Traveling in Georgia on your own. Georgia: how to get there and what to expect from a visit How to plan a vacation in Georgia

The ancient state with spectacular nature, excellent cuisine and colorful features is very popular among tourists. Even a short trip to Georgia will bring a lot of bright positive emotions. In order not to spoil the impressions, it is necessary to prepare for the future voyage.

Significant innovations for 2020

From March 1, 2018, new conditions for compulsory insurance of vehicles of foreign states began to operate on the territory of Georgia. The driver is obliged to insure the car for movement around the country. Insurance packages are divided depending on the required travel period: 15, 30, 90 days and 1 year. The cost of insurance for 15 days is 30 GEL.

In this case, you do not need to try to save money. A fine for moving without a policy will cost much more - from 100 to 200 lari.

You can buy an insurance policy in any convenient way:

• in Banks (Liberty, Bank of Georgia)
• through payment terminals (TBS, Liberty, Bank of Georgia)
• at official points of sale near customs
• online before travel
• in the offices of insurance companies

Another significant innovation of the year was the appearance of a special tourist patrol. The tourist police take care of the safety of city guests and can help in various situations. Patrol officers are fluent in several foreign languages ​​and are able to provide information support to travelers from different countries.

travel documents

The first question that worries a tourist is whether it is necessary. In 2012, Georgia introduced a visa-free regime for Russian citizens. When staying in the territory for less than a year, Russians do not need a visa to Georgia.

Although Georgia is a visa-free country, the customs procedure at the border has a number of strict requirements. Going on a trip, you need to know the clear rules about what you need to travel to Georgia.

Special import requirements Money apply to the amount of more than 30,000 GEL. Cash currency, traveler's checks of lower value do not need to be declared when crossing the border. This allows you to take a comfortable supply of cash in any currency.

You can withdraw money from numerous ATMs. Just like all over the world, payment by card is common.

Three requirements for a tourist passport:

• the validity of the passport must cover the entire period of travel
• the presence of two free pages for stamps
• the absence of seals and South Ossetia.

Traveling with animals

Travelers with pets will need a special passport marked by the veterinary service of the Russian Federation, confirming the health of the pet. You can get it before the trip at the nearest veterinary clinic.

The attitude towards animals in the Caucasus is friendly. According to well-known accommodation booking services, several hundred hotels and apartments in Tbilisi allow guests to stay with pets.

Getting to Georgia

Georgia can be reached by several modes of transport:

• by plane through foreign airlines (Russian airlines do not fly to Georgia);
• maritime traffic;
• by bus;
• by car.

“You can only cross the border by bus or car. When traveling on foot, to pass the checkpoint on your own, you must use a hitchhike"

Several airlines operate flights to Georgia from Russia. Regular flights depart mainly from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Rostov and Krasnodar.

By sea, you can go from Sochi on a special passenger line of the SPK "Express-Batumi" along the route "Sochi-Batumi". The journey by sea will take at least 6 hours. Sea traffic opens in June and runs until September. It is better to buy tickets immediately in a passing and opposite direction.

You can go to hospitable Georgia by bus. The route Krasnodar - Tbilisi is popular, flights depart several times a day. The journey takes 14-15 hours. The ticket price is 2500 rubles. There is a developed bus service to Tbilisi from Moscow, Samara, Sochi and from Nalchik to Batumi.

The abundance of options for modes of transport allows you to choose how to travel to Georgia, depending on personal preferences. Some people want to save money, others want to see as many sights as possible, others care about comfort.

Traveling by car in Georgia

Traveling by car has a lot of advantages and disadvantages. Going on a trip on your own, you can drive through the secluded corners of the country and see remote sights. Mountain monasteries, picturesque canyons, ancient fortresses - it will be much easier to get there by a private car. When entering the country, travelers are enchanted by the Georgian Military Highway. From the Ossetian language, its name is translated as “the road of the “Heavenly Gorge”. The path along it is accompanied by many monuments of antiquity.

At the entrance to the passport, a special sticker is pasted, which is valid for 65 days. Before the expiration date under the customs legislation, the car must leave the country.

Required documents for drivers

• vehicle registration certificate
• driver's license with these spelled out Latin letters
• Georgian car insurance policy
• international passport

When crossing the border, an insurance policy is not required. It can be purchased immediately after entering the Georgian points of sale.

In no case do not try to get to Georgia from Russia through Abkhazia. Heading from Sochi or Gagra legally, you will have to make a circle of more than 400 kilometers. According to the legislation of Georgia, passing through the checkpoints of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali, namely through the border checkpoints "Gantiadi-Adler" and "Rock-Nizhniy Zaramag" are considered a criminal offense.

These checkpoints are illegal. Crossing them is punishable by a significant fine and imprisonment. Therefore, when choosing how to go to Georgia, forget the word "Abkhazia". This country is worth visiting, but you cannot combine them.

The financial side of the journey

The national currency of Georgia is "Lari". The name of the currency according to the international standard is "GEL". 1 lari, by analogy with Russian kopecks, consists of 100 tetri. During the second half of 2018, the exchange rate of the lari against the ruble fluctuated, as of January of this year it is 23.83 rubles per 1 lari.

Purchasing tickets, booking hotels long before the holidays will help to save a lot. Modern services allow you to choose the function of canceling a reservation for a certain period before the start of the trip.

Another local feature that will help to significantly reduce costs is the availability of bargaining. Whatever the price is, it's worth haggling. You can often cut the cost by a factor of two or three.

Rules for how to relax cheaply

• pick up free maps with marked sights at the tourist information centres. Such tourist centers are present in all major cities of Georgia.
• pre-install mobile applications with navigation programs and built-in guides;
• if you plan to rent a car, it is better to do it online;
• buy Georgian for the duration of your visit if you plan to use the Internet and make local calls;
• use wi-fi to access the Internet. In Tbilisi, the public free network Tbilisi Loves You operates around the city. Free wi-fi is available in the capital in mini-buses and on the main streets.

Prices in Georgia are relatively low. How much to take money, everyone determines depending on personal needs. The cost of cheap housing in the summer per day for two in Tbilisi starts from 10 GEL. In Batumi, you will have to pay a little more - from 17 GEL. Housing in winter period in the Gudauri resort it will cost at least 100 GEL per day.

Travel safety

Often girls who dream of relaxing in Georgia wonder how safe a vacation will be alone. According to the international rating of security and crime "Crime Index for country 2018", Georgia's security index is very high and amounts to 80%. This indicator is one of the best in the world. For comparison, the safety index of the Russian Federation is only 56%.

Bakuriani is located in a picturesque area. It is worth taking a trip along the exotic Bakuriani-Borjomi narrow-gauge railway and enjoying the mountain views. Where to go to Gudauri or Bakuriani is a difficult question. Both resorts are constantly being improved and are worthy of attention.

It is convenient to move around Georgia in your own car. A sample itinerary for a week that allows you to drive to the best popular attractions might look like this:

Famous Stepantsminda - Tbilisi - picturesque Sighnaghi - Gurjaani - Telavi fort and monasteries - Mtskheta - Gori - Borjomi - Rabat fortress - Vardzia - Batumi - Ureki - Kutaisi - Upper Lars.

Beach and educational holidays in Georgia

In summer, hospitable Adjara invites you to relax on comfortable and clean beaches. You can get to modern Batumi from Tbilisi by train.

Particularly attractive are the beaches of Magnetiti with black magnetic sand. Healing sand relieves many diseases. It is incredible to imagine how many kilometers connoisseurs of the wonderful properties of magnetic beaches overcome in order to improve their health.

Fans of ancient medieval castles and fortresses should definitely go to Georgia and get acquainted with its rich heritage.

