Where to go in Georgia. Independent travel, short guide. Let's go to Georgia and Tbilisi - free online guide Georgia step by step guide

Citizens of Ukraine enter Georgia without visas using international passports and can stay in Georgia for up to 90 days. Citizens of Russia, as far as I know, require a visa. In principle, Russians can get a visa right at the border, but at the Verkhniy Lars - Kazbegi checkpoint there is no such opportunity yet.

Borders

In addition to air travel, there are the following ways to get to Georgia
by ferry from Ukraine (from Ilyichevsk) and, possibly, from Russia (the situation changes often here). The option of arriving by sea is absurd - in terms of cost, it tends to be similar to air travel, and in terms of time, it tends to be on foot.
through ground crossings. Here is a list of these transitions (the most popular ones are highlighted in bold):
Georgia-Türkiye: Sarpi checkpoint; Checkpoint "Vale"
Georgia-Azerbaijan: Red Bridge checkpoint; Checkpoint "Vakhtangisi"; Checkpoint "Tsodna"
Georgia-Armenia: checkpoint “Ninotsminda”; Checkpoint "Guguti"; Checkpoint "Sadakhlo"; Checkpoint "Akhkerpi"
Georgia-Russia: Checkpoint “Upper Lars-Kazbegi”

Please note that there is only one land crossing between Russia and Georgia! It is strictly forbidden to travel to Georgia through Abkhazia. There are no Georgian border guards in Abkhazia, therefore, you will not have a legal stamp in your passport to enter Georgian territory. In practice, this will result in you being sent to prison in Georgia and released only after paying a fine of 2,000 lari. Search LJ, there are many heartbreaking reports on this topic.
The crossing of the Russian-Georgian border in Upper Lars and the Turkish-Georgian border in Sarpi will be described in detail below.

Arrival via Azerbaijan

Until March 2010, there was only one opportunity to get to Georgia from Russia by land - through Azerbaijan. For CIS citizens it was quite simple either by direct train to Baku, or by transfer train to Derbent, from there to the border and further to Baku. There is a direct road from Baku to Tbilisi, which passes through the Red Bridge checkpoint. According to rumors, hitchhiking in Azerbaijan is excellent, and this route is busy. Trains from Azerbaijan to Georgia also run through the Red Bridge checkpoint.
Ukrainians have visa-free entry into Azerbaijan using international passports. As far as I understand, the Russian-Azerbaijani border is open 24 hours a day. You can stay in the country without registration for up to 30 days - this is enough to see several Azerbaijani cities and go to Georgia. In 2008, Russia banned non-CIS citizens from entering Azerbaijan through its territory and, it seems, this ban is still in force.

Russian-Georgian border, checkpoint "Upper Lars - Kazbegi"

In March 2010, the Verkhniy Lars - Kazbegi checkpoint on the Russian-Georgian border reopened. The nearest large one Russian city- Vladikavkaz. The checkpoint is located about 35 km from it. This crossing opened in March 2010 after a long break. Formally, the border checkpoint is open daily from 6:00 to 22:00, but in practice, cars are no longer allowed through from 21:00. Now the crossing operates exclusively in the mode of passing vehicles, that is, it is not possible to cross the border on foot, you must be in a car or bus. Thus, if you are not traveling by car, you will have to master hitchhiking. According to Russian border guards, as of May 2010, approximately 50 vehicles cross the border per day. In this case, the main flow occurs from 6 to 10 in the morning and after six in the evening. True, we crossed the border in the late afternoon and did not see a single car except ours. Mostly Armenians travel through this checkpoint.

We managed to get to Upper Lars from Vladikavkaz in the following way. We arrived at the first city bus station by bus from Pyatigorsk in 4 hours and 280 rubles ($9). From there local residents sent us almost in opposite directions, and if we omit the unimportant, then from the first bus station on minibus 17 you can get for 8 rubles (25 cents) to the city market and there take a taxi for 100 rubles (3 dollars) to the exit from the city (the former traffic police post). It looks like you can get to this part of the city by tram, but we couldn’t see its number. In addition, you can go to Upper Lars by minibus, which departs from the same market. From the outskirts of Vladikavkaz you can already stop the car to Upper or Lower Lars. I think hitchhiking is quite simple in these parts - the first car took us to the traffic police post a couple of kilometers from the checkpoint. At this post, you can ask the traffic cops to lift you into a passing car, but it is advisable not to click your face and ask everyone who stops at the barrier if they will transport you across the border. If you wish, you can walk straight to the checkpoint and wait for a ride there - the border guards do not prohibit this.

Crossing the border did not cause any difficulties. On the Russian side, things weren’t shaken much, they didn’t go into my pockets, they didn’t even force me to turn on my laptop. The border guards, as usual, turned a blind eye to the fact that we had not registered within three days, as prescribed by the Russian entry declaration. On the Georgian side, the KGB officers detained me a little: having heard that I was going to visit my relatives, they wrote down on copies of my passport all the names, phone numbers and addresses of these same relatives, my address and asked a bunch of questions, and then looked at the photographs in my camera for a long time and laughed about something of its own. Therefore, you should think in advance about how you will answer the question about the purpose of the visit.

The following point must be taken into account: on average, 50 cars pass through the Verkhniy Lars - Kazbegi checkpoint per day, but it is quite possible that this will be your lucky day and not a single car will pass here. There is nowhere to spend the night in Upper Lars - except for the cold gorge and the Terek, there is only a checkpoint there, to which you will not be allowed. Therefore, you will have to go back to some village or to Vladikavkaz. And here your lucky day may continue: out of the average daily 50 cars traveling from Georgia to Russia, you may also not get a single one. When the sun sets, you will become desperately jealous of the mountain goats covered with thick hair. The distraught father Fyodor was taken off the cliff somewhere in these parts. In short, it can be unpleasant. Therefore, I would recommend arriving at the checkpoint as early as possible. Moreover, with this option there is a greater chance of leaving Kazbegi for Tbilisi by minibus.

Georgian-Turkish border, Sarpi checkpoint

The village of Sarpi, where the checkpoint is located, is located right on the seashore, a couple of tens of kilometers from Batumi. Accordingly, you need to come to Batumi. If you travel by train, it arrives in Makhinjauri, which is a couple of kilometers before Batumi, there are no further routes. The Tbilisi-Batumi train arrives at 6:50, and if you are lucky, a minibus from Makhinjauri to Sarpi will be waiting at the station. It costs 3 lari (1.7 dollars). If you like to book even small things, then the phone number of the driver of this minibus is 891-11-14-01, his name is Ucha.

If you didn’t find this minibus to Sarpi, then you get to Batumi (the minibuses are right there, at the station). Tell the driver that you need to go to the “Old Ring Road”, this is almost immediately at the entrance to Batumi. From there, minibuses run very often to Sarpi and cost 1.5 lari (80 cents). Drive for 15–20 minutes.

A taxi from Batumi to Sarpi will cost about 15 lari ($8.3).
On the road, a couple of kilometers before Sarpi, you can get out in the village of Gonio and look at the impressive size of the fortress and the ruins of something Roman. Although you can also take a look from the window of a minibus.

In Sarpi, a minibus takes you straight to the checkpoint, but there’s nothing else there. The Sarpi checkpoint operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Clearing customs is instant. Georgians don’t look or ask anything. You approach the first Turkish checkpoint, they see that you do not have a visa, and they send you almost to the exit to Turkish territory. There, in a one-story gray building (on the left as you go to Turkey), you pay 30 dollars or 48 Turkish lira, get a visa and return to the first Turkish checkpoint, where they give you a stamp. Also, no one asks anything or looks.
When you leave the checkpoint area, you find yourself in the clutches of taxi drivers. Wherever you go in Turkey, you have two options: hitchhike right at the checkpoint or get to the city of Hopa and take a bus there. It takes 15 minutes to get to Khopa, taxi drivers ask for 10 dollars for two. The minibus to Khopa is right there, but the driver says that he won’t take you there - apparently he’s afraid of taxi drivers. Turkish border guards will help resolve the conflict; you can and should ask them about it. They gave us a ride on their own bus to Khopa completely free of charge.

Money

The monetary unit of Georgia is the lari. One lari is equal to 100 tetri. Georgian currency code is GEL. There are 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 tetri coins in circulation, although you will have to look hard for 1, 2 and 5. Coins of 1 and 2 lari are also in use. Banknotes are available in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 lari. The Wiki has illustrations of all laris and tetris.
In May-July 2010, one dollar was worth 1.8 lari. Currency exchange offices are located on every corner, recognizable by currency symbols and the word exchange. In exchange offices, old and worn bills, and even $5 bills can be easily exchanged.
If you are traveling with a plastic card from Russia or Ukraine, then it makes sense to get a Privatbank card (Moskomprivat in Russia). Privatbank has its own Georgian branch, which is called TaoPrivatbank. This TaoPrivatbank has an extensive ATM network. Surely the commission within Privatbank will be more lenient than in different banks.
As a guide, here is the cost of some basic things:
Lavash - 60 tetri;
A pack of Marlboros - 2.5 GEL;
Bottle of beer, 0.5 liter - 1.3 GEL;
Khachapuri - 1.8 GEL;
Directions to public transport- 40 tetri;
A liter of gasoline is 1.8 GEL.

Transport

The main urban and intercity transport in Georgia there are minibuses. These are minibuses for the most part not particularly comfortable. Large buses, and in some places even trains, have practically been driven out of the market by them. Traveling around the city in a minibus costs 40–50 tetri. The cost of intercity travel is approximately 5 tetri per kilometer.

City minibuses cost 40–50 tetri. Their distinctive feature is the complete absence of Russian or English final names. Therefore, you will have to ask others, and you need to choose older people - then there is a greater chance that they speak Russian. The minibus can be stopped anywhere by simply raising your hand. You can also ask to stop anywhere by saying “gaa cheri”. You must pay the fare upon exiting.

There are taxis in everyone big city. In Tbilisi, the maximum price for a taxi fare is about 10 lari (5.5 dollars), and this will be a trip across the entire city. In other cities, the cost decreases in proportion to the population.

Also in Georgia there is Railway. Trains go to many cities west of Tbilisi, such as Poti, Batumi, Zugdidi or Kutaisi. There is also a railway track east of Tbilisi, but trains do not go to Kakheti - here they have been replaced by minibuses.
Domestic air travel in Georgia may be needed solely for a trip to Svaneti, which is why it will be described in the appropriate section.

