How to organize an independent trip to Georgia and how much it can cost. Holidays in Georgia - how to travel to Georgia on your own How to relax in Georgia yourself

Address: Tbilisi and Batumi

1-3 Alexander Pushkin St, Tbilisi, Georgia

If you are reading this article, then most likely you have decided to visit Georgia for the first time. Congratulations! Is waiting for you unforgettable journey to one of the most beautiful countries in the world.

To make the trip productive and comfortable, you need to think over the route in advance. In other words, decide where you will stay and schedule the days you plan to visit. And the shorter your trip, the more specific the plan should be, because you need to have time to see as much as possible!

V-Georgia offers its own itinerary for those who are in Georgia for the first time.

Viewing Georgia from Tbilisi

Most of the guests arrive in and start exploring Georgia from here.

There are no problems with housing in Tbilisi, there are a large number of hotels and hostels - everyone will find housing to their taste and affordability. Hotels are not cheap (from $60), more than budget option there will be a hostel, an apartment or a room in a guesthouse (from $20).

Have you chosen comfortable housing? Great. Start your tour of the amazing Georgian capital from. This is the very center of the old city, many cultures are intertwined here: 50 meters from the square - a synagogue, 100 meters - one of the main Orthodox churches of Sioni, 70 meters - a church that Georgians share with Armenians every day. Here you can see the minaret.

On the way to Mtskheta (if you are by car) visit the templelocated on the mountain. He can go down to Mtskheta itself.

Another attraction 80 km from Tbilisi, which is visited by almost every tourist is the ancient cave city. This is a very ancient cave complex, its history goes back more than three thousand years. Go on a guided tour, the experience of visiting is completely different.

Don't want to be limited to Tbilisi and its surroundings? Welcome to .

Being in Telavi, you can not miss visiting Cathedral, which is located in the village of the same name, 20 km from the city.

Alaverdi is monastery and a complex of buildings attached to it - the church of St. George, a refectory of the 16th century, a bathhouse, a bell tower, an episcopal palace, a winery and a huge ancient kvevri assembled from the wreckage. At the monastery there is a museum of grapes - more than 500 varieties of grapes grow here, including rare and once lost.

There is also nearby, which you should definitely visit. It is located on top of a mountain near the side of the main road. Already from afar, its towers and domes are clearly visible against the sky.

If you have time, take a look at, also located in the area.

Since you are in those places, it’s a sin not to visit "" and go down to the Kvareli Tunnel - a national landmark of Georgia. One of the entrances to the tunnel is made specifically for tourists, where you will find an exciting tour and tasting.

We also recommend visiting the monastery. This is a monastic complex, partly consisting of caves, partly of ground buildings. Although the monastery is active, tourists are allowed to enter here (except, of course, the part where the monks live).

Caves of David Gareji

And, of course, the Georgian Military Road to Kazbek. If you travel to Georgia from Russia through the Upper Lars checkpoint, you will move along this picturesque highway. If you are coming by plane or by sea, find a way to visit the Georgian Military Highway. It is indescribably beautiful here at any time of the year.

If you drive from Tbilisi towards Mtskheta along the Georgian Military Highway, the first sight worthy of attention will be. This medieval, but very well-preserved building will be of interest to all lovers of antiquity. In addition, incredible landscapes open from here at any time of the year. What is worth only the view of the Zhinvali reservoir, surrounded by picturesque mountains!

Approaching the Georgian Military Highway to Gudauri, you will not be able to drive past the Arch of Friendship of Peoples. Here, from a height of 2384 meters, a stunning view of the mountains and a small emerald lake below opens.

Since you are near Gudauri, do not miss the opportunity - you will remember the impressions for a lifetime! Flights are carried out at any time of the year, if weather conditions are favorable.

Further, your path will lie through the highlands. A rare tourist will resist the temptation to stop here for a photo shoot. After the pass you will see the source mineral water- narzan - where you can safely replenish your drinking water.

The next stop is, or Kazbegi (old name). In particular, the famous deserves attention. If you're in an SUV, great. If not, you have a two-hour walk uphill.

Sightseeing in and around Batumi

If you are staying at, an equally exciting program of sightseeing awaits you. Perhaps we should start with a tour of Batumi itself.

And the embankments are one of the most beautiful and well-groomed on the entire Black Sea coast. But we will not dwell on them in detail.

The central place of Batumi is the square - a small Venice in the center of the city. It is definitely worth taking a walk here.

Take a walk around Old Batumi, because it is one big attraction. What are the cozy courtyards, streets and front doors! And all this antiquity is adjacent to skyscrapers - it's impressive.

Be sure to visit the Singing Fountains and Wonder Park. We recommend that nature lovers go to, it is fabulously beautiful here and you can walk all day, after which you can swim on the wild beach of Green Cape.

Visit, especially if you are with children. The mesmerizing performance of dolphins and swimming with them will leave an impression for a long time!

