Georgia

There is a moment, standing on the sulfur bath rooftops of Tbilisi's old town at dusk, when the Narikala Fortress glows amber above you, the Mtkvari River curves silver below, and church bells mix with the call to prayer from the mosque next door. This is Georgia—a place where civilizations meet rather than collide, where 8,000-year-old winemaking traditions survive alongside avant-garde architecture, and where the Caucasus Mountains rise like a wall between worlds.

Georgians call their homeland "Sakartvelo" (საქართველო), and they will tell you—with characteristic warmth and directness—that their country invented wine, that their alphabet is one of only fourteen unique scripts in the world, and that their hospitality is not merely a custom but a sacred obligation. They are, in large part, correct on all counts. Archaeological discoveries at Gadachrili Gora have confirmed grape cultivation and fermentation here as early as 6000 BCE, making Georgian qvevri winemaking the oldest continuous tradition of its kind. The unique Georgian alphabet, with its flowing, rounded letters resembling musical notation, has no relation to any other writing system on Earth.

For American travelers, Georgia offers something extraordinary: a deeply ancient culture, spectacular mountain landscapes rivaling anything in the Alps or Rockies, cuisine that could stand alongside the world's finest, and all of it at prices that make Western Europe seem absurd. From the snow-capped peak of Mount Kazbek rising above a 14th-century church to the subtropical palm-lined promenades of Batumi on the Black Sea, Georgia packs astonishing diversity into a country roughly the size of South Carolina. Add the warmest hospitality you will encounter anywhere on the planet, and you begin to understand why Georgia has become one of the world's fastest-growing travel destinations.

The English name "Georgia" likely derives from the Persian "Gurj" or the Greek "Georgios" (farmer), but Georgians themselves use "Sakartvelo"—meaning "Land of the Kartvelians," referring to their ethnic group's legendary ancestor Kartlos. This disconnect between external and internal naming reflects Georgia's position as a crossroads civilization, known by different names to every neighbor: "Gürcistan" to the Turks, "Gruziya" to the Russians, "Vrastan" to the Armenians.

The Georgian flag—five red crosses on a white field, known as the "Five Cross Flag"—was readopted after the 2003 Rose Revolution, symbolizing the nation's Christian heritage. Georgia was among the earliest nations to adopt Christianity, in 337 CE, and the faith remains central to national identity. The Georgian Orthodox Church, autocephalous since the 5th century, functions as much as a cultural institution as a religious one, its ancient monasteries serving as repositories of language, art, and national consciousness through centuries of foreign rule.

The Georgian alphabet deserves special attention. Three distinct scripts have evolved over millennia—Asomtavruli (the oldest, from the 5th century), Nuskhuri (medieval ecclesiastical), and Mkhedruli (the modern cursive used today). UNESCO inscribed the living culture of the three Georgian writing systems as Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2016. To Western eyes, Mkhedruli looks like nothing else—its rounded, flowing characters seem to dance across the page, entirely unrelated to Latin, Cyrillic, Arabic, or any other alphabet.

For visitors, understanding Georgia's fierce cultural independence enriches every experience. This is a nation that maintained its distinct identity through Persian, Ottoman, Mongol, and Russian domination—and Georgians carry that resilience with quiet pride.

Georgia occupies 69,700 square kilometers at the junction of Europe and Asia, bordered by Russia to the north, Turkey and Armenia to the south, Azerbaijan to the east, and the Black Sea to the west. The Greater Caucasus range forms a dramatic northern wall, with peaks exceeding 5,000 meters—Mount Shkhara at 5,193 meters is the highest point entirely within Georgia's borders. The Lesser Caucasus defines the southern frontier, while between them stretches a varied landscape of fertile valleys, dense forests, and semi-arid plateaus.

The country divides into remarkably distinct regions. Kakheti in the east is Georgia's wine heartland, a sun-drenched valley where vineyards stretch to the horizon. Kartli, the central region around Tbilisi, holds the ancient capitals and monasteries. Svaneti in the northwest is a wild mountain kingdom with medieval stone towers and Europe's highest permanent settlement. Adjara on the Black Sea coast centers on subtropical Batumi. Imereti around Kutaisi preserves some of the finest medieval architecture. Tusheti and Khevsureti in the high Caucasus remain among Europe's last truly remote mountain communities.

