Trip to Georgia. Georgia tips Georgia tips from experienced

For most, the mention of Georgia evokes associations with wine and mountain ranges. Such an associative series is not accidental, because Georgia is an amazing country that combines differences in cultures and nature. The country is located on the border of two continents - Europe and Asia, so the diversity of vegetation and traditions is due to this. Tourists are attracted here by sea beaches, mountains, valleys, forests, mineral springs and, of course, national Georgian cuisine. In such a small country there are as many as 14 protected areas.

The majority of Georgians are Orthodox, so their mentality is somewhat similar to ours. The official language is Georgian, but almost everyone here knows Russian, including the adult population. The people here are very hospitable - they will show you the way and give you advice, so tourists will not have any difficulties. However, if you decide to use ground transport, all the signs are exclusively in Georgian, so it is better to check the route of a particular bus with the local population. But in the metro, all information is provided in Georgian and English.

Features of entry

The advantage of a holiday in Georgia is that Russian citizens do not need a visa; the only document required is a foreign passport. This simplified procedure has recently caused a flow of tourists to Georgia, the number of which is increasing every year. When entering the country, it is better to declare the imported currency, especially if its amount is more than $2,000, this will help to avoid difficulties when leaving.

Georgia has a well-developed infrastructure. Good living conditions can be obtained here even in 3-4 star hotels. At the resorts you can rent living space in small but very cozy private boarding houses.

Climatic conditions

The climate in Georgia depends on the region. In the highlands it is mostly cool continental, while on the coast it is hot subtropical. Coastal areas boast almost year-round warmth, but if you don’t want snow to spoil your trip, go to Georgia in the spring and autumn months, namely April-May, September-October. June and July are the hottest months here. In winter, winter sports enthusiasts flock to Georgia, as there are several ski resorts.

What to see in Georgia

Georgia is full of attractions.

One of the most famous and popular places is Vardzia. This is a monastery complex located in caves. The length of the complex is about 900 meters, and it goes 50 meters deep; the buildings rise to the height of an 8-story building. Located in the Samtskhe-Javakheti region. You can get there by minibus departing from Tbilisi station in Akhaltsikhe or by rented car.

Uplistsikhe– also a cave city, which has retained its name for many centuries. Translated from Georgian, Uplistsikhe means “Fortress of God.” You can get into the city through a long tunnel. You can get here by Tbilisi-Gori shuttle bus, which departs from the bus station near the Didube metro station. From Gori to Uplistsikhe you need to take another minibus or taxi, but it will cost about $10.

Khertvisi Fortress- one of the most ancient fortresses in Georgia, and the exact date of construction is unknown. It has been established that it existed already in the 10th century. It is divided into two parts, one of which is located at the top of the mountain, and the second adjoins it from the east and south. An unforgettable sight, as tourists note. From the bus station in Tbilisi, shuttle buses depart here every hour.

The ancient city of Kutaisi. Here is the ancient Temple of Bagrat, the Gelati Monastery of the Virgin Mary. In addition to the attractions of the city itself, you can also visit the Dinosaur Plateau, with the remains of traces of ancient reptiles in huge limestone blocks.

Bolnisi Zion- the oldest temple in the form of a basilica. Created in the 5th century. The building, which is unremarkable from the outside, amazes with its interior decoration and luxury. On the façade there are inscriptions that are the oldest examples of Georgian writing.

What to bring with you from Georgia

Wine, local tea, tobacco, knitted items, ceramics, sweets and chacha are brought from Georgia as souvenirs - a strong alcoholic drink obtained by distilling grapes and juices.

Georgia is located in the central and western part of Transcaucasia. Compared to neighboring Russia, Georgia is very small - about 70,000 square meters. km, but geographically the country is located in both Eastern Europe and Western Asia. Georgia borders Russia in the north, Azerbaijan in the southeast, Armenia in the south and Turkey in the southwest.

The terrain of Georgia is mountainous, with plains accounting for only 20% of the territory. Along Georgia's northern border, from the Black Sea to the Caspian Sea, stretch the Caucasus Mountains, a natural barrier to Russia, and through this barrier was once built to link Russia with Georgia.

Currency of Georgia: Georgian lari (GEL)
1 GEL = 25 Russian rubles (as of March 2019)
1 euro (EUR) = 3 GEL
1 US dollar (USD) = 2.70 GEL

Language: Georgian (in remote mountainous regions, local languages ​​are used - for example, Svan). Almost all middle-aged and older Georgians speak excellent Russian. Young people in large cities in most cases also speak Russian; in rare cases they have to switch to English.

Do you need insurance for a trip to Georgia?

If we talk about insurance for your personal health, I think it is definitely necessary (although the Georgian border guards are absolutely not interested in whether you have it or not). Still, it’s not like lying on the sofa at home – you never know, what will happen in the mountains, or you won’t be able to stop in time while eating khinkali..)) Anything can happen – and not only in Georgia. For the last few years, I have been purchasing insurance for my travels through an online service - here you have the opportunity to choose from the many products presented on the insurance market exactly what suits you in terms of price and insurance coverage:

Now regarding car insurance (if you do not plan to drive your car to Georgia, you can safely skip this point).

On March 1, 2018, the Georgian government adopted a law on compulsory motor liability insurance for cars with foreign license plates. Simply put, if earlier this type of insurance was optional in Georgia, now it has become necessary. An insurance policy (not a green card!) can be issued online on the website https://www.tpl.ge/ or purchase at the border. There are 4 types of policies - for 15, 30, 90 days and 1 year. If you are traveling to Georgia for less than 15 days, you will still have to take out insurance for 15 days.

The fine for the lack of compulsory motor insurance for the summer of 2018 is 100 lari (payable at any branch of any large Georgian bank, under no circumstances try to “resolve” this issue with the police on the spot!).

How to get to Georgia?

By land in a personal vehicle– if you are planning to travel to Georgia by car, I suggest reading an article about the Moscow-Tbilisi road and the specifics of traveling around Georgia by car:.

If the goal of your trip is not only Tbilisi, but also the “summer capital” Batumi, I recommend reading.

An article about Tbilisi city transport, as well as how to move around Georgia:.

Housing in Georgia - private sector, hostels, guesthouses, hotels, apartments

Before you start searching and booking accommodation for your independent holiday or travel around Georgia, I recommend reading a separate large article - in it you will find all the necessary information: classification of types of accommodation, where and how best to look for it, how to book, recommendations and tips to minimize costs and nuances of Georgian specifics.

If you are planning an independent trip to Georgia or just a vacation by the sea, I highly recommend looking at my articles dedicated to the best apartments and guesthouses in Tbilisi, Batumi and Kutaisi in terms of price and quality:

Transfers throughout Georgia

If you are traveling to Georgia with your family or a large group, it may make sense for you to think about a transfer directly to the door of your booked hotel or to the desired attraction.

Comfortable transfers throughout Georgia can be ordered using a local online service GoTrip. During the booking process, you have the opportunity to select the class, car brand and specific driver based on reviews from previous passengers. Considering the horseman driving style of Georgian street taxi drivers and their cars, which are not always in good working order, this is a very useful option. The price on the website is final, you won’t have to bargain with anyone.