The famous fortresses and castles of the country include:

• Ananuri Castle

• Gonio-Apsaros fortress

• Byzantine Petra

• cave city of Vardzia

• Gremi medieval castle

• Uplistsikhe

Fans of eucalyptus and citrus forests should visit Petra Fortress. A walk through the picturesque area around the fortress and a visit to the Tsikhisdziri beach will take the whole day and allow you to relax.

Traveling in Georgia takes you to the world of endless sights, amazing landscapes and unique color. Anyone who has ever traveled to this multifaceted land dreams of getting there again. Ski holidays, religious pilgrimage, medieval castles, tourist trekking - various types of tourism are embodied in the vastness of the country.

Do I need insurance to travel to Georgia?

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

Now, as for car insurance (if you do not plan to go to Georgia in your car, you can safely skip this item).

On March 1, 2018, the government of Georgia adopted a law on OSAGO for cars with foreign numbers. 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 buy at the border. There are 4 types of policies - for 15, 30, 90 days and for 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 absence of OSAGO for the summer of 2018 is 100 GEL (paid at any branch of any major Georgian bank, in no case try to “settle” this issue with the police on the spot!).

How to get to Georgia?

On the ground in a private car- if you are planning to go to Georgia by car, I suggest reading an article about the Moscow-Tbilisi road and the specifics of traveling in Georgia by car:.

If the purpose of your trip is not only Tbilisi, but also the "summer capital" of Batumi, I recommend reading.

An article about public transport in Tbilisi, as well as how to move within Georgia:.

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

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

If you are planning an independent trip to Georgia or just a vacation by the sea, I highly recommend that you look at my articles on the best value for money apartments and guesthouses in Tbilisi, Batumi and Kutaisi:

Transfers in Georgia

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

Comfortable transfers throughout Georgia can be ordered using the local online service go trip. During the booking process, you have the opportunity to choose a class, brand of car and a specific driver based on the reviews of previous passengers. Given the jigit driving style of Georgian street taxi drivers and their cars that are far from always serviceable, this is a very useful option. The price on the site is final, you don’t have to bargain with anyone.

Transfer examples:

Mobile communication and Internet in Georgia

With mobile communications and the Internet, things are going well in Georgia. Of course, there are remote corners like Tusheti or Khevsureti, where civilization in the face of mobile operators has not yet reached, but this is more an exception than a rule. In large and medium-sized cities, as well as in all beach and ski resorts with a local SIM card, you will always be in touch. As for the signal quality, all operators have already switched to 4G, but so far only in Tbilisi, Batumi and Kutaisi. In the outback, the connection is usually either H or 3G.

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 guide (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 for a quick transition to an article about this attraction.

Tbilisi

Tbilisi(number 1 on the sights map) - the capital of Georgia and one of the most beautiful and interesting cities of the former USSR. Old Tbilisi is unique yards with linens always drying, 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 sights: for example, the Bridge of Peace, the Presidential Palace and the House of Justice.

And, of course, amazingly hospitable and hospitable residents and delicious food. In my opinion, a minimum of 2-3 days is needed to get acquainted with Tbilisi, for a thoughtful inspection - no less than a week.

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

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

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

In order to better feel the unique atmosphere and energy of old Tbilisi, it is better not to stay in a hotel, but to rent an apartment 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 most 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 apartments: .

And in order to fully experience the unique atmosphere of this city, I recommend that the most inquisitive and sociable travelers book author's excursions around 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 view all available options, click View All. At the booking stage, you will need to pay online only 20% of the cost of the tour - the rest of the amount is given to the guide before it starts.

Georgian military road

Georgian military road- one of the most picturesque highways in the world and a continuous 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 then fought in the Caucasus with the highlanders, Turks and Persians - and this explains its name, today there is nothing “military” in it for a long time.

Georgian military road near the Cross Pass

The main sights of the Georgian Military Highway, located between the Russian border and Tbilisi:

Ananuri fortress and Zhinvali reservoir- number 3 on the map of sights of Georgia
Ski resort Gudauri(number 4)
Trinity Church in Gergeti (5)
Kazbegi (Stepantsminda)- number 6
Cross Pass and Monument of Friendship of Peoples (7)

Mtskheta

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

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, one of the most famous sights of northern Georgia is located - Ananuri medieval castle(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. And it 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, bypassing the Ananuri fortress.

Coordinates: 42.16403, 44.70319.

Gudauri

Gudauri(number 4 on the map) is 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 Highway, famous for the fact that on the mountain above it is located the oldest and one of the most revered churches of Georgia - Sameba Trinity Church (5).

Gergeti Trinity Church

The place is really just amazing and “atmospheric”, in addition, the church offers excellent views of Mount Kazbek (Kazbegi in Georgian) - however, the mountain is very “capricious” and even in summer very rarely looks out from behind clouds and clouds.

Coordinates: 42.66243, 44.62054.

Transfers along the Georgian Military Highway

Adjara

A fertile land of beaches, mountain resorts, national parks and hospitable people. The capital of Adjara, Batumi, is a "showcase" of modern tourist Georgia, as well as the third largest city in the country (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 (Magnetiti)

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).

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

Coordinates: 41.98689, 41.75924.

Shekvetili

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

Given the sparsely populated resort, even at the height of the beach season, rest here is suitable for notorious introverts and those who are deadly tired of the crowds of big cities. The beach is pretty good - black magnetic sand, the same as in Magnetiti.

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, the main attraction of which is a wonderful pebble beach.

Kvariati beach is considered the best in Adjara - some, however, will not agree with this, considering best beach in Sarpi. This is a seaside resort with a long tradition and a 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, known 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 the Gonio beach, it is typical for this part of Adjara: long, wide, pebbly, with clean water, a standard set of tourist attractions and a relatively wide choice of accommodation. Along the sea, not so long ago, they made a boulevard one and a half to two kilometers long - 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 member of NATO), and now the border passes just 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)

An uncrowded pebble beach with clear water is relatively close to Batumi - you can get there in 20 minutes by minibus. Usually Cape Verde is visited along with 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.

Nowadays, Tsikhisdziri is rarely considered as a beach resort - the Byzantine temple 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 recreation and treatment of people with diseases of the respiratory, 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 known for its peat swamps of spain- a nature reserve located to the northeast of the town, as well as an amusement park "Tsitsinatela", which in Russian means "Firefly". This name is not accidental: after dark, 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 sights, and if you are interested in not only relaxing on the beach, I recommend that you pay attention to National parks, ancient arched bridges, picturesque mountain roads and much more, located "in the depths" of the region, in its mountainous part.

Transajar highway

Transajar highway(18) - this is a road 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 interesting sights (waterfalls, ancient arched bridges, picturesque villages, wine cellars, etc.), so you can drive these 160 km for a very, very long time.

Bridge of Queen Tamara in Makhuntseti

Machakhela National Park (19)

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

Fairy 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 the land of stunning landscapes and the main region of Georgian winemaking. It is located to the east of Tbilisi and is known primarily for the "breadbasket 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 are several large wineries where you can come from. In addition, in autumn 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 informative way to get to know Kakheti (IMHO) is an author's excursion from Tbilisi. In this case, you will be driven all day in a comfortable car to the most interesting places, telling stories, legends, and in some places even toasts (without this, you can’t get anywhere in Kakheti). By the way, about toasts - being a member of the tour, you can forget that you are driving and enjoy excellent wines in the tasting rooms of the best Kakhetian wineries.

Sighnaghi (Sighnaghi, 23)

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

Monument to the doctor Benjamin from the movie "Don't Cry!" George Danelia

Due to its perfect preservation, during the years of Mikheil Saakashvili's presidency, Sighnaghi was chosen as the main tourist "brand" of Eastern Georgia. Something was restored, something was built from scratch - for example, the Wedding Palace, which works around the clock and "combines" everyone without an appointment - it is to him 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 that became famous in the expanses of the former USSR after the release of the film "Mimino". Many tourists use the city only as a base for traveling to the mountainous Tusheti - but in vain, in Telavi itself there is also something to see.

