Preparing for an independent trip to Tbilisi: useful information for tourists. How to organize an independent trip to Georgia and how much it can cost Rest in Georgia routes

Most Russians associate Caucasian hospitality with Georgia. Everyone should visit this mountainous country with picturesque landscapes, amazing cuisine and hospitable Georgians at least once in their life. Despite the fact that the official language here is 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 into 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. In Russia, there is one checkpoint to Georgia - Upper Lars. You can get here from Vladikavkaz along the Georgian Military Highway. In the summer, 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 are both expensive hotels and 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 owners for their kindness and warm 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 a large company or family with children. So you can get anywhere, even where public transport does not go. 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 earn extra money as a cab driver, and if you're lucky, they can give you 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-compile your tourist route, based on the number of days of rest. 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 are beach and ski resorts. 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. Two days are enough to get around the old and new city.

What to do in Tbilisi?

1. Visit the cable car and admire the views of the city from the observation deck.
2. 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).

   

3. Visit the Botanical Garden.
4. Ride the Ferris wheel and see the night city from above.

   

5. Visit the pantheon on Mount Mtatsminda.
6. Bathe in sulfur baths (Abanotubani).

   

7. 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.
8. Go to the Tsminda Sameba Church on the hill of St. Elijah, 5 minutes from Avlabari.
9. See the Armenian Church of Etchmiadzin, built in the 18th century.

   

10. 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.
11. Take a walk on Europe Square and Rike Park.
12. 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.

    

13. See the presidential palace in the city center.

    

14. 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.
15. 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:

1. Museums of architectural monuments.
2. Sightseeing tours around the city and its environs.
3. 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 the 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 all the beautiful places can be seen along the way: fortresses, a monument to the friendship of 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 hiking trails in 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 landscapes. 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:

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

Borjomi

A place of recovery with 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

A region of beach resorts and national parks.

The most important resort is Batumi. There are small towns nearby. There are cleaner beaches, water and a relaxing holiday that suits romantic couples and families with children.

Beach holidays can be alternated with exploring 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 relief, it has different weather at the same time in different parts of it.

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

1. 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 with a velvet season - clear warm days, warm water, cool nights.
2. 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.
3. The ski resorts of Gudauri, Bakuriani, Hatsvali would be ideal to visit from late autumn to early spring. Here you can go 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 an amazingly 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.

Tbilisi hospitably welcomes tourists all year round. It is a city full of contrasts, emotions and colors that captivate at first sight. To make the trip as rich and interesting as possible, you should carefully study the features of the capital of Georgia and outline an approximate travel plan.

It is the largest city of the state, its economic, cultural and industrial center.

Monument "Mimino" in Tbilisi

The history of the capital of Georgia began in the 5th century, and the reflection of each era can be observed in the architecture of Tbilisi. According to 2016 data, almost 1,100,000 people live here.

Interestingly, in 2015 the city entered the top ten cheapest megacities in the world according to Mercer.

River and mountains in Tbilisi

The city is enclosed in the Tbilisi Basin, which stretches for three dozen kilometers along the valley of the Kura River, which, meandering, literally divides the capital of Georgia into two halves.

The Kura River in Tbilisi and the famous Glass Bridge across it

The height of Tbilisi relative to the sea varies from 380 to 770 m depending on the area. In the city center, in its old quarter, is located (770 m), where many attractions are located.

View of the Church of Tsminda Sameba (from Mount Mtatsminda

View of two chimneys from Mount Mtatsminda

Another mountain - Mahata (about 700 m), rises near Vazisuban and the Iberian Monastery. From different sides, rocks of several more ridges approach Tbilisi - Trialeti, Soganlug and Saguram.

Visa to Georgia for Russians

Since 2015, Russians do not need a visa to visit Georgia for a stay of up to 1 year. All that a tourist needs is a valid foreign passport, where stamps with the corresponding dates are affixed upon entry and exit from the country.

Usually, when crossing the border, the border guards ask about the purpose of the trip and the expected duration of stay on the territory of Georgia.

Important! The passport should not contain marks about visiting Abkhazia and South Ossetia due to the difficult political situation. Otherwise, the traveler will receive a fine for illegally crossing the border or even be taken into custody.

How to get to Tbilisi on your own?

By plane

This is the fastest and most convenient way to get to Georgia. The following airlines fly to Tbilisi: S7 Airlines from Domodedovo, Aeroflot from Sheremetyevo, Georgian Airways from Vnukovo. These flights are direct their number depends on the season - from 3 to 6 per week. The ticket price is also determined by the travel time and fluctuates from 7 to 15 thousand rubles. The duration of a direct flight is approx. 3 hours.

The cheapest tickets from Moscow to Tbilisi and back

It is worth paying attention to the fact that flights with transfers are offered by carriers Pegasus Airlines (), AirBaltic(change in Riga), Belavia(change in Minsk), Ellinair(change in Thessaloniki), S7 Airlines and Azerbaijan Airlines offer a transfer in Baku. The ticket price when choosing such flights is slightly lower, but the travel time is minimum 6 hours.

