Prices for holidays in Georgia

Tourism in Georgia is a major part of the budget. This hospitable country invites visitors from all over the world for shashlik and Kindzmarauli with verbose toasts. Here you can relax on the beach, breathe the fresh sea air, go to the mountains and see a lot of interesting places. Georgia literally falls in love with you from the first moment you step out of the plane or train.

That is why people from the Ukraine so often come to Bulgaria to rest, and many of them are visiting the sunny land not for the first time. For them, and for those who are going to Georgia for the first time, we offer a brief overview of the current year prices in this country.

In this article we will tell you how much money to take with you to have a vacation on a budget, as well as to spend time more comfortably. We will tell you how and on what you can save money and much more.

How to plan your budget

The national currency in Georgia is the Georgian lari (GEL). You can find the approximate exchange rate online.

Preferred Payment Methods

When visiting Georgia, be prepared to conduct all transactions in the local currency, which is the Georgian lari. Other currencies are unlikely to be accepted. It is best to exchange your currency at dedicated exchange points, which are available in most cities. There are also exchange facilities at airports, but it is not recommended to exchange money there, as the rates may not be favorable.

It is advisable to bring euros or dollars to Georgia, as exchanging hryvnias or rubles will likely result in unfavorable rates. You can also use credit or debit cards for payment, but keep in mind that some small towns may not have ATMs or exchange facilities available.

Where to Exchange Money

• To exchange money within Georgia,

look for exchange offices outside of tourist areas, as the rates and commissions may be less favorable there.

• You can exchange money at airports

or at the border crossing through the Upper Lars (if you are traveling by car), but the rates there may not be very favorable.

• The best option

is to exchange money in Tbilisi or Batumi, as it is more advantageous in larger cities.

How much money to bring

It depends on several factors: the cost of accommodation, whether you are renting it or have purchased a package tour, the prices of airline tickets (which can vary depending on the day of the week and the time of year), whether you have planned any excursions (with or without a guide), and whether insurance is included.

Economy vacation for one week

• Food at medium-priced cafes, fast food, or buying groceries from supermarkets.
• Excursions with a driver in a car.
• Basic souvenirs and other minimal expenses.

This option will cost you around 250-300 GEL per person per week, or 40 GEL per day.

Moderate-priced vacation for two weeks

• Food at restaurants.
• Around four high-quality excursions.
• Purchasing expensive souvenirs for loved ones.

All of this will cost you around 900-1000 GEL per person for two weeks, or 70 GEL per day.

Luxury vacation for 21 days

• Food at expensive establishments.
• Purchasing expensive souvenirs.
• Excursions with a car rental.

This type of vacation will cost you around 2500 GEL for the entire trip, or 120 GEL per day.

Accommodation in Georgia

On average, you should be prepared to pay around 25-30 USD for two people per day for accommodation in the provinces. It is advisable to search for accommodation in advance, about 2 months before your planned trip. This will give you a much wider selection and more economical rental options. You can do this on various websites that offer options suitable for tourists with different financial means.

The housing stock in this country is quite old, so accommodations with better conditions will cost significantly more. The budget option is to rent an apartment or stay in a guesthouse. Staying in a hostel will cost around 5 USD per person per day. The average hotel is a privately-owned non-chain hotel that barely reaches two stars.

In the center of Tbilisi, apartments are available for around 40-45 USD per day. From October to April, prices decrease, and during this time, you can rent a decent apartment with a sea view in the central part of Batumi for 19-25 USD.

If you book a hotel or apartment for 7 nights (3 nights in Tbilisi and 4 nights in Batumi), you can expect to pay around 290 USD for two people.

Cost of Food

To eat well, budget around 30 GEL per day per person, or if you want to indulge more, around 50 GEL.

Georgian-style Fast Food

This is the cheapest and very delicious type of food in Georgia. A boat-shaped pastry filled with meat or vegetables, which can feed two people, costs around 6 GEL, and khachapuri (cheese bread) costs 2 GEL. Georgian bread will cost you 1 GEL. Of course, it's not advisable to rely solely on fast food during your entire stay in Georgia, but if you are on a tight budget, you can survive on it for a few days.