Monument to King Erekle II in Telavi

Coordinates: 41.92092, 45.4791.

Monastery David Gareji (25)

One of the main Orthodox shrines of Georgia - cave monastery, founded by Saint David of Gareji after he decided to leave the bustling Tbilisi and retire to 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 the ridge, along the ridge of which the state border of Georgia and Azerbaijan passes.

Coordinates: 41.4471, 45.37662.

Alaverdi Cathedral (26)

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

Coordinates: N42.03248, E45.3772.

Gremy Castle (27)

Gremi Medieval Castle- this is all that remains of the former capital of Kakhetia, the city of Gremi, destroyed by the Persian Shah Abbas. Along with the castle located on the Georgian Military Highway, Gremi is the most famous object of its kind in Georgia. Both castles are easily accessible from a logistical point of view - they rise literally 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 at the foot of that mountain there was a whole city with the same name, but only the foundations of several buildings have survived from it to this day. And, if the ruins of the city are not of particular interest, then the Nekresi Monastery, floating high in the mountains, is rightfully considered one of the brightest sights 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 Ikaltoy in the 6th century. In the “golden” age of David the Builder for Georgia, the Academy appeared on the territory of the monastery, where Shota Rustaveli later 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 the ancient monastery has been preserved here, where you may well find yourself alone with centuries of history and your thoughts.

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

Transfers to Kakheti

Imereti

Imereti- the largest and historically significant region of Georgia with a population of over half a million people. Imereti is located in the basin of the Rioni River, the largest in Georgia. Even against the background of very hospitable Tbilisi residents, the Imeretians stand out for their hospitality and goodwill. 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 that time it was in its heyday.

Kutaisi

Kutaisi(number 31 on the map of Georgia) since ancient times "disputes superiority" from Tbilisi and today is unofficially considered the second capital of Georgia. In confirmation of this status, in 2012 the Parliament of Georgia moved to Kutaisi from Tbilisi. Since then, this bizarre configuration of power has been legally spelled out 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 the slab at the entrance to the monastery complex, right under the feet of the parishioners.

Coordinates: 42.29489, 42.76848.

Motsameta Monastery (33)

Monastery Motsameta dedicated to the holy martyr princes David and Constantine, located not far from Gelati, closer to Kutaisi.

Coordinates: 42.28226, 42.75909.

Tskhaltubo (34)

Once a sanatorium and resort center of all-Union significance, which fell into decay in the 90s and is now gradually reviving. I recommend to combine its inspection with a visit. Prometheus caves and Sataplia park.

By the way, it was in Tskhaltubo 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 photos in the article about.

Coordinates: 42.37664, 42.60082.

Sataplia Reserve (36)

The reserve, located on a mountain above the Rioni River, is famous for dinosaur footprints found on its territory. The name "Sataplia" means "honey place", earlier wild bees were found in abundance in this area.

Coordinates: 42.31257, 42.67384.

Katskhi Pillar (37)

One of the relatively "new" religious sights of Georgia, but has already managed to 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 landmark 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 suspension cantilever bridge, which is an amazing viewing platform.

Coordinates: 42.45547, 42.52772.

Waterfall Kinchkha (39)

One of the most interesting sights 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, which arose thanks to the waters of the Abasha River, which made its way into the rocks. I recommend to combine a visit to the canyon with a visit Martvili monastery Chkondidi- the main Christian monastery of Megrelia - and Salkhino (42), summer palace Megrelian princes Dadiani.

Monastery coordinates: 42.40558, 42.37771, canyon: 42.45743, 42.37712.

Racha-Lechkhumi

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

Some call Racha mountainous Imeretia (by analogy with "mountainous Kakheti" - Tusheti, and "mountainous Megrelia" - Svanetia). 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 with tourists due to its stunning nature, well-preserved Svan towers and the original 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 Svanetia was built only recently - and before that, with the onset of winter, snow filled up the passes and tightly blocked Svanetia 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, it is very difficult to get to it in winter.

Mestia (Mestia)

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

Mestia is located extremely well in terms of landscapes: 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-concrete road).

Historical center of Mestia

Coordinates: 43.03346, 42.68948.

To "feel" 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 look much better than Mestia, which has undergone a merciless restoration. Ushguli is the second settlement in Europe after the Dagestan Kurush in terms of height and is famous for a large number of well-preserved Svan towers.

Hatsvali (46)

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

Coordinates: 43.01755, 42.73882.

Tusheti

Tusheti(47) - an isolated high-mountainous region in the north-eastern part of Georgia, which is administratively part of Kakheti. get to Omalo(this village is the "capital" of Tusheti) is possible only on a good SUV - the road is a dirt mountain serpentine.

Tushetia is a stern (but not very warlike) highlanders, stone sakli, ancient towers (vaguely similar to Svans), excellent products made from sheep wool, “guda” sheep cheese and special local khinkali with mountain herbs.

The views in the mountains of Tushetia are amazing - and for this reason, the main occupation of the Tushino people is gradually becoming the reception and service of tourists, however, not yet numerous.

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

Khevsureti (48)

Another original 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 to visit Khevsuretia, it is better to allocate at least a couple of days.

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

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

The coordinates of the capital of Khevsureti Shatili: 42.65813, 45.15457.

Georgia - from Tbilisi to Batumi

By train or bus, 300 km between the 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 rented.

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 summer, and even then only for SUVs - through Borjomi valley and region Samtskhe-Javakhetia, from where you can get to Batumi along an unpaved mountain Transajar highway.

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

The first route Tbilisi - Batumi

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

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 now the city has a large and very interesting museum dedicated to Stalin.

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, now Uplistsikhe is one of the most interesting sights located in the vicinity of Tbilisi.

Coordinates: 41.96737, 44.20724.

The 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 Transajar 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.

Bridge-"curl" in Borjomi

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

Coordinates: 41.84119, 43.38298.

Ski resort Bakuriani (52)

In the past - the center of skiing of all-Union significance, today - 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 way from Tbilisi to Batumi lies through Akhaltsikhe, the capital of the region Samtskhe-Javakhetia. The city itself is not particularly interesting, but it houses the largest fortress in Georgia - Rabat.

Fort Rabat (53)

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

According to popular belief, the restorers overdid it a bit: the ancient fortress now really shines with a new-made gloss. Like it 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 Transajar highway, I highly recommend taking the time to stop by for half a day at cave city of 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-Javakhetia - 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 preferred life in caves to 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 solid 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 Transajar highway. The road is dirt, sometimes very difficult - but the views are amazing.

The second option is for those who have an ordinary passenger car, or they just 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 good holiday in Georgia!
Your Roman Mironenko

Places are marked on the map, in this order we traveled through the cities of Georgia and in the same sequence I will tell you the most important thing about them.

Tbilisi

Loud Tbilisi, conquered us as soon as we left the airport and got into the minibus, here everyone is constantly beeping and talking, talking, and if you move away from the streets and go, for example, to the Botanical Garden, extraneous sounds disappear and only the sound of a waterfall and the rustle of foliage are heard, so you can get to know the calm side of the city. It is also a bold city - I was surprised and liked the modern architecture, for example, this pipe in the photo is a theater.

What to watch?

• Fortress Narikala;
• Statue of Mother Kartli;
• Tbilisi Botanical Garden;
• Peace Bridge;
• Shardeni street;
• Freedom Square;
• Rustaveli Avenue;
• Europe Square and Rike Park;
• Meydan Square.

Where to stay? We lived in Popova Apartments, we do not recommend. In the room, apart from the bed, nothing else fits. You open the door from the bathroom and you immediately get on the bed, there is no place on the floor. The whole room is literally two by two meters.

Pros: 5 minutes to the city center.

