GEORGIA – Travel Recommendation

The main attractions in Georgia are monasteries, cathedral and churches. I visited two or more during my stay in Georgia, everyday. It does get confusing sometimes. Some monasteries are really worth it to visit; others not so much.

 
Here’s a list of monasteries or churches that I would recommend:
 
1) Nekresi is the first monastery that I visited in Georgia. It has one of the oldest churches in Georgia, dating back to 4^th century. The view of Alazani valley is amazing.

 

 
2) Alaverdi Monastery is founded by the Assyrian monk Joseph Alaverdei who settled in a former pagan village and converted people to Christianity. It is a beautiful cathedral.


 
3) Mtskheta is considered the Holy City in Georgia. Definitely worth visiting the Jvari Monastery where St. Nino erected a wooden cross in a pagan church.

 
4) The Svetitskhoveli in Mtskheta is one of the most sacred places in Georgia  where the Robe of Christ is buried.

 
4) Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi or Tbilisi Sameba Cathedral is one of the most beautiful churches in Tbilisi. It is richly decorated inside out.

 
The night view of it is stunning too.

 
5) Ananuri looks just like a fairy tale castle besides a lake. The church itself is modest but the view of the lake is hauntingly beautiful.


 
6) Georgia Gergeti Church at Kazbegi is a hidden gem. At the altitude over 2,300 meters overlooking Mt. Kazbek and the town of Kazbegi, its spectacular view will blow you away.


 
7) Bagrati’s Cathedral in Kutaisi is a UNESCO World Heritage site. However the controversial modern addition to the church makes it a unique experience to visit the church. Have you ever seen an old church with a modern lift in glass cladding and metal clad stone columns inside? If your answer is no, then you should probably see for yourself.


 
Others attractions that I would recommend are as follows:-
1) Tsinandali Family Estate – for the wine tasting, the beautiful mansion and garden.

 
2) Narikala Fortress is a must visit in Tbilisi. The statue of Mother of Georgia and botanical garden is within walking distance from the fortress. You can also get the best panoramic view of Tbilisi city here.


 
3) Old Tbilisi - Plenty of restaurants, cafes and shops. It’s like a maze of narrow streets but it’s pleasant to walk around and explore.


 
4) Tbilisi Freedom Square – the site of various mass demonstrations including Georgia’s independence.

 
5) Stalin Museum in Gori – Stalin’s house where he was born and personal carriage are also on display in the museum’s compound.

 
6) Uplisikhe – an ancient archaeological cave site where ancient wine making is discovered.

 
While in Georgia, Batumi was highly recommended. Seems that this coastal city of Batumi facing the Black Sea is a very popular place for vacationers across the Caucuses. Hmmm…maybe next time.   
 
Where to stay?


I would recommend Oriental Hotel in Tblilisi because its location is strategic (6 minutes walk to Tbilisi Sameba Cathedral, 10 minutes walk to Europe Square and 12 minutes walk to Presidential Palace).



The room also looks clean and new.
 
 

Just a 4 minute walk from Oriental Hotel is the Avlabari Metro Station.
 
 

My only complaint is that the water supply was interrupted in the hotel for a day. Well, it’s not the hotel’s fault that the water supply pipe burst and I’m sure it was a rare occasion.
 
 

Another thing is don’t expect to stay in actual hotels in small towns outside Tbilisi city like Telavi and Kazbegi. The home stay or hostel that I stayed in was pretty decent though.

What to buy in Georgia?

Wine, of course. They produce some of the best wine in the region.


 
 

One of my best buy in Georgia is this decorative bottle of wine that I bought at Tbilisi Sameba Cathedral which cost me 35GEL. I can keep the bottle after finish drinking the red wine inside. One stone kills two birds.
 
 

And surprise, surprise. Bottled mineral water. I would recommend this brand, Borjomi. The taste is really quite unique – a bit salty and full of gas like carbonated drinks.
  
The ordinary tourist souvenirs like fridge magnets and key chains don’t interest me much.

What to eat in Georgia?


The dumpling, Khinkali is a must try. An average adult can finish 10 to 12 of these dumplings in a meal. But our tour guide told us that his friend can finish 50 dumplings at one meal. Well, he must be bear-size. Barbecued pork is another favourite dish if you’re a pork lover.
 
 


Otherwise, go for chicken, it’s a safe bet. So far I have not tasted a bad chicken dish in Georgia. They are all pretty delicious.



Signboards in Georgian and English are plentiful in Tbilisi.



But in some places, it's just Georgian wordings.



If you have the time, check out the Tbilisi Mall.

Below is my travel itinerary in Georgia:
Day 1: Nekresi –> Gremi –> Telavi
Day 2: Telavi –> Signaghi
Day 3: Tbilisi
Day 4: Tbilisi –> Mtskheta –> Kabezgi
Day 5: Kabezgi –> Gori –> Kutaisi
Day 6: Kutaisi –> Tbilisi
Day 7: Tbilisi –> Sadakhlo Border


It cost me about USD 1,000 per person for the 7 day trip. The travel agency I engaged was Tbilisi Travel. For more information, you can go to their website at www.info-tbilisi.com. Their email address is travel@info-tbilisi.com. The number of days and places you want to go can be discussed with them. Tiko from Tbilisi Travel, liaised with us and was helpful and prompt in answering our questions. Two thumbs up! Overall the trip to Georgia was considered affordable.

The whole Caucasus trip was actually organised by Tbilisi Travel. However, the payment was paid to separate travel agencies from their respective countries.  


The people of Georgia are friendly. However, most of them has a very average understanding of English.

 

Our tour guide is Anri. He is friendly and helpful but not as knowledgeable and professional as compared to our Azerbaijani guide. This is probably due to he is not a full time guide himself.
 
 

The border crossings from Azerbaijan to Georgia, or from Georgia to Armenia is a short walk (around 500m) but proves to be a hassle when carrying too much luggage. If possible, arrange with the tour agent to drive you across the border. There will be additional cost though.
 
 

Overall, Georgia is a very nice country to visit. It’s no wonder that it attracts most tourists among the Caucasus countries.