Intercity roads in Georgia are being built very actively. Within a radius of 60 kilometers from Tbilisi, the roads are simply excellent. In other places (even in large villages) they are either good or normal. The exception is the section of the Georgian Military Road Kazbegi-Gudauri and all roads of Svaneti.

Connection

There are three mobile operators in Georgia: Magti, Geocell and Beeline. They are listed in order of coverage deterioration. In terms of calls abroad from Georgia, Beeline has an attractive tariff of 27 tetri per minute with CIS countries. Telephone code Georgia 995.
Every cellular operator offers a gizmo called a 3-G modem. But this thing only has 3-G in its name - the corresponding coverage is only available on Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi. At any other point in Georgia you will receive regular GPRS. From point of view mobile internet and coverage is worth buying a Magti card.

Analysis of the USB modem market in Georgia gave the following results:
Magti - 120 GEL per modem, best coverage. This Internet is used in Svaneti and mountain villages Guria.
Geocell - 99 GEL per modem plus 500 megabytes of traffic for free, coverage is mediocre. We were only able to squeeze out limp GPRS from this modem.
Beeline - 49 GEL per modem, plus 35 for the first month of unlimited traffic. The coverage is such that even employees at the company’s central office do not recommend buying it.
There are mobile operator offices in every major city. The central offices, where Russian and English are fluently spoken, are located in the center of Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi, on the right side as you go towards Independence Square.

The main post office in Tbilisi is not located in its huge building near the Radisson Hotel, but further along Rustaveli Avenue in the arch between the Beeline and Geocell offices. Sending a postcard to Ukraine costs 2.5 lari (1.4 dollars). There is a suspicion that postcards do not reach their recipients regularly.

There are Internet cafes in every major city, but they are not noticeable, to put it mildly. In Tbilisi they are concentrated on Rustaveli Avenue, the cost is 1.5 GEL per hour.

Food

The key point associated with food in Georgia is “Mezim”. The food here is very tasty and the people are very hospitable. It will not be easy for you when you get to visit someone, and these two points will multiply.

With independent food, the picture is as follows. There are no street eateries like in India, Southeast Asia or even neighboring Turkey in Georgia. But there are plenty of relatively cheap cafes. When you order food, remember that they will definitely bring you a trough of bread for free. And a trough of bread and meat dish with gravy, for example chashushuli (also known as “spicy”) - this is already a very satisfying lunch. Chashushuli, salad and tarragon will cost about 10 lari ($5.5).

Almost every cafe serves khinkali, their common price- 50 tetri per piece. Six pieces are enough to fill you up, ten is enough to burst. There is another heavyweight set: Mchadi and Lobio. Mchadi is a very satisfying corn tortilla, lobio is an equally satisfying bean dish. This set costs absolutely nothing.

In addition, khachapuri is sold on every corner. A whole khachapuri and a bottle of tarragon is a pretty decent breakfast, which will cost 3 lari (1.6 dollars). By the way, you should definitely try tarragon from Natakhtari or Zandukeli.
Georgian vodka and beer are quite decent, although Georgians themselves prefer more expensive Ukrainian drinks. Georgia produces good (and expensive) Sarajishvili cognac. The chances of buying good wine in a store are much higher than in Ukraine or Russia, but they are still not one hundred percent. Real wine or chacha can only be tasted when visiting.

Separately, I would like to note that you can safely drink water from numerous fountains in cities and springs in the mountains.
In general, I recommend experimenting more with food, because this is one of the attractions of Georgia.

Language

Everyone in Georgia speaks Georgian. On the one hand, this is obvious, on the other, all of eastern Ukraine speaks Russian. All signs on transport, schedules at the train station, signs in cafes - everything is in Georgian. There is basically no duplication into Russian. Here and there, for example, in the Tbilisi metro you can come across English transcriptions. In general, you will probably have to read something in Georgian. Therefore, I recommend learning at least the vowels of the Georgian alphabet, or even better, print it out in its entirety.
If you need to ask something from passers-by, then you need to ask in Russian and from people over 30 years old. Young people are more likely to speak English than Russian.
Things are much better with Russian in Kazbegi, Adjara and Svaneti - almost everyone knows it there and speaks it almost without an accent.
Let me give you a few basic Georgian words:
Hello - gamarjoba;
Goodbye - nakhvamdis;
Yes - ki, ho;
No - macaw;
Thank you - madlobt or madloba;
Bread - puri;
Water - tskhali;
Money is bullets.

Tbilisi

Tbilisi is a very interesting and cozy city. Here you need to spend at least 3 full days: two days in Tbilisi and a one-day excursion to Mtskheta.
And in general, I would recommend making Tbilisi a base for visiting nearby attractions. Mtskheta, Gori, Uplistsikhe, Kakheti and even Kazbegi - all this is close enough to the capital and it is possible to see these places on one-day trips with a return to Tbilisi for an overnight stay.

In Tbilisi itself, you should take a thorough walk through the old quarters on both banks of the Kura River, climb to the Narikala fortress and Mount Mtatsminda, from where you can see good view to the city. There is also an interesting walking route in the area at the foot of Narikala. You shouldn't go to the Tbilisi Zoo. You should definitely take a walk around the center of Tbilisi in the evening, when the whole city is beautifully illuminated. You can also go to the famous Tbilisi baths - $20 for a separate apartment.

We wrote two whole stories about Tbilisi: and.

Housing in Tbilisi

To start, general rule for all hotels in Tbilisi (well, except for any Radissons) - merciless bargaining. After asking about the price of the room, any administrator’s eyes begin to dart, a certain price is called, and then the thesis about a possible discount is immediately heard. This rule works in hotels for 130 dollars and 60 lari. Not bargaining for at least 10% would be simply stupid.

In the Avlabari area (from Metekhi Temple to the Holy Trinity Cathedral) we found many hotels and not a single guesthouse. The hotels are practically no different from each other - about 2 stars, clean, small rooms. Prices for all rooms in them fluctuate around 50 dollars, almost everywhere breakfast and Internet are included. Of the dozen hotels, I’ll give you a couple of the cheapest ones: Armazi Palace Hotel Leadora Hotel Irmeni. From what is at least somewhat similar to a guesthouse, you can call Hotel Lions with a price of 60 lari for a small two local number OK.

We found another wonderful hotel right next to the Rustaveli metro station. Even if you don’t plan to live there, take a tour. This is a former communal apartment with giant ceilings. All rooms are furnished with antique furniture, the walls are hung with paintings. Price per Double Room- 40 dollars, plus breakfast, teas and coffees throughout the day, internet. There are rooms with 3–4 beds. Amenities in all rooms are separate. It's all called Hotel Gutsa. Here you have to bargain with special cynicism - all the rooms are empty.

Lonely Planet for Georgia from 2008 writes that guesthouses in Tbilisi are concentrated in the area of ​​Marjanishvili Street. It is almost in the center and not far from the station, there is a metro station of the same name. We didn’t get there, so I’ll just quote data from Lonely Planet: Dodo’s Homestay ( [email protected], 893-327-010, Marjanishvili, 38) - 25 GEL per person for the dorm, 30 for separate room; Khatuna’s Homestay (899-173-609, Chitaia, 13) - 8 GEL per person for a dorm; house of Irina Japaridze (954–716, Ninoshvili, 19, building 3) - 20–25 GEL per person per dorm.

In general, prices and living conditions in guesthouses and hotels in Tbilisi clearly do not correspond to each other. But we must not forget that this is hospitable Georgia. Register (if you haven't already) on CouchSurfing, we are looking for and easily finding many people who are ready to host you at home. We receive not only free housing, but also direct communication with the residents of Georgia.

It is worth mentioning another option for settling in Tbilisi - renting an apartment. Studio apartment in residential area near the metro, it is usually rented for a month for 100–150 dollars. I think they will rent it out to foreigners for a couple of weeks for the same $100. But research this option yourself on the Internet.

Transport

The main transport in Tbilisi is minibuses. Traveling there costs 40 or 50 tetri. Of course, all the inscriptions are in Georgian. Therefore, you need to check the number of the minibus you need with those around you.
In addition to minibuses, there is a fairly extensive metro. The fare costs 40 tetri. The stops “Rustaveli” and “Tavisuplebis Meydani” will take you to Rustaveli Avenue in the very center of the city. Stop "Vokzalis Meydani" - to the station square. In short, everything is quite obvious, and at the stations there are diagrams in English.

If you decide to travel around Tbilisi by taxi, the maximum price for a trip is no more than 10 GEL.

You can get to the airport from Tbilisi by train, which runs from the main railway station. The train from Tbilisi to the airport takes 25 minutes. Trains towards the airport leave at 0:30, 3:30, 6:30, 8:10, 12:30, 18:50, 21:15 and 23:05. From the airport towards Tbilisi, trains depart at 1:15, 4:15, 7:20, 9:25, 13:10, 19:45, 22:10 and 23:45.

You can also travel from Tbilisi to western Georgia by train. There are no trains going to the east, to Kakheti, although there is a railway line in Kakheti. Most likely, this is due to the abundance of minibuses and the short distance from Tbilisi. There is no timetable anywhere at the Tbilisi station, either in English or Russian. Hope they show up soon.

Tbilisi-Zugdidi train No. 601/602 leaves at 21:50 and arrives in Zugdidi at 6:20. In the opposite direction, the train leaves at 21:40 and arrives at 6:50. A reserved seat costs 5.50 GEL.

Tbilisi-Kutaisi train No. 644/643 leaves at 21:55 and arrives in Kutaisi at 2:35. In the opposite direction, the train leaves at 0:35 and arrives at 5:55. A seated carriage costs 3 GEL, a reserved seat - 4.50 GEL, a compartment - 10 GEL.

There are two trains from Tbilisi to Batumi; for some reason they are listed together in the schedule under numbers 622/621. I still don’t understand how these trains differ, other than the price. The Tbilisi-Batumi train leaves at 22:55 and arrives in Batumi at 6:48. In the opposite direction, the train departs at 22:40 and arrives at 07:10. Cheap train costs 5.50 GEL for a reserved seat and 18 GEL for a compartment. Expensive - 15 GEL for a reserved seat, 23 GEL for a compartment.

