Know before you go: Georgia

Georgia has one of the most generous visa policies in the world, with citizens of over 95 countries able to enter without a visa, most getting a full 365 days rather than the usual 90. This visa-free allowance covers EU/EEA/Schengen citizens, the USA, Canada, UK, Australia and New Zealand, Japan, South Korea and Israel, CIS countries, GCC countries and most Latin American nations, though a few nationalities such as China get a shorter 30-day window.

If your country isn’t on the visa-free list, you’ll need an e-visa. The visa fee is $20 USD plus a 2% service fee, processing takes a minimum of 5 working days, and it grants a stay of up to 90 days within a 180-day period. Applications are only accepted before you arrive: the e-Visa portal is only for applicants who are not currently on Georgian territory.

A key change for 2026: since January 1, 2026, Georgia’s Law on Tourism requires foreign visitors to hold health and accident insurance with at least 30,000 lari (roughly $11,000) of coverage for the whole stay, including arrival and departure days. Budget policies are inexpensive; a comprehensive policy covering medical emergencies and evacuation typically costs $3–10 per day.

Other practical notes: a valid international (biometric) passport is required, and EU citizens from some countries may use a national ID card, while internal IDs like driving licenses are not accepted. Travellers should also check the small print on timing: Georgia’s clock is per-entry, not rolling, meaning the day you cross the border is day one, and you get a full year before you have to leave.

Rules change often, so always confirm your personal requirement on the official MFA and e-visa portals before you book flights (links below).

Tbilisi’s public transport is cheap and easy to use once you understand the card system. Fare is 1 GEL and hours run 06:00–24:00 across 23 stations, with an interchange at Station Square. A single tap costs about $0.40 to any station, paid with a Metromoney card or a Georgian bank card, and includes 90 minutes of free transfers to buses and minibuses; note that a foreign bank card is charged about 1.50 GEL after conversion, so a local Metromoney card saves money over multiple trips.

To get the card: Metromoney is the standard stored-value card for Tbilisi public transport, bought for 2 GEL at any metro station kiosk or customer-service desk and loaded with credit, with 1 GEL deducted per journey including free transfers inside the 90-minute window. For longer stays, unlimited travel cards are available: a 1-day pass costs 3 GEL, 1 week is 20 GEL, 1 month is 40 GEL, and 3 months is 100 GEL, though these load onto a separate subscription card rather than the standard Metromoney card.

Beyond the metro, buses cost 1 GEL, and Bolt ride-hailing rides across the city rarely exceed 15 GEL. Tbilisi also has some charming extras: the Mtatsminda Funicular links the Rustaveli area to the summit of Mount Mtatsminda, with a fare of 3 GEL each way, payable by Metromoney or contactless card. For journeys beyond the capital, marshrutkas (shared minibuses) connect towns and regions; they’re cheap but schedules can be informal, so build in buffer time, and for mountain routes such as Kazbegi or Svaneti, a licensed driver is strongly recommended given winding, sometimes unpredictable roads.

The currency of Georgia is the lari (GEL). Prices are sometimes displayed in US dollars or euros, but lari is the only legal method of payment in Georgia (excluding the occupied territories). As a rough guide, one US dollar buys around 2.8 lari, but check a live rate before you travel since currency markets shift.

Cards work well in cities but not everywhere: Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay and Google Pay are widely accepted in Tbilisi, especially in supermarkets, restaurants, cafés, hotels and larger shops, but it is still useful to carry a small amount of Georgian lari for markets, small bakeries, public toilets and other cash-only situations. Outside the capital the balance tips further toward cash: credit cards may not be widely accepted in rural areas. A useful trick at ATMs and terminals: if offered dynamic currency conversion into your home currency, it is usually better to decline and pay or withdraw in GEL, letting your own bank handle the conversion.

For cash withdrawals, Georgia has ATMs that accept U.S.-issued bankcards, but they may charge high fees, so it’s worth comparing your bank’s foreign ATM fees before relying heavily on withdrawals. Also note the customs rule for large sums: you must declare anything over 30,000 Georgian Lari (GEL) or the equivalent in foreign currency on both entry and exit.

Overall, Georgia remains an excellent-value destination: city transport costs pennies, home-style restaurant meals and wine are inexpensive by European standards, and only imported goods or upscale hotels push costs toward Western European levels.

The best time to visit Georgia is either in spring (late April to early June) or autumn (mid-September to early November), as these months promise milder temperatures, ideal conditions for hiking and outdoor activities, and a busy calendar of cultural festivals and religious celebrations. Many local guides narrow it further: September and early October are recommended most often, since the heat breaks, the grapes come in across Kakheti, mountain roads are still open, and the summer crowds thin out, giving you the widest range of experiences in the most comfortable conditions.

Summer (July–August) is hot in Tbilisi and the lowlands but is prime time for high-altitude trekking in Svaneti, Kazbegi and Tusheti, when mountain passes are fully open. Winter (November–March) brings cold, sometimes snowbound conditions to mountain villages but is the season for skiing at resorts like Gudauri and Bakuriani, plus quieter cities and cosy wine cellars.

Dial 112 for all emergencies anywhere in the country; this single number covers police, ambulance, fire, and rescue teams, with no separate numbers visitors need to memorise. The service is accessible even without credit: the service is free, including from a mobile phone without a SIM card. For English-speaking help, most dispatchers speak Georgian and Russian but will transfer calls to English-speaking operators, and it’s worth downloading the Mobile 112 app before you go, which lets you contact emergency services with one tap and automatically shares your location, free on both Apple and Android.

On overall safety, Georgia is generally a safe destination for tourists, with low violent crime, though the main risks are road accidents, petty theft, inflated taxi or restaurant charges, and travel near the occupied regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. These two breakaway territories should be avoided entirely for independent travel. Within cities, exercise normal caution: nightlife scams can occur in Tbilisi and Batumi, where a friendly stranger may invite you to a bar where drinks you didn’t order are added to an inflated bill, so it’s best to stick to well-reviewed establishments and decline invitations from strangers. Road safety deserves particular attention: Georgian driving can be fast and unpredictable, especially on mountain roads, so avoid travelling after dark in remote areas, wear seat belts, and choose a licensed driver for routes to Kazbegi, Svaneti, or Tusheti.

If you need consular help as a foreign visitor, contact your embassy in Tbilisi after calling 112 first; for US citizens specifically, the U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi can be reached at +995 32 227 7000 to report crimes or emergencies (after calling local authorities).