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Georgia has always been famous for its hospitality, and you will not believe it, but even after the events of 2008, Russians are met there with great pleasure. It's worth the trip, if only because it is, albeit a small, but insanely beautiful and colorful country. If speak about resort vacation, then the resorts of Abkhazia and the resorts of Georgia, which are located only a few tens of kilometers from each other, are by no means more comfortable and civilized. One minus, transport problem. At the time when I flew to Georgia, there was only one direct flight for which it was not realistic to buy tickets. But if you fly through Kiev, then there are no special problems.

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How much does a vacation in Tbilisi cost? July 2018.

tour cost

Last summer I traveled alone to Tbilisi for 5 days. Flew Krasnoyarsk to Tbilisi via Moscow. The cost of the trip was 38,500 rubles.

I did not buy tours through the agency. I met through Instagram with the hostess of the local travel agency @georgia_grandvoyage and booked through her an individual excursion for one day with a personal driver and guide. In the morning we went to Mtskheta - the ancient capital of Georgia, then visited the Jvari Monastery, where the Aragvi and Kura rivers join. After that we went to Uplistsikhe, an ancient cave city carved into the rock. Upon returning to Tbilisi, I had dinner at a Georgian restaurant with real Georgian wine and then a transfer to the hotel. The excursion cost $ 100, I was very impressed with it, I was absolutely not tired, since I did not have to push with the group.

Food and groceries

The prices for groceries in stores are the same as in Russia. Only lower, naturally, for their local wine. A bottle of Georgian wine can be bought from 200 rubles. Restaurants are different, but most of them are inexpensive, even in the tourist area. Lunch with the first, second course with wine costs 500 rubles per person. Everything is very tasty.

Souvenirs and other goods

Prices for souvenirs are as follows: magnet 100 rubles, a souvenir plate with a picture of a Georgian landmark 300-500 rubles. The prices for clothes in the shopping center are the same as ours.

Cost of services and entertainment

Taxis are very affordable, an absolutely safe way to travel, you can wave your hand anywhere on the street and it will stop. Approximately 100-200 rubles. A visit to a master class on cooking Georgian dishes - 2000 rubles.

Total money spent on vacation

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The impression of a holiday in August

Batumi amazed me with its beauty. it amazing city, which you want to visit again and again. In August it is very cool here, a lot of fruits, warm and sunny weather, in a word, almost an ideal place to relax.

What to take with you on vacation?

In fact, on vacation, it is enough to take a standard set with which they always go to a seaside resort. A towel, an umbrella is enough (if you don’t want to rent a chaise longue), you can use a mattress or an inflatable pillow.

Where is the best place to stay?

In the first coastline full good hotels, there are quite expensive, there are cheaper options, but still there should be no problems with housing. In the city, many rent a room or apartment, so if you want a cheaper option, then get ready that you will have to walk to the sea for several tens of minutes or take a bus.

How to entertain yourself at the resort?

In the town a large number of various attractions. I recommend going to the dolphinarium, it is big here and you can see a lot of interesting things for yourself. There are a large number of monuments, museums, and interesting architectural masterpieces. The city is very modern.

Ukrainian citizens enter Georgia without visas, on foreign passports and stay in Georgia up to 90 days. As far as I know, Russian citizens require a visa. In principle, Russians can get a visa right at the border, but at the Verkhniy Lars - Kazbegi checkpoint there is no such opportunity yet.

Borders

In addition to air travel, there are the following ways to get to Georgia
by ferry from Ukraine (from Ilyichevsk) and, possibly, from Russia (here the situation often changes). The option of arriving by sea is absurd - in terms of cost, it tends to fly, and in time - to walking.
through ground crossings. Here is a list of these transitions (the most popular ones are in bold):
Georgia-Turkey: Checkpoint "Sarpi"; Checkpoint "Vale"
Georgia-Azerbaijan: Checkpoint "Red Bridge"; Checkpoint "Vakhtangisi"; Checkpoint "Tsodna"
Georgia-Armenia: checkpoint "Ninotsminda"; Checkpoint "Guguti"; Checkpoint "Sadakhlo"; Checkpoint "Akhkerpi"
Georgia-Russia: Checkpoint "Upper Lars-Kazbegi"

I draw your attention to the fact that there is only one ground crossing between Russia and Georgia! It is categorically impossible to go to Georgia through Abkhazia... There are no Georgian border guards in Abkhazia, therefore, you will not have a legal stamp in your passport to enter the territory of Georgia. In practice, this will result in the fact that you will be imprisoned in Georgia and released only after paying a fine of 2,000 lari. Look in LJ, there are many heartbreaking reports on this topic.
Below, the crossing of the Russian-Georgian border in Upper Lars and the Turkish-Georgian border in Sarpi will be described in detail.

Arrival via Azerbaijan

Until March 2010, there was only one opportunity to get to Georgia from Russia by land - through Azerbaijan. For the citizens of the CIS, it was quite simple either by a direct train to Baku, or by cross-checkers to Derbent, from there to the border and further to Baku. There is a direct road from Baku to Tbilisi, which passes through the "Red Bridge" checkpoint. According to rumors, hitchhiking in Azerbaijan is wonderful, and this track is busy. Trains from Azerbaijan to Georgia also run through the Krasny Most checkpoint.
For Ukrainians, entry to Azerbaijan is visa-free, with foreign passports. As far as I understand, the Russian-Azerbaijani border is open around the clock. You can stay in the country without registration for up to 30 days - this is quite enough to see several Azerbaijani cities and leave for Georgia. In 2008, Russia banned non-CIS citizens from entering Azerbaijan through its territory and, it seems, this ban is still in force.

Russian-Georgian border, checkpoint "Upper Lars - Kazbegi"

In March 2010, the Verkhniy Lars - Kazbegi checkpoint on the Russian-Georgian border was reopened. The closest large Russian city is Vladikavkaz. The checkpoint is located about 35 km from it. This crossing opened in March 2010 after a long hiatus. Formally, the border checkpoint is open every day from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm, but in practice, from 9:00 pm, cars are no longer allowed to pass. Now the crossing operates exclusively in the mode of passing vehicles, that is, it will not work to cross the border on foot, you must be in a car or bus. Thus, if you are not traveling by car, you will have to master hitchhiking. According to Russian border guards, as of May 2010, about 50 vehicles cross the border per day. In this case, the main stream runs from 6 to 10 in the morning and after 6 in the evening. True, we crossed the border in the late afternoon and did not see a single car except ours. Mostly Armenians travel through this checkpoint.

We managed to get to Upper Lars from Vladikavkaz in the following way. We arrived at the first city bus station by bus from Pyatigorsk in 4 hours and 280 rubles ($ 9). From there locals sent us almost in opposite directions, and if we omit the insignificant, then from the first bus station on minibus 17 you can get for 8 rubles (25 cents) to the city market and take a taxi for 100 rubles (3 dollars) to the exit from the city (former traffic police post). It seems that this part of the city can be reached by tram, but its number could not be discerned. In addition, you can go to Upper Lars by minibus, which departs from the same market. From the outskirts of Vladikavkaz, it is already possible to stop the car to Upper or Lower Lars. I think that hitchhiking in these parts is quite simple - the very first car gave us a lift to the traffic police post a couple of kilometers from the checkpoint. At this post, you can ask the traffic cops to put you in a passing car, but it is advisable not to click your face yourself and ask everyone who stops at the barrier if they will take you across the border. If you wish, you can walk right to the checkpoint and wait for a ride there - the border guards do not prohibit this.

Passing the border did not cause any difficulties. On the Russian side, things didn't really shake, they didn't fit into their pockets, they didn't even force the laptop to turn on. The border guards, as usual, turned a blind eye to the fact that we did not register for three days, as prescribed by the Russian entry declaration. On the Georgian side, the KGB officers detained a little: when they heard that I was going to my relatives, they wrote down on a copy of my passport all the names, phone numbers and addresses of these very relatives, my address and asked a bunch of questions, and then looked at the pictures in my cell for a long time and laughed about something of its own. Therefore, you should think in advance about what you will answer the question about the purpose of the visit.

Be sure to take into account the following moment: on average, 50 cars pass through the Verkhniy Lars - Kazbegi checkpoint per day, but it is quite possible that this will be your lucky day and not a single car will pass here. There is nowhere to spend the night in Upper Lars - except for the cold gorge and the Terek, there is only a checkpoint, which you will not be allowed to enter. Therefore, you will have to go back to some village or to Vladikavkaz. And then your happy day may continue: out of the average daily 50 cars traveling from Georgia to Russia, you may not get a single one either. When the sun goes down, you will become desperately jealous of the densely coated mountain goats. The distraught Father Fyodor was taken off a cliff just somewhere in these parts. In short, it can turn out unpleasant. Therefore, I would recommend arriving at the checkpoint as early as possible. Moreover, with this option, there are more chances to leave Kazbegi for Tbilisi by minibus.

Georgian-Turkish border, checkpoint "Sarpi"

The village of Sarpi, in which the checkpoint is located, is located right on the seashore, a couple of tens of kilometers from Batumi. Accordingly, you need to come to Batumi. If you go by train, then it arrives in Makhinjauri, it is a couple of kilometers from Batumi, there are no further routes. The Tbilisi-Batumi train arrives at 6:50, and if you are lucky, a minibus from Makhinjauri to Sarpi will wait at the station. It costs 3 lari (1.7 dollars). If you like to book even little things, then the driver's phone number of this minibus is 891-11-14-01, his name is Ucha.

If you did not find this minibus to Sarpi, then you get to Batumi (minibuses are right there, at the station). Tell the driver what you need to get to the "Old Ring Road", it is almost immediately at the entrance to Batumi. From there, minibuses very often go to Sarpi, they cost 1.5 lari (80 cents). The ride is 15–20 minutes.

A taxi from Batumi to Sarpi will cost about 15 lari (8.3 dollars).
On the way, a couple of kilometers before Sarpi, you can go to the village of Gonio and gaze at the impressive size of the fortress and the ruins of something Roman. Although you can gaze from the minibus window.

In Sarpi, a minibus brings you directly to the checkpoint, but there is nothing else there. Checkpoint "Sarpi" works around the clock, seven days a week. Customs clearance is instant. Georgians do not look or ask anything. You come to the first Turkish checkpoint, they see that you do not have a visa, and they send you almost to the exit to Turkish territory. There, in a one-story gray building (on the left in the direction of travel to Turkey), you pay 30 dollars or 48 Turkish lira, get a visa and return to the first Turkish checkpoint, where you are stamped. Also, no one asks anything or looks.
Leaving the territory of the checkpoint, you find yourself in the clutches of taxi drivers. Wherever you go in Turkey, you have two options: hitchhiking right at the checkpoint, or get to the city of Hopa and take a bus there. It takes 15 minutes to get to Hopa, taxi drivers ask for $ 10 per two. The minibus to Hopa is right next to it, but the driver says that he will not be lucky there - apparently he is afraid of taxi drivers. Turkish border guards will help to resolve the conflict, they can and should be asked about it. They gave us a ride on their own bus to Hopa for free.

Money

The monetary unit of Georgia is the lari. One lari is equal to 100 tetri. Georgian currency code - GEL. There are coins 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 tetri in circulation, although 1, 2 and 5 you will have to look carefully. Also coins of 1 and 2 lari are in use. There are banknotes in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 lari. The wiki has illustrations of all laris and tetri.
In May-July 2010, one dollar was given 1.8 lari. Currency exchange offices are located at every corner, recognizable by currency symbols and the word exchange. In exchange offices, old bills, and worn ones, and even bills of 5 dollars are easily changed.
If you are traveling with a plastic card from Russia or Ukraine, then it makes sense to make a Privatbank card (Moscomprivat in Russia). Privatbank has its own Georgian branch called TaoPrivatbank. This TaoPrivatbank has an extensive ATM network. Surely the commission inside Privatbank will be more lenient than in different banks.
For a guide, I will give the cost of some basic things:
Lavash - 60 tetri;
Marlboro pack - 2.5 GEL;
A bottle of beer, 0.5 liters - 1.3 GEL;
Khachapuri - 1.8 GEL;
Travel by public transport - 40 tetri;
A liter of gasoline - 1.8 GEL.