This geographic compression produces astonishing climate diversity. Within a few hours' drive you can move from subtropical Black Sea beaches through temperate forests and alpine meadows to permanent glaciers. Rivers rushing down from the Caucasus have carved spectacular gorges—the Okatse Canyon, Martvili Canyon, and Dashbashi Canyon offer dramatic natural attractions. Georgia's biodiversity reflects this variety: the Colchic rainforests of the west, recognized by UNESCO in 2021, harbor relict species surviving since the Tertiary period.

Georgia's human history stretches back 1.8 million years—the Dmanisi archaeological site has yielded the oldest hominin remains found outside Africa. Classical antiquity knew the western Georgian kingdom of Colchis as the destination of Jason and the Argonauts in their quest for the Golden Fleece, a myth likely rooted in the real practice of using sheepskins to trap alluvial gold from mountain rivers. The eastern kingdom of Iberia emerged as a regional power, and in 337 CE—just years after Armenia—Georgia adopted Christianity as its state religion under King Mirian III.

The medieval golden age under King David the Builder (1089–1125) and Queen Tamar (1184–1213) saw Georgia control a vast territory from the Black Sea to the Caspian, producing masterpieces of architecture, literature, and metalwork. Shota Rustaveli's epic poem "The Knight in the Panther's Skin," written during Tamar's reign, remains the cornerstone of Georgian literature. Mongol invasions shattered this golden age, and centuries of fragmentation followed, with Georgia caught between the Ottoman and Persian empires.

Russian annexation in 1801 brought stability but cultural suppression. A brief independence in 1918–1921 ended with Soviet invasion, and Georgia endured seventy years of communist rule—including the irony of being the birthplace of Joseph Stalin. Independence came again in 1991, followed by civil war, the Rose Revolution of 2003, and the 2008 war with Russia over South Ossetia. Today Georgia navigates between Euro-Atlantic aspirations and Russian pressure, its candidacy for EU membership reflecting the westward orientation of most of its population.

Approximately 3.7 million people inhabit Georgia, with ethnic Georgians comprising about 87% of the population. Armenian, Azerbaijani, Russian, and Ossetian minorities add cultural richness. Georgian society is built around deep family bonds, reverence for tradition, and a hospitality culture that borders on the sacred. The concept of "stumari ghvtisaa"—"a guest is from God"—is not a proverb but a living practice. Visitors to Georgia will be invited to meals, offered wine, and treated with a warmth that can be genuinely overwhelming.

The "supra" (feast) stands at the center of Georgian social life. Led by a tamada (toastmaster) who orchestrates elaborate sequences of toasts to God, country, family, the departed, and guests, the supra is equal parts meal, philosophy session, and bonding ritual. Each toast requires draining a horn or glass of wine—Georgian polyphonic singing often breaks out between courses. UNESCO inscribed Georgian polyphonic singing in 2001, recognizing its extraordinary three-part harmonies, which some musicologists believe represent the oldest surviving tradition of polyphonic music in the world.

Georgian dance is equally powerful—the male dancers' martial leaps and spins on their toes, the women's graceful gliding movements, and the synchronized ensemble choreography of the Georgian National Ballet (Sukhishvili) rank among the world's most spectacular folk traditions. The Orthodox Church permeates daily life, with ancient rituals observed across generations, yet Georgian culture also embraces a robust artistic avant-garde—Tbilisi's techno scene, contemporary art galleries, and experimental theater demonstrate a society equally rooted in tradition and open to the future.

Tbilisi spreads along the banks of the Mtkvari (Kura) River, a city of dramatic contrasts where ancient sulfur baths steam beneath a medieval fortress, Art Nouveau mansions lean against Soviet brutalist blocks, and a futuristic glass bridge connects centuries of architecture. Founded in the 5th century by King Vakhtang Gorgasali—legend says he discovered the hot sulfur springs while hunting—Tbilisi has served as Georgia's capital for over 1,500 years, surviving destruction by Mongols, Persians, Turks, and Russians to emerge as one of the most charismatic cities in all of Eurasia.

