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Visa Requirements A passport valid for at least 6 months is required for visitors of all nationalities. There is no visa requirement for: Nationals of Israel, Japan, Canada, United States of America and members of European Union countries. For CIS nationals except of the Russian Federation and Turkmenistan do not require a visa. All these nationals are allowed to stay for 90 days.
Time Time GMT +4 hours
Power supply |
| The electrical current in the Republic of Georgia is 220 V, 50 Hz alternating current. EU standard plugs work across Georgia. To use US-purchased electric-powered equipment, bring a converter and an adapter. Power-cuts can happen. EU standard plugs work across Georgia. |
Currency 1 Lari (GEL) = 100 tetri. Notes of GEL 100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2and 1. Coins of 50, 20, 10 and 5 tetri. Currency can be changed in the currency exchange points available everywhere in the city. There is no limitation on the amount of money exchanged. No exchange commission is charged. Credit & debit cards are accepted in hotels, numerous restaurant and shops in Tbilisi.
Vaccinations There are no mandatory vaccinations.
Telephone Country code: 995. The area code for Tbilisi is 32.
Mobile telephone: GSM 900 and 1800 networks. Coverage is excellent and extends over all the lower lying areas and the coast, and many mountain regions as well. SIM cards can easily be purchased all over Georgia, and scratch off calling cards are available everywhere. Language: English is spoken widely, as are other European languages. Phrase books are widely available, see our online phrase page.
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- Georgia is the cradle of wine. The oldest seeds of grape and wine make apparatus were found in Georgia, and even the word wine comes from Georgian word g’vino.
- The highest occupied settlement in Europe is in Georgia: Thcakrulo (just try to pronounce that one!)
- More people in Georgia live to be over 100 than almost anywhere else. They say its the yogurt, the organic food and wine and our zest for life.
- Georgia, has more bio-diversity than some continents. You can hike in one day from subtropical marshes to lofty alpine zones, from glaciers to vineyards.
- Georgia has one of the largest proportions of land designated as national park, about 25% (in contrast, only 4% of the USA is protected). Fully 40 % of Georgia’s territory is forest, much of it old growth
- We are home to more than 500 unique variety of grape, most of them used for wine, more than anywhere else in the world.
- Georgian hospitality is legendary. We truly believe that guests are a gift from God, and treat them accordingly. The Georgian tradition of toasting (which we also claim to have invented) is poetry and philosophy united.
Gatting Around Georgia »
Security and Safety »
Entrance by car is possible via Turkey, Russia, Armenia and Aserbaidschan. Mini-busses go to/from Georgia and to/from all 4 of these countries several times a day every day.
Entrance by car is possible via Turkey. You can now drive directly to Turkey via Greece over the huge Bosporus Bridge, the only bridge in the world which connects two continents.
Unfortunately you cannot drive directly from Russia to Georgia at this time. All Russian borders are currently closed to foreigners. The only possibility is the ferry from Sotschi to either Batumi or Poti.
In general taxis are dirt cheap, and always available.
Georgia is a vastly different country than it was just after the fall of the Soviet empire. Though there are some unresolved border issues the country as a whole is very peaceful and quiet, people are safe both inside the cities and in the montains. Since the non-violent Rose Revolution things here have vastly changed, NATO now has a large program to professionalize the military, and most corruption has now been eliminated from day to day life. Indeed, Georgia has been declared to be the worlds #1 reformer.
As with any kind of travel anywhere in the world you need to be always aware of what dangers there might be around you, but for the most part Georgia is much safer than you might expect for.
The only two areas of Georgia that should be avoided are Abkhazia and South Ossetia, but since travel to there is extremely difficult, it should not be hard to do.
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