Transport

The main urban and intercity transport there are minibuses in Georgia. These are minibuses, mostly not very comfortable. Large buses, and in some places even trains, are practically ousted by them from the market. Traveling around the city in a minibus costs 40-50 tetri. The cost of intercity travel is approximately 5 tetri per kilometer.

City minibuses cost 40-50 tetri. Their distinctive feature is the complete absence of Russian or English final names. Therefore, you will have to ask those around you, and those around you should be chosen older - then there are more chances that they speak Russian. The minibus is stopped anywhere by simply raising your hand. You can also ask to stop at any place by saying “haa cheri”. You have to pay the fare when you leave.

There is a taxi in everyone big city... In Tbilisi, the maximum price for a taxi ride is about 10 lari ($ 5.50), moreover, it will be a trip across the city. In other cities, the cost decreases in proportion to the population.

Also in Georgia there is Railway... Trains run to many cities west of Tbilisi, such as Poti, Batumi, Zugdidi or Kutaisi. There is also a railway line east of Tbilisi, but trains do not go to Kakheti - here they have been pushed aside by minibuses.
A domestic flight in Georgia may be needed exclusively for a trip to Svaneti, therefore it will be described in the corresponding section.

Intercity roads in Georgia are being built very actively. Within a radius of 60 kilometers from Tbilisi, the roads are simply excellent. In other places (even in large villages) they are either good or normal. The exception is the section of the Georgian Military Road Kazbegi-Gudauri and all roads of Svaneti.

Connection

There are three mobile operators in Georgia: Magti, Geocell and Beeline. They are listed in order of deterioration in coverage. From point of view calls abroad from Georgia Beeline has an attractive tariff of 27 tetri per minute with the CIS countries. Telephone code Georgia 995.
Every cellular operator offers a gizmo called a 3-G modem. But the 3-G of this thing is contained only in the name - the corresponding coverage is only on Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi. Anywhere else in Georgia you will receive regular GPRS. From point of view mobile internet and coverage worth buying a Magti card.

Market analysis USB modems in Georgia gave the following results:
Magti - 120 GEL per modem, the best coverage. This Internet is used in Svaneti and in the mountain villages of Guria.
Geocell - 99 GEL for a modem plus 500 megabytes of free traffic, average coverage. We were able to squeeze out only sluggish GPRS from this modem.
Beeline - 49 GEL for a modem, plus 35 for the first month of unlimited traffic. The coverage is such that even employees at the company's headquarters do not recommend buying it.
There are offices of mobile operators in every major city. The central offices, which speak fluent Russian and English, are located in the center of Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi, on the right side, if you go towards Independence Square.

Main post office in Tbilisi is located not in its huge building near the Radisson Hotel, but further along Rustaveli Avenue in the arch between the Beeline and Geocell offices. It costs 2.5 lari (1.4 dollars) to send a postcard to Ukraine. There is a suspicion that the postcards do not reach the addressees on a regular basis.

There are Internet cafes in every major city, but, to put it mildly, they are not striking. In Tbilisi, they are concentrated on Rustaveli Avenue, the cost is 1.5 GEL per hour.

Food

The key point related to food in Georgia is Mezim. The food here is delicious and the people are very welcoming. It will not be easy for you when you visit someone, and these two moments will multiply.

With independent food, the picture is as follows. There are no street eateries like in India, Southeast Asia or even neighboring Turkey in Georgia. But there are plenty of relatively cheap cafes. When ordering food, remember that you will definitely be brought a trough of bread for free. A trough of bread and meat dish with gravy, for example chashushuli (it is also "spicy") - this is already a very hearty lunch. Chashushuli, salad and tarragon will cost about 10 lari (5.5 dollars).

Almost every cafe prepares khinkali, they common price- 50 tetri apiece. Six is ​​enough to gorge on, a dozen to burst. There is another heavyweight set: mchadi and lobio. Mchadi is a very hearty corn tortilla, lobio is an equally hearty bean dish. This set costs a penny at all.

In addition, khachapuri is sold on every corner. A whole khachapuri and a bottle of tarragon is quite a decent breakfast, which will cost 3 lari (1.6 dollars). By the way, tarragon of "Natakhtari" or "Zandukeli" company is a must-try.
Georgian vodka and beer are quite decent, although Georgians themselves prefer the more expensive Ukrainian drinks. Good (and expensive) Sarajishvili cognac is produced in Georgia. The chances of buying good wine in a store are much higher than in Ukraine or Russia, but they are still not one hundred percent. Real wine or chacha can only be tasted at a party.

Separately, I note that water from numerous fountains in cities and springs in the mountains can be safely drunk.
In general, I recommend experimenting with more food, because this is one of the attractions of Georgia.

Language

Everyone in Georgia speaks Georgian. On the one hand, this is obvious, on the other hand, all of eastern Ukraine speaks Russian. All signs on transport, the timetable at the station, signs in the cafe - everything is in Georgian. There is no duplication in Russian in principle. In some places, for example, in the Tbilisi metro, English transcriptions come across. In general, you will probably have to read something in Georgian. Therefore, I recommend that you learn at least the vowels of the Georgian alphabet, or even better - print it out in its entirety.
If you need to ask something from passers-by, then you need to ask in Russian and people over 30 years old. Young people are more likely to speak English than Russian.
Things are much better with Russian in Kazbegi, Adjara and Svanetia - almost everyone knows him there and speaks him almost without an accent.
Here are some basic Georgian words:
Hello - hamarjoba;
Goodbye - nahvamdis;
Yes - ki, ho;
No - ara;
Thank you - madlobt or madloba;
Bread is puri;
Water - tskhali;
Money is bullets.

Tbilisi

Tbilisi is a very interesting and cozy city. Here you need to spend at least 3 full days: two days in Tbilisi and one day to make an excursion to Mtskheta.
Anyway, I would recommend making Tbilisi a base for visiting nearby attractions. Mtskheta, Gori, Uplistsikhe, Kakheti and even Kazbegi are all close enough to the capital and there is an opportunity to see these places with one-day excursions with a return to Tbilisi for the night.

In Tbilisi itself, you should thoroughly walk through the old quarters on both banks of the Kura, climb the Narikala fortress and Mount Mtatsminda, from where you can see good view to the city. There is also an interesting hiking trail in the area at the foot of Narikala. You shouldn't go to the Tbilisi Zoo. You should definitely take a walk in the center of Tbilisi in the evening, when the whole city is beautifully illuminated. You can also go to the famous Tbilisi baths - $ 20 for a separate apartment.

We have written two whole stories about Tbilisi: and.

Accommodation in Tbilisi

To start, general rule for all hotels in Tbilisi (well, except for all the Radissons) - merciless bargaining. After the question about the price of the room, the eyes of any administrator begin to run, they name a certain price and then immediately the thesis about a possible discount sounds. This rule works in hotels for 130 dollars and 60 lari. It would be simply stupid not to bargain at least 10%.

In the Avlabari region (from the Metekhi temple to the Holy Trinity Cathedral), we found many hotels and not a single guesthouse. Hotels practically do not differ from each other - there are about 2 stars, clean, small rooms. Prices for all rooms in them fluctuate around $ 50, breakfast and Internet are included almost everywhere. Of the ten hotels, I will cite a couple of the cheapest: Armazi Palace, Hotel Leadora, Hotel Irmeni. From the fact that at least somehow looks like a guesthouse, you can call Hotel Lions with a price of 60 GEL for a small two local number OK.

We found another wonderful hotel right next to the Rustaveli metro station. Even if you are not going to live in it, go on an excursion. This is a former communal apartment with gigantic ceilings. All rooms are furnished with antique furniture and paintings on the walls. The price for a double room is $ 40, plus breakfast, teas and coffees throughout the day, internet. There are rooms with 3-4 beds. Amenities in all rooms are separate. It's all called Hotel Gutsa. Here you have to bargain with special cynicism - all the rooms are empty.

Lonely Planet in Georgia writes from 2008 that guesthouses in Tbilisi are concentrated in the area of ​​Marjanishvili Street. It is almost in the center and not far from the train station; there is a metro station of the same name. We didn’t get there, so I’ll just give data from Lonely Planet: Dodo’s Homestay ( [email protected], 893-327-010, Marjanishvili, 38) - 25 GEL per person for a hostel, 30 for a separate room; Khatuna's Homestay (899-173-609, Chitaia, 13) - 8 GEL per person for the hostel; house of Irina Japaridze (954-716, Ninoshvili, 19, building 3) - 20-25 GEL per person per dorm.

In general, prices and living conditions in guesthouses and hotels in Tbilisi are clearly not consistent with each other. But we must not forget that this is hospitable Georgia. We register (if we have not already done so) on CouchSurfing, we are looking for and easily find a lot of people who are ready to welcome you at home. We get not only free housing, but also direct communication with the residents of Georgia.

It is worth mentioning another option for settling in Tbilisi - renting an apartment. A one-room apartment in a residential area near the metro is usually rented for a month for $ 100-150. For a couple of weeks, foreigners, I think, will rent for the same $ 100. But study this option yourself on the Internet.

Transport

The main transport in Tbilisi is minibuses. The fare in them costs 40 or 50 tetri. Of course, all the inscriptions are in Georgian. Therefore, the number of the minibus you need should be checked with those around you.
In addition to minibuses, there is a fairly branched metro. The fare is 40 tetri. The stops "Rustaveli" and "Tavisuplebis Meidani" will lead you to Rustaveli Avenue in the very center of the city. Stop "Vokzalis Meidani" - to the station square. In short, everything is quite obvious, and the stations have diagrams in English.

If you decide to travel around Tbilisi by taxi, then the maximum price for a trip is no more than 10 lari.

You can get to the airport from Tbilisi by electric trains that run from the main railway station. The train from Tbilisi to the airport takes 25 minutes. Trains to the airport leave at 0:30, 3:30, 6:30, 8:10, 12:30, 18:50, 21:15 and 23:05. Trains leave the airport in the direction of Tbilisi at 1:15, 4:15, 7:20, 9:25, 13:10, 19:45, 22:10 and 23:45.

You can also get from Tbilisi to the west of Georgia by train. To the east, to Kakheti, trains do not go, although there is a road in Kakheti. Most likely, this is due to the abundance of minibuses and the short distance from Tbilisi. Nowhere at the Tbilisi train station there is no timetable in either English or Russian. Hopefully coming soon.

Tbilisi-Zugdidi train No. 601/602 leaves at 21:50 and arrives in Zugdidi at 6:20. In the opposite direction, the train leaves at 21:40 and arrives at 6:50. The reserved seat costs 5.50 GEL.

Tbilisi-Kutaisi train No. 644/643 leaves at 21:55 and arrives in Kutaisi at 2:35. In the opposite direction, the train leaves at 0:35 and arrives at 5:55. A seated carriage costs 3 GEL, a reserved seat - 4.50 GEL, a compartment - 10 GEL.

There are two trains from Tbilisi to Batumi, for some reason they are listed together under the number 622/621 in the timetable. How, apart from the price, these trains differ - I still do not understand. The Tbilisi-Batumi train leaves at 22:55 and arrives in Batumi at 6:48. In the opposite direction, the train leaves at 22:40 and arrives at 07:10. Cheap train costs 5.50 GEL for a reserved seat and 18 GEL for a compartment. Expensive - 15 GEL for a reserved seat, 23 GEL for a compartment.

Tbilisi-Poti train # 849/850 leaves at 23:10 and arrives in Poti at 5:46. In the opposite direction, the train leaves at 8:45 and arrives at 15:25. There is only a compartment, it costs 10 GEL.
Schedule shown is valid as of mid June 2010.

