Georgia First Time — 25 Tips from a Local Guide (2026)

I'm Timur, a private guide in Georgia since 2023. Hundreds of first-time visitors have come through my tours. Most of them had the same questions: "Which SIM card?", "Where do I exchange money?", "What should I eat?", "How do I avoid being ripped off?" I've compiled all the answers into one article. Every tip comes from personal experience, not from Google.

SIM Card & Internet

Tip 1. Buy a Magti SIM at the Airport

Georgia has three mobile operators: Magti, Silknet (Geocell), and Beeline. My recommendation — Magti. Best coverage in the mountains (Kazbegi, Svaneti, Tusheti), stable 4G in cities. The Magti stand at Tbilisi Airport is open 24/7 — even if you land at 3 a.m.

Price: tourist package — ₾20 (about $7) for 15 GB / 30 days. You only need your passport. Registration takes 5 minutes.

If 15 GB isn't enough (navigation + photos + video calls will eat through it in 2 weeks), you can top up via the Magti app. An extra 10 GB costs ₾10.

Tip 2. Wi-Fi is Everywhere

Every café, restaurant, hotel, and hostel has free Wi-Fi. So does Tbilisi's metro. The password is usually on a sign near the entrance, or just ask the staff. In the mountains (Kazbegi, Mestia) guesthouses have Wi-Fi but speeds are reminiscent of 2010.

Transport: Taxi, Metro, Minibuses

Tip 3. Use Bolt or Yandex Go Only

Do not get into a street taxi. Seriously. Cabbies without meters charge tourists 3–5 times the fair rate. Install Bolt (cheaper) or Yandex Go (also works). Link your card. Done.

Tip 4. Metro — ₾1 per Ride

Tbilisi has a metro system. Two lines, 23 stations. A single ride costs ₾1. You need a "Metromani" card — buy it at any station for ₾2 (deposit) and top it up with any amount. The same card works on buses and minibuses.

The metro runs from 06:00 to 00:00. Trains come every 3–5 minutes. Clean, safe, air-conditioned.

Tip 5. Minibuses for Intercity Travel

Minibuses (marshrutkas) are Georgia's primary intercity transport. They depart from bus stations: Didube (west — Kutaisi, Batumi, Mestia), Samgori (east — Kakheti, Telavi, Sighnaghi), Ortachala (south — Marneuli, Armenia border).

Minibus to Kazbegi (Stepantsminda) — ₾15, departing from Didube every hour from 07:00 to 17:00. To Batumi — ₾25–30, journey time 5–6 hours. To Sighnaghi — ₾8, about 2 hours.

Tip 6. Car Rental — Only with Experience

Car rental in Georgia starts from ₾80/day (sedan) to ₾150 (SUV). You need an international driver's licence. Petrol costs ₾3.2–3.5 per litre. City roads are fine. Mountain roads feature switchbacks, narrow sections without guardrails, and cows in the middle of the road.

If you have no mountain driving experience, hire a driver instead. The Georgian Military Highway in bad weather is no place for experiments.

Money: GEL, Exchange, Cards

Tip 7. Exchange at Currency Offices, Not Banks

The currency is the Georgian Lari (GEL, symbol: ₾). 2026 exchange rate: $1 ≈ ₾2.7. €1 ≈ ₾2.9.

Where to exchange: currency exchange offices in central Tbilisi (Kote Abkhazi Street, Rustaveli Ave, Agmashenebeli Ave). Rates are 2–5% better than banks. No commission. No passport required.

Don't exchange at the airport — the rate is 10–15% worse. If you need lari immediately, withdraw from a Bank of Georgia or TBC ATM at the airport (fee: ₾2–3). Exchange the rest in the city.

Tip 8. Cards Work Almost Everywhere

Visa and Mastercard are accepted at 90% of places in Tbilisi. Mir cards do not work. UnionPay works in some places. In rural areas (villages, small cafés, markets) — cash only. Always keep ₾50–100 on you.

Tip 9. Tipping is Optional but Appreciated

There is no obligatory tipping culture in Georgia. Restaurants sometimes add a 10% service charge — check your bill. If there's no charge, 5–10% is considerate, but no one will be offended if you don't leave anything. For guides and drivers — ₾20–50 per day is the norm, but it's entirely up to you.

