Church Etiquette
Georgia is a Christian Orthodox country. Dress modestly and respectfully, covering your arms, legs, and shoulders. Women are required to cover their heads with a scarf, and men should remove their hats. Some churches may allow you to wear trousers, but shorts are not permitted. Most churches will have a basket with extra head scarves and wrap-around skirts for women, but we recommend you carry a small scarf with you just in case.
Political Situation
Politics in Georgia, similar to many other places in the region are complicated.
The country has seen massive protests in recent times against the current government who diverged from their original Pro-European Union agenda towards a Pro-Russian stance. This angered the vast majority of Georgian youth who have been protesting in front of the Parliament of Georgia on Rustaveli Avenue. The protests have slowed down recently, but you might still see people gathering and chanting near the parliament building, usually in the evenings. Avoid active protests and the area around the parliament building. The majority of Georgians support joining the European Union and want to get away from the Russian sphere of influence.
Necessary Vocab
გამარჯობა - Gamarjoba - Hello
ნახვამდის - Nakhvamdis - Goodbye
მადლობა - Madloba - Thank you
რა ღირს? - Ra Ghirs? How much does it cost?
მე ავიღებ - Me Avigheb - I will take/I will get
მე მქვია - Me Mkvia - My Name Is
ანგარიში - Angarishi - Bill Please
Random things to keep in mind
Eastern Europeans in general do not smile unless something is funny. Expect people to have stern-ish looks on their faces. Eye contact is not unusual.
Good service = unobtrusive service in Georgia thus servers might not seem as engaged/attentive as in the US.
Service also takes time and it is not considered rude to waive down to call a waiter/waitress.
Some places still allow indoor smoking
Georgians talk loud in general and use their hands a lot.
Haggling in markets is expected and normal.
Tbilisi directly translated means “Warm Springs”. Hot sulfur springs run through the underground of the city. There are several places in old Tbilisi to experience these baths. We recommend Chreli Abano.