25 Photos to Inspire You to Visit Georgia (The Country!)

A few days into my trip to Georgia, an American friend of mine responded to my Instagram story.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were back in the USA?” she said, in response to a photo I’d shared tagging a restaurant in Tbilisi, Georgia. I was puzzled for a second before realizing the obvious. She thought I was in Georgia THE STATE.

I can’t necessarily blame her for the mishap. Growing up in the southern USA, when people mentioned Georgia, 9 times out of 10 it was in reference to our neighboring state, known for it’s rolling hills perfect for growing peaches, peanuts, and pecans. I looked out my window at the snow-capped Caucasus Mountains in the distance — I certainly wasn’t in that Georgia.

The country of Georgia is a small, transcontinental country located right where Europe meets Asia. With Russia to the north, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Turkey to the south, Georgia is a melting pot of diverse cultures, nestled among the sweeping cliffs of the Caucasus Mountains and covered with vines heavy with grapes. Georgia took me totally by surprise — I visited not entirely knowing what to expect but left with a deep love for Georgian wine, Georgian music, and Georgian people, not to mention a belly full of Khinkali.

I think the country of Georgia is an underrated travel destination. Tourism in the country is still relatively new, but it’s truly the best of Europe and Asia mixed for centuries and then celebrated together like a glass of qvevri wine. The people are joyous and welcoming, the food rich and inviting. 

Here’s a hot take: Forget the overcrowded streets of France and Italy — Georgia quickly became my favorite place I’ve ever visited in Europe.

Traveling to Georgia (The Country?) Check out my Georgia Travel Guide to help you plan your perfect trip! 

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Feeling Inspired to Visit Georgia?

Feeling inspired to visit Georgia on your own? Check out my in depth 2-week travel guide, or check out some of these guided tours in Georgia!

🍷 Kakheti Wine Region Full Day Tour – Sample Georgian wine in the heart of the Wine Region
⛪️ Mtskheta Half Day Tour – Explore Georgia’s ancient capital on this half-day tour from Tbilisi
⛰️ Kazbegi Full Day Tour – Experience the best of Georgia’s high mountain region in one day
🍇 Tbilisi Food Tour with a Local Family – Sample Georgian delicacies and learn how to make them!

ALL ROADS LEAD TO TBILISI

I immediately fell in love with Georgia’s capital city of Tbilisi. In fact, I walked 15 kilometers on my first day getting lost in picturesque alleyways and exploring winding side streets.

The streets of Tbilisi reflect a complicated history. Georgia is on a crossroads at the cusp of both Asia and Europe, and it’s capital city of Tbilisi has long been sought after by empires old and new for it’s strategic placement in close proximity to the Silk Road.

Since the foundation of the city in the 6th century by King Vakhtang I, it has been a point of interest for numerous foreign powers and has rarely known independence. First, the Persians ruled the city, followed by the Byzantines, the Seljuk Turks, the Mongols, and the Iranians. For a brief period, from the 12-13th centuries, Georgia established independence under the reign of King David IV, referred to in Georgia as “King David the Builder.” This period is known as the Georgian Golden Age.

The streets of Tbilisi reflect the many years spent under foreign powers, with architecture and handicrafts clearly reflecting the influence of the many empires who have claimed Tbilisi as their own. And yet, Georgian pride is strong — it’s not uncommon to see the familiar red and white flag hanging in a window.

Built by the city’s founder, King Vakhtang I, the Narikala Fortress is the oldest fortress in Tbilisi.  The name itself even reflects the many foreign occupants of the city — Narikala is sometimes said to derive from the Persian word for citadel, though others theorize that it comes from a name the Mongols used, meaning “little fortress.” 

Keep an eye out for intricate woven textiles in the streets of Tbilisi. These colorful pieces are a staple throughout the Caucasus region, originating out of Georgia’s southern neighbor Azerbaijan. Georgian textiles have their own unique look, often made with high-contrast, darker colors. 

Remnants of a Soviet Nation

I’ve found that with a lot of my American companions, if they know anything about Georgia, it’s that it was a former part of the Soviet Union.

If your trip starts in Tbilisi (as many traveler’s do) you will immediately notice the Soviet-style buildings flanking the roads near the airport. Deeper into the city, the rigid architectural style combines with the intricately carved Georgian balconies in a juxtaposition that only further mirrors Georgia’s long history of foreign control. Even further into the countryside, Soviet-era tractors dot the vineyards and homes are constructed of wet stucco and brick.

I know there is often hesitancy associated with visiting former Soviet nations, but I hope these photos will help change that mindset. Georgia is a country deeply proud of their national identity. As I traveled the country I noticed countless ways in which people had reclaimed Georgian identity and folklore amongst the rigidity of the Soviet-era buildings. It is all a part of the story.