Mtskheta

Mtskheta is a small town, but very interesting. It is located 6 km from Tbilisi, and it is definitely worth seeing. Of the sights - the Jvari monastery on the nearest hill, the Svetitskhoveli temple and the church of St. Nino in the city itself. It is also worth visiting the famous Salobio restaurant, where you should try khinkali and local lobio with mchadi. Our .

There are frequent minibuses from Tbilisi to Mtskheta from Didube metro station. The fare is 1 GEL. Transport does not go to the Jvari monastery, but you can go there in 45 minutes on foot or by hitchhiking. To be in Mtskheta and not to visit Jvari will be simply stupid.

Gori and Uplistsikhe

Gori is a dusty town. There are already two attractions in it: the fortress and the Stalin museum. There is no point in going to the fortress - there is just a lawn inside, and the view from above is not the best. The Stalin Museum is worth visiting at least for general development. The museum is open from 11 am to 5 pm every day, except weekends and holidays. The tour costs 10 lari (5.5 dollars). Separate money is taken for visiting Stalin's railway carriage - 5 lari (2.7 dollars). But just the carriage can not be seen.

In general, Gori could be skipped, but Uplistsikhe is nearby, which cannot be missed. Uplistsikhe is an ancient cave city that people left recently. We have already written in detail and with photographs vol.

You can get to Gori from Tbilisi by minibus from Didube metro station. You can get from Gori to Uplistsikhe in two ways. The first one is a taxi, which will cost 15–20 lari (about 10 dollars). The driver will take you to Uplistsikhe, wait while you look at everything and drive back to Gori. The second option is a minibus from Gori to the village of Kvakhvreli. It is not far away, a minibus will cost a maximum of 2 GEL. The driver should be asked for a ride to the bridge. Then cross the bridge on foot, turn left and after about a kilometer you run into the ticket office.

The entrance to the territory of the Uplistsikhe cave complex costs 3 lari (1.6 dollars), excursion - 10 lari (5.5 dollars). Uplistsikhe occupies a fairly large territory, you will need three hours to inspect everything. Don't forget to buy water.

Vardzia

From Tbilisi to Vardzia 250 km. It takes about 4 hours by car - several serpentines along the way. There is a minibus from Tbilisi to Vardzia from Didube metro station. She leaves at 10 am, costs 13 lari (7.2 dollars) and brings directly to the cave complex. The problem is that there is only one minibus a day from Vardzia to Tbilisi, and it also leaves at 10 am.

Thus, you need to either spend the night somewhere in the surrounding villages (which will probably be interesting if possible), or get out of Vardzia to the nearest town of Akhaltsikhe and from there go to Tbilisi either by train, or by minibus, or by hitchhiking. No hotels in the villages were noticed. You can probably negotiate a return trip to Akhaltsikhe with the driver of the minibus on which you arrived in Vardzia.

Here I want to emphasize that information about the minibus was received from a resident of Vardzia and may not be complete. Just in case, check.
Entrance to the territory of the Vardzia cave complex costs 3 lari (1.6 dollars), excursion - 10 lari (5.5 dollars). It will take at least three hours to inspect all the caves.
Update: LiveJournal user tlamer reported information about housing in Vardzia. Opposite the cave complex, behind the bridge, there are two guesthouses. The phone number of the first is 899-116-207, at $ 20 per person for housing. The phone number of the second is 899-543-540, at $ 10 per person for housing. Phones and prices are from Lonely Planet 2008, but according to tlamer, these guesthouses definitely exist there.

Borjomi and Bakuriani

There is absolutely nothing to do in Borjomi. There is only a large park, in the center of which there is a spring from which the same water flows. You can only buy a bottle of Borjomi and compare the taste of the water in the bottle and in the source. A mountain rises above the park, which can be climbed on foot in 30 minutes or by cable car for 1 GEL. The entrance to the park is 50 tetri.
But if time permits, you can go up from Borjomi to the ski resort Bakuriani. It is very beautiful in Bakuriani even in summer - meadows, forests, mountains, fresh air and no one around. There are many hotels, there are also private guesthouses, where you will be gladly received. It seems that a bed in a boarding house costs 15 lari (8.3 dollars), a hotel - about 30 dollars.

You can get to Bakuriani from Borjomi by a narrow-gauge train, which is called “Kukushka” here. Minibuses probably also run from Borjomi, but hitchhiking can be a problem - the traffic is far from busy.
If you are by car, you can stop at Bakuriani on your way to or from Vardzia.

Georgian military road and Kazbegi

It is most interesting to drive along the Georgian Military Highway - no one will stop the minibus every 15 minutes so that you can take a look around. And you will definitely want to take a look in Ananuri, in Gudauri and at the entrance to Kazbegi. It might be worth considering a taxi trip to Kazbegi, but it will cost no less than $ 60-70. If the budget does not support this, then you should at least come to Kazbegi by minibus, spend the night and return to Tbilisi the next evening. However, if your route lies through the Upper Lars - Kazbegi checkpoint, then just stay overnight in Kazbegi. In Kazbegi, you can breathe plenty of clean mountain air, see enough mountain landscapes and turbulent rivers and climb the mountain to the monastery. From there, if you're lucky, a great view of Kazbek opens up.

I already have a question of transport and housing, I will only say that the Kazbegi-Tbilisi minibus costs 10 lari (5.6 dollars).

Kakheti

Kakheti is located very close to Tbilisi and, in principle, you can see it with several sorties from the capital. But it will probably be more interesting to come to Sighnaghi, having seen something on the way, spend the night in Sighnaghi and return to Tbilisi the next day, also looking somewhere along the way.

Places to pay attention to in Kakheti: Signagi, Telavi, Mirzaani, Tsinandali and Alaverdi. By car, all these places are easily visited during daylight hours. There is also an interesting, judging by the photographs, David-Gareja monastery, but we did not get to it. If you don't have much time, then you can limit yourself only to a trip to Sighnaghi.

Minibuses to Kakheti go from the Isani metro station in Tbilisi. From Tbilisi to Telavi (the capital of Kakheti) 150 km, a minibus costs 7 lari (3.8 dollars). All other cities are much closer.

V Signagi(or Sighnaghi) is worth coming, regardless of whether you intend to see the rest of Kakheti. A lot of effort and money has obviously been invested in Signagi for recent times... As a result, it has become similar to the small towns of the Mediterranean coast of Europe. In the city, you can see a perfectly preserved fortress wall of some incredible length, gaze at curious monuments and go to a museum (3 GEL, from 11 am to 6 pm, except Mondays and holidays). But the most important thing is to take a walk around the city to your heart's content, including in the evening, when the multi-colored lights turn on.
V tourist center Signagi you can get good tourist maps all regions of Georgia. I am not writing about housing in Signagi - there are many coordinates on the city website (above in the text).

V Telavi there is also an imposing fortress, inside which the city museum is located. You can walk around the fortress for free, the entrance to the museum costs 2 lari (1.1 dollars), a guided tour - 13 lari (7.2 dollars). The fortress walls offer a view of the entire Alazani Valley, the usefulness of the museum is questionable. Opposite the entrance to the fortress, across the square, there is another attraction - a huge 900-year-old plane tree.

Near Telavi (12 km) there is Alaverdi temple... Apart from him, there is nothing in the area, and the transport, it seems, does not go there regularly. The temple, however, is imposing and quite picturesque, despite the ongoing restoration. Admission is, of course, free. Probably, there are some minibuses to Alaverdi from Telavi.

Tsinandali apart from the famous wine, it has one more attraction - the Chavchavadze house-museum. This is a very well maintained manor house located in a beautiful and tidy park. Numerous rooms of the estate are lovingly furnished with antique and pseudo-antique furniture and dishes. All in all, quite a pleasant house-museum. The entrance costs 5 lari (2.7 dollars).

Village Mirzaani- the birthplace of Niko Pirosmani. His museum is located here, which contains 14 originals. But this place is remarkable not so much for its paintings as for the surrounding pastoral landscape and views of the Alazani Valley.
Mirzaani is located only 20 km from Sighnaghi, but it is difficult to get there. Therefore, I will dwell on this point in detail. A minibus runs here from the Isani metro station in Tbilisi, but it only reaches the center of the village, from where it takes a long time to stomp to the museum. But you can give the driver 50 tetri to give him a ride directly to the museum. At 9 in the morning, a minibus leaves Tbilisi, the driver of which lives right next to the Pirosmani Museum. You can agree with him that he will pick you up when he will go back. True, it will be only in 2 hours, and that much time for Mirzaani is too much.

Svaneti

Svaneti is the future of Georgian tourism. In a few years, a ski resort will appear here, just by this moment the road will be completed, and then prices will immediately skyrocket. They will take off, because the views here are excellent, the sights are interesting, skiing will probably be good, but at the same time it’s also two hours to go to the sea - where else can you find this? Our story p.
One should definitely come to Svaneti, despite the transport difficulties. Here you can either just walk and enjoy the surrounding landscapes, or go on a trek or horseback ride from one to several days.

Transport

There are persistent rumors on the Internet about a "circular" road along which you can drive from Kutaisi to Lentekhi, from there through Ushguli to get to Mestia and leave for Zugdidi. So, there is no such road. That is, the road may be there, but you can only ride on it on a horse. This road will not appear in the near future, since the government is still concentrating its forces on the Zugdidi-Mestia section.

Now people get to Svaneti only through Zugdidi. There is one minibus a day from Tbilisi to Mestia. She leaves at 6 in the morning from station square in Tbilisi and 460 km to Mestia overcomes in 9 hours. This minibus costs 30 lari (16.6 dollars).
There seems to be only one minibus a day from Zugdidi to Mestia. It departs from the "Svan Tower" to Zugdidi, costs 15 lari (8.3 dollars) and goes to Mestia in 4 hours. This minibus does not have an exact timetable, it leaves as soon as it is full, but definitely not later than 10 am. Note that there are only 136 km from Zugdidi to Mestia, but the road is very badly bumpy.

You can get to Svaneti by plane, there is an airport in Mestia. On this moment from Kutaisi to Mestia on Tuesdays and Fridays there is a "maize" fly. This is some kind of special state program, so one day the flight is free, and the other costs 12 lari (6.6 dollars). There are two here, but: first - everyone loves freebies, second - there are few places in the corn-mill. Rumor has it that there are fights at the gangway on a free day. To reserve a seat on this plane, contact a person named Beno by calling 895-70-21-76.

There is also an air taxi from the suburb of Tbilisi - Natakhtari. However, it was not possible to find out either the cost or the schedule.

The Svanetian authorities have announced a tender for a flight from Tbilisi to Mestia for 40 lari ($ 22.2) one way. The Mestia administration is confident that by September 2010 such a flight will start functioning. If this happens, then it will be pointless to waste a whole day of light on shaking in a minibus from Tbilisi.

Arriving in Svaneti, you must definitely get to the village of Ushguli. This is the highest mountain village in Europe. They say it's very beautiful there. Weather conditions prevented us from getting there.
There is one very bad road from Mestia to Ushguli. It is only 45 km, but they are covered by the "Niva" in two hours. Renting a Niva costs 150 lari (83 dollars) for the whole car. The driver waits for you in Ushguli and then takes you back to Mestia. But there is also a more romantic way to get to Ushguli - walking or horse track for a few days. About trekking in Svaneti below.

Lodging

In terms of independent tourism, Mestia is the most developed city in Georgia. There are more guesthouses here than in the rest of the country combined. Almost on the first house at the entrance to the city there is a sign “Guesthouse”. But, although the town is small, it is better to live in the center. There is an administration building on the central square of the city, it is difficult not to recognize it. If you look at this building, then the house on the left (No. 3 in Seti Square) is a guesthouse. The owner's name is Manana, she speaks excellent Russian. Her phone number is 899-54-94-35. Her relative lives in the next house, with whom you can also stay. Even if both of these houses are occupied, Manana will tell you who to contact. The cost of living is 30 GEL per person per day with two meals a day. In principle, this price is announced in all guesthouses, but in two we managed to bargain for 10 GEL per person per day without meals. So bargaining is encouraged, especially if you have not arrived for one day.