You can book accommodation at a bargain price on the website hotellook.com. This is a hotel aggregator that compares prices on all booking sites and shows you the best one.

Where is tasty and inexpensive? Samikitno, it is located just on Meydan Square through which all tourist routes lie. There is a veranda overlooking the square, prices are below average, a huge selection of various khachapuri and khinkali (with spinach, vegetables, cottage cheese, with different types of meat), a small khachapuri (which is actually very large) costs 150 rubles.

Mtskheta, Jvari Monastery

Jvari monastery- this is a famous temple on a mountain near the city of Mtskheta, tourists come here to look at the confluence of the Aragva and Kura rivers, we are no exception. True, for all its popularity, Jvari is inconvenient for visiting, direct regular transport does not go here, the route is a little off to the side and it is fast, but it is here that hitchhiking is well developed.

You can find out 10 reasons why you should visit Georgia.

Continuation of our route

Save the post for yourself for the future, share it with your friends on social networks, and if you want to visit Georgia, write about it in the comments and make a wish for the trip to happen in the near future, and then come what may.

July 23, 2018 10:14 am Kazbegi, Telavi, Sighnaghi, Borjomi, Batumi, Kutaisi + 3 cities - Georgia June 2018

“Did you go to Georgia in June? So what? Everyone likes it, no visa is needed, I have mountains, you have the sea! Independent travel will not be expensive!

We met Anya about a year ago and already managed to hit the road for two weeks in the Crimea in 2017. Then she passed the “Pedestrian weekend” test in Moscow and “PVD-shny” on the lake in Shchepachikha. Based on the results, she was diagnosed as “Travel Fit” and we started planning our summer vacation.

All our friends who have already been to Georgia, unanimously repeated: “Blow to Georgia! It's wonderful there!"

While Anyuta dreamily looked at pictures with sights and flipped through thematic posts, I studied websites and blogs with reports on independent travel to Georgia, “must-have” places to visit were identified, accommodation was booked, a route map was drawn up, a budget was calculated and the main noteworthy places and objects in the cities that we were going to visit were partially learned. It only remained to accumulate the required amount and wait for the “X-hour”)))

When to go to Georgia

It rains in Georgia in May. July and August are extremely hot. Yandex's monthly forecast in Tbilisi hinted at the second half of June, because the rains had passed, and the heat was still tolerable. Looking ahead, I can say that the rains really did not bother us, but the heat during the day was up to +38! And sometimes we felt like we were on a hot frying pan, which forced us to reduce the time spent in certain locations, and even better - to stay in Borjomi and not stick out)))

Everyone claims that September is the “golden season” in Georgia. The temperature is comfortable, the sea is warm, fruits and wine are in abundance, and there are already much fewer tourists (we will definitely check). And in winter there is expanse for lovers of snow activities - ski resorts in Gudauri and Bakuriani! Shortly speaking, Georgia is good in any season, it’s just that in July and August from 12 to 16 it’s better to have a quiet hour in an air-conditioned room, or spend time in the park (fortunately, there are a huge number of them in Georgia and there will definitely be a bench on every shady piece of land, and somewhere nearby there will be a completely murmuring decent drinking fountain

How to get to Georgia

We decided to go by train through Vladikavkaz. Firstly, because we are afraid to fly))). And secondly, I really wanted to drive along the Georgian Military Highway and see all its beauty with my own eyes. As a result, our transfer looked like this:

There: exactly two days and 11103.00 r. for two

Train Nizhny Novgorod— Moscow 3h48 2014.00 rub. for two (Strizh)

Train Moscow - Vladikavkaz 1 day 12 hours 7089.00 rub. for two (coupe)

1

The schedule is this:

June 17-18 Tbilisi; June 19-20 Kutaisi; June 21 Batumi; June 22 Borjomi; June 23 Tbilisi; June 24 Sighnaghi; June 25 Telavi; June 26-27 Tbilisi; June 28 Stepantsmida

Lifehacks:

1. It is worth laying at least 3 days in Tbilisi, there really is beauty and sights at every step

2. If you are traveling in the hot season, treat yourself to two days in Borjomi - it is cool and the air is delicious there

3. There is nothing to do in Sighnaghi for more than one day (if you are an ordinary average tourist-city dweller). The city is very small, you can explore in a day. But I recommend staying there for the night, at least to see it at night from a cafe in the suburbs on top of the mountain

How much does housing cost in Georgia

Sights of Georgia

In Tbilisi, we walked along a beautiful hanging Bridge of Peace to the central Rike Park, rose to the majestic Cathedral and descended into an extremely authentic " Old city ”, where we happily got lost among the small and cozy streets. The next day we took a ride on the cable car to Narikala fortress, admired from there monument to Mother Georgia and enthusiastically walked for a couple of hours along the shady and beautiful botanical garden, where they found shade, and coolness, and benches, and beauty. On the same day We took the funicular up to Mtatsminda, where a large park was located and from where the best view of Tbilisi opened, admired the park, reached a beautiful sculptural Pantheon and walked down again to the old city. We also had time to swim in the lake. Lisi and in Tbilisi Sea descending to him heights kenese mountains on which the majestic Monument History of Georgia. Everywhere was a fairly clean beach and warm excellent water. In the evening we wandered into sulfur baths area and waterfall right there I recommend, very picturesque and authentic place. We did not miss the fight of the clock on the tower theater Rezo Gabriadze accompanied by a theatrical performance. And all this for 3.5 days in the Georgian capital!

From Gori we drove to Uplistsikhe. This is an ancient cave city. Everything is well equipped here, there are cash desks, toilets, drinking water and lighting. It was great to wander through these ruins and look up at the mountains in the distance, as well as get acquainted with the history of the nation.

In Kutaisi, we spent the whole day visiting two canyons: Okatse and Martvili. This was the most exciting part of our trip! In the Okatse canyon we walked along the suspension bridge over the abyss (very thrilling), and on the Martvili canyons we went on a boat in the shadow of the gorge (stunning beauty). The road to both canyons is difficult and long. Stock up on strength and drinking water. In Okatse, you will most likely get tired, so start with it while there is still vigor. And then you will have a rest in a boat on Martvili. But White bridge in Kutaisi, from which Rezo Gabriadze spat in the wonderful film “Do you know, mother, where have I been?” We were not able to visit, as it was closed for repairs.

We had very little time in Batumi, so we took a swim in the sea, walked around the center a bit, took a ride on ferris wheel and admired Ali and Nino”, as well as freshened up in the singing fountains. The beaches in Batumi are very clean and ennobled. There are many nice inexpensive cafes. This city is active day and night.

Borjomi has become a real paradise! It was cool here, and the air was so clean and fresh that it literally made my head spin. This little town is incredibly cozy! We immediately went to the side of the park to take the cable car to the observation deck. But we decided to go down along the path through the forest. Don't let the visual height scare you, there is a wide flat paved path that leads directly to Borjomi Park. The park is wonderful! It has a bunch of shops, a river, the shade of trees, gazebos, drinking springs with mineral water, a waterfall and a sculpture of Prometheus and the nature is fantastic! Be sure to go to the center at night - everything is lit and glowing, amazingly beautiful and cozy.

Sighnaghi looked like a fabulous toy town (2300 inhabitants in total). Located at the very top of the mountain, it is surrounded ancient fortress wall, in the preserved towers of which you can climb and see from there the endlessly spread Alazani valley. The town can be easily walked around in a couple of hours, taking photos in every corner) By car, you can quickly get to Bodbe in church of st. Nino and hear his story. At night from the height of the cafe Veranda Signagi”(it is even higher above the city) you will have a view of the city and the valley, and the mountains, and the stars!

Walk along the walls in Telavi Batonis-Tsikhe and climb up observation park Nadikvari, opening a mountain panorama as from a picture.

