The Caucasus region may not be as popular among American travelers as Western Europe, but it’s truly a hidden gem waiting to be discovered. Unlike popular tourist destinations like Paris or Rome, the Caucasus offers a less crowded. Georgia, in particular, has been rising in popularity, thanks to its growing connections with Europe and dedicated efforts to attract visitors. Let’s explore what makes Georgia such a remarkable destination.
Georgia may be a small country, but it boasts incredible diversity. With a rich and fascinating history, its borders have shifted many times over the centuries. Before the 12th century, the region was divided into two separate kingdoms: West Georgia (Imereti Kingdom) and East Georgia (Iberian Kingdom). However, in the 12th century, these kingdoms were unified following a war. Since then, Georgia has experienced numerous changes, including occupations by the Mongols, Russians, Persians, and later, the Soviet Union. Georgia finally regained its independence in 1991 after the collapse of the Soviet Union, shaping the nation we know today. Despite its small size, the country is divided into 11 distinct regions, each with its own unique characteristics—ranging from different climates and landscapes to diverse cities, culinary traditions, and even local dialects.
Tbilisi is the capital of Georgia and very likely where your trip will start. It is in East Georgia. It is a very active city, with a busy old town that is integrated well into more modern parts of the city. It has everything you can ask for: interesting history, building architecture from many different eras, scenic views, getaways to nature, nightlife, and a very strong food culture. You can easily spend a few days wandering the city. Make sure to also do a free walking tour to get a snippit of everything this city has to offer. If time allows, take advantage of the various day trips that you can do. I’ve done a few with tours from GetYourGuide, and they’ve all been excellent.
The best day trip you can take from Tbilisi in my opinion is to Kazbegi (you can even spend a few days there if you like). The scenery from this day trip surprised me so much, it convinced me that I had to come back and spend more quality time in Georgia to do some trekking (more on that later). This tour is full of scenic points and incredible history.
Another great day tour is one that takes you to Mtskheta, Jvari, Gori, and Uplistsikhe. Mtskheta is the old capital of the Iberian kingdom (East Georgia) and boasts the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, which is the most important church in all of Georgia. It is an architectural marvel with a lot of history and symbolism that is very important to Georgia’s history. Uplistsikhe was my favorite stop of this tour. It is an ancient cave city.
Georgia is also the oldest wine country, with history of wine production dating back to 8000 years ago. Wine is a very important part of the culture here and something Georgians love to show off. You can wander around any of the major cities to taste different authentic wines, or also do a wine tasting tour. Near Tbilisi, there is the most famous wine region in the country: Kakheti. You can do a tour through the region and taste wine from many different wineries.
If you have time to venture out of Tbilisi, your next stop will likely be Kutaisi, which was the old capital of the Imereti Kingdom. It is a smaller city and is much more calm than Tbilisi, but also has a lot to offer. It is an old settlement that has a lot of history, interesting architecture, and is a very good place to stop for many day trips. These trips include incredible canyons, waterfalls, and caves.
Batumi is another major city in Georgia and is completely different than the rest of the country. It is a bit like the Vegas of Georgia, with a beach. It offers a very modern scene but is also located right on the incredible Black Sea. If you like wandering through a more modern city and discovering many pockets and hidden gems, you should give Batumi a look. There are also many day trips you can do from Batumi, including a visit to the Gonio and Petra fortresses, the Botanical garden, and the Mtirala National Park.
Another major thing I want to discuss is the hiking and trekking in Georgia. Whether you are into day hikes or long treks, Georgia has something for you. The landscape is so incredible that many from all over the world visit Georgia just to hike and enjoy the scenery. You can trek on your own or do a tour. The Svaneti region is famous for hiking and trekking and for good reason, it’s really incredible It is so popular in fact that there are many guest houses available on these treks to make it more accessible and easier for people to do. I personally did a around Lake Tobavarchkhili which was absolutely stunning. I can’t recommend this trek enough, but I must warn you that it is a very difficult trek with steep incline and declines in the mountains.
The last important thing I want to touch on is the food (a very common theme for me to discuss). I believe food is a very important part of the culture, and the food scene in Georgia is tasty, unique, and a part of the Georgian identity. If you spend any time in Georgia at all, you’ll have to try some of the classics. Khinkali are Georgian dumpings. You eat these by grabbing the bun, and biting into the base. The trick is to eat it without spilling any of the soup! Khachapuri is another staple of the Georgian cousine. There are different types of Khachapuri from different regions of Georgia, but in short it is cheesy bread. Lobiani looks like Khachapuri, but it has beans inside the dough instead of cheese. Kebabs are also a huge part of the Georgian cusine. If you are into alcoholic beverages, you will not be disappointed either. As mentioned earlier, Georgia has a huge wine culture, but they also have Georgian beers, and harder drinks. If you go to more remote regions of Georgia, make sure to have a shot of Chacha! There are many other foods and beverages to enjoy, but I just touched on a few of the most famous items on a traditional menu in Georgian restaurants.
Georgia is an absolutely incredible destination with a lot to offer. I have no doubt that it’ll grow into a major touristic destination as more and more people discover Georgia for themselves. It has everything you can want as a tourist, and then some: ancient history, architecture, busy cities, scenery and treks, and amazing food. If you haven’t yet, make sure to add Georgia to your travel list!
Add comment
Comments