I note that all guesthouses are the second floors of large village houses, and the layout there is purely home-like: 2-3 rooms and a shared toilet. But everywhere is very clean and tidy.
We managed to get a list of guesthouses throughout Svaneti.

If you need more pretentious conditions, then in Mestia there are quite modern 3–4 star hotels. One of them is located across the square from the administration, a dozen meters behind it the second. But I would recommend the Tetnuldi Hotel, this hotel is just built and the view from its balconies is simply wonderful. Phone 890-12-33-44. Price for a single / double room: regular 90/120 GEL, junior suite 120/150 GEL, breakfast ( Buffet) switched on.

Trekking in Svaneti

When there are mountain rivers, forests and snowy peaks around you, you don't really need to do anything - walk for yourself, rejoice. And the walking infrastructure in Svaneti is extremely developed. The main office that organizes hiking and horseback riding in Svaneti is Svaneti Tourism Center, whose office is located in Mestia, at st. Vittorio Sella, 7, phone + 995-99-41-93-53. On the website of this office, there are many routes for trekking, both on foot and on horseback. Prices are approximately as follows: guide - 40 lari (22.2 dollars) per day, regardless of the size of the group; horse - 30 GEL (16.6 dollars) per day, also the group must pay 30 GEL per day for the guide's horse; accommodation (if the track is multi-day) - 40-50 GEL per day with three meals a day. A multi-day trek can be quite an interesting option to get from Mestia to Ushguli, this activity takes 4 days. True, there is a possibility that you will still have to get back on the "Niva" - check this point.

The mentioned office is the largest, but also the most expensive. There are many private guides in the city who are ready to guide you along any route: on foot, on horseback, in a tent or in a house.
One of these guides is Beka Naveriani, his phone number is 890-66-00-10. The cost of a four-day trek to Ushguli is 20 lari (11 dollars) per day just for the track or 40 (22.2 dollars) per day with accommodation and food. You can ask for a tent, it costs 5 GEL per day. True, the horses from this guide are slightly more expensive - 35 lari (19.4 dollars) per day.

Let me emphasize that absolutely everyone in Svaneti - from guesthouses to guides - smiles slyly when voicing prices. Therefore, bargaining is certainly welcome, although not as fierce as in India, for example.

Adjara

Zugdidi

Perhaps there is no point in coming to Zugdidi separately. But if you are still here on the way to Svaneti, then you can go to the Dadiani palace - 2 GEL entrance, 5 GEL excursion. There is nothing else to do in the city.

The train from Tbilisi to Zugdidi is listed in the "" section. There are probably a lot of minibuses from Tbilisi, they go from the station square and from the Didube metro station. The cost should not be more than 20 GEL.

Kutaisi

In Kutaisi, you can stop by for a couple of hours, walk along the alleys of the old city, go to a neatly renovated center, look at. The local landmark - the Bagrati temple - will be under restoration for another 5 years, now it does not even have a roof. In general, if time is short, Kutaisi can be skipped.
Minibuses run from Tbilisi from the station square and from the Dudube metro station. The train schedule from Tbilisi to Kutaisi is given in the section "".

I highly recommend coming to Georgia... In this country, a huge number of the most diverse and interesting sights are compactly located. People are hospitable and friendly. The food is delicious. What else can you say?

From the point of view of independent tourism and small budgets, everything is pretty good too. Transport is cheap, hitchhiking is good, distances are short. The situation with guesthouses is not very good, but couchsurfing and hospitality club should be developed. Even complete ignorance of English language, which keeps many from independent tourism, is not a problem here, many Georgians still speak Russian.

Minimum route in Georgia I would suggest the following:
Two days in Tbilisi. One day excursion from Tbilisi to Mtskheta. One day in Gori and Uplistsikhe. One day to Vardzia. One day in Kakheti, in particular - in Signagi. Two days in Svaneti. One day in Batumi. It leaves 9 days.
To this we can add a one-day excursion to Kazbegi along the Georgian Military Highway and extend the trip to Kakheti to two days. Well, and then increase it by trekking in Svaneti or felting on the beach somewhere near Batumi.

Thanks! Enjoy your trip!

You can ask us any questions.

Once, long ago, when our world had not yet been struck by evil and was amazingly beautiful in its purity, God decided to divide the earth into parts and distribute it to different nations. There was a huge queue of people wishing to find a place where they could put down roots. All day God worked tirelessly. Finally, when the last piece of sushi was given and he wearily sat down, hoping to get some rest, a Georgian appeared in front of him.
- I also came for the land!
- You were late, I gave out everything I had ...
The Georgian hung his head sadly.
- And where have you been? - asked God.
“I drank to your health,” the man replied, spreading into a smile.
And then, God gave the Georgians that part of the land that he had left for himself. This is how a small heaven on earth became Georgia.

TOURISTS ABOUT GEORGIA

Country area: about 70 thousand square kilometers.
Population: 4.5 million people.
Capital: Tbilisi.
Official language: Georgian (older and middle-aged people speak Russian, young people speak English).
Currency unit: lari (GEL).
International designation of the state: GEO.
Political system: Georgia- an independent democratic country. At the head is the President, who is also the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. The parliament is unicameral. 150 deputies are elected every 4 years on the basis of a general vote.
Administrative divisions: 1 city of state importance (Tbilisi), 9 regions and 2 autonomous republics.
Geographical position: is located in the Caucasus, in the central and eastern parts. It borders with Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, and in the west it is washed by the Black Sea. It is located between two mountain ranges - the Greater Caucasus in the north and the Lesser Caucasus in the south. The western border runs along the Black Sea coast, its length is 330 km.
Flora and fauna: location Georgia, namely, the fact that it is located between two mountain ranges makes it a unique ecological system. Almost 40% of the country's territory is covered with forest. Mountain streams and rivers, rocky mountains and mountains covered with lush vegetation, plains, hills and the sea coexist so closely and so closely that this symbiosis makes it possible for the world of flora and fauna to flourish, which occupies one of the first places in the world in terms of diversity.
Climate: varied and varies greatly from region to region.
Historical value: on the territory Georgia more than 10,000 historical monuments, but not all of them are in good condition.
Visas: no preliminary registration is needed, it is issued at the airport upon arrival, it takes about 5-15 minutes, depending on the quickness of the migration service employee. Citizen's passport Russian Federation must be valid for at least three more months. You can stay in the territory without a visa for 90 days. Be careful! If you have visited Abkhazia or South Ossetia from the Russian Federation, then in Georgia you will most likely not be allowed in!
Air traffic: to get in Georgia most conveniently by air. Aeroflot, S7 and Georgian Airlines (Airzena) operate regular flights to Tbilisi from Moscow. In Georgia 3 international airports in Tbilisi, Kutaisi, Batumi and one local in Mestia (Svaneti).

HOLIDAY IN GEORGIA

Georgia unique in that, with its compactness and diversity, you can combine various types of recreation. If you want to touch the history, then a visit to Tbilisi itself is a must, then Mtskheta - the first capital of Georgia, with a unique temple complex, Jvari - the cradle of Christianity, Betania monastery, David Gareji monastery complex, the city of love Sighnaghi, Gelati, Uplistsikhe, Vardzia, renovated by Batumi and the list is endless.
For impressions of winter holidays and the pleasure of skiing, you need to go to Bakuriani or Gudauri.
For sea experiences, gather in Batumi, Kobuleti, Cape Verde, Sarpi and Kvariati.
V Georgia so many Christian shrines that pilgrims will also find amazing and wonderful places to their liking.
Well, lovers and connoisseurs of extraordinary Georgian wine will get real pleasure from visiting the Alazani Valley and tasting the most famous varieties of wine.

Movement and transport in Georgia

Right-hand traffic and very chaotic, a driver who is accustomed to driving exclusively according to the rules can sometimes be scary.
From public transport, the work of the metro (in Tbilisi), buses and minibuses is well established. To travel by public transport, it is better to purchase an electronic card, it is rechargeable and you can use it to pay on buses, metro, minibuses and even take a tram to the funicular or pay for a visit to the museum. Replenished on the metro, inexpensive and very convenient.
All buses are equipped with a tracking system, so at any stop you can see in how many minutes the bus you need will arrive. As for the routes themselves, do not be afraid to ask, 80% of the population speaks Russian, so you will definitely not feel the language barrier.
The movement of minibuses is very intensive and chaotic, the fare is not more than 1 lari, from the advantages: they go quickly, stop where you need them. Payment on exit, either by electronic card or in cash.
Metro - pay by card, the cost is cheaper than in land transport... Of the minuses: the runs are long, the waiting time is long.
Taxi is another alternative form of transport. If you stop on the street, then immediately negotiate the price and do not be lazy to look at the map in order to have at least an approximate idea of ​​the distance of the trip. Taxi drivers are very fond of Russian-speaking passengers and their ability to pay, therefore, in the desire to earn money, they can first take a ride with a breeze across all districts of the city, and only then bring them to the place. And be sure to bargain! Taxis can also be ordered by phone; there is always a Russian-speaking operator in the call center. On the plus side, you name your destination right away, and they tell you the cost of the trip.
On "long-distance" minibuses, you can get to almost any point in the country and even beyond. For example, you can get to Yerevan (Armenia) by minibus in about 6 hours. The parking lot of these minibuses is at the Avlabari metro station in Tbilisi.As a rule, minibuses leave early in the morning as they fill up, there is no schedule as such, it all depends on demand - there may be from one to ten flights a day. There are several departure points from Tbilisi, it all depends on the direction.
There is a railway connection in Georgia, sometimes it is very convenient.

What to see in Georgia

Of course, Tbilisi is worth spending a few days there. Moreover, take your time to walk along the streets of the old city. In new areas, it is enough to drive a car, there is interesting buildings but the real delight is the old town with its crooked and narrow streets. You will have to move on foot, this is not bad, you can see all the details of the life of Tbilisi residents. There are so many historical values ​​that it is necessary to talk about it separately, detailed guide, you will find HERE.
Literally 20 km from Tbilisi is Mtskheta - ancient capital Georgian state. The city was recently renovated and rebuilt, but despite the renovation, it has not lost its charm. Before visiting cathedral, do not be too lazy to go to the tourist office (a small Greek building on the square) to pay for a tour for a very symbolic fee (about 10 GEL). It's worth it! You will be told and shown in the cathedral a lot of interesting things. In Mtskheta, it is enough to spend a few hours, and on the way back it is worth making a small detour of several kilometers to see Mtskheta from the height of the Jvari monastery, seeing from above the confluence of the Aragvi and Mtkvari (Kura), remember Lermontov and his Mtsyri, because it is assumed that it was here that it happened Istria, which became the plot for this amazing poem.

Sights of Georgia

If you want to immerse yourself in a completely different atmosphere than the urban jungle, then plan a tour in Georgia... This free and distinctive country will not disappoint you. The landscape views alone can take your breath away, the nature here is one of the attractions. In addition to nature, there are dozens of places here that are worth a look for a tourist.

Jvari is a monastery of the Holy Cross, an attraction is located in the ancient capital of the state of Mtskheta. It takes your breath away not only from the age of the building, but also from the fact that the monastery is located on the edge of a cliff. The construction of the temple dates back to the 6th century AD. Here Mikhail Yuryevich Lermontov himself found inspiration. This monastery is truly the embodiment of the simplicity and folk spirit of Georgian architecture.