Restaurants and Cafes

Georgian cuisine is very delicious and hearty, but it can also be quite spicy. It's important to be prepared for the spiciness when visiting a restaurant. Some restaurants cater to European tastes, offering relatively mild dishes.

The average bill for two people in a cafe or restaurant will be around 30 - 40 GEL (lari), excluding alcoholic beverages. If you order alcohol, add at least another ten to the total amount.

Ultimately, it depends on your food preferences. In Georgia, you can have a satisfying meal of khinkali and lemonade for as low as 8 - 10 GEL (lari). Khinkali is often ordered to share between two people as the portion sizes are quite generous.

To give you a rough idea of the cost of dining out for two, here is a list of some of the most popular Georgian dishes and their approximate prices:

• Harcho soup - 4 - 5 GEL (lari)
• Shashlik - 3.5 - 4 GEL (lari)
• Odjakhuri (potatoes with pork) - 10 GEL (lari)
• Eggplant with walnuts - 1.8 - 2 GEL (lari)
• Lobiani - 1 - 1.8 GEL (lari)
• Meat Khinkali - 0.5 GEL (lari) each
• Khachapuri - 1.5 - 3.5 GEL (lari)
• Bottle of lemonade - 1.5 GEL (lari)

Add the cost of fruits, which are the cheapest during the summer and autumn seasons, and you will have an approximate amount to budget for food. If you eat at inexpensive cafes once or twice a day and prepare breakfast at home or buy khachapuri, on average, you should budget around 250-350 USD for two people for food over a 10-day period.

Supermarkets and Markets in Georgia: Cooking on Your Own

Georgia is not very expensive in terms of cost. Most products are sold at prices similar to those in Ukraine. The exception is dairy products. Due to limited pasture space for cows, each cow literally "fights for its place in the sun." Georgian products available in stores include wine, beer, mineral water, and Adjarian tea. Everything else is imported from other countries, including Ukraine.

If you cook at home using simple ingredients, you can budget around 30 - 40 GEL per person per day. If you are very frugal, you can budget around 20 GEL. The selection in supermarkets is relatively limited, and most products are imported.

Here is the general cost of groceries in Georgian stores:

• Milk - 3 - 5 GEL per liter
• Sulguni cheese - 10 - 15 GEL per 1 kg
• Adyghe cheese - 8 - 10 GEL per 1000 g
• Bread - 1.5 - 2 GEL
• Lavash - 1 GEL
• Pasta - 1.2 - 2.5 GEL per 500 g package
• Sandwich sausage - 7.8 - 20 GEL
• Sausages - 12 - 16 GEL per kg
• Loose cookies - 9 - 11 GEL
• Bulk candies - 7 - 14 GEL
• Eggs - 3 - 4 GEL for 10 pieces

Fruits and Vegetables

Fruits and vegetables are available in a wide variety in stores and supermarkets. However, experienced tourists recommend buying them at markets and private vegetable stalls. They are much fresher there, and you have the opportunity to negotiate a good price. Some vendors automatically raise the price when they see a tourist, so the best way to lower it is to pretend to walk away. After such maneuvers, the final price of the products will quickly decrease.

The central and oldest market in Tbilisi is recommended for buying vegetables and fruits. You can find a good variety there. The average prices for these products in Georgia are as follows:

• Tomatoes - 4 - 5 GEL
• Cucumbers - 3 - 4 GEL
• Peppers - 8 GEL
• Apples - 1.5 - 2 GEL
• Potatoes - 1.4 GEL
• Onions - 2 GEL
• Grapes - 1.4 GEL

Another good Georgian market is located on Mayakovsky Street in Batumi. In Borjomi, you can find a market near the bus station, practically in the city center.

Alcohol

Vodka in Georgia is very expensive, ranging from 50-70 GEL. For those who cannot do without alcohol, we recommend drinking wine, which is very delicious in these parts. Prices for this alcoholic beverage vary, starting from 7 GEL. But for 14 GEL, you can find decent wine like "Alazani Valley" or "Kindzmarauli."

