Svaneti to the less visited corners of the High Caucasus that you can't wait to explore, the mountains of Georgia are a real treat for the eyes and a true paradise for tourists, whether it's a fun day trip or a multi-day hike.

Kazbegi

But for those who are not avid hikers, these stretches of wilderness are simply meant to be enjoyed. We recommend doing it in a more leisurely way with constantly updated trails and with safe mountain trails. Need some inspiration? The most popular hikes in the country are the challenging ascent of the Gergeti Glacier and the impressive 4-day hike from Mestia to Ushguli.

Read also: 10 best places for your kids in Tbilisi


2. Amazing food and an abundance of vegetarian food

Georgia is where a humble tomato from the family vegetable garden turns into a masterpiece with a simple addition of spices and salt, where walnuts and eggplants are chopped, grilled and intertwined to create a symphony of flavors "melting in your mouth," and where there is always airy, lightly salted, oven-fresh bread on the table. It's the perfect Georgian feast.

Such a feast is always washed down with homemade lemonades infused with mint and tarragon, freshly squeezed pomegranate juice from a decrepit street stall or a rich red glass, and it is still surprising how the delights of Georgian cuisine still remain a secret to many people.

Whether you're in a remote corner of the mountains or in a top-notch restaurant in Tbilisi, you're always guaranteed a hearty and terrific meal that will have you reaching across your plate for more. Seriously, the food is fantastic!

Food in Georgia

In Georgia, meals are also often a communal affair. The holiday is a huge part of the culture , and it is not uncommon to come to family dinners or find menus with smaller meals that are designed for all the people at the table.

Restaurants often add a service tip of 10-15% to the bill, especially in restaurants with many tourists or in large cities. Do not feel obligated to tip on top.


3. Advantages of public transport

Although bus stations around Georgia are often crowded and chaotic (especially the ones scattered around Tbilisi), once you check for yourself how it all works, you'll see that transportation itself is actually pretty well organized.

As in most Central Asian countries, shuttle buses - small, often fairly crowded minibuses - will be the easiest way to get around, although cabs are just as good, though slightly more expensive, for smaller trips.

Metro Tbilisi

For popular routes, most services have a fixed schedule of departures, which is often posted at the bus station, while other services depart only after passengers have gathered.

Another option for long-distance travel in Georgia is the train, the most popular being the slow overnight service from Tbilisi to Zugdidi for Mestia and Batumi. International trains also run to Yerevan to Armenia and Azerbaijan.


4. a very budget-friendly country

Georgia is one of those places where you can really save money and still rest comfortably, or go broke and live like a king, but not much.

An exceptional multi-course meal, a bed in the best hostel in Tbilisi, a couple of great bottles of wine and a night train - all this pleasure can be had for less than 10 euros.

 View of Batumi from the window

It is quite realistic to spend 25 euros a day for a 6-week trip and still have a private room instead of a hostel, organizing a day trip and not sparing money is quite realistic. If you are traveling on a very tight budget and are deprived of some of these luxuries, you could comfortably do without some items.

Read also: Uplistsikhe Cave City in Georgia: History, Photos, Reviews


5. The most hospitable place

On my first trip outside of Tbilisi, after a long shuttle ride, I arrived at my guesthouse tired and was quickly pulled out of my backpack, seated on the huge terrace and fed with pancakes and drunk with hot cups of tea, no questions asked or money asked.

It turns out that this is quite common in Georgia. In fact, it seems like a great solution for most situations. The guesthouse is fully booked: cake? You're leaving tomorrow: wine? You're completely lost and need a helper to find a place: it takes three cups of tea, two pieces of cake, and one more for the road.

Hospitality in Georgia

Although these signs of kindness were often accompanied in fact by sheer harshness, still these wonderfully kind and warm moments are some of the most memorable for many travelers.


6. Don't forget about safety

In general, Georgia is an incredibly safe country to travel to. In fact, Tbilisi is among the safest cities in the world. But the country is not without social problems, and incidents happen from time to time, and often they are just random mishaps.

The aforementioned hospitality and welcome that many visitors experience in Georgia comes from the prevailing idea that guests are a "gift from God," and while the vast majority of locals are genuinely kind and genuinely want you to have a great time in their country, still don't take this idea too literally.

Police in Georgia

Like everywhere else in the world, there are instances of fraud, robbery, or worse. Take the usual precautions, don't put yourself in unnecessarily risky situations and trust your intuition before blindly trusting a stranger solely because of this mentality.

While many single female travelers feel completely safe, Abkhazia has seen a spike in crime over the past year, while the Svaneti region also has a similar reputation.


7. Study the political situation in the country

After decades of turmoil that culminated in the 2008 war between Georgia and the self-proclaimed independent states of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, the political climate remains tense, and these are certainly things to be aware of.

Many governments advise against going here at all, although experienced travelers are increasingly coming.

For South Ossetia, the only access to the region is through Russia. If you manage to reach the border from the Georgian side during your travels in Kazbegi, you will be brought back.


