Last Updated: 2/2/2020 | 2 febbraio 2020

In recent years, there have been a handful of countries that have emerged as exciting up-and-coming travel destinations. These are destinations that are affordable, interesting, unique, and a lot of importantly, complimentary from the hordes of tourists that have clogged the cultural arteries of cities like Barcelona, Reykjavik, and Venice.

One of those countries is Georgia.

Formerly part of the Soviet Union, Georgia has become a popular destination in the region for both backpackers and digital nomads alike. vacationer numbers are climbing fast, with nearly nine million foreigners checking out Georgia in 2018. While the majority of them come from neighboring countries, it’s also a destination that is swiftly becoming popular with western tourists, too.

Tbilisi, the country’s capital, sees the most visitors — and for good reason. It’s a sensational city with a picturesque Old town that has been colorfully restored in recent years. There is also lots to see and do in and around the city, like exploring the Narikala fort ruins, seeing the Jvari Monastery on the nearby mountain top, and checking out the lots of beautiful cathedrals and churches that dot the city.

Outside of Tbilisi, travelers can explore the mountains and caves of Georgia’s picturesque landscapes and if you like wine, you’ll be delighted to learn that Georgia is actually one of the oldest white wine regions in the world!

Best of all, Georgia is incredibly cheap (a huge plus in my book)!

But is Georgia safe?

While there was some danger a decade back during the Russo-Georgian War, Georgia is now a safe country to visit. In fact, the international crime Index rated Georgia as the seventh safest country in the world in 2017!

But because lots of people don’t know much about Georgia, I still get some messages from people asking about the safety worries there.

So, what do you need to think about before you go to Georgia? are there any places you shouldn’t go?

The eight safety ideas below will tell you all about the risks in Georgia and how to deal with them so that you can take pleasure in your trip safely.

1. avoid South Ossetia and Abkhazia – The regions of South Ossetia (on the Russian border, north of Tbilisi) and Abkhazia (bordering Russia and the Black Sea in the far west of Georgia) are not safe to visit. These are breakaway regions of Georgia that have experienced high conflict in recent years.

There are still car bombs and other terrorist attacks reported periodically in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, and there are unexploded landmines too.

Just don’t visit the areas, and you’ll be fine.

Also, don’t try to travel through them into Georgia from Russia, as that’s illegal under Georgian law.

2. stay alert – like in any country where the locals see the tourists as being wealthier, petty theft can happen. It’s a lower risk than in lots of countries but it’s still crucial to take precautions.

Don’t wear flashy jewelry or watches or flaunt large amounts of cash. keep an eye on your bags in any way times too. the most common occurrences occur in busy vacationer areas or on crowded public transportation. If you can keep your guard up in these places, you’ll be fine.

3. beware of the bar scam – There are been reports of tourists in Tbilisi being scammed by locals who invite them into a bar for food and drinks and then force them to pay a really high bill. It’s not common here but it’s something to be aware of.

4. be wary of demonstrations or protests – It’s quite common for political demonstrations to take place in Tbilisi and often other parts of Georgia, though they a lot of frequently happen outside the parliament on Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi.

While the most likely problem is just an interruption to public transport you must always be aware that protests can turn violent and it’s probably safer to stay away.

5. Be careful when driving – Unfortunately, the road conditions in much of Georgia aren’t great. When combined with reckless driving from the locals, traffic accidents are pretty common. often road markings are lacking and there is often confusion about which motorist has ideal of way.

When in a car, always wear a seatbelt. Additionally, avoid driving after dark as well as the lack of good lighting makes it even a lot more dangerous.

6. learn a few words or have a translation app ready – Georgians are normally really friendly, but not lots of of them speak English. If something goes wrong they are always delighted to help you out, but you might need a few words of the local language or a good translation app to help you describe what you need.

The Georgian language is pretty special – it’s one of the oldest in the world and it has a special script. If you can learn a few words before you go. There are lots of complimentary resources online and you can download Google translate just in case you need to translate on the go.

7. Be cautious inthe mountains – Georgia’s beautiful alps are making it a popular destination for skiing and mountaineering. but at the moment, it’s still hard to get up-to-date, accurate information about the weather conditions there, so you need to be cautious. If in doubt, skip the adventure for the day.

Also, although they’re improving, the safety standards for adventure sports in the mountains in Georgia are still lower than you might expect. If you’re having doubts about an activity, try using a specialist guide and check reviews for safety levels before you go.

8. get travel insurance – I never leave home without travel insurance. While a lot of trips are uneventful, it’s crucial to be prepared just in case. travel insurance can save you hundreds and thousands of dollars and supply critical help in an emergency. Remember, it’s always better to be safe than sorry!

We recommend world Nomads for travelers under 70, while Insure My trip is the best choice for travelers over 70.