Narikala fortress- its second name is "Inaccessible". Its importance as an ancient monument cannot be overestimated. it the central attraction of Tbilisi. Due to the fact that it was built on Mount Mtatsminda, a vast view of the city opens up. The building is said to have originated in the 4th century AD. Earlier, when this fortress was of strategic importance, fortifications were located at the foot. Now they have been demolished, and the fortress itself was destroyed by an earthquake in 1827, and has not been reconstructed since that time.

Rustaveli Avenue- along the length of this avenue there are such buildings as the Parliament of Georgia, famous and quite interesting National Museum, Hotel "Marriott", Opera and Ballet Theaters, Academy of Sciences. So, looking at this avenue, you can immerse yourself in the spirit of modern Georgia... The street is planted with shady trees on both sides. The history of this avenue, like everything else in Georgia, stretches back to ancient times (19th century), when Count Vorontsov was appointed to rule the Russian Caucasus. According to legend, when they laid main avenue Georgia, the street could not be made straight. This happened due to the fact that the builders stumbled upon an obstacle: roofing felts in the garden of a local farmer, roofing felts on an ancient church. Count Vorontsov, who showed condescension, decided to build the avenue, skirting the obstacle.
It is ideal to walk along the avenue on a stuffy day, to take a shortcut from the Old Town.
If someone intends to thoroughly study Georgia with a historical purpose, then you need to walk along the Avenue "from and to". Start from Freedom Square, where the bust of Pushkin has long chosen its place. Not far from Freedom Square is an art salon, within the walls of which exhibitions are frequent.

Zion Cathedral - it so happened historically that this temple is the main one in Tbilisi. It is named after Mount Zion. It is located in Old Tbilisi, near the Kura River. The first building dates back to the 6th century, the construction began thanks to the order of a Byzantine dignitary, later destroyed by the Arabs. Re-construction on the same site was taken up by David the fourth in the 12th century. Since the second construction, the temple has never been restored. The cathedral has a unique antiquity - the cross of St.Nina, it is with this relic that the history of Christianity begins in Georgia.

Old city- either Kala, or "Dzveli Kalaki" is located on the territory that was occupied by Tbilisi until the 12th century. old the city is traditionally divided into two parts relative to the Kura River. "Zemokala" and "Kvemokala" are the lower and upper parts of Kala. The buildings here are ancient. Typically medieval. The narrow streets are lined with bricks. From the unusual, there are sulfur baths with real sulfur springs. The curious tourist can experience the life-giving power of such a procedure. By the way, this city was built thanks to sulfur springs.

Abanotubani is a complex of baths, each of which is named after its former owners. Most of all, the Orbelianovskaya bathhouse stands out for its beauty, columns rise on its sides, and the outer part is decorated with clay stucco molding.

Batumi fountains- are located in the city of Batumi. This one is recognized as the most beautiful in the Black Sea coast... Batumi fountains are a piece of architecture made by the French. It is rated as one of the best European fountains. These fountains are able to lure tourists with their colors and whimsical dance to beautiful music. Travelers in love will find such a place very much to their liking.
Recently, next to the usual fountains, a vodka fountain has appeared, in which grape chacha is poured upwards for 15 minutes every day. Anyone can taste the drink.

Palace of Count Vorontsov- located in Tbilisi. The palace of the tsarist administrator was rebuilt in 1868. It is the oldest building in Rustaveli Avenue. The building was designed by the architects in the style of a Renaissance plazzo. A rich garden is spread around the palace. The palace is truly enormous in size, accommodates both the private rooms of the Vorontsov family and halls for business negotiations.

National Museum of Georgia- architectural building executed in a strict old Georgian style. The most valuable and interesting exhibits are old minting, coins, jewelry from the Trialete gold fund. The most interesting for a Russian tourist will be the exposition of the Soviet occupation, which occupies an entire hall. From the era of repression, a piece of the carriage remained here, in which prisoners, documentation and other items related to this topic moved.
The presented expositions have experienced not a single move for various reasons. Each of them has its own secrets, into which it is so interesting to immerse yourself at least for a moment.

Tiflis passage- this gigantic house cannot be overlooked, because it stretches across a whole street and is a monument of striking architecture. This house was commissioned by a wealthy merchant and construction began in 1912. Due to the difficult soil on which the building was erected. We had to make a deep and very solid foundation, so that the building has several underground floors. The building is faced with bas-relief figures. Two facades are finished with stone with an unusual carved relief. Small turrets also found their place on the facades.
Interestingly, during the construction, the merchant's daughter died. Therefore, the sculpted wreaths on the facades personify mourning for it, and the corner window openings resemble tears in outline.

Artsruni Caravan Saray- here trade took place, and there were inns, and hotels. The building was erected in 1818. Reopened to visitors after restoration, as an exhibition complex.

Bridge of Peace - This glass bridge, erected over the Mtkvari River, serves as a connection between the Old City and the modern Tbilisi. It turned out to be on the list of attractions for a reason. This building was designed by the Italian architect Michel de Lucci. Made in the form of waves glass bridge stretches for 156 meters. In the evening, the structure is illuminated by a huge number of lanterns. Every hour one of the elements of the periodic table is depicted on the bridge using a special interactive device. The idea of ​​this idea is to show tourists that all people are one.

Museum named after Shalva Amiranashvili- Museum fine arts of the city of Tbilisi. The exposition contains more than 140,000 paintings of various styles and eras. Here a tourist can find a gold fund with a Georgian coinage dating from the 8th - 13th centuries AD. Also here is the oldest icon of Georgia, the golden cup of Bagrat, the cross of Queen Tamara. Here are the paintings of masters from different countries. The museum also houses a collection of the talented Niko Pirosmani.

House-Museum of Stalin- once in the city of Gori, a boy, Soso, was born into a simple peasant family, later christened the Leader of the Nations. It was Joseph Stalin. The museum is divided into three parts, each of which tells about one of the periods of Stalin's life. The first part of the museum is directly Stalin's house, where he was born and spent his first years. All items are arranged as they were with the owners of the house, the furnishings are poor and in places ascetic. This part of the museum will shock the tourist with its authenticity and atmosphere. The second part of the exposition is the carriage in which Stalin traveled. Entering it, you will see how poor and deprived the room is. Here, obviously, only the most necessary things were found. No luxury whatsoever. And finally, the exposition ends with the Stalin Museum, which also houses several rooms. In the first room, everything is covered with papers, historical summaries, portraits and even poems of the leader himself. In a separate room there is Stalin's death mask, removed after his death. The Museum also has his cigarettes, which he liked to smoke during his lifetime.
A separate room is reserved for gifts to Stalin, which he was presented with during his lifetime. There are many exhibits here.

Tbilisi Botanical Garden- a place that will delight both the child and the adult. You can come here and take a break from the heat, explore the local landscape, enjoy the beauty. The garden occupies 128 hectares, on such an area you can wander all day. There are many rare animals and plants here. Previously, there were two entrances, one of which was underground and led visitors to the nightclub-tunnel. The garden has existed for over 400 years.

Turtle Lake - lovers of nature and animals will remember this place for a long time. Many turtles have found their home here. The lake is located in the mountains, 600 meters above sea level. You can climb to such a height by cable car, contemplating the surroundings of Tbilisi along the way. The lake water is crystal clear, so tourists can enjoy watching turtles and fish.

National Georgian cuisine

Georgian cuisine is a real feast for the belly! Be in Georgia and it is impossible not to arrange a real Georgian feast for yourself. Restaurants, restaurants, cafes, eateries are literally at every step. The price range is different, from cheap to expensive, the distinguishing feature is delicious food, regardless of the price category. From what is worth trying: khinkali, acharuli (open khachapuri), khachapuri in all its variety, satsivi, dishes cooked on a ketsu (open cast-iron pan), chakhokhbili, adjibsandal, chakapuli, and then you can list it endlessly. And be sure to try the homemade wine! And since the food is mostly heavy, wine will save and help you survive the Georgian feast. Be sure to try the Georgian Natakhtari lemonade, especially the creamy and tarragon, mineral water Likani and you will be surprised by the amazing taste of your friend Borjomi from childhood.
And one last recommendation - don't forget to drink some water ... from the tap! You haven't drunk water tastier than water, spring water, clean and so cold that it makes your hands tight. There are small fountains all over the city, do not pass by and enjoy the taste!

What to bring from Georgia

Of course wine! It is better to buy it in a large supermarket or wine cellars, of which there are many throughout the country. Do not leave your purchase for later in the hope of purchasing this souvenir before your flight at the airport in the free trade zone. You will buy it, of course, but pay the same price, but only in euros. Be sure to bring churchkhela. It is sold everywhere! But do not be lazy to visit the local bazaar, buy cheaper, better and get a lot of pleasure from the abundance of fruits and vegetables. There you can also buy a slightly less popular, but very tasty and healthy national product, tklapi. This leather-like circle with a diameter of about 50 cm is actually a sun-dried fruit puree, in other words, fruit lavash. It differs in taste, it is sour and sweet, from plum, apricot, cherry, etc. - 100% environmentally friendly natural product.
Be sure to check out the art salons and don't miss the street openings. Here you can find real masterpieces, colorful works of art that could only be born under the sun Georgia and what is no less valuable for any wallet!

Like magic, the words sound: khachapuri, khinkali, kinzmarauli, tsinandali, tsytsila, mtatsminda, mtskheta, jvari, alaznis veli, batumi, shavi zgva, likani, acharuli, lobiani, alubali, churchkhela, sololaki, avlabelo, metekhi. ..
I want to go to Georgia! Immediately!

Updated 05/07/2019

Georgia travel guide and Tbilisi travel guide are combined into one document for maximum convenience. Here only relevant information is given, everything is extremely clear, concise and to the point. After reading the guide, which is absolutely free for my readers, you will learn how to get to the main sights of Georgia, how to move between cities, what to see there, where to eat and where to culturally enrich yourself, what money to take with you on vacation and what to bring from there. I repeat that here is the most basic information in a concise form, and for more details about each specific city of Georgia and its interestingness, read in separate articles (all links to them are given below).

About Georgia in a nutshell

Georgia is a picturesque country in the west of Transcaucasia, lying east of the Black Sea. Only 4 million people live here, almost 5 times less than in Moscow. The area of ​​the country is almost 70 thousand square kilometers (in size it is like two Tambov regions or 20 Ingushetia). In Georgia, apart from Georgians, there are Armenians, Russians, Ukrainians and even Greeks. Almost everyone speaks Georgian, which is the state language, but many people understand Russian, especially representatives of the older generation (modern youth prefers to learn English, not Russian).

The geographical position of Georgia is very convenient - from here you can start a long journey across Asia, or you can just stop by for a short time from Russia. The Caucasus does not allow cold winds to penetrate the country, therefore, the weather is mild and warm here all year round, the temperature does not drop below 5 ° C. Subtropics reign in the west, and typical Mediterranean weather in the east. At the height of summer, it is hot and humid in Georgia, it rains very often.

It is worth coming to Georgia for the sake of mountain beauty, gentle sea, ancient monasteries, winding streets of Kutaisi, noisy avenues of Tbilisi, delicious cuisine - which only Adjarian khachapuri are worth - and hospitable locals. You can even come to Georgia for a weekend, but it's still better to devote at least a couple of weeks to a picturesque country. You won't see everything, but a start will be made.

How to get to Georgia from Russia

You can get from Russia to Georgia in one of four ways.

• By plane.
• By car.
• On a ferryboat.
• By train.

To Tbilisi by plane

The most convenient way to get to Georgia is to buy a plane ticket. Round-trip tickets will cost you an average of 10 thousand rubles, not counting possible sales. Naturally, a flight in November or March will cost you much less than in May or August. Airlines "Aeroflot", "S7", "Georgian Airways", "Ural Airlines" fly from Moscow to Tbilisi.

It is cheaper to fly with transfers; Pobeda and AZAL carriers sometimes offer tickets twice as low as for direct flights. True, it will take longer to fly, if a direct flight takes less than 3 hours, then with a transfer you will have to spend at least 7.