As for other types of alcoholic beverages, the prices are as follows:

• Local beer - 5.20 - 7.50 GEL for 2 liters
• Heineken (0.5 L) - 3.7-4 GEL
• Lowenbrau and Beck's (0.5 L) - 3-3.5 GEL
• "Zhigulevskoye" (1 L) - 5.20-5.50 GEL

Tours: How to Save Money in Georgia

Georgia is famous for its attractions and beautiful places. We will give you tips on how to save money on tours without compromising on the experiences.

Travel Tips:

• Plan and book tours in advance. The better the guide, the harder it is to get to them, especially during the warm season.
• Renting a car with a driver will be cheaper than hiring a taxi.
• Very cheap tours are usually not good tours, and they may have hidden costs. It is difficult to save money on such tours.

Private Car Tour with a Guide

If you are traveling to Georgia with a large group, this option is the best for you. You can book a car online, and you also have the option to find a guide on forums or social media. The quality of the tour with such a guide may not be as good, but the price will be significantly lower.

If you're lucky, with a private tour, you can visit places that group tours don't go to, some of which are located away from public transport stops. The guide will focus entirely on you and your preferences, and you can take your time for photos and enjoying the view at each stop. You pay for the car, and if you're traveling with friends, it will be cheaper. The approximate price starts from 150 EUR per tour.

Routes for Private Car Tours

Tour programs designed specifically for 1-4 people are quite popular in Georgia. Such tours allow you to get acquainted closely with local attractions and learn about the customs of the Georgian people.

The approximate cost of the most popular tours from Batumi is as follows:

• Mountains of Adjara

(ancient bridge, waterfalls, Gonio and Gvara fortresses, observation deck with a wonderful panoramic view of Batumi) - 140 EUR

• Martvili Canyon and Prometheus Cave

(including a visit to thermal springs) - 160 EUR

• Machakhela Gorge

(waterfalls, suspension and stone bridges, old fortress, and dinner with a hospitable Georgian family) - 180 EUR

Group Tours

This option is chosen by tourists with a limited budget, but some travelers may be dissatisfied with the guides, buses, and short stops. However, there are websites that offer decent group tours. We recommend reading reviews before booking. Prices start from 30 EUR per tour.

Tour Programs

It is relatively easy to find and book tours in Georgia. However, if you want to receive a high level of service, you need to put effort into finding a good guide at an optimal cost. Local agencies that provide such services vary not only in prices but also in the quality of their staff. Therefore, it is advisable to book your tour in advance online. This way, you can see what is offered, at what price, and under what conditions.

On average, the total cost of a trip for an individual in a group will be approximately:

• Kutaisi, Motsameta, Gelati, Bagrati, Sataplia, Prometheus Cave - 62-65 GEL
• Vardzia, Rabati, and Borjomi - 95-105 GEL
• Borjomi, Gori, and Uplistsikhe - 85-95 GEL
• Telavi, Ikalto, Shuamta, and Tsinandali - 70-80 GEL
• David Gareja - 60-70 GEL
• Kazbegi, Ananuri, Stepantsminda, and Gudauri - 55-65 GEL
• Gori, Uplistsikhe, Mtskheta, and Jvari - 45-55 GEL
• Sighnaghi, Bodbe, and Ethnographic Park - 40-50 GEL
• Mtskheta, Jvari, and Samtavro - 50-60 GEL

Transportation in Georgia: Modes of Transport

Transportation within Georgia is well developed. In Batumi, you can get around using minibusses at a fare of 0.4 – 0.6 GEL (lari). In Tbilisi, it is recommended to purchase a special card for 2 GEL (lari), which can be obtained at metro stations or cable car stations. The card needs to be topped up with a certain amount, and it can be used for the following modes of transport:

• Metro - 0.5 GEL (lari)
• Minibus - 0.8 GEL (lari)
• Bus and Cable Car - 1 GEL (lari)

At the end of your trip to Georgia, you can return the card and get your 2 GEL deposit back, or you can keep it as a souvenir.

