Georgia Travel Guide: The Romance and Down-to-Earth Charm of the Caucasian Secret Realm

📝 Essential Pre-Trip Guide ✅ Visa: Chinese passport holders can stay for 30 days visa-free (passport must be valid for at least 6 months). ✅ Currency: Lari (GEL). It is recommended to exchange currency in advance at Tbilisi Airport/city center. Some merchants accept credit cards. ✅ Language: Georgian is the main language, and English is commonly used in tourist areas. ✅ Best season: - Spring (April–May): Wildflowers bloom all over the mountains, perfect for hiking. - Autumn (September–October): The forests are colorful, and it's wine harvest season. - Winter (December–February): Gudauri Ski Resort is covered in silver, a winter wonderland. 🚆 Transportation Tips 🚂 Train: Tbilisi↔Batumi (coastal line), Tbilisi↔Kutaisi (mountain scenery), the carriages are clean and the tickets are affordable. 🚌 Long-distance bus: Connects to small towns such as Sighnaghi and Kazbegi. The buses are comfortable, and tickets must be purchased 1 day in advance. 🚗 Chartered car/self-driving: Suitable for in-depth tours (such as the Kazbegi Mountains). It is recommended to find a local licensed driver. Drive carefully on mountain roads. 🌟 Must-Visit Attraction Map 📍 Tbilisi | A Collision of Ancient City and Modernity - Old Town Sulfur Baths 🧖♂️: A thousand-year-old hot spring cave bath, experience the Caucasian-style "steam therapy." - Narikala Fortress 🏰: Climb to the top at dusk to overlook the entire city, watch the Kura River pass through the city, and the night view is stunning. - Holy Trinity Cathedral ⛪: The largest Orthodox church in the Caucasus, with a pure white dome that is sacred and solemn in the sun. - Dry Bridge Market 🛍️: Find antique silverware, Soviet medals, and hand-painted carpets to feel the local atmosphere. 📍 Sighnaghi | Town of Wine and Love - Love Wall ❤️: The graffiti wall on the town street is filled with "I love you" in various languages, suitable for couples to check in. - Badagoni Winery 🍷: Visit the Qvevri winemaking process, taste award-winning wines, and pair them with local cheese platters. - Ancient City Wall Sunset 🌇: Stroll along the medieval city wall and watch the distant mountains and vineyards turn golden in the sunset. 📍 Kazbegi | Holy Land in the Clouds - Georgia-Russia Friendship Monument 🇬🇪🇷🇺: A landmark at an altitude of 2,379m, overlooking the magnificent panorama of the Caucasus Mountains. - Stepantsminda Town 🏡: The starting point for hiking. Open the window of the B&B and you can see the Kazbek snow mountain. - Holy Trinity Church ⛰️: Arrive after a 1.5-hour hike (or horseback ride). When surrounded by clouds, it is like a "city in the sky" suspended in the air. 📍 Batumi | Romance on the Black Sea Coast - Ali and Nino Statue 💑: Dynamic bronze sculptures, lovers meet and separate every day, symbolizing love and cultural conflict. - Seaside Boulevard 🌊: Cycling, watching the sunset, and street performers under the Ferris wheel are full of artistic atmosphere. - Botanical Garden 🌿: A subtropical plant maze, hiding waterfalls and century-old trees, suitable for escaping the summer heat. 🍲 Georgian Cuisine 🥟 Khachapuri: Cheese volcano bread, recommended "boat-shaped" (with soft-boiled egg) and "Adjara" (butter + egg yolk) flavors. 🥩 Churchkhela: Walnut skewers wrapped in grape juice syrup, sweet and chewy, similar to energy bars. 🍲 Kharcho: Beef and rice soup, with lemon juice and herbs, warms the body and whets the appetite. 🧀 Pkhali: Spinach/eggplant puree wrapped in walnut crumbs, served with bread to relieve greasiness. 🍷 Wine: Recommended local varieties Rkatsiteli (white) and Saperavi (red). Pottery-fermented wine has a unique earthy aroma. 🏨 Accommodation Inspiration - Tbilisi: - Old Town Boutique Homestay 🏘️: Such as "Old Town Guest House", open the window to see the dome of the church, and walk to various attractions. - Modern Design Hotel 🛋️: "Room Mate Anna", the rooftop pool overlooks the city skyline. - Kazbegi: Mountain View Wooden House 🏔️ "Rooms Hotel Kazbegi", floor-to-ceiling windows in front of the snow-capped mountains, sufficient floor heating in winter. - Batumi: Seaside Apartment 🌊 "Batumi Sea View Apartments", the balcony directly faces the Black Sea, and you can walk to the sculpture area. ⚠️ Useful Tips 🚨 Safety: The overall public security is good, avoid going to remote areas alone at night. 📷 Photography: Photography is prohibited in the church. It is recommended to ask politely before taking pictures of locals. 🚶 Hiking equipment: Kazbegi Mountain area requires non-slip hiking shoes and waterproof jackets. Some routes have no signal. It is recommended to travel in groups or with a tour group. 💊 Medicines: Prepare stomach medicine (the diet is greasy) and motion sickness medicine (there are many curves on mountain roads). ✨ Georgia is half the sacredness of snow-capped mountains and churches, and half the enthusiasm of wine and fireworks. Here, every bite of cheese bread hides a story, and every ancient winery tells a story of time. Let’s go and meet the wind and freedom of the Caucasus! 🌈