I’m so happy that Georgia (the country!) is slowly starting to become more popular with travelers. It’s the perfect mix of travel, food, and nature all rolled into one country – plus the locals are some of the most hospitable and friendliest people you’ll ever meet!

After visiting Georgia last year, I realized there are so many unique things to do in Georgia. From the delicious food to the wine, the unique churches, mountains, bustling cities, cute souvenir smalls, relaxing sulfur baths, panoramic cable cars… I could go on and on, but hopefully this short list will cover the basics.

If you don’t know where to start, I’ve got you. ;)
Let’s check it out!

1- Step Inside a Kaleidoscope at Gallery 27

Perhaps one of Tbilisi’s best-kept secrets, Gallery 27 is one of those places that you accidentally stumble upon in your travels and are so happy that you did. 

Gallery 27 is something between a traditional Georgian house and a colorful mosaic, with stained glass in beautiful yellow, orange, blue, and teal colors. It also houses a beautiful little shop that sells local handmade gifts and items like rugs, art, toys, souvenirs and more. 

Since the store is located in a residential building, please remember to keep quiet when taking photos and respect the neighbors. :) 

WHERE:
N3 Betlemi St, Tbilisi 0105, Georgia

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2- Stuff Yourself Like a Human Khachapuri

Georgian food is on its own level and unlike any other cuisine you might have tried before. It’s full of ooey-gooey cheese, soft bread, delicious smoked meats, all served with a dash of warm hospitality and a splash of Georgian wine.

There are so many Georgian foods to try, but this quick list should hopefully help you choose what to order

Foods to try in Georgia:

-Khachapuri: The mother of all Georgian dishes and the whole reason why I booked my ticket here in the first place (ok ok fine, only 75% of the reason why). The classic Khachapuri is usually a boat-shaped piece of dough with plenty of cheese in the middle and topped with a raw egg. However, different regions in Georgia have their own style of khachapuri, so you might see khachapuri that is flat, has different toppings, and other variations. In fact, there are over 80 ways to make khachapuri! The three most common include:

     -Adjaruli Khachapuri: The classic boat-shaped khachapuri that has the cheese and an egg yolk on top
     -Imeruli Kachapuri: A circular piece of flat bread with the cheese stuffed inside
     -Megruli Khachapuri: Also circular but with the cheese on top

-Khinkali: Circular dumplings that are stuffed with meat (usually pork or beef), spices, and broth.

-Georgian Cheese: Oh, so many cheeses! Georgia is a heaven for cheese lovers, including the locals: Most restaurants will usually have a cheese board as an appetizer where you can try anywhere from 3 to 5 different types. The most common are Sulguni (my personal favorite), Imeruli, and Guda (gouda). 

-Lobio: Another popular dish that’s similar to chili, Lobio is made up of mashed beans and spices. It’s even more delicious if you take a piece of bread and dip it in the lobio.

-Churchkhela: One of the most common sweets (and souvenirs!), churchkhela is a stick of almonds, walnuts, and hazelnuts covered in fruit juice and left to dry. It’s a chewy and delicious snack, especially on those long marshrutka rides between cities. 

Drinks to try in Georgia:

-Tarhun: This is a delicious (green) carbonated soft drink that is made from a local Georgian herb called tarragon. It has a hint of minty and earthy flavors, and is even better if you drink a cold one during hot Georgian summers! 

-Chacha: A type of grape vodka, Chacha (also called cha cha) is the second drink of choice for Georgians. It’s about 40% in volume and has many local legends for curing stomachaches, acne, wounds, and bee stings. Hey, can’t hurt to try, right?

-Wine: No words needed.  ;) 

 

WHERE:
Just walk into any Georgian restaurant and you’ll see 90% of the things mentioned here on the menu. If you want an in-depth look at Georgian cuisine, there are a few excellent food tours and cooking classes. 

TO BOOK & PRICE: 

Take a journey through Georgian cuisine with one of my favorite food tours. On this four-hour tour, you’ll have 9 tastings of traditional dishes like khachapuri, khinkali, lobio, salads, and drinks (chacha and wine). Besides the delicious food, I loved our guide’s passion for Georgian food – it made the tour that much better. 

If you want to try your hand at making your own Georgian food, here’s your chance. This cooking class is taught by a local chef and includes a tutorial on how to make the two most popular Georgian dishes: khachapuri and khinkali. As a bonus, you’ll be able to try your delicious creation afterward ;) 

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3- Enjoy Georgian Wine (Ice Cream)

Are you full? No? Ok good, we’re not done with food yet!

After step number 2 (Khachapuri! Khinkali! Cheese!), it’s time for dessert. 

One of the most unique things to try in Georgia is wine ice cream. As the name says, it’s a sweet ice cream made from wine and served on a cone. It’s perfect for those hot summer days after you’re done trekking up Sololaki Hill and need a quick snack to cool down.

WHERE:
Top of Sololaki Hill, near cable car station, is a small kiosk that sells wine ice cream. If you want to save time, you can take a walking tour of Tbilisi and get some ice cream when you’re walking around Sololaki. 
PRICE:
About 6 Lei ($2 USD) for a small cone

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4- Sweat it Out at a Sulfur Bath

You’ve conquered the hills of Georgia, you’ve eaten at every khachapuri kiosk in Tbilisi, and you’ve drunk every wine off the menu…

Now it’s time to detox, Georgian-style! One of the local’s favorite pastimes is to get together and visit a bathhouse. Georgian bathhouses are unique in the sense that the shape of the bathhouses, the rituals, and the massages are all unique to Georgia.

Visiting a bathhouse can be done by yourself or with friends — there are public baths that you can join for just a few dollars, or you can rent a room if it’s a private group. One thing you cannot miss is signing up for a scrub at a bathhouse, which can cost as low as 20 Lari ($7). An expert masseuse will scrub you down, remove dead skin cells, and use a foamy “pillow” to make you squeaky clean. It’s a must-do in Georgia!

WHERE: There’s an area in Tbilisi for just baths called Abanotubani district (literally “bath district” in Georgian).
Bath number 5 and Royal Bath are the most popular.

TO BOOK: I recommend walking into a bathhouse and reserving a spot in advance (they fill up fast!). 

PRICE: Prices start at 3 Lari (1 USD) for public baths or 30 lari (10 USD) for private baths

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5- Borjomi

One of Georgia’s biggest hidden gems is the small town of Borjomi. Nestled between a national park and a forest, this town is famous for its healing mineral water that was popular in the USSR — and still is today!

It takes about 2 hours to get from Tbilisi to Borjomi, and you can visit Borjomi as a day trip or stay overnight and continue onward. It’s the perfect place to relax after experiencing the busy and bustling city of Tbilisi, especially since there are a number of hiking trails, spas, and thermal baths around town.

If you want to plan a trip to Borjomi, I have a separate post that you might be interested in –
Click here to read my Travel Guide to Borjomi! 

TO BOOK: If you prefer to do a tour, there are hundreds to choose from. As a bonus, most start from Tbilisi.
You can see all of the Borjomi tours here. 

PRICE: Tours start at $30/person, or you can take a marshrutka for about $3/person

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That’s it for all of my favorite things to do in Georgia! Have you gotten some travel inspo yet? Let me know what you would do first on your trip to Georgia, and see you next time!