The book is about Georgia: its history, people, wine and food, Tbilisi, and what it is like to live there. It is written for the curious who want to know the destination before they travel.
Introduction
Where Europe ends and Asia begins, there lies a country that few Westerners know about – even though it deserves to be on everyone’s lips.
Georgia. Not the American state. Not a tech company. But a 3,700-year-old culture at the heart of the Caucasus – an ancient civilisation with its own language, its own alphabet, its own winemaking tradition – and now, more than 30 years after the collapse of the Soviet Union, a bold new identity as a Western-oriented nation striving to join the European family.
This book is written for the curious. For those who want more than the tourist masses of Southern Europe. For those wondering: ‘Where can you still live well, affordably, and somewhere genuinely interesting?’
The answer is often: Tbilisi.
“Georgia is such a hidden gem that when you discover it, you want to keep it to yourself. But that would be a shame – this country deserves to be known.”
In this book we cover everything: history, politics, food, wine, prices, taxes, visas, housing, car culture, restaurants – and in the final chapter we answer the big question directly: should you move to Tbilisi?
Spoiler: very often the answer is yes.
What the book covers
- Part 1: The soul of the land – history and identity (chapters 1–4)
- Part 2: Politics and the world (chapters 5–7)
- Part 3: Land, nature and culture (chapters 8–11)
- Part 4: Tbilisi – the city that surprises (chapters 12–14)
- Part 5: A guide to moving to Georgia (chapters 15–20)
Open the book as a PDF (opens in a new tab)
The book is a general introduction to Georgia and describes the situation in 2026. Figures, prices and rules can change, so check current information with the authorities before you travel. The book is not an official guide to entry, taxes or dental treatment.
