Travel Guide to Georgia from the UAE: Tips, Costs and Must-Knows

Currency and Budgeting Tips

Currency: Georgian Lari (GEL)
1 AED ≈ 0.74 GEL
1 USD ≈ 3.67 AED
1 USD ≈ 2.7 GEL

Estimated Daily Budget for 1 Person or Couple: (Most costs don’t scale up as a couple)

Travel Style	Approx. Cost/Day (AED)	Approx. Cost/Day (GEL)
Budget	150–200 AED	110–150 GEL
Mid-range	240–400 AED	175–300 GEL
Splurge	500+ AED	365+ GEL

Approximate Costs in Georgia:

• Taxi rides (city): 5–15 GEL (~7–20 AED)
• Mid-range hotel rooms / Guesthouses : 50 GEL – 200 GEL (~80 AED – 150 AED) They are very comfortable guesthouses andhotel rooms you can find at these affordable rates.
  Restaurant meal for two: 30–45 GEL (~40–65 AED) – In local restaurants portions are very filling. Similar to Dubai, depending on where you go the prices vary accordingly but there are great options for all budgets!
• Wine Glass: 7–14 GEL (~10–20 AED)
• Museum/attraction tickets: 15–30 GEL (~20–40 AED)

We fell into the mid-range category, staying in guesthouses and hotels, mixing budget and premium meals, enjoying some activities like wine tasting, and using a combination of public transport and car rentals. Renting a car adds to the overall cost but is still cheaper than private tours or constantly relying on taxis. Plus, the sheer convenience of being able to stop wherever we like is unmatched.
If you’re opting for a higher-end experience, you can expect to spend around 450 AED per day (325 GEL). This covers boutique hotels, fine dining, guided tours, and private transport. You can enjoy a luxury trip in Georgia for less than in most Western or Gulf countries, so why not?

Getting Around Georgia

• Tbilisi: Use Bolt or Yandex Go
  
• Day trips: GoTrip (or GoRide) for private cars
  
• Intercity: Marshrutkas (shared minibuses) or trains
  
• Self-drive: A great option – but be confident on mountain roads
  

We used a mix of marshrutkas and taxis. One spontaneous mountain drive still makes us laugh. Google Maps isn’t always reliable, especially in remote areas. If you enjoy driving, the Georgian Military Highway to Kazbegi is a must.

Georgia offers a wide range of transport options, from city ride-hailing apps to adventurous mountain drives. Here’s how to get around with ease. We tried most of the options.

In the Cities: Bolt and Yandex Go
In Tbilisi, Batumi, and Kutaisi, ride-hailing apps like Bolt and Yandex Go are the most convenient and affordable choice. They work like Uber, offering upfront pricing, electronic or cash payments, and more reliability than street taxis. Best option to and from the airport.

Tbilisi Metro: Fast and Affordable
The Tbilisi Metro is a quick and budget-friendly way to move around the city. It has two lines covering major areas, including tourist hubs like Rustaveli and Liberty Square. A single ride costs 1 GEL using a Metromoney card (2 GEL), which also works on buses and the cable car. Signs and announcements are in English and Georgian. We passed by the stations but we chose walking over everything in Tbilisi. (Yes, we love walking!)

Day Trips: GoTrip or GoRide
Platforms like GoTrip.ge let you hire a private car with a driver for day trips or multi-day travel. You set the itinerary, stop when you like, and travel comfortably. It’s more expensive than but affordable when split among a group, and perfect for destinations not served by marshrutkas or trains. 

We booked a GoTrip to Kazbegi via the Georgian Military Highway based on advice and research, all of which suggested it’s better not to drive yourself, as the mountain route can be challenging. But after actually experiencing it, we’d much rather have driven ourselves (only during the non-winter months). The road has many hairpin bends, but it’s manageable for confident drivers who are comfortable with mountain driving. The road to Kazbegi was in good condition too. In fact, our drive to Khinaliq, Azerbaijan was more challenging.

GoTrip is a great alternative if you’d rather not drive and also a cost effective mode when you are on a trip with friends. You can set your own route and stops, and it’s easier than arranging a private driver or tour through a hotel. That said, we prefer the freedom of having our own car and for a round trip it’s cheaper to rent a car.

Intercity Travel: Marshrutkas and Trains

• Marshrutkas (shared minibuses) are the most common way to travel between towns. They’re cheap, frequent, and cover even remote areas, though they can be cramped.

While coming back from Kazbegi we decided to take a Mashtrutka back to Tbilisi. It’s a straightforward journey. We had received a lot of feedback on the driving style of Mashtrutka drivers so we were fine with that as they are very experienced in driving these roads.
What we weren’t prepared for was the van running out of fuel halfway through the journey. The engine stalled on an uphill stretch, and the vehicle slowly began rolling backwards. The driver calmly got out, cut a plastic bottle into a funnel, and started pouring fuel into the tank while we continued reversing down the hill. He then got back in and kept trying to start the engine. This went on for nearly a kilometre, and thankfully, the van finally started just as we reached the bottom.
Soon after, we stopped again, this time to change a tyre. With many confused passengers on board and no shared language, no one was quite sure when we would make it back. In the end, it was a memorable and very local experience that made for a great travel story.

• Trains offer more comfort and speed on key routes like Tbilisi to Batumi. Tickets can be booked online, and routes like Borjomi–Bakuriani offer scenic views.

Self-Drive: Ideal for Scenic Routes
Renting a car gives you total freedom to explore. Main roads between cities are in good shape, but mountain roads to areas like Tusheti, or Svaneti can be steep, narrow, or unpaved. A 4×4 is often necessary, and winter conditions can be challenging. Your car rental agency will advise you properly. The Georgian Military Highway to Kazbegi is breathtaking but requires careful driving so choose accordingly.

We rented a car for our Msktheta and drive to the Kakheti region. The drives are just so beautiful we wanted to stop every single spot not just ‘tourist spots’. So if you like to drive, 100% recommend a car in Georgia. We also became friends with our car rental owner, he was super helpful, beyond just car rental endeavors. Some rental agencies might accept dirhams as a deposit but the standard is dollars/GEL and then the payment in GEL/dollars.