Georgia sightseeing. Travel guide - attractions, sights, nature and touristic places

During its long history, the territory of modern Georgia belonged or was occupied by the Turks, Arabs, Greeks, Mongolians, Russians and Persians. Naturally, this fact had a significant impact on culture of the country, making it very diverse, same as Georgian nature that changes from palms and cypresses in Batumi to northern areas in the Greater Caucasus Mountains.

Things to do in Georgia - active leisure

Georgia offers tourists a huge array of opportunities for active recreation in various areas. One of the most popular among them is mountain tourism. …
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Travellers, who like mountain rest, will enjoy their visit to the Caucasus Mountains and beautiful Mount Kazbeg (5,030m). The most famous destinations of the region are Kazbegi town, Gudauri (a popular ski resort) and the beautiful Khada Valley. Hospitality is traditional in Georgia, so travelers will feel very welcome. Tsminda Sameba is considered a true gem of Kazbegi. This ancient Georgian church is built on a hilltop, from which one can see stunning views of the mountains and the valley.

Continue your observation of the country by visiting Svaneti that is home to Ushguli – one of the oldest settlements in Europe. This place has retained the atmosphere of the medieval period with its old houses. The Upper Svaneti is added to the UNESCO list. Don’t forget to visit the nearby village of Chazhashi to see nearly 200 medieval houses built in an unusual manner. In the past, the houses were used both as living place and as protective posts. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

What you need to know about Georgia prior to visit - advices

1. Before traveling to Georgia, it is worth finding out in advance whether your Country’s currency is accepted at the Georgian exchange offices. The …
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The list of old and interesting cities in Georgia is really long. Kutaisi is, without a doubt, one of them. The main historic attractions of the city include the Bagrati Cathedral built back in the 11th century and the Gelati Monastery built a bit later. The city of Mtskheta is also rich in old churches of the medieval period. Fans of history might be interested in visiting Gori as this is the city where Josef Stalin was born. There are a statue and a museum of Stalin in the center of Gori.

Travellers, who like hiking, cycling and walking, are recommended to visit Pankisi Gorge. This is a northern region of Georgia located in the central part of the High Caucasus. During a walk there, you will see the remains of old fortifications, ancient churches and other ruins. Don’t leave Georgia without visiting its capital and largest city – Tbilisi. Here you can make a tour in the Old Town, enjoy the beauty of Tbilisi Sameba Cathedral, visit Freedom Square and Metheki Church, observe old Narikala Fortress and see panoramic views of the city near Mother Georgia statue.

What to see and what to visit in Georgia with children

Georgians honor family values and are famous for their good attitude towards children. This is felt immediately upon arrival in the country. …
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History and Entertainment

In the 12th century BC, there were several ancient states on the territory of modern Georgia. The largest of them were Colchis and Diaohi. Later, they were unified as the Colchis State. It was repeatedly reformed in kingdoms and broadened its territory. In the 1st century AD, the state was a part of the Roman Empire. In the 6th century, Colchis saw the times of bloody battles with Byzantium.

The history and culture of Georgia have been seriously influenced by other countries. Georgia became completely independent only in 1918. Besides historical attractions, the country is notable for its wellness centers. On the territory, a lot of unique mineral springs were found. Travelers should also visit popular beach resorts, among which the most popular is Ureki. The interesting features of the coastal area of Georgia are beaches with black sand. Such unusual color is a result of a high content of magnetite. This mineral is healing, so recreation on such beaches is in the category of the useful wellness procedures.

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Fantastic City Tours and Excursions in Georgia

Famous and uniques places in Georgia from our review series

Temple of Tsmind Sameba

From the series “The Most Astonishing Orthodox Churches”

Temple of Tsmind Sameba has placed on the top of the hill of Saint Elias in Tbilisi, Georgia. Its name translates from the Georgian language as the temple of the Most Holy Trinity. This cathedral was built from 1995 to 2002, that’s why we can call it a young one. Its area is about 5 000 square meters, that is rather large for a temple.

This building is the largest in the whole city. Thanks to the good placement, even from every corner of the city you can see it. The main peculiarity of the Temple of Tsmind Sameba is its magnificent appearance while the inner decoration is rather modern. Mostly there was used a typical granite. The temple doesn’t have any decoration, only icons and traditional religious items. The iconostasis is the most luxurious thing in it. There were used precious … Read all

Katskhi Pillar

From the series “The Most Cozy Towns Full of Zen”

In Georgia, fans of spending time in remote places should go to the Katskhi Pillar. This sight is located in the eponymous village. The landmark rises above the ground for 40 meters. The pillar is a limestone monolith with an ancient temple on top of it. The exact date of construction of the temple is unknown. According to rough estimates, it was built no later than the 8th century.

Even in pagan times local residents associated the pillar with the almighty god of fertility. They believed that the rise to the top of the pillar can bring them closer to the divine powers. The first temple had been built on top with advent of Christianity. The shrine has existed for several hundred years and emptied only during the Ottoman invasion. After the military action, first attempts to subdue the … Read all

Bridge of Peace

From the series “The Most Unusual and Strange Bridges on Earth”

In Georgia there are also strange bridges, which are worth seeing for the curious tourists. The Peace Bridge in Tbilisi is one of the most popular urban sights. It stretches over the Kura River and connects the old town of Tbilisi with the new residential areas. The length of the pedestrian bridge, which is characterized by the exquisite design, forms 156 meters.

The bridge is decorated with a large glass canopy that shines like a giant crystal in the sunshine at the time of the day. The bridge design was developed by the famous Italian architect Micele de Lucci. The French designer and lighting designer Phillip Martino designed the decorations. In addition to hundreds of glass panels, the bridge is decorated with 30,000 LED bulbs, which are switched on at nightfall.

At first glance, … Read all

All unique sightseeing Georgia

Sightseeing in popular cities of Georgia

Kutaisi

Archaeologists proved that the city of Kutaisi was established in the 6th century BC. However, the first mentions in the documents date back to the 3rd century BC. Local people were mostly involved in winemaking. There were also many fruit trees in the region. According to old manuscripts of the antiquity period, Kutaisi was the capital of the ancient Kingdom of Colchis. At that time, the Colchis people mostly inhabited the territory of the modern Georgian city. They were the forefathers of … Read more

Tbilisi

In the city center, there is old Metekhi Church built in the 13th century. The first temple has not been preserved to this day. Today, the city guests can see the construction that stopped being built in the 16th century. The church is located on top of the rock and was built on the ruins of the palace that belonged to the city founder, Vakhtang I Gorgasali. Now, this old temple is a vivid example of Georgian architecture. In Tbilisi, there is the old temple of Georgi, Church … Read more

Mtskheta

The oldest city in Georgia was founded in the 5th century BC. According to a legend, Mtskhetos was the founder of the settlement, and this is how the city got its name. One hundred years later, Mtskheta became the capital of the early Georgian kingdom of Iberia. This was the period of development and prosperity for the region. However, the golden age for the settlement ended at the end of the 5th century when it was decided to move the capital to Tbilisi. Despite this drastic change, Mtskheta … Read more

Batumi

Among nature attractions, the Makhuntseti Waterfall is worth being mentioned. It is located in the immediate surroundings of the city. The waterfall is hidden in incredibly beautiful mountain landscapes. The trip to it will be an unforgettable adventure. This waterfall is also interesting due to fact that you can even swim here in summer. It is believed that its water has healing properties. The Batumi Botanical Garden is also a place that is famous beyond the city. Its foundation is … Read more