The Old Town (Kala) climbs steeply from the river toward Narikala Fortress, its narrow lanes lined with traditional wooden-balconied houses that lean at improbable angles. The sulfur baths of Abanotubani, with their distinctive brick domes, offer the same therapeutic experience that drew travelers here for centuries—Pushkin, Dumas, and countless others have soaked in these mineral waters. The Sioni Cathedral, Anchiskhati Basilica (6th century, the city's oldest surviving church), and the great Holy Trinity Cathedral (Sameba)—the third-tallest Orthodox cathedral in the world—anchor the religious landscape.

Modern Tbilisi pulses with creative energy. The Fabrika hostel complex in a converted Soviet sewing factory hosts galleries, cafés, and co-working spaces. The Dry Bridge Flea Market offers Soviet memorabilia and antiques. Rustaveli Avenue, the main boulevard, links the Georgian National Museum, the Parliament, Opera House, and theaters. Above it all, a cable car rises to the Mtatsminda ridge for sweeping city views. The restaurant scene has exploded, with traditional Georgian cuisine alongside international fine dining, and the city's nightlife—anchored by legendary techno clubs like Bassiani—draws electronic music devotees from across Europe.

Mtskheta sits just twenty kilometers from Tbilisi at the confluence of the Mtkvari and Aragvi rivers, yet stepping into this ancient capital feels like traveling a thousand years back in time. Georgia's spiritual heart and former political capital, Mtskheta was continuously inhabited since at least the second millennium BCE and served as the seat of the early Georgian kingdom of Iberia. UNESCO inscribed its Historical Monuments as a World Heritage Site in 1994, recognizing their outstanding universal value as masterpieces of medieval Georgian religious architecture.

The Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, built in the 11th century on the site where Georgia's patron saint Nino brought Christianity to the nation, remains the spiritual center of Georgian Orthodoxy. Tradition holds that the Robe of Christ is buried beneath its foundations—the cathedral's name means "Life-Giving Pillar." The soaring stone nave, medieval frescoes, and the sense of deep continuity make Svetitskhoveli one of the most profoundly moving churches in all of Christendom.

Perched on the cliff above the river confluence, Jvari Monastery (6th century) commands one of the most iconic views in Georgia—and arguably the Caucasus. This masterpiece of early Georgian architecture inspired Mikhail Lermontov's poem "The Novice" and appears on countless Georgian postcards and wine labels. The simple stone structure, standing solitary against a backdrop of merging rivers and distant mountains, embodies the austere beauty of Georgian faith. Day-tripping from Tbilisi to Mtskheta is effortless and essential—no visit to Georgia is complete without this pilgrimage.

The Georgian Military Highway climbs north from Tbilisi toward the Russian border, passing through landscapes of increasing drama—the medieval Ananuri fortress complex overlooking the turquoise Zhinvali Reservoir, the Jvari Pass at 2,379 meters where a stone cross marks the highest point, and finally the town of Stepantsminda (Kazbegi), nestled in a valley beneath the 5,033-meter summit of Mount Kazbek. This volcanic peak, perpetually snow-capped, is the stuff of Greek mythology—Prometheus was supposedly chained to its slopes as punishment for giving fire to humanity.

The iconic image of Georgia—perhaps the single most photographed scene in the Caucasus—is the Gergeti Trinity Church (Tsminda Sameba), a 14th-century stone church perched alone at 2,170 meters, with the massive pyramid of Mount Kazbek rising behind it. The 3-kilometer hike up (or jeep ride) rewards with a spiritual experience that transcends religious affiliation. On clear days, the church seems to float between earth and sky, its ancient stones framing one of the most dramatic mountain panoramas on the planet.

Beyond the postcard view, the Kazbegi region offers serious trekking: multi-day routes to the Gergeti Glacier, the Juta Valley with its moonscape rock formations, and the remote Truso Valley with its mineral springs and abandoned villages. The Rooms Hotel Kazbegi, a stylish mountain retreat, has become a destination in itself. In winter, the area transforms into a backcountry skiing paradise with virtually no crowds—Georgia's answer to the overcrowded Alps, at a fraction of the price.

