Highlights of Georgia

Tbilisi

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Tbilisi is by far the most beautiful capital city in the Caucasus. According to legend, Tbilisi was founded in the 5th century by King Vakhtang Gorgasali, who was inspired to build the city after a pheasant he shot fell into a warm spring there and was healed.

One could spend days strolling around Tbilisi’s Old Town, with its colorful balconies, ancient churches, meandering streets and eclectic shops. During its long history the area has been destroyed nearly 30 times, but its layout remains largely intact. Here you will find Tbilisi’s famous Central-Asian sulfur baths, a charming puppet museum and some of the city’s oldest churches.

Another highlight is the ruins of the once-great Narikala Fortress, located above the Old Town. It offers panoramic views of the city below and is a fine place to watch the sunset while enjoying a glass of wine.

Be sure to also check out Sameba Cathedral, the largest church in Georgia and one of the most grandiose orthodox churches in the world.

Svaneti

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High among the jagged peaks of Northwestern Georgia lie the ancient villages of Svaneti, home to a people known as the Svans, known throughout the region for their chivalry and ferocity. They have never been truly subdued by any invader, including the Soviets, and even Georgians tend be a little afraid of them.

The region is also known for some of the most complex polyphonic singing in the Caucasus, as well as some of the country’s most dignified and mysterious dances. The entire region is a UNESCO world heritage site and the landscape is surreal, littered with imposing watchtowers, craggy peaks and glaciers.

Most travelers come here for the trekking and mountain climbing. The Shkhara and Ushba climbs are both challenging and should only be attempted by experienced mountaineers, but there are countless other treks for every range of fitness, including the four-day trek from Mestia, the Svan capital, to Ushguli, the most picturesque village in the region, which lies at the base of Mt. Ushba, Georgia’s highest mountain.

Sighnaghi

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It is known as “the City of Love” and it’s not hard to see why. Populated by friendly villagers and lording over a steep hill that overlooks a vast valley rimmed by enormous, snow-capped mountains, Sighnaghi is easy to fall in love with. For most travelers the town itself, which is ringed by one of the biggest fortifying walls in Georgia, serves more as a base for exploring the surrounding region. However, many have said their most treasured experiences in the country occurred in one of Sighnaghi’s cozy home-stays, eating delicious food with their host family.

Kutaisi

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Kutaisi, Georgia’s second largest city and widely considered the capital of Western Georgia, is a great place to spend a night or visit on a day trip.

Highlights include the Bagrati Cathedral and Gelati Monastery, both of which are UNESCO World Heritage sites and offer commanding views from their mountainous perches over the city and the Rioni river.

Gori

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Gori hasn’t changed much since the Soviet era. It’s a small city. It is still an essential destination on any Georgian itinerary, due to its status as the birthplace of Joseph Vissarionovich Jughashvili, better known as Joseph Stalin because of his undeniable effect he had on world history.

The city’s main attractions are all monuments to Stalin, all located near the main square, along Stalin Ave. This includes the Stalin Museum, an enormous and impressive complex filled with paraphernalia and media telling a one-sided tale of Stalin’s life and career. Nearby you can visit Stalin’s personal train car, as well as his birth house, located in front of the museum surrounded by neoclassical Doric columns. Gori is also home to one of the most magnificent and well-kept of Stalin’s surviving statues.

David Gareja Monastery

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This stunning, rock-hewn Georgian Orthodox monastery, located on the dry slopes of Mount Gareja in Georgia’s Kakheti region, is a must-see for anyone passing through eastern Georgia. The complex includes hundreds of cells, churches, chapels, refectories and living quarters that have been hollowed out of a sheer rock face.

Founded in the 6th century by St. David Garejeli, the monastery has remained an important center of religious and cultural activity ever since. It is known for the considerable artistic skill displayed in its many frescoes and murals, a number of which were damaged when the area served as a military training ground during the Soviet War in Afghanistan.

Today the monastery is still active, and serves as a popular destination of tourism and pilgrimage. It can be visited on a day trip from Sighnaghi.

Batumi

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Batumi is located on the sub-tropical Black Sea coast near the border with Turkey. Vacationers from around the Caucasus pour into the city during the summer. It is famous for the nightlife that occurs in its beach-front clubs.

The ruins of the Gonio Fortress offers some impressive architecture and stunning views of the surrounding area.

And don’t even think about leaving until you try a acharuli khachapuri, a famous khachapuri native to the area. It looks like a canoe of bread of filled with cheese, butter and topped with a raw egg.

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