Overview
Georgia sits where Europe meets Asia, wrapped around the Caucasus Mountains and the Black Sea coast. It is a compact country of cobbled old towns, ancient hilltop churches, one of the world's oldest wine cultures and genuinely dramatic mountain scenery. For UK travellers it works equally well as a long weekend or a two-week trip, with a small number of direct flights and plenty of sensibly priced connecting options.
Best time to fly to Georgia
Late spring (May to June) and early autumn (September to October) are the sweet spots: warm days, comfortable sightseeing in Tbilisi and the wine regions, and the grape harvest, or rtveli, in late September. July and August are hot in the lowlands but ideal for hiking around Kazbegi and Svaneti and for the beaches near Batumi. December to March draws skiers to Gudauri and Bakuriani. The When to book chart above shows how fares move through the year.
Main gateway cities & airports
Most UK travellers fly into Tbilisi International Airport (TBS), about 17km from the capital and well connected by bus, train and taxi. Kutaisi International Airport (KUT) in western Georgia is the low-cost gateway, handy for the Imereti region, though it is a three to four hour transfer from Tbilisi. Batumi International Airport (BUS) on the Black Sea coast mainly sees seasonal UK-linked traffic.
Airlines and routes
Direct options are limited but real. Wizz Air flies from London Luton to Kutaisi, and Georgian Airways operates London Gatwick to Tbilisi, with seasonal Heathrow to Tbilisi services also running. From Manchester and other UK cities you will usually connect: Turkish Airlines and Pegasus via Istanbul, Lufthansa via Frankfurt or Munich, LOT via Warsaw, Austrian via Vienna, or airBaltic via Riga. Direct flying time from London is around five and a half hours; connecting journeys from Manchester typically take eight to eleven hours.
Popular places to visit in Georgia
- Tbilisi: the atmospheric capital, with sulphur bathhouses, balconied old lanes and a lively food scene.
- Mtskheta: Georgia's ancient royal capital and a UNESCO site, an easy half-day from Tbilisi.
- Kazbegi (Stepantsminda): the Gergeti Trinity Church framed by a 5,000m peak, at the end of the Georgian Military Road.
- Kakheti: the country's main wine region, with hilltop Sighnaghi and centuries-old qvevri cellars.
- Svaneti: remote medieval tower villages and high trekking around Mestia and Ushguli.
Top tips for finding cheap flights to Georgia
- Compare arriving into Tbilisi versus Kutaisi, and factor in the cost and time of the onward transfer.
- Fly midweek and travel in the shoulder seasons of spring and autumn rather than peak summer.
- Check connecting fares via Istanbul, which often has the widest availability and keenest prices from UK regional airports.
- Use the price charts on this page to track fares and book before summer and ski-season demand builds.
Travel essentials
UK passport holders can enter Georgia visa-free for stays of up to one year, one of the most generous policies anywhere, so there is no paperwork before you travel. The currency is the Georgian lari (GEL); cards are widely accepted in cities, but carry some cash for rural areas and marshrutka minibuses. For the best fares, book two to three months ahead for peak summer and ski season and use the price charts on this page to time your booking.
