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Georgia Travel Practical Information 2025 — Currency, Transport, Communication
Everything you need to know before visiting Georgia: Lari (GEL), transport options, SIM cards, emergency numbers and up-to-date practical tips.
Currency
Georgian Lari (GEL). 1 USD ≈ 2.65 GEL (2025). ATMs are widespread. Card acceptance is high.
SIM Card
Magti, Geocell and Beeline SIMs available at the airport. Tourist package ~10 GEL, 5GB data.
Transport
Marshrutka (minibus) cheap and widespread. Bolt/Yandex taxi affordable. Tbilisi metro daily card 1 GEL.
Health
Emergency: 112. Hospitals are good quality. Travel insurance recommended. Pharmacies (apteki) everywhere.
Electricity
220V, European-type sockets. Turkey/EU adapters work.
Climate
Tbilisi: summer 35°C, winter 2°C. Batumi: subtropical, mild. Kazbegi: cool summers, snowy winters.
Internet: Fibre infrastructure is widespread in cities. 4G coverage in Tbilisi and Batumi is near 100%. Free Wi-Fi is available at the vast majority of hotels, cafés and restaurants.
Language: Georgian is the official language with its own unique script (ქართული). Russian is widely spoken in major cities; English is increasingly common among younger generations.
Tipping Culture: Around 10% of the bill is a reasonable tip at restaurants and cafés. Tipping taxi drivers is not obligatory, but a small gesture is always appreciated.
Drinking Water: Tap water is safe to drink in cities. Bottled water is recommended in rural areas.
Public Holidays: 1 January New Year, 7 January Orthodox Christmas, 23 April National Unity Day, 9 April National Day of Remembrance, 26 May Independence Day are the main public holidays.
By Air
Istanbul–Tbilisi 2.5h. Direct Istanbul–Batumi flights. Pegasus/Turkish Airlines/Georgian Airways.
By Bus
From Istanbul: Metro Turizm/Lux Express ~24-28 hours. Budget-friendly option.
By Car
D-E80 highway (Istanbul–Tbilisi ~1800km). Sarpi Border Gate is the busiest crossing.