Entry Requirements
Visa requirements for Georgia depend on which passport you hold. Check the Traveller visa tool to see whether your passport needs a visa and, if so, how long you can stay.
Check if you need a visa for GeorgiaEmergency Numbers
- General
- 112
- Police
- 122
- Ambulance
- 113
- Fire
- 111
Currency
- Name
- Georgian Lari
- Code
- GEL
- Symbol
- ₾
ATMs widely available in Tbilisi. Cards accepted in cities and tourist areas. Cash preferred outside Tbilisi. USD and EUR can be exchanged at banks. Georgia is one of the best-value destinations in the region.
Power Outlets
- Outlet types
- Type C, Type F
- Voltage
- 220V
- Frequency
- 50Hz
Time Zone
GET (UTC+4) — no daylight saving
Best Time to Visit
May–June (spring, before the summer heat) and September–October (harvest season, wine festivals) are the best windows. Tbilisi's Old Town and Narikala fortress, the cave city of Vardzia, the vineyard region of Kakheti (Telavi), Kazbegi (Gergeti Trinity Church beneath Mount Kazbek), and the Svaneti towers are outstanding. The Greater Caucasus treks (Mestia to Ushguli) are best July–September.
Tipping Customs
| Venue | Typical | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurants | 10% | — |
| Taxis | Round up | — |
Dress Code
- Casual in Tbilisi
- Cover head and shoulders in Orthodox churches (scarves available at church entrances)
Social Etiquette
- Georgia claims to be the birthplace of wine (8,000-year-old ceramic qvevri wine jars found in the South Caucasus) — the qvevri tradition (wine fermented in clay amphorae buried in the earth) is UNESCO-listed
- A Georgian feast (supra) is one of the world's great food experiences — the tamada (toastmaster) leads increasingly elaborate toasts throughout the meal
- The Georgian alphabet (mkhedruli) is entirely unique — one of the world's most beautiful scripts, invented in the 5th century
- Georgia is one of the most welcoming countries in the world — the concept of guest-friendship (stumarmaspindzloba) is deeply rooted in the culture
Local Laws
Laws change. Verify current rules with your country's official travel advisory before departure.
- LGBTQ+ rights: same-sex activity is legal but a 2024 law banned same-sex unions and public LGBTQ+ expression — the situation has deteriorated; exercise caution
- Cannabis: decriminalised for personal use (2018 Constitutional Court ruling) but supply remains illegal
Common Phrases
| English | Local | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Hello (Georgian) | გამარჯობა (Gamarjoba) | gah-mar-JOH-bah — literally 'be victorious' |
| Thank you (Georgian) | გმადლობ (Gmadlob) | gmahd-LOHB |
| Cheers! (Georgian) | გაუმარჯოს! (Gaumarjos!) | gah-oo-MAR-yohs — 'may you be victorious!' — the Georgian toast |
| Wine (Georgian) | ღვინო (Ghvino) | GHVEE-noh — the source of the word 'wine' itself |
| Guest (Georgian) | სტუმარი (Stumari) | STOO-mah-ree — guests are sacred in Georgian culture |
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