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Kutaisi is one of the most ancient cities in the world (almost 4000 yo) and today is the second largest city in Georgia (although is may not compete with vibrant Tbilisi and vivid Batumi). There are lots of sights in Kutaisi and in the surrounding area (Bagrati cathedral and palace, Ukimerioni Hill, Rioni riverside walks, Gelati and Motsameta monasteries), so a few days are worth it by all means. You can visit my Kutaisi page for further info.
The most attractive towns in the Kakheti region in Western Georgia, Sighnaghi,with its medieval city walls and parks, with its charming old quarter dating from the 18th century, unspoiled by soviet civilisation, certainly does have its character. In addition, you can get unique and memorable accomodation, and affodable trips to the surroundings. Can visit my Sighnaghi page for further info.
Niakhuras Tsikhe is one of the presumably dozen medieval strongholds in Georgia. The fortress is located in the Kakheti region in Eastern Georgia, on the way from Sighnaghi to T’bilisi, so if you’re travelling on a private car, it’s worth stopping by for a half an hour or so.There's no village or locality in the vicinity of the fortress.The medieval fortress walls are completely restored and offer a good perspective on the size and architecture of the defensive complexes of that time. However, all you can find behind the walls are weeds and some leftovers from the restoration works.On the other hand, the area near the Niakhuras fortress is surrounded by vineyards, and strolling around a little can be rewarded by some bunch of grapes or even delicious freshly squeezed grape juice.
The stay in Batumi was very brief, and was basically an overnight after a long travel day. Honestly, though, Batumi was the place that I experienced perhaps some of the very worst 'culture shock' of my life. I really won't go into it here. We seemed to miss the 'major' sights on the city, mainly because, well, we were tired and a bit flipped out. We did see the very nice and atmospheric port, though, along with a lot of 'street life.' Also, it was in Batumi that we had our very first tastes of Georgian food in Georgia. For that, I'll always be grateful!
There's one reason to go to Gori: Stalin. And, the place, Gori, is just like it sounds, rather gorey. Befitting the name and the man, Gori is a particularly ugly town, about 1.5 hours ride by marshrutka from Tbilisi.To get there, you walk under a huge portico to the grand entrance, which is not well marked. When we were there, there we no other visitors. You pay your money, maybe 10 laris per person. (WARNING: The Lonely Planet in way off on the prices for the visit. To take photos at the museum costs 30 lari, and not, as stated, 1 USD. It's an additional 10 laris to have an English language guide.)So, the museum is this enormous Soviet-era edifice. It's cold and dark. We walked up the steps in the cold, silent, darkness. Then, lights started going on. A guard followed us closely as we went from room to room. Even when the guard isn't there, there is the eerie feeling of being under the...
If you're driving into Tbilisi from almost anywhere, it seems, you'll see the Jvari church up on the hill. If you're on public transport, most people around you will cross themselves three times. (Ok. A lot of Georgians do this when passing ANY Orthodox church, but it seems more pronounced when passing this one.)This is a very holy place, and represents the place were St. Nino (the saint who brought Christianty to Georgia) set up her cross. (The cross is slightly bent on the top, because, according to legend, St. Nino used her hair to tie the cross.) The area is stunning, in the mountains, and is an amazing place. Again, as with most things in Georgia, it just feels so ancient, having seen eons and eons pass.DIRECTIONS: From Mtskheta, you can hire a taxi to drive you up the hill. When I was there, the going rate was 15 lari, and the driver waits, of course. (Actually, for an additional...
Mtshkheta (mish-tec-a) is a close, 20 minute marshrutka (mini-van) ride from the Didube station. The main sight here is the main cathedral of Georgia, and is a very holy place for Georgians. The cathedral, called Sveti-Tskhoveli, was built on the sight where the first church of Georgia was built in the 4th century. (The current church there was built in the 11th.) When we were there, unfortuantely, they were working on some archeological excavations, so we weren't allowed in. However, just walking around the church, and the town, provided us with a sense of the grandness and the holiness of the place.
On the ride back to Tbilisi from Kazbegi the taxi driver (we had a shared taxi) stopped off for us to see Annanuri. (It was really nice of him, since the others in the cab were Georgian, and had no real desire to see this place.)The church here was my favorite in all of Georgia. The place is set on a reservior (I suppose built way before it even was a reservoir) and is, with most things in Georgia, ancient. Not only does it have great frescos, as with most places in Georgia, it is uncrowded and nothing short of understated and beautiful.
Davit Gareja is a pretty amazing cave monastery, a few hours drive from Tbilisi. It's an incredible place, with a main monastery part, that you can pretty much drive up to, and then hike to these limestone caves, with frescos, and some little fairy tale-like living quarters. The hike is uphill, and takes probably about 45 minutes.As with so much in Georgia, it's ancient, first being built in the 6th century, but successive centuries and people have left their mark, and parts of the monastery date from a later period. The first part of the monastery you get to (the easy part, the one your drive to) is still being used by monks, so you cannot tour the entire place.Although we were there during a rainy, foggy day, the landscape during the drive is pretty incredible. A bit like the US Southwest, but also very different, and greet.
While I was in Gori I was told that this is the only museum devoted to Stalin in the world. I believed it and bought a ticket (cheap) to visit it.Iosiv Visarionovich Dzhugachvili (Stalin) was born in Gori and the local authorities resolved to dedicate a museum to their most well known personage in the world. (Many Georgians are proud of him, and I know aged Russian people that miss him!).In the Museum of Stalin you will see plenty of photographs, documents, and gifts that he received from foreign countries, among other items.There is a statue of him in the Stalin Prospekt.
Courtyard by Marriott Tbilisi T'bilisi
9 Reviews and 59 Opinions The Courtyard Tbilisi (Marriott) is a somewhat blandly good hotel, situated in the perfect Tbilisi...
Sheraton Batumi Hotel Batumi
1 Review and 19 Opinions The newly built Sheraton Batumi offers comfortable surroundings with direct beach access and...
Hotel British House T'bilisi
1 Review and 84 Opinions It is very nice hotel. maximum of 10 rooms. and nice breakfast. located in down town. very near to...
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Q: Is the beach nice in Batumi? Would you recommend going there? How is the water in September?
A: The beach is not sand, but golf ball sized stones. The promenade is quite long with a few activities scattered along it. It's relatively clean. But Batumi is better...
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