Having plenty of walking around the city, go on a trip to - this is a wonderful land with fabulous nature and many attractions.

What to see in Adjara?

Bridge of Queen Tamara. Old stone arched bridge over the river, built nine centuries ago. Very popular tourist place.

Nearby is a beautiful fifteen-meter. At the bottom there is even a font in which you can swim.

Fortress . These are the ruins of an ancient fortress that was built two thousand years ago and served as an outpost for the Romans. Everything here breathes antiquity and there is a museum with impressive exhibits. In general, history buffs will love it.

Fortress of Petra. Located near the resort. Dated to the sixth century. The fortress itself is a museum, here you can see the remains of the buildings of the city that once existed here. In 2016, the reconstruction of this place began, but the fortress is open to the public.

If you have time, go to. There are many beautiful places to see here.

For example, . A real treasure of Georgia. Many tourists claim that they have never seen anything more beautiful in their lives!

The next canyon is. Amazing place, and it is not clear from what the head is spinning more here - from beauty or from fear?

In the vicinity of Kutaisi there is another Shrine - a monastery. Shrouded in legends, this temple has always aroused the interest of tourists. The monastery is known for the fact that King David the Builder is buried here, and even, according to one version, Queen Tamara. There is also an ancient gate of the city of Ganja and an old academy with an observatory.

And for a snack -. Without exaggeration, it is the most desired place by tourists in the vicinity of Kutaisi. This is the most beautiful cave Georgia, besides, a unique light show is held here - the spectacle is simply mesmerizing.

Now you know all the must see places for a tourist who has arrived in Tbilisi or Batumi for the first time. We hope you have time to visit all during your trip. interesting places and get the most out of Georgia! And if you seasoned traveler and not for the first time in Georgia - read the ideas for the next trips to this amazing country.

Do you want to come here? The Viva-Georgia team will organize an excursion or tour for you, make optimal route travel and will provide any other assistance during the trip.

Most Russians associate Caucasian hospitality with Georgia. In this mountain country with picturesque landscapes, amazing cuisine and hospitable Georgians, everyone should visit at least once in their life. Although official language here Georgian, Russian is understood by the majority of the adult population. That is why a trip to Georgia on your own will not be any difficulties.

Entry into the country

On a note! To visit Georgia, a visa is not required, but a passport is required. It must not expire during the trip.

You can stay in the country for a whole year. The Georgian government has simplified the entry rules - thereby increasing the flow of tourists to the country. As a result, tourism has grown rapidly in recent years.

The only difficulty may arise at the border if the passport contains marks about visiting South Ossetia or Abkhazia. Entry may be denied.

How to get there

The easiest and most popular way: a direct flight by plane from Moscow, St. Petersburg or Rostov-on-Don to Tbilisi, Kutaisi or Batumi. Moreover, a direct flight to Tbilisi will be much cheaper. And from there you can go by bus or train anywhere - it will be more profitable. You can also fly from Moscow to Vladikavkaz on Pobeda, and then by bus or minibus to Tbilisi. This is the cheapest option if you buy tickets in advance at the sale.

Airplane is the easiest way to arrive in Georgia

By land transport you can get to Georgia from Russia, Armenia or Azerbaijan. One in Russia checkpoint to Georgia - Upper Lars. You can get here from Vladikavkaz along the Georgian Military Highway. IN summer time During the year, there can be huge queues at the border, and in winter, the road is often closed due to bad weather conditions.

You can find a fellow traveler on a blablacar or sail across the water on a comet from Sochi to Batumi.

What money to take

The national currency of Georgia is lari. It is unprofitable to change rubles, so it is advisable to exchange them for dollars or euros in Russia, and already on vacation, exchange the latter for lari.

Where to stay

In Georgia, as in any country of actively developing tourism, you can rent housing for every taste and budget. There is how luxury hotels, as well as budget guest houses. Private owners rent rooms for a small fee. Here, in addition to everything else, you can feel the unforgettable hospitable hospitality and taste homemade Georgian cuisine. IN provincial towns there are also inexpensive hostels with several beds.

It is better to look for and book housing in advance: this way you can save money, because housing on the spot will cost more than, for example, through booking.

On a note! Do not trust reviews, it is better to trust friends and acquaintances who have already been there. Very often, tourists leave laudatory reviews for not so comfortable and good rooms just as a token of gratitude to the hosts for their kindness and hospitable hospitality.

In small towns, housing can be found on the spot: usually there are signs and signs on the streets, as on our Black Sea coast.

What to ride

The most ideal option for traveling around Georgia is a rented or own car. Especially for big company or families with children. So you can get to any point, even where you don’t go public transport. You can rent both a passenger car and a small jeep. The tourist roads to the main attractions are in good condition.

The average price of renting a passenger car per day is 1.5 thousand rubles, an SUV - 2.5 thousand.

Public transport also runs here.

By train, you can get to any city or resort quickly enough. Usually daytime seated trains run, but there are also nightly reserved seats.

