Georgia Travel Guide — Europe's Most Underrated Country

Most people who go to Georgia come back saying the same thing: they cannot believe nobody told them about it sooner. A country that sits at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, with the Caucasus mountains, ancient cave cities, UNESCO wine regions and a capital city that looks like it fell out of a storybook — and almost nobody from the UK, US or Australia goes there.

That is changing fast. But right now, in 2026, you can still walk through Tbilisi's old town on a Tuesday morning and feel like you have discovered something. That window is closing. Here is everything you need before it does.

Where Is Georgia and How Do You Get There?

Georgia (the country, not the US state) sits between Russia to the north, Turkey to the south-west, Armenia to the south and Azerbaijan to the east. The capital Tbilisi has a modern international airport served by direct flights from London Gatwick (Wizz Air), Istanbul, Dubai, Doha, Tel Aviv, Kyiv and most major European cities.

Flight time from London: approximately 5 hours direct. From Dubai or Doha: 3–3.5 hours. From most European cities: 3–4 hours. This is not a long-haul commitment — it is a short-haul price for a destination that feels genuinely remote.

Tbilisi — The Capital Nobody Warned You About

Tbilisi is one of the most beautiful and genuinely surprising cities in the world. The old town (Kala) is a maze of wooden balconies, Persian-influenced architecture, Orthodox churches, synagogues and mosques within walking distance of each other — a physical record of every empire that has moved through the Caucasus over 1,500 years.

• Narikala Fortress — the hilltop fortress overlooking the old town. Free to enter, reach it by cable car from Rike Park (₾2.50, about £0.70) or walk up through the sulphur bath district
• Abanotubani (sulphur baths) — the domed bathhouse district fed by natural sulphur springs. Private bath rooms cost £10–20 per hour per person. One of Tbilisi's most distinctive and genuinely relaxing experiences
• Shardeni Street — the bar and restaurant strip in the heart of the old town. Every cuisine, Georgian wine bars, craft beer, live music. Budget £15–25 for a full evening out including wine
• Rustaveli Avenue — the main boulevard with the National Museum, opera house and Soviet-era grandeur. Free to walk

Beyond Tbilisi — The Real Georgia

Kazbegi and the Greater Caucasus

The Gergeti Trinity Church sitting at 2,170 metres with Mount Kazbek (5,047m) as its backdrop is one of the most photographed images in the Caucasus — and deservedly so. Kazbegi town (now called Stepantsminda) is 2.5 hours from Tbilisi by marshrutka (shared minibus, £4) or taxi (£40–60 return). The hike to Gergeti Church takes 2–3 hours up and back from town. Do this trip on a clear day — the mountain is frequently cloud-covered.

Kakheti Wine Region

Georgia invented wine — or at least the oldest archaeological evidence of wine-making (8,000 years ago) was found here. The Kakheti region east of Tbilisi is the heart of Georgian wine production. The Alazani Valley has hundreds of family wineries doing tastings for £3–8, a winery lunch typically costs £8–15, and the amber (orange) wines made in traditional clay qvevri vessels are unlike anything produced anywhere else in the world.

Uplistsikhe and Mtskheta

Uplistsikhe is a 3,000-year-old rock-hewn city carved directly into a hillside above the Mtkvari River — entry costs £3 and it is invariably almost empty. Mtskheta, the ancient capital of Georgia 20km from Tbilisi, contains two UNESCO World Heritage churches and can be visited as a half-day trip.

Georgia Travel Costs — What Everything Actually Costs

Do You Need a Visa for Georgia?

Georgia operates one of the world's most open visa policies. Citizens of the EU, UK, USA, Canada, Australia, most of the Middle East and many other nationalities can enter visa-free for up to 365 days. You read that correctly — one year, no visa required. Check the official Georgian e-Visa portal for your specific nationality as policy does occasionally change.

When to Visit Georgia