Well, in Stepantsmida, by all means, make ascent to the Gergeti church and admire from there to the top Kazbegi. You can go up by renting a car together with a driver, and go down on foot - there is a path straight down to the village.

Language barrier in Georgia

The older generation of Georgians is fluent in Russian and is always happy to put it into practice. Young people almost do not know Russian, but they speak English very well. This is natural, as there are a lot of tourists in Georgia and for the most part, they “speak in English”. You can not worry, as soon as you take on a puzzled look, Aunt Nani or Uncle Gio will definitely come up to you, find out the reason for your confusion and help you cope with the task. You will definitely be heard and understood in Russian, turning to Georgians over 40 for help, and in English, turning to young people.

But with a complete misunderstanding of writing, you have to put up with it. The Georgian alphabet is absolutely not similar to native Russian or familiar Latin. That is, the names of shops, bus routes and information signs will not be available to you. But this is another reason to turn to the Georgians for help and absorb their kindness and incredible hospitality.

• Lyrical digression: I happened to hear a couple of times from Russian mothers with negligent children: " A nightmare in general, wild people, no one knows the Russian language!". So here's what I think about it: it's YOU who came to a foreign country, and no one here is obliged to know your language. On the contrary, if you want to speak fluently and independently, learn the language of the country you are visiting in basic phrases or international English. Do not forget that you came to visit, and should respect local customs and be grateful for the kind welcome. If you think that everyone here should create “a la Rus” conditions for you, why did you leave this very “Rus” at all? They would sit on the priest exactly in their comfort zone. Georgia is the most Russified country that treats Russians with brotherly love. Is it not in order to see another culture and get acquainted with a different mentality? Then turn off the internal "enslaver" and behave like at home, but do not forget that you are away)

In general, I advise you to learn elementary phrases in Georgian, and make at least a tiny attempt to remember at least part of the Georgian alphabet. For example, already in the second week we could read destinations on minibuses and elementary shop signs. The Georgian alphabet has 33 letters, just like the Russian one, which means that it will not be difficult to draw an analogy.

All prices in the article are at the time when for 1 lari they gave 26.65 rubles

How much does housing cost in Georgia

Georgia has very cheap housing! If you book well in advance, you can easily get decent apartments for 60-70 lari (1600-1800 rubles for two). After last year's Crimea, these prices seemed ridiculous to us). We chose accommodation on booking.com. In April, there were a lot of decent options with everything you need. The main criteria were proximity to the center and attractions, the presence of a washing machine, pleasant interior, air conditioning, balcony, wi-fi. The cheapest room cost us 60 GEL (about 1500 rubles), and the most expensive cost 100 GEL (about 2700 rubles). In just 13 days, we spent 866 lari (approximately 22,000 rubles) on housing.

Here is a list and brief comments about our accommodation in Georgia:

The Solo Room Apartment is also in the old town. Huge apartment with a huge balcony! The room is comfortable and modern, the owner treats you with homemade wine. Near metro and shops. In terms of price-quality, these apartments turned out to be the most optimal. The next time we decided to immediately settle here.

Kutaisi: Small hotel Hotel Kutaisi Globus. 10 minutes walk to the main square and the park. There is a 24-hour convenience store within a minute's walk and taxi drivers right under the windows. The rooms are modest, but the Wi-Fi is just space speed! The decor was simple, but everything was clean, tidy and the air-conditioned bathroom worked great. The cost is very low.

Batumi: Apartment On Parnavaz Mepe 92/94 is a huge apartment 5 minutes from the sea. The surrounding area is lined with shops and cafes. Balcony overlooking the sea, lots of furniture and storage space, kitchen, working bathroom. This is the perfect place to stay for a week with your family. You will be at home. For the price, it seemed like heaven to us.

Borjomi: House in Borjomi is a superbly furnished guest house overlooking the bridge and mountains. Very nice atmosphere and wonderful hostess. 5 minutes to Borjomi park and bus station. One of the nicest places to stay in our trip.

Sighnaghi: Nando Guest House is a large house 100 meters from the main city square. The hospitable hosts began to feed us, it seems, in the first 5 seconds after our arrival) They told us a lot about the city, took us to Bodbe, gave us a drink, fed us, and generally took care of us as best we could! You feel like a close relative here, and not a visiting tourist)

Telavi: Dima's Guesthouse is a large comfortable house 5 minutes from the city center. The owner is friendly and hospitable. The room is excellent, everything is clean, modern, serviceable. On the corner of the street is the Bravo cafe, which we visited as many times as we passed by)))

Stepantsmida: Veranda Guesthouse is one of the few inexpensive and decent accommodation options in Stepantsmida. Due to the influx of foreign exchange tourists, everything is twice as expensive there, both housing and food. And the service does not differ in quality. But in this hotel everything was clean, tidy, everything worked and there was an excellent view from the veranda directly to Mount Kazbek and the Gergeti Monastery.

Lifehacks:

• 1. It is cheaper to rent a house without booking, because the owner does not pay a commission. That is, you can simply call any guesthouse or apartment and rent a house cheaper. However, booking.com guarantees a room reservation and you will definitely not be 100% in a force majeure situation. But the owners can resell the room without warning.
• 2. Do not chase the decor of the room. If you plan to walk and watch a lot, then you will come to the room only to sleep and wash. Therefore, choose a room with a clean bed and proper plumbing, and not with a beautiful chandelier and a picture above the bed. This will save you

Transport in Georgia

Intercity: Minibuses go anywhere! Between major cities, the distance to which is less than 100 km, transport runs hourly. If the distance to the desired city is greater, go to the bus station and look for the schedule of those 3-4 flights per day that will suit you. If you (like us) naively decided that you can quickly get from Batumi to Borjomi through Akhaltsikhe - nifiga) Only through the main highway and Khashuri (about 5 hours on the way). By the way, the Batumi-Borjomi minibus runs only once a day at 10:00. Then only on translation

Urban: Public transport in Georgia works very well. Gazelles run constantly in any direction, and large buses (moreover, on schedule). You buy a transport card for 2 lari (about 50 rubles), and use it to ride the metro, buses and cable cars, except for the one that goes to Mtatsminda, because it is not a cable car, but a funicular))). The fare costs 50-60 tetri (no more than 15 rubles). A transport card purchased in Tbilisi is valid only in Tbilisi.

Taxi: The most popular official taxi in Georgia is Maxim". There are many Georgian cities, reasonable prices, fast delivery. But for every square meter of Georgia there are 2 local taxi drivers))). In the "off season" they take not expensive, as there is almost no demand In the season, the rates rise, because the official taxi is busy with vacationers and there is a shortage of taxi drivers.Like almost everywhere, the farther from the center and the station, the cheaper the taxi rate.You can and should bargain with Georgian taxi drivers.

Lifehacks

• 1. Around the city: find out in the application the cost of your trip by taxi "Maxim", and do not agree to taxi drivers standing nearby if their price is significantly higher
• 2. For attractions: google information on prices for the trip you are interested in, kindly provided by past travelers, go out to taxi drivers with knowledge and say: “There are so many ladies, I won’t go more expensive!”. The probability that taxi drivers will agree is 90%! Just don't get arrogant, don't try to drive for a penny. Taxi drivers are also people with families, they also want to eat delicious food and raise children in abundance, especially since in Georgia it is tourists who bring the main income (there is no other job for the mass population).

Currency exchange

Do not try to change currency in banks! The most profitable exchangers are ALWAYS near bus stations and train stations. Do not take an exchange at the first available window, go a little further, and after 20-30 meters you will see a sign with a more favorable exchange rate. You can exchange currency without any problems at any time of the day and in any city of Georgia. With this, there is complete order. When planning a budget, consider it not at today's rate. Put a minimum of 10% risk due to currency fluctuations.

