Georgia has a lot to offer for both cultural and outdoor travelers. To ensure that you behave properly with the locals, we have summarized the most important rules of conduct for Georgia in this article.
Georgia is one of the cradles of civilization. Besides breathtaking mountain scenery and enchanting beaches, the country offers an incredible amount of cultural characteristics. After all, it is one of the oldest Christian countries in the world. And although Georgia’s culture is very similar to ours, there are some important differences that you should definitely keep in mind during your backpacking trip.
Clothes Make People
In Georgia, people are very careful to dress appropriately. Women usually wear loose clothing and men rarely wear shorts, regardless of the temperatures. Especially with the older population, you can earn brownie points with a moderate, well-groomed appearance. Of course, no one expects you to carry a jacket or pressed shirts. But in a conservative country like Georgia, you should avoid a baggy look out of respect.
In many churches in Georgia, special attention is paid to appropriate dress: Women must cover their shoulders and men must remove their head coverings. Otherwise you may be denied entry.
Reading tip: In our Dos-and-Don’ts-series, you can also find rules of conduct for other travel countries that can help you during your stay.
No photo, no party
Surely you want to take a lot of photos on your trip to Georgia, which is fortunately mostly allowed there. The landscape offers countless motifs that will take your breath away. Georgia is a Christian country where faith still plays an important role. Please behave respectfully. Pictures of priests and monks are forbidden, as well as taking pictures in churches.
A general tip: Ask people you want to photograph for permission beforehand. Many of them will feel flattered and will be happy to be photographed by you. And who knows what nice encounters will result from your politeness.
INFO: For more information on Georgia, please visit the website of the German Federal Foreign Office.
Keep the change!
You don’t have to change much when it comes to tipping: In Georgia, people tip about 10% in restaurants and cabs. In hotels, tipping is not expected at all.
You are a gift from God!
If you are a guest of Georgians, please do not spare praise for the host. As a guest, you are a gift from God and will be showered with praise as well. Lack of praise will be seen as a failure of the country’s host culture and your host will most likely feel embarrassed. If you are invited privately, it is a great honor. Be sure to bring a small gift: a souvenir from home, flowers, candy, or premium alcohol.
When you make a date with Georgians, be sure to keep that date. Unlike in some South American countries, dates are kept. You should only cancel an arranged appointment if you have a really good reason – and ideally suggest an alternative date right away.
Cheers to – all!
Georgia is a country of connoisseurs – and they love to share this passion with travelers. Did you know that Georgia is one of the oldest wine-growing regions in the world? For several millennia, wine has been grown here and, of course, drunk. Therefore, wine is always present at meals.
Georgians generally like to drink, especially at the so-called Supras: opulent, multi-course dinners. There is even a special master of ceremonies for the numerous toasts – the tamada. Toasts are made to everything: to the health of the guests and their families, to deceased relatives, to Georgia, to the sun, to the delicious food. It is not without reason that Georgian cuisine is considered one of the best in Eastern Europe. Even for vegetarians and vegans there is a wide choice of dishes.
If you are invited to a Supra, you should definitely accept, even if you do not drink alcohol. Just explain it to the Georgians. If you give medical or religious reasons for your abstinence, it will be respected in any case.
Rich in tradition
Traditions have a high value in Georgia. At the same time, interest in the customs of other countries and cultures is very high and an ideal starting point for conversations. The openness and warmth of Georgians makes it easy to strike up a conversation with them. This makes Georgia a great travel destination. The curiosity and interest in unknown cultures is mutual.
If you want to earn special points, you should ideally have small gifts with you that represent your culture. What can happen to you as a result is that you will be “passed through” from village to village: Many Georgians are great networkers and surely know someone in every village in their region who is willing to host you for a night, show you around or help you with car trouble.
At the latest then your backpacking trip through Georgia will be a self-runner. We wish you a lot of fun!
