Georgia Travel Guide: Visas, Money, eSIMs, Costs & What to Know Before You Land

Overview

Georgia is the kind of place travellers "discover" and then won't stop talking about: a compact country squeezed between the Greater Caucasus and the Black Sea, with a capital (Tbilisi) that mixes sulphur baths, Soviet modernism and wine bars in the same block. It's small enough that you can do mountains, a city and the coast in one trip.

For practical purposes, three things make Georgia unusual:

• It runs its own visa system. It is not in the EU or the Schengen Area, so a Schengen visa doesn't automatically get you in (and Georgia's rules don't get you into Schengen).
• It's a cash-and-card hybrid. Cards work widely in Tbilisi and Batumi; cash still matters in villages, markets and marshrutkas (minibuses).
• Distances are short, roads are slow. Mountain roads and weather mean a 150 km trip can take most of a day.

Entry requirements

Entry rules depend on the passport you hold. Many nationalities can enter visa-free; others need an e-visa or a visa from a Georgian embassy or consulate.

Three rules apply to almost everyone:

• Visa or visa-free. Nearly 100 nationalities can visit visa-free, many for up to a year. Others use the e-visa.
• The "other visa" route. If you hold a valid visa or residence permit from one of about 50 listed countries (EU/Schengen states, UK, US, Canada, Australia, Japan, the UAE and other Gulf states), you can enter visa-free for 90 days in any 180-day period. The document must be valid on the day you enter.
• Mandatory insurance. Since 1 January 2026, all foreign visitors must show travel medical insurance covering at least GEL 30,000. It must include emergency treatment, hospitalisation and repatriation. If you don't have it, you may have to buy a policy at the border or be refused entry.

Visa information

If your nationality isn't visa-exempt, Georgia operates an official e-visa system at evisa.gov.ge (opens in a new tab) for eligible nationalities, alongside traditional consular visas. Only use the official government portal — look-alike "visa service" sites charge extra fees for filling in the same form.

For passport-specific detail, see our briefs such as Georgia for Zimbabwean passport holders.

Best time to visit

• Late spring (May–June) and early autumn (September–October): the sweet spot for Tbilisi, Kakheti wine country and hiking at lower altitude.
• Summer: high-mountain regions like Kazbegi and Svaneti open up fully; lowland cities and the coast get hot and busy.
• Winter: ski season in the mountains; some high passes and roads can close.

Currency

Georgia uses the Georgian lari (GEL, ₾). Exchange offices are common in cities and usually display buy/sell rates clearly — compare the spread (the gap between the two) rather than any "0% commission" sign.

Typical daily budget

Georgia is widely regarded as good value compared with Western Europe, but prices in Tbilisi and Batumi have been rising and vary a lot by season.

Per person per day, including accommodation, food, local transport and one paid activity (2026 prices):

Reference prices:

• Tbilisi metro or bus ride: ₾1
• Bolt ride across central Tbilisi: ₾7–15
• Marshrutka from Tbilisi to Kazbegi: about ₾15
• Train from Tbilisi to Batumi: ₾20–35
• Dinner for two at a good Georgian restaurant: ₾60–80
• Cappuccino: ₾8–10

For a full itinerary costing, see How much does two weeks in Georgia cost?

Cards vs cash

• Cards: Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted in Tbilisi and Batumi — supermarkets, cafés, hotels, many restaurants. Contactless is common.
• Cash: carry some lari for markets, small guesthouses, rural areas, taxis that don't use apps, and marshrutkas.
• Tip for travellers from Africa: tell your bank you're travelling, and check whether your card is enabled for international transactions before you leave. See Visa vs Mastercard abroad.

ATMs

ATMs are easy to find in cities. Two costs to watch: your own bank's foreign-withdrawal fee, and any operator fee the ATM adds. Decline the ATM's conversion offer and withdraw in lari.

Operator fees vary by bank and change often. Some Georgian bank ATMs charge nothing for foreign cards, and others add a fee. The screen shows any fee before you confirm, so cancel if it's high and try another bank. Your home bank's foreign-withdrawal fee still applies on top.

Mobile data & eSIMs

You have two realistic options: buy a local SIM (you'll usually need your passport at the shop) or install a travel eSIM before you fly. Coverage is generally good in cities and along main roads; expect gaps in remote mountain valleys.

The three mobile operators are Magti, Silknet and Cellfie, and all have shops at Tbilisi airport and in city centres. A Magti tourist SIM costs about ₾10, and data packages start at a few lari (about ₾5 for 1 GB). Bring your passport to register the SIM. A travel eSIM costs more per GB but works the moment you land.

Read more: Best eSIM options for international travellers.

Transportation

• In Tbilisi: one metro or bus fare is ₾1 and gives 90 minutes of unlimited transfers when you pay with a Metromoney card or a contactless bank card. Cash on buses doesn't get the transfer. Bolt is the most-used taxi app. If you take a street taxi, agree the price first.
• Between cities: trains connect Tbilisi with Batumi and some other cities; marshrutkas (shared minibuses) go almost everywhere but run to their own rhythm.
• Driving: Georgians drive on the right. Mountain roads demand care — especially in winter and at night.

Accommodation

Tbilisi and Batumi have everything from hostels to international hotel chains. In the regions, family guesthouses are the classic experience — often with home cooking (and homemade wine) included or available.

Safety considerations

Georgia is generally considered welcoming to visitors. Standard city precautions apply. The bigger practical risks are road safety and mountain weather.

Also:

• Protests: political demonstrations in Tbilisi can escalate without warning, so avoid large gatherings.
• Drink spiking: reported in some bars and clubs.
• Mountains: emergency response is limited, so hire guides for serious hikes.

Travel insurance

Insurance is mandatory in Georgia from 2026: at least GEL 30,000 of medical cover, including evacuation and repatriation. Carry the certificate, printed or on your phone. If you plan to hike, ski or paraglide, check that your policy covers those activities.

Things to do

• Tbilisi's Old Town, the sulphur baths of Abanotubani and the Narikala fortress views
• Wine tasting in Kakheti — Georgia's qvevri (clay-vessel) winemaking tradition is UNESCO-recognised
• The Gergeti Trinity Church under Mount Kazbek, near Stepantsminda
• The medieval towers of Svaneti
• Black Sea evenings in Batumi

Airport information

Georgia's three main international airports are Tbilisi (TBS), Kutaisi (KUT) — popular with low-cost airlines — and Batumi (BUS). Kutaisi is roughly a 3–4 hour road transfer from Tbilisi, so check which airport your "Tbilisi" cheap fare actually uses.

Useful apps

• An offline map app (download the Georgia map before you leave Wi-Fi)
• A ride-hailing app for city taxis
• A translation app with Georgian script camera translation — street signs are often in Georgian script only outside central areas
• Your bank's app, with international transactions enabled

Local customs

Hospitality is a point of national pride. If you're invited to a supra (a traditional feast), expect a tamada (toastmaster) and many toasts — pace yourself. Dress modestly in churches and monasteries (covered shoulders and knees; women are often expected to cover their hair — scarves are sometimes provided at the entrance).

Emergency information

Georgia uses 112 for police, ambulance and fire. Save your embassy's contact details before you travel — and note that some countries cover Georgia from an embassy in a neighbouring country.