Transfer examples:

Travel routes around Georgia for 1, 2 and 3 weeks

What to see in Georgia

Below is a map of all the interesting places in Georgia mentioned in the guide. The numbers of attractions on the map correspond to the numbers in the text of the guidebook (indicated in brackets after the name of the city, church, fortress, etc.). By clicking on the number on the map, you will find a photo and a link to quickly jump to an article about this attraction.

Tbilisi

Tbilisi(number 1 on the map of attractions) is the capital of Georgia and one of the most beautiful and interesting cities of the former USSR. Old Tbilisi is a unique courtyard with drying laundry, lazy cats and sedate men playing backgammon. As well as the famous carved balconies, many of which are the size of a small Moscow apartment.

In addition to numerous antiquities, Tbilisi also has modern attractions: for example, the Peace Bridge, the Presidential Palace and the House of Justice.

And, of course, amazingly warm and hospitable residents and delicious food. In my opinion, the minimum you need to get to know Tbilisi is 2-3 days, and for a thoughtful inspection - no less than a week.

If you have more than a couple of days at your disposal, I recommend reading my guide articles dedicated to the most interesting areas of Tbilisi:

Be sure to take a walk around mine - there are only the best restaurants, cafes and khinkal towns.

And so that the waiter and bartender understand who they are dealing with, I first suggest studying two articles that are mega-valuable for any “culinary tourist”:

To better experience the unique atmosphere and energy of old Tbilisi, it is better to stay not in a hotel, but rent an apartment for daily rent from local residents in a real Tbilisi house with carved balconies, high ceilings and creaky wooden stairs in echoing entrances. For this purpose, my article can be very useful - in it, based on personal experience, I describe the best options in terms of price and quality ratio.

If you are traveling alone or do not plan to stay in Tbilisi for more than one or two days, then I would recommend choosing a good guesthouse over an apartment: .

And in order to more fully experience the unique atmosphere of this city, I recommend that the most inquisitive and sociable travelers book personalized tours of Tbilisi from local residents. Your guides will be Tbilisi residents themselves - writers, artists, photographers, journalists, winemakers - who are in love with their city and know everything about it.

Below is a selection of the most interesting and popular excursions in Tbilisi according to traveler reviews. To see all available options, click View All. At the booking stage, you will need to pay online only 20% of the excursion cost - the rest of the amount is given to the guide before it starts.

Georgian Military Road

Georgian Military Road- one of the most picturesque roads in the world and a complete attraction with a length of 208 km. It was built immediately after the annexation of Georgia to the Russian Empire to supply the Russian army, which was then fighting in the Caucasus with the highlanders, Turks and Persians - and this explains its name; nowadays there is nothing “military” in it for a long time.

Georgian Military Road in the Cross Pass area

The main attractions of the Georgian Military Road, located between the Russian border and Tbilisi:

Ananuri Fortress and Zhinvali Reservoir- number 3 on the map of Georgian attractions
Ski resort Gudauri(number 4)
Trinity Church in Gergeti (5)
Kazbegi (Stepantsminda)- number 6
Cross Pass and Monument to Friendship of Peoples (7)

Mtskheta

Mtskheta(2) - the ancient capital of Georgia, located 18 km north of Tbilisi, on the Georgian Military Road. It was from here that the Christianization of Georgia began through the efforts of St. Nino.

In addition to the Jvari Monastery, in Mtskheta you should definitely visit the huge Svetitskhoveli Cathedral and the Samtavro Monastery, where, according to legend, Saint Nino lived under a blackberry bush.

Jvari Monastery coordinates: 41.83837, 44.73403.

Ananuri

Here, on the banks of the picturesque Zhinvali reservoir, is located one of the most famous attractions of northern Georgia - medieval castle of Ananuri(number 3 on the map of Georgia).

The castle was built by the rulers of these places - the Aragvi Eristavis - presumably at the end of the 17th century, when there was no reservoir here yet. But there was, on the contrary, the narrowest place of the Aragvi gorge, and it was impossible to go from the north, from the Dariali gorge, to the south to Tbilisi, passing the Ananuri fortress.

Coordinates: 42.16403, 44.70319.

Gudauri

Gudauri(number 4 on the map) is a relatively young, but, along with Bakuriani, one of the most famous ski resorts in Georgia (and the most popular, due to its proximity to Tbilisi and the Russian border). People come here for good skiing, Georgian hospitality and delicious food.

Coordinates: 42.4745, 44.48089.

Gergeti

A small village on the Georgian Military Road, famous for the fact that on the mountain above it is located the oldest and one of the most revered churches in Georgia - Trinity Church Sameba (5).

Trinity Church Gergeti

The place is really simply stunning and “atmospheric”, in addition, from the church there are excellent views of Mount Kazbek (Kazbegi in Georgian) - however, the mountain is very “capricious” and even in summer it very rarely peeks out from behind the clouds.

Coordinates: 42.66243, 44.62054.

Transfers along the Georgian Military Road

Adjara

A fertile land of beaches, mountain resorts, national parks and hospitable people. The capital of Adjara, Batumi, is the “showcase” of modern tourist Georgia, as well as the country’s third largest city (after Tbilisi and Kutaisi) and the largest Georgian city on the Black Sea.

Excursions in Batumi and Adjara from local residents:

Beach resorts of Adjara (as well as Guria and Megrelia)

Sandy beaches

Ureki (Magnetity)

The most unusual beach resort in Georgia, located 45 kilometers north of Batumi, on the very border Guria And Megrelia. Unofficially divided into two parts: the village itself is called By the river, and the coastal tourist area with a beach - Magnetity(number 9 on the map of Georgia).

Magnetiti is a 4-kilometer beach with black magnetic sand, which is considered very useful for the treatment of hypertension, joint diseases and for rehabilitation after a heart attack. Unlike the pebble beaches of Adjara, Magnetiti has fine, pleasant sand (albeit an unusually black color), which makes the resort comfortable for families with children.

Coordinates: 41.98689, 41.75924.

Shekvetili

Shekvetili(10) is a small sleepy village 10 km south of Ureki, known for its huge sandy beach and wonderful pine forest.

Considering that the resort is sparsely populated even at the height of the beach season, a holiday here is suitable for notorious introverts and those who are mortally tired of the crowds of big cities. The beach is quite good - black magnetic sand, the same as in Magnetity.

Coordinates: 41.92025, 41.76718.

Pebble beaches

Beach resorts south of Batumi (the cleanest sea):

Kvariati

Kvariati(number 11 on the map) is a small seaside village whose main attraction is its wonderful pebble beach.

Kvariati beach is considered the best in Adjara - some, however, will disagree with this, considering the best beach in Sarpi. This is a seaside resort with long traditions and well-developed infrastructure - there is a restaurant and a cafe, you can rent sun loungers and umbrellas, ride a jet ski and a cheesecake.

Coordinates: 41.54584, 41.56179.

Gonio

Gonio(12) is a small Adjarian village, famous not only for its beach (very good, by the way), but also for its ancient Gonio-Apsaros fortress, located a couple of kilometers from the village and the beach.

As for Gonio Beach, it is typical for this part of Adjara: long, wide, pebbly, with clean water, a standard range of tourist attractions and a relatively wide selection of accommodation. A boulevard of one and a half to two kilometers long was recently made along the sea, following the example of the famous Seaside Boulevard of Batumi.

