Georgia (Country)
Georgia is the destination that makes experienced travelers feel like beginners again. This small country in the Caucasus region, at the meeting point of Europe and Asia, has been making wine for 8,000 years (longer than anywhere else on Earth), producing a cuisine that ranks among the most generous and flavorful in the region, and welcoming guests with a hospitality so deep it is practically a religion. A Georgian proverb says that a guest is a gift from God, and after your first dinner in a Georgian home, where the food does not stop coming, the wine flows freely from clay qvevri vessels, and your hosts toast your health, your family, and your friendship with genuine emotion, you will believe it.
The country sits between the Greater Caucasus mountains (with peaks exceeding 16,000 feet) and the Black Sea coast, packed with medieval churches, hilltop fortresses, ancient cave cities, and vineyards that stretch across valleys still farmed by hand. It is one of the most affordable destinations in Europe, one of the safest, and one of the most rapidly trending among travelers who have already done the obvious places and want something genuinely different.
Where to Go
Tbilisi is one of the most atmospheric capitals in Europe. The old town is a photogenic tangle of narrow streets, leaning balconies, crumbling (and renovating) facades, and sulfur baths that have been operating since the 5th century. The Abanotubani bathhouse district, where you soak in naturally heated sulfur water in domed brick buildings, is an essential experience. The Narikala Fortress above the old town, the Peace Bridge (a futuristic glass structure spanning the Mtkvari River), and the Dry Bridge flea market add layers of interest.
The Kakheti wine region, about two hours east of Tbilisi, is the heart of Georgian winemaking. Over 500 grape varieties are indigenous to Georgia, and the qvevri method of fermenting wine in buried clay vessels has been recognized by UNESCO. Wine tastings here are not polished affairs with tasting notes and spittoons. They are multi hour feasts (supras) with a tamada (toastmaster) leading rounds of toasts over courses of food that never seem to end.
Kazbegi (Stepantsminda) in the Greater Caucasus is one of the most dramatic mountain settings in the world. The Gergeti Trinity Church, a 14th century stone church sitting on a hilltop at 7,120 feet with the snow capped peak of Mount Kazbek (16,512 feet) rising behind it, is one of the most iconic images in the Caucasus. The drive from Tbilisi along the Georgian Military Highway, winding through mountain gorges and over the Jvari Pass, is stunning.
Svaneti in the northwest is a remote, mountainous region known for its medieval stone defensive towers, which dot the landscape of every village. Mestia and Ushguli (the latter is one of the highest continuously inhabited settlements in Europe at 7,086 feet) offer incredible trekking and a culture that has remained largely unchanged for centuries.
Mtskheta, just 20 minutes from Tbilisi, is Georgia’s ancient capital and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Jvari Monastery on a hilltop and the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral in town are two of the most important religious sites in the country.
Food and Drink
Georgian food is one of the great undiscovered cuisines of the world. Khinkali (giant soup dumplings), khachapuri (cheese filled bread, with the Adjarian version topped with an egg and butter), badrijani (walnut stuffed eggplant), and pkhali (vegetable and walnut pate) are staples that appear at every meal. Mtsvadi (grilled meat skewers), chanakhi (lamb stew), and lobio (spiced bean stew served in a clay pot) are hearty and satisfying. And the bread, baked in a tone (tandoor style clay oven), is addictive.
The supra (feast) is the defining Georgian social experience. Presided over by a tamada who leads a sequence of toasts to God, family, country, friendship, and the departed, a supra can last for hours and involves extraordinary quantities of food, wine, and emotion. Being invited to one is a privilege.
Where to Stay
Rooms Hotel Tbilisi in the Vera neighborhood is a design hotel in a converted Soviet era publishing house that has become the social hub of Tbilisi’s creative class. The Biltmore Hotel Tbilisi is the city’s grande dame luxury option. Castello Mare Hotel on the Black Sea coast near Batumi offers beachfront boutique style. In Kakheti, Chateau Mere wine resort and Lopota Lake Resort combine winery stays with comfortable accommodations. In Kazbegi, Rooms Hotel Kazbegi has the best views of Mount Kazbek from its terrace.
Let Us Plan Your Georgia Trip
Georgia is one of the most rewarding destinations we recommend, and it offers value that is almost impossible to find elsewhere in Europe. We will help you navigate the wine regions, arrange mountain excursions, and build an itinerary that gives you the food, the culture, and the hospitality that make this country unforgettable.
