Georgia
Capital city description
Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, lies in Eastern Georgia on both banks of the Kura River. Famous for its mountainous location, with the Caucasus Mountains dominating the landscape. The city houses renowned theatre and music institutions, such as the Tbilisi State Conservatoire, the Tbilisi Opera and Ballet Theatre, and the Shota Rustaveli State Academic Marjanishvili State Academic Theatre, Rezo Gabriadze Marionette Theatre, and Royal District Theatre.
Furthermore, hotels, bars, galleries, and vintage concept stores are cultural hubs for the large city of Tbilisi. The first and most famous was the Rooms Hotel, intentionally reminiscent of the ornate Art Nouveau grand hotels of Europe and renowned for its high-end cocktail bar and European-fusion food for its upscale accommodation.
Climate
The climate of Georgia is mild and rainy on the coast and in the western plain, while it is more continental and arid in the central and eastern inland areas. In the mountains, it is colder. Along the coast of the Black Sea and in the western plain (zone 1 on the map), rainfall is abundant since it amounts to 1,500 millimeters (60 inches) per year or more, and it's distributed relatively evenly over the seasons, albeit with a maximum in autumn and winter.
Winter along the coast is relatively mild since the average temperature in January is about seven °C (45 °F). The sea moderates the climate, while the Caucasus Mountains in the north partially protect this area from cold winds.
Languages spoken
Georgia's official and primary language is Georgian. It is spoken as a first language by over 86% of the population.
Fun/Fascinating Facts
1. Georgia is considered the birthplace of wine. As far back as 8000 years ago, Georgians have started producing wine, but uniquely. The ancient wine-growing region of Kakheti is the motherland of wine.
2. Georgians don’t call their country by its English name Georgia; instead, the local Georgians refer to their country as Saqartvelo.
3. Georgia is home to one of Europe’s oldest cities.
That city is Kutaisi, in western Georgia, the capital of the Kingdom of Colchis, an ancient region of the southern Caucasus, from as early as the second millennium BC.
4. Georgian biosphere is one of the most ecologically diverse on earth. Georgia has almost every type of climate, from subtropical and alpine to semi-desert, but its land is also conducive to agriculture, with 49 different soil types.
5. Georgia is home to the world’s deepest cave, the Krubera Cave, hidden amongst the mountains. Krubera Cave is located in the Arabika Massif of the Western Caucasus’s Gagra Range, in the Gagra district of Abkhazia. The almost vertical Krubera Cave is 7,200 ft. deep, and it takes about 27 days for a caver to reach the cave’s bottom. The enormous pit in the cave is named the Big Cascade; it plunges to 152 meters (499 feet).
Unique Customs/Traditions
- Traditionally, Georgia celebrates Christmas on January 7th, which equates to December 25th in the Gregorian calendar. On the 7th, many people participate in a parade called an 'Alilo.' They dress in costume and carry flags as they celebrate through the streets.
- Every Georgian dinner has a toastmaker or Tamada in Georgian. The person is the "leader" of the dinner, whose main job is to keep a pleasant conversation with the audience present at the table, entertain them, be respectful and deliver good toasts on different topics.
- In Georgia, the guest is considered a gift from God; they treat all visitors with respect and as much sensitivity as possible. When a person, be it a local or foreigner, visits a Georgian home, they are offered food and drink, and the hosts make sure that guests feel as comfortable as they would be in their own home.
- Food is at the heart of most Georgian traditions, and the table, or Supra, is integral to any celebration. A Supra is a traditional Georgian feast and an essential part of Georgian social culture. They are incredibly well-planned and orchestrated beautifully, making a traditional Supra one of the most beautiful and fun experiences you can have! a Supra has many components that come together to form an outstanding gathering.
- At the New Year's festivity, ground walnuts boiled in honey are served, along with a turkey or chicken in walnut sauce. An Easter meal includes hard-boiled eggs dyed red and other bright colors, roasted piglet and lamb, and special cakes with vanilla and spices. Unique dishes are served at a wake: rice with mutton in the east and meat with sweet rice and raisins in the west. Special wheat porridge with walnuts and honey is served forty days after a person's death.
Popular universities
Name | Description | |
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Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University | Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University is a non-profit public higher education institution located in the urban setting of the metropolis of Tbilisi. Along with bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees, Tbilisi State University also implements higher vocational education and short and long-term certification programs. Based on close cooperation with foreign universities, Georgian students can participate in exchange and joint international educational programs and gain double academic degrees. | |
