Georgia is a small country located in the Caucasus and has its own unique history and culture. The tourism potential of Georgia is huge – there is a Black Sea coast with picturesque views, several hundred resorts of various types (seaside, mountain, mud and balneological), about tens of thousands of ancient and medieval monuments of architecture, history and culture. In addition to numerous monuments created by people, Georgia has a huge number of natural attractions – high picturesque mountains with bowls of clear lakes and green valleys. The climate of Georgia is very diverse, and as the Georgians themselves say, here you can meet four seasons at once – winter on high snowy peaks, autumn fog with precipitation in the mountains, spring flowers and green grass in the foothills,
Geography of Georgia
According to itypemba, Georgia is located in the western and central part of Transcaucasia, between two large mountain systems – the Greater Caucasus (in the north of the country) and the Lesser Caucasus (in the south). In the north, Georgia borders on Russia, in the south – on the Republic of Turkey, on the east and southeast sides – on Armenia and Azerbaijan. From the west, the territory of Georgia is washed by the Black Sea. The predominant part of Georgia is mountainous, which causes a richly rugged relief and a variety of landscapes with heterogeneous climatic conditions.
Capital
Tbilisi
Area
The area of Georgia is 69,700 km. sq., occupies the 118th place in the world by area.
Population
4 469 200
Currency
State currency – Lari (GEL)
Language
The official language is Georgian.
Visa to Georgia
Russian citizens do not need a visa to enter Georgia. It will be put in your passport immediately at the place of arrival, if you arrived by plane or sailed by boat. They will also issue a visa if you arrived in Georgia by car or bus – right at the border point. Border processing of a visa costs 50 lari, which is approximately 27 US dollars. There are several mandatory conditions for obtaining a visa. Firstly, the period of stay in Georgia should not exceed 90 days, but if you need more time, then the period of stay can be extended in Georgia itself. The second condition is the presence of a foreign passport, the validity of which expires no later than three months from the date of the end of your trip to Georgia. Another important condition is that the passport should not contain any marks about visiting South Ossetia or Abkhazia. Moreover, entry into Georgia from Abkhazia or South Ossetia is regarded by local authorities as illegal and is fraught with serious troubles. However, visiting these areas is allowed if you entered there from Georgia and are returning back.
Weather in Georgia
The climate in Georgia in the western part of the country is subtropical, in the east it is transitional (to moderate from subtropical). The proximity of the Black Sea coast, from where warm air masses come, and the protection of Georgia by the Greater Caucasus Range from the cold air masses of the continent contribute to the mildness of the climate. You can visit Georgia from March to November, but keep in mind that April and May can be very rainy, and July and August can be very hot. July and August are good to spend on the Black Sea coast, where intense heat is softened by sea breezes. The best time to visit Georgia: late May – June and September – October. The ski season in Georgia lasts from December to April.
Transport
Inside Georgia, there are several types of transport that allow you to get to the desired settlement. Domestic flights of Georgia are carried out along the lines Tbilisi – Mestia (Svaneti) and Tbilisi – Batumi. Railway communication from the capital of Georgia exists in several directions: Tbilisi – Borjomi, Tbilisi – Batumi, Tbilisi – Zugdidi, Tbilisi – Sadakhlo (from there to Armenia), Tbilisi – Gardabani (further – to Azerbaijan). It is important to bear in mind that at the vast majority of railway stations in Georgia, all reference information (train timetables, station names, etc.) is given in Georgian, so you can get the necessary information only with the help of local residents. The most common mode of transport running between the cities and villages of Georgia are buses and minibuses. Please note that not all flights are regular,
Currency exchange in Georgia
The official currency of Georgia is the lari, introduced in 1995. The exchange rate at the beginning of April 2012 was 1 USD = 1.64 GEL. It is best to exchange money in banks that are open on weekdays from about 9 am to 5 pm. You can also exchange money at private exchange offices, but there is a high risk of falling for scammers who can cheat or slip counterfeit money. Very popular among the population and US dollars. It should also be taken into account that due to the low level of income in many small shops or in the market, they will not be able to give you change from large denominations of 200 or 500 lari. In large hotels and supermarkets in Tbilisi, you can pay for services or goods using bank credit cards.
Electricity
220V/50Hz (two-pin sockets, “Soviet type”).
Religion
Georgia is an Orthodox Christian country; Christianity was adopted here as the state religion as early as the 4th century AD. There are also Sunni Muslims in the country, who live mainly in Adjara and in the regions bordering Azerbaijan.
Security
The Georgian capital maintains a fairly high level of tourist safety. However, in any case, especially when traveling around the country, it is necessary to remember and apply the standard safety rules – do not walk alone through the streets of the city at night, do not carry large amounts of cash or jewelry with you. When visiting markets or other crowded places, keep an eye on your wallet and bag. It is recommended to keep valuables and documents in the safe of your hotel without fail. When communicating with local residents, one should not touch upon national themes and events related to the conflicts in Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
Health
To visit Georgia, no special vaccinations are required, but medical insurance is required. It is worth remembering that due to various political and economic reasons, the Georgian healthcare system and the general level of medical care were in a severe crisis. Therefore, it is worth contacting local medical institutions only as a last resort; at the same time, you should be aware that, as a rule, the level of medical care is highest in private clinics in large cities.