Tbilisi-Poti train No. 849/850 leaves at 23:10 and arrives in Poti at 5:46. In the opposite direction, the train departs at 8:45 and arrives at 15:25. There is only a compartment, it costs 10 GEL.
The above schedule is valid for mid-June 2010.

Mtskheta

Mtskheta is a small town, but very interesting. It is located 6 km from Tbilisi, and is definitely worth a visit. Among the attractions are the Jvari Monastery on the nearest hill, the Svetitskhoveli Temple and the Church of St. Nino in the city itself. It is also worth visiting the famous Salobio restaurant, where you should try khinkali and local lobio with mchadi. Our .

There are frequent minibuses from Tbilisi to Mtskheta from the Didube metro station. The fare costs 1 lari. There is no transport to the Jvari Monastery, but you can walk there in about 45 minutes or hitchhike. It would be simply stupid to be in Mtskheta and not visit Jvari.

Gori and Uplistsikhe

Gori is a dusty town. There are two attractions in it: the fortress and the Stalin Museum. There is no point in going to the fortress - there is just a lawn inside, and the view from above is not the best. The Stalin Museum is worth a visit if only for general development. The museum is open from 11 am to 5 pm every day, except weekends and holidays. The excursion costs 10 lari (5.5 dollars). They charge separate money for visiting Stalin's railway carriage - 5 lari (2.7 dollars). But you just don’t have to look at the carriage.

In general, Gori could be skipped, but nearby is Uplistsikhe, which cannot be missed. Uplistsikhe - ancient cave city, which people left quite recently. We have already written in detail and with photographs about.

You can get to Gori from Tbilisi by minibus from Didube metro station. There are two ways to get from Gori to Uplistsikhe. The first is a taxi, which will cost 15–20 lari (about 10 dollars). The driver will take you to Uplistsikhe, wait while you look at everything and take you back to Gori. The second option is a minibus from Gori to the village of Kvakhvreli. It's not far, a minibus will cost a maximum of 2 GEL. You need to ask the driver to take you to the bridge. Then cross the bridge on foot, turn left and after about a kilometer you come to a ticket office.

Entrance to the territory of the Uplistsikhe cave complex costs 3 lari (1.6 dollars), an excursion - 10 lari (5.5 dollars). Uplistsikhe occupies a fairly large area; you will need about three hours to explore everything. Don't forget to buy water.

Vardzia

From Tbilisi to Vardzia 250 km. The drive takes about 4 hours - several serpentines along the way. There is a minibus from Tbilisi to Vardzia from the Didube metro station. It leaves at 10 am, costs 13 lari (7.2 dollars) and delivers directly to the cave complex. The problem is that there is also only one minibus a day from Vardzia to Tbilisi, and it also leaves at 10 am.

Thus, you need to either spend the night somewhere in the surrounding villages (which will certainly be interesting if possible), or get out of Vardzia to the nearest town of Akhaltsikhe and from there go to Tbilisi either by train, or by minibus, or by hitchhiking. No hotels were seen in the villages. You can probably negotiate a return to Akhaltsikhe with the driver of the minibus on which you arrived in Vardzia.

Here I want to emphasize that the information about the minibus was received from a resident of Vardzia and may not be complete. Just in case, check.
Entrance to the territory of the Vardzia cave complex costs 3 lari (1.6 dollars), an excursion - 10 lari (5.5 dollars). It will take at least three hours to explore all the caves.
Update: LJ user tlamer provided information about housing in Vardzia. Opposite the cave complex, behind the bridge, there are two guesthouses. The first phone number is 899-116-207, $20 per person for housing. The second phone number is 899-543-540, $10 per person for housing. Phone numbers and prices are from Lonely Planet 2008, but according to tlamer, these guesthouses definitely exist there.

Borjomi and Bakuriani

There is absolutely nothing to do in Borjomi. There is only big park, in the center of which there is a source from which that same water flows. You can only buy a bottle of Borjomi and compare the taste of the water in the bottle and at the source. A mountain rises above the park, which can be climbed on foot in 30 minutes or by cable car for 1 GEL. Entrance to the park is 50 tetri.
But if time permits, you can go up from Borjomi to the Bakuriani ski resort. Bakuriani is very beautiful even in summer - meadows, forests, mountains, clean air and no one around. There are many hotels, and there are also private boarding houses where you will be gladly received. It seems that a bed in a boarding house costs 15 lari (8.3 dollars), a hotel costs about 30 dollars.

You can get to Bakuriani from Borjomi by narrow-gauge train, which is called “Cuckoo” here. Minibuses probably also run from Borjomi, but hitchhiking can be a problem - the traffic is far from busy.
If you are by car, you can make a stop in Bakuriani on the way to or from Vardzia.

Military Georgian road and Kazbegi

The most interesting way to travel along the Georgian Military Road is by car - no one will stop the minibus every 15 minutes so you can look around. And you will definitely want to take a look in Ananuri, Gudauri and at the entrance to Kazbegi. It may be worth considering taking a taxi to Kazbegi, but it will cost no less than 60–70 dollars. If the budget does not support this, then it is worth at least coming to Kazbegi by minibus, spending the night and returning to Tbilisi the next evening. However, if your route goes through the Verkhniy Lars - Kazbegi checkpoint, then just stay overnight in Kazbegi. In Kazbegi you can breathe in plenty of clean mountain air, look at the mountain landscapes and rushing rivers and climb the mountain to the monastery. From there, if you're lucky, it opens great view to Kazbek.

The question of transport and housing, I’ll just say that the Kazbegi-Tbilisi minibus costs 10 lari (5.6 dollars).

Kakheti

Kakheti is located very close to Tbilisi and, in principle, can be seen in several trips from the capital. But it will probably be more interesting to come to Sighnaghi, having seen something along the way, spend the night in Sighnaghi and return to Tbilisi the next day, also stopping by somewhere along the way.

Places worth paying attention to in Kakheti: Sighnaghi, Telavi, Mirzaani, Tsinandali and Alaverdi. By car, all these places can be easily visited during daylight hours. There is also an interesting, judging by the photographs, David-Gareji monastery, but we did not get to it. If you don’t have much time, you can limit yourself to just a trip to Sighnaghi.

Minibuses to Kakheti run from the Tbilisi metro station Isani. From Tbilisi to Telavi (the capital of Kakheti) 150 km, a minibus costs 7 lari (3.8 dollars). All other cities are much closer.

Sighnaghi (or Sighnaghi) is worth coming to, regardless of whether you intend to see the rest of Kakheti. A lot of effort and money have clearly been invested in Sighnaghi lately. As a result, he became like small towns Mediterranean coast Europe. In the city you can see a perfectly preserved fortress wall of some incredible length, gaze at interesting monuments and go to the museum (3 GEL, from 11 am to 6 pm, except Mondays and holidays). But the most important thing is to have plenty of time to walk around the city, including in the evening, when the multi-colored lights turn on.
IN tourist center You can get good Sighnaghi tourist maps all regions of Georgia. I’m not writing about housing in Sighnaghi - there are many coordinates on the city website (above in the text).

Telavi also has an impressive fortress, inside of which there is a city museum. You can walk around the fortress for free, entrance to the museum costs 2 lari (1.1 dollars), a tour costs 13 lari (7.2 dollars). The fortress walls offer a view of the entire Alazani Valley; the usefulness of the museum is questionable. Opposite the entrance to the fortress, across the square, there is another attraction - a huge 900-year-old plane tree.

Near Telavi (12 km) is the Alaverdi Temple. Apart from it, there is nothing else in the area, and transport seems to go there irregularly. The temple, however, is impressive and quite picturesque, even with ongoing restoration. Entry is, of course, free. There are probably some minibuses to Alaverdi from Telavi.

Tsinandali, in addition to the famous wine, has another attraction - the Chavchavadze house-museum. This is a very well-kept manor located in a beautiful and tidy park. Numerous rooms of the estate are lovingly furnished with antique and pseudo-antique furniture and utensils. In general, a quite pleasant house-museum. Entrance costs 5 lari (2.7 dollars).

The village of Mirzaani is the birthplace of Niko Pirosmani. His museum is located here, which houses 14 originals. But this place is notable not so much for the paintings as for the surrounding pastoral landscape and views of the Alazani Valley.
Mirzaani, although located only 20 km from Sighnaghi, is difficult to get there. Therefore, I will dwell on this point in detail. The minibus runs here from the Tbilisi metro station Isani, but only goes to the center of the village, from where it’s still quite a long walk to the museum. But you can give the driver 50 tetri to take you straight to the museum. At 9 am a minibus leaves from Tbilisi, the driver of which lives right next to the Pirosmani Museum. You can agree with him that he will pick you up when he goes back. True, it will only be in 2 hours, and that’s too much time for Mirzaani.

Svaneti

Svaneti is the future of Georgian tourism. In a few years, a ski resort will appear here, just at that moment the road will be completed, and then prices will immediately skyrocket. They will take off because the views here are excellent, the sights are interesting, the skiing will probably be good, but at the same time it’s also a two-hour drive to the sea - where else can you find something like this? Our story from.
You should definitely come to Svaneti, despite the transport difficulties. Here you can either just walk and enjoy the surrounding landscapes, or go on a trek or horseback ride for one to several days.

Transport

There are persistent rumors on the Internet about a “circular” road along which you can drive from Kutaisi to Lentekhi, from there through Ushguli get to Mestia and go to Zugdidi. So, there is no such road. That is, there may be a road, but you can only travel along it on a horse. This road will not appear in the near future, since the government is still concentrating its forces on the Zugdidi-Mestia section.

Now you can get to Svaneti only through Zugdidi. There is one minibus per day from Tbilisi to Mestia. It departs at 6 am from the station square in Tbilisi and covers 460 km to Mestia in 9 hours. This minibus costs 30 lari (16.6 dollars).
From Zugdidi to Mestia, too, there seems to be only one minibus a day. It departs from the “Svan Tower” in Zugdidi, costs 15 lari (8.3 dollars) and goes to Mestia for 4 hours. This minibus does not have an exact schedule; it departs when it is full, but definitely no later than 10 am. I note that from Zugdidi to Mestia it is only 136 km, but the road is very bad.

