Georgien

Top 5 Orte

1. Old Tbilisi and Narikala Fortress · Tbilisi

   Balconied old town, sulphur baths and a fortress reached by cable car.

2. Gergeti Trinity Church · Stepantsminda (Kazbegi)

   Hilltop church below Mount Kazbek, reached via the Georgian Military Road.

3. Mtskheta · Mtskheta

   UNESCO-listed ancient capital with Svetitskhoveli Cathedral and Jvari Monastery, 30 minutes from Tbilisi.

4. Sighnaghi and Kakheti wine region · Sighnaghi

   Walled hill town and family wineries making traditional qvevri wine.

5. Mestia and Svaneti · Mestia

   High Caucasus villages with medieval defensive towers and multi-day hikes.

Unterwegs vor Ort

• Öffentlicher Nahverkehr

  Tbilisi Metro and buses

  Pay with contactless bank card or a Metromoney card (2 GEL deposit). A ride is 1 GEL and transfers are free within about 90 minutes. Metro runs about 06:00 to midnight.

• Fahrdienst-App

  Bolt

  Most used ride app in Tbilisi and Batumi; fixed price shown up front, most city rides 2-15 GEL. Best way to avoid airport taxi overcharging.

• Fahrdienst-App

  Yandex Go / Maxim

  Alternative apps with similar low prices; Maxim also works in some smaller towns.

• Busse

  Marshrutkas

  Minibuses are the main way to travel between towns, such as Tbilisi to Kazbegi or Sighnaghi. Cheap, paid in cash, leave when full from bus stations like Didube.

• Züge

  Georgian Railways

  Tbilisi to Batumi and Kutaisi trains, bookable online; the fast Batumi train sells out in summer.

• Taxi

  Taxis

  Outside the cities, agree the fare before the trip. Avoid touts at Tbilisi airport and use an app instead.

Geld und Bargeld

Währung: GEL · Georgian lari

Cards and contactless payments work widely in Tbilisi and Batumi, including the metro. Carry cash for marshrutkas, village guesthouses, markets and mountain areas. ATMs are common and take Visa and Mastercard. Exchange kiosks in cities usually give fair rates. Prices are sometimes quoted in dollars or euros but must legally be paid in lari.

Wechselkurs nach GEL prüfen

Trinkgeld

Tipping is common in Western-style restaurants in Tbilisi and Batumi but rarely expected in traditional places. Many restaurants already add a 10-15% service charge to the bill; if they do, no extra tip is needed.

Nützliche Sätze

• ანგარიში, თუ შეიძლება (angarishi, tu sheidzleba) The bill, please.
• მომსახურება შედის? (momsakhureba shedis?) Is service included?
• მადლობა (madloba) Thank you.

Umgangsformen

• In Orthodox churches, women should cover their hair and wear a skirt (wraps are often provided at the door); men should remove hats and avoid shorts.
• Hospitality is central: at a supra (feast) the tamada (toastmaster) leads toasts; drink wine during toasts, not beer, which is traditionally reserved for toasting enemies.
• Do not photograph inside churches during services, or near military bases and power installations.
• Avoid public displays of affection between same-sex couples; harassment has been reported even though it is legal.
• Russia and the occupied regions (Abkhazia, South Ossetia) are sensitive topics; listen rather than argue.
• Carry your passport; police may ask for ID.
• Jaywalking in Tbilisi is fined (50 GEL since 2025); use crossings and underpasses.

Maschen und wie du damit umgehst

• Bar and nightclub bill scam

  Wo: Tbilisi, especially near Rustaveli Avenue and Old Town

  So funktioniert’s: Strangers (often friendly women met online or on the street) invite tourists to a bar where drinks cost hundreds of dollars; staff demand payment. Drink spiking has been reported.

  So vermeidest du es: Refuse invitations to a specific bar from strangers, see a price list first and buy your own drinks.

• Airport taxi overcharging

  Wo: Tbilisi and Kutaisi airports

  So funktioniert’s: Touts charge several times the normal rate for rides to the city.

  So vermeidest du es: Use Bolt or another app, or the airport bus; the normal taxi fare to central Tbilisi is roughly 20-30 GEL by app.

• Prices in dollars or euros

  Wo: Guesthouses, tours, taxis

  So funktioniert’s: Prices quoted in foreign currency are converted at a poor rate or used to confuse.

  So vermeidest du es: Ask for the lari price; payments must legally be made in lari.

• Double charging for service

  Wo: Restaurants

  So funktioniert’s: A 10-15% service charge is added and staff or the card terminal still ask for a tip.

  So vermeidest du es: Read the bill for the service line before tipping.

• Pickpockets in crowds

  Wo: Tbilisi metro, Old Town, Dry Bridge market, Batumi boulevard

  So funktioniert’s: Thieves take phones and wallets in crowded places.

  So vermeidest du es: Keep valuables zipped and in front of you.

• Unofficial tours and drivers without insurance

  Wo: Kazbegi, Svaneti, ski resorts

  So funktioniert’s: Cheap drivers or adventure operators with poor safety standards.

  So vermeidest du es: Use well-reviewed operators, check seatbelts and equipment, and hire licensed mountain guides.

Sicherheit

• Crime is low; petty theft in crowded places is the main risk.
• Use ride apps rather than street taxis, and make sure seatbelts work.
• Driving is erratic, rural roads are unlit and animals wander onto them; avoid night driving and mountain roads in bad weather.
• Mountain rescue is limited: hire guides for hard routes and avoid off-piste skiing.
• Drug possession can bring 5-25 years in prison.
• Do not try to enter Abkhazia or South Ossetia from Russia; it is illegal under Georgian law.

Wie verbreitet Englisch ist

Fairly good among younger people in Tbilisi, Batumi and tourist businesses; limited among older people, who more often speak Russian.

Quellen

• GOV.UK Foreign travel advice: Georgia, safety and security
• Wikivoyage: Georgia (country)
• Wikivoyage: Tbilisi

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