Car rental in Tbilisi and sightseeing in Georgia
Georgia is a country which has borders with several states and is washed by the waters of the Black Sea. It has subtropical and Mediterranean climates. The average air temperature in mid-summer is +24 °C, and in winter this indicator is about +5 °C. Thanks to this, there are many forests, flowering plants, orchards in the country and comfortable conditions for recreation in any season. The sea coast of Georgia is beautiful and attracts tourists from all over the world. Georgia has a diverse flora and fauna, well-developed infrastructure, and hotels offer a high level of service, because tourism is one of the important areas of the state’s development. At the same time, the total area of the country is 69,700 km2, and the population is about 3,718,200 people.
In Europe, the country is often called Georgia, since St. George is a popular saint here. In official documents, in the political sphere, the state has an official name – the Republic of Georgia. In advertising booklets, colloquial speech, and the tourism sector, a simple name is used – Georgia.
The capital of Georgia is the city of Tbilisi. This point is the largest in the country and is located on the banks of the Kura River. The population of Tbilisi is about 1,082,400 people. I suggest to find a good company for car rental in Tbilisi to travel around the country. One of the best agencies for vehicle rent is GSS Car Rental. You can rent sedans, 4×4 and minivans. All cars are in great technical condition and the prices are affordable.
The country is located in the western region of Transcaucasia, on the eastern coast of the Black Sea and borders the Russian Federation on the eastern and northern sides. In the south there are borders with Turkey and Armenia, in the southeast – with Azerbaijan. The territories of South Ossetia and Abkhazia are formally part of Georgia, but are not controlled by its government. These areas are still the subject of political disputes.
Official language
Georgian is the official language throughout the country. In tourist areas, airports and hotels, communication can be carried out in international English. Sometimes Russian tourists can meet an interlocutor who speaks Russian fluently. These are often people over 40 years old. Young citizens easily communicate in English. Many signs with the names of streets, cafes, hotels are written in Georgian, but additionally translated into Russian or English.
Currency
In Georgia, the national currency is in use, which is called the Georgian lari. One lari equals 100 tetri. You can exchange euros, dollars or rubles for this currency before your trip, but there are also exchange offices and banks in the country. Payment by plastic card is also possible in large shopping malls, restaurants and shops. At the same time, a bank account can be issued in euros, dollars or rubles, but due to the exchange, an additional commission may be charged.
Religion
A larger number of the country’s residents who profess Orthodoxy belong to the Georgian Orthodox Church. About 250,000 people adhere to the Armenian Apostolic Church, and 2% are Catholics. Approximately 34,000 residents of the state consider themselves Protestants. Representatives of Islam and Judaism also live on the territory of Georgia. Many people from these religious movements honor the customs and follow the rules of the religion they adhere to.
Popular places for tourism
In many cases, tourists choose to travel to cities and regions of Georgia that clearly reflect the peculiarities of the culture of the state:
Tbilisi combines ancient buildings of the past centuries, modern offices, bright greenery and developed infrastructure. The city is located in the Tbilisi basin, bounded by mountain spurs. There are many temples, cathedrals and churches, theaters and museums. Sulfur baths, a botanical garden with waterfalls, Turtle Lake and parks attract tourists from many countries. Car rental in Tbilisi will be a good idea to visit all the interesting places in a short period of time.
Kutaisi is located in the interior of the country and is surrounded by low but beautiful mountains. It is the second largest city, and its population is about 200,000 people. Ruins of ancient buildings, monasteries and synagogues are the main attractions. For tourists, excursions are conducted, for example, to the Prometheus Cave, the reserve and the Sataplia cave, the Gelat Monastery and other places. Guests of the city can taste local cuisine in restaurants and cafes both in the center and in the vicinity of the city. On the central square of Kutaisi there is a remarkable fountain, which is beautifully illuminated in the evening.
The port city of Batumi is located on the seashore and is the capital of the Adjara region. This point is especially popular for tourism, as it is located on the Black Sea coast and there are resorts here, water sports and entertainment are available. A little further away is the old Batumi with buildings built in the XIX century. Excursions to ruins and waterfalls, hotels of different levels, delicious dishes in restaurants, theaters and much more attract tourists from different countries.
The small town of Mestia in the Svaneti region often serves as a starting point for mountain hikes. It is located 470 km from Tbilisi and 128 km from the nearest major city of Zugdili. The weather is changeable here, but there is everything you need for skiing. This is why travelers from different countries visit the resort, because it is easy to ski or snowboard here and admire unusual landscapes.
You can learn more about the history of the country in the city of Telavi, located 100 km from Tbilisi. It is located in the eastern region of Kakheti. There are many ancient buildings, palaces, cathedrals. The Alazani Valley is also located here and is the place of origin of most Georgian wines.
The health resort of Borjomi is known all over the world, as mineral water springs are located here. Here you can relax on the healing waters or take a walk around the surroundings. Modern hotels offer high service, and some have spa complexes. Horseback riding, trekking with tents, hiking and excursions – all this attracts many travelers from all over the planet.
These places in Georgia are popular for tourism, but in any region of the country you can find a city for a comfortable stay. For example, if you need a relaxing holiday in nature, then it is worth visiting the village of Ushguli, located high in the mountains of the Svaneti region and 400 km from Tbilisi. You can also get here from Mestia by horse.
For active recreation, you can visit cities and towns on the seashore or ski resorts. You will surely need to use car rental in Tbilisi to reach these places with comfort. Each of them has old buildings, hotels and inns, cafes and restaurants. Museums and theaters are also widespread in Georgia, and you can visit them in any major city.