You can get to Svaneti by plane; there is an airport in Mestia. On this moment A “maize” flies from Kutaisi to Mestia on Tuesdays and Fridays. This is some kind of special government program, so on one day the flight is free, and on the other it costs 12 lari (6.6 dollars). There are two things here, but: first, everyone loves a freebie, second, there are few places in the corn house. Rumor has it that there are fights at the ramp on a free day. You can reserve a seat on this plane from a man named Beno by calling 895-70-21-76.

There is also an air taxi from the Tbilisi suburb of Natakhtari. True, neither the cost nor the schedule could be found out.

The authorities of Svaneti have announced a tender for a Tbilisi-Mestia flight for 40 lari ($22.2) one way. The Mestia administration is confident that by September 2010 such a flight will begin to operate. If this happens, then it will be pointless to waste a whole daylight hours in a minibus from Tbilisi.

Arriving in Svaneti, you should definitely get to the village of Ushguli. This is the highest mountain village in Europe. They say it's very beautiful there. Weather conditions prevented us from getting there.
From Mestia to Ushguli there is one and very bad road. It's only 45 km, but it can be covered in a Niva in two hours. Renting a Niva costs 150 lari ($83) for the entire car. The driver waits for you in Ushguli and then takes you back to Mestia. But there is a more romantic way to get to Ushguli - on foot or on horseback for several days. About trekking in Svaneti below.

Housing

From point of view independent tourism, Mestia is the most developed city in Georgia. There are more guesthouses here than in the rest of the country combined. Almost on the first house at the entrance to the city there is a “Guesthouse” sign. But, even though the town is small, it is better to live in the center. There is an administration building in the central square of the city; it is difficult not to recognize it. If you look at this building, the house on the left (No. 3 in Seti Square) is a guesthouse. The owner's name is Manana, she speaks excellent Russian. Her phone number is 899-54-94-35. Her relative lives in the next house, and she can also stay with her. Even if both of these houses are occupied, Manana will tell you who to contact. The cost of living is 30 GEL per day per person with two meals a day. In principle, this price is announced in all guesthouses, but in two we managed to negotiate for 10 GEL per person per day without meals. So bargaining is welcome, especially if you come for more than one day.

I note that all guesthouses are the second floors of large village houses, and the layout there is purely domestic: 2-3 rooms and a shared toilet. But everywhere is very clean and tidy.
We managed to get a list of guesthouses throughout Svaneti.

If you need more pretentious conditions, then in Mestia there are quite modern hotels with 3-4 stars. One of them is located across the square from the administration, ten meters behind it the second. But I would recommend Tetnuldi Hotel, this hotel has just been built and the view from its balconies is simply wonderful. Phone 890-12-33-44. Cost for single/double room: regular 90/120 GEL, junior suite 120/150 GEL, breakfast ( Buffet) included.

Trekking in Svaneti

When you are surrounded by mountain rivers, forests and snowy peaks, you don’t need to do anything special - just go and be happy. And the walking infrastructure in Svaneti is extremely developed. The main office organizing hiking and horseback riding in Svaneti is Svaneti Tourism Center, whose office is located in Mestia, at st. Vittorio Sella, 7, phone +995-99-41-93-53. On the website of this office there are many routes for trekking, both on foot and on horseback. Prices are approximately as follows: guide - 40 lari ($22.2) per day, regardless of the size of the group; horse - 30 lari ($16.6) per day, also the group must pay 30 lari per day for the guide’s horse; accommodation (if the trek is multi-day) - 40–50 GEL per day with three meals a day. A multi-day trek can be quite an interesting option to get from Mestia to Ushguli; this event takes 4 days. True, there is a possibility that you will still have to get back on the Niva - check this point.

The mentioned office is the largest, but also the most expensive. There are many private guides in the city who are ready to take you along any route: on foot or on horseback, with accommodation in a tent or in a house.
One of these guides is Beka Naveriani, his phone number is 890-66-00-10. The cost of a four-day trek in Ushguli is 20 lari ($11) per day just for the trek or 40 ($22.2) lari per day with accommodation and food. You can ask for a tent, it costs 5 GEL per day. True, this guide’s horses cost a little more - 35 lari ($19.4) per day.

I would like to emphasize that absolutely everyone in Svaneti - from guesthouse owners to guides - smiles slyly when voicing prices. Therefore, bargaining is certainly welcome, although not as fierce as in India, for example.

Adjara Zugdidi

There is probably no point in coming to Zugdidi separately. But if you are still here on the way to Svaneti, then you can go to the Dadiani Palace - 2 GEL entrance, 5 GEL excursion. There is nothing else to do in the city.

The train from Tbilisi to Zugdidi is listed in the "" section. There are probably many minibuses from Tbilisi, they run from the station square and from the Didube metro station. The cost should not be more than 20 GEL.

Kutaisi

You can visit Kutaisi for a couple of hours, walk along the alleys of the old city, go to the neatly renovated center, and look at. The local landmark - the Bagrati Temple - will be under restoration for another 5 years; now it doesn’t even have a roof. In general, if you are short on time, you can skip Kutaisi.
Minibuses run from Tbilisi from the station square and from the Dudube metro station. The train schedule from Tbilisi to Kutaisi is given in the “” section.

I highly recommend coming to Georgia. This country has a huge number of diverse and interesting attractions compactly located. The people are hospitable and friendly. The food is extremely tasty. What else can you say?

From the point of view of independent tourism and small budgets, everything is also quite good. Transport is cheap, hitchhiking is good, distances are short. Things are not very good with guesthouses, but couchsurfing and a hospitality club should be developed. Even complete ignorance in English, which deters many from independent tourism, is not a problem here; many Georgians still speak Russian.

I would suggest the following minimum route around Georgia:
Two days in Tbilisi. One day trip from Tbilisi to Mtskheta. One day in Gori and Uplistsikhe. One day in Vardzia. One day in Kakheti, in particular - in Sighnaghi. Two days in Svaneti. One day in Batumi. Comes out 9 days.
To this you can add a one-day excursion to Kazbegi along the Georgian Military Road and expand the trip to Kakheti to two days. Well, then increase it by trekking in Svaneti or lying on the beach somewhere near Batumi.

Thank you! Have a nice trip!

You can ask us any questions.

The prices there are good, and the tours are almost always confirmed.

But it's not that simple. Georgia is generally not well suited for classic package tourism. Charters don't fly here, and tour operators can't get enough tourists to sell hotels on significant discounts. As a result, a self-organized vacation will turn out to be not only several times better quality, but also much cheaper.

Let's give an example. Package tour to Georgia for the weekend costs 26,000 rubles ($460) for two. For this money you get a good 3* hotel (2 nights) and transfer from the airport and back. A city tour is a bonus.

Let's try to organize such a tour ourselves. On Booking, a decent hotel of similar quality will cost you $100 per weekend. At the same time, the owner for a small fee of about 40 GEL RATE OF THE GEORGIAN GELAR:
40 lari = 13.24 euros;
40 lari = 15.2 dollars;
40 lari = 1008.8 rubles;
40 lari = 425.6 hryvnia;
40 lari = 34 Belarusian rubles.
Exchange rates and prices may not be accurate. will meet you at the airport and take you back. Some hosts meet you and take you there for free - Georgians are very hospitable people.

Total: $120 for a more or less similar tour. If you look for housing in, you will get even cheaper.

How to organize your own holiday in Georgia?

Planning a vacation yourself is no more difficult than purchasing a tour. Everything can be done without even leaving home, but to do this you need to know the names of many useful sites. In this article we recommend those that we usually use when organizing our holidays in Georgia and other countries

If you found the information on our website useful or we helped you in the comments, and you want to thank us, just purchase services using the links in this article. We personally use each of the services described here and are ready to recommend them to friends.

Most of the links on this page are affiliate links. The price does not change for you, and the service pays us a small bonus from its own income. In the end, everyone benefits. You get high-quality information and answers to your questions, and it’s easier for us to develop the site (photo equipment, excursions and hotels cost money).

All sites described on this page have already been verified by us and our friends, and therefore are 100% safe - your money will not be stolen or lost.

Looking for air tickets to Georgia on your own - what and how?

Since the cost of flights even to neighboring dates sometimes differs significantly, the first stage of independent vacation planning in Georgia is usually. There are three in Georgia international airport: , and in Kutaisi. The easiest way to compare prices is to use this handy widget:

If the dates of departure and arrival are of significant importance to you, you can use the low price calendar:

To keep track of discounts and promotions, you can subscribe to them by email:

If you prefer to search for tickets yourself, we recommend using the website Aviasales.ru. It helps to find the most low prices on the Internet, but does not show suspicious and fraudulent sites.

Hotels, apartments and private housing

Having purchased a ticket, you will already know the dates and city where you will need a hotel.

The most popular hotel search engine is Booking.com. Initially, it was conceived as a hotel search engine, but recently an excellent selection of apartments, apartments and even guesthouses has appeared there. In general, accommodation for every taste and budget.

The Hotellok metasearch engine will help you save a little. It automatically checks prices not only on Booking, but also on other proven booking systems, and shows the lowest.

If you prefer to book your accommodation directly, you can use AirBnB. A lot of locals use this service, and therefore you can rent an apartment directly from the owners.

Renting an apartment or room in Georgia is cheaper than a hotel

Register today and you and I will receive a $32 gift from AirBnB! It's free and only takes 1 minute! WHAT DOES $32 FREE FROM AIRBNB MEAN?

AirBnB is currently running a promotion. If you register using our link (button at the top), the service will give you and me $39 each for your first booking. Absolutely free!

Even if you don't plan to book accommodation on AirBnB in the near future, register anyway to receive the bonus. What if it comes in handy later, but the promotion no longer exists? Travel yourself and help us! Thank you.

Insurance for a trip to Georgia. Is it necessary and which one should I choose?

Purely theoretically, insurance is not needed for a trip to Georgia. Neither we nor our friends at the border were ever asked about it. The website of the Georgian Embassy also does not require tourists to have insurance.

But you need to understand that Georgia is a mountainous country. The entire population of Georgia is insured by the state, but for foreigners the slightest injury here can simply result in colossal expenses. Therefore, it is better to buy insurance, put it in your back pocket and hope that you will never need it.

We know of two good services that sell insurance for trips to Georgia: and. In terms of quality and range, they are approximately the same, differing primarily in design.

Let us describe their main advantages in comparison with going to an insurance company:

It's convenient - you can buy insurance right from home.

It's cheaper - You can compare prices from different insurance companies. Sometimes prices on the Internet are lower than when purchasing the same insurance directly from the insurance company.