Ilia State University | Founded in 2006, Ilia State University (ISU) is one of Georgia's leading research and educational institutions, which focuses on scientific advancement and transferring top-notch knowledge to facilitate societal development. Ilia State University is a non-profit public higher education institution located in the urban setting of the metropolis of Tbilisi. Its four faculties (Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Medicine, Faculty of Business, Technology, and Education, and School of Law) offer specific training in their respective directions and along with 30 large and small scale research institutes, centers, and stations – create in-depth research opportunities in social sciences, humanities, business, law, life sciences, earth sciences, and hard sciences. | |
Georgian Technical University | Founded in 1922, Georgian Technical University (GTU) is Georgia's most prominent educational and scientific institution. The university's primary focus is to improve its position on the international higher education scene, providing opportunities to learn excellent professional and academic skills maintaining internationally competitive education, research, and innovation services significant for Georgia's sustained development. (Georgian Technical University) GTU offers Engineering Degrees with particular attention to the following STEM fields: Computer Sciences, Computer Engineering, Energy and Electrical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Food Industry, and Forestry. | |
University of Georgia | The University of Georgia is a non-profit private higher education institution located in the urban setting of the metropolis of Tbilisi, established in 2004. This institution also has a branch campus in Batumi. Officially recognized by the National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement, The University of Georgia (UG) is a small coeducational Georgian higher education institution. The University of Georgia (UG) offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees in several areas of study. | |
International Black Sea University | International Black Sea University is a for-profit private higher education institution located in the urban setting of the metropolis of Tbilisi, founded in 1995. The Faculty of Business and Technology is one of the largest and most demanding faculties of the International Black Sea University, locally and internationally. The faculty offers undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs of modern Georgian and English languages and is staffed by highly qualified local and foreign professors and practicing specialists. | |
Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University | Founded in 1923, Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University is a multifunctional medical school that provides professional and research-based education. The university is affiliated with leading medical universities abroad encourages the students to participate in scientific conferences and research programs. The Institute offers 42 vocational, 43 bachelor's, 23 masters, 8-doctoral, and two single-level programs. | |
Georgian Institute of Public Affairs | Founded in 1994, the Georgian Institute of Public Affairs has stood as one of the first innovative Western-oriented projects, starting with one Master’s program in Public Administration. Currently, the Georgian Institute of Public Affairs administers four schools and offers Bachelor’s, Master’s, vocational education programs, training courses, consultations, and Ph.D. programs in Social Sciences to interested individuals. It provides students with theoretical knowledge and practical skills through the integration of research and interactive teaching principles. The curricula of university programs are developed based on democracy and freedom of expression. The university continuous its successful cooperation with American and European Universities. | |
Caucasus University | Caucasus University (CU) is one of the most prominent Higher Education Institutions in Georgia and Eastern Europe. The main priority of CU is to ensure a high-quality education to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and core competencies they need to succeed after graduation. The university offers several academic programs in English designed to meet the challenges of the competitive global market. | |
Tbilisi State Medical University | Founded in 1930, Tbilisi State Medical University is the leading medical university in Tbilisi, Georgia, and the most significant medical university in Georgia and Eastern Europe. The university combines teaching, research, medical and pharmaceutical activity within all classes and lectures. Courses are available across medicine, stomatology, pharmacy, public health, physical therapy and rehabilitation, nursing and vocational programs, and postgraduate medical education. | |
Iakob Gogebashvili Telavi State University | Iakob Gogebashvili Telavi State University (TeSaU) is one of the oldest educational centers in Georgia, founded in 1940. Officially recognized by the National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement, Iakob Gogebashvili Telavi State University is a tiny coeducational Georgian higher education institution. Iakob Gogebashvili Telavi State University offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees such as bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, doctorate degrees in several areas of study. |
Festivals & Events