Coordinates: 41.5675, 41.56591.

Sarpi (13)

The southernmost beach of Adjara and generally its southernmost seaside point. A village on the border with Turkey - on the other side it is called Sarp.

Under Soviet rule, there was a border zone here (after all, Turkey was and remains a NATO member), but now the border passes literally a few meters from sunbathing and swimming tourists.

Coordinates: 41.5213, 41.5478.

Beach resorts north of Batumi:

Cape Verde Beach (Mtsvane Kontskhi - number 14 on the map)

A sparsely populated pebble beach with clear water is relatively close to Batumi - you can get there in 20 minutes by minibus. Usually Cape Verde is visited at the same time as the Batumi Botanical Garden - it is located exactly above the beach.

Cape Verde beach coordinates: 41.69181, 41.70474.

Chakvi

Chakvi(number 15) - once a fishing village and the center of Georgian tea growing, and now a cozy and calm beach resort on the Black Sea coast of Georgia, located 13 kilometers north of Batumi and 12 kilometers south of Kobuleti.

Coordinates: 41.72181, 41.72929.

Tsikhisdziri

Village Tsikhisdziri(16 on the map) is located 15 km north of Batumi, the easiest way to get there is by minibus going from Batumi to Kobuleti.

Currently, Tsikhisdziri is quite rarely considered as a beach resort - the Byzantine beach located nearby is much more widely known. Petra fortress. But this was not always the case - thanks to its eucalyptus grove, in Soviet times Tsikhisdziri was one of the generally recognized “favorites” for relaxation and treatment of people with diseases of the respiratory system, nervous and cardiovascular systems.

Coordinates: 41.74682, 41.73785.

Kobuleti

Kobuleti(17) is the second largest city in Adjara, located 25 km north of Batumi.

In addition to its huge (about 10 km long!) pebble beach, Kobuleti is famous for its peat swamps of Spain- a nature reserve located northeast of the town, as well as an amusement park "Tsitsinatela", which means "Firefly" in Russian. This name is no coincidence: with the onset of darkness, the park lights up with many multi-colored iridescent lights - many young visitors like to tumble on the Tsitsinatela rides just after sunset. The park looks especially impressive from the Ferris wheel.

Coordinates: 41.83887, 41.77516.

Transfers to Adjara

Sights of Adjara

Adjara is a land of countless attractions and, if you are interested not only in relaxing on the beach, I recommend turning your attention to national parks, ancient arched bridges, picturesque mountain roads and much more, located “in the depths” of the region, in its mountainous part.

Trans-Ajar route

Trans-Ajar route(18) is a highway through the Goderdzi pass, connecting Batumi with the capital of the Samtskhe-Javakheti region, the city of Akhaltsikhe.

Almost along its entire length, the road is literally “stuffed” with the most interesting sights (waterfalls, ancient arched bridges, picturesque villages, wine cellars, etc.), so you can drive these 160 km for a very, very long time.

Queen Tamara Bridge in Makhuntseti

Machakhela National Park (19)

Not long ago, an excellent asphalt road was laid along the Machakhela River almost to the border with Turkey, thereby turning the picturesque gorge into one of the most interesting and easily accessible places in Adjara.

Fairytale forest in Mirveti

Mtirala National Park

Mtirala(number 20 on the map) is a picturesque national park spread over six thousand hectares, 25 kilometers east of the Adjarian village of Chakvi.

Public transport does not go to the national park, but taxi drivers in Chakvi will gladly take you there for 40-50 GEL (the price includes a round trip and 3 hours of waiting).

Kakheti

Kakheti is a land of stunning scenery and the main region of Georgian winemaking. It is located east of Tbilisi and is known primarily for the “granary of Georgia” - the Alazani Valley.

Alazani Valley

It is here that grapes are grown for most of the famous brands of wine in Eastern Georgia, such as Kindzmarauli, Saperavi, Kvareli. And here there are several large wineries where you can come with. In addition, in the fall you can personally participate in the grape harvest.

To get to know Kakheti you need at least 2-3 days with overnight stays in Sighnaghi and/or Telavi.

Author's excursions to Kakheti from Tbilisi

The most convenient and educational way to get to know Kakheti (IMHO) is a private excursion from Tbilisi. In this case, you will be driven all day in a comfortable car to the most interesting places, told stories, legends, and in some places even toasts (without this, there is nowhere in Kakheti). Speaking of toasts - as a participant in the excursion, you will be able to forget that you are driving and enjoy excellent wines in the tasting rooms of the best Kakheti wineries.

Sighnaghi (Sighnaghi 23)

The main tourist “magnet” of Kakheti, the “Georgian San Marino”, the “city of love” is all Sighnaghi (number 23 on the map of Georgia). The small town is located on the top of a ridge - and for this reason, never in its long history has it been conquered or destroyed by anyone.

Monument to Doctor Benjamin from the film “Don’t Cry!” Georgiy Danelia

Due to its perfect preservation, during the presidency of Mikheil Saakashvili, Sighnaghi was chosen as the main tourist “brand” of Eastern Georgia. Some things were restored, others were built from scratch - for example, the Wedding Palace, which is open around the clock and “combines” everyone without an appointment - it is to this that Sighnaghi owes one of its unofficial names: “the city of love”.

Coordinates: 41.61098, 45.92718.

Telavi (24)

The capital of Kakheti and at the same time a quiet and cozy town, which became famous in the vastness of the former USSR after the release of the film “Mimino”. Many tourists use the city only as a base for traveling to mountainous Tusheti - but in vain, in Telavi itself there is also something to see.

Monument to King Irakli II in Telavi

Coordinates: 41.92092, 45.4791.

David Gareji Monastery (25)

One of the main Orthodox shrines of Georgia is a cave monastery founded by Saint David of Gareji after he decided to leave the hustle and bustle of Tbilisi and retire into the wilderness.

In addition to the complex of natural and man-made caves that make up the David Gareji Monastery, this place is notable for the fact that the monastery is located on the slopes of a ridge along the crest of which the state border of Georgia and Azerbaijan runs.

Coordinates: 41.4471, 45.37662.

Alaverdi Cathedral (26)

Alaverdi Cathedral is the first and most important temple of Kakheti, the second tallest in Georgia (for a long time it was the first, but after the construction of the Tsminda Sameba temple in Tbilisi, Alaverdi gave it primacy), and one of the four most revered Christian churches in the country - the so-called “Great Cathedrals” "

Coordinates: N42.03248, E45.3772.

Gremi Castle (27)

Medieval castle Gremi- this is all that remains of the former capital of Kakheti, the city of Gremi, destroyed by the Persian Shah Abbas. Along with the castle located on the Georgian Military Road, Gremi is the most famous object of its kind in Georgia. Both castles are easily accessible from a logistics point of view - they literally rise above the highway passing at their foot.

Coordinates: 42.00161, 45.66099.

Nekresi Monastery (28)

Nekresi is an ancient and very “atmospheric” monastery located on a mountain above the Alazani Valley. Once upon a time, at the foot of that mountain there was a whole city with the same name, but only the foundations of a few buildings have survived to this day. And, if the ruins of the city are not of particular interest, then the Nekresi monastery soaring high in the mountains is rightfully considered one of the brightest attractions of Kakheti.