Buses run frequently, you can comfortably get from one tourist route to another.

Minibuses are not as comfortable as buses, so they are suitable for short journeys. Interestingly, they do not depart on schedule, but as they are full.

Taxis can be ordered anywhere: many locals work part-time as a driver, and if you're lucky, they can conduct a private tour. They know everything about their country.

What to see in Georgia?

There are a lot of interesting places in Georgia that are worth seeing. You can pre-create your a tourist route based on the number of rest days. In a couple of weeks, you will be able to see the main key sights and the surroundings of the main cities.

Georgia is rich in picturesque views, indescribable beauty and antiquity of Orthodox churches and monasteries, fortresses. There is a beach and ski resort s. It seems that a lifetime is not enough to explore and visit all the interesting places of this hospitable country.

Usually acquaintance with Georgia begins with Tbilisi. To bypass the old and new town two days is enough.

What to do in Tbilisi?

Visit the cable car and admire the views of the city from the observation deck.
Monument of Mother Kartli (meaning Mother Georgia) on Sololaki Hill, which also overlooks the city. Mother - a woman holding a jug of wine in one hand (to welcome guests), and in the other a sword (to repel the attack of enemies).
visit Botanical Garden.
Ride the Ferris wheel and see night city from high.
Visit the pantheon on Mount Mtatsminda.
Bathe in sulfur baths (Abanotubani).
It is better to start a walk around the city from the Avlabari metro station, which is located in the center. Here you can see the monument to Mimino.
Go to the Tsminda Sameba Church on the hill of St. Elijah, 5 minutes from Avlabari.
See the Armenian Church of Etchmiadzin, built in the 18th century.
Visit the Metekhi area with a church standing on the banks of the Kura River and admire the picturesque views from there. The Mekhetian temple has a very interesting history dating back to the mists of time.
Take a walk on Europe Square and Rike Park.
Cross the glass bridge of Peace, which was built in 2010 by an Italian architect and French designer by order of the then President of Georgia.
See presidential palace downtown.
Take the funicular or go down on foot through the streets of the old city to the Narikala fortress, dating back 1.5 thousand years. Many times it was destroyed, the most powerful was during the earthquake in 1827. The fortress is considered the main attraction of Tbilisi.
Walk to Tabori Church (it can be seen from anywhere in the city).

One day is enough to see all these places. On the second day, if finances allow, you can visit excursions:

Museums of architectural monuments.
Sightseeing tours around the city and its environs.
Gastronomic excursions, where they taste chacha, wines, cheeses and learn about the features of production.

Attention! The most important thing that distinguishes holidays in Georgia from other countries and thanks to which tourists return from there inspired and filled is Caucasian hospitality and cordiality. Therefore, in order to feel the atmosphere of Georgia, you need to talk with people. Ask for directions to right place and learn a lot of interesting things.

Video - Tbilisi

Georgian military road

Today it is a calm mountain route, only the name remains from the “past life”. 208 km of the road connects Vladikavkaz and Tbilisi. If you go to Georgia along this path, then everything Beautiful places can be seen along the way: fortresses, a monument of friendship between peoples, a reservoir and the Cross Pass. The road and sightseeing will take the whole day. You can stay for the night in the village of Kazbegi.

Mtskheta

It was about this place that Lermontov wrote his famous work “Mtsyri”. The ancient city is located 20 km from Tbilisi. Here is the main temple of the country - the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, as well as fortresses and churches on the hill, from which you can see the confluence of the Aragva and the Kura.

Gudauri

Winter ski resort. There are few tourists here in summer, although there are tourist hiking trails over the mountains. You can also take the lift to a height of 3300 m and admire the beautiful scenery: the lifts are open all year round.

Kazbegi and Gergeti

Picturesque villages at the foot of Mount Kazbek. There is the Trinity Church here, which is worth a visit, but you can only go up to it by jeep or on foot.

Kakheti

Eastern region of Georgia with vineyards and wine factories. The grape harvest starts in early September and lasts until mid-October.

Here they taste wines, visit the sights of the Alazani Valley: monasteries, castles and fortresses, as well as cave monasteries (David Gareji) near the border with Azerbaijan.

You can stop overnight in Telavi - the main center of Kakheti or Sighnaghi - the city of love.

Tusheti

Northeastern region of Georgia with beautiful scenery. The road is closed for most of the year. It's not exactly a tourist place, but it can be interesting.

You can go from Tbilisi to Batumi, looking at some places along the way:

Gori, which houses the house-museum of Stalin.
Uplistsikhe cave monasteries nearby.

Borjomi

A place of wellness mineral springs, sanatoriums and hydrogen sulfide pools in the open air.

On the way to Batumi, you will also meet the fortresses of Rabat, Khertvisi and the cave monastery of Vardzia.