This is understandable - instead of 20 pages of fine print, you will immediately be shown the key terms of the contract.

This is comfortable - a human manager will not try to push you into more expensive insurance

This is reliable - it is easier for an insurance company to refuse payment to a single client than for a service that sells hundreds, if not thousands of insurances every day.

Transfers and car rental

Somewhere in 2018, Myrentacar.com started operating in Georgia. This site finds good local rental companies, builds relationships with them and is very strict about quality and attitude towards customers. We rented cars from them several times in Montenegro and Bulgaria, recently. The experience is positive.

Compared to international rental companies, prices here are lower and conditions for deposits and insurance are more favorable. Less often they “find fault” with minor scratches or charge fines for unknown reasons. For real scratches, they do not withdraw the entire deposit, but honestly calculate the cost of repairs. Only here you can choose a specific car, and not a vague “car class”. Some people love the Japanese, some the Germans, and some just want a red one.

There are also disadvantages. For example, on average in a hospital, cars on international sites seem to be newer. This does not guarantee that they will give you a brand new car there, but the probability is higher. Although, on the other hand, on Myrentacar.com you can choose a specific car of a specific year. If you want something newer, but a little more expensive, no problem.

Many people believe that it is best to travel around Georgia in your own or rented car. But this is not always the case. Even if you don’t take into account the driver’s fatigue from driving through unfamiliar mountain roads, there are a lot of other disadvantages to renting a car. For example, the driver cannot drink wine and chacha. And there are many secret “points” along the way. Locals know them and show them. In general, a trip with a local is also part of the holiday. Georgian hospitality gives an incredible feeling.

Most people, out of habit, negotiate with taxi drivers in the tourist areas of Tbilisi or on the Batumi embankment. There are always a lot of them there. They will take you around, show you something and even give you a tour in the format “this is very old church" We don't recommend it. Prices are higher than on the Internet, but there is no service. We generally remain silent about smoky cars without air conditioning.

There is an excellent website in Georgia where you can order both a transfer from the airport and a full-fledged trip for the whole day. It's called GoTrip.ge. We traveled with them several times, we can talk about the pros and cons.

Is it even worth booking something in advance and online?

To be honest, it’s not worth booking all your accommodation in advance. Still, Georgia is more suitable for visiting travel. In some places you may be delayed due to bad weather, but in others you will like it so much that you simply won’t want to leave.

We usually booked accommodation 1-2 days before check-in. This gives peace of mind, but allows us not to follow strict boundaries - we do not plan the entire three-week trip in advance and go where we want most at the moment.

Let's share the reverse situation. It so happened that in Tbilisi we urgently needed a hotel room. We looked at several options: either there were no rooms, or we didn’t like the hotel at all, or the prices were completely exorbitant. In general, the experience of searching for housing on site was not at all successful.

How to plan a route in Georgia? Our route

The easiest way to plan a route around Georgia is based on personal preferences, weather conditions and budget. For example, let's share own route for 21 days, which seemed pretty good to us.

The next stage is moving to

What you need to know when going on a trip to Georgia. When and where to go to Georgia, do you need visas, what to see and visit in Georgia. Food and prices, etc.

Georgia has been attracting me for a long time with its khachapuri and mountain expanses, but so far I still couldn’t get to this dream country because of its Asia, Europe and Siberia.. Finally, it is getting closer and closer, and for now I decided to start with this Guest post. My Georgia specialist Victor is also a global traveler and photographer whom we met in Phuket. He lived in Batumi as a child and still comes to Georgia every summer. Victor’s website Georgiabest.ru turned out to be the most useful for me in preparing for my first trip, and in this article Victor briefly but succinctly tells all the most important things: information on how to get to Georgia, about visas, prices, interesting places in Georgia that are worth visit, etc.

Victor, traveler, guide in Georgia: Georgiabest.ru

Yes, Georgia is on everyone’s lips these days. And not in vain, oh not in vain. Come and see for yourself. So that later, closing your eyes, with a dreamy look, you can tell your friends how good, fun and soulful it is there. Of course, there are exceptions among the happy crowds of tourists, but they only prove the rule. And the rule is that this country will not leave anyone indifferent. And you have no reason to deny yourself the pleasure of getting to know Georgia and discovering its amazing people and the breathtaking beauty of nature. What can we say about the cultural, architectural and historical monuments that are literally at every step here, and often right in people’s backyards, such as towers in Svaneti or ancient qvevri in Kakheti...

In winter, people go to Georgia to have a fun and unforgettable meeting New Year: V New Year's Eve the whole country explodes with hundreds of thousands of fireworks. Also in winter people come here to ski and snowboard in Bakuriani and Gudauri. Well, considering that winter in Georgia is not so cold compared to Ukrainian or Russian, then it will be all the same to see the sights in different parts of the country, with the exception, perhaps, of the remote regions of Tusheti and Racha, and even more so, to take a walk around Tbilisi and Mtskheta comfortable and not cold.

Important information about winter in Georgia:

• IN winter time, and especially in March, there is a possibility of strong gusty winds, which usually last 2-3 days.
• In apartments and hotels in Georgia, the heating is not at all as good as in Russia - it’s cool.
• Due to snowfalls, the Georgian Military Road, the only highway connecting the country with Russia, may be blocked, and it will not always be possible to get to Stepantsminda to see the legendary Kazbek and the Gergeti Church.
• There are a couple of great ones in Georgia ski resorts with good slopes and open spaces for freeride: Gudauri 80 km from Vladikavkaz (for beginners and advanced) and Bakuriani 180 km from Tbilisi (more difficult trails).

May-June is a good period for those who do not like heat. There are no such ones yet high temperatures, because of which Tbilisi is practically empty in the summer: everyone is trying to leave, and even more so, to take their children somewhere to the forest or to the mountains. In general, in Georgia it is an almost unbreakable tradition - to take children to 3, or at least 2, resorts in the summer to change the air and boost their immunity. So, in the period from May to early July, local residents usually go to the mountains or coniferous forests. In May, pine trees bloom, and this pine air is very beneficial for both adults and children.

But even in Tbilisi at this time it is quite comfortable. As a rule, it rains from time to time, the sun shines, but does not burn everything around yet, plus local vegetables and fruits appear on the shelves. You can eat to your heart's content, because the prices are quite reasonable compared to the megacities of neighboring countries.

End of summer. Well, if you are a lover of the scorching sun, sea, beach and watermelons, come to Georgia in July-September. You can fly straight to Batumi, go to Kobuleti, Kvariati, Shekvetili, Ureki, Sarpi or to Cape Verde(Mtsvane Konkhi). During this period, you will also be exposed to an incredible abundance of local fruits, berries, vegetables and herbs.

Late fall. It may seem that from October to December in Georgia it is gray, uninteresting, cold, and there is nothing to do. Actually, not quite like that. In October it is still quite warm, and going on excursions is a pleasure, and the stalls are bursting with gifts of the Georgian land: grapes, persimmons, figs - these are just a few examples. The famous Georgian tangerines will begin in November. Also, in the fall they go to Georgia to attend such a colorful and unforgettable event as “rtveli” - the grape harvest. A visit to Rtveli is in itself a sufficient reason to go here in mid-autumn.

An important factor in favor of planning a trip at this time (as well as from February to March) is lower prices for accommodation and excursions than at the height of the season. So weigh the pros and cons, and choose the perfect time for you.

Visa to Georgia (not needed)

Good news, if you are coming from Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Moldova and 88 other countries, you do not need a visa, they will simply put an entry stamp in your passport at the border. Moreover, citizens of Russia, if you suddenly want to stay longer (and this is a very possible development of events, as practice shows) you can stay at whole year, you don't need a visa.

Is it safe for Russian-speaking tourists in Georgia?

Very often you can hear the question: “How safe is it for Russians to travel to Georgia?” Considering the tense relations between these two states, the question is quite understandable.

But among Georgians it causes either laughter or bewilderment. “How could you even think that it’s dangerous for Russians here?” - this is what the answer to your question will sound like from the lips of local residents.

Georgians, and everyone who lives in this southern country, for the most part, they are peaceful and hospitable, so you have absolutely nothing to worry about. The older generation in Georgia speaks excellent Russian, and so do some of the younger generation. Although young people usually know English better than Russian, but as such, barriers to communication with local population you won't have. There will definitely be someone nearby who knows Russian.

And even more so in the field of tourism services: sellers, guides, drivers, hotel staff speak Russian.

How to get to Georgia on your own

At the moment, you can get to Georgia either by air, or by land, or, if you are coming from Ukraine, by sea - by ferry. Trains, unfortunately, do not travel here yet.

• Planes fly to Tbilisi, Batumi and Kutaisi. They fly to Kutaisi, so this is a good option, especially since there are also many interesting places in this part of Georgia; you can even stay there for a couple of days. An air ticket Moscow-Tbilisi costs around $80, find the most best tickets Can .
• You can come by your own car - this is even greater freedom of movement and unrealistic beautiful roads.
• Getting there by bus from Moscow to Tbilisi takes a long time, but is inexpensive (about $60). There is a bus from Kyiv.
• You can get to Georgia from Odessa by ferry. Although it takes a long time and the price is close to air travel.

Prices in Georgia: for vacation and for life

Another pressing question is how much it will cost to vacation or live in Georgia. This is understandable - you want to have an idea in advance, at least approximately, how much money to take with you and what to be prepared for.

As for housing prices, it depends on your luck and what conditions you prefer. - from $4 per night per person, clean and in the city center - from $10. Apartments for daily rent during the season cost $30 and more. Usually a good renovated apartment with a good location costs $50-60.

→The easiest way to rent housing for a long time is already on the spot, or write an ad in advance in Facebook groups (a group for the city where you want to live). During the winter season, many not cheap hotels rent out rooms for a long period of time very cheaply, you can find them around $200/month.

Taxi around the city - from 5-15 lari ($2-7). Guide services - from 100 lari ($40) per day, car rental - from $50 per day. Gasoline costs 2.35 lari ($1).

Login to many historical places free, or within 3-7 lari ($1.25-3).