Coordinates: 41.97249, 45.76027 (parking under the monastery).

Ikalto Monastery (29)

Ikalto- the oldest Orthodox monastery in Georgia. The monastery was founded by the Assyrian father Zenon of Ikalta in the 6th century. In the “golden” age of David the Builder for Georgia, an Academy appeared on the territory of the monastery, where Shota Rustaveli subsequently studied.

Coordinates: 41.93707, 45.38026.

Monasteries Old and New Shuamta (30)

Despite its proximity to Telavi, Shuamta is not a popular attraction in Kakheti. Thanks to this, the unique atmosphere of an ancient monastery has still been preserved here, where you can easily find yourself alone with centuries of history and your thoughts.

Coordinates of the New Shuamta monastery: 41.91253, 45.39015.
Coordinates of the Old Shuamta monastery: 41.90973, 45.40571.

Transfers to Kakheti

Imereti

Imereti- the largest and historically significant region of Georgia with a population of more than half a million people. Imereti is located in the Rioni River basin, the largest in Georgia. Even against the background of very hospitable Tbilisi residents, Imeretians stand out for their hospitality and friendliness. The capital of the region - the city of Kutaisi - during the reign of King David the Builder (Agmashenebeli) was the capital of all Georgia and at this time there was a period of its heyday.

Kutaisi

Kutaisi(number 31 on the map of Georgia) has been “challenging the primacy” of Tbilisi since ancient times and today is unofficially considered the second capital of Georgia. To confirm this status, in 2012 the Parliament of Georgia moved to Kutaisi from Tbilisi. Since then, this bizarre configuration of power has been legislated in the country’s Constitution: the president and government are in Tbilisi, the parliament is in Kutaisi.

Bagrati Temple in Kutaisi

Gelati Monastery (32)

Located 5 km from Kutaisi towards Tkibuli on a hilltop above the valley of the Tskhalitsitela River. One of the most revered Orthodox monasteries in Georgia, Gelati was founded by King David the Builder and the king was later buried in it - according to the will of the great monarch, his remains rest under a slab at the entrance to the monastery complex, right under the feet of the parishioners.

Coordinates: 42.29489, 42.76848.

Motsameta Monastery (33)

Motsameta Monastery dedicated to the holy prince-martyrs David and Constantine, located near Gelati, closer to Kutaisi.

Coordinates: 42.28226, 42.75909.

Tskaltubo (34)

Once a sanatorium and resort center of all-Union importance, it fell into decay in the 90s and is now gradually being revived. I recommend combining his examination with a visit Prometheus caves And Sataplia Park.

By the way, it was in Tskaltubo that we came across the most delicious khinkali in Georgia.

Coordinates: 42.32834, 42.60124.

Prometheus Cave (35)

The largest of all known caves in Georgia is located near Tskhaltubo. The cave is stunningly picturesque and very skillfully illuminated - you can see this by looking at the photographs in the article about.

Coordinates: 42.37664, 42.60082.

Sataplia Nature Reserve (36)

The reserve, located on a mountain above the Rioni River, is famous for the dinosaur tracks found on its territory. The name "Sataplia" means "honey place", and wild bees used to be found in abundance in this area.

Coordinates: 42.31257, 42.67384.

Pillar of Katskhi (37)

One of the relatively “new” religious attractions of Georgia, but it has already become one of its symbols.

A stunningly picturesque rock-pillar, on top of which there is a house of a hermit monk.

Coordinates: 42.28759, 43.21569.

Okatse Canyon (38)

A natural attraction of Imereti, gradually becoming one of the most popular. The fact is that the picturesque canyon of the Okatse River (length 3 km, depth 50 m) is equipped with a suspended cantilever bridge, which is an amazing observation deck.

Coordinates: 42.45547, 42.52772.

Kinchkha Waterfall (39)

One of the most interesting attractions of Imereti is a complex of picturesque waterfalls (among which the highest in the country).

Coordinates: 42.49489, 42.55054.

Martvili Canyon (40) and Martvili Monastery (41)

Strictly speaking, Martvili is located not in Imereti, but in Megrelia, but it is more convenient to get there from Kutaisi. A very picturesque canyon that arose thanks to the waters of the Abasha River, which made their way through the rocks. I recommend combining a tour of the canyon with a visit Martvili Monastery Chkondidi- the main Christian monastery of Megrelia - and Salkhino (42), the summer palace of the Mingrelian princes Dadiani.

Coordinates of the monastery: 42.40558, 42.37771, canyon: 42.45743, 42.37712.

Racha-Lechkhumi

“Georgian Switzerland”, “Mountain Imereti” and one of the main wine-making regions of the country - for example, the legendary “Khvanchkara” is made right here, in the village of the same name not far from the town Ambrolauri (43).

Some call Racha mountain Imereti (by analogy with “mountain Kakheti” - Tusheti, and “mountain Megrelia” - Svaneti). Racha is famous for its landscapes and excellent wine - you can get to the center of Lower Racha, the town of Ambrolauri, from Kutaisi by an ordinary passenger car in 2-3 hours; the cities are connected by an excellent asphalt road. The main thing is to go back to Kutaisi along it, and not try to drive through the village of Khvanchkara - this path is only for off-road vehicles.

Ambrolauri coordinates: 42.51449, 43.14576.

Transfers to Imereti and Racha

Svaneti

Of the three highland regions of Georgia, Svaneti, located in the north-west of the country, is the most popular among tourists - thanks to its stunning nature, well-preserved Svan towers and the distinctive Svan culture, which has survived to this day with minimal distortion due to the isolation of this region from the rest of Georgia. A normal asphalt-concrete road from Zugdidi to the capital of Svaneti was built only recently - and before that, with the onset of winter, snow covered the passes and tightly blocked Svaneti and the Svans.

Svaneti has everything that people go to the mountains for: stunning landscapes, clean air, picturesque villages bristling with Svan towers, mountain lakes, glaciers, amazing mountain honey and much, much more - there is even a modern ski resort! True, getting to it in winter is very difficult.

Mestia (Mestia)

Capital of Upper Svaneti (Zemo Svaneti), small town Mestia(44) is located in the mountains at an altitude of 1500 meters at the confluence of two mountain rivers.

Mestia is extremely well located in terms of scenery: the town is surrounded by alpine meadows and forests, behind which majestic snow-capped mountains rise. You can get to Mestia from Zugdidi in 3-4 hours (there is a good asphalt and concrete road).

Historical center of Mestia

Coordinates: 43.03346, 42.68948.

To “experience” Svaneti to the fullest, you need to go from Mestia to remote mountain villages, such as Ushguli or Latali.

Transfers to Mestia

Ushguli (45)

A village that has preserved its traditional appearance much better than Mestia, which was subjected to merciless restoration. Ushguli is the second settlement in Europe after the Dagestan Kurush in terms of altitude and is famous for its large number of well-preserved Svan towers.

Coordinates: 42.91696, 43.01679.

Hatsvali (46)

Ski resort on the Zuruldi ridge, located at an altitude of 2400 meters. The resort is new (opened in 2011) and is currently actively developing. From Mestia to Hatsvali, located 8 km to the south, you can take a taxi along a mountain serpentine road. Hatsvali is also popular in the summer: you can take the cable car to the top of the ridge and enjoy stunning views and breathe in the rarefied mountain air - the main thing is to be lucky with the weather.

