Georgia: Tbilisi, Mtskheta and Kazbegi
- 3 nights, 4 days
- Hotel, tours and breakfast
From USD 295
per person, sharing a double room
Georgia travel guide
Mountains, monasteries, wine country and generous hospitality, about three hours from the UAE. What residents need to know before they go.
Georgia has become one of the most popular short-haul holidays from the UAE: direct flights take about three hours, there is no time difference, and in a few days you can move from the old town of Tbilisi to the high Caucasus and the vineyards of Kakheti.
It suits families, couples and groups alike, in every season. Spring and autumn are best for sightseeing, summer brings cool mountain air when the Gulf is at its hottest, and winter brings snow to the ski slopes of Gudauri.
Visa and entry
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Citizens of many countries, including the UAE and the other GCC states, can visit Georgia without a visa. Check your nationality on the official list before you book.
Source: Embassy of Georgia to the UAE (Consular section)
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Citizens of a designated list of countries, including Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, can enter without a Georgian visa only if their GCC residence permit or visa is valid for at least one year on the day they arrive.
Source: Gulf News (Dhanusha Gokulan) and Khaleej Times (Ajanta Paul)
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Since 1 January 2026, visitors must hold health and accident insurance for the whole stay, with cover of at least 30,000 lari. The policy can be shown on paper or on your phone.
Source: Gulf News (Karishma H. Nandkeolyar)
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Carry your Emirates ID, your residence visa, your return ticket and your hotel booking. Border officers check documents closely, and travellers have been turned back for missing paperwork rather than for their nationality.
Source: Gulf News (Dhanusha Gokulan)
Entry rules for Georgia can change at short notice. Share your nationality and residence details and our team will confirm what applies to you before you book. For the latest developments, see the Georgia travel advisory.
Things to do in Georgia
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Tbilisi Old Town and Narikala Fortress
Walk the lanes and courtyards of the old town, then take the cable car from Rike Park up to Narikala for views across the city and the Mtkvari River.
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The sulphur baths of Abanotubani
The domed bathhouses below the fortress have private rooms that can be booked by the hour, which makes them easy for families and couples.
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Mtskheta and Jvari Monastery
Georgia's ancient capital, a UNESCO World Heritage Site about 30 minutes from Tbilisi, with Jvari Monastery on the hill above the meeting of two rivers.
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Kazbegi and Gergeti Trinity Church
The Georgian Military Road climbs past Ananuri Fortress and the Zhinvali reservoir to Stepantsminda, where Gergeti Trinity Church stands below Mount Kazbek.
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Gudauri
Georgia's main ski resort, about two hours from Tbilisi, with skiing and snowboarding in winter and paragliding over the valleys in summer.
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Kakheti and Sighnaghi
The wine region east of Tbilisi, with vineyards, monasteries and the walled hilltop town of Sighnaghi above the Alazani valley.
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Batumi
Georgia's Black Sea city, with a long seafront boulevard, a botanical garden and a modern skyline, a short flight or a scenic train ride from Tbilisi.
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Borjomi
A spa town in a forested gorge, known for its mineral water springs, its central park and the cable car above the town.
Dos and don'ts
Do
- Cover shoulders and knees in churches and monasteries. Women are asked to cover their hair, and scarves and wraps are often provided at the door.
- Carry some cash in lari for villages, markets and small guesthouses, where cards are not always accepted.
- Use a ride-hailing app such as Bolt in Tbilisi, or agree the fare before you get into a street taxi.
- Check road conditions before driving to Kazbegi or Gudauri in winter, when snow can close the pass.
- Ask whether a dish contains pork if you eat halal. Tbilisi and Batumi have a good choice of halal restaurants.
- Keep your insurance policy and return ticket ready to show at the border.
Don't
- Try to visit Abkhazia or South Ossetia. Both regions are outside the control of the Georgian government, and entering them other than through Georgia is illegal under Georgian law.
- Photograph services or worshippers inside churches without asking first.
- Plan long mountain drives after dark. The roads are winding and often unlit.
- Tip twice: many restaurants add a service charge of around 10 percent to the bill, so check before you leave a tip.
- Try to see the whole country in one short trip. Three or four nights suit Tbilisi with a day or two in the mountains; add more for Kakheti or Batumi.
Food to try
- Khachapuri
- Cheese-filled bread. The Adjarian version is boat-shaped and topped with an egg and butter.
- Khinkali
- Large dumplings filled with meat and broth. Hold them by the knot, sip the broth first and leave the knot on the plate.
- Mtsvadi
- Meat grilled on skewers over vine cuttings. Ask for lamb, beef or chicken if you do not eat pork.
- Badrijani nigvzit
- Fried aubergine slices rolled around a spiced walnut paste.
- Lobio
- Slow-cooked bean stew served in a clay pot, often with cornbread.
- Churchkhela
- Strings of walnuts dipped in thickened grape juice, sold at markets and roadside stalls.
Practical tips
- Getting around
- Most visitors travel with a car and driver, which suits mountain roads and day trips. Bolt operates in Tbilisi and Batumi, and the Tbilisi metro is cheap and simple to use.
- Money
- Cards are widely accepted in Tbilisi and Batumi, and cash machines are easy to find. Outside the cities, carry cash in lari.
- Staying connected
- Prepaid SIM cards are sold at the airport and in town, and many travellers set up an eSIM before they fly.
- Weather
- Tbilisi is hot in July and August while the mountains stay cool. Kazbegi and Gudauri usually have snow from December to March. Pack a warm layer for the mountains in any season.
- Health and safety
- Georgia is generally safe for visitors. The emergency number is 112, and your insurance policy should cover medical treatment for the whole stay.
Georgia holiday packages
Two itineraries in Georgia, built on the places in this guide, with the hotel, tours and transfers in one price.
Georgia: Tbilisi, Kazbegi and Kakheti
- 4 nights, 5 days
- Hotel, tours and breakfast
From USD 365
per person, sharing a double room
Georgia in photographs
Questions about travelling to Georgia
Do UAE residents need a visa for Georgia?
Many nationalities can visit Georgia without a visa. Citizens of a designated list of countries, including Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, can enter visa-free only with a GCC residence permit valid for at least one year on arrival. Share your nationality and residence details and our team will confirm what applies to you.
Is travel insurance required for Georgia?
Yes. Since 1 January 2026, visitors must hold health and accident insurance for the whole stay, with cover of at least 30,000 lari.
How many days do I need in Georgia?
Three or four nights cover Tbilisi, Mtskheta and a day in Kazbegi. With five nights or more you can add the wine country of Kakheti or the Black Sea coast at Batumi.
Is halal food easy to find in Georgia?
Yes, in Tbilisi and Batumi, which have many halal restaurants. In the countryside, ask before ordering, as pork is common in Georgian cooking.
When does it snow in Georgia?
The mountains, including Gudauri and Kazbegi, usually have snow from December to March. Tbilisi itself sees little snow.
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