All You Need to Know about Tourism in Georgia
A comprehensive guide to tourism in Georgia and its most important tourist destinations, with information on the most important cities with Safaraq Tourism
Information about Georgia
The Georgian people, or Kartvelians, are the result of the integration of indigenous peoples with immigrants to the Caucasus from Anatolia in ancient times. Some ancient Jewish accounts state that Georgians are descended from Iberian, also called Tubal.
French historian Jacques de Vitry and English traveller John Mandeville assert that the Georgians' name belongs to St. George.
In the first month of 2004, Georgia adopted the five-cross flag, the flag of St. George. Most of Georgia's population believe in Orthodox Christianity with 81.9%, while Islam accounts for a small percentage of about 9.9% of Georgia's total population.
Georgia is one of the most tourist-attracting countries around the world, with 103 resorts with different climatic regions, more than 12,000 historical and cultural monuments, four of which are classified by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites (Bagrati Cathedral in Kutaisi, Gelati Monastery, Historical Monuments of Mtskheta, and Svaneti).
Georgia Location
The Georgian state is one of the independent states in the South Caucasus region, located on the eastern coast of the Black Sea, bordered to the north by Russia and Chechnya, bordered to the south by Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkey, and is surrounded to the west by the Black Sea.
Georgia Map
Georgia occupies a strategic position among the world's countries, extending its territory to the top of the Great Caucasus Mountain Range, generally known as the boundary between the European and Asian continents.
Georgia is administratively divided into 12 regions, 69 provinces and two autonomous republics, Abkhazia and Adjara, and is distributed on the Georgian map as follows:
No. |
Region |
Capital |
1 |
Abkhazia (an autonomous republic) |
Sukhumi |
2 |
Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti |
Zugdidi |
3 |
Guria |
Ozurgeti |
4 |
Adjara |
Batumi |
5 |
Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti |
Ambrolauri |
6 |
Imereti |
Kutaisi |
7 |
Samtskhe–Javakheti |
Akhaltsikhe |
8 |
Shida Kartli |
Gori |
9 |
Mtskheta-Mtianeti |
Mtskheta |
10 |
Kvemo Kartli |
Rustavi |
11 |
Kakheti |
Telavi |
12 |
Tbilisi |
Tbilisi |
Weather in Georgia
The Great Caucasus Mountains play an important role in climate change in Georgia, forming a barrier in the face of cold air masses from the north, while the Small Caucasus Mountains partially protect the region from the impact of dry and hot air masses from the south.
Much of western Georgia is located within the humid subtropical region, with rainfall ranging from 1,000 to 4,000 mm, while eastern Georgia undergoes a volatile climate from humid subtropical to continental.
Weather patterns in Georgia are affected by both dry air masses from the Caspian Sea in the east and wet air masses from the Black Sea in the west.
Many mountain ranges (Lekhi and Meskhiti) separating the eastern and western parts of the country often hinder the entry of wet air masses into the Black Sea region.
Top 4 Tourist Cities in Georgia
Some of Georgia's most important cities include:
-
Tbilisi City
Tbilisi is the capital of Georgia and one of its largest cities, with a geographical location on the banks of the Kura River, with a population of about 1,500,000.
Known as Tiflis, a name derived from the word Tbilisi, meaning in Georgian hot springs, the King of Georgia in the 5th century AD built the city near these hot springs.
Tbilisi has historically been home to people of multiple cultural, pagan and religious beliefs and a point of contention between the various world power groups because of its location at the crossroads between the continents of Europe and Asia, nearby east-west trade routes.
This city has a number of Georgia's most important tourist sites, such as the churches of Sameba, the Classical Freedom Square, the Shota Rustaveli Avenue, the Davit Aghmashenebeli Avenue, Narikala Fortress, the Opera Theatre and the Georgian National Museum.
Tbilisi has a humid subtropical climate with significant continental impacts, and the city experiences heavy rains throughout the year. It is generally affected by dry air masses from (Central Asia/Siberia) to the east and (Atlantic/Black Sea) to the west.
Tbilisi has an average annual temperature of 13.3°C. January is the coldest month in the city, with temperatures dropping to 2.3°C, while July is the hottest one, with temperatures reaching 24.9°C.