Train or Intercity Bus

In addition to taxis and private cars, you can travel to other cities in Georgia comfortably by train. The average ticket price for a train journey is around 23 GEL (lari) from Batumi to Tbilisi.

The cost of an international bus ticket is approximately:

• Tbilisi - Akhaltsikhe - 5 GEL (lari)
• Akhaltsikhe - Batumi - 20 GEL (lari)
• Tbilisi - Kazbegi - 10 GEL (lari), departs from the Didube Metro Station
• Kutaisi Airport - Batumi - 18 GEL (lari)
• Kutaisi Airport - Tbilisi - 20 GEL (lari)
• Tbilisi - Batumi - 30 GEL (lari), departs from the Isani Metro Station
• Mestia - Batumi - 30 GEL (lari)

Taxi

Taxi fares are determined by the company's tariffs. It is recommended to find taxis through online platforms where you can see the fares in advance. Hailing a taxi on the street by waving your hand will typically cost more.

Car Rental in Georgia

For travelers who value comfort and want to be independent, renting a car is an ideal option. There are two options available: self-driving and renting a car with a driver.

Self-Driving

If you are a confident driver and not afraid of mountain roads, and if you enjoy planning your own trip, this option is perfect for you. It offers complete freedom of action, from traveling to another city to creating complex itineraries. The approximate price for car rental per day starts from 40 EUR (for up to 4 people), plus the cost of fuel.

The advantage of this option is independence and the ability to plan your own itinerary, as well as cost-effectiveness. The disadvantage is that spending a long time behind the wheel can be tiring, and planning the route will require a significant amount of time before the trip.

Car Rental with a Driver

Many websites offer the service of a driver who speaks Russian and can take you anywhere in the country. It is more convenient and cost-effective than a taxi. This option is perfect for those who value comfort and don't necessarily require a guide. By renting a car with a driver, you can relax and not worry about public transportation as the driver will take you wherever you want to go. The average price is around 200 GEL per day.

However, the drawback of this option is that the driver is not a tour guide and may not be able to provide detailed information about the places you visit.

What to Bring from Georgia

There are many interesting things you can bring back from Georgia, but it requires some effort to find something unique. If you're not interested in typical souvenirs like keychains, mugs, lighters, or magnets, then we recommend paying attention to the following items:

Georgian wines starting from 3 - 4 GEL (laris) per liter for domestic wines and up to 40 GEL (laris) for a bottle of special gift wine;

Chacha (Georgian brandy) for 20 GEL (laris) per liter;

Georgian brandy ranging from 20 GEL (laris) to 200 GEL (laris) per bottle;

Wine horns (traditional wine vessels), usually bought as a pair, for 20 GEL (laris) each;

Cheeses for approximately 10 - 20 GEL (laris) per kilogram;

Dambalhacho cheese, a unique and delicious cheese that is listed as UNESCO World Heritage, for 100-120 GEL (laris) per kilogram;

Spices:

- Ajika (a spicy sauce) in a jar for 2 - 5 GEL (laris);

- Svanetian salt (200g) for 2.7 GEL (laris);

- Various dry spices starting from 0.5 GEL (laris) per 100g;

Dried flowers such as marigolds or Imeretian saffron for 30 GEL (laris) per kilogram;

Sweets for 1 - 2 GEL (laris);

A jar of honey for up to 10 GEL (laris);

Souvenir weapons starting from 10 GEL (laris);

Clay pottery for 8-40 GEL (laris);

Leather paintings for 55-100 GEL (laris);

Engraved items for 60-150 GEL (laris);

Minankari rings (jewelry with cloisonné enamel) for 45 GEL (laris).

Come to Georgia, where every day begins with a smile and ends with a glass of wine. Even a short trip there will bring you a lot of positive emotions. Once you visit Georgia, you will leave a piece of your heart there forever. We hope that our information will help you prepare for your trip and fully enjoy your stay in this country.