Upper Svaneti feels like a place that time forgot—or perhaps refused to enter. This remote mountain region in northwestern Georgia, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996, preserves a medieval landscape unlike anything else in Europe. Stone defensive towers, built between the 9th and 12th centuries to protect families during blood feuds, rise above villages still inhabited by the Svans, an ancient Kartvelian people who speak their own language and maintain customs predating Christianity.

Mestia, the regional capital at 1,500 meters, serves as the gateway to Svaneti's wonders. The Svaneti Museum of History and Ethnography houses extraordinary medieval icons, gold jewelry, and manuscripts preserved through centuries of isolation. From Mestia, the four-day trek to Ushguli—at 2,200 meters, one of the highest continuously inhabited settlements in Europe—ranks among the greatest hiking routes in the Caucasus. Ushguli's cluster of towers beneath the 5,193-meter Shkhara glacier is a scene of almost surreal beauty.

Svaneti rewards adventurers with pristine alpine landscapes, glacial lakes, and mountain passes that were once trade routes to the North Caucasus. The region's isolation preserved not only its towers but its unique musical traditions—Svan polyphonic singing, with its distinctive harmonies, is considered the most archaic form of Georgian polyphony. Visit in summer for trekking and cultural festivals, or in winter for increasingly popular skiing at the Hatsvali and Tetnuldi resorts, where lift passes cost a fraction of Alpine prices.

Batumi, the capital of the Adjara autonomous region, has reinvented itself as Georgia's glittering Black Sea resort—a subtropical city where palm-lined boulevards, futuristic architecture, and a pebble beach promenade create an atmosphere part Miami, part Mediterranean, part uniquely Georgian. Once a modest port town, Batumi has undergone a dramatic transformation since 2010, with landmark buildings including the Alphabet Tower (a 130-meter DNA-helix structure celebrating the Georgian script) and the moving sculpture "Ali and Nino" that tells a cross-cultural love story in kinetic metal.

The old town retains its Ottoman-era charm—narrow streets lined with wooden balconied houses, the Piazza square modeled on an Italian piazza, and bustling cafés serving Turkish-influenced Adjarian cuisine. The highlight here is Adjarian khachapuri—a boat-shaped bread filled with molten cheese, topped with a raw egg and butter, stirred at the table into a rich, golden mass. This iconic dish, distinct from Imeretian or Megrelian versions, has become one of Georgia's most recognizable culinary exports.

Beyond the city, Adjara offers lush botanical gardens (one of the largest in the former Soviet Union), the spectacular Machakhela National Park, and mountain villages where traditional Adjarian culture persists. The Batumi Botanical Garden, perched on a cliff above the Black Sea, contains over 5,000 plant species from every continent. For travelers, Batumi works as both a beach holiday destination and a base for exploring Georgia's subtropical southwest—all with a dining scene, nightlife, and accommodation options that rival cities many times its size.

Kakheti is where the 8,000-year story of Georgian wine comes alive. This sun-drenched eastern region, protected by the Caucasus to the north and the Gombori Range to the west, produces roughly 70% of Georgia's wine output. The landscape rolls with vineyards stretching to distant mountains, punctuated by medieval monasteries and fortified towns. At the heart of it all lies the traditional qvevri—a large clay vessel buried underground in which grapes ferment and age, a method so ancient and significant that UNESCO inscribed it as Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2013.

The charming hilltop town of Sighnaghi, sometimes called the "City of Love" for its round-the-clock wedding registry, offers panoramic views across the Alazani Valley to the snow-capped Caucasus. Below, the Bodbe Monastery shelters the grave of Saint Nino, who converted Georgia to Christianity. Telavi, the regional capital, serves as a base for wine tours, with dozens of family-run cellars offering tastings of Saperavi (the robust red grape), Rkatsiteli (the aromatic white), and the distinctive amber wines made by extended skin-contact fermentation in qvevri.