-
Batumi City
Batumi, known as Batum, the capital of the autonomous province of Adjaria in southwestern Georgia, has a population of about 180,000 and has a central seaport on the Northern Ocean.
Batumi, one of Georgia's most important tourist cities, is a destination for tourists, with its majestic mountainous nature, a magnificent coastal destination, and a number of natural and archaeological monuments, making it Georgia's second capital after Tbilisi.
Some of the region's most important attractions are:
- Georgian alphabet tower, a historical symbol of Batumi
- The aquarium called Batumi Dolphinarium, which houses a dolphin show centre in the city centre
- Batumi Botanical Garden, which houses species of plants brought from different places around the world
- The 2 km Batumi cable car, which offers visitors the opportunity to enjoy the city's sea and mountain views
- May 6th Garden, the place for family trips, contains a variety of flowers, roses and trees, and a range of charming natural features such as a lake and green spaces
- Europe Square, with a range of archaeological areas and diverse historical places
-
Borjomi City
The resort-filled city of Borjomi is located in central Georgia, 160 km from the capital Tbilisi, with a population of 10,546.
Borjomi is one of the most important tourist cities where visitors can enjoy and stroll among the natural beauty of mountains at an altitude of 800 meters. It features healthy water and a refreshing mountain atmosphere for tourists and residents alike.
Some of the most important tourist destinations in Borjomi are:
- Borjomi Central Park, which is a great picnic destination in the city
- The Romanov Borjomi Georgia Palace, which dates back to the 19th century during the reign of Russian Tsar Nicolas II, the last Russian tsar
- The Borjomi cable car, which gives tourists an air tour from the city to the top of the Borjomi Plateau, provides visitors with one of the most beautiful views they can see in the city
- Borjomi National Park, one of Georgia's most attractive tourist destinations and most famous national parks
- Mineral Water Park, the main source of income for the city's residents
-
Kutaisi City
Kutaisi, Georgia's second-largest city and the main capital of the western region of Imereti, is 220 km west of Tbilisi.
You can reach Kutaisi directly through David the Builder Kutaisi International Airport, about 14 km from the city centre.
Kutaisi has many different attractions, a destination for many local visitors, and a focus for many visitors from around the world, such as:
- The 11th-century Bagrati Church is one of the city's most important symbols of tourism.
- Zedazeni Restaurant, famous for serving authentic Georgian food to tourists
- The historic district, elegant Kutaisi streets, high-end architecture and tourist-themed houses
- The historical museum, which houses more than 200,000 artefacts, dates back to the 7th century BC.
- The Stapelia Reserve, established in 1935 to protect its five caves and retain the footprints of dinosaurs discovered in this area.
- Prometheus Cave, one of the largest caves in the world, and a distinct and different collection of stalagmites, airstrips, fossilized waterfalls and lakes
- Okatse Canyon, which has many waterfalls along the valley
- Gelati Monastery, which includes the Church of the Virgin Mary, and the Churches of St. George and St. Nicholas
- Georgia's second-largest botanical garden, the most famous botanical garden in Europe, has more than 700 different species of green plants, trees and colourful and scented roses, reflecting Kutaisi's natural plant style.
Top 3 Tourist Places in Georgia
-
Sulfur Baths in Georgia
One of Georgia's most famous sulphur baths is the Tbilisi sulphur baths known as the Abanotubani Baths, located in one of the capital's historic and ancient neighbourhoods, specifically on the eastern side of the Kura River.
Abanotubani Baths are the source of hot sulphur springs that have been active for more than 700 years and the most famous baths in the Caucasus region in general.
Tbilisi's sulphur baths are a destination for tourists from all over the world, thanks to the therapeutic benefits of sulphur hot water, which are used to cure many bone diseases while enjoying a heated bath experience.
Some of Georgia's most famous baths include:
- Bakhmaro Baths
- Bathhouse Bath
- Royal Bath House Bath
- Orbeliani Baths, where the floor consists of turquoise, blue and mosaic tiles
- Samtredia Resort
- Tskaltubo Resort
- Torgva Baths
- Solari Spa
-
Vardzia Monastery in Tbilisi
Blending charming natural landmarks with famous historical sites, Vardzia Monastery is one of Tbilisi's most important tourist destinations, occupying a privileged position in the heart of the mountains.
