Georgia is a country of many contrasts and visiting it without knowing some basic information can be overwhelming. If Georgia is on your bucket list this year, but you don’t know what to expect, we came up with the most essential and useful tips you need to know before traveling to Georgia. These Georgia travel tips focus on currency, transportation, and connectivity.
Georgian LARI is the official currency in Georgia. Its ISO code is GEL, and the symbol is GEL or ₾. According to the current ranking, the most popular exchange rate is the GEL to USD, followed by EURO, Turkish Lira, Pound sterling, and Russian Ruble.
You can exchange your money for Georgian currency in banks. Still, we suggest you look for exchange points in the city’s main streets. For instance, A. Kazbegi street in Saburtalo district has plenty of such currency exchange spots, and rates are always better than in banks. Alternatively, G. Akhvlediani street, nearby Rustaveli Metro, has a reasonable exchange rate if you want something closer to the city center.
To see the official exchange rate of Georgian currency against foreign currencies, we advise visiting the official site of the National Bank of Georgia. Currency in Georgia has both coins and banknotes. The singular of Lari is Tetri.
- Current coins are: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 Tetri and 1 and 2 Lari. Do note that 1 and 2 Tetri coins are out of use.
- Current banknotes are: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, and 200 Lari.
Lari is the only legal means of payment in the whole territory of Georgia. In Tbilisi and other cities, hotels, markets, restaurants, and stores accept payment in cash or by debit and credit cards. Nevertheless, we still recommend having cash with you when traveling across Georgia, especially to remote areas where there might be no banking services and ATMs. Moreover, keep in mind that taxis don’t accept cards.
Photo Source: Agenda.ge
Public transport in Tbilisi is very affordable. We have various means of transportation:
Taxis in Georgia: taxis are cheap in Georgia. Therefore, you see them everywhere you look. You can hail a cab in the streets or order it via the app. Georgia has no Uber or Lyft, but Bolt is the country’s most commonly used taxi app, covering Tbilisi and other leading cities.
The mobile app enables you to either pay cash or add your debit or credit card as your payment option. When ordering a cab, you already see the approximate cost of your ride, avoiding any fraud or cheating from the driver. Moreover, you can review the driver and even tip them if you liked the ride.
The ride price starts from 4 GEL (1.48 USD) at the moment. The prices increase depending on the traffic, rush hour, and distance. But you’ll know the cost in advance. When arriving at the Tbilisi International Airport, we advise not taking the taxis parked at the arrivals hall as they charge a lot. Instead, either get a Bolt driver or organize a pickup.
- Tip: use code YRP76 to get 5 GEL off your first ride with Bolt.
Minibus: locals call these shared vans Marshrutka. They are blue in Tbilisi and have a number on the front glass indicating a specific route. Marshrutka numbers show on the bus stop displays, but occasionally they are inaccurate.
The price per ride costs 1 GEL (0.37 USD). However, if you plan to stay for several days, you can get a travel card – Metro Money or a Travel Card in any metro station for just 2 GEL (0.74USD). No cash excepted.
Bus – Tbilisi blue and green buses have their routes, and similar to marshrutka, the ride costs 1 GEL. You can pay for your ride with Metro Money or Travel Card. No cash excepted.
