Sakartvelo, a country that has won the love of tourists since the times of the Soviet Union, offers everyone a lot of interesting travel routes. Not sure what to see in Georgia? Those who are not indifferent to the mountains have a direct road to Svaneti, to Georgian wine - to Kakheti, to the sea and exotic - to Adjara.
Vacation season in Georgia
The best time to travel to Georgia is June-September (beach season in Kobuleti, Kvariati, Batumi). As for the increase in prices for vouchers, it is observed in winter (the main entertainment is snowboarding and skiing in Hatsvali, Bakuriani, Gudauri) and in summer. Well, more attractive tours can be purchased in May (many resorts and hotels begin to work fully from the end of spring) and mid-September (tourists will find an abundance of fruits and agricultural holidays, as well as comfortable visits to excursions).
Top 15 interesting places in Georgia
Abanotubani
Abanotubani is a Tbilisi quarter, the main attraction of which is the bath complex (sulfur springs). The attention of tourists deserves the Queen's Bath (consists of one female and 2 male halls), the Fantasy Bath (15 rooms are available for guests), the Bath of King Heraclius (it includes 4 inexpensive rooms), VIP Bath (is a number, where there is a hot sulfur pool, a sauna and other amenities), Bath No. 5 (it is equipped with halls for women and men, several rooms with different functionality), the Tsar's Bath (there are 5 separate rooms), Motley Bath (its facade is decorated with blue tiles, entrance to the common room costs $ 1.5, and massage - about $ 6), bath "Bakhmaro" (one of the 5 rooms is elite and luxurious with modern decoration).
Batumi fountains
The Singing Fountains deserve the attention of travelers: those enjoying the evenings with wonderful music, bizarre patterns and bright lights have an illusory feeling that they are facing fountains performing a “dance of water”.
Another interesting object is the Chacha Fountain: it is a special 25-meter bowl (it is surrounded by 4 pools), from which Georgian vodka is poured out at 7 pm for only 10-15 minutes a week (tasting a strong drink is possible thanks to the available special devices, pouring chacha).
House of Mirza-Riza-khan
The house of Mirza-Riza-khan is a symbol of Borjomi and an architectural monument of the late 19th century. The color of the main stone building with a 5-sided shape, surrounded by annexes, is blue, and the interior of the central balcony is decorated with patterns, which were created using multi-colored stones and mirror elements. Today the Golden Tulip Borjomi hotel is located here with 16 rooms (2 of them belong to the "Lux" category), a restaurant, a sauna, a fitness room, a swimming pool, a room where massages and procedures are performed using Borjomi mineral waters.
Narikala fortress
The Narikala fortress in Tbilisi was built in the 4th century, and in the 7th century it was completed by the Arabs, and in the 11th by the Mongols. Due to the earthquake of 1827, the fortress was partially destroyed, but the interest of tourists in its surviving towers has not faded to this day. The church of St. Nicholas, built in the 11th century and restored in the 90s, deserves special attention, inside of which there are frescoes depicting biblical scenes and Georgian history. Advice: it is better to get to the fortress by cable car from Rike Park (alternatively, walking from Europa Square).
Lycan palace
Likan Palace is a villa (Moorish style), which was erected in the 1890s for Prince Nikolai Mikhailovich on the banks of the Kura River in Likan. In order to have electricity in the yard, the first Russian hydroelectric power station was built here. Today, the Likan Palace is the summer residence of the President of Georgia, but despite the fact that you cannot get inside, it can be viewed from the outside, and most of the items of its former furnishings and photographic cards can be seen in the State Museum of Georgia. You can get to the Likan Palace from the center of Borjomi (a regular bus goes there).
Jvari monastery
The Jvari Monastery (it was built on the site of a wooden cross, which was erected in the 4th century by Saint Nino in honor of the victory of the Christian faith over the pagan faith) is located not far from Mtskheta on the top of a mountain (from there beautiful views of the rivers and Mtskheta open) at the confluence of the Aragvi and Kura. At the entrance you can buy flowers to bring them to the icons located in the monastery, and at the exit - handmade crosses and fish from boxwood. The southern and eastern sides of the temple are decorated with sculptural reliefs and ornaments, and the altar apse is decorated with 3 reliefs, which depict churchwardens. Not far from the Jvari monastery is the Wish Tree - there tourists who make a wish hang ribbons.
Mount Kazbek
Mount Kazbek is a 5,000-meter extinct stratovolcano, and its slope from the side of the Darial Gorge is occupied by an idle weather station (part of it was converted into a shelter for climbers). The sights of Kazbek include the Betlemi Monastery, the Trinity Church, the Dragon Rocks (represent a kilometer-long horseshoe at an altitude of 4800 m). Climbing Kazbek takes 5-7 hours, so it is advisable to get off the road at three in the morning.