Have a Glass of Wine… Or Two

Georgia is the land of wine. I was lucky to spend three days in Kakheti, Georgia’s Eastern Wine Region, learning the harvest process and celebrating rtveli.

You’ll never have wine like you’ve had it in Georgia. Every house in Kakheti seems to be heavy with grape vines or have rows of plums drying in the sunshine on their doorsteps. Trucks packed with saperavi grapes meander down the roads and the sound of a panduri almost seems to carry on the breeze.

I’m no wine aficionado, but I simply couldn’t resist diving into the wine culture of Georgia — preparing a meal outdoors in a traditional Kakhetian kitchen, drinking wine straight from a qvevri buried deep underground, feasting on a supra surrounded by friends, joy, and music. I was once even selected to be the tamada, or toast-master.

Georgian wine is prepared underground in a large clay vessel called a qvevri. First the grapes are picked, pressed, and then added to the qvevris to ferment for 2-6 months. The process involves regularly stirring the qvevri vessel to properly distribute the flavor and assist fermentation. During the harvest season, Georgian’s regularly celebrate the bounty with a large meal called a supra, where the harvested wine is drunk from small clay bowls called pialas.

Hike High Into the Caucasus

Georgia is located in the middle of the Caucasus Mountain Range, giving it one of the most striking landscapes I’ve ever seen.

My favorite mountain views were in Stepantsminda (Kazbegi) where the snow-tipped peaks seem to touch the sky and cows roam freely in the streets. This small town off the Georgian Military Highway is a popular spot for those visiting the Gergeti Trinity Church but is home to countless hikes and mountain views at every turn.

Granted, it’s pretty hard to go wrong with mountain views in Georgia. From the high mountains of Tushetti to the contrasting city and mountain views of Tbilisi, traveling in Georgia envelops you in the Caucasus in a way that constantly reminds you of the majesty of nature. I met a woman on my Georgia travels who echoed my sentiment. “The higher the landscapes, the happier the people!” she told me. “That’s why people are so happy in Georgia.”

Eat Your Way Through Georgia

As an American living in Dubai, I’ve sometimes struggled to fulfill my craving for cheesy, bready food. Luckily, Georgia solved that craving right away.

Georgian food is the ultimate comfort cuisine. Women selling fresh-baked kachapuri stuffed with cheese line the streets. Market stalls display a colorful arrangement of dried fruits and walnuts, the multicolored churchkela hanging like rainbows along the wall. Luckily for me, practically every restaurant offered khinkali, a Georgian soup dumpling traditionally filled with meat and spices. In my quest to find the best khinkali in Georgia, I also tried it with potatoes, cheese, and mushrooms.

Of course, no Georgian dish would be complete without a glass of Georgian wine, or if you prefer, a fresh-squeezed cup of juice. Georgian is home to a variety of fresh fruits and a sweet, tangy cup of cherry juice is the (literal) cherry on top of a good Georgian meal. The streets of Tbilisi are filled with vendors, just make sure you have a few Lari on hand! 

Khinkali is often served with butter and black pepper, like these ones from Cafe Daphna in Tbilisi. Since the meat is uncooked when the khinkali is wrapped, the juices get caught inside the dumpling. According to my Georgian friend, the proper way to eat khinkali is to hold it by the stem, bite a small hole, and suck all the soup out before eating the rest. 

Still Need Convincing?

I have a running joke of sending cat photos to my sister every time I travel, brought upon by her trip to the Bahamas where she only sent me photos of Bahamian cats (and a couple cute Bahamian dogs)

Luckily, there were no shortage of photogenic subjects for my cat quest here in Georgia. I’m fairly certain I have more photos of kittens on my camera than monasteries and mountain views, but I’m not mad about it. If I had a ranking of best countries by cats, Georgia would be at the top (Should I make this list? Let me know in the comments!)

I’m really just here to say, that if qvevri wine, mountain peaks, and Georgian hospitality aren’t enough to convince you, maybe this will do the trick. Visit Georgia for the cats, stay for a once in a lifetime experience.

Georgia Quick Links

✈️ Flights – Use Kiwi.com or WayAway to find the cheapest and fastest flights to the Georgia (the country!)
🛏️ Accommodation – Find the best places to stay throughout Georgia on Booking.com
✅ Get Insured – I personally use Safety Wing Nomad Insurance for my travels all around the world! VisitorsCoverage is another great option.
🚗 Rent a Car – Find the best deals for a Georgia road trip on RentalCars.com
🗺️ Find Things to Do – Check out Get Your Guide or Viator for exciting adventures all around Georgia
☎ Buy a Sim – Airalo offers eSIMS for over 200 countries and regions

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