Kutaisi

It makes sense to stop for a couple of days to see the main sights of the city and its surroundings. Visit the cable car, Prometheus cave, temples and monasteries, Okatse canyon, Kinchkha waterfalls.

Svaneti

Region in northwestern Georgia. Two days will be enough to make walking or horseback riding. Glaciers and lakes give a special beauty to the area. You can visit the high mountain villages of the Svans and see their way of life with your own eyes.

Attention! From November, the weather deteriorates: rains and fogs begin, so it is better to plan the route before autumn.

Adjara

Region beach resorts and national parks.

Most main resort- Batumi. There are small towns nearby. There's more clean beaches, water and a relaxing holiday that suits romantic couples and families with children.

Beach holidays can be alternated with a tour of the surroundings: visit reserves and National parks, monasteries and temples, fortresses, neighboring resort villages with beaches.

What time is best to go

Despite the fact that Georgia is a small country, due to its mountainous terrain it has different weather at the same time in its different parts.

Therefore, it is important to understand where and for what purpose the trip is planned, and based on this, choose the time.

It makes sense to plan a beach holiday in Batumi for the beginning of summer or the first half of September. In July and August there is unbearable heat. September will please velvet season- clear warm days, warm water, cool nights.
It is better to plan mountain excursions from the beginning of summer to the end of September, while the weather is warm. In winter, the roads will be closed, and in spring and autumn the weather does not favor such walks.
The ski resorts of Gudauri, Bakuriani, Hatsvali would be ideal to visit from late autumn to early spring. Here you can ride skiing or snowboarding.

Do you take insurance?

It is better to purchase travel insurance. Usually nothing bad happens, but it's better to play it safe. What you should be wary of is the local drivers: they have a very aggressive driving style, as if everyone has a few lives left.

Safety

There is an opinion that it is dangerous for girls to travel alone in Georgia. These are unsubstantiated arguments. If the girls behave adequately, dress decently, then there is nothing to worry about. Georgians, like other peoples of the Caucasus, revere women, the elderly and children. To educated girls, the attitude is more than respectful.

Video - Trip to Georgia

What to bring from Georgia

Finally, every tourist asks the question: what to bring home from Georgia? What souvenirs to take to friends and family? For yourself, you will bring a lot of impressions and photographs that will remind you of a surprisingly hospitable country for the rest of your life. Traditionally, local delicacies, cheeses, churchkhela and wines are taken as a gift. Georgia will not leave anyone indifferent.

Finally, guys, the final article on our week-long independent vacation-travel around Georgia. Regular readers already know, this means that today I will briefly, but to the point, outline such main points as: our route with a map, the costs of the entire trip, prices, and we will also talk about transport, housing and other useful nuances.

General holiday budget in Georgia.

And as always, let's start with how we got to Georgia. The trip to Georgia was planned for the beginning of June, unfortunately, at that time the airlines did not have any promotions, so I had to dig on the Internet. One of the most not too costly options seemed to me the option of a plane + bus (or hitchhiking). I have already mentioned that I am not the first time in Georgia, and several times I had to cross the border with this country on foot. You have experience, so you can try. I bought a cheap flight from Pobeda Airlines to Vladikavkaz, the city closest to the border with Georgia. And then it was planned to cross the border by land (bus or hitchhiking). Read more about it in the articles below.

And now briefly about the costs:

Days in the country - 7 days
Financial expenses for two:
- transport Kirov - Moscow and back - 7300 rubles.
- air tickets Moscow - Vladikavkaz and back - 14200 rubles.
- expenses in Moscow - 0 rubles.
- expenses in Vladikavkaz - 0 rubles.
- expenses in Georgia for everything - 432.3 lari (~ 12,700 rubles)
- total for two- 34,200 rubles.
We were unlucky with the weather in early June, it was too non-standard even for Georgia - mostly rainy cloudy days, only 1-2 sunny days. Unfortunately, we didn't even get to swim. However, I repeat, this is abnormal for Georgia, at this time of the year you can already safely wallow on the beaches.

Current flights to Tbilisi

Current flights Vladikavkaz

Timezone.

UTC+4 (1 hour ahead of Moscow).

Language.

The locals speak Georgian, there are only three dialects in Georgia, which differ from each other and the Georgians, for example, from Svanetia, the Georgian megrel does not understand at all. There are fewer and fewer inscriptions in Russian every year, however, as well as people who know our native language. This is mainly the Soviet generation, young people already speak either Georgian or English. "Americanization" is doing its dirty work.

Religion.

My language will soon get tired of repeating that Georgia is one of the first countries to adopt Christianity (after Armenia). There are no Muslims there, no (even if there are, then such an insignificant part that they can be ignored)!

Visa.

Russians do not need a visa for 90 days.

Money and exchangers.

The currency in Georgia is called lari(GEL), is equal to 100 tetri.

