Tourist information Georgia, including all the useful things to know before leaving for a trip or vacation in this Euro-Asian state.
Georgia in a nutshell
- Capital: Tbilisi
- Area in sq km: 69,500
- Population: 4,260,333 (2008)
- Religion: Orthodox Christian, Muslim minority and other Christian faiths.
Where is it
Georgia is a state of Transcaucasian Asia, to the north it borders with the Russian Federation, to the west with the Black Sea, to the south with Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan, to the east with Azerbaijan.
Its territory is between two mountain ranges, to the north the Greater Caucasus with peaks that exceed 5000 meters above sea level, and to the south the Little Caucasus whose peaks do not exceed 3500 meters above sea level.
The area that extends between the two chains corresponds to a system of hills and plains where the river valleys of the Kura, which flows east and flows into the Caspian Sea, and of the Rioni which flows in the opposite direction and flows into the Black Sea after crossing the fertile coastal plain of Colchis, furrowed by numerous streams.
Hydrography
The hydrography of the Georgian territory has two sides, the western one of the Black Sea, and the eastern one of the Caspian Sea.
The Inguri and Rioni belong to the Black Sea side, the Kura belongs to the Caspian Sea side.
The Rioni and the Inguri are born from the melting of the Caucasian glaciers and together with numerous smaller streams they form the plain of Colchide overlooking the Black Sea.
The Kura originates in Turkish territory, passes the Georgian border after initially heading towards the Black Sea, crosses the capital Tbilisi and flows into the Caspian Sea.
Climate
Georgia's climate in the western coastal and sub-coastal area is mild and rainy, especially in the Rioni and Inguri valleys, moving eastwards it gradually becomes continental and drier than in the western part of the country.
Population
The population of Georgia belongs to different nationalities and cultural identities.
Time zone
In Georgia the time difference is 3 hours ahead of Italy. There is no summer time system.
Recommended readings- Mtskheta (Georgia): what to see
- Georgia: useful information
- Tbilisi (Georgia): what to see in the capital
Spoken language
The official language of Georgia is Georgian. In addition, Russian, Armenian, Azerbaijani and others are spoken.
Economy
With the fall of the Soviet Union, Georgia regained its independence and launched an economic reform plan geared towards a free market economy, but the levels desired by the government have not yet been reached.
The country had to face the crisis of all productive sectors, the breakdown of financial and good neighborly ties with Russia, the separatist conflicts of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
The result is that not many goods and services taken for granted in European countries are available yet, and tourism infrastructure is also lacking.
When to go
Most of the country can be visited, excluding the areas of South Ossetia, Abkhazia, the Pankisi Valley, Svanezia and the border areas with Chechnya.
To visit Georgia the months between April and October are preferable.
Necessary documents
To enter Georgia, Italian and European Union citizens must have a passport with a residual validity of at least six months from the date of entry into the country and a return ticket.
The visa is not necessary for stays of less than three months.
Vaccinations
No mandatory vaccinations are required, but vaccinations are recommended: anti-dipteric, anti-hepatitis A and B.
It is also preferable to drink only bottled water.
Before departure, it is good to take out health insurance that covers medical costs and a possible repatriation, as the health service is insufficient.
Basic and emergency medical assistance is guaranteed only in Tbilisi and does not correspond to European parameters.
Phone
- The area code to call from Italy to Georgia is: 00995
-The prefix for calling from Georgia to Italy is: 0039
The cellular network is good and covers almost the entire Georgian territory. Geocell and Beeline are two GSM mobile operators that provide good coverage.
Electricity
The electric current is 220 V 50Hz.
Currency
The official currency of Georgia is the Georgian Lari. Credit card and traveler's payments are accepted in major banks and in the best hotels.
For travel outside the capital it is advisable to have cash as in most of the country payments are made in cash, although as a precautionary measure it is good to have little money with you.
Foreign currency can be exchanged at banks and exchange offices (only in larger cities).
The most widely accepted foreign currencies are the US dollar, the euro and the Russian ruble.
How to get
plane
There are no direct flights from Italy to Georgia.
Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa, Austrian airlines, Air Baltic offer flights with a stopover.