8. Few people here know English, but there is a way out

The Georgian language is not easy to learn, and although many firmly believe that you should learn at least a few phrases for each country you visit. It is possible to learn a few greeting and farewell phrases. Combined with this, the ornate alphabet looks to tourists like a rather pretty series of wavy lines that many tourists cannot decipher.

 Communication in Georgia

In the larger towns, many locals speak excellent English, especially the younger generation, but once you go to the smaller villages and mountains, expect lots of gesticulating and dancing with charades and a handful of clumsy misunderstandings.

If you take some Georgian language, it seems too complicated, but if you want to learn something, Russian and the Cyrillic alphabet can be a little easier and, helpfully, they are more often always understood in Georgia, as well as in the Caucasus, Central Asia and some of the Balkans for those who travel a lot.


9. Useful study

Georgia, of course, knows best how to make wine, be it red, white or amber.

Home to the oldest wine region in the world and with a reputation for excellent product (by the way, they even once handed out a small bottle to newcomers at customs, how cool is that!). Many tourists sit down for their long-awaited first glass in Georgia and are met with a whole new vocabulary of grapes.

During your first glass of slightly sweet Kinsmarauli, followed by Saperavi, you will be completely intrigued. Every place in the country almost has wine on the menu, and you can almost always count on it being both tasty and cheap.

Wine in Georgia

Nevertheless, the "homemade" wines they sell in some pensions and restaurants are usually pretty awful and should not be put in the same category as the good ones. Like berry liqueur mixed with spirits.

For those who want to taste the full smorgasbord of Georgian grapes straight from the winery, a day or weekend trip to Signagi and Haketi is considered a must for any Georgian itinerary.

Looking for something stronger? A stiff sip of chicha should do the trick!


10. Easy and cheap to get from Europe

A growing network of flights to Georgia means it's never been easier (or cheaper) to travel to this country. Despite strict baggage rules, Wizzair, in particular, paves the way with regular and affordable services to Tbilisi, Kutaisi and Batumi.

If you search on Skyscanner by selecting "Georgia" rather than a specific city, you will quickly be shown options for the cheapest connections, and if you book one-way tickets you can save some time on traveling across the country.


11. You will have to use cash

Tbilisi is a bustling metropolitan city where ATMs are present and credit cards are widespread. The same is true of other major Georgian cities, such as Kutaisi and Batumi.

However, once you go to the countryside, where there are all the restaurants and family pensions, you have to pay for almost everything in cash.

Money in Georgia

Small towns usually have at least one ATM, but if you're going to really remote areas or trying to do a multi-day hike, make sure you have enough cash to cover all your expenses while you're out of town, plus some should be there just in case.


12. the people around you drive like crazy

As is the case in many countries in this part of the world, the disregard for the general rules of the road and the basic rules of road safety is astounding and, more often than not, simply appalling.

From overtaking at speed in blind corners and in the rain to driving on winding mountain roads with roughened tires, there were days when many campers really dreaded getting behind the wheel.

To calm down, even if only a little, always use your seat belt, and if you don't have one, try to have at least one seat in front of you. Avoid traveling at night and avoid distractions on every trip. This may seem a bit counterintuitive, but we recommend using shuttle buses instead of cabs. While the latter tend to be more convenient, they also tend to go much faster and more dangerously.


13. WIFI everywhere

Whether you're in downtown Tbilisi, in a remote village in the High Caucasus, or in a nifty cafe near a waterfall in the middle of nowhere, chances are you'll have access to Wi-Fi.

While sometimes a trip to the desert is the perfect excuse for a digital vacation, you certainly won't have to take a break from your Instagram feed while traveling in Georgia, even if you don't want to. The country has great connectivity, and most of the time the internet is pretty fast as well.


14. Lots of dogs

In Georgia, tourists have a love-hate relationship with dogs.

There is a great initiative in cities where stray dogs are picked up, vaccinated, and released back onto the streets. It's also quite common to see overflowing bowls of dog food scattered along the sidewalks for stray dogs to come and go as they please. They are healthy, clean and friendly, even more so if you give them a tasty treat or offer to pet them behind the ears.

However, when it comes to the mountains, things are very different.

Dog in Georgia

In Kazbegi, you can meet beautiful little puppies who will accompany you almost to the Gergeti Glacier. They will be delighted by your attention and then run off across the meadows to frolic, waiting patiently on the path ahead. But in Ushguli, being on a boat can attract a motley crew of about a dozen dogs, which can become increasingly aggressive as you wander through the area. Tusheti is also famous for sheepdogs, which are understandably viciously protective of their territory.

Basically, just use your common sense. If they are friendly, give them some love. If they're not, it's best to pass them by.


15. Late spring and fall are the best times to travel

If you want to see the mountains, it is important to consider the season when planning your trip.

Winter in Georgia means cool temperatures in the cities and a thick layer of snow in the mountains, while summer covers the valleys with dewy greenery and brings heat to the cities.

Rest in Batumi

By late spring the snow will begin to melt, wildflowers will begin to appear and rivers will flow. Come in September to catch warm days in the city and see the beginning of autumn colors in the forests, along with cold evenings in the High Caucasus and calm days perfect for hiking.

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