It is very convenient that Georgia accepts rubles for exchange. Moreover, there are exchangers in almost every city and they can be recognized by the corresponding bright electronic scoreboard. The course in banks will be worse than in street exchangers. Be sure to check if there is a commission. Nuance: if you ask in the exchange office what the exchange rate is to the ruble, then they often say the exchange rate is not for 1 ruble, but for 1000 rubles. The first time I was very confused because of this. Personally, I noticed the most favorable rate in Kutaisi (maybe in Tbilisi, if you look at several exchangers).

At the airport, the rate is not very favorable, it is better to exchange small amounts there. In many places you can pay in rubles credit cards. They say that in hotels in Georgia it is forbidden to pay with non-local currency, they are fined for this. I always paid only lari, so I can’t say anything about the reliability of the information. I don’t specifically write anything about the current exchange rate, it’s better to check its relevance using an online converter (if you’re interested, at the time of the trip, 1 lari was approximately equal to 32 rubles).

Transport and hitchhiking in Georgia.

This is not the first time I visit this country, and I managed to ride almost all types of available transport. In Georgia, as elsewhere, there are trains, planes, buses and taxis. However, the country is not big enough to choose something bigger than a bus or minibus.

Minibuses. Yes, minibuses are perhaps the most common, fastest and not too expensive mode of transport. To a greater extent, tourists move within the same region (and even beyond it) on them. True, the drivers of this type of transport are very fond of driving, as a result of which they often violate traffic rules, and in Georgia even bus drivers can easily (and more than once) be stopped by the police and issue a fine.

What I DON'T like about minibuses is the absence of any schedule (except for some directions from Tbilisi), the car leaves the bus station as the bus fills up. This is what becomes a problem for especially distant regions (for example, Svaneti), where you can only get to this mode of transport.

But there are also pluses. It is easy to bargain with minibus drivers. They are more willing to give a discount when they understand that you are from Russia or just speak Russian, you can easily throw off a few lari from the standard price, and in some cases even go for free, since Georgians are very sincere people.

When pricing minibuses, they obey the rule - 1.5 rubles per kilometer, that is, you can drive 20 km for about 1 lari. It is logical that prices have their own error for some areas where there is no alternative transport or because of the distance from the central part, gasoline is more expensive, then the fare for the same distance will be higher. The cost of buses and minibuses around the city is approximately from 0.5 GEL.

Metro. Tbilisi metro has two lines and operates from 6.00 to 23.00. Convenient because it connects historical Center cities with a railway station and both bus stations (Ortachala and Didube). All inscriptions are duplicated on English language, as well as station announcements inside the cars.

Entrance to the metro is carried out by means of plastic cards purchased at the box office. The price of the card is 2 GEL, you can deposit the amount of money for any number of trips, and if you did not use all the money, you can get a refund at the box office by check or passport. The fare is 50 tetri (0.5 lari). The same card is used to pay for travel to cable car(1 lari), in the capital's city buses (50 tetri) and large yellow city minibuses (80 tetri).

If you need to use the metro once, then you can simply ask any passer-by Georgian to use the card and give him the spent amount in cash. Which is what we did.

Trains. In my opinion, trains are beneficial only if you need to travel more than 300 km (Tbilisi-Batumi example) and preferably by a night train to kill two birds with one stone: do not spend money on accommodation and travel a long distance. However, again, not all regions can be reached by train, especially mountainous areas like Svaneti.

The cost of a train ticket depends on the class of the carriage, just like in Russia: from 8 to 40 lari. There is one inconvenience - all the information on the ticket is in Georgian, however, when buying a ticket, the operator girl will tell you everything and, if necessary, even write with a pen on the same ticket. It is better to ask the conductor yourself for linen in the reserved seat, otherwise you can not wait for it. But the linen in the compartment really amused me when they brought us packed disposable sheets, which are usually given out in hospitals.

Transport links in Georgia last years gave a good development, branded buses (on schedule) like geometro.ge with air conditioning, Wi-Fi and the ability to purchase a ticket online began to appear. True, the directions are still the most touristic, but let's hope for the expansion of route lines. The same applies to trains, you can buy a ticket online on the official website of Georgian RealWay. True, in my opinion, the site is still very lame in terms of convenience, and it’s not so easy to snatch a ticket to current destinations, but everything is developing.

Hitch-hiking. Personally, I like this particular way of moving around Georgia. Not because I'm used to freebies while traveling, but because only in this way there are more chances and opportunities to communicate with sincere Georgians. I have loved this nation ever since my very first trip. The people of this country sink into the soul and stay there for a long time. If you don't believe, you can check for yourself. And it is logical to assume that hitchhiking in this country is simply gorgeous. Literally 1-2 cars, and you are already being taken in the right direction. Sometimes hitchhiking is much faster than a minibus, and people are so hospitable that they can treat you, if not food, then at least a trip to some unplanned attraction.

Housing in Georgia.