Wine tourism in Kakheti ranges from rustic family cellars where the vintner pours straight from the qvevri to sleek modern wineries with tasting rooms and restaurants. The Tsinandali Estate, once home to the 19th-century aristocrat Alexander Chavchavadze (who introduced European winemaking techniques), now operates as a museum, winery, and cultural center. The annual Rtveli (grape harvest) in September-October transforms the region into a celebration, with families gathering to press grapes, fill qvevri, and feast—visitors are invariably welcomed to participate.

Georgian cuisine stands among the world's great food traditions—a bold, herb-rich, walnut-infused cooking style that reflects the country's position at the crossroads of Europe and Asia. Every region has its specialties, but certain dishes define the national table. Khachapuri—cheese-filled bread in regional variations (Imeretian round, Adjarian boat-shaped, Megrelian double-cheese)—is the undisputed king of Georgian comfort food. Khinkali, pleated soup dumplings filled with spiced meat (or mushrooms, cheese, potato), demand a specific eating technique: hold the top knob, bite, slurp the broth, eat the dumpling, discard the doughy twist.

Signature Dishes: Lobio — rich kidney bean stew with herbs, often served in a clay pot. Pkhali — walnut-herb paste on vegetables (spinach, beet, cabbage). Badrijani nigvzit — fried eggplant rolls with walnut paste. Mtsvadi — Georgian shashlik (grilled meat). Chakhokhbili — chicken stewed in tomatoes and herbs. Churchkhela — walnut strings dipped in grape must, the "Georgian Snickers." Tkemali — tart plum sauce that accompanies everything.

Wine: With over 500 indigenous grape varieties (more than any other country), Georgian wine is a world unto itself. The qvevri method produces distinctive amber/orange wines from white grapes, while Saperavi yields powerful, tannic reds. Key varieties: Saperavi, Rkatsiteli, Mtsvane, Kisi, Khikhvi. Expect to drink well and cheaply—excellent bottles cost $5-15. Chacha, Georgian grape brandy, appears at every supra. Georgian mineral waters—Borjomi and Nabeghlavi—are national institutions.

Khachapuri

Cheese Bread

Boat-shaped bread filled with cheese and topped with butter and egg.

Ingredients: For dough: 480ml flour, 240ml yogurt, yeast, salt, 300g mixed cheese (suluguni, feta), 1 egg, 30ml butter.

Preparation: Make soft dough, rise 1 hour. Mix cheeses. Shape into boat, fill with cheese. Then bake 220°C (428°F) until golden. Add raw egg and butter to center. To finish, return to oven 1 min, mix at table.

💡 Mix the runny egg into the cheese yourself—that's the tradition.

Khinkali

Soup Dumplings

Pleated dumplings filled with spiced meat and broth—eaten by hand.

Ingredients: For dough: 480ml flour, water, salt, 250g beef and pork mixed, 1 onion, minced, Cilantro, cumin, Broth or water.

Preparation: Make firm dough, rest. Then mix meat with onion, spices, add liquid for juice. Roll circles, add filling. Pleat into purse shape (at least 18 pleats). Then boil 10-12 min. Last, eat with hands, discard top knot.

💡 Bite a hole, drink the soup, then eat—never with utensils!

Satsivi

Chicken in Walnut Sauce

Cold chicken in creamy walnut and spice sauce—Georgian New Year tradition.

Ingredients: 4 chicken pieces, 480ml walnuts, 4 cloves garlic, Coriander, fenugreek, cinnamon, White wine vinegar, Chicken broth.

Preparation: Poach chicken, cool, shred or portion. Grind walnuts to paste. Add garlic, spices, vinegar. Then thin with broth to sauce consistency. Pour over chicken. To finish, refrigerate overnight—serve cold.

💡 Always served cold—the flavors meld overnight.

Best Time: September-October for ideal weather, wine harvest, and golden autumn light. May-June for spring flowers and trekking. July-August for mountain adventures and Black Sea beaches. January-March for skiing at Gudauri, Bakuriani, or Svaneti resorts.

By Air: Tbilisi International Airport (TBS) receives direct flights from major European and Middle Eastern hubs including Istanbul, Dubai, Warsaw, Vienna, Athens, Tel Aviv, and many others. Kutaisi International Airport (KUT) is a budget carrier hub with Wizz Air connections across Europe. Batumi Airport (BUS) operates seasonal flights.

