Georgia (country) – quick travel guide

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Another Caucasus mountain country, with friendly people…unique language and alphabet, incredible food (no exaggeration), incredible wines, and lots of interesting foreigners from countries I don’t know well.

Generally, Georgia is known for their mountains, food, wine, and homes that looks incredibly old (and abandoned) from the outside but beautiful and super modern inside. As a foreigner, you’ll probably know just Tbilisi…which is a cool hip city with lots of charm, and things to do. As with mountain countries, all locals will insist that you visit a mountain place and so will I.

7-10 days would be enough to see Tbilisi (with a day trip outside), and at least one mountain town.

General tips for traveling in Georgia:

  • Transportation:
    • Metro – reliable way to get around the city quickly, and cheap.
    • Bus – I haven’t tried.
    • Rideshare – Yandex Go & Bolt most common. Note: Russian street-spelling may be slightly different in Yandex. Bolt costs 20% more than Yandex but might be easier to setup for foreigners.
    • Taxi – I don’t trust them. Lots of price games/scams, so I just use rideshare.
    • Shuttles – best way to get between cities to other common tourist places.
    • Scooter – they have Bolt and Jet in Tbilisi. I haven’t tried other big cities.
  • Mobile Carrier – internet is cheap and easy to buy. Magti is the recommended standard and has best reception (essential if visiting remote areas out of the city). You don’t even have to visit the store, go MagtiCom.ge and make account, then buy ESIM number online and choose a plan (unlimited data option available).
  • Weather – getting warmer and warmer as with the rest of the world. The capital city Tbilisi doesn’t snow but all mountain regions do.

Miscellaneous tips:

  • Tap water – drinkable in the main cities, rural parts not so much.
  • Madloba.info – directory for info, businesses, services, all useful stuff.

Safety tips:

  • Bad drivers:
    • People really drive crazy…absolutely the worst drivers I’ve ever seen in my life (Georgia & Armenia both). I don’t know why but all Caucasus countries seem to be like this. They drive super fast and weave around, loud music while smoking and on the phone on video call, watching a movie, and don’t wear seatbelts (yes the seatbelt chime ringing the entire time).
    • You may even offend your driver by putting on your seatbelt. Road rage is hilarious and common here. Just be careful when you stand near the road. I saw a crazy driver (speeding on the shoulder to skip traffic) hit a man standing by the road.
    • I’ve seen many street dogs barking at cars and it dawned on me that perhaps a car had hit (and killed) their fellow dog friends.
  • Crime – I haven’t seen or experienced any street crime. Everywhere I’ve been felt very safe. There are many small dark streets without any light but still, you won’t be in danger. Even as a single woman.

Foods to try:

  • Khinkali – dumplings with meat and soup inside, meat usually ground up with onion and coriander
  • Khachapuri – generally a pizza shaped round bread stuffed with cheese on top or inside. But there are 56 ways to make it. Ranging from a more pizza-looking dish to a more closed omelette. Other ingredients like eggs and meat or vegetables can also be put inside.
  • Shkmeruli – fried chicken in garlic milk sauce
  • Dolma – looks like sausage-shaped stuffing wrapped in leaves. Sometimes meat, sometimes other stuff like fruits, etc.
  • Kharcho – soup with meat and stuff in it, also accompanied with shoti bread
  • Shoti bread – nice puffy old style bread shaped like a long canoe. Very nice when freshly-baked, as it’s warm and spongey.
  • Georgian wine – apparently present-day Georgia and Armenia is where wine first originated in the world (some say China even before them). Regardless, you should try Georgian wine. It’s very good and not expensive and presumptuous like other countries. Georgia also has yellow wine – aka “amber wine” or “orange wine” which I enjoy very much. Different taste but very good. I had no problems “acquiring” it on first try whereas others simply don’t like it.

There are sooo many good foods. Will list more in a bit.

Customs & Language:

  • thank you – “madloba” [mad-loh-va]
  • hello –
  • Russian – they don’t like to speak Russian in Tbilisi cuz of the conflict. But in Batumi, you’ll hear Russian everywhere. Tbilisi I heard is considered more like Western Europe, and Batumi more like Russia. Haha.

Georgian cities (* = recommended, ** = must see):

  • Tbilisi** – yes, definitely. Amazing! One of my favorite places in the world. Already becoming wildly popular with foreigners and expats moving in. Used to be much lower cost of living (now getting crazy), but rich in culture, food, things to do, many people from different places to meet. Just a wildly fun city. Unfortunately no longer dirt cheap.
    • Mtskheta* – Jvari Monastery has a super nice view of the water and city below. You can hike to it or drive right to it. Worth a visit and easy ride from Tbilisi.
    • Sighnaghi – 1hr45min drive east of Tbilisi. Small charmy medieval mountaintop town with a historic castle wall around it. Kinda like a great wall of China stop equivalent of Georgia. Also known as part of the wine region and other romantic fables. Go to a hilltop restaurant or viewpoints and enjoy panoramic views from above.
    • Kazbegi (Stepantsminda)** – crazy beautiful mountain view…like best ever in my lifetime. Don’t stay in town center, stay in the mountain area east of the Terek River (the farther east, the higher you’ll be and with a better view). And please don’t do this as a day trip. It really is so beautiful and worth spending the night here. The views from your accommodation are amazing! The tour bus ride there from Tbilisi will probably have some great stopping points for you such as Zhinvali Reservoir, Ananuri Monastery, and the Russia-Georgia Friendshop Monument.
      • Juta – I hear it’s even more beautiful here than Kazbegi. This is the choice of locals.
    • Telavi – charmy small town and Georgia’s wine capital, with lots of architecture and surrounded by nature.
  • Borjomi – near many historical locations.
    • Gori – has just Gori Fortress and Stalin Museum. Fortress is simple and boring, with also a boring city view at the top. (It’s free to visit.) Totally skippable and not necessary. Stop by if you’re already driving through and want a tiny break. But the Stalin Museum is cool and worthwhile.
      • Uplistsikhe – ancient cave city. Interesting cave city set atop a mountain surrounded by natural landscapes. Interesting to see the primitive infrastructures of human society. You can treat it like a short picturesque hike up the mountain with 360 degree panoramic view all around.
    • Ancient cave cities and fortresses – Uplistsikhe (cave city), Vardzia (cave city), and David Gareja (cave monastery). Also Akhaltsikhe (Rabati) Castle. Many fortresses in this area. Look them up.
  • Kutaisi – great tourist city to visit, lots of nature sights and Georgia’s medieval history. Prometheus & Sataplia caves, Tsqaltubo healing waters and soviet architecture (also sanatoriums), Katskhi Pillar, Kolkheti National Park, Okatse and Martvili Canyons, and more!
  • Batumi – the main attraction here is its beaches and sub-tropical climate. All the photos I’ve seen look like a nice beach city. But all my friends who went said Batumi is overrated. Said the “ugly parts” look decaying and earthquake-vulnerable while “pretty parts” look superficial, lacking culture and tourist attractions, way too many skyrises and accommodation for Russians (which many people don’t like). The people who do like it, feel it’s great for socializing. Or that the old town is nice, the green cape nature is nice, or that Kobuleti is better.

Nearby countries:

  • Russia
  • Turkey
  • Armenia
  • Azerbaijan
  • Kazakhstan

Unfiltered notes:

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