Language: English, Georgian Phrases

Tip 10. English is Widely Spoken

In Tbilisi, people under 30 commonly speak English. Hotel and restaurant staff almost always speak English. App-based taxis (Bolt/Yandex) require no language at all.

In the regions, it's harder. In Kakheti, older generations may speak Russian. In Svaneti — 50/50. In Batumi — English is widely understood.

Tip 11. 10 Georgian Words That Will Change Everything

• Gamarjoba — hello. Say this when you enter any shop or café. The reaction is instant and warm
• Madloba — thank you
• Ki — yes
• Ara — no
• Kargi — good / okay
• Ramdeni ghirs? — how much does it cost?
• Gaumarjos! — the Georgian toast meaning "to victory!" — say this at the table and you'll instantly be a friend
• Bodishi — excuse me / sorry
• Genacvale — dear friend (use it only after a Georgian uses it with you first)
• Didi madloba — thank you very much

Food: Must-Try Dishes

Tip 12. Khinkali — the National Sport

Khinkali are Georgian dumplings the size of a fist, filled with seasoned meat and broth. How to eat them properly: hold by the knot on top, turn upside down, bite the side, drink the broth first, then eat the filling. Don't eat the knot — it's the handle. If someone corrects you — take it as a friendly lesson, Georgians teach khinkali-eating with love.

Price: ₾1.2–2.5 each. A portion is 5–10 pieces. Best in Tbilisi: Zakhar Zakharich (24/7), Machakhela (reliable chain), Kintsviseli (Griboedov St — a small locals' place).

Tip 13. Khachapuri — 4 Types, Try All

• Adjarian — boat-shaped with egg and butter. The most famous. ₾10–18
• Imeretian — round, cheese inside. Classic for breakfast. ₾6–10
• Megrelian — like Imeretian, but with cheese on top too. Double cheese. ₾8–12
• Penoiani — flaky pastry with cheese. Crispy and light. ₾5–8

Tip 14. Must-Try Dishes

• Shkmeruli — chicken in garlic cream sauce. The whole restaurant smells of it. ₾15–22
• Chakhokhbili — chicken braised with tomatoes and herbs. ₾12–18
• Badrijani — aubergine rolls with walnut paste. ₾8–12
• Pkhali — vegetable balls with walnut paste (beetroot, spinach, cabbage). ₾6–10
• Churchkhela — nuts threaded on a string and dipped in grape must. "Georgian Snickers". ₾3–5. Buy at Deserter's Market, not tourist shops
• Tkemali — sour plum sauce. Goes with everything. A bottle at the market — ₾5–8. Homemade (from a roadside grandmother) — ₾3–5
• Lobio — bean soup in a clay pot. ₾6–10. A winter dish, but served year-round

Tip 15. Wine — Drink, but Wisely

Georgian wine is incredibly affordable. A bottle in a shop — from ₾8 (decent) to ₾25 (very good). A glass in a restaurant — from ₾6. Varieties to try: Saperavi (red, tannic), Kindzmarauli (red, semi-sweet), Mtsvane (white, fresh), Tsinandali (white, classic).

Qvevri wine (from clay amphora) is a world of its own. It's amber-coloured, tannic, like nothing else. Try it at least once — even if it's not your style, the experience is worth it.

5 Common Tourist Mistakes

Tip 16. Don't Try to See All of Georgia in 3 Days

Georgia is small on the map but big on the roads. Tbilisi to Batumi: 6 hours. Tbilisi to Mestia: 9 hours. Tbilisi to Kazbegi: 3 hours (if the pass is open). Don't try to fit everything into one trip — you'll spend it in a car, not in the country.

Tip 17. Don't Exchange Money at the Airport

Airport exchange rates are 10–15% worse than in the city. If you need lari immediately, withdraw from a Bank of Georgia or TBC ATM (fee: ₾2–3). Exchange the rest in the city centre.

Tip 18. Don't Eat on Rustaveli Avenue

Rustaveli is Tbilisi's central boulevard. Restaurants on Rustaveli are tourist traps. The same dishes just two blocks away cost 30–50% less. Rule of thumb: the further from Rustaveli and Shardeni Street, the better and cheaper the food.

