Georgia (Caucasus)
Extraordinary food, wine, hospitality, mountains, and old cities — all cheap.
Georgia is the most underrated country in the region. Tbilisi is one of Europe's most atmospheric capitals; the food and wine deserve their own pilgrimage; and the Caucasus mountains rival the Alps for beauty without the crowds. Visa-free for most, dirt cheap, and almost no other tourists.
At a glance
- Best time
- April, May, June, July…
- Climate
- Mild
- Budget
- Backpacker – Budget
- Trip length
- 1–4 weeks
- Language
- Georgian
- Currency
- GEL (Lari)
- January: avoid
- February: avoid
- March: fine
- April: peak
- May: peak
- June: peak
- July: peak
- August: peak
- September: peak
- October: peak
- November: fine
- December: avoid
Avoid: January, February, December. Shoulder: March, November.
Highlights
-
Tbilisi
Atmospheric old town, sulphur baths, the best wine bars in the region.
-
Kazbegi & Mestia
High Caucasus villages — trekking and dramatic scenery.
-
Kakheti wine region
Birthplace of wine. Try the qvevri amber wines.
-
Batumi
Black Sea coast, faded grandeur, summer escape.
Practical info
- Visa
- Visa-free for most nationalities — up to one year. Verify before travel.
- Currency
- GEL (Lari). Roughly 2.7 GEL ≈ 1 USD.
- Language
- Georgian. Russian widely understood. English growing in Tbilisi.
- Safety
- Very safe. Avoid the Russian-occupied regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
- Getting around
- Marshrutkas (shared minivans) everywhere. Cheap and slow.
- Tap water
- Tap water in Tbilisi is safe; bottled in mountain villages.
- Plug type
- Type C Type F 220V
- Money
- Cards in cities; cash in rural areas.
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Last updated 2026-05-04