Georgia

Why Georgia

There are countries that surprise you at every turn. Georgia is one of them. Four hours from Paris, wedged between the eternal snows of the Greater Caucasus and the subtropical shores of the Black Sea, it holds in a single territory what other continents separate for thousands of kilometers: eleventh-century monasteries perched in front of glaciers, an old town with carved wooden balconies where night begins at midnight, and vineyards that have been practicing the same winemaking in clay amphorae for 8,000 years.

Tbilisi is the gateway and already a shock: the Abanotubani district and its sulphurous bathing domes seem to emerge from the depths of time, while the terraces of the illuminated Narikala fortress dominate a city that beats until dawn. Climb up to Kazbegi and the Georgian Military Road, and you will discover the other Georgia: vertiginous gorges, grey stone villages clinging to the mountainside, and the Church of the Trinity of Gergeti which stands out against a background of sky and snow at 2,170 meters. The most photographed image of the Caucasus, and rightly so.

What makes Georgia unique is also the warmth of its inhabitants. The Georgian table, the supra (traditional banquet), is an institution: the tamada (master of ceremonies) raises his glass to the toast of the guests for hours, and the dishes follow one another endlessly. Khinkali (giant dumplings in broth), khachapuri (melted cheese bread with an egg), mtsvadi (wood-fired skewers): Georgian cuisine is one of the most generous and least known in the world.

When to go

Georgia can be visited year-round, but the seasons drastically shape the experience.

May-June and September-Octoberare the two ideal windows. In spring, the mountain pastures of Kazbegi explode with green after the snow melts, and the attendance remains reasonable. In the autumn, Kakheti lives to the rhythm of the Rtveli (the grape harvest), the forests redden at the foot of the Caucasus, and the Tbilisoba festival (3-4 October) transforms the old town into a giant party. Temperatures are mild (15-25°C during the day in Tbilisi), prices are correct.

July-August: summer is hot in Tbilisi (30-32°C during the day) but bearable. The mountains are at their best: hiking, glaciers, bivouacs. It is also the high tourist season and prices are rising. Beach lovers go to Batumi on the Black Sea.

Winter (December-March): Tbilisi is still pleasant to visit, but Kazbegi and the mountain roads are often cut off by snow. Skiers travel to Gudauri (2,200 m), a booming resort. Orthodox Christmas on January 7 is a magical time in the streets of the capital.

How much does it cost

Georgia is one of the most affordable destinations you can dream of outside of Southeast Asia. The cost of living is about 44% lower than in France. Expect to pay €35 to €50 per day on a tight budget (family guesthouse, local meals, marshrutkas) and €65 to €100 per day for comfort (3-star hotel, tourist restaurants, a few excursions).

A meal in a local restaurant costs €5 to €8. A freshly baked khachapuri costs €1.50. A trip by Tbilisi-Kutaisi marshrutka (3 hours) costs €5. Entrance fees to the sites (Vardzia, Mtskheta) rarely exceed €3.

Organized tours from France start at around €795 per person for 7-8 days (excluding flights). Paris-Tbilisi flights are €180-250 in low season and can exceed €400 in July-August. Air France and Georgian Airways operate direct flights from CDG.

Where to go

Georgia is a compact country: you can cross from east to west in a day's drive. But each region has its own personality.

Tbilisiis the obligatory passage and the perpetual surprise. Allow a minimum of 3 nights to explore the old town, the sulfur baths, the Dry Bridge flea market, and experience the Georgian night.Mtskheta, the ancient capital 20 minutes from Tbilisi, is the Christian spiritual heart of the country: the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral and the Djvari Monastery can be visited in half a day.

Kazbegiis the reward of lovers of the mountains and the great outdoors. The Georgian Military Road is itself a spectacle: ruined castles, icy gorges, fortresses balanced on cliffs. The church of Gergeti facing Mount Kazbek (5,047 m) is one of those landscapes that remains engraved.

Kakheti(Sighnaghi, Telavi) is the land of wine. The vineyards of Rkatsiteli and Saperavi stretch as far as the eye can see in the Alazani Valley, at the foot of the mountains. Sighnaghi, the City of Love, offers breathtaking panoramas of the snow-capped Caucasus. Wine tastings in qvevri are an experience in their own right.

Kutaisi and Western Georgiacontain the monasteries of Gelati and Bagrati, the cave of Prometheus (5 km of illuminated concretions) and the gorges of Okatse.Vardzia, in the south of the country, is the most spectacular cave city in the Caucasus: 500 caves carved into volcanic rock in the twelfth century.

Batumi, on the Black Sea, plays the card of assumed contrast: subtropical seaside, modern architecture, and Adjarian cuisine with the khachapuri adjari (a dough boat overflowing with melted cheese and egg).

Our itineraries

In pictures

Practical advice

Formalities

French nationals do not need a visa to enter Georgia (exemption up to 365 days). Since January 1, 2026, health and accident insurance is mandatory upon entry: minimum coverage of 30,000 GEL (approximately €9,500), written in English or Georgian. Take out classic travel insurance before leaving, it usually meets this requirement. Passport recommended (rather than identity card). Validate the validity of the passport for the entire duration of the stay.

Two areas are formally discouraged and inaccessible in practice: Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Do not try to enter from Russia: you risk criminal prosecution in Georgia.

Georgia has one of the toughest drug policies in the world. Even drugs containing codeine or benzodiazepines require customs documentation. Find out before you go if you have a prescription.

Getting around

Marshrutkas (collective minibuses) crisscross the country at low prices. For Tbilisi-Kutaisi: about €5, 3 hours. For Tbilisi-Kazbegi: shared 4x4 jeeps leave every morning from Didube bus station (€10, 3h). The train connects Tbilisi with Kutaisi and Batumi (2h30 to 5h, €5-15). Car rental (€25-50/day) is ideal for Kakheti and the south (Vardzia). The main roads are in good condition; some mountain tracks require a 4x4.

Culture and uses

Georgia is a country with an Orthodox Christian majority (Autocephalous Orthodox Church). Monasteries and cathedrals are active places of worship: cover shoulders and knees, women wear headscarves. The culture of hospitality ("tamada" and supras) is sacred: accepting an invitation to the table is an honor. Tipping is not obligatory but appreciated (10% in restaurants).

The Georgian language uses a single alphabet, Mkhedruli, which is incomprehensible to the uninitiated. Learn a few basic words: "gamardjobt" (hello), "madloba" (thank you). English is spoken by young people in the big cities; Russian is still understood by the older generations.

Frequently asked questions