Travel tips
The practical details that make a first trip easy: what to have at the border, how to pay, which apps to install, how to stay safe and a few words of Georgian.
Citizens of around 95 countries, including the EU, UK, USA, Canada, Turkey, Azerbaijan and Russia, can stay up to one year without a visa. Everyone else applies online at evisa.gov.ge. Your passport must be valid for the whole stay; airlines often ask for at least three to six months.
Since 1 January 2026 every foreign visitor needs health and accident insurance with cover of at least 30,000 GEL for each day in Georgia. Carry it in English or Georgian, on paper or on your phone. Children and infants need their own policy.
Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region (South Ossetia) are not under Georgian government control. Entering them from Russia is illegal under Georgian law and can lead to fines or arrest. Your travel insurance will usually not cover them either.
From July to September, trains to Batumi, guesthouses in Kazbegi and Svaneti, and flights fill up early. Book at least two weeks ahead, longer for weekends.
Typical prices in 2026. Tbilisi and Batumi are a little more expensive than the regions. See today's exchange rates.
| Item | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Metro, bus or minibus ride in Tbilisi | 1 ₾ |
| Bolt ride across the city centre | 5–10 ₾ |
| Coffee in a café | 6–10 ₾ |
| One khinkali dumpling | 1–1.5 ₾ |
| Lunch in a local restaurant | 20–30 ₾ |
| Glass of house wine | 7–12 ₾ |
| Bed in a hostel | 25–40 ₾ |
| Double room, mid-range hotel | 120–250 ₾ |
Magti, Silknet (Cellfie) and Beeline sell tourist packages with plenty of data for about 20–40 ₾. You need your passport. Coverage is good in cities and on main roads, weaker in remote valleys. Many travellers buy an eSIM before the trip.
Almost every café, hotel and guesthouse has free Wi-Fi. Tbilisi also has free public Wi-Fi in parts of the centre.
Call 112 for police, ambulance and fire, from any phone. Operators in Tbilisi often speak English and Russian.
Georgia has low levels of street crime and is relaxed to explore day and night. Watch your bag in crowded places, and take care crossing roads: drivers do not always stop at pedestrian crossings.
Weather changes fast above 2,000 m. Start hikes early, carry water and a warm layer, tell your guesthouse your route, and do not rely on phone signal in remote valleys.
Pharmacies such as Aversi, PSP and GPC are everywhere and many are open 24 hours. Tap water in Tbilisi and most cities is generally safe to drink. Use sun protection in summer and in the mountains.
You will see many street dogs. Dogs with a plastic ear tag have been vaccinated and checked by the city. Most are calm; leave them alone and do not feed them near restaurants.
Traffic drives on the right and the style can be assertive. Mountain roads are narrow, with livestock on the road. Avoid driving in the mountains at night and in snow without winter tyres.
Georgians are delighted when visitors try a few words. Stress is light and fairly even; say every letter.
| English | Georgian | Say it |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | გამარჯობა | gamarjoba |
| Thank you | მადლობა | madloba |
| Yes / No | დიახ / არა | diakh / ara |
| Excuse me | უკაცრავად | ukatsravad |
| Please | თუ შეიძლება | tu sheidzleba |
| Goodbye | ნახვამდის | nakhvamdis |
| Cheers! | გაუმარჯოს! | gaumarjos! |
| How much is it? | რა ღირს? | ra ghirs? |
| Delicious! | გემრიელია! | gemrielia! |
| The bill, please | ანგარიში, თუ შეიძლება | angarishi, tu sheidzleba |
| Water | წყალი | tsqali |
| Where is…? | სად არის…? | sad aris…? |
| Help! | მიშველეთ! | mishvelet! |
Five days is enough for Tbilisi, Kazbegi and a wine day in Kakheti. With eight to twelve days you can add Kutaisi, the Black Sea coast and Svaneti. See the sample routes.
Yes, cards and phone payments work in most shops, restaurants, hotels and on Tbilisi public transport. Carry cash for markets, villages and minibuses.
Many young people in Tbilisi and Batumi speak English. Russian is widely understood, especially by older people. In villages, a translation app and a few Georgian words help.
Type C and F (European two-pin), 220 V and 50 Hz.
May, June, September and October for cities and wine; late June to September for mountain hiking; June to September for the beach; late December to March for skiing. See the weather page.
Many restaurants add a 10–15% service charge. If not, around 10% for good service is appreciated. Taxi apps do not expect a tip.