🇬🇪 Georgia

May–June and September–October are the most comfortable months for Tbilisi, Kakheti and sightseeing, with mild temperatures and the grape harvest (rtveli) in autumn. High mountain areas such as Svaneti, Tusheti and Kazbegi are best for hiking from July to September; some passes and the road to Tusheti only open in summer. December to March is ski season at Gudauri and Bakuriani. July and August are hot in Tbilisi and busy on the Black Sea coast.

Georgia's climate changes quickly with altitude and distance from the sea. The Black Sea coast around Batumi is humid and subtropical, with rain in every season. Tbilisi and the east are drier, with hot summers and cold winters. The Greater Caucasus in the north brings snow from autumn to late spring and sudden mountain weather even in summer, so pack layers for any trip that includes Kazbegi or Svaneti.

Citizens of around 95 countries, including EU states, the UK, the USA, Canada and the Gulf states, can visit Georgia without a visa for up to one year. Other nationalities can apply for an e-visa on the official portal (evisa.gov.ge). Check the Ministry of Foreign Affairs consular site for your nationality before booking. Entering the Russian-occupied regions of Abkhazia or South Ossetia from Russia is illegal under Georgian law.

Tbilisi has a metro and cheap ride-hailing apps; Bolt is widely used. Comfortable trains link Tbilisi with Batumi and Kutaisi, and minibuses (marshrutkas) leave from bus stations for almost every town. Kutaisi airport is the main base for low-cost flights, Tbilisi for most others. Mountain roads to Kazbegi, Svaneti and Tusheti are spectacular but slow; for Tusheti, use an experienced local 4x4 driver.

Georgia is one of the more affordable destinations in Europe and the Caucasus: guesthouses, local restaurants, wine and public transport are inexpensive, while boutique hotels in Tbilisi and private drivers cost more. Prices rise in July and August on the coast and in ski resorts in winter. Plan your daily costs with the Trip Budget Calculator and convert lari with the Currency Converter.

Hospitality is central to Georgian life, and a long meal (supra) is led by a toastmaster, the tamada, who proposes toasts in order; it is polite to wait for a toast before drinking. Cover shoulders and knees in churches; women are often expected to cover their hair, and scarves are usually available at the entrance. Georgians are proud of their language, alphabet and history: a few words of Georgian go a long way.

Georgian food is a reason to visit on its own. Try khachapuri (cheese bread, with the boat-shaped Adjarian version topped with egg and butter), khinkali dumplings (eaten by hand, holding the knot), walnut-based dishes such as badrijani nigvzit, and churchkhela, grape-and-nut sweets. Georgia's traditional winemaking in clay qvevri vessels is recognised by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage; Kakheti is the place to taste it.

Most visits to Georgia are trouble-free, and violent crime against visitors is uncommon. Several governments, including the UK, advise against all travel to the Russian-occupied regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia and against all but essential travel near their administrative boundary lines. Political demonstrations take place in central Tbilisi; avoid them. Road safety is the most practical risk: driving can be fast and overtaking aggressive, especially on mountain roads.