Travel Information Georgia

Travel map of Georgia by tour operator OVERCROSS

1. General Information
2. Climate
3. Flora and Fauna
4. National Parks and Nature Conservation
5. Medical Information
6. Population
7. Politics and Economy
8. Transport Network
9. Cities and Regions
10. Culture, Sights and Famous People
11. Public Holidays
12. Travel Information
13. Foreign Representations
14. Sources and Links

1. General Information

Continent: Asia
Geographical location: Border between Europe and Asia, east of the Black Sea
Highest Elevation: Shkhara (5200m)
Longest river: Kura (1364km)
Form of government: Republic
Government system: semi-presidential system
Languages: Georgian (official language), Regional official language: Abkhazian
Neighbouring countries: Turkey, Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan
Capital: Tbilisi
Area: approx. 69,700 km²
Population: approx. 3,661,000 people
Population density: 52.5 inhabitants per km²
Religions: Georgian Orthodox Apostolic Church (approx 84%), Muslims (approx 9.9%), Catholics, Protestants, Yazidis, Jews and Jehovah’s Witnesses (total approx 3.9%)
Currency: Lari
Climate: from subtropical-humid in the west, to dry-temperate climate in the east
Time zone: UTC + 4
Country code: +995
ISO code: GEO
 

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2. Climate

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3. Flora and Fauna

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4. National Parks and Conservation

There are 11 state nature reserves in Georgia. The largest is the Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park in the Lesser Caucasus. It was established and opened in 2001 with the help of a German foundation. The oldest national park is the Lagodekhi National Park.

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5. Medical Information

Travelers without knowledge of the local language will in most cases encounter problems when it comes to requesting expert medical assistance. In Tbilisi, there is the best care within Georgia as well as doctors with good English skills, while outside the capital the availability of competent doctors, medications, and medical facilities is somewhat below the level in Central Europe. In most cases, however, it covers the needs of travelers, although in remote areas of the country medical help is only available with considerable time effort. Treatments that can be postponed should preferably be performed in Germany, Austria, or Switzerland. In case of actual need for medical specialists with very good equipment, various private facilities in Tbilisi or Batumi can help.

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6. Population

Georgia has about 3.7 million inhabitants. Since gaining state independence in 1991, more than a million people have left the country. Between 2000 and 2005 the Georgian population decreased by about one percent per year. Currently, the population has stabilized, with immigration having increased somewhat.

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7. Politics and Economy

Georgia is a democratic republic with a strong presidential system and centralized administration. Critics consider Georgia a defective democracy. While access to politics is formally ensured by free and secret elections, political and civil rights, as well as control of powers, are often restricted. 

Georgia, similar to Israel and some other Eastern European and Asian countries, is described as an ethnic democracy in which "the dominance of an ethnic group is institutionalized."

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8. Transport Network

For European drivers, driving in Georgia is almost heart-stopping. Sometimes it seems as if there are no regulations known to us. There is honking, swearing, and in the cities also pushing and shoving. It is strongly recommended to hire a driver with their own car. The road infrastructure has improved in recent years, but caution while driving is still of utmost importance.

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9. Cities and Regions

The largest cities are Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia (1,100,000 inhabitants), Kutaisi (188,600 inhabitants), and Batumi (122,500 inhabitants). 

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10. Culture, Sights and Famous Personalities

Famous personalities include:

Katie Melua: born on September 16, 1984 in Kutaisi in the Georgian SSR. She is a British singer and one of the most successful European musicians of the 2000s.

Eduard Shevardnadze: born on January 25, 1928 in Mamati in the Georgian SSR. He was a Georgian politician, who as the last Soviet Foreign Minister (1985-1990, briefly 1991) under Gorbachev helped shape the end of the Cold War and German reunification, and later, less successfully, governed Georgia as chairman of the State Council (1992-1995) and president (1995-2003).

Josef Stalin: was born on December 18, 1878 (December 6, 1878 according to the Julian Calendar, which was still used in this region at the time) in Gori in the Russian Empire (today Georgia). He was a Soviet politician and totalitarian dictator of the Soviet Union, who, as Lenin's successor and long-time General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party (CPSU, 1922-1953), built an industrial society and was commander of the "Red Army" in World War II.

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11. Holidays

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12. Travel information

Safety information from the Foreign Office

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13. Foreign Missions

Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany

Head: Dr. Heike Peitsch

Location: Tbilisi

Phone: (+995 32) 2435399

Fax: (+995 32) 2911651

Postal address: Sheraton Metechi Palace Hotel / Telawi Street 20 / Tbilisi, 0103

Street address: Legal and Consular Section of the German Embassy Tbilisi / Davit Aghmashenebeli Boulevard 166 / Tbilisi, 0112

Website: www.tiflis.diplo.de

Official languages in the host country: German, English, Georgian

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14. Sources and Links

www.wetterkontor.de

www.auswaertiges-amt.de

www.konsulate.de
 

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