The Vardzia monastery, which is one of Georgia's most important tourist destinations, was built at the request of Queen Tamara, who was considering creating a place for the worship of Christians, away from the Mongols and their oppression in the 12th century AD. In response to this request, Vardzia Monastery was built from approximately 13 floors and 6,000 rooms to be a haven for the Georgian Christian people.
-
Statue of Eternal Love in Batumi
The statue of eternal love was designed by Georgian artist Tamara Kvesitadze, whose idea was derived from a book depicting a romantic relationship in 1918. Its content represents figures that move every ten minutes, approaching each other at times to tangle and form the bodies of a man and a woman without clear features, and then walk away again.
Located within the Batumi Bay area, one of Georgia's most famous tourist attractions for young people, the Statue of Eternal Love is made of solid metal steel wire in the form of vicious rings and is approximately eight meters long.
The story of the statue of eternal love called Ali and Nino is traced back to an Azerbaijani aristocratic Muslim man named Ali, who fell in love with Georgian Princess Nino, an Orthodox Christian, but fate divided her.
Top 3 Hotels in Georgia
-
Colosseum Marina Hotel
Close to Georgia's most popular tourist sites, the Colosseum Marina hotel is located at a central point in Batumi, the ideal choice for hotel accommodation for those considering tourism in Georgia.
This 5-star hotel in the Georgian capital offers all the comforts and well-being of its guests, including swimming pools, saunas, spas, sports areas and other social facilities.
One of the most important services this hotel provides to visitors is an airport shuttle. You can contact the hotel management, informing them of the arrival date at the airport, and provide them with available contact information.
The hotel strictly applies the standards of health prevention of coronavirus; the staff considers all the necessary criteria such as social distancing, wearing masks, checking the temperature of workers and guests, and providing all means of sterilization to guests.
Guests can enjoy a visit to many attractions available in areas close to this hotel, such as shopping malls, Batumi Beach, the Statue of Eternal Love, and the aquarium.
-
Rexus Borjomi Hotel
Located in the central area of Borjomi, the 5-star Hotel Rexus offers a good stay in upscale hotel rooms, with charming views of the mountains and greenery around the hotel.
The hotel's services are of the highest standards that tourists aspire to, spacious rooms with beautiful views, social facilities that guarantee them entertainment and pleasure, and the highest standards of coronavirus prevention.
The hotel is surrounded by tourist centres such as Peter Fort, the Borjomi Museum, Merab Kostava's Garden, Borjomi Park, Bakuriani Kids Park, Rabati Castle, as well as many other attractions that impress tourists.
-
Divan Suites Batumi
The 5-star Divan Suites Hotel in Batumi is a great choice for tourists in Georgia, with the family atmosphere in its spacious rooms.
Premium and high-end hotel accommodation, integrated services and social entertainment facilities are among the most important ingredients for choosing this hotel in the Georgian capital.
The hotel is a few minutes from the sea coasts, recreational and shopping centres, making it one of the most important places for tourism in Georgia for families.
FAQ about Georgia
Georgia has a population of approximately 4,385,000, with Georgians accounting for the largest proportion of the country's population, distributed as follows:
- Georgians 83.8%
- Azerbaijanis 6.5%
- Armenians 5.7%
- Russians 1.5%
There are also many small groups in the country.
Many sects and races have inhabited Georgia for thousands of years, such as Azerbaijanis, Abkhazians, Assyrians, Chechens, Chinese, Georgian Jews, Greeks, Kurds, Tatars, Turks and Ukrainians.
Georgia also has great linguistic diversity, with 71% of the population speaking Georgian, Las, Mingrelian and Svan. However, Georgia's official language is Georgian and Abkhaz, with 71% of the population speaking them, while11% speaking Svan, 7% in Armenian, 6% in Azeri and 5% in other languages.
Georgia's tourism seasons are related to the country's climate and weather, with December, January and February the coldest in Georgia, while July and August are warm.
Many tourists, therefore, prefer to visit Georgia when the weather is warm so that they can stroll around in various tourist places.
Edited by Safaraq Tourism
Did you like our topic? You can share it with your friends
Featured tourist services
We offer top tourist services with the highest standards of quality and luxury with 24/7 follow-up.
Flight reservations
Tourist programs
Hotels and Resorts
Car Reservation
Group Tours
VIP Services
Subscribe To Our Newsletter
Find More About The Latest Safaraq