We did not bother with this question, since the 21st century is on the street. We open the Internet, we find a search engine for hotels, for example RoomGuru. Further, everything is according to the standard, we fill in the necessary dates, the necessary direction and we book a hotel or hostel that is advantageous in terms of price and comfort. In some cases, due to the constant change of direction of the route, it was necessary to book rooms right along the way (using a smartphone).

By personal experience I can say that if you travel together, then in a hostel it’s easier to take not a bed, but a whole room for two. Firstly, the price will either be cheaper, or the same as 2 beds in a common room. And secondly, in Georgia, the rooms even in guest houses look quite decent, almost like an economy class hotel with a separate shower, toilet, and air conditioning. For two of us, such rooms in hostels came out from about 27 GEL (800 rubles). Moreover, if we had rented the same room on the spot, as it turned out, we would have paid a couple of lari more. Here, for example, is a good selection of cheap hotels in the center of Tbilisi:

Food.

Having traveled around Georgia in various ways, I can say the following. If you eat purely in cafes, then the dishes really come across quite spicy. But if you are treated to local homemade food, then you are unlikely to consider Georgian cuisine spicy.

What do I advise you to try first in Georgia? No, not wine. I don't really care about alcohol, so today we'll only talk about food. Of course khachapuri! Only in Georgia you can taste real khachapuri, neither in Russia nor even in Abkhazia you can find such khachapuri! Why? Yes, because it is difficult to make a national dish without national ingredients. We have one Georgian restaurant in the city, and so I declare to you with 100% certainty - everything that is called khachapuri there and costs 3 times more than in Georgia is a stupid bun with store-bought Russian processed cheese.

In general, in Georgia it is worth pleasing your stomach with national cuisine, and there is no point in advising something specific, because the dishes are really tasty, made from natural products, made with soul, and besides, they are not too expensive.

Price examples:

khinkali 1 piece - from 0.6 GEL
lobio - from 5 GEL
kharcho - from 5 GEL
kubdari - from 4 lari
khachapuri - from 1.5 GEL (depending on size)

On average, we managed to eat for two in a cafe from about 10 to 15 GEL.

By the way, if you, like me, do not like to bring from other countries all sorts of unnecessary knickknacks gathering dust on the refrigerator or sideboard, then from Georgia you can grab khachapuri, smoked suluguni (cheese), churchkhela (nuts in grape juice) as a souvenir, wine and other sweets. True, take care of good packaging, otherwise, for example, my backpack still flavors suluguni.

Your household and friends will definitely not try this anywhere in Russia.

That's all, friends! A small but very rich independent vacation in Georgia has come to an end. Until new routes!

Georgia is good because it is great for the first independent trip. Georgian realities are similar to ours, the locals know Russian, and everything will be extremely simple with planning a trip.

It's incredible beautiful country, which greets travelers with breathtaking views, ancient architecture and original cuisine. I remember her for her soulful gatherings in the restaurants of Old Tbilisi, and also for the amazing Batumi embankment.

Visa is not needed. Citizens of the Russian Federation are allowed to stay in Georgia for up to 90 days without a visa. A passport is a must.

What to see

Tbilisi

Tbilisi is located on the banks of the Kura River. This ancient city with lots of attractions. Getting around them all is a good idea, only if you have come for at least a month. Let's see the most interesting.

Narikala fortress

The main asset of Tbilisi is an ancient building on Mount Mtsatminda. Now most of the fortress is destroyed, but even in the form of ruins, the Narikala fortress is one of the most visited places. You can get to the fortress both on foot and by cable car. Free admission.

Abanotubani or sulfur baths

More than one traveler froze with a camera in front of low neat domes in the center of the Old Town. Under these domes are the famous baths. Water comes there from natural sulphurous sources, so taking a bath in Tbilisi is not only interesting, but also very healthy.

cable car

Thanks to the cable car, the path of which is laid from Europe Square to the Sololak Temple near the Narikala Fortress, for 2.5 GEL you will have a stunning view of Old city. At the top there is an observation deck.

Anchiskhati

This ancient church in Old Tbilisi. A small church of a modest appearance is fraught with a long and distant history. The quiet, peaceful atmosphere inside the temple and the spirit of antiquity give you goosebumps.

Tsminda Sameba

In my opinion, the most atmospheric place in Tbilisi. Blown by all winds, this church is under the sky, as in the palm of your hand. From above, you can also see the Old City, only from the other side.

Peace Bridge and Houses of Parliament

Modern architectural sophistication of Saakashvili's times. At night, the bridge glows beautifully, so I recommend coming after sunset. In front of the Parliament building is located picturesque park with lavender bushes.

Metekhi Temple

It is located on a rock above the Kura River. Most travelers prefer to admire it from afar, because from the outside it really looks more beautiful.

Batumi

Resort town on the Black Sea coast. Batumi will appeal to those who love beach holiday. Although there are not so many attractions in this city, I will still highlight some of them.