Coordinates: 43.01755, 42.73882.

Tusheti

Tusheti(47) - an isolated highland region in the northeastern part of Georgia, administratively part of Kakheti. Get to Omalo(this village is the “capital” of Tusheti) is only possible with a good SUV - the road is a dirt mountain serpentine.

Tusheti is home to stern (but not very warlike) mountaineers, stone sakli, ancient towers (vaguely similar to the Svan ones), excellent products made from sheep’s wool, sheep’s cheese “Guda” and special local khinkali with mountain herbs.

The views in the mountains of Tusheti are stunning - and for this reason, the main occupation of the Tush people is gradually becoming the reception and service of tourists, although there are still few in number.

Coordinates of the capital of Tusheti Omalo: 42.37085, 45.63346.

Khevsureti (48)

Another distinctive mountainous region of Georgia - along with Svaneti and Tusheti. Administratively, it is part of the central region of Mtskheta-Mtianeti, but due to the inaccessibility, it is better to allocate at least a couple of days to visit Khevsureti.

The main man-made attraction of this region is the defensive towers. But, unlike the Svan ones, they are not rectangular, but more reminiscent of pyramids and in this way are similar to the towers of Chechnya and Ingushetia.

The Khevsurs are mentally very little similar to the lowland Georgians, and there is a simple explanation for this. For a long time they were something like Georgian Cossacks - the Khevsurs did not pay taxes, but had to protect Georgia from invasions by mountaineers from the other side of the Caucasus ridge.

Coordinates of the capital of Khevsureti Shatili: 42.65813, 45.15457.

Georgia - from Tbilisi to Batumi

By train or bus, 300 km between two cities can be covered in 5 hours, by minibus - in 6. But it is much more interesting to go on this journey by car - your own or a rented one.

There are two ways to get from Tbilisi to Batumi by car: the first one is longer and goes through Imereti, the second is geographically shorter, but is available only in the summer, and even then only for SUVs - through Borjomi Valley and region Samtskhe-Javakheti, from where you can get to Batumi along a dirt mountain Trans-Ajar highway.

Now let's take a closer look at the attractions of each of the two options.

First route Tbilisi - Batumi

The first route lies through Stalin’s hometown - Gori, "cave city" Uplistsikhe, past pillar of Katskhi V Kutaisi. And from Kutaisi to Batumi you can travel along the Black Sea coast through Kobuleti, visiting some of the sights of Imereti along the way - for example, monasteries Gelati And Motsameta And Prometheus cave.

Stalin Museum in Gori (49)

Gori is located 80 km west of Tbilisi and is known primarily as the place where the Father of all nations was born and spent his childhood. And currently there is a large and very interesting museum dedicated to Stalin in the city.

Coordinates: 41.98694, 44.11348.

Rock city Uplistsikhe (50)

Once the main pagan cult center of ancient Iberia and the main stronghold of resistance to the Christianization of the country, Uplistsikhe is now one of the most interesting attractions located in the vicinity of Tbilisi.

Coordinates: 41.96737, 44.20724.

Second route Tbilisi - Batumi

It looks something like this: Tbilisi — Borjomi (Bakuriani) — Akhaltsikhe and Rabat fortress- cave city Vardzia, fortress Khertvisi and further to Batumi along the mountainous Trans-Ajara highway.

Borjomi (51)

A tiny resort town with a population of 15 thousand people, which has gained worldwide fame thanks to the brand of mineral water produced here.

Curl bridge in Borjomi

In addition to mineral water, Borjomi is famous for its sanatoriums, a huge park, a cable car, an outdoor swimming pool with water from hot springs and a culinary “trick”: pine cone jam.

Coordinates: 41.84119, 43.38298.

Ski resort Bakuriani (52)

In the past, it was a ski center of all-Union significance; today it is the best (IMHO) ski resort in Georgia, located 37 km from Borjomi at an altitude of 1700 meters.

Coordinates: 41.7509, 43.52839.

After Borjomi, the route from Tbilisi to Batumi lies through Akhaltsikhe, the capital of the region Samtskhe-Javakheti. The city itself is not particularly interesting, but it houses the largest fortress in Georgia - Rabat.

Rabat Fortress (53)

The former Turkish fortress Rabat, being the largest in Georgia, was recently restored and became one of the tourist attractions of Samtskhe-Javakheti.

According to popular opinion, the restorers went a little overboard: the ancient fortress now really shines with a new-made gloss. Whether this is true or not, you can find out from the article about.

Coordinates: 41.64211, 42.97537.

Before driving further west to Batumi along the most picturesque Trans-Ajar highway, I highly recommend taking the time to stop by for half a day cave city Vardzia (Vardzia), located 60 km southeast of Akhaltsikhe (200 km southwest of Tbilisi). On the way there, about 45 km southeast of Akhaltsikhe, there will be another attraction of Samtskhe-Javakheti - Khertvisi fortress.

Khertvisi (54)

Khertvisi (54) is an extremely photogenic fortress on a rock at the confluence of the Mtkvari (Kura) and Paravani rivers. The place is extremely historical - according to legend, the first Georgian city was here in the era of Alexander the Great.

Khertvisi coordinates: 41.47947, 43.28535.

Cave city of Vardzia (55)

A unique cave city, a symbol of the struggle of Georgians against foreign invaders and a monument to the will and fortitude of people who chose life in caves over surrender to enemies.

Coordinates: 41.3812, 43.28416.

After visiting Vardzia and Khertvisi, we return to Akhaltsikhe, from which there are two options for the road to Batumi:

If it’s summer, you have a good SUV, and you are confident in yourself and in the car, you can go to Batumi along the shortest route - through the mountains along the Trans-Ajar highway. The road is dirt, very difficult in places - but the views are stunning.

The second option is for those who have an ordinary passenger car, or who simply feel sorry for killing the suspension and tires of their SUV: we drive to Batumi along an excellent highway through Borjomi, Khashuri, Kutaisi and Samtredia.

Have a nice holiday in Georgia!
Your Roman Mironenko

Find out everything you need to know about organizing an independent trip to Georgia! How to go? What documents are needed? What to see in Georgia? Tips, prices in 2019, ways to get there, vacation reviews for 2018.

Until recently, Georgia was considered an almost exotic destination - few people went there or even planned to go there. Now the Internet is full of reviews from tourists, guides to the country and beautiful photographs. Georgia has become one of the most visited countries by Russian tourists! This is both good and bad: on the one hand, the infrastructure is developing, there are many flights, on the other hand, you will have to put up with a huge number of other tourists, especially in the summer.

Our experience. We had been planning an independent trip to Georgia for a long time, but from year to year our attention was drawn by this handsome man, this, that. In February 2019, we finally got to Georgia - we flew to Tbilisi for a few days. We liked! Now we are making plans for a big trip around Georgia in our car. In this review we will share with you our experience, tips and plans.

Exchange rate: 1 Georgian lari (GEL) ≈ 23 RUB.

Documents for traveling to Georgia

What documents are needed to travel to Georgia? Everything is very simple here: Russians, Ukrainians and Belarusians do not need a visa if their stay in the country does not exceed 1 year. A foreign passport, of course, is needed for a trip to Georgia; it must be valid for the entire duration of the trip and should not contain Abkhaz stamps (otherwise there will be problems, so enter using an internal passport).