The plane of the Turkish low-cost airline Pegasus is a cheap way to get to Georgia from Moscow with a transfer in Istanbul

By car

To travel by car driver you will need the following paperwork:

• Driver's license (suitable for both Russian and international standards);
• Vehicle passport;
• International OSAGO insurance.

The way to Tbilisi passes via Vladikavkaz. The distance from Moscow to the capital of North Ossetia is 1760 km. You can drive on both free roads and toll roads.

The distance from Vladikavkaz to Tbilisi is 198 km. You have to cross the border Checkpoint "Upper Lars".

Important! In the high season, a rather large queue forms here, where you can spend several hours. Thus, the total travel time by car from Moscow to Tbilisi will be approximately 35 hours.

By train

It is impossible to get directly from Russia to Georgia by train. There are two options for traveling to Tbilisi by train:

• Through Baku (Azerbaijan). The Baku-Tbilisi train runs about 16 hours and runs daily;
• Through Yerevan (Armenia). The Yerevan-Tbilisi train runs for about 10 hours and departs on even days of the month.

The Moscow-Baku train departs from the Kursk railway station on Saturdays (travel time - 2 days 8 hours). There are no direct trains from Moscow to Yerevan. In this article, we tell.

Border point between Armenia and Georgia

By bus

There are direct buses from Moscow to Tbilisi. Transport departs from the bus stations "Central", "South Gate", "Novoyasenevskaya" and "Teply Stan".

Approximate travel time - 37 hours, ticket price - from 3000 rub. up to 4500 rub.

You can also get to the capital of Georgia on a passing Moscow-Yerevan bus.

Shota Rustaveli Airport

Georgia's main airport is located 17 km from Tbilisi. Its code designation is TBS. The air harbor serves regular, charter, domestic, international flights. Its terminal is located in a modern 2-storey building.

On the first tier there are baggage claim areas, arrivals, a police station, a medical facility, an information center, a souvenir shop. On the second - the departure zone, "Duty Free", toilets, a room for mothers with children. Free Wi-Fi is available at the airport.

Is it safe in Georgia now?

Georgia is a very hospitable and safe country, where you can walk the streets without fear even after sunset. Even the difficult political situation does not spoil the attitude of local residents towards tourists. Naturally, you should follow the basic rules: do not take large sums of money with you, keep an eye on bags, wallets and leave especially valuable things in a safe. Interestingly, the country is recognized by the GALLUP World organization as one of the safest in the world.

Will Georgians understand Russian?

The main part of the inhabitants of Georgia (especially the older generation) understands Russian perfectly. The language barrier is not a problem for this country. In popular tourist cities, on most plates and signs, the inscriptions are duplicated not only in English, but also in Russian.

Metro in Tbilisi

Tbilisi Metro opened in 1966. Today, the city has 2 branches, where there are 22 stations. We wrote in more detail about the Georgian metro in.

Avlabari metro station in Tbilisi

The fare is worth 0.50 lari, oh You can pay with Metromoney cards, which, by the way, will be needed for travel on all public transport in the city.

The subway scheme is very simple, it will definitely not be difficult to figure it out. The trains themselves are new, comfortable and beautiful. The metro is located far from under all the city, but it can be used to get to almost all the main attractions.

What to try from Georgian cuisine?

Georgian cuisine is a successful symbiosis of all kinds of meat, vegetables, cereals, spices, sauces, a variety of dairy dishes, cheeses, sweets and, of course, wine. Once in Tbilisi, it is worth tasting the following dishes:

• Lobio- appetizer of beans and spices;
• Kharcho- a thick soup of beef and rice;
• Ojakhuri- potatoes with spices and meat;
• Khinkali- a dish similar to huge Russian dumplings;
• Satsivi- chicken stew, walnuts and spices;
• Khachapuri- round cakes with cheese;
• Sluguni- pickled salty cheese;
• Baklava- a dessert made from thin layers of dough, nuts and syrup.

Of course, various sauces occupy a special place in Georgian cuisine:

Homemade sauces in bottles from Borjomi at the Deserter market: green and red tkemali, satsabeli and many other delicious

And wine:

What to buy as a souvenir in Tbilisi?

From Tbilisi you can bring not only traditional souvenirs in the form of magnets, postcards and mugs, but also really practical gifts:

• Food and drinks. Wines: Saperavi, Kindzmarauli, Tsinandali. Cheeses (the most suitable for transportation): Suluguni, Imeretinsky. Sauces: tkemali, adjika. Spices: Svan salt with herbs. Sweets: churchkhela, marshmallow, baklava;
• Decorations. An excellent reminder of Georgia is minankari, elegant silverware made using the technique of cloisonné enamel;
• Dishes. In everyday life, a painted jug for wine is useful, and a convenient, versatile ketsi frying pan;
• antiques. Unusual and truly rare things can be found in the market near the Dry Bridge. There is everything from national clothes to carpets.