Makhuntseti waterfall
The Makhuntseti waterfall is 30 km away from Batumi: its water stream, which has a rejuvenating effect, falls down from a height of 20 m. A healing invigorating bath can be taken in a stone bowl under the waterfall, and hunger can be satisfied with Georgian dishes in a nearby cafe. You will be able to get to the Makhuntseti waterfall through the bridge of the same name over the Acharistskali river, the length of which is 28 m (the height of the bridge is 6 m).
How to get there? At the Batumi bus station, you need to take bus number 77 (it will take about 40 minutes on the way) and get off near the bridge, from where you can walk to the waterfall for a couple of minutes.
Gelati monastery
The Gelati Monastery, 2 km away from Kutaisi, was erected by David Agmashenebeli in 1106 (he is also his tomb). The main treasures of the monastery are the best mosaics in Transcaucasia (pay attention to the mosaic depicting the Mother of God and the Child between 2 Archangels) and murals in the form of portraits of crowned persons. In addition, the complex consists of a 3-tier belfry built in the 13th century, the churches of Saints George and Nicholas. Gelati stands on a hill, from where everyone can admire the area and the Racha-Lechkhum mountains.
Sataplia Nature Reserve
Sataplia Nature Reserve is a place where boxwood, oak, figs, chestnuts, Colchis holly, hornbeam and other trees grow. Visitors will be able to admire architectural monuments, examine the footprints left by dinosaurs (there is a path over the place with footprints in the limestone rock for easy viewing and photographing; copies of the footprints can be bought in the workshop where they are cast), touch and take pictures against the background of realistic sculptures of dinosaurs in the forest, visit a karst cave (excursionists can explore 300 m of underground space with multi-colored lamps and stalactite and stalagmite outgrowths) and an observation deck with a transparent floor (visitors are asked to wear special slippers), from where Kutaisi and its surroundings can be seen.
Wine tunnel Kvareli
A tunnel with two entrances (one is intended for tourists and the other is for the needs of the Khareba Winery), about 7.5 km long, is a storehouse of vintage wines, the oldest of which was produced in 1840. Those who visit this place will listen to the excursion, take part in wine tasting and, if they wish, will get a bottle of their favorite variety (saperavi, tsolikauri, krakhuna, kinzmarauli, rkatsiteli, tsitska, usakhelauri, mukuzani). A high-speed elevator moving from the tunnel will take everyone to the rock with a high-class restaurant working there. Tourists should not ignore the fountain, waterfall and observation deck located above it, which can also be reached by elevator.
Prometheus cave
The Prometheus Cave found shelter in the vicinity of the city of Tskhaltubo. Of the 11 km of the total length of the cave, 1060 m is accessible to tourists. account of static light). Near the entrance, everyone will be able to take a picture against the background of the monument to a local resident who for many years protected the cave from vandals.
Useful information: buy a ticket worth $ 3 (a child ticket will cost $ 1.5), you can at the entrance to the cave; those who wish will be offered a ride on the cave lake by boat (+ another $ 3); working hours: every day, except Monday, from 10 am to 5-6 pm.
Uplistsikhe
Uplistsikhe is an ancient cave city: it is 12 km away from Gori. Of the 700 caves and cave structures, only 150 have survived to this day (they are connected to each other through walkways). Here you can see the North-West, Big and North-East gates, Three-walled chapel, Makvliani complex, Long temple, Uplistsuli church, temple with caissons, Round temple with a ritual well, 2-column temple (Queen Tamar's hall) and other objects.
The entrance will cost $ 1.25, and the guide services - $ 6, well, and you can visit Uplistsikhe from 11:00 to 18:00 (from the bus station in Gori to the village of Kvakhvreli, it takes about 20 minutes by bus, and from there to Uplistsikhe only 2 km on foot).
Sighnaghi
In Sighnaghi, nicknamed the city of love (one of the versions is related to the song "A Million Scarlet Roses" about the artist's love for an actress that happened in Sighnaghi; an artist in love, a Georgian Nino Pirosmani), it will be possible to get married at the local registry office without prior submission of documents, visit park named after April 9, see the exhibits of the Museum of Local Lore, houses with traditional carved balconies, a fountain in Irakli II Square, the Church of St. Stephen and the Church of St. George, admire the beautiful views of the Alazani Valley from the watchtowers, as well as get local wine in the "Tears of a Pheasant" shop, at which a cafe is open, where everyone is often invited to wine tasting.
Bridge of peace
The 156-meter Peace Bridge is a landmark of the Georgian capital: an undulating steel-glass structure is presented in the form of a fishing net thrown over the Kura River. In the evening, the bridge is illuminated by 30,000 light bulbs and LEDs, which are depicted every hour using Morse code on two parapets of the bridge one of the chemical elements of the periodic table present in the body of each person (the purpose of this installation is to show the unity of all people). In addition, from the bridge you can admire the Narikala fortress, Tbilisi Embankments, the Holy Trinity Cathedral, the residence of the Georgian president.