Insurance- this is not a mandatory item at all, but for your peace of mind we advise you to arrange it on the websites or. They compare prices from all major insurance companies. You can choose a policy based on the parameters you need and the best price. We always take out insurance.

Trip to Georgia: how to get there on your own

By plane

An airplane is the easiest way to come on vacation to Georgia. Tickets are very cheap - many airlines fly to Georgia, competition is good, so prices are low. Pobeda also flies - usually it has the best prices. Flights to Tbilisi from Moscow, as well as from many other Russian cities, are direct. Tickets from Moscow, Perm, Yekaterinburg, Rostov-on-Don cost 5-10 thousand rubles in both directions without luggage.

An idea for lovers of interesting independent travel and challenging routes: fly to Georgia on flights of the classy Azal airline with a long layover in Baku and also see the beautiful Old City of Baku during daylight hours.

Azal is the largest airline in Azerbaijan. Provides air transportation to countries in Europe, the CIS, North America, the Middle East and Asia. (Photo © wikimedia.org / Dmitry Terekhov)

By car

An independent trip to Georgia by car is a completely different format of travel. In some cases, it is not as comfortable as a flight, and, undoubtedly, longer and more tiring, but how many impressions you will get, how many secluded corners you can visit! The Georgian Military Road alone is worth it. We want to go there by car. We generally love traveling in our car, especially around the Caucasus.

Can't come with your own car? Rent a car! It's simple and inexpensive. - reliable and convenient service. Choose a car to suit your taste and budget - there is a wide choice. Car rental costs from $23 per day. Do you have any questions? The Russian-speaking support service will help you with everything.

A car ride around Tusheti. Photo: © etnobofin / flickr.com / Licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0.
As an avid lover of road trips, I guarantee you that you will get a lot of pleasure from traveling around Georgia by car!

Housing prices in Georgia

Finding accommodation to suit every taste and budget in Georgia is very easy! There are a lot of options. We advise you to choose not just an ordinary hotel, but accommodation in a national style - believe me, you will especially enjoy your trip to Georgia. This is exactly what we did for our holiday.

Type	Price per day (RUB)	Example
Budget guesthouse in the center of Tbilisi	from 1200 ₽	Guest House Kato
3* hotel with breakfast in Old Tbilisi	from 3000 ₽	7 Baits Hotel
3* hotel by the sea in Batumi	from 1700 ₽	Cozy Corner Hotel
Apartment with a courtyard in the center of Tbilisi (2 bedrooms)	from 3000 ₽	Central Tbilisi - Patio Apartment
Apartment in Batumi by the sea	from 2600 ₽	IOANE HOME

Our cozy apartment in Tbilisi in national style and with high ceilings!

Book in advance. If your trip to Georgia is planned for the summer or for holidays (New Year, May), be sure to book accommodation in advance, preferably a couple of months in advance. First of all, this concerns the Black Sea resorts and Tbilisi itself. This way you can get the best option in terms of price/quality ratio, and not be content with what is left free. We remind you: A LOT of tourists come to Georgia.

Look for hotels with discounts on the Rumguru service. This way, you won’t wander around the city with your luggage looking for the best option, and you’ll save time and money. However, if you are ready to bargain and like to take risks, you can try to find options the old fashioned way - on the spot. But, to be honest, I don’t understand who else does this and why.

Live in an apartment. The best way to make your trip to Georgia pleasant and memorable is to rent a cozy apartment in national style. Highly recommended! By the way, for a family or group of friends it will be both cheaper and more convenient than staying in a hotel. Look for cool apartments and rooms on Airbnb.ru - there is a huge selection of housing for every taste and budget.

Do you want to experience the famous Caucasian hospitality? Stay in guest houses - as a rule, this name hides either rooms in the owner's house or in a separate one next door. The bathroom is often shared. A warm welcome, homemade wine and lots of communication are guaranteed.

Want to save money? It is better to refrain from vacationing in Georgia during the high season (July and August), as prices rise significantly. We flew to Georgia at the end of February: prices were the lowest, there were few tourists, and the weather was already spring.

with a view of Tbilisi (Photo © Airbnb.ru)

Food prices in Georgia - 2019

Delicious Georgian cuisine is one of the main reasons why tourists love this country. Many people come here just for all these khinkali, khachapuri and kebabs! According to reviews from all tourists who vacationed in Georgia, food prices are quite reasonable, and cooking on your own while on vacation is not always cheaper than eating in a cafe.

Portions are often very large(with some exceptions), you can order half a portion - check this if you are not ready for a large meal. Sometimes the waiters even warned us that the portion would be large and asked if we would like to order a smaller one.

Our average bill in a cafe in Tbilisi - 25-35 GEL for two. These are two or three main courses, tea or lemonade, and dessert. In most cafes and restaurants, a service charge of 10-15% is added to the order amount.

Huge khachapuri in Adjarian style.

Prices in cafes in Georgia in 2019:

• Adjarian khachapuri - from 6 GEL;
• khinkali, 1 pc. - 0.5-0.7 GEL;
• eggplants with nuts - 5-7 GEL;
• lobiani and kubdari - 4-7 GEL;
• kebab, skewer - 6-10 GEL;
• coffee and hot chocolate - 2-3.5 GEL;
• tea - 1.5 GEL;
• water "Borjomi" - 1 GEL.

Portions in Georgia are large! In the photo: rich Georgian khashi soup.
Delicious Georgian khinkali. There are different fillings: meat, cheese, mushrooms and others. 5-8 pieces are enough to fill you up.

Product selection in supermarkets Large cities are about the same as in Russia, you can find anything (which cannot be said about small villages). Vegetables and fruits are usually cheaper to buy either at markets or in supermarkets. Prices in single stalls on the streets are usually overpriced. Many products are brought to Georgia from Russia, even labels with information are in Russian, so in the store you will feel like you are in your own Pyaterochka.

Approximate food prices in stores in 2019:

• milk (1 l) - up to $1.5;
• bread (500 g) - from 0.2 to 0.4 $;
• local cheese (kg) - $2-4;
• eggs (12 pcs) - $1.2-1.6;
• bottle of wine - $3-6;
• water (1.5 l) - $0.3-0.5;
• bananas (kg) - $1.2-2;
• apples (kg) - $0.6-1.2;
• figs (kg) - from $0.8;
• grapes (kg) - about $3;
• oranges (kg) - $0.6-1.7.

If you're not afraid baking, then one meal, for example, when sightseeing, can be replaced by eating khachapuri (or something else tasty) on the go - tasty, cheap, fast, satisfying. Georgians themselves willingly buy baked goods from local bakeries.

Wine shelves in a Tbilisi store (Photo © unsplash.com / @anastsiia_voiten)

What to see on your own in Georgia

Georgia seems like a small country only on the map. In fact, there are a lot of interesting places here. In addition, the country is mountainous, so moving around it takes a lot of time.

It’s difficult to advise what to see in Georgia on your own, especially in just a few days or a week. We will list the places that we have taken note of for ourselves, and based on the list, you can create routes that suit your interests and timing.