By Land: Border crossings from Turkey (Sarpi, Vale, Posof), Armenia (Sadakhlo, Bavra, Gogavan), and Azerbaijan (Red Bridge/Tsiteli Khidi) are all well-established. The scenic route from Turkey via Sarpi connects Trabzon to Batumi. No land crossing to Russia is currently recommended due to political tensions.

Visa: Citizens of the US, EU, UK, Canada, Australia, and many other countries can enter Georgia visa-free for up to one year—one of the most generous visa policies in the world. This makes Georgia exceptionally easy for extended stays, digital nomads, and slow travelers.

Money: Georgian Lari (GEL). 1 USD ≈ 2.7 GEL (2025). ATMs widely available. Credit cards accepted in Tbilisi and tourist areas; carry cash for rural regions. Language: Georgian is the official language. English is increasingly spoken by younger people in cities. Russian is widely understood by older generations.

Getting Around: Marshrutkas (minibuses) connect most towns cheaply. Georgian Railways links Tbilisi-Batumi (5 hours), Tbilisi-Kutaisi, and Tbilisi-Zugdidi. Bolt/taxi apps work in cities. Car rental is popular—roads have improved dramatically but mountain driving requires experience. Domestic flights connect Tbilisi-Batumi and Tbilisi-Mestia (Svaneti).

Safety: Georgia is remarkably safe—violent crime against tourists is extremely rare. Petty theft exists in tourist areas. Driving is the main safety concern; Georgian road behavior can be aggressive. Tap water is safe in Tbilisi and major cities. Emergency number: 112. Medical facilities are adequate in Tbilisi, limited in rural areas—travel insurance recommended.

Georgia is excellent value—budget travelers manage on $25-40/day, mid-range travelers on $50-80/day, and you can live very comfortably on $100/day including fine dining and quality hotels.

Georgia offers outstanding accommodation at every budget level. Tbilisi: Rooms Hotel (design boutique, $80-150), Stamba Hotel (converted publishing house, $120-250), Fabrika Hostel ($10-15 dorms), countless guesthouses in the Old Town ($20-50). Kazbegi: Rooms Hotel Kazbegi (stylish mountain retreat, $100-200), family guesthouses ($15-30). Svaneti: Family guesthouses dominate ($15-30 with meals). Batumi: International chains available, boutique hotels ($40-100).

Booking Tips: Booking.com works throughout Georgia. In rural areas, guesthouses often include half-board (dinner and breakfast)—the home-cooked meals alone justify the stay. During peak season (July-August in mountains, September-October for wine regions), book ahead. Airbnb operates in cities. For authentic experiences, seek family-run guesthouses where hosts feed you until you surrender.

Rtveli (September-October) — The grape harvest is Georgia's most joyous season. Families across Kakheti press grapes, fill qvevri, and feast for days. Many wineries welcome visitors to participate. Tbilisoba (October) — The capital's birthday celebration fills streets with music, food stalls, wine, and cultural events. Independence Day (May 26) — Military parades and concerts mark Georgia's 1918 independence declaration.

Religious: Orthodox Christmas (January 7), Easter (the biggest religious celebration, with midnight processions), and Mariamoba (Assumption of Mary, August 28). Cultural: Art-Gene Festival (Tbilisi, summer), Svaneti folk festivals, Tushetoba (sheep festival in Tusheti, summer), and the Batumi Music Fest. New Year's (December 31-January 2) is celebrated with extraordinary enthusiasm—Georgian feasting at its peak.

Georgia boasts four UNESCO World Heritage Sites, each representing a distinct facet of its extraordinary cultural and natural heritage.

Historical Monuments of Mtskheta (1994): The Jvari Monastery (6th century) and Svetitskhoveli Cathedral (11th century) at the ancient capital represent masterpieces of early and medieval Georgian church architecture, embodying the nation's adoption of Christianity and its architectural expression through centuries.

Gelati Monastery (1994, extended 2017): Founded by King David the Builder in 1106 near Kutaisi, Gelati served as the main cultural and intellectual center of medieval Georgia—often called the "Georgian Athens." Its mosaics and frescoes rank among the finest medieval art anywhere in Eastern Christianity. The monastery complex includes the academy, churches, and the king's burial site.