Look at examples of food prices if you have the strength and desire to cook yourself in a country where there is delicious street food and fairly reasonable prices in restaurants:

• Sugar 1 kg – 2 lari ($0.75)
• Bread – 70 tetri ($0.25)
• Local apples – 1.5 lari ($0.6)
• Potatoes – 80 tetri ($0.3)
• Georgian cheese – from 6 lari ($2.5)
• Coffee beans 100 g – from 1.5 lari ($0.6)
• Milk – 2.50 lari ($1)
• Churchkhela – 3 lari ($1.15)

→Some restaurants in Tbilisi that are worth visiting:

• Gabriadze Art Cafe (Shovteli St., 13) is one of the most original establishments in Tbilisi, an original cafe created by artist and director Rezo Gabriadze, author of “Kin-dza-za”, sculptor famous monument"Chizhik-Pizhik" in St. Petersburg.
• Restaurant “House of Khinkali” (Rustaveli, 37, Rustaveli metro station). Open 24/7, the name speaks for itself :).
• Dukhan “Racha” (6 Lermontov St.). An establishment for locals, most of the visitors are men. The place is very atmospheric, you can order Georgian national dishes here, but it is best to try dishes typical of the Racha region: aphazuri, lobiani, etc.
• Art cafe “Shevardnadze’s Garden” - the establishment combines a shabby chic cafe, a garden and a flower shop. Location: Latkini microdistrict. at the end of the street Khudadova, (near the police station).
• “Machakhela” (Meydan, 26) is a chain restaurant, one of the best is the restaurant on Meydan Square, in the very center of the old city. It is easy to recognize by the voluminous inscription located in front of the entrance: I love Tbilisi. Sitting in a restaurant, you can admire the panorama of the city opening from a window, balcony or open terrace.
• Restaurant Samikitno (25 Merab Kostava St).
• Mirzaani (delicious beer, address: 140 Akaki Tsereteli Ave).
• Salobio.
• Hinkleys sahli.

Although these are more likely to be eateries, they are clean, some of them have interesting Georgian-style interiors, and the food is almost like home-cooked food.

In general, you need to try hard to find an establishment in Georgia that serves Georgian cuisine poorly. Prices for shish kebab - from 12 lari ($5), Khinkali - 70 tetri piece. Five pieces - and out of habit, nothing else will fit into you. But we have to. Khachapuri - 7 lari ($3), kebab - from 6 lari ($2.5). Tea, coffee, lemonade - about 2 lari ($0.8) per cup/bottle.

Street food is also tasty and inexpensive: lobiani, kubdari, picini, khachapuri cost an average of 2 lari.

Georgian cuisine. Must try

One can write endlessly about Georgian cuisine. But it’s even better to come and taste everything yourself. We can only guide you so that you do not completely get lost in the novelty, diversity and unusual names.

Khinkali

Khinkali is the most famous dish of Georgian cuisine. They look like bags made of thick dough, filled with minced meat and herbs, including cilantro. A proper khinkali should have at least 16 folds, according to knowledgeable people. It is important to eat them correctly: with your hands or a fork (a compromise for non-locals), take them by the leg, carefully bite them, drink delicious juice, and then eat everything except the leg. You can pour satsebeli tomato sauce into the hole of the khinkali. For vegetarians they prepare khinkali with mushrooms.

Khachapuri

Khachapuri. There are many different types of them: imeruli, ajaruli, megruli, and, of course, adjaruli. Adjarian khachapuri in the shape of a boat and with an egg broken into a cheese filling and butter is a real feast of taste. This is a must try. Some establishments serve huge ajaruli, nicknamed the Titanic - enough for a whole company or family. You need to pinch off pieces of dough on the sides of the khachapuri and dip them into the hot filling.

Lobio and Mchadi. A simple, satisfying and very tasty dish. Red beans cooked with spices in a ketsi (clay pot) and an unleavened flatbread made from corn flour. There are even establishments called “lobiynaya” - for example, the Salobio cafe, which has already become a separate landmark of the city of Mtskheta, where Alexander Sergeevich himself once treated himself to the famous Mtskheta pies and lobio.

If you are not afraid of new tastes and unusual combinations, also try the following very colorful dishes:

Chakapuli is young meat stewed with herbs and spices, as well as sour green tkemali.

Hashi is very much an acquired taste. If you are that kind of fan, you will be delighted. In Georgia, khashi is so respected that separate establishments have been created for them: khash houses. And they open very early in the morning - at approximately 4:00. Because this fatty, hearty, scalding hot soup made from offal and big amount garlic has a very beneficial effect on hangovers. They usually eat it with chacha.

For vegetarians in Georgia there is also complete freedom. There are all kinds of cheese, kindzmari (fish in cilantro sauce) and pkhali - paste made from spinach, cabbage, beet tops or beets with spices, and nadugi with mint, and various soups, and champignons fried in ketsi, and ajapsandal - stew from tomatoes, sweet peppers, eggplants and potatoes, and a variety of pickles.

All kinds of spices, herbs, herbs, and nuts are generously used in Georgian cuisine. Even an ordinary tomato and cucumber salad is turned into a work of art here, because they add aromatic regani (red basil) and add nut sauce. Nuts are put in fried eggplant rolls, in satsivi, in bazhi, and in kharcho soup.

Wine in Georgia. Special wines and gastronomic tours, Georgian cuisine is so tasty and original, but there’s no need to say anything about the wines - come and taste it.

What to see in Georgia, where to visit? Top 7 interesting places

Georgia, although small in territory, can compete with the largest and most ancient countries in terms of the number of attractions and beautiful corners. It would probably take several months or years to explore everything that Georgia has to offer! So you’ll have to make a plan, choosing the most interesting thing for you. But there are places that every self-respecting traveler to Georgia must visit. We will list them for you to take note of.

Metekhi Church of the Mother of God and the monument to King Vakhtang in Tbilisi

No matter how far to go, there are many such places in Tbilisi itself:

• Narikala fortress,
• Sameba Temple,
• Meydan (one of central squares Tbilisi),
• sulfur baths...

The ancient city of Mtskheta (20 km from Tbilisi, coordinates: 41.840922, 44.707233). Near Tbilisi is Mtskheta, the ancient capital of Georgia. In this renovated city and its surroundings you will see many beautiful, important and holy places: Jvari Monastery on a hill overlooking the confluence of the Kura and Aragvi, Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, Shiomgvime Monastery, and many others. Also, the city itself has been restored, there is a large selection of souvenirs, spices, churchkhela, and it’s just nice to stroll along its cozy streets.

Vardzia (240 km from Tbilisi, coordinates: 41.381223, 43.284173) is not the only ancient cave city, but perhaps the most spectacular. 8 “floors”, about 600 caves. An incredible place where people lived for many centuries, hiding from numerous enemies.

Svaneti. Also a very original and unlike anything else region in Georgia is Svaneti - a historical mountainous region in North-West Georgia (coordinates 42.904220, 42.503335). It attracts tourists from all over the world. Svaneti has never been conquered or conquered throughout its history. And the people who live here are special - the Svans, real harsh mountaineers. Many people still have ancient defense towers in their yards that once belonged to their ancestors and were built about 1,000 years ago.

Prometheus Cave near Kutaisi (42.376771, 42.600971), discovered in 1983, is located next to the Sataplia nature reserve, where there is also a smaller cave and dinosaur tracks. A very spectacular place. Inside there is a cave with beautiful lighting, huge stalactites, and it will not leave either adults or children indifferent. You can even take a boat ride on the underground lake.

Martvili Canyon is one of the most beautiful in the Megrelian Region

The incredibly beautiful Martvili Canyon (Northwest Georgia, coordinates: 42.457356, 42.377148) is definitely worth a look. If you are in Georgia during the hot season, be sure to visit this beautiful place, travel from the upper to the lower canyon by boat and swim at the waterfall.

Rabat Fortress in Meskheti (coordinates: 41.642829, 42.977166) is a restored medieval Turkish fortress with an area of ​​7 hectares and modern infrastructure. Beautiful, majestic, convenient for visiting and family time.

Black sand of Ureki (41.987783, 41.760103). If you visit Georgia in summer or early autumn, be sure to take the opportunity to visit the Black Sea coast, unique beach with magnetic sand in Ureki. This black sand is famous for its healing properties for joints and the cardiovascular system.

Cities in Georgia that are worth visiting

Tbilisi is a unique capital, the heart of Sakartvelo, where in the old town you will find narrow streets, antique carpets, openwork bars on windows and balconies, the aroma of coffee and a special relaxed atmosphere, so unusual big cities. You can walk in Tbilisi for more than a day or two, discovering new things every day interesting places and establishments. Historical and cultural monuments are presented here in abundance. It is unforgivable to come to Georgia and not get to know Tbilisi.

Colonnade on the seaside boulevard - Batumi

Batumi is lively and charming city at the Black Sea. Beaches, musical fountains, old and new houses, a moving monument to lovers, an alphabet tower, bicycles for rent, a fish market where the fish of your choice will be cooked before your eyes, and much more awaits you to surprise and delight.

Sighnaghi - the city of love

Sighnaghi is a restored, romantic, cozy city with red roofs and views of the Alazani Valley. There is a 24-hour wedding palace here, where couples from different countries can get married by first submitting the necessary documents.

Auto tourism in Georgia

The cost of gasoline in Georgia is slightly less than a dollar per liter.

About movement. Be prepared for the fact that traffic on Georgian roads is chaotic, everyone is honking, cutting off, violating, so keep your eyes open. In the center of Tbilisi there are problems with parking - there are not enough places, there are paid parking lots near Rike Park and on Meydan, as well as underground parking lots near large supermarkets, be guided by them, because in central regions In most places in the city you can park only if you buy such a service from the city hall.

There are several highways in Georgia - this is part of the Tbilisi-Batumi road, as well as the Rustavi and Gori highways. The government plans to build new roads and restore existing ones.

The introduction of a new system of fines is currently being actively discussed in Georgia. Under this bill, a driver would have 100 points per year and a certain amount would be deducted for violations. If the limit of points is reached, you will have to retake the exam to obtain your license. Special “smart” video cameras are being installed throughout the city.

The road patrol is more loyal to tourists than to locals; moreover, it helps if you contact them.

The most beautiful roads are the road to Racha, Svaneti and Tusheti, although the latter can only be reached from June to September.