Mestia, Svaneti (Photo © Unsplash / pixabay.com)

Places worth seeing on an independent trip to Georgia:

1. First of all this Georgian Military Road- they say it is one of the most picturesque in the world. We are big fans of mountain roads, so this is the most interesting attraction for us. If you go on a trip to Georgia in your own car, then your route will run along this road.
2. Tbilisi. We've already been here. We advise you to look not only, but also to visit the cozy courtyards and magnificent ceremonial cities - for us this was a real discovery, it was for them that we fell in love with Tbilisi.
3. Batumi- the main Black Sea resort of Georgia. Read more about.
4. Kutaisi and Imereti in general.
5. Vardzia Monastery.
6. Kakheti- wine-growing region. The cities of Sighnaghi and Telavi, Gremi castle, numerous monasteries.
7. - it’s better to go here by SUV for a few days (only in summer).
8. Svaneti.
9. And much more.

Don’t try to see all of Georgia at once in one trip - you won’t be able to do it anyway, and constant travel will simply exhaust you. It’s better to carefully work out several routes and come to the country several times.

Temple in Racha, Georgia. Photo: © vampa_ / flickr.com / Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

Our budget: how much does a trip to Georgia cost?

We spent three full days in the Georgian capital. We lived in the Old Town. The program for our first visit to Georgia was simple and uncomplicated - we walked around the city all day, looked for and studied its wonderful front doors and courtyards, ate plenty of national food, went out of town only once - to Mtskheta for half a day.

In Tbilisi you can pay by card almost everywhere, so you hardly need cash. I only exchanged $15 to pay for transportation. In general, exchangers are everywhere here.

Budget for our trip for two for three days:

• Air tickets Perm-Tbilisi for a direct Pobeda flight with luggage one way - 9,400 rubles.
• Apartment - 5150 rubles.
• Bus from the airport and back - 2 lari (50 rubles).
• Metro - 2 lari (50 rubles).
• Minibus to Mtskheta and back - 4 lari (100 rubles).
• Food in a cafe - 4400 rubles.
• Groceries in supermarkets - 450 rubles.
• A bottle of Kindzmarauli wine - 900 rubles.

In total, we spent three days in Tbilisi 11000 rubles excluding tickets. The budget for one day for two is 3,700 rubles.

We explore the amazing front doors of Tbilisi. Pictured is the London Hotel.

General information

The Republic of Georgia is located in southeastern Europe and occupies the central and western part of Transcaucasia. In the north the country borders with Russia, in the east with Azerbaijan, in the south with Armenia and Turkey. In the west it is washed by the Black Sea.
The area of ​​Georgia is 69,700 square meters. km. The population is 5.72 million people, of which about 83% are Georgians, 6.5% are Azerbaijanis, 5.7% are Armenians and 1.5% are Russians.

Customs regulations

When entering the country, the following duties are NOT subject to duty: personal jewelry (declaration is required), goods and personal items with a total weight of up to 100 kg. In addition to personal belongings, you can bring into the country duty-free: up to 200 cigarettes, up to 3 liters of wine or up to 10 liters of beer. The import of foreign currency is not limited, national currency is not more than 25,000 lari.
The import of weapons and explosives, drugs, literature discrediting the government system, certain types of video products, as well as items of historical and cultural value is prohibited.
Your luggage must have a strong lock and be marked with your name.

We inform you that from May 13, 2014, Resolution of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 398 of April 29, 2014 “On invalidating paragraph 7 of Resolution of the Government of the Russian Federation of December 31, 2005 No. 866 “On labeling alcoholic products with excise stamps” comes into force ". In this regard, the import of any alcoholic beverages into the territory of the Russian Federation from abroad is prohibited. The exception will be alcoholic beverages purchased at airports in Duty Free shops.

Transport

The most popular types of ground transport in Georgia are buses and minibuses. Buses run on schedule, from approximately 8:00 to 18:00. A developed network of minibuses connects almost all settlements in Georgia. The destination is usually indicated on the windshield and is usually in Georgian. Therefore, we recommend checking the exact destination station with drivers. You can also travel from one city to another by train. Travel time will be from 1 to 8 hours.

The national currency is the Georgian lari (GEL), divided into 100 tetri. In circulation there are coins in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 tetri and 1, 2 and 10 lari, as well as banknotes in 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 lari.
Credit cards (VISA, Eurocard/Mastercard and Cirrus/Maestro) are accepted in hotels, large restaurants and shops. However, it will be impossible to pay with a credit card in the provinces, small private shops and hotels.
In case of unexpected expenses, you can receive money throughout the country through the Western Union system.

You can exchange foreign currency for lari at bank branches and exchange offices. Banking hours are Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 18:00. Exchange offices often operate on more flexible hours or around the clock. It is better not to exchange foreign currency in Georgia.

Moscow time +1 hour.

The territory of Georgia is located within two climatic zones: Mediterranean in the east and subtropical in the west. The average temperature in winter is +4.. 8°C, in summer - +24.. 27 °C.
In the mountains, the climate is harsher, with hot summers (up to +38.. 40 °C) and cold winters (−15.. 20 °C).
The best time to visit Georgia is May, June and September.

The official language is Georgian. The majority of the population understands Russian well; they mostly speak with foreigners. in English.

The Constitution of Georgia guarantees freedom of religion to all residents. Most of the population are Orthodox Christians, 10% profess Islam, 2% are Catholic.

As a rule, tips are not included in the bill. In a restaurant, you can leave 5-10% of the bill or simply not take change.

Features of staying in the country

Georgia has a fairly high level of security for tourists, but you should follow the standard rules: do not carry large sums or jewelry with you, and always keep an eye on your bag and wallet, especially in markets and in crowded places. It is recommended to store valuables in safes. It is better to always carry your passport and other documents with you. As soon as you check into the hotel, you will need to give your passport or a copy of it for temporary registration.
Under no circumstances should you leave personal belongings unattended at an airport or train station, even for a few minutes!
Photography of various attractions and other places is permitted, with the exception of airports, railway stations and subways. Photography of military installations and some Orthodox churches is also prohibited.
It is better to drink boiled or bottled (mineral) water in Georgia.
When talking with local residents, we advise you to avoid the following topics: events in South Ossetia in 2008, the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict.

Georgia is famous for its excellent cuisine, most of which are meat dishes. Almost every dish contains a large amount of greens and, of course, the famous Georgian cheese! Be sure to try the Georgian kebabs "mtsavadi", "khinkali" with lamb and aromatic spices, the ham dish "Lori", and much more. The most famous cheese delicacy is the khachapuri pie.

The Georgian land is also known for its wines, each variety of which is the real pride of the country. According to legend, it was in Georgia that the culture of winemaking arose! The most popular brands of Georgian wines are Kindzmarauli, Manavi, Mukuzani, Napareuli, Alazani Valley, Akhasheni, Khvanchkara, Tsolikouri, Chkhaveri, Argveta, Kardanakhi, Khirsa, Psou, Samo, Yeniseli.

The shops

Typically stores are open from 9:00 to 19:00, some around the clock. Fairs and markets are open seven days a week.