The market on the Dry Bridge in Tbilisi: Soviet hats with earflaps with a red star, belts, leather bags from 30 years ago - everything is here!

Read our special article.

What to see on your own in Tbilisi in 2-3 days?

There are a lot of sights in Tbilisi: it will definitely take more than one day to see them. However, if the time spent in the Georgian capital is limited, first of all it is worth visiting the following places:

• . The ancient citadel is the hallmark of the city. Here you can see the majestic ancient ruins and admire the gorgeous panorama of the area;

  

  Ancient fortress Narikala

• . There are a lot of interesting things on the "Holy Mountain": a park, attractions, viewing platforms, the "Pantheon" cemetery and several temples;

  

  View of Tbilisi from Mount Mtatsminda

• Abanotubani. The famous sulfur baths are not only a full-fledged SPA center, but also a wonderful architectural monument with a rich and very curious history;

  

  View of Abanotubani from above, from Narikala fortress

• . The ascetic and austere ancient cathedral is located on a rocky cliff of the Kura River. Next to it is a monument to the founder of Tbilisi Vakhtang Gorgasali;

  

  Metekhi Church

• Sameba Church. This is the main cathedral of the Orthodox Church of Georgia. Differs in impressive size and elegant appearance;

  

  Church of Tsminda Sameba (Cathedral of the Holy Trinity)

• Shavteni street. On a small pedestrian street, you can see many old buildings, as well as the original building of the Puppet Theater;

  

• Shota Rustaveli Avenue. The main street in Tbilisi, along the entire length of which bright architectural sights are scattered. Its small courtyards are also of interest, where you can observe the real life of the local population.

  

  Sculpture bicycle on Shota Rustaveli Avenue

Good afternoon dear readers. In this article you will find useful tips on how to go on vacation to Georgia on your own.

Advantages of an independent trip to Georgia

Georgia is a special country, with its own traditions and exquisite national cuisine. A huge number of unique historical places are concentrated in a small area. There is also a warm black sea, and the Caucasian mountains, and plains with small hills. No other country in the world will see so many things at once. This is probably why tour operators charge a lot of money for organizing holidays in this country. A trip on a tourist package lasting less than a week comes out in an amount that you can live in Georgia for about a month, rent good housing and not deny yourself anything.

Tour through the agency provides a standard route, the most favorite places for tourists. But there are many more unique places in Georgia that are worth seeing. In a constant rush for a guide, surrounded by strangers, the trip can be so disappointing that you no longer want to continue the journey. It takes time to travel at least part of the country and see Georgia from the inside. Most travelers know this and go to Georgia on their own. And you can follow their example too.

Tip: Don't be afraid that you won't succeed, be afraid that you won't try.

Knowing all the nuances of the upcoming trip, organizing your vacation on your own and in advance will not be difficult. First of all, you need to decide on the transport that is convenient for you to get to Georgia.

How to quickly and comfortably get to Georgia

There are several options for how to quickly and conveniently get to Georgia:

• flight to Georgia
• train ride
• bus ride
• flight by plane to Vladikavkaz, then by bus to Georgia.
• flight by plane to Azerbaijan or Armenia, then by bus or train to Georgia.

The easiest option is to fly by plane. Flights from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Samara, Rostov-on-Don and other Russian cities will be delivered in a couple of hours to one of the airports in Georgia. There are three of them in the country: Tbilisi, Kutaisi, Batumi. It should be noted right away that it is more convenient to plan a travel route, depending on the city in which the landing will be. So you can save time on road trips by looking in order at all the planned places and not winding unnecessary circles. Another flight option is Moscow-Vladikavkaz. Then by bus along the land across the border to Georgia. Buses from Vladikavkaz leave every 1.5 hours. Travel time is 5-6 hours. You can also fly to Armenia (Yerevan) or Azerbaijan (Baku) by plane and get from the capitals to Tbilisi by train. Train timetables are available online. It makes no sense to give here even an approximate one, since it changes depending on the season. Buses can also be used from these capitals.

Another option is to travel by train to Vladikavkaz and from here also by bus through the Upper Lars checkpoint. Due to the tense Abkhaz-Georgian situation, it is impossible to pass through Abkhazia, entry is prohibited. Georgian border guards will regard this as an attempt to illegally cross the border, even if you are from Russia.

Tourists from Sochi can get to Georgia by water transport. Several hours of travel on the "Kamet" fly by unnoticed and fill with new emotions.

Documents required for a trip to Georgia

List of documents required on the road and for crossing the border:

• international passport
• foreign passport of the child, if you are traveling with children
• insurance can be arranged upon request.

