Georgia (Caucasus) Travel Guide 2025: Tbilisi, Kazbegi & Batumi

I arrived in Tbilisi after seeing Google Trends for “Georgia travel” spike 42% YoY (US searches, Feb 2025). On the ground, it felt like early-Portugal: affordable, friendly, safe, and still under-covered in English blogs. Here is the 10-day route and the receipts I collected.

Why Georgia is trending

UNWTO reports 7.7 million international visits in 2023, up 30% vs 2022 as borders fully reopened. Google Trends shows rising US interest, but English how-to guides are sparse—great for travelers who want low prices and fewer crowds.

Visa-free entry for Americans

• US citizens get 365 days visa-free. Passport must be valid 6+ months.
• No arrival card. My passport stamp at Tbilisi (TBS) took 3 minutes at 9:20pm.
• Carry proof of onward travel and first-night hotel; Turkish Airlines counter in JFK checked both.

Flights & airport arrivals

Hopper’s Jan 2025 data shows $920 average roundtrip JFK–TBS via IST, and $980 LAX–TBS. Tbilisi’s arrivals are compact, so you can be curbside in 20 minutes with carry-on.

• Airport taxi desk: Fixed 50 GEL to city center (~$18); my ride clocked 38 GEL on Yandex Go at 10pm.
• Bus 337: 1 GEL to Liberty Square; runs every 20–30 minutes.

Getting around (Yandex, metro, marshrutkas)

• Yandex Go: Old Town to Fabrika 7–10 GEL off-peak.
• Metro: Flat 1 GEL; buy a reloadable Metromoney card (2 GEL deposit). Tbilisi metro had 94.4 million riders in 2023 per Tbilisi City Hall.
• Marshrutka (minibus): 1–1.5 GEL in city; Tbilisi–Kazbegi 15 GEL (3 hours) from Didube station.

Tbilisi must-dos

• Old Town & Sulfur Baths: Private room 70–120 GEL; I paid 90 GEL for 1 hour at Gulo’s.
• Narikala Fortress cable car: 2.5 GEL each way; sunset views are worth it.
• Chronicle of Georgia: Free; best at golden hour. Yandex from center was 16 GEL.
• Food prices: Khachapuri 12–18 GEL, khinkali 0.8–1.2 GEL each, glass of Saperavi wine 6–10 GEL.

Kazbegi & Caucasus mountains

Kazbegi (Stepantsminda) is the go-to mountain escape. Mountain weather swings quickly; windproof layers matter.

• Transport: Marshrutka from Didube 15 GEL; private car 250–300 GEL roundtrip with stops at Ananuri and Gudauri.
• Gergeti Trinity Church: 10 GEL 4x4 from town; hike is 1.5–2 hours if dry.
• Rooms Hotel Kazbegi lunch: Mains 35–50 GEL; terrace views are the point.

Batumi & Black Sea

• Train Tbilisi–Batumi: 25–70 GEL depending on class; 5–5.5 hours. Book at tickets.railway.ge (Visa/Mastercard accepted).
• Seafront boulevard: Bike rental 10–15 GEL/hour.
• Batumi Botanical Garden: 15 GEL entry; 2–3 hour visit.

Wine country: Kakheti

Georgia claims 8,000 years of winemaking. Kakheti day tours from Tbilisi run 120–180 GEL including tastings; self-drive is easy with well-marked roads.

• Sighnaghi: Walled hill town; views over Alazani Valley. Museum ticket 10 GEL.
• Wine tastings: 25–60 GEL for 3–5 pours at small wineries; ask for qvevri (clay pot) wines.

Costs, cash, and SIM

• Daily spend I logged in Tbilisi: 18 GEL transport + 60 GEL food + 20–30 GEL attractions = ~100–110 GEL ($37–$40) excluding lodging.
• Hotels (Feb 2025 search): Mid-range boutique in Old Town $55–$95; Kazbegi guesthouses $30–$60 with breakfast.
• Cash vs card: Cards widely accepted; markets prefer cash. ATMs dispense GEL; decline DCC.
• SIM/eSIM: Magti 20 GB plan 30 GEL; Beeline similar. I activated an eSIM via our SIM tool before landing.
• Plugs: Type C/F 220V. Check Plug Checker.

Safety, etiquette, and scams

• Georgia’s homicide rate sits around 2 per 100k (UNODC), but petty theft can happen in busy Old Town lanes—keep bags zipped.
• Only accept metered/Yandex taxis; airport curb touts often quote 2–3x.
• Dress modestly in churches; women may be asked to cover shoulders and head.
• Tap water in Tbilisi is potable; bottled 1.5L is 1.5–2 GEL if you prefer.

Personal note: I never felt unsafe walking Tbilisi at 11pm, but I stuck to lit streets and skipped random alley bars.

10-day itinerary (tested)

• Day 1: Arrive TBS, Yandex to Old Town, sulfur bath.
• Day 2: Cable car + Narikala, Old Town walk, Chronicle of Georgia sunset.
• Day 3: Kakheti day trip (Sighnaghi + wineries).
• Day 4: Tbilisi museums, Fabrika cafes, book Kazbegi transport.
• Day 5: To Kazbegi; Gergeti church by 4x4.
• Day 6: Hike Gveleti waterfalls; return to Tbilisi evening.
• Day 7: Train to Batumi; boulevard bike ride.
• Day 8: Batumi Botanical Garden, beach cafes.
• Day 9: Batumi food market morning; train back to Tbilisi.
• Day 10: Last-day shopping on Rustaveli, fly out.

Gear I used

Affiliate links include my Amazon tag and match what I packed for mountain swings and city walking.

Before you book, grab an eSIM via our SIM tool, confirm outlet needs in Plug Checker, and check carry-on rules with Packing Rules so you can land and go.