Food prices in Georgia

There are two food options in Georgia: cook on your own or go to a cafe. In the first case, choose housing so that it is convenient to get to the market. Markets in Georgia are booming! Everything is fresh, prices are low, sellers are generous! Feel free to buy all the food and drinks there, it will be cheap and fantastically delicious!

If you don’t want to bother with cooking, go to Tripadvisor.ru and choose a cafe based on reviews and your criteria.

You can eat together for the amount of:

10-15 lari (350 rubles)- a couple of huge sausages in dough or other pastries and coffee

20-25 lari (600 rubles)– a couple of salads and a drink / a couple of khachapuri and coffee

50-60 lari (1500 rubles)— salad, hot, drinks, snacks

All amounts are indicated not for one person, but for two!!!

Personally, we have never spent even 60 GEL in a cafe, although we rolled out of them after eating barbecue, soup, salads, pastries and drinking wine or beer. Upon returning to Russia from Georgia, we began to experience the following problems: the portions seem tiny, and the prices seem huge))). How to live now, we have not figured it out yet)))

Lifehacks:

• 1. If you are not a three-meter 150-kilogram man, in no case take khachapuri for one person in a cafe. They are huge! One "medium" Georgian khachapuchi can feed 2-3 people
• 2. In general, accustom yourself to order not immediately “first-second-third-compote”, but for a full course. In Georgia, the portions are very large and generous! We have seen more than once how people “roll out” from the cafe, leaving on the table another mountain of food that they could not overpower

Cafe examples:

AT Tbliisi we first went to Samikitno-Mahakhela. This is a chain of cafes that meet in different parts of the city. We ordered a large khachapuri for two, and we brought a 1.5 kg bandura!!!))) It was inexpensive and very tasty, but it is unrealistic for two girls to master it. Khinkali here were also quite decent. Prices are very low, a lot of seats, a wide menu. This is such a "local McDonald's", where you can inexpensively and tasty eat standard dishes of Georgian cuisine. The cafe turned out to be interesting in taste and "stuffing" Salobie Bia. Cozy, small, simple menu, good food, average prices and very authentic interior. Craft beer lovers will love Black Dog Bar. There are 6 taps of very decent beer and their own cider. Good menu snacks, delicious burgers. The owner is just a great guy. Half of the guests here are always foreigners. We came here three times to watch the World Cup and drink delicious craft. In an institution Vinotheca Wine Shop You can buy absolutely any wine with any price tag and for every taste. Here you can taste the wine before buying and immediately drink it at the table. Very cozy environment and wonderful staff.

AT Kutaisi we really wanted to get into Toma's Wine Cellar - this is an unusual family institution where you will plunge into the most Georgian Georgia! There you will taste a mountain of national dishes, taste wines and learn all about local traditions and sights. Unfortunately, we were already full, and simply would not have eaten so much, only for this we refused. But in Story House you can taste unusual dishes of Georgian cuisine when you have already tried everything else. The hostess will personally tell you about everything and treat you.

Batumi pleased us with two wonderful restaurants at once! First we ate goodies in Adjarian home on the embankment. Everything is fast, tasty, good, large portions, average prices and the restaurant itself is located on the banks of a picturesque reservoir. And we had dinner at Khinklis Gemo where we were pleasantly surprised by the incredible courtesy and professionalism of the staff. There is a very large menu here. low prices and for a penny you can buy a decanter of Khvanchkara! I recommend this place wholeheartedly!

AT Borjomi we liked the cafe Bergi. Large portions, reasonable prices, fast service and great location.

AT Sighnaghi we had to go through the wilds to the cafe Veranda Sighnaghi, which is located outside the city and you need to go uphill through the forest))). The kitchen there is ordinary, normal. Prices are average. And here is the view!!! Not only is Sighnaghi located high above the Alazani Valley, but this cafe is even higher! And from its veranda, the view is simply incredible. And if you come here in the evening, you can see the panorama both in the daytime and in the dark. It's worth the long climb. Although you can get here by taxi, but we walked from the city center.

AT Telavi now our favorite restaurant in Georgia! It's called Bravo. We came back here again and again. Waiters in snow-white shirts, a beautiful flowery veranda, a rich menu, delicious dishes, huge portions and all this for an affordable price! We tried salads, soups, meats and lemonades here - everything without exception was excellent. We will definitely come back here many more times!

But Stepantsmida We were very disappointed in terms of food. Surely there is good places but we didn't hit them. Food prices here are 2 times higher than in Tbilisi! This is due to the large flow of foreign exchange tourists. There are literally 10 establishments in the whole city, and finding something adequate for the price is a big problem. We didn't splurge here for a sumptuous dinner as it was our last night. We went to the only affordable cafe along the road. Here a very nice man brought the menu, gave advice, served food and in general everything was sincere ... until we tried this food. Khinkali were dumpling-like, and the meat was raw and with a lot of fat.

Communications and Internet in Georgia

If you are fabulously rich, travel with a Russian SIM card, use roaming and do not think about that couple of thousand rubles that the operators ripped off from you). If life has deprived you of ancestors with a surname like the Rothschilds or Rockefellers, immediately upon arrival, you card for a GeoCell SIM card (about 5 GEL), throw 7 GEL into your account (about 180 rubles) and connect an Internet package for 2 GB. This is quite enough for navigation, googling objects of interest, calling a taxi and being online in social networks for 2 weeks. You will use massive resources only in Wi-Fi mode, it is available in hotels, cafes and even in parks.

Don't forget to turn off automatic syncing of internet-consuming apps like GooglePhoto. I forgot, the traffic package went away in 20 minutes, then the expensive write-off of the balance for traffic in excess of the package began, for which I paid about 20 GEL))) Damn, it's still cheaper than a Russian SIM card with roaming!” and calmed down)))

Is it safe in Georgia

Absolutely safe, unless you yourself are scouring the fifth point in search of fantastic adventures on it! During the whole vacation, I never turned around, did not quicken my pace, passing a dark gateway, was not afraid to walk at night, get into a taxi, was not afraid to take out my phone or shine money. Never once did I feel uncomfortable in dealing with Georgian men, never once were there any unpleasant hints. Everywhere in Georgia I felt complete security and the willingness of Georgians to help in any situation. And the police reform carried out by Saakashvili made Georgian cities an example of the safety and tranquility of citizens.

Usually, if the police come up, expect problems, well, if you are crystal clear at all, we have such a collective image of representatives of this profession that when you contact the police, you experience internal discomfort and a desire to quickly cut off communication. And in Georgia, it's the other way around. Police officers like from films, beautiful, slender, brave, dressed to the nines, with full uniforms. They smile, know foreign languages, try to help everyone who needs it. They will never pass by a broken car, they will never pass by a tourist in a difficult situation. They will definitely help. And Georgians love and respect their "new" policemen very much! The faith in law and order is so strong that the locals leave their cars unlocked and lock their apartment doors because they know nothing bad will happen. It seems to me simply incredible, and I hope that someday such a “police miracle” will happen in our country)))

How much money to take to Georgia

Tickets 23000 rubles

Housing 22000 rubles

Daily expenses (food, travel, household needs) 47,000 rubles

Total: 95,000 rubles for two

We divide in half, it turns out: 47,500 rubles per person

We divide by 17 days, it turns out 2795 rubles per day

2795 rubles per day including accommodation, food and transport. But we went by taxi, and ate in restaurants, and always lived in the very center! Not bad))

Lifehacks:

• 1. It was possible to reduce the amount without prejudice to the rest. For example:
• 2. If we had chosen accommodation costing up to 60 GEL per day, we would have saved about 3,000 rubles
• 3. If we had gone in a reserved seat, we would have saved another 2,000 rubles
• 4. If you eat on your own, and only have dinner in a cafe, you could save about another 5,000 rubles
• That is, it was possible to save 10,000 without breaking off a bit on vacation, and keep within 85,000 for two. 2500 rubles per day per person.