Upper Svaneti (1996): The remote mountain villages of Svaneti, with their distinctive medieval defensive towers, preserved churches containing world-class medieval frescoes, and living Svan cultural traditions, represent a unique mountain landscape where medieval life patterns survived into the modern era.

Colchic Rainforests and Wetlands (2021): This natural site protects ancient temperate rainforests along the eastern Black Sea coast—relict ecosystems surviving since the Tertiary period, harboring exceptional biodiversity and species found nowhere else on Earth.

Intangible Heritage: Georgian polyphonic singing (2001), the ancient Georgian qvevri winemaking method (2013), and the living culture of three writing systems of the Georgian alphabet (2016) complete UNESCO's recognition of Georgia's remarkable cultural contributions.

Vardzia — A breathtaking 12th-century cave monastery complex carved into a sheer cliff face in southern Georgia, originally containing 6,000 rooms and 15 churches across 13 levels. Queen Tamar's greatest architectural legacy. David Gareja — A 6th-century cave monastery complex on the semi-desert border with Azerbaijan, with extraordinary frescoes preserved in carved-out cells across a desolate, hauntingly beautiful landscape.

Tusheti — One of Europe's most remote regions, accessible only by the terrifying Abano Pass road (open June-October). Medieval tower villages, pristine alpine meadows, and a living pastoral culture that has barely changed in centuries. Okatse Canyon — A dramatic walkway suspended over a 140-meter-deep gorge near Kutaisi. Dashbashi Canyon — Features the world's longest transparent bridge over a canyon, near Tsalka.

Uplistsikhe — An ancient rock-hewn city dating to the 1st millennium BCE, with carved-out halls, tunnels, and a theater predating Christianity. Prometheus Cave — Spectacular illuminated stalactite cave near Kutaisi with an underground river boat ride. Martvili Canyon — Emerald-green waters in a narrow gorge, explored by boat.

Essential: Comfortable walking shoes (cobblestones in old towns, trails in mountains), layers (temperatures swing dramatically with altitude), universal power adapter (Type C/F European plugs), sunscreen and sunglasses, reusable water bottle.

Clothing: Modest clothing for monastery visits (women: cover shoulders and knees; headscarves often available at entrance). Hiking boots if visiting mountains. Swimwear for Batumi and sulfur baths. Rain jacket (especially spring). Warm layers even in summer if heading to high altitudes.

What NOT to worry about: Georgian ATMs are plentiful, pharmacies well-stocked, and basics are cheap. Don't overpack—you'll want suitcase space for wine, churchkhela, spices, and the inevitable gifts from generous hosts!

Official: Georgian National Tourism Administration (gnta.ge). Emergency: 112 (universal), Police 022, Ambulance 003. US Embassy Tbilisi: +995 32 227 7000.

Apps: Bolt (taxis), Google Maps (excellent coverage), Maps.me (offline), Booking.com. Transport: Georgian Railways (railway.ge), Wissol/Socar fuel stations for road trips.

Online: Wikivoyage: Georgia, Caravanistan (Caucasus travel), r/Sakartvelo (Reddit). News: Civil.ge, OC Media, JAM News, Agenda.ge (English-language Georgian news).

Non-Fiction: "The Caucasus: An Introduction" by Thomas de Waal — essential regional context. "Bread and Ashes: A Walk Through the Mountains of Georgia" by Tony Anderson — atmospheric travelogue. "Georgia: A Political History Since Independence" by Stephen Jones. "Tamta's World" by Ketevan Mammadova — microhistory of diversity in pre-modern Georgia.

Literature: "The Knight in the Panther's Skin" by Shota Rustaveli — Georgia's national epic (12th century). "Ali and Nino" by Kurban Said — love story at the crossroads of East and West. "The Literature Express" by Lasha Bugadze — contemporary Georgian fiction. Wine: "Amber Revolution" by Simon J. Woolf — the definitive guide to Georgian natural wine and qvevri tradition.

Discover Georgia through these carefully selected documentaries and travel videos.