Tbilisoba
Date: October
Tbilisoba is an annual cultural festival that celebrates the rich diversity and culture of the country through traditional dance performances, theatre & music shows, fantastic fruit and cheese displays, fireworks, and so much more. While most festivities are centered in the beautiful Old Town of Tbilisi and several city parks, Rike Park along the left bank of Mtkvari River showcases the rich wines of Georgia to be sampled and savored by visitors. Art & craft stalls lining the city streets, grape-crushing, and food festivals serving the country’s culinary specialties make the celebration even more special.

Rtveli
Date: September or October (date varies)
Rtveli is one of the main autumn events in Georgia that celebrates the grape harvest with lots of fun, music, good food, and great wine. This festival is held on a unique scale and color in this scenic region. Ripe bunches of grapes are cut with a knife and put in the baskets; then, the harvest is shifted in the clay containers – kvevri.
Аfter harvesting, the festive meal starts with delicious local dishes such as delightful barbecue, khachapuri, local cheese, freshly baked bread, and, of course, homemade wine. Rtveli is full of fun, noise, and jokes.

Art-Gene festival
Date: July
The Art-Gene festival is an annual folklore festival in Georgia, started in 2003. The festival focuses on traditional music, dance, and arts. Held at the Museum of Ethnography in Tbilisi, Art-Gene is a week or more-day long celebration where locals come to enjoy nature, the evening summer breeze, and great music.
During the day, you can stroll through the stalls of handmade crafts, taste various meals and drink local wine or beer.

New Wine Festival
Date: May (date varies)
New Wine Festival celebrates the good life amidst rolling greens near Tbilisi every year, with great music and dance performances. The end of the spring season marks the time for unsealing the traditional wine-making vessels called qvevri.
The “New Wine Festival” aims to popularize Georgian traditional pitcher wine, discover new varieties and places, raise the level of wine education in Georgia, and increase consumer culture. Guests will be able to taste hundreds of wines, get acquainted with local Georgian wine producers, and make unforgettable memories while discovering new and exciting tastes.

Cheese Festival
Date: July
Every year cheesemaking farmers from across the country gather to showcase their tools and methods for preparing delicious cheese. During the festival, the guests could taste a variety of cheeses: solid and hard dambal-khacho cheese, spicy guda, tenili kveli woven into a braid, cheeses soaked in oil, honey, spices, and even wines. Initially held at Tbilisi, the festival is now held in the region declared competition winner each year.

Black Sea Jazz
Date: July
Founded in 2007, the Black Sea Jazz Festival is held in Batumi on the Black Sea coast. One of the best jazz festivals in Georgia, attracting music from worldwide to witness world-class performances by top artists like Diana Krall, Wyclef Jean, and Robert Plant.
With the growth in its fan following, the festival's scope has broadened and now includes R&B, hip hop, soul, and funk.

Tushetoba
Date: Every summer
Tushetoba festival, held every summer in Tusheti National Park, celebrates Tushetian cultural heritage and is traditionally begins with horse racing. A flag and a sheep are awarded to the winner. The Tushetoba festival aims to promote tourism in the region and showcase its beautiful landscape, unique architecture, charming villages, and culture to visitors worldwide.
Tushetoba gives you a chance to witness traditional cheese-making, Tushetian handicrafts, and the delicious Khinkali (hugely popular meat dumplings). Traditional instruments and folk music playing in this perfect setting create a magical atmosphere.

Hot Air Balloon Race Festival
Date: June
Held in June, Hot Air Balloon Race Festival is a family-friendly summer event in the Alpine Village of Helen in the North Georgia Mountains. Festivities include participation in hot air balloon inflations and ground chasing plus tethered balloon rides in the mornings and evenings.
This fantastic hot air balloon festival has been around since 1974. During the day, you can explore the Bavarian-inspired mountain town of Helen and relax at your cabin rental at nightfall.
Attractions / Top Sights

Telavi
When to visit: April 30th to July 8th or. August 20th to October 28th.
Telavi is an enchanting place for fans of architecture and design. The stunningly ancient city of Telavi has been inhabited since the Bronze Age, and it developed into a significant political and administrative town in the center of the Kakheti region.
From its existence, Kakhetian kings, Russian tsars, Georgian monarchs, and Romans have left distinctive architectural marks. Among its more famous attractions are the old fortress walls, Dzveli Galavani, the lord's fortress (Batonis Tsikhe), and a 900-year old sycamore tree.