But I don't regret the money spent. We blissed out as best we could, we didn’t deny ourselves anything, we were always in abundance!

A paragraph of love for Georgia and Georgians!

And it turns out that she is not Georgia, but Sakartvelo))) Why? - Ask Yandex))). The whole trip just haunted me: “Well, why Georgia? Where did this name come from? Well, Georgia, well, George, well, Gurgia, but that's just not Georgia! I found out and peace reigned in my soul again)

Kartveli (Georgians) are amazing people! Legends of Georgian hospitality and cordiality are not in vain. Georgians are always ready to help, suggest, orient, feed, drink, warm, see off, meet, chat and generally do everything to make you feel like long-awaited guests or even relatives! They have it in their blood! This commands great respect! Wherever you are, everywhere you will meet Georgian "guardian angels", people who at the right time will be very helpful and kind to you! I am happy to meet Sakartvelo and its people! Be all healthy and happy! Definitely see you again.)

It's time to tell you about Georgia . My previous articles were the preface to this chapter.

Let me remind you, to get into it from, we had to drive through Adygea, Stavropol Territory, Kabardino-Balkaria and North Ossetia– Alanya .

• Why was it impossible to drive along the Black Sea coast?
• What passports to pass the border in Georgia and do I need a visa?
• Should I go to Georgia by car?

If you are planning a trip to Georgia and you have these and other similar questions, this article is just for you.

Georgia: instructions for use

In this article I want to talk about why tourists go to Georgia in general, how you can get to Georgia, what are the pros / cons of each method, do you need a visa, and also give general information: about prices, about what are the features in this country in terms of food, accommodation, etc. So that in the following articles, when I will talk about the sights of Georgia, this will be less distracted.

So let's start with What is the best way to get to Georgia?

How to get to Georgia: three legal ways and one illegal

Let's start with legal methods. Option number one - by plane . The simplest and also the most expensive. Most flights are in Tbilisi, but there are still flight options to Batumi or Kutaisi. The cheapest way is to fly from Moscow, of course, and there are quite a lot of flights at any time of the year. A couple of airlines also fly from St. Petersburg.

Regions, as always, are less lucky: even if there is a direct flight, the prices are such that you will think 10 times. From the same Sochi, for example, there is a direct flight to Tbilisi, but the price is about 13,000 rubles round trip! And it's only an hour to fly!

Of the advantages of this option - only the speed of movement. But, in principle, if you just want to have a nice weekend in Tbilisi or Batumi, then this option is quite suitable for you. And then, perhaps, it is much easier for you to buy a ready-made package tour to Georgia. Did you know that sometimes a ticket costs less than a ticket for a regular flight? At the same time, the price of the tour includes flights, accommodation, transfers, insurance and meals of your choice. Choose one of the ready-made options >>here<<

But if you, like us, like to look at the country thoroughly, with feeling, really, with the arrangement, then most likely you will choose option number two — travel to Georgia by car . About why more and more tourists choose to travel by car, I thought in this article -. We like this option more and more in recent years. That's how we explored the whole .

And now it's time Georgia. The choice fell on this country not by chance:

• Russians do not need a visa to visit, they only need a valid passport;
• the climate is excellent;
• the choice of ancient monuments is the richest;
• cuisine and wine delight travelers;
• sea, mountains, ancient culture and good infrastructure.

Why not the perfect vacation spot?

It would still be possible to get to Georgia from Sochi by sea: “comets” go from the port of Sochi to Batumi. And this option number three could be recommended, but ... The cost of a trip by sea is comparable to the price of air tickets, and hanging out at sea for about 10 hours on an old boat is not a pleasant prospect. Our friends tried all the delights of this option in August - what a treat! Instead of 5 declared hours, they sailed all 10 to Batumi! Stormy, they say...

So we chose the option to drive our own car. The arguments in his favor, in addition to the fact that the car gives freedom of movement throughout the country, were as follows:

• Unlike a number of other CIS countries, no additional car insurance is required to enter Georgia
• unrealistically beautiful views and Transajarian highway who won our hearts already in absentia
• although the territory of Georgia is small, but if you set yourself the goal of seeing as many places as possible in one trip, then without a car there is simply no way

The only unpleasant moment is the price of gasoline in Georgia. For some reason, he is so expensive here - from 50 to 70 rubles per liter!

Why can't you go to Georgia through Abkhazia? I was asked this question more than once or twice ... Yes, damn it, it would be ideal: leave Krasnaya Polyana in the morning, be on the border with Abkhazia in 40 minutes, another three or four hours through the territory of Abkhazia, and - voila! – in the afternoon we would already be in Georgia… But no, this option is still in the realm of fantasy. More precisely, you can get to Georgia this way, but only once. This is the one illegal way.

The thing is that by trying to get into Georgia through Abkhazia, you are violating the Law of Georgia on the occupied territories. After all, it is only for us, the citizens of Russia, that Abkhazia is a sovereign state. And from the point of view of Georgia, Abkhazia is a part of Georgia (by the way, under each of my videos about Abkhazia, radical citizens do not get tired of writing comments about this ...) In general, according to the laws of Georgia, as soon as your foot sets foot on the territory of Abkhazia, in Georgia stamp should appear in the passport. But, as you might guess, there are no Georgian border guards on the border of Russia and Abkhazia, and there is no one to put a Georgian stamp on you. Accordingly, your entry into the territory of Georgia will be considered illegal with all the consequences ... Do you need such problems on vacation? We don't.

Therefore, we undertook this whole intricate route: Sochi - Tuapse - Maykop - Lagonaki - Pyatigorsk - Vladikavkaz. We don’t regret anything at all, because we saw a bunch of different interesting places. You can read the following articles about it:

In this regard, our road from Sochi to Georgia stretched for almost a week. Although strictly speaking, the distance between Sochi and Tbilisi - and this is 960 km - can be traveled in one day. But that wouldn't be interesting, would it? ;-)

In general, regarding the section of the road that passes through Russia, I can say the following:

• the roads are quite good, and from Nalchik to Vladikavkaz they are simply gorgeous!
• on the stretch between Pyatigorsk and Nalchik there are several checkpoints where almost every car is checked, especially those with license plates from another region. The whole procedure comes down to opening the trunk and doors of the car and a separate check of documents in the guard booth. Here, the inspectors are only interested in your documents and documents for the car. Documents are punched through the database, we were not asked any questions. The purpose of these checks, as I believe, is to prevent illegal entry into Russia of foreign citizens and stateless persons from neighboring countries, as well as to identify the transport of weapons, etc. And how did you want - how long ago did the Caucasus cease to be a hot spot in our country?

Route in Georgia for 10-12 days

Initially, we planned to spend 2 weeks in Georgia. But at the end of our trip, the weather turned bad, the number of days was slightly reduced. Although, in general, they fulfilled their program.

So, we got this route: crossing the border in Upper Lars - Kazbegi (Stepanatsminda) - Gudauri - Tbilisi - Sighnaghi - Kvareli - Telavi - Mtskheta - Gori - Uplistsikhe - Borjomi - Akhaltsikhe - Batumi - Kobuleti - Ureki - Samtredia - Kutaisi - and departure back to Russia by.

This is if the main milestones. There were also small towns and villages along the route. But I’ll say right away - the schedule of movement was too dense, in fact it was not a rest, but a rather vigorous motor race. Not a single day of aimless wandering around the city. Not a single day of lying on the beach. It probably won't work for everyone.

border crossing

Russians do not need a visa to visit Georgia. But you need a valid passport.

So, you can legally get into Georgia by land only through the Upper Lars checkpoint, which is located 30 km from Vladikavkaz. Somewhere about 100 meters before the checkpoint, we entered a queue of cars: cars separately, trucks in their own row. We stood in line for 15 minutes. Actually, it took us exactly an hour to cross the border: first, customs and inspection of the vehicle by the Russian side, then passport control by the Georgians.