There are also flights from St. Petersburg and Yekaterinburg, but, of course, more expensive. You can fly not only to the capital of Georgia, but also to Batumi or Kutaisi, where there are also international airports.

To Georgia by car

Georgia cannot be called a dream for lovers of car travel, but it is quite possible to get here, which many do. The path can be conditionally divided into 2 stages:

• The first stage: From Moscow to Vladikavkaz

The distance Moscow - Vladikavkaz is about 1,800 kilometers, there are travel options for both toll and free roads. People usually travel to Vladikavkaz via Ryazan, Voronezh and Rostov-on-Don. The last section of the route is the Stavropol Territory, Kabardino-Balkaria and North Ossetia. There are a lot of reviews and reports on the Internet, so be sure to read the information. There are some nuances. I do not bring them here only because I myself have not traveled to Georgia in my car, but I am used to writing only personally verified information. More precisely, I was in Georgia in a personal car, but I came from Hungary through Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey.

You can go not only by your own car, but also by bus or ride. The BlaBlaCar service will help in finding cars; on average, a one-way trip will cost 2500 rubles. The average cost of a ticket for a Pobeda airline flight to the capital of North Ossetia is the same, the train will cost more.

• From Vladikavkaz to Tbilisi.

Distance Vladikavkaz - Tbilisi is 200 kilometers. It takes several hours to get there, but main point it is not travel time, but border crossing time. In the warm season, queues of people wishing to be in hospitable Georgia are often formed here.

In Vladikavkaz, if you have not arrived by your own car, move to the center, to the bus station near the Lastochka store. There you can take a bus to Upper Lars for 40 rubles, where the border passes. Cross it on a ride to Stepantsminda, and from there take a minibus to Tbilisi. Great option for budget travelers. For those who have a more curly budget, I recommend it, which will take you from Vladikavkaz straight to the capital of Georgia. For me, the best option is. This is an opportunity to see a lot for relatively little money. All the details in the article about car rental (link above).

By the way, if the issue of comfort is not in the first place, then I advise the direct bus Moscow - Tbilisi. There are daily flights, but they go at least 30 hours, depending on the time at the border. Tickets can be purchased online.

To Georgia by ferry

At first glance, it seems that it is very convenient to travel to Georgia from Sochi - along the Black Sea coast. In fact, there hasn't been a road there since the war, and don't even think about going to Georgia with the stamp of Abkhazia. In the best case, they will not be allowed in, in the worst case, they will go to jail for illegal entry. But it is really possible to get from Sochi directly to Batumi by ferry. The Sochi-Batumi crossing is served by air-wing vessels, the journey takes 5-6 hours.

By train to Georgia

There is no direct rail link between Russia and Georgia, but you can go through Baku, Azerbaijan. In total, the journey will take 3 days, but you will ride in comfort. I don’t know if the trains are comfortable and what the condition of the cars is. Who went, share your impressions.

Tours to Georgia

Tours to Georgia are different

• Standard package tours.
• Excursion tours.
• Ski tours.

I would especially like to draw the attention of readers to. The main purpose of such a tour is excursions, which are very different. Follow the link above for a detailed article on choosing and booking such a tour.

Visa to Georgia - is it necessary?

Despite the fact that Russia and Georgia do not officially conduct diplomatic relations after the military conflict in 2008, Russians can visit the country without problems. You do not need to apply for a visa for this if you plan to stay in Georgia for up to 90 days. If you are traveling for a long time, you will need a visa, as well as in the case of work or study in the country. With the usual tourist trip at the border you will simply be stamped in your passport.

As you can see, from the documents you only need a passport. But if you want to extend the period up to a year of stay, then prepare two standard color photographs, an extension application and a receipt for payment of the registration fee. When traveling with children, additional documents are also not required - the child can be entered in the parents' passport. If you are driving your own car, then you will need to issue:

• Vehicle registration certificate.
• A driver's license, you can simply have a Russian license.
• Power of attorney if the car is not driven by the owner.

By the way, if you are traveling in transit through Georgia, then you do not need to apply for a visa either.

A slightly different situation with insurance. Usually, it is necessary to draw up an insurance policy for countries with entry on a visa. It is not necessary to take out insurance in Georgia, but I strongly recommend that you do it. The fact is that without insurance, you will have to pay for any medical care. Even for an appointment with a therapist, you will have to pay at least $ 10, and for a day in a hospital - $ 200.

An insurance policy with a minimum coverage of 30 thousand euros will help in any situation. Insurance covers doctor calls, patient transportation, inpatient and out-of-hospital treatment, medication, and even private services such as dental. You can additionally take out sports or student insurance, as well as insurance for your own car.

So don't worry about a visa, a simple passport is enough, even if you are planning a family trip. It is better to get insurance, although Georgia does not officially require it. With a policy, you will not worry about possible expenses. And in general, it is better to play it safe, then nothing will happen for sure. As the saying goes, God protects those who are careful.

What money to take to Georgia

In Georgia, the national currency called lari is in use. In 1 lari - 100 tetri, this is an analogue of our kopecks. There are coins of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 tetri, as well as 1 and 2 lari. Banknotes - only lari: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200. The exchange rate does not fluctuate too much, but it is better to check the current information immediately before the trip. The widget shows the current rate of the lari in relation to the euro, ruble and dollar.

All three of these currencies can be easily exchanged at exchange offices in Tbilisi and other Georgian cities. It makes no sense to travel to Georgia with other currencies. If money is changed, then at a very unfavorable rate.

By my own experience I will say that there are only two options that are most convenient: change rubles for lari right away in Georgia, or change rubles for dollars in Russia, and dollars for lari - in Georgia. The first option is the easiest, but in the second case you will get a little more lari on your hands. That is, rubles are also suitable for a regular trip, and if you are going to spend a lot, then you can stock up on dollars. There are no problems with exchangers in cities, even in small ones you can find 1-2 points in the center. In the villages, of course, there is no such thing, so calculate your finances in the cities.

There is also an option to withdraw money from ATMs, there are also a lot of them in cities. But in the case of ruble cards, you will lose on double conversion, since banks cannot transfer from rubles directly to lari.

The best way to change money is exchange offices, not in banks. They work longer, and the course there is more pleasant. Cheating is not accepted in Georgia, but do not yawn and always count your money. I advise you not to change the currency immediately at the border, there is a very bad rate, but at the Tbilisi airport the rate is usually even better than in the city. So do not be afraid to exchange the n-th amount upon arrival. In cities, I advise you not to rush to the first exchanger with a wad of dollars. It is better to compare the exchange rate at 3-4 exchange offices and choose the best one.

Public transport in Tbilisi

Tbilisi has a fairly developed and understandable transport system. True, on my first visit I got a little lost, but only because I did not prepare. If you are reading this guide, then you will be all right.

So, in the capital of Georgia you can travel by metro, city buses, private minibuses or taxis. You can use either the cable car - please do not confuse them, these are two different things. The unified system of public transport includes the metro, buses and cable car Rike Park - Narikala. On all routes of this transport, you can pay with a single MetroMoney card. A plastic card costs 2 GEL, you can replenish it in the metro, at the ticket office of the cable car or in terminals throughout the city.

We will deal with every type of public transport in Tbilisi

• Underground. Consists of 2 lines and 22 stations. It works from 06:00 to 24:00, train intervals are 2-3 minutes during the day and 10-12 minutes at night. In the metro, you can only use the MetroMoney card, one trip is 50 tetri. Detailed article about
• City buses. The conspicuous yellow buses run from 06:00 to 20:00. The timetable in Tbilisi is strict, all drivers comply with it, and you can check it on the board at the stops. The fare is 50 tetri, you can pay by card or cash.
• Private minibuses. Also yellow beads that work from 08:00 to 20:00. In many, you can pay with a MetroMoney card, but it is better to prepare small coins. The fare is 30-80 tetri, depending on the route.
• Cable car. It leads from Rike Park to the Narikala fortress, at which there is a monument. You can also pay by card. One way ticket costs 1 GEL, and the cable car operates all year round.
• Funicular. To climb Mount Mtatsminda, you will have to buy a separate travel card for 2 GEL. You can put money on this card and pay at the attractions in the amusement park on the mountain.

By the way, the following sites will help in planning trips:

• ttc.com.ge - routes and timetables of city buses.
• tm.ge - all information about private minibuses.

There are no trolleybuses in Tbilisi anymore, in 2006 they were all replaced by buses. Taxis can be caught almost everywhere, but the prices are different - there is no single system in the city.

From Tbilisi airport to city

The airport of the capital is located 15 kilometers from the city center. From here, Tbilisi can be reached in three main ways:

1. By taxi. Dozens of taxi drivers stand by the terminal day and night. You can hear the first price sky-high, but nobody canceled the bargaining. If you leave the airport, you can catch a car for 20 GEL. The way from the airport to the city will take 20 to 30 minutes. In addition, you can book the transfer online in advance. Detailed article about transfer and
2. By bus. Regular route 37 starts right from the arrivals area and goes to Tbilisi through the whole city, close to many metro stations. The bus runs every half hour from 07:00 to 23:00, the fare is 50 tetri.
3. By train. The departure / arrival station is 70 meters from the terminal, from here every day at 08:40 and 18:05 there is an electric train to the city. It takes only half an hour to go, and the ticket costs the same as the bus - 50 tetri.

Tbilisi sightseeing

There are many sights in the capital of Georgia and it will be extremely problematic to study even a small part of them in a day. Nevertheless, I have all written an article - it is useful for those who do not have the opportunity to devote more time to the city. It will be useful for those who have at least two days for the Georgian capital.

My personal TOP of Tbilisi sights is as follows (follow the link to read in more detail).

1. with funicular, Pantheon, amusement park and ferris wheel. Just a must see, and more than once: for example, during the day to visit the park and in the dark to admire Tbilisi at night.
2. - here you can walk, connect with nature, look at the waterfall, just sit and breathe fresh air.
3. and - the most famous fortress in Georgia is located in the very heart of Tbilisi. Stunning views of the city open from here (IMHO better than from Mount Mtatsminda). Well, it will not be superfluous to look at the main symbol of Tbilisi - the mother of Kartli.
4. - an area in the center of Tbilisi with several landmarks, including a temple, a monument and a bridge.
5. the main temple of Tbilisi, its official name is the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity. You need to come here not only to walk around the territory of the temple and inspect it from the inside, but also to taste the famous "Lagidze Waters".
6. - it is worth looking into the Abanotubani area even if you are not going to bathe there. A picturesque place!
7. - a landmark of the era of the presidency of Mikhail Saakashvili, which is controversial for both Georgians and tourists. Walk across the park and bridge to form your own opinion.
8. Rustaveli Avenue and Freedom Square are the main avenue of Tbilisi, where you can find buildings from several eras. On Freedom Square, you can feel the rhythm of the city, its heartbeat. Even deep in the night it can be noisy and fun.
9. - art lovers should definitely visit one or several city museums: choose according to your taste.

Where to eat in Tbilisi?

Georgian cuisine is a gourmet paradise. It is almost impossible to go to Georgia and not gain a couple of kilograms, and a description of the delights of Georgian cuisine can take up most of a travel guide to Tbilisi.

There are dozens and hundreds of restaurants in Tbilisi and other Georgian cities national cuisine where you can try khachapuri, satsivi, lobio, khinkali and other traditional Georgian dishes.

What to buy as a gift?

Food and drink is what Georgia is rich and famous for. It is not surprising that tourists are eager to take with them a piece of this delicious national cuisine. And if it is stupid to take khachapuri with khinkali home with you, then a bottle of wine / chacha or a couple of churchkhelas with marshmallows will take the road without problems. About what souvenirs to buy in Georgia, I told V.

I recommend looking for souvenirs in the markets of Tbilisi, in particular, in the main market of the Georgian capital - Deserter. Here you will find not only everything that can be purchased as a gift, but you will also feel the real Georgian flavor, and at the same time test your bargaining skills.

