Travel Tips for Georgia (Country): 13 Useful Things to Know

You’re planning a trip to Georgia and want some insider tips to make things go smoothly?

We’ve got you!

We spent six months travelling all over Georgia by public transport, and we fell in love with this amazing country. There were some challenges, but that usually ends up being half the fun, right? It’s its character.

Here are all the actually useful travel tips for Georgia that you really need to know, from a couple of Georgia-obsessed backpackers.

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Useful Travel Tips for Georgia

Traditional Georgian Cuisine Has a Lot of Naturally Veg/Vegan Dishes

I was beside myself when we found the massive variety of local veg and vegan food options! Cheesy, carby, beans, dumplings, walnuts in everything, tasty salads, punchy veg stews.

We gave Georgia an 8/10 on the vegetarian-friendliness scale.

You will have no issues finding something vegetarian to eat even if you head well off the beaten path.

Coffee Country or Tea Town: Tea Town, although really there isn’t much prominence of either. Georgians drink wine instead 😉

Georgia is Recognised as the Birthplace of Wine

Wine has been being made in Georgia for 8,000 years. Yep, since before the French, and even before the ancient Egyptians!

The very oldest wine-making vessels, called qvevri, have been found right here.

Tipping Culture

Tips aren’t requested at restaurants, but there is often a non-negotiable service charge. It should be marked on the menu, and is usually around 10%, but we have seen it up to 18%.

Georgian Language is Like Nothing You Have Ever Seen!

Georgian script is beautiful and fascinating and swirly and it’s completely unique.

Learn some of the basics for your trip. I’ve put the Georgian script next to the English equivalent below.

Georgians Don’t Call Georgia, ‘Georgia’

In Georgian the country is called Sakhartvelo, so not even close to the anglicised version of the name!

Prepaid Tourist SIM Provider

Magti is really reliable. It has great optional add-ons like unlimited data for 24 hours (which is perfect for when you get to a guesthouse that has poor wifi or there is a power cut.)

Highlights of a Trip to Georgia

Definitely try to incorporate these into your Georgia itinerary:

Cash vs Card: 50/50

Georgian currency is the Lari (GEL) and I’d say it’s about 50/50 on whether you’ll have to pay with cash or card. Hotels, big restaurants, supermarkets etc. will have card payment options.

We discovered the best ATM for foreign cards with ZERO withdrawal fees is Basis Bank.

Travelling by Marshrutka is a Quintessential Georgian Experience

A marshrutka is a minivan bus common throughout ex-Soviet republics, and Georgia uses them to travel all over the country.

They don’t have much/any leg room, there’s only a tiny space for luggage, the drivers go super speedy, but they are affordable and will get you to your destination quickly.

It is a quintessential Georgian experience, and I would argue that you really have not been to Georgia if you haven’t squeezed yourself into a marshrutka!

The Train System is Limited But Good

Georgia has old Soviet trains that chug along at a painfully slow speed and high-speed modern trains, so make sure you check what you’re letting yourself in for before you book your ticket!

The network across the country is a little limited, but it will take you to many of the main cities and is definitely more comfortable than a squeezy marshrutka.

Driving is a Bit Chaotic

You will be shocked when you get to Georgia to see the condition of some of the cars on the road.

Literal half-cars will be being driven on the roads. ‘If it ain’t broke, why fix it?’ (Ok, they’re a bit broken, but they still go, so I get it!) It’s a bit of a shock when your Bolt driver turns up in a battered car, but having said this, we never actually felt unsafe on the roads.

Bolt is THE Taxi App

Bolt is great. Affordable, reliable, no having to barter, no need for cash.

Is Georgia in Europe or Asia?

This is a super controversial topic. Where is the Europe/Asia border? Who knows? Georgia sits in an area often referred to as Eurasia, but if you speak to Georgians, they will tell you that Georgia is in Europe. And when you visit Georgia, you will be able to tell that it feels European.

In a Nutshell

Georgia is the ultimate travel destination. It has one of the world’s best cuisines, mountains, coastline, skiing, hiking, characterful cities, medieval villages, UNESCO churches. It is the world’s oldest wine producer!

I dare you to go to Georgia and not say, ‘I could totally live here!’ at least once 😉

Take a look at all our Georgia blog posts to help you plan your trip.

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