The Georgian Military Road along which we enter Georgia from Russia is incredibly beautiful, but the quality of the road is much less pleasing than the scenery. However, this is not so important, let's see what sights you will pass immediately after entering Georgia along the Georgian Military Road:

• Along the entire route there are Georgian ancient monuments: cathedrals, fortresses, watchtowers. On the Georgian Military Road there are Mtskheta, the Jvari temple-monastery (late 6th - early 7th centuries), and the Zemo-Avchala hydroelectric power station.
• The village of Chmi, where the complex is located archaeological sites from the Bronze Age to the late Middle Ages and a large Alan burial ground of the 6th-9th centuries, where it was found a large number of weapons, equipment, household items of Alans.
• Mount Kazbek (5033 m).
• Daryal fortification, built in 1804 in the Daryal Gorge to protect the road.
• "Tamara's Castle" - the ruins of an old tower on the opposite bank of the Terek.
• Zion Grove is a green oasis among the snowy peaks of the Caucasus.
• Cross Pass - highest point Georgian Military Road.
• Gudauri abyss and the highest mountain village of Gudauri on the Georgian Military Road.

What a tourist should know about Georgia

• Georgia is a patriarchal country with living traditions, respect for elders, and strong nepotism.
• Has great influence in the country Orthodox Church. When visiting churches and monasteries, be prepared for the fact that women may need to cover their heads or wrap themselves in a scarf if they are not wearing a skirt. Not all places inside temples allow photography.
• Children are treated with reverence here, they are allowed a lot, they are bathed in love and attention. Strangers may try to kiss your baby's arms and squeeze your cheeks, and in a restaurant they may well pick you up and take them, for example, to the kitchen, or walk with them around the hall. To some parents, such increased attention seems tactless, while others rejoice and admire. Be that as it may, these are the nuances that you need to be prepared for in order to respond adequately.
• Georgia is a mixture of east and west, and this is its zest and charm. This is not a “sleek” tourist country.
• On the central streets and in the metro you may encounter harmless but annoying gypsies and beggars.
• In many in public places smoke, although the ban law has already been practically adopted.
• The streets are not always perfectly clean and restored, although many visitors consider the latter to be a plus.
• People for the most part are friendly and hospitable, not because they expect monetary rewards from you, but because they are naturally like that, and have not yet forgotten those qualities that are considered important for every worthy resident of this amazing country.

Georgiabest.ru - Victor’s website and the most complete guide in Georgia, I highly recommend bookmarking it to everyone who is planning a trip to this country.

Once upon a time, a long time ago, when our world had not yet been struck by evil and was amazingly beautiful in its purity, God decided to divide the earth into parts and distribute it to different peoples. A huge queue lined up of people wanting to find a place where they could put down roots. All day long God worked tirelessly. Finally, when the last piece of sushi was given and he sat down tiredly, hoping to rest a little, a Georgian appeared in front of him.
- I also came for the land!
- You're late, I gave away everything I had...
The Georgian hung his head sadly.
- And where have you been? - God asked.
“I drank to your health,” the man answered, breaking into a smile.
And then, God gave the Georgians that part of the land that he had left for himself. So a small paradise on earth became Georgia.

FOR TOURISTS ABOUT GEORGIA

Country area: about 70 thousand square kilometers.
Population: 4.5 million people.
Capital: Tbilisi.
Official language: Georgian (older and middle-aged people speak Russian, young people speak English).
Currency unit: lari (GEL).
International designation of the state: GEO.
Political system: Georgia- an independent democratic country. It is headed by the President, who is also the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces. The parliament is unicameral. 150 deputies are elected once every 4 years based on general voting.
Administrative division: 1 city of national significance (Tbilisi), 9 territories and 2 autonomous republics.
Geographical position: located in the Caucasus, in the central and eastern parts. It borders with Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, and in the west it is washed by the Black Sea. It is located between two mountain ranges - the Greater Caucasus in the north and the Lesser Caucasus in the south. The western border runs along the Black Sea coast, its length is 330 km.
Flora and fauna: location Georgia, namely the fact that it is located between two mountain ranges makes it a unique ecological system. Almost 40% of the country's territory is covered with forest. Mountain streams and rivers, Rocky Mountains and mountains covered with lush vegetation, plains, hills and the sea coexist so closely and so closely that this symbiosis makes it possible to prosper the world of flora and fauna, which in terms of diversity occupies one of the first places in the world.
Climate: diverse and varies greatly by region.
Historical value: on site Georgia more than 10000 historical monuments, but not all of them are in good condition.
Visas: no preliminary registration is required, it is processed at the airport upon arrival, takes about 5-15 minutes, depending on the efficiency of the migration service officer. Citizen's passport Russian Federation must be valid for at least three more months. You can stay in the territory visa-free for 90 days. Be careful! If you have visited Abkhazia or South Ossetia from the Russian Federation, then in Georgia You most likely won't be allowed in!
Air traffic: to get in Georgia The most convenient way is by air. Aeroflot, S7 and Georgian Airlines (Airzena) operate regular flights to Tbilisi from Moscow. There are 3 international airports in Georgia in Tbilisi, Kutaisi, Batumi and one local airport in Mestia (Svaneti).

HOLIDAY IN GEORGIA

Georgia is unique in that, despite its compactness and diversity, you can combine various types of recreation. If you want to touch history, then visiting Tbilisi itself is a must, then Mtskheta - the first capital of Georgia, with a unique temple complex, Jvari - the cradle of Christianity, Betania Monastery, David Gareji monastery complex, the city of love Sighnaghi, Gelati, Uplistsikhe, Vardzia, renewed Batumi and this list can be continued endlessly.
For impressions from winter holiday and enjoy skiing, you need to go to Bakuriani or Gudauri.
For sea experiences, go to Batumi, Kobuleti, Cape Verde, Sarpi and Kvariati.
IN Georgia There are so many Christian shrines that pilgrims will also find amazing and wonderful places to suit their taste.
Well, lovers and connoisseurs of extraordinary Georgian wine will get real pleasure from visiting the Alazani Valley and tasting the most famous varieties of wine.

Movement and transport in Georgia

The traffic is on the right and very chaotic; for a driver accustomed to driving exclusively according to the rules, it can sometimes be scary.
In terms of public transport, the metro (in Tbilisi), buses and minibuses are well established. To travel on public transport, it is better to purchase an electronic card; it is reloadable and you can use it to pay on buses, subways, minibuses, and even take a tram to the funicular or pay for a visit to a museum. Refillable in the metro, inexpensive and very convenient.
All buses are equipped with a tracking system, so at any stop you can see in how many minutes the bus you need will arrive. As for the routes themselves, don't be afraid to ask, 80% of the population speaks Russian, so... language barrier You definitely won't feel it.
The traffic of minibuses is very intense and chaotic, the fare is no more than 1 lari, the advantages are: they travel quickly and stop where you need. Payment upon exit, either by electronic card or in cash.
Metro - payment by card, cost - cheaper than in ground transport. Disadvantages: the routes are long, the waiting time is long.
Taxi is another alternative mode of transport. If you stop on the street, then immediately agree on the price and do not be lazy to look at the map in order to have at least an approximate idea of ​​the distance of the trip. Taxi drivers are very fond of Russian-speaking passengers and their ability to pay, so in the desire to make money, they can first give a breeze through all areas of the city, and only then bring them to their place. And be sure to bargain! You can also order a taxi by phone; there is always a Russian-speaking operator in the call center. One of the advantages is that you immediately name your destination, and they tell you the cost of the trip.
Long-distance minibuses can take you to almost any point in the country and even beyond its borders. For example, you can get to Yerevan (Armenia) by minibus in about 6 hours. The parking lot of these minibuses is near the Avlabari metro station in Tbilisi. As a rule, minibuses depart early in the morning as they fill up, there is no schedule as such, it all depends on demand - there can be from one to ten trips a day. There are several departure points from Tbilisi, it all depends on the direction.
There is a railway connection in Georgia, and sometimes it is very convenient.

What to see in Georgia

Of course, Tbilisi is worth spending a few days in. Moreover, take your time to walk along the streets of the old city. You just need to drive through the new areas by car, there are interesting buildings, but the real delight is the old town with its crooked and narrow streets. You will have to travel on foot, which is not bad, you can see all the details of the life of Tbilisi residents. There are so many historical values ​​that it is necessary to talk about them separately, detailed guide, you will find HERE.
Literally 20 km from Tbilisi is Mtskheta, the ancient capital of the Georgian state. The city was recently restored and rebuilt, but despite the remodel, it has not lost its charm. Before visiting cathedral, don’t be lazy to go to the tourist office (a small Greek building on the square) to pay for the excursion for a very nominal fee (about 10 GEL). It's worth it! They will tell you and show you a lot of interesting things in the cathedral. It’s enough to spend a few hours in Mtskheta, and on the way back it’s worth making a small detour of a few kilometers to see Mtskheta from the heights of the Jvari monastery, seeing from above the confluence of the Aragvi and Mtkvari (Kura) and remembering Lermontov and his Mtsyri, because it is assumed that this is where the history, which became the plot of this amazing poem.

Sights of Georgia

If you want to immerse yourself in a completely different atmosphere than the urban jungle, then plan a tour to Georgia. This free and original country will not disappoint you. The landscape views alone can take your breath away; nature here is one of the attractions. Besides nature, there are not a dozen places here that are worth a look for tourists.

Jvari is the monastery of the Holy Cross, the attraction is located in ancient capital State of Mtskheta. It’s breathtaking not only because of the age of the building, but also because the monastery is located on the edge of a cliff. The construction of the temple dates back to the 6th century AD. Mikhail Yuryevich Lermontov himself found inspiration here. This monastery is truly the embodiment of the simplicity and folk spirit of Georgian architecture.

Narikala Fortress - its second name is “Impregnable”. Its significance as an ancient monument cannot be overestimated. This central attraction of Tbilisi. Due to the fact that it was built on Mount Mtatsminda, it offers an extensive view of the city. The structure is said to have originated in the 4th century AD. Previously, when this fortress was of strategic importance, fortifications were located at the foot. Now they have been demolished, and the fortress itself was destroyed by an earthquake in 1827, and since that time it has not been reconstructed.

