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Georgia (the country) had been high on my list to visit for a while, but after having finally gone there, I realized there were plenty of reasons why I should have gone sooner. I fell in love with everything about Georgia, from its food and wine to its history, geography, and culture. Most importantly, I enjoyed Georgian hospitality. Here are five of the many reasons to visit Georgia (the country) to find out for yourself just how great it is.
Georgian Food
If Georgia itself is an underrated travel destination, Georgian food is an underrated cuisine.
Whatever your diet, Georgia has plenty of options. Famed dishes such as khachapuri and khinkali are popular, of course, but Georgian cuisine goes way beyond that, with a wide variety of dishes utilizing the country’s bounty of ingredients. You name it: meat dishes, vegetarian (and vegan dishes), soups, cheesy delights, and sweets, Georgian food is excellent.
Whether you’re at a local restaurant or partaking in a feast known as a supra, it’s impossible to go hungry in Georgia. If you can’t make it all the way to the Caucasus, see if there’s a Georgian restaurant in your area. More are opening worldwide.
Georgian Wine
With some 8,000 years of wine tradition, Georgia is the oldest winemaking country in the world.
The unique historic qvevri method of making wine is still used in Georgia today.
Plenty of excellent wine bars in Tbilisi showcase the country’s production. For an even closer experience, visit the wine region of Kakheti for a tour or weekend getaway.
While Georgia might not have the wine reputation of France, Italy, or California, local producers and wine experts are rapidly beginning to appreciate Georgia’s place in the world of wine.
History & Culture of Georgia
The Caucasus region has witnessed thousands of years of human history. Thanks to its location, Georgia is a crossroads of goods and ideas.
Broken up by periods of independence, control of the country passed between various groups across its history, including the Iberian and Colchian civilizations, Alexander the Great, the Byzantine Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the Russian Empire, just to name a few. All made their impact on the country’s culture, which persisted no matter who was ruling.
There are plenty of historic sites in Georgia, some of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Many of these places of importance are located within day trip distance of Tbilisi. They include monasteries, ancient cities, and more.
As I mentioned above, Georgia’s winemaking tradition dates back 8,000 years. Appreciating this history is revitalizing the country’s wine scene and the integral role wine plays in Georgian culture.
Both wine and food play important roles in Georgian culture. The supra is a Georgian feast that brings together family and friends for important life events and holidays.
Each area of Georgia also has its own cultural identity, whether through regional dishes or, in some cases, different ethnic groups, such as the Svans in Svaneti. As you travel around Georgia, museums such as the excellent Svaneti Museum Of History & Ethnography will help you learn about what makes the country unique.
Diversity of Regions of Georgia
Whether you’re a city person or a lover of the outdoors, there are plenty of reasons to go to Georgia. For a country of its size, it has one of the most diverse ranges of climates & geographies in the world. It’s possible to drive from sea level to high in the mountains in just a few hours.
The capital city of Tbilisi makes for a great city break. It’s walkable and has great museums, bars, restaurants, and historic sites.
Batumi, along the Black Sea coast, also has city life and all the perks of a seaside destination.
Georgia also has varied geography. The hills and valleys of Kakheti are great for winemaking. To the north, the imposing Caucasus Mountains are a beautiful backdrop.
The tallest peaks of these mountains are over 5,000 meters (17,000 feet) above sea level.
During the winter, places like Gudauri and Mestia are great for skiing and snowboarding. In the summer months, hiking and other outdoor activities are popular.
People & Hospitality in Georgia
I’ve traveled to many countries but never felt as warmly welcomed anywhere as I did in Georgia. For starters, everyone was friendly at every place I visited, whether it was a shop, a Bolt, a bar, a restaurant, someone’s house, a museum, or a hotel. Sure, people who are customer-facing are often this way, but that’s certainly not a given in other places. It wasn’t something that came across as fake, it wasn’t for tips, it was just nice.
Perhaps this will change someday as more people discover Georgia and there are more tourists there, but I genuinely felt welcomed. Upon arriving in Tbilisi, my Bolt driver gave me several recommendations along the way to my hotel, a trend that would continue everywhere else during my visit. Roadside vendors offered us snacks and chacha. Bartenders were happy to tell us about unique local spirits and ingredients. A hotel kitchen stayed open late when some of us were delayed by bad weather. The abundant stray dogs were also (mostly) friendly.
Those were just the informal instances of Georgian hospitality. I also visited small wineries and other businesses that were barely the size of a home (and, in some cases, actual homes). I had the opportunity to partake in a Georgian supra on a few occasions, learning about the country’s rich banquet and toastmaking tradition. Those meals are something I will never forget.
It was once just a place that was high on my list of countries to visit, but these reasons to visit Georgia have moved it high on my list of places to return to. If you enjoy great food, drink, and history, you’ll enjoy Georgia as much as I did.
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Here are some other great Tbilisi tours & activities. Check out these Tbilisi day trips, too.
For Georgian wine experiences, I recommend taking a day trip to Kakheti from Tbilisi. You can also visit the many wine bars in Tbilisi.
If wine isn’t your thing, Tbilisi also has excellent cocktail bars & craft beer bars & breweries. Be sure to try the local spirit known as chacha!
Need a place to stay? Check out these Tbilisi hotel options. I enjoyed my stay at the Moxy Tbilisi, and the Radisson Blu Iveria Hotel is another excellent option.