TOP-11 sights of Georgia

This section contains must see sights of Georgia - those that I advise you to visit during your first trip to the country.

Georgian military road

It is a rare case when the road becomes one of the main attractions of the country. The Georgian Military Road is just that. It connects the Russian city of Vladikavkaz and the capital of Georgia, Tbilisi. All along the scenic route are scattered interesting places with extraordinary views. One of these places is the Ananuri fortress (I wrote about it in detail in) and the Zhinvali reservoir.

Vardzia cave city

The cave city of Vardzia is the same symbol of Georgia as Mtskheta, Kazbegi and Mestia. It is located on the edge of Samtskhe-Javakheti not far from Akhaltsikhe. Many tourists combine these two points when traveling in Georgia, because in settlement the fortress of Rabat is located. You can get to the monastery complex on a budget (by minibus) or take a driver. You can order a car directly on the Internet. The plus is that the price on the Akhaltsikhe - Vardzia and Akhaltsikhe - Vardzia - Akhaltsikhe route will be the same, that is, the driver will wait for you and take you back without additional payment. The exact same rule applies to the Tbilisi - Vardzia - Tbilisi route.

Outskirts of Kutaisi

In Kutaisi itself, a couple of things deserve attention (the Bograt temple, the parliament building, the White Bridge), and the city itself is rather dull. But in its vicinity there are many cool sights. It is impossible to visit all of them in 1 day. Allocate at least a day.

1. Martvili canyons - go boating, admire the water and beautiful rocks. ...
2. Okatse Canyon - walk along the canyon along the footbridge overhanging the abyss. Extreme ride to the entrance as a bonus. ...
3. Sataplia Nature Reserve - Look at dinosaur footprints, wander around the cave and take a selfie at the glass observation deck. ...
4. Kinchkha Falls - admire the 100-meter waterfall and cool off in the natural baths. ...
5. Monasteries - although three deserve your attention. Martvili, Gelati and Motsameta.
6. Prometheus cave.

Georgia and the sea: where to rest?

The length of the coast of the Black Sea, which belongs to the territory of Georgia, is about 100 kilometers. There are about two dozen sea resorts on it (if we take into account even small villages), the most important of which is Batumi.

Batumi beaches

For some reason, many people use the phrase "beaches of Batumi", although in fact there is only one beach in the main seaside resort of Georgia. Although very long. The recreation area called "Batumi Beach" stretches for 5 kilometers and is 30 to 55 meters wide.

During the season, which lasts from May to September, there are changing cabins, umbrellas and sun loungers in many places. The beach is completely pebbly, but quite clean and pleasant.

Resort villages on the Black Sea coast

One of the unique features beach holiday in Georgia lies in the fact that here the mountains almost come close to the sea. Therefore, here the usefulness of the sea air is combined with the equally usefulness of the mountain, a kind of double effect is obtained... You can swim in the sea from the beginning of June to the end of September, and also seaside resorts Georgia is famous for its mild climate.

Do not forget about other advantages: dozens of historical monuments even in the smallest coastal village, the small size of the country, which allows you to travel quite quickly, the legendary hospitality of the Georgians. Detailed overview all more or less large resorts You will find Georgia on the Black Sea coast.

Georgia and the mountains: where is the best skiing

Ski tourism in Georgia is developing by leaps and bounds. New hotels, ski lifts are being built in the Caucasus Mountains, and other infrastructure is emerging. I bring to your attention a review ski resorts Georgia. Read more about them in separate articles: all links are attached.

Skiing in Bakuraini

Georgia travel guides are currently being completed. If you have any wishes, please leave them in the comments. That way I will know what to include in the Tbilisi travel guide first.

In love with Georgia, Igor OZIN.

Going to Georgia and Tbilisi - Free Online Travel Guide

5 (100%) VOTED 15

What you need to know when going on a trip to Georgia. When and where to go to Georgia, do you need visas, what to see and visit in Georgia. Food and prices, etc.

Georgia has long attracted me with its khachapuri and mountainous expanses, but so far I still could not get to this dream country because of my Asia, Europe and Siberia .. Finally, it is getting closer and closer, and while I decided to start with this Guest post... My Georgian specialist Victor is also a global traveler and photographer whom we met in Phuket. He spent his childhood in Batumi and has come to Georgia every summer to this day. Victor's website Georgiabest.ru turned out to be the most useful for me in preparing for the first trip, and in this article Victor briefly but succinctly tells all the most important: this is information about how to get to Georgia, about visas, prices, interesting places in Georgia, which are worth visit and so on.

Victor, traveler, guide in Georgia: Georgiabest.ru

Yes, Georgia is on everyone's lips these days. And not in vain, oh not in vain. Come and see for yourself. So that later, too, closing his eyes, with a dreamy air, broadcast to friends how good it is, fun and sincerely. Of course, there are exceptions among the happy crowds of tourists, but they only prove the rule. And the rule is that this country will not leave anyone indifferent. And you have no reason to deny yourself the pleasure of getting to know Georgia and discover its amazing inhabitants and the breathtaking beauty of nature. What can we say about cultural, architectural and historical monuments, which are literally at every step, and often - right in the courtyards of people, such as towers in Svaneti or ancient qvevri in Kakheti ...

In winter they go to Georgia to have a fun and unforgettable meeting New Year: v new year's eve the whole country explodes with hundreds of thousands of fireworks. Also in winter they come here to go skiing and snowboarding in Bakuriani and Gudauri. Well, given that the winter in Georgia is not so cold in comparison with the Ukrainian or Russian, then see the sights in different corners countries, with the exception, perhaps, of the remote regions of Tusheti and Racha, and even more so, walking around Tbilisi and Mtskheta will still be comfortable and not cold.

Important about winter in Georgia:

• V winter time, and especially in March, there is a possibility of strong gusty winds, which usually last 2-3 days.
• Heating in apartments and hotels in Georgia is not as good as in Russia - it is cool.
• Due to snowfalls, they may block the Georgian Military Road - the only highway connecting the country with Russia, and it will not always be possible to get to Stepantsminda to see the legendary Kazbek and the Gergeti Church.
• Georgia has a couple of excellent ski resorts with good slopes and open spaces for freeriding: Gudauri, 80 km from Vladikavkaz (for beginners and advanced) and Bakuriani, 180 km from Tbilisi (more difficult tracks).

May June- a good period for those who do not like the heat. There are still no such high temperatures, because of which Tbilisi is practically empty in summer: everyone is trying to leave, and even more so, to take the children somewhere in the forest or in the mountains. In general, in Georgia it is an almost indestructible tradition - to take children in the summer to 3, or at least 2 resorts in order to change the air and raise immunity. So, in the period from May to early July, locals usually go to the mountains or to coniferous forests. Pines bloom in May, and this pine air is very useful for both adults and children.

But in Tbilisi at this time it is quite comfortable. As a rule, it rains from time to time, the sun is shining, but not yet burning everything around, plus local vegetables and fruits appear on the shelves. You can overeat from the heart, because the prices are quite reasonable in comparison with the megacities of neighboring countries.

End of summer. Well, if you are a fan of the scorching sun, sea, beach and watermelons - come to Georgia in July-September. You can fly straight to Batumi, go to Kobuleti, Kvariati, Shekvetili, Ureki, Sarpi or Cape Verde (Mtsvane Konkhi). During this period, you will also find yourself in an incredible abundance of local fruits, berries, vegetables and herbs.

Late fall. It may seem that from October to December in Georgia it is gray, uninteresting, cold, and there is nothing to do. In fact, not entirely true. It is still quite warm in October, and it is a pleasure to go on excursions, and the counters are bursting with the gifts of the Georgian land: grapes, persimmons, figs - these are just a few examples. The famous Georgian tangerines will start in November. Also, in autumn they go to Georgia to see such a colorful and unforgettable event as "rtveli" - grape harvest. A visit to rtveli is in itself a sufficient reason to come here in the middle of autumn.

An important factor in favor of planning a trip at this time (and also from February to March) - more low prices on lodging and excursions than in the high season. So weigh the pros and cons and choose the perfect time for you.

Visa to Georgia (not required)

Good news, if you are traveling from Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Moldova and 88 other countries, you do not need a visa, at the border they will simply put an entry stamp on your passport. Moreover, citizens of Russia, if suddenly you want to stay, (and this is very even possible variant development of events, as practice shows) you can stay for a whole year, you will not need a visa.

Is it safe for Russian-speaking tourists in Georgia?

One often hears the question: "How safe is it for Russians to go to Georgia?" Given the tense relations between these two states, the question is quite understandable.

But among Georgians, it causes either laughter or bewilderment. "How could you even think that the Russians are dangerous here?" - this is how the answer to your question from the lips of local residents will sound like this.

Georgians, and everyone who lives in this southern country, is mostly peaceful and hospitable, that you have absolutely nothing to worry about. The older generation in Georgia speaks excellent Russian, and some of the young people too. Although young people usually know English better than Russian, as such, you will not have a barrier in communicating with the local population. Someone who knows Russian is sure to be found nearby.

And in the field of tourist services, even more so: sellers, guides, drivers, hotel staff speak Russian.

How to get to Georgia on your own

At the moment, you can get to Georgia either by air or by land, or, if you are coming from Ukraine, by sea - by ferry. Trains, unfortunately, do not run here yet.

• Airplanes fly to Tbilisi, Batumi and Kutaisi. They fly in Kutaisi, so this a good option, especially since there are also many interesting places in this part of Georgia, you can even stay there for a couple of days. A Moscow-Tbilisi air ticket costs around $ 80, you can find the most profitable tickets.
• You can come by your own car - this is even greater freedom of movement and is unrealistic beautiful roads.
• It takes a long time to get there by bus Moscow-Tbilisi, but on a budget (about $ 60). There is a bus from Kiev.
• By ferry you can get to Georgia from Odessa. Although it is long and at a price close to air travel.

Prices in Georgia: for recreation and for life

Another topical question is how much will it cost to rest or live in Georgia. This is understandable - you want to have an idea in advance, at least roughly, how much money to take with you and what to be prepared for.

As for housing prices- then here, as luck would have it, well, what conditions do you prefer. - from $ 4 per night per person, clean and in the city center - from $ 10. Apartments for rent during the season cost $ 30 and more. Usually a nice renovated apartment with a good location costs $ 50-60.

→ Rent a home for a long time the easiest way is already in place, or write an announcement in advance in the Facebook group (a group in the city where you want to live). In the winter season, many not cheap hotels rent rooms for a long time very cheaply, you can find them in the region of $ 200 / month.

Taxi around the city- from 5-15 lari (2-7 $). Guide services - from 100 GEL ($ 40) per day, car rental - from $ 50 per day. Gasoline costs 2.35 lari ($ 1).

Entrance to many historical places free, or within 3-7 lari ($ 1.25-3).

