Georgia

Georgia packs a lot into a small country, so even a week gives you a great mix of cities, mountains, and wine country. Many travellers start in Tbilisi, spending 2–3 days wandering the sulphur bath district of Abanotubani, riding the cable car to Narikala Fortress, and getting lost in the wooden balconies and courtyards of the Old Town. Use Hello’s trip planning to slot in must-sees like the Chronicle of Georgia monument, the Dry Bridge flea market, and a half-day at the National Museum.

From Tbilisi, plan at least a day trip to Kazbegi (Stepantsminda) for views of Gergeti Trinity Church against Mount Kazbek, or stay overnight for sunrise hikes. Another classic 1–2 day add-on is Kakheti, the main wine region around Signagi and Telavi, where you can visit family-run wineries and qvevri wine cellars. If you have 9–10 days, add Kutaisi (for nearby Prometheus Cave and Okatse Canyon) or the Black Sea city of Batumi for a more modern, seaside vibe.

Use Hello to sketch out routes between cities, keep tickets and reservations in one place, and note travel times—mountain roads can be slower than maps suggest, so it helps to build in buffer days.

Georgia is easy to navigate once you understand the main options. Marshrutkas (shared minibuses) connect almost every town; they’re cheap and frequent, but can be cramped and only leave when full. Ask at your guesthouse for the right station and departure times, and keep small bills of 5–20 GEL handy for fares. For longer routes like Tbilisi–Batumi or Tbilisi–Zugdidi, consider the train: it’s usually more comfortable and you can buy tickets in advance.

Roads in the Caucasus can be narrow, steep, and busy with trucks and livestock. If you rent a car, drive defensively, avoid night driving in the mountains, and allow more time than you think for routes like the Georgian Military Highway. When hiring a driver, agree the price upfront in GEL; Hello’s expense splitting makes it easy to share the cost with travel companions.

City taxis are plentiful and inexpensive, but always confirm the fare before you start the ride if there’s no meter. With a Hello eSIM activated before you land, you can stay online for maps and translations without worrying about roaming charges, even on remote mountain roads.

Georgian cuisine is a highlight of any trip, and portions are generous, so it pays to order to share. Start with khachapuri (cheese-filled bread), khinkali (soup-filled dumplings), and pkhali (vegetable pâtés with walnuts). In western regions like Samegrelo, seek out spicy Megrelian kharcho and sulguni cheese; in Tbilisi, try a traditional supra (feast) at a local restaurant. A filling meal with wine can be found from 20–40 GEL (roughly US$7–14) at mid-range spots.

Georgia is also one of the world’s oldest wine cultures. In Kakheti and around Signagi, you can tour vineyards, visit family wine cellars, and taste amber wines aged in clay qvevri. Many Tbilisi wine bars offer tasting flights—use Hello’s budget tracking to keep an eye on how those glasses add up over a week.

A few practical tips:

• Eat khinkali with your hands, biting and sipping the broth first.
• Vegetarians will find plenty of options like lobio (bean stew) and badrijani (eggplant with walnut).
• Tipping around 10% is appreciated in sit-down restaurants.

If you’re dining as a group, Hello’s expense splitting saves you from mental math over a table full of shared plates and carafes of wine.

Georgia uses the Georgian lari (GEL). Cards are widely accepted in cities, but keep cash for markets, marshrutkas, and small guesthouses. ATMs are common in Tbilisi, Batumi, and Kutaisi; withdraw in GEL to avoid poor conversion rates. Everyday prices are still relatively friendly: a city metro ride is about 1–2 GEL, coffee 5–8 GEL, and a guesthouse room in many towns starts around 80–150 GEL (roughly US$30–55).

To stay online, buy a Hello eSIM before you fly and activate it on arrival. You can call your guesthouse, order taxis, and use maps instantly—no hunting for kiosks or swapping physical SIM cards after a long flight. This is especially handy if you’re arriving late or heading straight into the mountains.

Use Hello’s budget tracking to set a daily allowance in GEL and log expenses like transport, wine tastings, and entrance fees (many churches are free, but some sites and museums charge small amounts). It helps you see, in real time, whether you can stretch to that extra wine tour or upgrade to a boutique hotel.

Keep a photo of your passport, hotel address, and travel insurance in the app or cloud storage, and carry a small amount of cash in a separate pocket—Georgia is generally safe, but crowded markets and marshrutkas are still places to stay alert.