Phones

Information: 09
Police: 022
Ambulance: 033
Fire department: 01
Gas service: 04
Tbilisi Airport: (+995 32) 31 03 41, 43 31 41, 43 31 21
Tbilisi Railway: (+995 32) 99 32 53
Tbilisi Bus Station: (+995 32) 75 34 33, 75 04 20

Embassy of the Russian Federation in Georgia

THE SECTION OF INTERESTS OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION IN TBILISI ACTS UNDER THE LEGAL PROTECTION OF THE SWITZERLAND GOVERNMENT and is located at the address: 0162, Georgia, Tbilisi, I. Chavchavadze Ave., 51. Contact numbers: (8-10-99532) 291-24-06, 291 -26-45.

Consulate of the Russian Federation in Georgia

THE CONSULAR DEPARTMENT OF THE SECTION OF INTERESTS OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION AT THE EMBASSY OF SWITZERLAND IN GEORGIA is located at the address: 0162, Georgia, Tbilisi, I. Chavchavadze Ave., 53. Contact numbers: (8-10-99532) 291-26-75, 291-27 -82
Opening hours: Monday to Thursday from 9-00 to 18-30, Friday from 9-00 to 15-00. Weekends are Saturday and Sunday.

The Russian language has rather limited use. He is remembered mainly only by people over 30 years old, and even then only in the central regions. In the mountains, it is almost impossible to find a person who speaks Russian fluently. The Georgian language belongs to a separate Kartvelian group; the writing is built on an independent basis, originating in the ancient Eastern Aramaic type of writing. And given the abundance of local dialects, even a superficial knowledge of the Georgian language usually does not help a tourist.

In Abkhazia they speak their own language, which does not even remotely resemble Georgian (belongs to the Abkhaz-Adyghe group of languages ​​of the North Caucasian family). But almost everyone here understands Russian. And the national script is built on a Cyrillic basis.

Currency exchange and price levels

The standard of living (and wages) in the country is extremely low. The average salary in Tbilisi is 400-600 lari, in other cities 120-200, and in villages even less. Prices are correspondingly low too. At the same time, outside large cities, large lari bills (not to mention foreign currency) are often difficult to exchange or use for purchases - the seller may simply not have change. Therefore, when exchanging currency, it is recommended to take as many small bills as possible. It is customary to bargain in markets. Prices in most stores are fixed.

Tips

The tip in most establishments is 5%, but in high-end establishments, if the service charge is not included in the bill, it is recommended to leave a tip of 10% of the bill amount. In other places you can just leave your change.

Beaches

When swimming in the sea, it should be taken into account that most beaches are pebbly, and the bottom level quickly decreases from the shore. Swimming in the sea with strong waves and winds over force three is simply dangerous, since the shore is in most cases undeveloped. Most of the seaside health resorts have long since fallen into disrepair, so the cleanliness of the beaches is almost not maintained (the exception is the resorts of Adjara and Abkhazia, where the coast is still being cleaned).

Traditions

The warmth and hospitality of the people of Georgia have been widely known for a long time. Nothing has changed even now. Even with such a low standard of living, not a single resident of the country will refuse to help a tourist, most often absolutely free of charge. In the tourism industry, you can still find an openly consumerist attitude towards a guest, but in everyday life, any Georgian considers it an honor to escort a guest to a place of interest or give any advice.

The Georgian feast has been glorified many times over by everyone who has attended it at least once. And this is not surprising. Centuries-old traditions and a special attitude towards the table and hearth as an integral part of the home and family (and the family is sacred for any Georgian!) have led to the fact that any meal, especially if a guest is present, turns into a feast. Regardless of the level of income of the owners, by the way. And often neighbors, numerous relatives and even “invitees” who are authoritative in the eyes of the local resident - elders, officials, etc. take part in this feast. This is especially noticeable in the interior regions of the country.

In any case, a complex ritual of making toasts (and there is always wine on the table!), communicating and exchanging opinions about a wide variety of life events comes into play. At the same time, any host, regardless of whether he shares the point of view of the guest or interlocutor or not, will never allow himself to doubt its fairness - here they treat other people’s opinions with extreme respect. Noisy argument - yes. Appealing to all witnesses and authorities is also yes. But the honor of the guest within the house will never be infringed.

A special, emphatically caring attitude towards parents (especially elderly family members) and friends also immediately catches the eye. All the first toasts are for them. The best places at the table are also for them. But rest assured, the guest will be in second (and often first) place after friends and close relatives.

There is no special etiquette at the table. The main thing is not to interrupt the toastmaster, show reciprocal signs of attention to the owner and his family and “do as everyone else does.” You can handle meat and poultry with your hands, but you can also use cutlery. The bread is handled by hand and is often used as a spoon for scooping out sauces and gravies. The greens that are constantly present on the table are taken with your hands and eaten as a “bite” with any dish. Many dishes, contrary to popular belief, are washed down not with wine (that’s not what it’s made for!), but with clean cold water.

Ethnic issues

The relationship between Georgian subethnic groups, as well as between Georgians and neighboring peoples, is a special matter. The characteristic features of the “neighbors” are often the object of endless teasing and jokes at the table and in everyday conversation. A Gurian is always ready to “pick up” a Kakhetian, an Imeretian - a Lachin, etc. But God forbid that a “stranger” should offend his neighbors with an evil word or a bad joke - almost every local resident will consider it his duty to ardently stand up for the object of ridicule, be it an Armenian, Russian or the same Ossetians, with whom the Georgians, by the way, have many different disagreements. Therefore, conversations on national topics should be avoided at all costs.

Interethnic conflicts in a country that has been torn apart by poverty and conflict for many years are the exception rather than the rule. In many areas, representatives of different nationalities get along so peacefully with each other that many tourists do not even find differences between them, considering all the numerous ethnic groups of the country to be a single people. The exceptions are Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which, as a result of armed conflicts, practically seceded from Georgia - interethnic clashes are not uncommon in these areas.

Issues related to the conflicts in Abkhazia and South Ossetia

An extremely sore subject for the vast majority of Georgians. Every tourist who interacts with local residents will at some stage be forced to hear one story or another, or an opinion on a given topic. There are about 250 thousand refugees in the country who left these regions in 1992-93, many of these people live in difficult conditions and without any hope of returning home. Residents of Georgia consider Abkhazia and South Ossetia to be territories of Georgia that were illegally taken from them with the support of Russia. Despite the fact that people always separate their attitude towards the state from their attitude towards you specifically, it is nevertheless recommended to avoid participating in political discussions. In addition, stories that you visited Abkhazia and liked it there are not welcome; By speaking in this way, you will instantly turn your interlocutor against you.

Electricity

Electrical voltage 220 V, 50 Hz. Sockets are usually two-pin, “Soviet style”; only in large hotels in the capital can you find sockets of the European standard.

Smoking

On May 15, 2006, a law prohibiting smoking in public places came into force in Georgia - in government buildings, hospitals, public transport, and also in public catering establishments, except those where customers are allowed to drink alcoholic beverages. Violators will have to pay a fine of 5-10 lari (about $3-6), and organizations will pay a fine of up to 200 lari (about $110).

Unfortunately, in reality the law is not enforced everywhere. For example, tourists planning numerous trips around the country should keep in mind that there will be smoking in minibuses, which will quickly permeate your clothes with the smell of cheap smoke. They even try to smoke in train compartments, although this is strictly prohibited.

Communal troubles

Constant power outages are typical throughout the country. Central heating has also been absent for a long time (as well as hot water) and is being replaced by air conditioning.