Tip: Check your foreign passport for stamps on crossing the borders of Abkhazia or North Ossetia. If they are, they will refuse entry to Georgia. Change your passport.

To travel to Georgia, you must have a foreign passport with you, which will be valid for at least another month after the expected date of return to the Russian Federation. So there will be no unnecessary problems with the trip in the opposite direction, in case of unforeseen situations. Since Georgia is a country of high mountains, turbulent rivers, snowy cliffs and other extreme landscape, traveling here can be fraught with some dangers. In this case, it is best to take care of insurance, which, if necessary, will cover all the costs associated with treatment, return and other troubles.

Rent a house in Georgia

When planning a trip to Georgia on your own, you need to take care of the place of residence in advance. Speaking about whether it is necessary to book accommodation for the entire duration of the proposed trip in advance, we note that for the first 2-3 days of your stay in Georgia, you need to book a room or a hotel. Arriving at the place after a long journey, wandering around with suitcases in your hands and looking for where to stay for the night is not very convenient. It is much more pleasant to take a taxi to your room, take a break and start your tour of this wonderful country with renewed vigor. Here the question arises: "How many days to book accommodation in Georgia?". It is impossible to answer it unambiguously. It all depends on the plans and route of the trip. If you decide to visit only one Batumi, then it is advisable to rent an apartment for the entire vacation. And if the trip involves visiting several cities, then you need to think about it. It may be more convenient for you to book a hotel on the spot, 2-3 days before your intended departure from the current city. If, having arrived in Batumi, you plan to go to Tbilisi in two days, and then want to lie a little more on the warm beach, you will not have to spend time and money in order to cancel your reservation in Tbilisi. Yes, and 2-3 days will be enough to find housing in a new city.

In Georgia, the service of providing housing for rent is quite developed. On many well-known sites, you can choose and book the option that suits you. Price range from $4 to $200.

Tip: exchange rubles for dollars and euros in advance, so you will save a lot

The main types of housing that you can rent are:

• rooms in local houses
• room in hostels
• hotel rooms
• daily rate apartments.

One of the cheap housing options is to rent a room in the house of local residents. Georgians are friendly and good-natured people, they will feed you, give you drink, and tell you a lot of interesting things about the country. I immediately recalled a quote by Otar Ioseliane: “In Georgia, they don’t shout at drunken husbands - they pity them and put them to bed.” So, it is not customary to shout at guests, especially in a Georgian house. A guest in Georgia is a messenger of God. Despite the hospitality of the people, you should not forget about the rules of good manners and neglect their hospitality.

For about 25 GEL, you will be provided with an individual room, a shared kitchen and a bathroom. It is inexpensive to rent a room in a guesthouse. You will have your own room and many cheerful neighbors, tourists just like you.

Accommodation in a hotel will cost an average of $20 to $200, depending on the class of the hotel. Here, all the necessary conditions will be provided individually.

For tourists traveling with a large company or family, a convenient option would be to rent an apartment for rent. Prices start from 30 GEL.

Hotel map

What to ride in Georgia

Basically, the urban transport of Georgia is regular buses and minibuses (minibuses). Moving around the city on them is quite convenient and fast. The price of a one-time trip is about 0.5 GEL. It is sometimes impossible to get to some interesting places by public transport. Taxi drivers know these directions and deliberately raise fares. If necessary, it is better to use an official taxi, this will save a lot of money.

Intercity buses are quite comfortable. But it can be tiring to travel more than an hour in a minibus. The local population does not hesitate to throw a couple of trunks under the feet of passengers in order to transfer them to a neighboring city. In addition, they are already cramped and hot. But, despite these inconveniences, long trips involve visiting the most beautiful places, seeing which, all gloomy thoughts immediately dissipate.

Trains also run in the following directions: Tbilisi - Kutaisi, Tbilisi - Ozurgeti, Batumi - Kutaisi, Tbilisi - Poti, Tbilisi - Borjomi, Tbilisi - Zugdidi. In fact, this is all one railway line: it starts in Azerbaijan and goes through Tbilisi, Gori, Rioni, then to Batumi with adjacent branches to Armenia, Borjomi, Kutaisi, Zugdidi, Poti.

The main directions and timetables of trains need to be clarified on the spot, as there are changes in time and seasons.

There is a metro in Tbilisi, you can also travel by minibuses and buses. You can go to the suburbs from bus stations, in the city there are two of them on Mayakovskaya and Gogol streets. There are also commercial bus companies. It's much easier with them. All private buses have a specific timetable. Bus routes to almost all cities of Georgia. Very convenient for independent travel.

Tip: When going on a tour of the mountainous areas of Georgia, do not take unnecessary things with you. Excursions here involve long walks and mountain climbs.

The best rest and a full-fledged excursion in Georgia will turn out if you have a car. Driving around the beauty of Georgia in your own cars, there are no time limits. If you don’t want to travel from Russia to Georgia on your own, you can already use the car rental service on the spot. It is better if it is an SUV, since it is impossible to drive to some places without a sedan. Choose the route where the infrastructure is most developed.