For a lot more information on tarvel insurance, check out these posts:

What Does travel insurance actually Cover?

The 7 best travel companies in 2019

How to get the best travel Insurance

FAQ’s on safety in Georgia

To help you stay safe and make the most out of your visit, here are some answers to the most common questions I get about traveling to Georgia:

Is Georgia hazardous to visit?

Most parts of Georgia are very safe to visit. However, you must absolutely avoid the South Ossetia and Abkhazia regions on the border with Russia. You must also be aware that the Pankisi Gorge area (north-east of Tbilisi) has been known for terrorist training and activity in the past, although recent reports seem to suggest that it is currently safe to visit.

Is Tbilisi a safe city?

The Georgian capital, Tbilisi, is normally a very safe place to visit. Be aware that the motorists can be a little erratic so you need to have your wits about you as a pedestrian. There are also some reports of petty crime against tourists like pickpocketing in the main vacationer areas, so keep an eye on your belongings, but the risk is lower than in lots of other European cities.

Is the tap water safe in Georgia?

While it can be reasonably safe to drink the tap water in some parts of Georgia, and it’s sourced from freshwater sources in the mountains, there have been occurrences of travelers picking up giardia during their travels. Unfortunately, this indicates it’s best to avoid the tap water while you’re here.

The best way to make sure your drinking water is safe is to bring a SteriPen or LifeStraw for your reusable water bottle. This way you’ll be able to purify the tap water so you don’t get sick — and avoid using single-use plastic bottles in the process.

Are the taxis safe in Georgia?

Taxis are a common way to get around in Georgia and are normally quite safe. just make sure you wear your seatbelt as motorists here can be aggressive and the policies of the road are interpreted a lot more as suggestions than law.

Be aware that taxis here don’t have meters, so you’ll need to agree on a price in advance. Ask your hostel or hotel staff for recommendations about how much you must expect to pay before you catch a ride. That way, you can avoid getting overcharged.

If you’re a solo female traveler, I’d avoid taking taxis alone at night (but that’s my recommendations for pretty much every city).

Is Georgia safe for solo female travelers?

Given how safe Georgia is in general, it’s probably no surprise to hear that yes, Georgia is safe for solo female travelers. The normal policies apply, though: don’t walk alone at night, beware of strangers using your drinks or food (especially in bars in Tbilisi), and never leave your drink unattended. While it’s rare, there have been occurrences of drink spiking in Georgia.

In short, as long as you use the common-sense practices you use at home you must have no problems here.

Here are helpful articles on safety written by our solo female travel experts:

How to stay safe as a Solo female Traveler

8 miti sul viaggio femminile da solo sfacciato

10 common questions about Solo female Travel

Le donne non dovrebbero essere terrorizzate a viaggiare da sole

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So, must you visit Georgia? You can consider yourself very safe in Georgia. It might be a relatively unknown destination to travelers but that doesn’t indicate it’s dangerous. Be aware of lower driving and road standards and take the normal precautions with your belongings — especially when you’re in a a lot more crowded vacationer area.

Do that, and you’ll have a safe trip to Georgia!

Book Your trip to Georgia: Logistical ideas and Tricks
Prenota il tuo volo
Use Skyscanner or Momondo to find a cheap flight. They are my two favorite search engines because they search web sites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned. start with Skyscanner first though because they have the greatest reach!

Prenota il tuo alloggio
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld as they haVE il più grande inventario e le migliori offerte. Se vuoi rimanere in un posto diverso da un ostello, usa Booking.com in quanto restituiscono costantemente le tariffe meno costose per le pensioni e gli hotel economici. I miei posti preferiti in cui soggiornare sono:

Fabrika (Tblisi)

Temi Hostel (Kutaisi)

Boutique Hotel e Medusa Hostel (Batumi)

Non dimenticare l’assicurazione di viaggio
L’assicurazione di viaggio ti assicurerà contro malattie, lesioni, furti e cancellazioni. È una protezione dettagliata nel caso in cui qualcosa vada storto. Non ho mai fatto un viaggio senza di essa perché ho dovuto usarlo molte volte in passato. Le mie aziende preferite che offrono il miglior servizio e valore sono:

Ala di sicurezza (per tutti sotto i 70)

Assicura il mio viaggio (per quelli più di 70)

Medjet (per ulteriore copertura di rimpatrio)

Cerchi le migliori aziende con cui risparmiare?
Dai un’occhiata alla mia pagina delle risorse per le migliori aziende da utilizzare quando viaggi. Elenco tutti quelli che uso per risparmiare denaro quando sono in viaggio. Ti farà risparmiare anche quando viaggi.

Vuoi molte più informazioni sulla Georgia?
Assicurati di visitare la nostra robusta guida di destinazione sulla Georgia anche per molti più suggerimenti di pianificazione!