Georgia is an easy country for a first visit: citizens of the EU, the UK, the US, Canada, Australia, Israel and many other countries can stay up to a year without a visa, prices are moderate, and people are welcoming. A few things are worth knowing before you land, above all that health insurance has been mandatory for visitors since 1 January 2026. Here is a practical checklist.
Documents and insurance
- Visa: most Western passport holders enter visa-free for up to one year. Check your own nationality on the Georgian Foreign Ministry's site, as the list changes from time to time.
- Passport: it must be valid for your whole stay; many airlines and guides recommend at least six months.
- Insurance: since 1 January 2026, every tourist needs health and accident insurance with at least 30,000 GEL of cover for the whole stay. You can be asked for proof at check-in or at the border, so keep the policy on your phone and on paper. If you plan to ski, raft or trek high, make sure the policy covers it.
- Medicines: Georgia is strict about some medicines, including products with codeine. Check before you pack, and carry prescriptions.
Money: lari, cards and cash
The currency is the Georgian lari (GEL). Cards, including contactless payment, work almost everywhere in Tbilisi, Batumi and Kutaisi: supermarkets, restaurants, the metro, taxis booked by app. Outside the cities it is different. Village guesthouses, roadside stalls, church candle sellers and small family wineries often take cash only, and there are no ATMs in remote areas such as Khevsureti or Tusheti. Take out lari in town before you head into the mountains. Exchange offices are everywhere in Tbilisi and usually give better rates than the airport.
For a sense of daily costs, see how much a trip to Georgia costs.
SIM cards and eSIMs
There are three mobile networks: Magti, Silknet and Cellfie (formerly Beeline). All three have desks in the arrivals hall at Tbilisi airport and sell cheap prepaid data packages; bring your passport. All three also offer eSIMs. Magti is usually said to have the widest coverage in the mountains, but in high valleys expect gaps whatever network you use.
Getting around
- Taxis: in Tbilisi and Batumi use a ride-hailing app such as Bolt, which shows the fare in advance. If you hail a taxi on the street, agree the price first.
- Driving: Georgian driving is assertive. Expect fast overtaking, including on bends, cows on country roads, and narrow mountain roads with steep drops. Many rental agreements also exclude the high mountain tracks. This is the main reason many visitors choose a driver; our guide to hiring a private driver-guide in Georgia explains the options.
- Distances: the country is small, but mountain roads are slow. Tbilisi to Stepantsminda is 152 km and takes 3–3.5 hours without stops.
Churches and dress
You will visit a lot of churches. Cover your shoulders and knees; women are expected to cover their hair, and men to take off their hats. Most big churches have wraps and scarves at the door, but a light scarf in your bag saves queueing for one. Speak quietly, don't photograph services without asking, and don't turn your back to the altar for a selfie.
Tipping
Many restaurants in Tbilisi and Batumi add a service charge of about 10% to the bill; if you see a "service" line, you don't need to add more. Where there is none, 10% is normal for good service. App taxis don't expect a tip. For guides and drivers on a day trip, a tip is welcome but optional.
Water and food
Tap water in Tbilisi is widely drunk, and there are public drinking fountains in the city. In the countryside many people drink from springs. If you have a sensitive stomach, bottled water is cheap everywhere. Georgian meals are big and shared, and vegetarians do well thanks to bean, walnut and aubergine dishes.
Mondays and opening hours
Many museums close on Mondays, including the Georgian National Museum in Tbilisi, the Tsinandali house-museum in Kakheti, the Svaneti Museum in Mestia and the Dadiani Palace in Zugdidi. Put churches, monasteries, markets and outdoor sights on a Monday instead.
Safety
Georgia is generally a safe country to travel in, with little street crime. The usual city precautions apply: watch your bag in crowded places and at night. The real risks are on the roads and in the mountains: weather changes fast, high passes close after snow or landslides, and phone signal is patchy. The regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia are outside the government's control and are not open to normal tourist travel; most governments advise against going there. Read your own government's travel advice before you go.
Language
Georgian has its own alphabet, and signs in Tbilisi and on main roads are usually also in Latin letters. Younger people in cities often speak some English; older people are more likely to speak Russian. In villages, a guide or driver who speaks Georgian makes a real difference. Two words go a long way: gamarjoba (hello) and madloba (thank you).
When to go
May–June and September–October are the most comfortable months for a mixed trip: mild in Tbilisi and Kakheti, with the mountain roads usually open. July and August are hot in the lowlands but the main season for the high mountains. Winter suits Tbilisi, wine country and skiing, but the road to Kazbegi can close after snow.
Tours for a first trip
If you have one day in the capital, our Tbilisi City Explorer is a private walk through the Old Town with a guide. For a first look at the country, Georgia Highlights in 5 days covers Tbilisi, Kakheti, Kazbegi and Uplistsikhe, and the Classic Georgia 8-day private tour adds Borjomi and Vardzia. Every tour is private, with your own car and English-speaking driver-guide; see the tour page for the current price. Or build your own trip and we send a route and a quote. Nothing to pay now.
Sources
- UK Foreign Office: Georgia entry requirements
- US Embassy in Georgia: insurance for all tourists from 1 January 2026
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia: entering Georgia
- Magti: SIM cards for tourists at Georgian airports
- Wander-Lush: Georgian SIM cards
- Georgia National Tourism Administration: tipping
- Tbilisi Expat: tipping in Georgia
Last checked: September 2026. Entry and insurance rules can change; check official sources before you travel.