View of the beach along the promenade in Batumi

Batumi Botanical Garden

One of the best gardens where a traveler can be lucky enough to visit. The territory of the garden is huge, it consists of 21 natural zones and about 5,000 species of living plants. You can spend at least the whole day there, walking along the trails, watching rare beauty, relaxing in the shade of giant trees and drinking real Georgian lemonade. The Botanical Garden is not located in Batumi itself, but a few kilometers from it.

Embankment of Batumi

Very long - 10 km, with equipped bike paths. In the evening, you can rent a bike and ride to the very end. And on the way back, go to one of the restaurants on the Black Sea coast. Personally, I really like Grand Grill Restaurants view of the Singing Fountains.

Argo cable car

Driving along it, you will see Batumi from a bird's eye view. The whole journey will take approximately 10 minutes.

One way ticket price - 7.5 lari.

alphabet tower

This is a modern building, but this building is worth seeing. This tower is located in "Park of Wonders". The height of the building is 130 meters. Inside there is an elevator, climbing which will open a beautiful panoramic view of Batumi. There is also a restaurant in the tower. It is best to come an hour before sunset to admire the leaving rays.

Prices in Georgia

The national currency of Georgia is lari, but many people willingly accept euros and dollars. Almost everywhere on the Georgian Military Highway you can pay in rubles.

Prices in local spontaneous markets are lower than in supermarkets, and there is always fresh food. The most popular market in Tbilisi - "Deserter". It is located near the railway station.

Lunch in a cafe in Tbilisi will cost from 250 rubles per person. Dinner with meat delicacies in the restaurant starts from 500 rubles. It is noteworthy that prices in Tbilisi are 10-15% lower than in Batumi.

Georgian food

One of the most famous Georgian dishes is khinkali. They eat khinkali exclusively with their hands, holding it by the top, fashioned from dough.

Georgia is famous for its unusual and delicious dishes. The cuisine is rich in meat dishes with a great abundance of spices, seasonings and sauces. The most popular Georgian dishes include:

puri- traditional Georgian bread. Puris are cooked in stone ovens and the shape of the finished bread resembles a boat. There are many varieties of puri. The most famous are khachapuri - cheese cake, Adjarian khachapuri - bread with egg, butter and cheese.
Khinkali- balls of chopped meat or minced meat with the addition of various seasonings, spices and herbs, wrapped in dough.
Lobio- a dish of beans, onions and herbs. The method of preparation may differ depending on the institution. Lobio is served in clay pots. Many lovers of this dish add a piece of hot pepper to it.
Soup kharcho- thick spicy soup with beef, rice and tkemali sauce. There are also many varieties of kharcho soup. There are meatless options for vegetarians.
Mtsvadi or Georgian barbecue. The peculiarity of this dish is that the meat is not pickled at all before cooking. Shashlik is served with herbs, vegetables, satsebeli or tkemali sauces. Ready meat is generously poured with pomegranate juice.

Be careful in choosing, eat little by little, and even better, check with the waiter how spicy the dish is.

A lot of spices are added to most Georgian dishes, due to which the food can be very spicy.

Restaurants in Tbilisi

The choice of establishments with national Georgian cuisine is very diverse in the capital. There is a small cozy wine bar-restaurant Shukhman.

The prices here are moderate, a large selection of dishes and wines, a very atmospheric atmosphere. The restaurant is also distinguished by the preparation of author's molecular cuisine.

Excellent restaurant Samikitno on Freedom Square in Tbilisi, they serve the best khinkali and many types. One of my favorite places, overlooking the river and Metekhi temple.

Sakhli 11- restaurant on Galaktion Tabidze street 11 in the city center. A small establishment with very talented chefs and friendly waiters. Sakhli 11 offers affordable prices, a good wine list, and a large selection of traditional Georgian dishes.

The Tsiskvili restaurant at 75 Beliashvili Street differs from other establishments in its unusually beautiful interior. The restaurant has 4 large halls, one of them with access to the veranda. "Tsiskvili" is very popular, so it is advisable to book places in advance.

Restaurants in Batumi

To really taste how Georgian dishes are prepared in Batumi, you need to visit "Heart of Batumi". A small cafe on General Mazniashvili Street 11 is a very popular establishment in Batumi. Since the hall can only accommodate a small number of people, it is better to book a seat in advance.

Lovers of hearty food should visit the institution "Sazandari" Gorgiladze street 78. The portions here are very generous, the prices are low, perfect place to go out with the whole family. The restaurant is close to the beach, so it is often crowded, but despite this, the waiters serve quickly.

Georgian wine

Kakheti winemaking technology is recognized worldwide as one of the better ways making wine.

The essence of the technology: the wines are infused in large clay jugs at a certain temperature. Thanks to this preparation, the wines of Kakheti are rich and tasty.

One of the most famous varieties is the red semi-sweet wine Akhasheni. A drink is made from Saperavi grapes.

Dry white wine lovers will love Rkatsiteli which is produced from the grape variety of the same name. This aromatic wine with a rich taste is perfect for salty snacks, fish, and just as an aperitif.