Rustaveli Avenue - along the length of this avenue there are buildings such as the Parliament of Georgia, famous and quite interesting National Museum, Marriott Hotel, Opera and Ballet Theaters, Academy of Sciences. So, by looking at this prospectus, you can feel the spirit of modern Georgia. The street on both sides is lined with shady trees. The history of this avenue, like everything else in Georgia, dates back to ancient times (19th century), when Count Vorontsov was appointed to rule the Russian Caucasus. According to legend, when the main avenue was laid Georgia, the street could not be made straight. This happened because the builders came across an obstacle: either a local farmer’s garden or an ancient church. Count Vorontsov, who showed leniency, decided to build an avenue around the obstacle.
It’s ideal to stroll along the avenue on a stuffy day, as a shortcut from the Old Town.
If anyone intends to thoroughly study Georgia for historical purposes, then you need to walk along the Prospect from and to. Start from Freedom Square, where a bust of Pushkin has long chosen its place. Not far from Freedom Square there is an art salon, where exhibitions are often held.

Zion Cathedral - it so happened historically that this temple is the main one in Tbilisi. It is named after Mount Zion. It is located in Old Tbilisi, near the Kura River. The first building dates back to the 6th century, construction began thanks to the order of a Byzantine dignitary, and was subsequently destroyed by the Arabs. David IV began re-building on the same site in the 12th century. Since the second construction, the temple has never been restored. The cathedral has a unique antiquity - the cross of St. Nina, it is with this relic that the history of Christianity begins in Georgia.

Old city- or Kala, or “Dzveli kalaki” is located on the territory that was occupied by Tbilisi until the 12th century. Old the city is traditionally divided into two parts relative to the Kura River. "Zemokala" and "Kvemokala" are the lower and upper parts of Kala. The buildings here are ancient. Typically medieval. The narrow streets are lined with bricks. Among the unusual things, there are sulfur baths with real sulfur springs. A curious tourist can experience the life-giving power of such a procedure. By the way, this city was built thanks to sulfur springs.

Abanotubani is a complex of baths, each of which is named after its former owners. The Orbelian Bathhouse stands out most of all for its beauty; columns rise on its sides, and the outer part is decorated with clay stucco.

Batumi fountains are located in the city of Batumi. This one is considered the most beautiful Black Sea coast. Batumi fountains are a work of architecture made by the French. It is rated as one of the best European fountains. These fountains are able to attract tourists with their colors and fancy dance to beautiful music. Travelers in love will really like this place.
Recently, next to the usual fountains, a vodka fountain appeared, in which grape chacha pours upward for 15 minutes every day. Anyone can taste the drink.

Palace of Count Vorontsov - located in Tbilisi. The palace of the royal manager was rebuilt in 1868. It is the oldest of the buildings on Rustaveli Avenue. The construction was made by architects in the style of a Renaissance piazza. There is a rich garden around the palace. The palace is truly enormous in size, housing both the private rooms of the Vorontsov family and rooms for business negotiations.

National Museum of Georgia - architectural building made in a strict old Georgian style. The most valuable and interesting exhibits are ancient coinage, coins, and jewelry from the Trialete gold fund. For a Russian tourist, the most interesting will be the exposition of the Soviet occupation, which occupies an entire hall. From the era of repression, a piece of a carriage remained here, in which prisoners, documentation and other items related to this topic were transported.
The exhibits on display have survived multiple relocations for various reasons. Each of them hides its own secrets, which are so interesting to immerse yourself in at least for a moment.

Tiflis Passage - this gigantic house is impossible not to notice, because it stretches along an entire street and is a monument of eye-catching architecture. This house was ordered by a wealthy merchant, and construction began in 1912. Due to the difficult soil on which the building was erected. It was necessary to make a deep and very solid foundation, so the building has several underground floors. The building is lined with bas-relief figures. The two facades are decorated with stone with unusual carved relief. Small turrets also found their place on the facades.
Interestingly, the merchant’s daughter died during construction. Therefore, the sculpted wreaths on the facades personify mourning for her, and the corner window openings resemble tears in outline.

Artsruni caravanserai - here trade took place, there were inns, and hotels. The building was erected in 1818. It was reopened to visitors after restoration as an exhibition complex.

Bridge of Peace - this glass bridge, erected over the Mtkvari River, serves as a connection between the Old Town and the modern Tbilisi. It was on the list of attractions for a reason. This building was designed by the Italian architect Michele de Lucchi. Made in the form of waves glass bridge stretches for 156 meters. In the evening the structure is illuminated a huge amount lanterns Every hour, one of the elements of the periodic table is depicted on the bridge using a special interactive device. The idea of ​​this idea is to show tourists that all people are united.

Shalva Amiranashvili Museum - museum fine arts city ​​of Tbilisi. The exhibition included more than 140,000 paintings of various styles and eras. Here a tourist can discover a gold fund with Georgian coinage dating from the 8th to the 13th centuries AD. Also here is the oldest icon of Georgia, the golden cup of Bagrat, the cross of Queen Tamara. Here are paintings by masters from different countries. The museum also houses the collection of the talented Niko Pirosmani.

Stalin's house-museum - once in the city of Gori, a boy, Soso, was born into a simple peasant family, later christened the Leader of the Peoples. It was Joseph Stalin. The museum is divided into three parts, each of which tells about one of the periods of Stalin's life. The first part of the museum is Stalin’s house itself, in which he was born and spent his first years. All items are arranged as they were under the owners of the house, the furnishings are poor and in places ascetic. This part of the museum will shock tourists with its authenticity and atmosphere. The second part of the exhibition is the carriage in which Stalin traveled. When you enter it, you will see how poor and deprived the room is. Here, obviously, there was only the most necessary things. No hint of luxury. And finally, the exhibition ends with the Stalin Museum, which also houses several halls. In the first room everything is covered with papers, historical reports, portraits and even poems of the leader himself. In a separate room there is Stalin’s death mask, removed after his death. The Museum also has his cigarettes, which he loved to smoke during his lifetime.
A separate room is reserved for gifts to Stalin, which he was given during his lifetime. There are many exhibits here.

The Tbilisi Botanical Garden is a place that will delight both children and adults. You can come here and take a break from the heat, explore the local landscape, and enjoy the beauty. The garden occupies 128 hectares; you can wander around this area all day. There are many rare animals and plants here. Previously, there were two entrances here, one of which was underground and led visitors to the nightclub-tunnel. The garden has existed for more than 400 years.

Turtle Lake - nature and animal lovers will remember this place for a long time. Many turtles have found a home here. The lake is located in the mountains, 600 meters above sea level. You can climb to such a height by cable car, simultaneously contemplating the surroundings of Tbilisi. The water in the lake is crystal clear, so tourists can enjoy watching turtles and fish.

National Georgian cuisine

Georgian cuisine is a real celebration of the belly! Be in Georgia and it’s impossible not to arrange a real Georgian feast for yourself. Restaurants, small restaurants, cafes, eateries are located literally at every step. The price range is different, from cheap to expensive, the distinctive feature is delicious food, regardless of the price category. From what is worth trying: khinkali, acharuli (open khachapuri), khachapuri in all its variety, satsivi, dishes cooked on kets (open cast iron frying pan), chakhokhbili, ajibsandal, chakapuli and the list can go on ad infinitum. And be sure to try the homemade wine! And since the food is mostly heavy, wine will save you and help you survive the Georgian feast. Be sure to try the Georgian lemonade Natakhtari, especially creamy and tarragon, mineral water Likani and you will be surprised by the amazing taste of your childhood friend Borjomi.
And the last recommendation - don't forget to drink water... from the tap! You have never drunk better water than water, spring water, clean and so cold that it cramps your hands. There are small fountains all over the city, don’t pass by and enjoy the taste!

What to bring from Georgia

Of course wine! It is better to buy it in a large supermarket or bodegas, of which there are many throughout the country. You should not leave the purchase for later in the hope of purchasing this souvenir before departure at the airport in the free trade zone. Of course, you will buy it, but you will pay the same price, but only in euros. Be sure to bring churchkhela. It's on sale everywhere! But don’t be lazy to visit the local market, buy cheaper, better and get a lot of pleasure from the abundance of fruits and vegetables. There you can also buy a slightly less popular, but very tasty and healthy national product, tklapi. This circle, resembling tanned leather, with a diameter of about 50 cm, is actually sun-dried fruit puree, in other words, fruit pita bread. It varies in taste, can be sour and sweet, made from plum, apricot, cherry, etc. - 100% environmentally friendly natural product.
Be sure to check out the art salons and don’t pass by the street openings. Here you can find real masterpieces, colorful works of art that could only be born under the sun. Georgia and what is no less valuable for any wallet!

The words sound like magic: khachapuri, khinkali, kindzmarauli, tsinandali, tsytsyla, mtatsminda, mtskheta, jvari, alaznis veli, batumi, shavi zgva, likani, acharuli, lobiani, alubali, churchkhela, sololaki, vake, metekhi, avlabar, sakartvelo. ..
I want to go to Georgia! Immediately!

From the cold Moscow summer, I especially want to take refuge in warm and welcoming Georgia. In the ancient cities that once belonged to the Colchis kingdom, you can relax and learn a lot of new things. If you have never been there, you should first familiarize yourself with the history and traditions of the country. ABOUT the best guidebooks we will tell you in our selection.

There are many places in Georgia that attract tourists at any time of the year, and you should see all of them at least once for yourself. Picturesque mountains, special national dishes, comfortable weather - the main thing that will help you get a great experience. The directory contains the main attractions: medieval churches and fortresses, cozy streets of Old Tiflis, as well as information about other cities - Gori, Kutaisi, Batumi and Borjomi. Here you can read about the incredible interesting story country, its culture and customs, and the author even talks about Georgian wines in a separate chapter. You can travel either by car or on foot - inside there is best cards to plan your trip.

Breathtaking views, cozy restaurants, secret attractions - you will read about this and much more in the most romantic guide to the country. It offers several travel options. The first is to explore step by step only the capital and others settlements using itineraries for one week. You can, on the contrary, go to little-known places where there will be much fewer people: the city of Mtskheta, founded before our era, or the estate of Alexander Chavchavadze, the famous poet and father-in-law. Good restaurants Georgian cuisine and shops where you can buy souvenirs are also listed in this directory.

This guide is suitable for an active traveler: if you are ready to walk the most beautiful cities, feel free to pick up this book and get ready for the trip. The routes are designed taking into account the rich history of the places you will meet along the way. Colorful illustrations will help you decide in advance where you want to go, and practical advice will be useful when choosing a hotel or cafe. It is not necessary to follow the author's instructions exactly - any deviation from the course will make your journey even more exciting.