Places to discover

Best places to visit in Georgia

Georgia is a top-quality destination: it is at once personal and spared from mass tourism, at once incredibly beautiful and boasting extremely diverse scenery in a limited area. It is home to the Caucasus mountain peaks, valleys filled with vineyards, a subtropical coast by the Black Sea, high plateaus and half-deserts...

Georgia has the attraction of an ancient and original culture which has left behind a colossal heritage. Medieval churches perched in impossible locations, fortresses with a very Oriental aspect, thermal baths, authentic villages... Not to mention Tbilissi, the charming, lively capital, overflowing with art and history, boasting dozens of churches, mosques, museums, sulphur baths and beautiful houses, typically surrounded by large balconies which allow residents to appreciate the southern climate and to laze about, Georgia-style.

Any visitor to Georgia will without doubt feel themselves succumbing to the charming hospitality of the inhabitants, which is just as the myths would have it. Fans of wine, dancing and polyphonic chanting, and proud of their delicious cuisine, the Georgians know how to entertain. They know how to share their traditions in a friendly way, such as that of banqueting, where the host is considered holy.

On the country's roads, you can bathe yourself in the Black Sea at port Batoumi, stroll around the old town of Sighnaghi, with its Tuscan ambiance, or wonder at the treasures of the spiritual capital, Mtskhéta. You can enjoy horse riding on the shepherds' highlands at Tusheti, climb up to the defence towers of Ushguli, in the high mountains of Svaneti, wind your way through the remote villages of Khevsureti. You can hike in the verdant nature park of Bordjomi-Kharagaouli, take part in the wine harvests at Kakhéti or check out the steppe at Vachlovani. Or choose to marvel at the amazing cave sites of Vardzia , Uplistsikhe and David Garedja !

Gudauri

Gudauri is Georgia's biggest ski station. It's in the heart of the Greater Caucasus, easily accessible from the capital, with modern infrastructure and interesting slopes.

Uplistsikhe

At its height, the ancient troglodyte village of Uplistsikhe had 20,000 inhabitants living in its underground passages.

Gori

Gori is a small city in Georgia lying 80 kilometres west of the capital, Tbilisi. It is the birthplace of Joseph Stalin.

A roundabout welcoming visitors to Georgia

Sadakhlo

Sadakhlo is a village in the extreme south of Kartli, peopled mainly by Azeris, and home to the main frontier post with Armenia.

Akhalts'ikhe

In the south of Georgia is the small town of Akhaltsikhé which only has a limited interest for tourist, except for its old town centre and attractive fortress.

Vardzia

A town carved into the rockface, Vardzia resembles a human warren albeit it in stone.

Kutaisi

Second largest town in Georgia, Kutaisi has a superb old town as well as several, stunning religious sites.

Zugdidi

The capital of Mingrelia is a town that's home to 50,000; a vibrant, green hub that benefits from a sub-tropical climate. People come here for its lush, botanical gardens and the Dadiani Palace, a Georgian castle constructed in a European style.

Mestia

A small town located in the Greater Caucasus mountain range, Mestia is an ancient and historical place and well worth a visit.

Ushguli

Ushguli is one of the most beautiful places in Georgia. This ancient Svan village, with its houses each containing defensive towers, is the highest inhabited village in Europe - if it's even actually in Europe. It is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, along with all of Upper Svaneti.

Batumi

Batoumi is a Georgian seaside resort, 300km southwest of Gori. Batoumi is also an entry point to Turkey, being only 17km from the border.

Nokalakevi

Nokalakevi is a major archaeological site in western Georgia, and the biggest in Mingrelia. The extremely well preserved ruins of this 6th century fortress dominate the River Tekhuri and the Colchis plain.

Shkhara

At 5068m of altitude, Shkhara is the roof of Georgia and the third highest summit in the Caucasus. To the north, its slopes form the border with the Russian Federation. A spectacular mountain and a majestic glacier which you reach on a trek from Ushguli.

Kharagauli

Kharagauli is on the doorstep of the Bordjomi-Kharagauli National Park in the Lesser Caucasus. A small railway town in the narrow Imeretie Valley, it's a great departure point for hikes.

Vani

Vani is Georgia's most famous archaeological site The ancient capital of Colchis has given enormous treasures to archaeologists, of which a number are visible in the archaeology museum today.

Dmanisi

Dmanisi is a triple site, triply interesting! It's the birthplace of the 'Dmanisi Man', the oldest hominid known in Eurasia. The site also hosts the ruins of fortified medieval city. One of the most beautiful churches of the south of Georgia is also there.

Bolnissi

Bolnissi is a small town of Kvemo Kartli, south of Tbilisi. It is visited for the curious testimonials of its German past and for its church, a few kilometres from the centre, which bears the oldest inscription in Georgian (fifth century).

Bakuriani

A ski resort in southern Georgia, Bakuriani is a lovely town located in a spectacular setting.

Gometsari

Gometsari is one of the four high mountain valleys that make up Tusheti. Inhabited by shepherds in summer, scattered with ancient villages, wild and untamed: this is the ideal destination for hikers and horse trekkers.

Mukharani

Mukhrani, a small town in Kartli, the historic cradle of Georgia, contains a number of significant remnants of the country's glorious history. With its impressive castle, its two churches and its château and surrounding wine estate, the town makes for an interesting place to visit.

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