Russia, Ukraine, Poland, and Romania. These Eastern European countries are slowly becoming more popular tourist destinations thanks to events like football championships, singing competitions (*cough* Eurovision) and summer festivals.
But what if we go a little deeper, jump over a few mountains, swim through the Black Sea, and frolic through some wineries?
There you’ll find an amazing but overlooked country called Georgia (not to be confused with the state!).
Like many of my friends, I had no idea what to expect before my trip to Georgia – the only things I associated with the country were fuzzy hats, hachapuri, and mountains.
In fact, it wasn’t until one of my friends asked, “Why should I visit Georgia?” that got me thinking – this country needs more PR! With all of the amazing things that Georgia has to offer, I hope that you’ll be buying your ticket as soon as you’re done reading this post. ;)
Here are just a few reasons why you should visit Georgia…
1 . Visa-free and easy to travel to
If you’ve scrolled through travel groups, you might have heard horror stories floating around about how hard it is to get visas for Georgia’s Eastern European neighbors, such as Russia. Don’t worry! Citizens of more than 90 countries can enter Georgia without a visa, including travelers from the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, the European Union, and more.
For those wondering if Georgia is a safe place to travel (or if it’s safe to travel to Georgia alone) — yes, it’s perfectly safe. Georgia is the perfect destination for both beginner and professional travelers: the majority of signs are in English, and many locals – especially the younger generation – can speak English. If you really want to impress Georgians (or make new friends!), don’t forget to learn a few phrases, such as gamarjoba for hello and gmadlobt for thank you. Travelers who speak Russian will have no problem getting around in Georgia, since many locals can fluently speak the language thanks to Georgia’s time in the USSR.
Getting around Georgia is easy because the country is connected by an excellent railway system, a multitude of international and domestic flights, and cheap marshrutkas (mini buses) that will take you virtually anywhere. In fact, traveling on a marshrutka is an adventure in itself: it’s extremely cheap (7 GEL/$3 USD to get from Tbilisi to Borjomi), you’ll make plenty of new friends, and the hours fly by while watching the landscapes outside the window.
2 . There’s something for everyone
Now that we have the basic stuff out of the way, let’s talk about where to go!
Georgia is a hodgepodge of different cities, towns, and villages that has something for every type of traveler. Here are a few places to fuel your wanderlust and jumpstart your planning:
TBILISI : Bustling metropolis of culture and old world charm
Georgia’s capital, Tbilisi, is the perfect starting point for your adventure. It has everything you need to get acquainted with this cozy country, including plenty of museums, attractions (both touristy and off the beaten path), hiking trails, and delicious restaurants. If you’re not in a rush, it pays to stay a few extra days so you can explore the city in depth: get lost walking through the cobblestone streets, admire the gorgeous lace balconies at every turn, and reward yourself with a hachapuri at the local bakery (but more on that later!).
BORJOMI : A hidden oasis in the mountains
Walk into any mini market in Eastern Europe, and you’ll see a red and white bottle with Borjomi written across. This city still retains the retro charm of its heyday, when thousands of people would visit to relax and try the famous mineral water. If you want to try the real thing, there’s a fountain in the middle of the park where you can get a free cup (just be warned that it tastes quite salty!). Afterwards, take the cable car for stunning views of the town and hike at the top of the mountain. There are also free mineral baths, a lovely old town center, and history museum to explore. You can read more about my adventure to Borjomi here 
BATUMI : For those chasing the sun
Batumi is one of Eastern Europe’s most popular resort towns, and it’s not uncommon to see Russians, Ukrainians, and Georgians sunbathing on one of the many beaches here. Active travelers can rent a bike for 2.5GEL/$1USD per hour and cycle along the waterfront, while those looking to relax can head to the beach, up on a cable car, or on the Ferris wheel (go at night for the best views!)
VARDZIA : A unique underground monastery 
If you want to infuse a little bit of history into your trip, visit Vardzia, which is famous for its monastery that’s built into a cave.
As you can see, there are so many things to do in Georgia — the hard part is narrowing it down to fit your itinerary!
3. Unspoiled nature that will leave you breathless
(in a good way!)
Have you seen photos of Georgian nature? No? It’s ok, I’ll give you a few moments to Google it.
…Unreal, right? No trip to Georgia is complete without a day in nature, and thankfully, there are plenty of hiking trails, regional parks, caves, rivers, and more. It was mentioned as one of the best hiking destinations, and it’s not hard to see why. Some recommended spots are the rolling green hills of Tusheti, Okatse canyon, or waterfalls of Kazbegi.
4. Melt your stress away
at the sulphuric baths
If all of that hiking has left you tired, it’s time to relax – the Georgian way! Head over to the Abanotubani district in Tbilisi, which features a dozen Georgian-style bathhouses. Here, you can bathe in the public baths, or rent a room for an hour (or more!). Hammam-style massages are available for an additional fee. Since the water is between 40 to 50 degrees Celsius, the bath masters also suggest sitting in the hot water for a few minutes and then jumping in the cold pool so you won’t overheat. If you have a free afternoon in Tbilisi, the sulfuric baths are a must-do: besides relaxing, the sulfur is rumored to promote healthy skin and helps alleviate problems with joints, digestion, and even jetlag.
5. Food to make any taste buds
drool with delight
One of my Georgian friends once joked, “If you traveled to Georgia and didn’t try khachapuri, then you didn’t really travel to Georgia.”
Georgians take their food very seriously, which makes for a delicious assortment of dishes. There’s the classic khachapuri, which is a boat-shaped piece of dough with plenty of gooey cheese inside. You might also see Khinkali, a round dumpling with meat and broth inside; lobio, a type of bean soup; and plenty of cheeses like sulguni or imeruli. Wash it all down with a Tarhun drink, which is made from tarragon and has a zingy carbonated lemonade flavor.
6. Wine, wine, and more wine!
(and maybe even a little Cha Cha)
Sure, you might have heard (or even tried) wines from Napa Valley, Bordeaux, or Marlborough, but what about Kakheti? Get those wine glasses out and sit down, because you’re in for a wild ride.
The region of Kakheti is said to be the birthplace of wine and has more than 7,000 years of viticulture history. It’s home to more than a hundred wineries with a wide array of variety, although semi-sweet red wines are the most popular. The best part? Kakheti is less than 2 hours away from Tbilisi, and there are plenty of daily wine tours that go to the region.
If you prefer something a little stronger, no worries, Georgians also have you covered! Chacha is a strong spirit, similar to brandy, that is made from grape residue after making wine. It’s then distilled and can be anywhere from 40% to 65%. Cheers!
7. The friendliest people
in the world
I didn’t expect anything extraordinary when I hopped on a marshrutka that was going to take me between Borjomi and Batumi, but I was in for a wild ride. My seatmate, a 60-something Georgian woman, started off our conversation very casually… but by the end of our 4-hour ride, we were laughing and walking to her sister’s house for dinner.
If you thought you were going to have a quiet and unassuming trip to Georgia, just add a warm conversation and half a bottle of Georgian wine and you’ll change your expectations. Book the ticket and go!
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if you’ve ever wanted to travel to Georgia, now is the perfect time to do so: it’s still relatively under the radar, which means you can see the country’s beauty without the crowds of tourists. However, don’t wait too long — it’s only a matter of time before Lonely Planet calls it the next big thing! ;)
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Photo credits: Flag – Max Kukurudziak // Clock Tower – Max Letek // Nature – Iman Gozal // Sulphur baths – Evgeniy Fesenko // Khachapuri – Ateles Films // Wine – My photo // Georgian girls – Radiokafka