Traveling to Georgia

Georgia quickly became one of my favorite countries. In June 2021 I gave it a week: a few days in Batumi on the Black Sea, a rental car across the country, and the rest in Tbilisi.

Georgia has 3.7 million people and claims to be the birthplace of wine — archaeological evidence suggests winemaking here dates back 8,000 years. The country sits at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, which has given it a unique culture and a complicated history of invasions. Fun fact: the Georgian alphabet is one of only 14 unique writing systems still in use today.

#What I Experienced

I flew from Kyiv straight to Batumi and stayed three nights in an apartment in Orbi City, the tower complex on the seafront. Batumi is Georgia's summer capital: a long seaside promenade and a skyline that keeps growing.

On June 12 I picked up a car at a local rental office in Batumi and drove it across Georgia to Tbilisi, returning it there on the 15th. A one-way rental was easy to arrange and let me stop wherever I wanted on the way.

The drive is about 370 km, and the best part is in the middle. Around Kutaisi, once the capital of Georgia, I made two stops: the Prometheus Cave, discovered only in 1984, and the Martvili Canyon, where the Abasha river cuts through limestone. Both are short detours from the main road, so they fit easily into a one-way drive.

Tbilisi is a city of contrasts. The old town with its wooden balconies feels centuries old, while modern architecture like the Bridge of Peace shows Georgia's ambitions. On my last full day I booked a two-hour morning slot at Chreli Abano in Abanotubani, the old bath district, where the city's hot sulfur springs still fill the domed bathhouses.

Georgian food deserves its growing reputation. Khinkali (giant dumplings), khachapuri (cheese bread that comes in regional varieties), and endless varieties of grilled meat. The wine, made in traditional qvevri (clay vessels buried underground), has a unique taste — natural wines before they were trendy.

#Practical Notes

• Georgian Lari is the currency (very affordable by European standards)
• One-way car rental from Batumi to Tbilisi works with local companies: I picked the car up at their Batumi office and dropped it off at the Tbilisi one
• Sulfur baths in Tbilisi can be booked online for a fixed time slot; book a day ahead
• Try different regional khachapuri styles (Adjarian, Imeretian, Megrelian)
• Georgian hospitality means you'll be fed more than you can handle
• Most citizens of Europe, North America, and many Asian countries can stay visa-free for one year

Georgia is an underrated gem. Affordable, beautiful, culturally rich, and with food and wine that rival anywhere in Europe. I'll definitely be back — next time for the mountains.

High-resolution photography from Georgia is available for purchase with commercial license — ideal for Caucasus travel marketing or landscape wall art.