You can taste Georgian wines in the wine shop " Winery Khareba» along Vakhtang Gorgasal 1 street. You can also go to cellar Karalashvili wine cellar, which is on Vertskhli street 19, where you will be told about the history of varieties.

There are a lot of reasons to go to Georgia: awesome pictures, low prices, rave reviews, delicious cuisine and Georgian wine. Tourists share all this upon arrival with friends and relatives, making this beautiful country the best advertisement.

Popular questions

When will direct flights to Tbilisi be allowed?

On this moment no renewal is planned. According to the situation as of mid-February, the question hung at the stage of “sit quietly and discuss”

What to see in the country?

Everyone knows about local hospitality and legendary cuisine.

But there is not much information about its significant sights. Here's what we liked:

Military Georgian road with a visit to the Gergeti monastery
Old city and center of Tbilisi
Wine region – Kakheti
Batumi is the most progressive Black Sea resort
Mtskheta and Jvari - the places that Lermontov wrote about in the poem "Mtsyri"
Springs of Borjomi

What language is spoken in Georgia?

Residents speak Georgian among themselves.

If you have to communicate with the local population in shops or on the street, then you should keep in mind that the adult generation (35 years and older) speaks Russian with a pleasant Georgian accent without any problems. But with young people it is easier to negotiate in English. They will understand you, but it can be difficult for them to express their thoughts in Russian.

In all restaurants, travel agencies, people with knowledge of Russian work. During the entire vacation, we only had to ask the locals once how to get to the lower station of the Tbilisi funicular on foot. A student girl in good English explained to us without any problems. By the way, she understood Russian, but it was easier to explain to her in English.

It is also worth bearing in mind that a lot of visitors from Russia, Armenia and Ukraine work in the tourism sector.

How do they treat Russians?

After the military conflict of 2008, tension arose between the countries, and if you dig deep, the resentment still remains. But not a single local will tell you this in person. And if he does, he will honestly express his attitude towards the policy of the Russian state and note that he has no claims against the Russian people. They greatly value friendship and the assistance that the Russian Empire provided to their ancestors in military conflicts.

During the two weeks of our stay, we never noticed a single sidelong glance due to the fact that we communicated in Russian. It is better not to start disputes with the local population about South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Remember that neither you nor they have the truth about these conflicts.

What not to forget to take with you?

If you are going on vacation in the summer, be sure to include clothes for cloudy and rainy weather in your wardrobe. An umbrella, waterproof shoes will definitely not be superfluous in a suitcase.

A light sports jacket in summer and a warm jacket in autumn will come in handy during an excursion along the Georgian military road and in the caves.

If you are driving to winter resorts, then you should take a light jacket with you for walking around Tbilisi. In the mountains, the temperature can drop to -15, and in Tbilisi it can be above zero.

How safe is the country now?

In June 2019, riots took place in the center of Tbilisi, due to which the government of the Russian Federation closed direct flights between the countries. We contacted guides we knew and asked them to tell us what really happened and how big the security threat was. This was written about.

In 2020, the situation has changed only for the better. There are no riots for a long time. The safety of tourists is actually not really required. Because in Georgia they always treat all tourists well and respectfully, unless the tourists themselves provoke conflicts.

We do not rule out that politics will again come to the fore towards the end of the summer and there may be mass demonstrations that can be dangerous.

Before Saakashvili came to power, Georgia was one of the most dangerous countries in the world. But the global reform of the police and the increase in prison terms, not only for bribes, but also for minor violations, helped to quickly restore order in the country.

Now Georgia is one of the most safe countries peace.

On the streets of the resorts, police patrols meet constantly. It is usually enough to strain your eyes or turn your head to see a police officer in your line of sight. All of them are young people in good physical shape, with very high salaries and hold on to their jobs very much.

In Tbilisi, it is quite possible to leave the phone in an open car and find it in the same place in the morning. No one wants to go to jail for something so small.

The only real risk is taxi drivers and pseudo-guides who can cheat you for money and offer their services. The attraction promised by the taxi driver, you will definitely see, but you are unlikely to know about it historical facts, interesting stories and anything else besides what was announced in the program.

Mobile communication and Internet

Roaming in Georgia is very expensive. Do not even think about turning on the Internet if you do not have a tariff plan connected. In our case, unauthorized downloading of a couple of photos from Viber cost 22 euros. We recommend disabling it completely. Mobile Internet even when boarding a plane, so that nothing can be updated on its own even at the moment the phone is turned on (as happened with us).

For internet we use tourist or local sim cards . You can buy them for 5-20 GEL in information tourist centers or in communication shops. All you need is your passport.

Medical insurance

If you are driving on your own, it is better to buy basic insurance, the more it costs. Unfortunately, cases of poisoning in restaurants are not as rare as we would like. In addition, mountains are always an increased risk of injury, and heat can affect pressure.