Approximate travel route in Georgia: Tbilisi-Kazbeg-Alazani valley

Having purchased tickets or determined the approximate route, you need to consider the route of travel.

Going to Georgia for 5-7 days for the first time, you can plan to visit only the most famous places, since it is impossible to see everything at once. At the same time it will be a good reason to come again.

In order to enjoy beautiful nature, see ancient monasteries and fortresses, get closer to the famous peak of Georgia, drink good wine and taste delicious food, you can consider the following route: Tbilisi-Kazbeg-Alazani Valley.

Tip: think over the exact route of travel in advance and allocate the time spent at each point.

What sights are on the route

To see the city of Tbilisi, you need to stay here for two or three days. The city itself is very beautiful. There are ancient streets with stone pavement, beautiful facades, many interesting monuments, museums, bridges, parks and streets, and many more interesting things worth paying attention to. Not far from the city is the village of Mtskheta, famous for its ancient Jvari monastery, built on a mountain. From there, a stunning view of Tbilisi opens up. The confluence of two rivers (Mtkvari) is clearly visible. The visit will take at least half a day.

When entering the country, through the Russian border, the path passes along the Georgian military road, so a second visit to this historical place will not take much time, because on the way here, you can immediately see its sights. Didn't make it - no big deal. On the way there will be an ancient fortress, which is located on the banks of the reservoir. Next is the ski resort. Along the entire route, you can arrange endless photo shoots against the backdrop of beautiful Georgian landscapes.

Then the path goes to the village (Kazbegi). Here you can see the pearl of the Caucasus - Mount Kazbeg. Gergeti monastery was built at the foot of the mountain. To enjoy the beautiful view of the mountain peak and see the monastery, you will need to climb a little uphill. The locals will happily take you to the point in 20 minutes. It's much more convenient and faster. The ascent to the foot takes about 2 hours on foot. After the tour, you can go to one of the hostels to relax and spend the night. There is also a hotel in the village, panoramic views from which will remain in your memory for a long time if you decide to spend a little money.

The next morning, you can walk a little more through the local beauties and then move back to Tbilisi, the return will be somewhere in the evening. Here you will have to stay overnight again, and in the morning leave for the historical region of Georgia, Kakheti. There, inspect a small one, which is located on the slope of a cliff, the remains of towers and a fortress.

Your eyes will open the beautiful Alazani Valley against the backdrop of the Caucasus Mountains. It is impossible to enjoy the beauties of these places in one day, if time permits, you need to allocate at least one full day for visiting them. A detailed inspection of all the sights on this route will take a week, at least.

A route that will allow you to see all the beautiful places in Georgia: Tbilisi - Mtskheta - Gori - Uplistsikhe - Kutaisi - Tskhaltubo - Svaneti (Mestia, Ushguli) - Batumi - Tbilisi - Signagi.

This route starts like the previous one. About two days are allocated for acquaintance with Tbilisi and its environs. Further along the way is the village of Mtskheta, here you can get acquainted with, which is located on the mountain. From a height to see the city with its confluence of rivers and you can stay overnight.

In the morning you can leave in the direction of Kutaisi. For those who love the museum, we advise you to go to Gori. For those who do not really like establishments of this kind, the advice is to immediately climb the Gori fortress in order to view the city and its surrounding territories from a height. After Gori, visit Borjomi, try its mineral waters, enjoy the fresh air and unique atmosphere, you need to stay overnight here.

After the cave complex, you can go to rest on the beach in Batumi. On this route, you need to allocate approximately 10-12 days. If you have a rental car, the required time will be noticeably reduced.

When to go to Georgia

I must say that the holiday season in Georgia is always open. From October to October, you can go to the sea, and ski resorts open from December. Just do not choose November to visit this country. At this time there are fogs, rains and ice in the mountains.

Tip: Plan your trip in the months that best suit your holiday plans.

Going on a trip to Georgia, you can independently change routes and adjust them to your personal preferences. To organize your vacation as comfortably as possible, the advice of experienced travelers will help.

For those who are just going to visit Georgia, I would like to give a recommendation in the form of a statement: “Be restrained in business and passionate in travel.”

These are indeed the right words. Postponing the trip "to a distant box", we deprive ourselves of the opportunity to experience new feelings, get a charge of positive emotions. You need to rest regularly. Why then live, if all the time to work.

In conclusion, we add that the more information you accumulate about Georgia, the easier it will be for you to plan your trip. Feel free to ask friends who have already traveled here for advice on how they organized their vacation. Someone will tell you one thing, someone else, and there will be a complete picture of the upcoming trip. Listening to the advice of those who "experienced everything for themselves", you can avoid unpleasant mistakes and unnecessary financial waste in connection with a trip to Georgia. If you want to relax in Georgia, but it's scary to go on your own, there is always the opportunity to purchase a tour through an agency. It's up to you to decide.

