Att köra bil i Georgien - höga berg och vackra vyer

What is it like to drive in Georgia? This mountainous country in the Caucasus offers dramatically beautiful views and an extremely varied landscape. We tell you about our experience of driving through the country.

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Georgia

Georgia is a country of dizzyingly high mountains, but also with a coastline on the Black Sea. During our ten-day trip, we experienced the contrasts of nature - from swirling snow in the mountains to palm trees and cosy warmth by the Black Sea.

Snow-capped mountains in the Kazbegi area

A palm-fringed walk in Batumi, on the Black Sea in Georgia

Car hire in Georgia

One way to travel around Georgia is to rent a car. We rented through Sixt Car Rental, and to be on the safe side, we booked the car online in advance. When we landed in Tbilisi, we picked up the rental car at the airport, which worked out great.

Att köra bil i Georgien — The hire car we drive around Georgia

Why drive a car in Georgia?

Renting and driving a car in Georgia allows you to explore large parts of the country on your own. This way, you can get to cities, sights and natural areas without having to adapt to timetables. What's more, the car journey itself is an experience in itself.

Perhaps the most fascinating thing has been to experience the diversity of nature, from mountains above the tree line to conifers, deciduous forests and even palm trees in the Black Sea area.

It should be said, however, that both roads and traffic can be quite challenging in Georgia. If you are an inexperienced driver, or if you feel somewhat unsafe behind the wheel, it may be a good idea to choose other ways of travelling around the country.

Georgan Military Road - staggeringly beautiful

One of the most beautiful roads we drove in Georgia is the one called "Georgian Military Road". This road stretches from the capital Tbilisi, in the direction of Kazbegi (Stepantsminda). However, the pictures you usually see are mostly from the northernmost part of the road, between Ananuri and Kazbegi.

As you drive north on this road, the mountains get higher and higher.

Soon you find yourself in a treeless landscape, surrounded by white mountain peaks.

The highest peak on Mount Kazbek is 5,054 metres, and driving on the roads can sometimes make your ears ring.

According to Google Maps, the car journey should take about 2.5 hours. For us it took longer, which was mainly due to a strong "need" to constantly stop the car to go out and take pictures. You also have to reckon with sharp curves, many lorries and many overtaking on the roads.

What are the roads like in Georgia?

Many roads in Georgia are excellent and of good quality, but there are also dirt roads and really bad roads with large potholes and holes in the tarmac. In particular, roads can be poor inside smaller towns and villages, sometimes requiring slow zigzags between potholes. Some smaller roads leading to natural areas may require a four-wheel drive jeep. You simply have to expect road quality to vary.

En annan utmaning kan vara farthinder, i form av bulor i vägen, som dyker upp när man minst anar det. Ibland finns skyltar som varnar för farthindren, men lika ofta saknas dessa skyltar.

On the way between Tbilisi and Batumi, we drove through many tunnels, which looked very new.

Road construction is ongoing in many places. For example, new motorways are being built on long stretches, which means that some stretches will soon be much better and faster. Here and there, you'll also find renovations on small roads.

High mountain roads are of course affected by snow and weather conditions in winter, and some of these roads may need to be temporarily closed.

What is it like to drive a car in Georgia?

So, what is it like to drive a car in Georgia? It is incredibly beautiful! For us, travelling by car has been one of the great experiences here. The landscape varies in different parts of the country, but most of the time you have views of mountains or other beautiful nature.

The driving style is considerably "tougher" than in Sweden and you may need to be careful as many people take risks in traffic. Overtaking and taking shortcuts are common and may not always be well thought out.

You see very many cars missing a part here or there, often at the front, which perhaps tells you a little about how things can go in traffic.

Another reason to pay attention in traffic is that you often meet different animals on the road. There are many dogs along the roads and it is also common to meet cows, horses, sheep and maybe a donkey or two.

Parking is available here and there. At attractions, there may be a parking fee, but in most cases parking is completely free of charge.

Driving in Georgia - things to consider

So, what do you need to consider when driving in Georgia? It's good to be aware that road quality varies and that you should be aware of other drivers and animals on the roads. It's also worth bearing in mind that sometimes driving takes time, as it's easy to want to stop and take photos of all the amazing views.

There are of course signs on the roads, and the names of the towns are written in both Georgian and "ordinary" alphabet, but we have sometimes experienced the signage as inadequate and it is therefore good to supplement with GPS. If you get a Georgian SIM card, you have good coverage almost everywhere.

In some areas, shops and food outlets can be relatively far apart, so you may want to carry drinks and snacks in your car. Nearby communities have both shops and places that serve something to eat.

Please note that people in Georgia are generally extremely friendly and helpful. Even those who don't speak English are usually happy to point and show, but for help in English it can often be easier to ask younger people.

Driving in Georgia - where to go?

So where do you want to go in Georgia? In fact, there are plenty of great places to discover, whether you like history, nature or city life. Here are some suggestions:

Batumi is a Black Sea city with a great holiday feeling and a subtropical climate.
Bordzjomi is a classic health resort, where you can 'drink the well', walk in the park and swim in the sulphur baths.
Kakhetia is the most famous wine region in Georgia, with plenty of vineyards to visit.
Kazbegi (Stepantsminda) offers dramatically beautiful mountains, stunning views and hiking opportunities.
Kutaisi, the third largest city in Georgia, has several attractions to show off.
Mtscheta is a historic and sacred old city, with buildings listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Tbilisi is the marvellously beautiful and pleasant capital, where you can, among other things bathing in a sulphur bath.
Uplistsikhe is an ancient cave city that is fascinating to see.
Vardzia is a rocky town and a monument in southern Georgia.

Alternatives to driving in Georgia?

Want to experience Georgia without driving yourself? One option is to start from the capital, Tbilisi, and book various guided tours or chauffeur-driven cars. You can also travel around the country by bus or marshrutka vans (shared minibuses) and to some places, including Batumi, you can travel by train.