Look at examples of food prices if you have the strength and desire to cook on your own in a country where there is delicious street food and fairly reasonable prices in restaurants:

• Sugar 1 kg - 2 GEL ($ 0.75)
• Bread - 70 tetri ($ 0.25)
• Local apples - 1.5 GEL (0.6 $)
• Potatoes - 80 tetri ($ 0.3)
• Georgian cheese - from 6 lari ($ 2.5)
• Grain coffee 100 g - from 1.5 lari (0.6 $)
• Milk - 2.50 lari ($ 1)
• Churchkhela - 3 GEL ($ 1.15)

→ Some restaurants in Tbilisi worth visiting:

• Art Cafe Gabriadze (Shovteli St., 13) is one of the most original institutions in Tbilisi, an author's cafe created by the artist and director Rezo Gabriadze, the author of "Kin-dza-za", the sculptor of the famous monument "Chizhik-Pyzhik" in St. Petersburg ...
• Restaurant "Khinkali House" (Rustaveli, 37, Rustaveli metro station). Works around the clock, the name speaks for itself :).
• Dukhan "Racha" (Lermontov st. 6). This place is for locals, most of the visitors are men. The place is very atmospheric, you can order Georgian national dishes here, but it is best to try dishes typical of the Racha region: apkhazuri, lobiani, etc.
• Art Cafe "Shevardnadze Garden" - an institution that combines a "shabby chic" style cafe, a garden and a flower shop. Location: Latkini microdistrict. at the end of st. Khudadova, (not far from the police station).
• Machakhela (26 Meydan) is a chain restaurant, one of the best is the restaurant on Meydan Square, in the very center of the old city. It is easy to recognize by the volumetric inscription located in front of the entrance: I love Tbilisi. Sitting in the restaurant, you can admire the panorama of the city from a window, balcony or open terrace.
• Samikitno Restaurant (25 Merab Kostava St).
• Mirzaani (delicious beer, address: 140 Akaki Tsereteli Ave).
• Salobio.
• Hincklees sahli.

Although these are rather eateries, they are clean, some of them with interesting Georgian-style interiors, and the food there is almost like homemade.

In general, it is necessary to try to find an institution in Georgia where Georgian cuisine is poorly prepared. Barbecue prices - from 12 lari ($ 5), Khinkali - 70 tetri little thing. Five pieces - and nothing else will fit into you out of habit. But we have to. Khachapuri - 7 GEL ($ 3), kebab - from 6 GEL ($ 2.5). Tea, coffee, lemonade - about 2 lari ($ 0.8) per cup / bottle.

Street food is also tasty and inexpensive: lobiani, kubdari, pichini, khachapuri cost 2 GEL on average.

Georgian cuisine. What you should definitely try

You can write endlessly about Georgian cuisine. But it's even better to come and taste everything for yourself. We can only guide you so that you are not completely lost in the novelty, variety and names that are unfamiliar to the ear.

Khinkali

Khinkali- the most famous dish of Georgian cuisine. They look like sacks of dense dough, stuffed with minced meat and herbs, including cilantro. A correct khinkali should have at least 16 folds, according to knowledgeable people. It is important to eat them correctly: grab the leg with your hands or a fork (a compromise for non-locals), bite gently, drink the delicious juice, and then eat everything except the leg. You can pour tomato sauce satsebeli into the hole in the khinkali. Khinkali with mushrooms is prepared for vegetarians.

Khachapuri

Khachapuri. A lot of them different types: imeruli, ajaruli, megruli, and, of course, ajaruli. Adjarian khachapuri in the form of a boat and with an egg broken into a cheese filling and butter is a real celebration of taste. This is a must try. Some establishments serve a huge ajaruli, nicknamed the Titanic - enough for a whole company or family. You need to pinch off the pieces of dough on the sides of the khachapuri and dip them into the hot filling.

Lobio and mchadi... A simple, hearty and delicious dish. Red beans cooked with spices in a ketsi (clay pot) and unleavened cornmeal flatbread. There are even establishments that are called “lobiynaya” - for example, the Salobio cafe, which has already become a separate attraction of the city of Mtskheta, where Alexander Sergeevich himself once enjoyed the famous Mtskheta pies and lobio.

If you are not afraid of new flavors and unusual combinations, try the following very colorful dishes:

Chakapuli- young meat stewed with herbs and spices, as well as sour green tkemali.

Hashi- very much an amateur. If you are that lover, you will be delighted. In Georgia, khash is so respected that separate establishments have been created for them: khash. And they open very early in the morning - at about 4:00. Because this fatty, nourishing, scalding hot giblet soup with a lot of garlic is very beneficial for a hangover. It is usually eaten with chacha.

For vegetarians, Georgia is also full of freedom. There are all kinds of cheese, and kinzmari (fish in cilantro sauce) and pkhali - pasta made from spinach, cabbage, beet tops or beets with spices, and infusion with mint, and various soups, and mushrooms fried in ketsi, and ajapsandal - stew from tomatoes, sweet peppers, eggplant and potatoes, and a variety of pickles.

All kinds of spices, herbs, herbs, and nuts are generously used in Georgian cuisine. Even an ordinary tomato-cucumber salad here turns into a work of art, because they put aromatic regani (red basil) and add nut sauce to it. Nuts are put in fried eggplant rolls, in satsivi, in baji, and in kharcho soup.

Wine in Georgia. Special wine and gastronomic tours are popular, the cuisine of Georgia is so delicious and distinctive, but you don't need to say anything about wines - come and taste.

What to see in Georgia, where to visit? Top 7 interesting places

Georgia, although small in territory, but in the number of attractions and beautiful corners can compete with the largest and most ancient countries. It will probably take several months or years to see everything that Georgia has to offer! So you have to make a plan, choosing the most interesting for you. But there are places that every self-respecting traveler in Georgia must visit. We list them for you to note.

Metekhi Church of the Mother of God and the monument to King Vakhtang in Tbilisi

It's far to go, there are many such places in Tbilisi itself:

• Narikala fortress,
• Sameba temple,
• Meidan (one of central squares Tbilisi),
• sulfur baths ...

Ancient city of Mtskheta(20 km from Tbilisi, coordinates: 41.840922, 44.707233) . Near Tbilisi is Mtskheta - the ancient capital of Georgia. In this renewed city and in its surroundings, you will see many beautiful, important and holy places: the Jvari monastery on a hill overlooking the confluence of the Kura and Aragvi, Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, Shiomgvime monastery, and many others. Also, the city itself has been restored, there is a large selection of souvenirs, spices, churchkhel, and it's just nice to walk along its cozy streets.

Vardzia(240 km from Tbilisi, coordinates: 41.381223, 43.284173) - not the only ancient cave city, but perhaps the most spectacular. 8 "floors", about 600 caves. Incredible place, where people lived for many centuries, hiding from numerous enemies.

Svaneti. Also a very distinctive and unlike anything else region in Georgia - Svaneti - a historical mountainous region in the North-West of Georgia (coordinates 42.904220, 42.503335). It attracts tourists from all over the world. Svaneti throughout its history has never been conquered and conquered. And special people live here - the Svans, the real harsh highlanders. Many of the courtyards still have ancient defensive towers that once belonged to their ancestors and were built about 1000 years ago.

Prometheus cave near Kutaisi (42.376771, 42.600971), discovered in 1983, is located next to the Sataplia Nature Reserve, which also has a smaller cave and dinosaur footprints. A very spectacular place. Inside there is a cave with beautiful lighting, huge stalactites, and it will not leave indifferent either adults or children. You can even go boating on the underground lake.

Martvili canyon - one of the most beautiful in the Megrelian Region

It is definitely worth seeing and incredibly beautiful Martvili Canyon (North-West Georgia, coordinates: 42.457356, 42.377148)... If you are in Georgia during the hot season, be sure to visit this picturesque place, swim from the upper to the lower canyon by boat and swim near the waterfall.

Fortress Rabat in Meskheti (coordinates: 41.642829, 42.977166)- a restored medieval Turkish fortress with an area of ​​7 hectares and modern infrastructure. Beautiful, majestic, convenient for visiting and family entertainment.

Ureki black sand (41.987783, 41.760103). If you visit Georgia in summer or early autumn, be sure to take the opportunity to visit the Black Sea coast, on unique beach with magnetic sand in Ureki. This black sand is renowned for its healing properties for joints and the circulatory system.

Cities of Georgia worth visiting

Tbilisi- a unique capital, the heart of Sakartvelo, where narrow streets, old carpets, openwork grilles on windows and balconies, the aroma of coffee and a special relaxed atmosphere, so unusual for big cities, await you in the old city. You can walk in Tbilisi not a day or two, discovering new interesting places and institutions every day. Historical and cultural monuments here are presented in abundance. It is unforgivable to come to Georgia and not get to know Tbilisi.

Colonnade on Primorsky Boulevard - Batumi

Batumi Is a lively and charming town on the Black Sea. Beaches, musical fountains, old and new houses, a moving monument to lovers, an alphabet tower, bicycles for rent, a fish market where the fish of your choice is cooked in front of your eyes, and much more awaits you to surprise and delight.

Sighnaghi - the city of love

Sighnaghi- a restored, romantic, cozy city with red roofs and a view of the Alazani Valley. There is a 24-hour wedding palace here, where couples from different countries can get married by submitting the necessary documents in advance.

Car tourism in Georgia

Gasoline cost in Georgia - a little less than a dollar per liter.

About movement. Be prepared for the chaotic traffic on the roads of Georgia, everyone honking, cutting off, violating, so keep your eyes open. There are problems with parking in the center of Tbilisi - there are not enough places, there are paid parking lots near Rike Park and on Meydan, as well as underground parking lots at large supermarkets, you should be guided by them, because in the central districts of the city in most places you can park only if you buy from the mayor's office such a service.

There are several autobahns in Georgia - this is part of the Tbilisi-Batumi road, as well as the Rustavi and Gori autobahns. The government plans to build new roads and restore existing ones.

Now in Georgia, the introduction of a new system of fines is being actively discussed. According to this bill, the driver will have 100 points per year, and a certain amount will be charged for violations. If the point limit is reached, you will have to take the license exam again. Special “smart” video cameras are being installed around the city.

The road patrol is more loyal to tourists than to the locals, moreover, it helps if you turn to them.

The most beautiful roads- this is the road to Racha, Svaneti and Tushetia, although the latter can be reached only from June to September.

Georgian military road by which we enter Georgia from Russia is incredibly beautiful, but the quality of the road pleases much less than the landscapes. However, this is not so important, let's see what sights you will pass immediately after entering Georgia along the Georgian Military Highway:

• All along the route there are Georgian monuments of antiquity: cathedrals, fortresses, watchtowers. On the Georgian Military Highway there are Mtskheta, the Jvari temple-monastery (late 6th - early 7th centuries), Zemo-Avchal hydroelectric power station.
• Chmi village, where the complex is located archaeological sites from the Bronze Age to the late Middle Ages and a large Alanian burial ground of the 6th-9th centuries, where a large number of weapons, implements, and household items of the Alans were found.
• Mount Kazbek (5033 m).
• Darial fortification, built in 1804 in the Darial Gorge to guard the road.
• "Tamara's Castle" - the ruins of an old tower on the opposite bank of the Terek.
• Zion Grove is a green oasis among the snowy peaks of the Caucasus.
• Cross Pass - highest point Georgian Military Highway.
• Gudauri abyss and the highest mountain village on the Georgian Military Highway Gudauri.

What a tourist should know about Georgia

• Georgia is a patriarchal country with living traditions, respectful attitude to elders, strong nepotism.
• Has a great influence in the country Orthodox Church... When visiting churches and monasteries, be prepared for the fact that women may need to cover their heads, wrapped in a scarf if they are not wearing a skirt. Not all places inside temples can be photographed.
• Children are treated with awe, they are allowed a lot, they are bathed in love and attention. Strangers may try to kiss your baby by the arms and squeeze on the cheeks, and in a restaurant they may well pick up and take away, for example, to the kitchen, or walk with them around the hall. Some parents find such heightened attention tactless, while others rejoice and admire. Be that as it may, these are the nuances that you need to be prepared for in order to adequately respond.
• Georgia is a mixture of east and west, and this is its zest and charm. This is not a "sleek" tourist country.
• On the central streets and in the metro, you can meet harmless but annoying gypsies and beggars.
• In many in public places smoke, although the law on the ban has already been practically passed.
• The streets are not everywhere perfectly clean and restored, although the latter is considered by many visitors to be just a plus.
• Most people are benevolent and hospitable, not because they expect a monetary reward from you, but because they are by nature, and have not yet forgotten those qualities that are considered important for every worthy resident of this amazing country.

Georgiabest.ru - Victor's site and the most complete guide-guide to Georgia, I highly recommend it to bookmarks to everyone who is going on a trip to this country.