🍷 Oldest Wine: Georgia is the cradle of winemaking—8,000-year-old qvevri fragments with grape residue were found at Gadachrili Gora, predating European winemaking by millennia.

🦴 Oldest Europeans: The Dmanisi archaeological site yielded 1.8-million-year-old Homo erectus remains—the oldest hominin fossils found outside Africa, rewriting human migration theory.

✍️ Unique Alphabet: The Georgian script is one of only 14 unique alphabets in the world, unrelated to any other writing system. Its three forms (Asomtavruli, Nuskhuri, Mkhedruli) are a UNESCO-inscribed intangible heritage.

🎵 Polyphony in Space: A Georgian song ("Chakrulo") was included on the Voyager Golden Record launched into space in 1977, representing Earth's musical heritage to any extraterrestrial civilization that might find it.

🏔️ Europe's Highest Settlement: Ushguli in Svaneti, at 2,200 meters, claims the title of highest continuously inhabited village in Europe.

Queen Tamar (1160–1213) — Georgia's most celebrated ruler, who presided over the medieval golden age, expanding the kingdom to its greatest extent and patronizing art, literature, and architecture. The first woman to rule Georgia in her own right, she remains a near-mythic figure in national consciousness.

Shota Rustaveli (12th century) — Author of "The Knight in the Panther's Skin," Georgia's national epic poem and one of medieval literature's masterpieces. Niko Pirosmani (1862–1918) — Self-taught painter whose naive style and tragic life (he sold a painting for a million roses for a French actress) inspired Georgian art and Pablo Picasso. Demna Gvasalia (b. 1981) — Creative director of Balenciaga, raised during the civil war, named among Time's most influential people (2022).

Sports: Kakhi Kakhiashvili — three-time Olympic gold medalist in weightlifting. Lasha Talakhadze — dominant super-heavyweight weightlifter. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia — Napoli and Georgia's breakout football star. Georgian rugby has emerged as a growing international force, with the national team regularly competing in the Rugby World Cup.

Football: Georgia qualified for Euro 2024—their first major tournament—generating extraordinary national pride. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, the Napoli winger, has become an international star. The Dinamo Arena in Tbilisi rocks on matchdays. Rugby: Georgia is the strongest rugby nation in the Caucasus and regularly competes at the Rugby World Cup. The national team, the "Lelos," play with an intensity that reflects national character.

Wrestling: Georgia has a proud tradition in both Greco-Roman and freestyle wrestling, with multiple Olympic medals. Traditional Georgian wrestling ("chidaoba") is a living folk sport. Weightlifting: Historically one of Georgia's strongest Olympic sports, with champions like Talakhadze and Kakhiashvili. Skiing: Gudauri (2,000-3,300m), Bakuriani, and Svaneti's Hatsvali/Tetnuldi offer excellent skiing at remarkably low prices compared to European resorts.

Georgia's media landscape is diverse but increasingly contested. Multiple independent TV channels (TV Pirveli, Mtavari Arkhi, Formula TV) compete with the public broadcaster, and online media thrives. However, press freedom has faced challenges in recent years, with Reporters Without Borders noting concerns about political pressure on media and attacks on journalists during protests. The situation reflects broader tensions in Georgian politics between Euro-Atlantic integration and Russian influence.

English-language coverage is available through Civil.ge, OC Media, Agenda.ge, and JAM News, all providing quality reporting on Georgian and regional affairs.

Share your Georgia photos! Send to photos@kaufmann.wtf to be featured.

Tbilisi Old Town

Traditional balconied houses

Tbilisi Panorama

Holy Trinity Cathedral and Kura River

Jvari Monastery

6th-century church above Mtskheta

Svetitskhoveli

Georgia's holiest cathedral

Gergeti Trinity Church

Iconic church beneath Mount Kazbek

Svaneti Towers

Medieval mountain defenses

Batumi

Black Sea coastal city

Kakheti Vineyards

8,000-year wine tradition

Georgian Supra

Traditional feast celebration

Gelati Monastery

UNESCO medieval academy

Vardzia Cave City

Queen Tamar's cliff monastery

Qvevri Winemaking

Traditional clay vessel fermentation