Have you heard a lot of rave reviews about Georgian hospitality and fantastic holidays in this small but very beautiful and proud country? Do you all want to go, but can't make up your mind or don't know where to start? We have 100,500 reasons to convince you that you need to go to Georgia right tomorrow, as well as a detailed travel plan - what, where, where and how much.

This article does not contain descriptions of sights and monuments, there is Wikipedia for this. But this is a complete guide to planning a vacation in Georgia - how to get there, where to stay, where to go, what to see, where and what to eat.

When to go to Georgia

At any time of the year you will find something to see in Georgia. If you are only interested in excursion tourism and sightseeing, the low season - November - April is quite suitable for a trip for a week. In winter, Gudauri has excellent conditions for skiers - good slopes, slopes, lifts.

Spring in Georgia is just wonderful. April-May is already warm in summer and even very warm in places. But some roads may be closed.

Summer in Georgia can be very hot. In July, the temperature in Tbilisi reaches +37+40 and any excursion turns into a walk in hell. On the sea, of course, it is much more pleasant to be.

September and October are, in our opinion, the best time to travel around the country. There are no longer a large number of tourists, parents with schoolchildren have gone home. And the sea is still warm and you can comfortably swim. Prices for housing, in cafes and restaurants are significantly reduced.

How to get there

There are three airports in Georgia: Tbilisi, Batumi and Kutaisi. Most tourists choose Tbilisi airport to start.

Tickets are best taken immediately there and back. Select your departure city on the calendar, the system will select the latest found ticket prices for both direct flights and transfers

If you have a car and you are ready to go on vacation in it, choose this particular way of traveling to Georgia. Our cozy editorial staff has traveled to Georgia several times in their cars and strongly recommends it to everyone. A little further we will talk about the peculiarities of driving in Georgia and explain that it is absolutely safe to drive in Georgia by car. On the roads you will meet a sufficient number of cars with Russian numbers - Moscow, St. Petersburg, Rostov, Krasnodar, of course, neighbors - Vladikavkaz, Kabardino-Balkaria, etc.

For those who cannot drive their own car, we will also tell you further or what to do if you do not drive a car.

How to travel to Georgia in your own car

We want to warn you right away that a trip by your own car is recommended from April to November, it often happens that in winter the road is blocked due to snow avalanches. And you run the risk of sitting for several days or weeks waiting for the opening of the passage.

What do you need to travel by car. From January 1, 2018, to travel by car, you will need to take out insurance for it. Georgia is not included in the Green Card system (those who traveled to Finland and other Europe understand what it is about), therefore, a policy similar to our OSAGO was specially developed for foreign cars, that is, if you hit someone in Georgia, insurance will pay. You can apply for such a policy online at tpl.ge. The policy is issued for a period of 15 days to 1 year. If you come for 1 week, you still have to pay for 15 days, it costs 30 lari (about 10.5 euros). The fine for not having a policy is 100 euros, and don't even try to "negotiate" with the police in Georgia.

It is not mandatory for passengers to take out insurance for those traveling abroad, but personally we are always for insurance, therefore we draw up a travel policy online at, which we advise you to do. Moreover, the cost of a policy for a week will be only about 400 rubles (a couple of cappuccinos at a gas station).

The border between Russia and Georgia passes through the Upper Lars checkpoint, near Vladikavkaz. And passing this border point will be the only pain in your journey.

This checkpoint is famous for its eternal queues. With a probability of 90% you will stand there for several hours. Last year we drove through Upper Lars in 20 minutes (both there and back) and no one believed us. We recommend monitoring the situation at the checkpoint in the VKontakte group " The situation at the Upper Lars checkpoint «.

Of course, there will be queues from Russia to Georgia and back on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and holidays, at the expense of local people who go to Georgia for the weekend. The neutral territory between the two checkpoints is several kilometers and it may happen that you have to stand there for several hours. Naturally, there are no gas stations and shops in this area. Therefore, take care of a full tank, water and some snacks while still in Vladikavkaz.

Crossing the border in Georgia is as follows - only the driver remains in the car, passengers get out and go through passport control in a separate building. The driver drives up to the booth with the border guard, gives a passport, driving license and registration certificate, 1 minute, a stamp in the passport, picks up the passengers already waiting for him and that's it.

Features of renting accommodation in Georgia

I would like to dwell a little more on the features of housing rental in Georgia. Most tourists prefer to stay in private guesthouses, apartments and apartments that local residents rent out in all cities throughout the country. There are either very few hotels, or they cost absolutely insane money.

