Plan a trip to Georgia

What should you know before travelling to Georgia?

These are the travel tips that matter most before a first trip to Georgia, in the order you will need them.

1. Insurance is compulsory: health and accident cover of at least 30,000 lari for your whole stay.
2. Visa: none needed on a British passport for stays of up to a year.
3. Season: choose it by region, because the highest roads and treks open only in summer.
4. Days: a week to ten days suits a first trip.
5. Taxis: book through an app rather than flagging one in the street, as the FCDO advises.
6. Safety: the FCDO advises against all travel to Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
7. Etiquette: dress modestly in churches, and expect toasts at the table.

Do you need a visa for Georgia?

No, if you hold a British passport: GOV.UK says you can visit Georgia without a visa for up to one year. Your passport should be valid for the whole of your stay. Other nationalities should check their own government’s advice.

Is travel insurance mandatory in Georgia?

Yes. Since 1 January 2026, under Government Regulation No. 602, anyone entering Georgia as a tourist must have health and accident insurance covering at least 30,000 lari, valid for the whole stay including the days you arrive and leave. The policy can come from a Georgian or a foreign insurer, and your airline at check-in or the border officer on arrival may ask to see it.

When should you go?

May, June, September and October suit most trips, with warm days in Tbilisi and green or golden country. The high mountains are a summer affair: serious treks and the road to Tusheti open around mid to late June. Our month-by-month guide to the best time to visit Georgia has the weather, the harvest and the road dates.

How many days do you need in Georgia?

A week to ten days covers Tbilisi, Kakheti and one mountain region such as Kazbegi, which is about 157 km north of Tbilisi. To choose what fills those days, start with our guide to things to do in Georgia. Tbilisi has the country’s busiest international airport, so plan a first and last night in Tbilisi.

Getting around Georgia

Georgia drives on the right, and GOV.UK says you can drive on a UK licence for up to one year, though car hire firms may ask for an international driving permit. Outside the cities, roads are often poorly lit, livestock wander onto them, and snow can close high roads. Hiring a driver is the alternative to driving yourself, and in towns the FCDO advises booking taxis through an app.

Is Georgia safe?

Most of Georgia is open to travel, and the FCDO describes crime levels as low. It advises against all travel to the Russian-occupied regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, and against all but essential travel next to their boundary lines. Demonstrations in Tbilisi centre on the Parliament building on Rustaveli Avenue and have at times turned violent, so keep away from them: the FCDO says taking part can lead to questioning on exit or a refused re-entry. The emergency number is 112.

Customs and etiquette: dos and don’ts

Dress modestly in churches and monasteries: women cover their shoulders, knees and hair, and men cover their shoulders and knees. Much of Georgian etiquette happens at the table, where a toastmaster leads the toasts and guests raise their glasses and wait for the toast to finish before drinking, so it helps to know Georgian food before you go. Check your medicines before you pack: GOV.UK says non-prescription medicines containing codeine are illegal in Georgia, and prescription medicines should travel with the prescription and original packaging.

A trip where the planning is done for you

A multi-day tour is the way to hand the planning to someone else. If you would rather not plan any of this, multi-day tours arrange drivers, guides and places to stay for you, and our page on them sets out what to check before you book.