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New Life Georgia Travel Tips

Country Overview

Georgia

Facts and Figures

Official name: Georgia
Area: 69 700 sq. Km
Population: 4 385 400
Capital: Tbilisi
Main cities: Kutaisi, Batumi, Rustavi, Telavi, Zugdidi, Ozurgeti, Poti
Time zone: GMT + 4:00
Country code: GEO
Calling code: +995 (+995 32 – for Tbilisi)
Official language: Georgian
Political structure: Democratic Republic

Geography

Georgia is located in a region known as the Caucasus at the crossroads of Europe and Asia. Georgia shares borders with Russia (to the North), Azerbaijan (to the South-East), Armenia (to the South) and Turkey (to the south-west).

Climate

Georgia’s climate is diverse; although, it is warm and pleasant throughout most of the country. The Greater Caucasus Mountains influence the climate of Georgia by keeping cold northern winds away. The Lesser Caucasus Mountains partially protect the country form dry and hot air masses from the South. Winters are short and rather mild. Spring and Autumn are the wettest seasons, Winter and Summer – the driest. The average temperature in summer is between 20-24 degrees Celsius, in winter 2-4. Humidity is lower.

 

 

TRAVEL INFORMATION

Visa

For detailed information please visit www.mfa.gov.ge

There are no visa requirements for visitors from many nations. A passport valid for at least 6 months is required for all nationalities. There is no visa needed for stays up to 360 days for nationals of:

  • The European Union
  • United States of America
  • Canada
  • Japan
  • Switzerland
  • Lichtenstein
  • Norway
  • Israel
  • Turkey
  • Principality of Andorra
  • San-Marino
  • Republic of Iceland
  • United Arab Emirates
  • State of Kuwait
  • South Korea
  • State of Qatar
  • Kingdom of Bahrain
  • Oman

Those from nations that required a visa to enter the country can apply for one at the Georgian consulates in their country of origin or upon arrival at Tbilisi International Airport.

 

Get to Georgia by Air, Road, Sea

By Air:

Georgia has a very convenient geographic location; making it very easy to reach by all types of transportation. It takes only 3-4 hours to reach Georgia from the center of Europe by plane. There are non-stop flights to the capital of Georgia (Tbilisi) from: Aktau; Alma-Ata, Amsterdam, Athens, Baku, Dnepropetrovsk, Donetsk, Dubai, Frankfurt, Istanbul, Kharkov, Kiev, London, Minsk, Munich, Paris, Prague, Riga, Tel-Aviv, Vienna, Yerevan. Daily flights are available from Kiev, Munich, Istanbul and Baku. There are also flights from other cities three-four times a week. There is three main international Airports in Georgia: Tbilisi, Kutaisi and Batumi International Airports. Kutaisi is 3 hours drive distance from Tbilisi and Batumi is 7 hours drive Distance from the Capital of Georgia.

By Bus:

Daily buses to Tbilisi depart from Baku, Istanbul, Ankara, Trabzon and Yerevan. There are everyday departures from numerous cites of Armenia: Yerevan, Vanadzori, Stepanavi, Gumri, Artek, Spitak; Azerbaijan: Baku; Turkey: Istanbul, Trabzon. From Athens, buses depart several times a week.

By Train:

There are International connections available from Azerbaijan and Armenia. For more information visit the website: www.railway.ge and www.info-tbilisi.com

By Car:

One can reach Georgia by car from Europe as well as from Asia. Georgia has highways connecting it directly to Azerbaijan, Armenia and Turkey. Crossing the border from these three countries is free of charges.

By The Sea:

Another pleasant option for reaching Georgia is by sea. There are two main ports available in Batumi and Poti.

Local Transportation

Taxi

You can contact Taxi service ‘’Taxify’’at: 0322 42 27 14 . Or Alternatively, you can download Yandex Taxi Application and order it online. Taxi costs 30-40 Gel(Maximum) from Airport to City Center, while Taxi fair around the city is 5 to 15 Gel depending on the distance.

Metro (underground)

The Metro can be used to get around in Tbilisi (the capital of Georgia). Hours of operation are from 6 am to 12 pm. Fare for traveling by metro is 0.5 GEL (50 Tetri). Please note: you must buy a plastic public transport card (price – 2GEL) that can be used for buses, Metro and mini-vans; you must however have the card to access the Metro, but not buses and vans. It is possible to add credit to your card at Metro stations or conveniently located automated pay-boxes throughout the city.

Local Railway

Connections are available everyday from Tbilisi to the following cities: Ozurgeti, Batumi, Zugdidi and Poti. Please visit: www.railway.ge

Buses

You can also use so called yellow buses to get around. The fare is 0.5 GEL (50 Tetri), coins or card are accepted. Travel by mini-van is also an option; they can be hailed by raising your hand after which it will stop and pick you up. The maximum fare is 80 Tetri (coins or card). Please note that the bus and subway fare is paid via control-cash devices. Therefore, it is forbidden to pay the bus driver directly. You should pay the fare (use the pay-box as you enter the bus) as soon as you get on the bus. Please, note that you’ll be charged 15 GEL if you are caught without a ticket/recipe (the pay-box gives a recipe after payment).

Local Flights

Flights are Available from Tbilisi international Airport to Batumi Airport several times a week. Please visit: www.tbilisiairport.com

Car rental service

You can use a car rental service in Tbilisi from the following car rental companies:

AVIS
www.avis.ge
Transport Georgia
www.carrent.ge
Jeep Rent
www.jeeprent.info-tbilisi.com

 

MEDICAL SERVICE (English Speaking)

MediClub Georgia

Phone number: (+995 ) 32 225- 1991
Web http://www.mediclubgeorgia.ge/default.aspx

 

WHERE TO STAY

You can book Hotel or Apartment via Booking.com or via expedia.com

 

WHERE TO BUY FOOD

Hypermarket Goodwill – goodwill.ge
Hypermarket Smart- smart.ge

 

FOOD AND ENTERTEINMENT

Night Clubs

http://bassiani.com
https://cafe-gallery.ge
https://khidi.ge

Cinemas

Amirani – www.amirani.ge
Rustaveli – www.rustaveli.com.ge
Sakartvelo – www.kinosaqartvelo.ge

Famous Georgian Restaurants

http://tsiskvili.ge
https://www.restaurantdadiani.com
http://www.tabla-ep.com
http://www.mgroup.ge/en/shadow-metekhi

Bars were you can have drinks as well as European Food

Stamba Hotel Bar – https://stambahotel.com/
Rooms Hotel Bar – https://roomshotels.com/
Radisson Hotel Bar – https://www.radissonblu.com/en/hotel-tbilisi
There are many nice Bars and small restaurants at Galaktion Tabidze Street as well as at Leselidze Street ( Old Tbilisi)

Tour Operators

Advanture Club Jomardi – http://www.jomardi.ge/index.php?lang=en
Aka Group – http://www.akagrouptravel.ge/
Arcadia Group – http://www.arcadiatravel.ge/en/
Concord Travel – http://www.concordtravel.ge/desktopdefault.aspx?lang=en
Georgian Holidays – http://www.georgianholidays.com
 

Shopping Malls

http://tbilisimall.com/en/contact
https://www.inyourpocket.com/tbilisi/Shopping/Shopping-Malls

 

Emergency Numbers

Police: 112

Emergency Medical Care: 112 or http://www.imss.ge