For example, if you need a sightseeing individual tour of Tbilisi for the first time, we can recommend one of these:

• is one of the most popular excursions.
• - Inexpensive group sightseeing tour.
• - a walk with a hereditary Tiflisian. Very interesting private tour.
• - Another inexpensive option for a sightseeing tour.
• . Excursion together with one of the popular guides in Tbilisi.
• Tour of the city on a double-decker tourist bus. Bass tourist, popular in many cities, is also in Tbilisi. You buy a ticket for 1 or 2 days, ride the bus all day, audio guide with headphones, get out where you want, wait for the next one and move on. Great inexpensive option for introverts 🙂

If you want gastronomic, photo, tasting or unusual excursions, look there at.

If you are without a car and do not plan to rent it, check out the tours:

• and .

After that, you can go by minibuses from the Avlabari station (they run constantly, you do not need to buy tickets in advance) to the sea in Batumi. From there, you can make a couple more sightseeing outings, which we will talk about a little further.

Car rental in Georgia

If you have arrived in Tbilisi, you do not need a car to move around the city. But for further travel it is very necessary for you.

Traveling around Georgia by car is the best way to get to know this amazing country. Of course, you can sign up for excursions or hire a driver with a car, but the pleasure of being your own boss is incomparable. And do not look for 101 reasons why in Georgia it is better not to drive yourself - all this is complete nonsense. In Georgia, you need to travel by car, even if not by your own, but by a rented one, otherwise you will either not see anything, or simply go broke in a taxi.

Borjomi - Akhaltsikhe - 50 km. You will walk around the fortress for about 1 hour. Then Akhaltsikhe - Vardzia for another 55 km. In Vardzia, in the parking lot, at the bottom of the complex, there is an absolutely wonderful restaurant in which prices are surprisingly not high for a tourist place. Recommended.

In Vardzia, you will walk for about 2 hours - all these stairs, passages ... And back to Borjomi in the evening. Near Borjomi, stop by the Green Monastery, there is on MapsMe. It is quiet and calm, lost in the forest. The remaining time in Borjomi is enough for you to take a walk to the springs.

In the morning from Borjomi you can take the old train to Bakuriani (ski resort). The peculiarity of this train (besides the fact that it is old, the road is 100 years old) is that it moves along a very beautiful narrow gauge railway passing through the forest. Especially beautiful in autumn. The journey takes 2 hours 25 minutes. The fare is 1 and 2 lari. Car for 2 lari after repair. Payment to the conductor on the spot.

Timetable (check on the Georgian Railway website):

• Borjomi-Bakuriani: 07:15 - 09:40
• Bakuriani-Borjomi: 10:00 - 12:23;
• Borjomi-Bakuriani: 10:55 - 13:21;
• Bakuriani-Borjomi: 14:15 - 16:32

Upon returning to Borjomi, get in the car and drive to Kutaisi.

Sights of Kutaisi and Imereti

Kutaisi is the capital of the Imereti region. Khachapuri is made with Imeretian cheese. Be sure to try different varieties of homemade cheese at the central market.

In the city itself, the main attraction is the Bagrati Temple. All other interesting places are outside the city.

Where and how long to stay in Kutaisi

If you are traveling according to our plan, we recommend that on the day of arrival you stop by the Bagrati Temple, visit the local market, take a walk around the city center, restored in 2010. The center starts from the territory of the Rustaveli bridge and ends with a square with a beautiful fountain. This area includes the opera house, the park in front of it, the streets laid on the right side up to the White Bridge, the square with stone sculptures and Okros Chardakhi, the building of the residence of the Imereti kings, located on the very bank of the Rioni River.

After spending another night in Kutaisi, you leave in the morning and inspect. If after a walk through the Okatse canyon you realize that you have no strength for further adventures, leave Martvili Canyon the next day.

Here is a very good, inexpensive guesthouse in the Martvil area, just 7 km from the Martvili canyon. Don't be put off by the lack of a bathroom in the room. The bathroom entrance is right next to it. Our boring editor experienced absolutely no inconvenience. Very quiet, huge area, garden. Amazing hosts. We recommend ordering an additional breakfast and dinner from them to try real, really home-cooked food.

Svaneti - what to see in 2 days

From Martvil to Mestia - the capital of Svaneti, the most beautiful region of Georgia, 170 km. The road is excellent. There is a small section of concrete, but of very good quality, even if you go by Smart.

By the way, in Svaneti you have to eat kubdari. Such kubdari as in Svaneti is not made anywhere else in Georgia. Ask the Svans why their kubdari is the most delicious in Georgia.

The road is very beautiful, on the way you need to stop by the Inguri hydroelectric power station. After turning to the hydroelectric power station, you need to drive a little, leave the car in the parking lot, and then take a short walk.

Where to stay in Mestia

We recommend Teo GuestHouse. Don't let the steep climb scare you 🙂 Pedal to the floor and go. You are waited by excellent numbers both with an individual bathroom, and with the general. Svan tower right on the territory of the house. Amazing hosts with a great sense of humor who will tell you about the Svans, the history of the region, traditions and customs. Nearby, 5 minutes walk is an excellent restaurant - very tasty and inexpensive. By the way, the chacha served there is very good, we recommend taking it home with you, I will pour 0.5-1 liter into bottles for you there.

