Before You Land

Safety

Before anything else: Georgia is safe.

Not "safe for the region." Not "safe if you're careful." Just genuinely, ordinarily safe. People walk home late at night. Kids play in the street. Someone will stop and help you if you look confused - often before you even ask.

There is still a strong culture of hospitality here. Guests are taken seriously.

Getting Around

Download Bolt before you land. Forget Uber - it barely functions in Georgia. Bolt works extremely well and is genuinely cheap by any international standard. Most rides inside Tbilisi will surprise you with how affordable they are.

SIM Cards

You can get tourist SIM cards directly at the airport on arrival. Two providers worth knowing:

Money

Georgia uses the Georgian Lari (GEL). Cards are accepted almost everywhere in Tbilisi - restaurants, shops, bars, hotels. Cash is still worth having for smaller places, outdoor markets, and countryside stops.

There are ATMs throughout the city. Exchange rates at the airport are not great - the city has better rates if you need to exchange cash.

Weather

September is one of the best times to visit Georgia. Warm days - usually 22–27°C in Tbilisi. Cooler evenings, especially once you head to Kakheti. It is also wine harvest season, which means the countryside is beautiful in a very specific golden-hour, slightly euphoric way.

Tiny Language Survival Guide

Georgian is a beautiful, ancient, completely unique language that you will not learn in a week. That is fine. You only need a few words. These are them.