Batumi
When to visit: Between May and September
One of the famous tourist attractions in Georgy is the lovely city of Batumi, located on the Black Sea coast under the Caucasus Mountains. Fronted by the calm waters of the Black Sea, Georgia's main summer resort boasts a long beach and a vast and beautifully maintained corniche. The country's second-largest city houses a mixture of modern and classic architecture and new upscale buildings, making it a significant tourist destination in the region in the summer.

Lake Ritsa
When to visit: Between May and September
Located in the Caucasus Mountains, in the north-western part of Abkhazia, Lake Ritsa is a stunning Lakes surrounded by mountains, and the pristine waters are a fascinating view. The Lakes at high altitudes are even more beautiful. The land around the lake is a deciduous forest and is part of the Ritsa Nature Reserve. The region's most common mammals include the Caspian red deer, the West Caucasian tur, the Rupicapra, the Capreolus, the wild boar, the Caucasian wildcat, the stone marten, and the European rabbit.

Sighnaghi
When to visit: April 9th to June 24th. or. August 27th to October 28th.
Sighnaghi, popularly known as the City of Love, is a famous wedding destination located in the Kakheti region, Georgia. Generally, Sighnaghi is an attractive district not only in terms of culture but also in terms of nature.
The city of Sighnaghi is stunningly beautiful with its architectural form and excellent views of the Alazani Valley and the Caucasus Mountains. It is also called the city museum. It houses the unique painting collection of the world's greatest self-taught artist, Niko Pirosmanashvili.

Tusheti National Park
When to visit: In spring, summer and autumn
Tusheti National Park is a protected area in northeast Georgia. The Tusheti region stretches across four mountain valleys of the Central Caucasus in eastern Georgia, natural endowment and cultural heritage. A beautiful landscape of tall peaks, deep gorges, and high waterfalls, Tusheti is home to several dozen small settlements, occupied only during the summer months.
Known for the scenery, old defense towers, warm hospitality, and fascinating folk culture, the park and the surrounding region are well worth spending a trip.

Narikala Fortress
When to visit: Spring and autumn
The astonishing ancient Narikala Fortress, also known as “Mother Fortress,” is a famous tourist attraction near the Kura river attracting thousands of visitors in Tbilisi. The fortress was constructed during the 4th century to defend the city from outside attacks. It overlooks the Mtkvari River, which makes Narikala even more incredible. It offers the best panoramic views of the city.
Narikala consists of two walled sections between the sulfur baths and the Tbilisi Botanical Garden. The Botanical Garden, located at the foothills of the Narikala fortress, occupies an area of 161 hectares and possesses a collection of over 4,500 taxonomic groups. It also houses the recently restored St. Nicholas church. The interior part of the church is intricately decorated with frescos showing scenes both from the Bible and the rich history of Georgia.

Stepantsminda
When to visit: June to September
Stepantsminda, a beautiful little town lying in the valley of the Caucasus Mountains. is famous for trekking and mount climbing in the breathtaking surrounding mountains.
It offers the picturesque views of the famous Mount Kazbeg, a dormant stratovolcano and one of the central mountains of the Caucasus, and the beautiful view from the town of the Gergeti Trinity Church outlined against Mount Kazbeg itself, one of the most favorite tourist's spots in the city.

Gudauri
When to visit: mid- December to mid April
Gudauri ski resort lies 120 km to the north of Tbilisi's capital on the Greater Caucasus Mountain Range in Georgia is famous for its breathtaking views and high-altitude mountains. Snow covers the area until the early spring. Gudauri is considered to be a developing ski resort.
The recently launched Kobi Pass ski area will guarantee the right snow conditions throughout the season and prolong the skiing period to the late spring. Kobi–Gudauri, a ski lift system, offers unlimited freeride possibilities for guests who get stuck in the Kobi area during heavy snowfall in winter. All slopes are above the tree line, are best for free-riders, and are generally avalanche-safe. Night skiing is also one of the best skiing activities for guests.