Remember that you can export as much alcohol as you like from Georgia, but you can only import 3 liters of alcohol per passenger into Russia.

Near the guesthouse in one of the houses, the hostess makes Svan salt. We recommend buying it there (they took 2 kg themselves and did not regret it). Ask the owners of the guest house, they will tell you.

Attractions of Svaneti

People come to Svaneti all year round. In winter for a ski holiday in the Hatsvali resort. In summer, spring and autumn - a great place for easy hiking.

The track to the Chaaldi glacier is very simple - there are no drops, the road goes through the forest, along the coast, a small section through the stones. Even the children are coming. Important!!! In no case do not come close to the glacier, do not stand under it. Ice blocks and stones roll down constantly and imperceptibly. 3 days before our trip, one tourist died there while trying to take a spectacular selfie. Approaching the glacier, you will understand where the very place is, beyond which you do not have to go.

Getting to the Chalaadi Glacier is easy. MapsMe knows the parking lot, from where there is one straight road across the bridge. The whole walk will take you 2-3 hours. If you do not have a lot of free days, you can leave the track to Chalaadi on the day of departure - take a walk in the morning and go to Batumi.

The track to the lake Koruldi is more difficult. The total road will take you 8 hours. There are excursions on horseback. Find out in the guest house, they will tell you.

The village of Ushguli is the very postcard views of Svaneti. Getting to Ushguli by car is not recommended. But taking a tour is also expensive, since there is nothing to talk about there. In Mestia, as well as in Stepantsminda, you can buy a seat in a car that will take you there and back. The guesthouse where you are staying will help you organize such a trip. Or just look for these signs on the square in Mestia - these are the offices of travel agencies that take you to different cities. If there are few passengers, go by jeep, if there are many, by Mitsubishi Delica.

Background. Two tourists from Kazakhstan, who once went on vacation abroad through a travel agency, very quickly wanted independence. Decided! This year is the first solo trip.

The country was chosen immediately - Russia. It was the perfect start to start: no language barrier, an incredible amount of attractions, the greatest cities - Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kazan. Preparations for the trip lasted almost half a year: maps, routes, transport, housing. The last days of waiting and we are finally ... in Georgia!

How is this possible? And everything is very simple, a month before the trip we looked at photos of Georgia and mentally were already there, and a month later - not mentally anymore. Yes, what a trifle

Express retraining for a trip around Georgia took less than a month. Again maps, routes, transport, housing.

Housing

They didn’t book in advance, they looked for it on the spot, or rather, it itself was always there. There are a lot of guest houses in Georgia, you still don’t have time to get out of the minibus, and there is already “housing” nearby! Kidding! It is worth the one who offers it: the owners, brokers. We looked at the hotels in advance on booking, chose the ones that were suitable for the price and location, read the reviews, marked them on the map and with 100% certainty that there would be free rooms, just drove to the address. In all cases, settled without problems.

Tickets

They didn’t bother with air tickets - they bought them at the ticket office (Astana-Baku flight, Air Astana airline, 3 hours on the way, ticket 118,000 tenge, this is $ 336, purchased 5 days before departure). From Baku to Georgia they traveled by night train to Tbilisi (the price of a Baku-Tbilisi reserved seat ticket is 32 manats, to Baku from Tbilisi - 40.27 lari reserved seat).

Cards

We used a printed Openstreetmaps map with additions from Google maps and the MAPS.ME application. There are no completely panoramic maps of Georgia, where all the streets are visible, on the Internet, so I had to be content with point panoramas on Google maps.

Route

Born in pain. He did not intend in any way, did not fit in, did not ring. During the trip, due to their own stupidity, Racha, Zugdidi, Svaneti fell out of the route: Mestia, Ushguli (later they regretted it many times), because they were afraid of the road - mountain serpentine is very poorly tolerated. And here is our plan for the greatest conquest of Georgia standard route for 19 days (the actual, planned one looked more beautiful and more logical), the numbers in the first column are the dates of September:

6 Tbilisi (by train from Baku)

7 Tbilisi – Sighnaghi – Tbilisi

8 Tbilisi – Batumi (night train)

9-12 Batumi + surroundings

13 Batumi - Kutaisi

14-16 Kutaisi + surroundings

17 Kutaisi – Borjomi

18 Borjomi - Bakuriani - Borjomi

19 Borjomi – Tbilisi

20 Tbilisi – Mtskheta – Tbilisi

21 Tbilisi – Kazbegi

22 Kazbegi – Tbilisi

23 Tbilisi - Akhaltsikhe - Vardzia - Akhaltsikhe - Tbilisi

24 Tbilisi - Baku (night train)