Georgia

This new seventh edition of Bradt's Georgia remains the only dedicated guide to this fascinating, budget-friendly Caucasian country, where tourism continues to increase and domestic travel is increasingly straightforward. Thoroughly updated throughout to reflect recent developments, this guidebook includes revised and new listings for hotels, homestays, restaurants, what to see and do, and how to get around by public transport. At the intersection of Europe and Asia, nestled between Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkey, Georgia is the hub of the Caucasus - a country known for its mountains and Black Sea coast, and its wonderful food, wine and all-round hospitality. With Bradt's Georgia, you can experience the new alongside the old in a country where most cultural and historical sights are free of charge or very cheap. The capital, Tbilisi, boasts a charming, cobbled old town, the centuries-old tiled baths of Orbeliani and numerous cultural highlights, but has also seen major developments recently, including conspicuous new projects such as the Peace Bridge. Already famous for the cave monastery of Vardzia and the ancient wine-growing region of Kakheti, Georgia's more remote areas are becoming more accessible. Networks of rural guesthouses and hiking trails (including the increasingly popular Transcaucasian Trail, a volunteer-led project to create two long-distance hiking routes) are being developed alongside a push towards more sustainable and responsible tourism. On the Black Sea, the city of Batumi has developed into a glitzy playground for regional tourism. Appropriately, given that the country is considered to be the birthplace of wine, the Georgian wine industry features prominently, with particular emphasis on the UNESCO-listed natural qvevri wines (made in clay amphorae set in the ground). Also covered are: skiing at Gudauri, Bakuriani and Mestia; cycling; the World Heritage sites of Mtskheta, Svaneti and Gelati/Bagrati; Georgian fusion cuisine (now celebrated in Tblisi's stylish new restuarants); 5th-century churches and other Christian architecture; cave cities; and Georgian polyphonic singing. Bradt's unique guide to Georgia is the ideal companion for travelers, from serious hikers to wine buffs, high-end culture lovers to winter-sports enthusiasts, and city-break aficionados to backpackers of all ages.