In the summer, they say, the queues are much longer, people stand for 4-5 hours. And in winter, Vehniy Lars is often closed due to heavy snowfalls. So we went at the best time - in early autumn.

Already at the entrance to the checkpoint, the landscapes outside the window looked promising.

And after crossing the border, when we drove along, the roof began to slowly move out of the indescribable beauty that I wanted to shoot on everything that came to hand:

So in terms of impressions, the road justified itself by 100% and even more.

Only in Georgia itself, our navigator upset us: he either godlessly lied about how long the road from point A to point B would take, then he led us into the oncoming lane onto a one-way street, or even laid a route through pedestrian zones or such dead streets:

In Tbilisi, we just got tired of getting lost on his "tips" and just threw him out of the car, turned him off out of harm's way.

Myths and legends about Georgia, as well as facts

Before I talk about which of the common stereotypes about Georgia are true, and which are not true or skillful marketing, let's deal with this.

Why go to Georgia at all

In excellent Movie "Love with an Accent" director Rezo Gigineishvili, which was released on screens in 2012, in principle, shows all the top places in Georgia, for which it’s actually worth going there: stunning views of the mountains around, panoramas of beauty, charming streets, parks and skyscrapers of Batumi ...

In fact, this film has become the best advertisement for the tourist wealth of Georgia. And the touching love stories that are played against the backdrop of these landscapes seem to hint that EVERYTHING is possible in Georgia! So is it any wonder that already in 2013 Georgia quickly entered the top summer tourist destinations? And continues to be on the wave for the fifth year in a row! So there is there something like that don't you think?

So, usually tourists go to Georgia to:

• see countless architectural monuments of antiquity and modernity,
• to join the bright Georgian culture (music, dances),
• taste the famous Georgian wines,
• taste dishes of no less famous Georgian cuisine,
• admire the beautiful mountain scenery,
• swim in the gentle Black Sea,
• and of course fall in love: with each other, with a stranger / stranger, with this country)

Some of it they get, some they don't. Everything is individual here. In the next paragraph, I will tell you which moments came true in Georgia and which did not.

Our feelings from the trip to Georgia

In general, impressions about any country largely depend on the preparedness of tourists for the trip. We prepared for the trip morally and financially, read blogs, studied travel sites. There was a lot of information, perhaps even too much. Part of it was confirmed, with part we are not ready to agree.

From what has been confirmed:

• responsiveness and hospitality of the local population: the solution to your problem (if it has formed) is included in almost everyone who you turn to: the owners of guest houses and hotels, passers-by on the street, workers at a construction site;
• beauty of nature and architecture: Georgia can really claim the title of an open-air museum;
• a friendly attitude towards Russian tourists (and tourists in general) and a safe atmosphere (compared to the same Abkhazia, there was no unpleasant feeling that they look at you like a bag of money, while some people are not averse to shaking you if possible).

What turned out to be wrong or not exactly as travel bloggers and guidebooks wrote:

• Lots of affordable accommodation options. Lies! If you are ready to live in obscure hostels with 5 more roommates and one shared toilet with a combined shower, then yes, there are plenty of such options here. But even then - only in big cities like Tbilisi or Batumi. Hotels are insanely expensive - the most modest hotel room in the middle of nowhere will cost around 2000-2500 rubles per night. Closer to the center - already 5000-6000 rubles, and this is not some kind of Marriot Radisson Parkinn, but an ordinary old hotel, with modest rooms and furniture.

Therefore, the most popular accommodation option in Georgia is guest houses (guest houses). It is more comfortable than a hostel and cheaper than a hotel.

Here in this video I show what it is guest house in Georgia:

There are other options to look for renting private apartments. But we lived in each city for no more than 2 nights, and therefore it did not suit us in principle.

The following statement, which we often came across in relation to Georgia:

• in Georgia you can eat inexpensively and very tasty ;

That was our biggest disappointment. First, prices. For the most modest snack in a simple restaurant, prepare at least 1200-1500 rubles for two. It will be a salad or soup and the second, without wine. With wine to eat will come out from 1500-2000 rubles. If it's cheap, then who's yelling that it's expensive to have a rest in Sochi?

And okay, figs would be with them, with prices. But somehow we categorically did not like what we were offered all this time under the guise of Georgian cuisine. In almost every restaurant we were strongly recommended kebabs or khachapuri or khinkali. In short, meat, dough or dough with meat. Vegetables? Well, look at the vegetable salad then. And that's it! No, I can eat barbecue and even khinkali, but not 3 times a day, 7 days a week! Cheese? Excuse me, but for the money it costs in Georgia, I'd rather buy French "stinkers" ... Fish and seafood? Look on the menu, but there is no guarantee that it will be available.

In short, when on the third day I got tired of chewing cucumber and tomato salads, I ordered mushroom soup. And they brought me such a boiling fat “batch” with a ton of greens and three floating mushrooms that I just resigned myself to the fact that Georgian cuisine is not for me. Although, for the sake of justice, I note that khinkali in Georgia are cheaper than in Sochi. But for me it's still banal dumplings.

No, we tried to find those places where the locals themselves eat. But, firstly, there are very few such places in Georgia (apparently, all locals prefer to eat at home), and secondly, even there the choice was between kebab and shawarma.

So I had to simply go shopping and cook my own food. And the money is more reasonable. Unless you go grocery shopping to small shops. The most normal version of dinner we had was this: fresh pita bread, vegetables and fruits, dessert and ... a bottle of wine.

In short, there was no gastronomic holiday for us in Georgia.

About money

Yes, I almost forgot. Georgia has its own money, Georgian - lari. 1 lari = 25 rubles. You can travel with both dollars and euros.

Exchangers are often found in tourist places, in non-tourist places - much less often. The exchange rate at different points can be quite different, by 10-20%.

The first time we changed money was already in Tbilisi, in a large shopping center "Tbilisi Mall". The course there was normal. Then I came across a more profitable one, but then how lucky.

About shopping

Don't count on good shopping in Georgia. All branded clothes and shoes are more expensive than in Russia. We were pleased only with the Turkish WAIKIKI (often bought clothes in Turkey for myself and children in these stores) and the Turkish KOTON (also clothes and shoes).

By the way, a little more about food: Georgian McDonald's turned out to be the most expensive of all where I had to visit.

About cellular communication

An unpleasant moment was the purchase of a local SIM card from the Beeline operator in Tbilisi. We basically needed only good Internet from her, and rarely - the telephone connection itself. There were no problems with communication, but the Internet worked very badly! Even in the city center, the Internet was slow, and we could not get directions, book a night in a hotel, etc.

Then they asked the locals why such troubles with the Internet. They recommended taking SIM cards from Georgian operators, not international ones.

Again about traveling by car in Georgia

So, looking ahead, I will say: you can and should go to Georgia by car. Even with expensive gas. Just download a normal navigator (not Russian). And don't break traffic rules. The locals themselves periodically violate them, but the Abkhaz reckless drivers are like walking to China.

The police in Georgia are simply the eighth wonder of the world. They always drive with the "chandelier" on (no sound). And if they see that someone is squinting on the road (parking in the wrong place or in the wrong way, not observing the row, etc.), then they will warn him first, and do not run joyfully to write out a violation report ...

There are no problems with parking in Georgia either. In any, even a very popular tourist place, you can always park normally, and absolutely free of charge. After the resorts of the Krasnodar Territory, such expanse is just a balm for the soul.

Well, here, it seems, all the main points on the trip to Georgia were told today. This is so to speak technical information. For practical people. And in the next posts I will give you “lyrics” - about beautiful Georgian cities and amazing places. So subscribe to our newsletter so you don't miss out.