Tip 19. Don't Haggle in Restaurants

Bargaining in Georgia is fine at markets (Deserter's Market, the Dry Bridge flea market). In restaurants, cafés, and shops — prices are fixed. Trying to negotiate at a restaurant is a surefire way to get a cold reception.

Tip 20. Don't Refuse a Toast

When a Georgian raises a glass and gives a toast — it's not just an invitation to drink, it's a ritual. Declining is considered rude. You don't have to drink it all. Take a sip and put the glass down. The important thing is to listen to the toast and join in with "Gaumarjos!" at the end.

3, 5 & 7-Day Itineraries

Tip 21. 3-Day Itinerary — Tbilisi Only

Day 1: Old Town — Meidan Square, Abanotubani (sulphur baths district), Narikala Fortress (cable car), Leghvtakhevi waterfall, Sioni Cathedral. Evening — Bridge of Peace and dinner on Kote Abkhazi Street.

Day 2: Mtatsminda (funicular, ₾17), Rustaveli Avenue, National Museum (₾7), Fabrika creative space, Vera neighbourhood. Evening city walk.

Day 3: Deserter's Market (morning), Dry Bridge flea market, Sololaki district, lunch at Shavi Lomi. Afternoon — shopping on Agmashenebeli Avenue.

Tip 22. 5-Day Itinerary — Tbilisi + Kazbegi

Days 1–3 — as above. Day 4: Early morning departure for Kazbegi (07:00). Georgian Military Highway, Ananuri Fortress, Zhinvali Reservoir, Jvari Pass. Arrive in Stepantsminda by 10:00. Hike up to Gergeti Trinity Church (2 hours on foot or ₾30 by 4WD). Overnight in Kazbegi.

Day 5: Morning in Kazbegi (if the weather holds, Mt. Kazbek at sunrise). Return to Tbilisi with a stop at the mineral springs in Pasanauri.

Tip 23. 7-Day Itinerary — Tbilisi + Kazbegi + Kakheti

Days 1–5 — as above. Day 6: Drive to Kakheti. Sighnaghi (city of love), Bodbe Monastery, wine tasting at a family winery. Overnight in Sighnaghi or return to Tbilisi.

Day 7: Mtskheta (30 minutes from Tbilisi) — Jvari Monastery, Svetitskhoveli Cathedral. Georgia's spiritual capital and an unmissable stop. Return to Tbilisi, final lunch, souvenirs at Deserter's Market.

If you want to cover all the key spots without the stress of planning, see our tours in Tbilisi with a private guide: transport, route, and insider recommendations are all included.

Safety, Dress Code, Pharmacies

Tip 24. Georgia is Safe — with a Few Notes

Crime: Georgia is one of the safest countries for tourists. Street crime is minimal. You can walk the centre of Tbilisi at night without concern. The one exception: pickpocketing at markets (Deserter's Market) — keep your wallet in a front pocket.

Road traffic: the main hazard. Tbilisi drivers are aggressive — overtaking, honking, sudden U-turns. Cross carefully even on zebra crossings. On mountain roads — the uphill driver has priority on switchbacks.

Pharmacies: "PSP Pharmacy" and "GPC" are large chains found on every street. Most medications are sold without a prescription (antibiotics, painkillers, antihistamines). Prices are lower than in Europe. If you need something specific, show the name in English — pharmacists will understand.

Water: Tbilisi tap water is drinkable — it comes from mountain springs and is treated. The taste is slightly mineral. Bottled water costs ₾1–2 for 1.5 litres.

Tip 25. What to Wear

Summer (June–August): heat up to 38–40°C. Light clothing, a hat, sunscreen. In the mountains (Kazbegi, Svaneti) even in summer you need a jacket — the temperature difference is 10–15°C.

Winter (December–February): Tbilisi 0–8°C. A puffer jacket and warm shoes. Kazbegi down to -15°C with wind. Full winter gear.

Spring/Autumn: ideal season. 15–25°C. Layered clothing and a light jacket. An umbrella is essential — rain can come on suddenly.

For churches: women need covered shoulders and a skirt or trousers below the knee. Men need long trousers. Most churches provide free headscarves at the entrance.