Whether tucking into an Adjarian khachapuri and knocking back excellent wine or hiking from village to village on the beautiful Svaneti Trail, Georgia will have something for everyone. Sit back and marvel at its post-Soviet charm and fiercely independent culture unlike anywhere else in Europe.
Please note that these are all my personal recommendations and are not sponsored in any way.
Getting There
Tbilisi International Airport is the main airport in the country and is situated in the east, not far from the borders between Georgia and Azerbaijan and Armenia. Other notable international airports are Kutaisi (central) and Batumi (west, on the Black Sea).
All are served by budget airlines from across Europe such as easyJet or Wizz Air. Note that, from the UK, these only go from London Heathrow (with BA) and Gatwick and are sort of overnight to Tbilisi only.
For UK nationals, the FCDO lists entry requirements for Georgia. At the time of writing, it was possible to visit up to a year without a visa. Information for the USA can be found here.
Major Destinations
Major tourist destinations within Georgia include:
- Tbilisi – the capital city, great for wine bars, food and culture
- Batumi – a resort city on the Black Sea
- Kutaisi – a city in central Georgia, home to an old town and cultural sites
- The Svaneti Region – a hiking destination in the summer
Getting Around
The only train worth taking in Georgia runs between Batumi and Tbilisi. The others are relics from the Soviet era, need replacing and are much slower than minibuses.
Useful link to book train tickets – TKT.GE
The minibuses (or, to locals, marshrutka) run informally between every major city. The majority of the marshrutka in Tbilisi depart from outside the train station. With these buses, expect to pay the driver in cash before departure and turn up fairly early in the morning – they don’t tend to depart after midday. The quality of driving is a lottery and can be extremely variable, from reassuringly calm to death-defying. That said, they are the fastest and most effective way to travel.
Georgia has two ride hailing apps which can be used in major cities: Bolt and Yandex Go. Of these, Bolt is the better option.
If you are planning on heading to the mountains, the journey is quite long and may lead you to be tempted to take a flight. One company, called Vanilla Sky, does have flights between Tbilisi and Mestia (in Svaneti). However, the booking system doesn’t work online and their safety record is unknown – you’re probably best sticking to the land.
Otherwise, Georgia is small enough and with roads in a good enough condition so that you don’t need to fly internally.
Accommodation
Hostels and guesthouses are widely available on apps such as Booking.com. Even in the mountains, there are quite a few places listed online. However, if these are full, rest assured that there are plenty of others which remain offline. For a Tbilisi hostel, expect to pay less than £10 a night.
Hotel rooms are equally available in all major towns and cities (though don’t expect them on the Svaneti Trail). Expect to pay something around £40 for a good night’s stay.
Money
The Georgian currency is the Lari and generally isn’t available outside of Georgia. However, there are ATMs in all major towns and cities (though there aren’t any on the Svaneti Trail). These tend to charge relatively large withdrawal fees so taking out large sums at once may be advisable. Otherwise, according to online sources, Cartu Bank and Basis Bank may offer free withdrawals.
You may also find it useful to take some US dollars with you as a back up plan.
Other Points
It is worth noting that the regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia are inaccessible to foreign tourists, having been illegally annexed by neighbouring Russia in 2008. The FCDO advise against all travel to the regions. The road between Tbilisi and the west of the country heads extremely close to South Ossetia, which was fine to travel in 2025.
The stops on the Svaneti Trail are also typically Mestia, Zhabeshi, Adishi, Lalkhori and Ushguli. The final day from Lalkhori to Ushguli is typically just along a road and can be skipped by booking a taxi – ask in Mestia or at any guesthouse if this is possible.
Food-wise, try khachapuri and khinkali (any Pasanauri in Tbilisi is particularly good) with a glass or two of the local wine (maybe try this bar). Georgians are incredibly proud of their food and drink and it’s supposedly where wine was invented.
Into The Elsewhere 