Kakheti region, located on the east side of the country, is a popular destination for those who are looking for day trips from Tbilisi. The region is famous for its historical sights, wine, and natural wonders. I traveled with my parents to Kakheti and we did a small road trip. Therefore, here are my recommendations on what to do in Telavi and what landmarks to see around the capital.
Sighnaghi, a small town in the Kakheti region, makes a perfect spot for day trips from Tbilisi. With its narrow cobblestone streets, colorful houses, and wooden carved balconies, the town does attract many tourists. Situated on the steep hill, the town overlooks Alazani Valley with a Caucasus mountain range on its background. And despite the fact that town is relatively small, here are my recommendations on things to do in Sighnaghi for a full day.
Batumi is the main city of the Adjara region and a jewel of the Black Sea coast. The city has undergone major development in the past decade or so, resulting in a bustling seaside resort full old and new architecture, luxury hotels, dining venues, and plenty of attractions. Due to the high number of international hotel chains and casinos, many call it the ‘Las Vegas of the Black Sea’. It’s the go-to summer destination for many locals and foreigners coming from neighboring countries. Here’s my travel guide with some of the best and free things to do in Batumi and Adjara in general.
Samegrelo, the western region of Georgia known for its untouched natural beauty, delicious cuisine, clean coastline, and ancient ruin town hardly sees many travelers. Things to do in Zugdidi, the capital of the region, is very limited but serves as a base town to explore the region or travel to Svaneti, one of the most remote mountainous regions of the country.
Georgia is home to dozens of balneological and mineral water springs. Just like Borjomi or Likani, Sairme resort was a popular destination for many during Soviet times. Today, it boasts with high standard hotels nested between coniferous and deciduous forests. This small townlet is a perfect getaway from Tbilisi for a weekend or a day trip from Kutaisi. And besides relaxing in the spa, there are a couple of activities you can do to make your stay here even more enjoyable.
Your ultimate itinerary for things to do in Kutaisi and best day trips from Kutaisi
Kutaisi is one of the oldest towns both in Georgia and in the world. This former capital and the second-largest city in the country is the main town in the Imereti region. Kutaisi is home to UNESCO World Heritage Sites, historical landmarks, beautiful churches, and cathedrals, and cultural sites to name a few. In this post, I’ll explain what to do in Kutaisi for 5-7 days, along with day trips from Kutaisi you’ll need to take.
Borjomi is a small resort town in Georgia, known for its mineral water springs. In Soviet times, the resort was one of the most popular destinations for those with health problems. Today, it struggles to return its popularity with new high-class hotels and renovated infrastructure. So, here are my recommendations on top things to do in Borjomi in 48 hours.
Gori is the central city of the Shida Kartli region, located around 85 km from Tbilisi. The proximity of the town to the capital enables you to visit it as a day or two-day trip. The town lacks many sights, but the reason for a visit is Joseph Stalin’s museum and ancient cave town of Uplistsikhe. Here’s the list of the best things to do in Gori as a day trip from Tbilisi. Alternatively, this same itinerary is great for a weekend getaway too.
Having a good travel backpack is an essential part of traveling comfortably. My traveling habits have changed since my trip to South East Asia, where I carried a very uncomfortable backpack full of unnecessary and bulky items. When I did my research on the best carry on backpack and what backpackers and digital nomads used, I came to brand Osprey and its bags. And I am glad I believed those gear reviews and bought one for me. Therefore, if you are searching for a good backpack, here’s Osprey Farpoint 55 review to help you decide which one to buy.
Since 2019 we are not operating a space. Currently, we run ATT – Alternative Tours of Tbilisi and work on making events and exhibitions.
Tbilisi hides some interesting hidden gems in its ragged buildings and streets. This post will tell you about a new venue –
Looking for cheap countries in Europe to plan your next summer vacation? Look no further, here’s everything you’ll need to plan your summer holidays in Europe. Summer months are considered a high season in most of the countries, especially in Europe. Therefore, I like to start planning my travels for at least six months or even a year ahead to make my vacation as budget-friendly as possible. So to give you some of the best options, I collaborated with fellow travel bloggers who share their tips on how to make popular destinations as cheap as possible.
Since March 2018, Georgia has added one more theatrical show to its cultural calendar tailored specifically towards the tourists. The show is perfect for those who are short in time and can’t explore the country, its customs, and traditions. Welcome to Georgia Musical has it all, Georgian dances, songs, and cultural aspects are shown with humor and joy.
We all read books at some point during our busy lives. I won’t start explaining how important reading books are for the development of our minds, creativity, and personality. We all know that, right? So instead, me and other travel blogger compiled a list of best travel books to spark your love for travel or to enjoy a good book during your summer or winter vacations.
There are tons of apps to help you with planning your travels to a new destination. Even though I like to do all my planning sitting by the computer, sometimes mobile apps are more convenient as it features everything you need to know. In this post, I will show you one of my new discoveries – Sygic Travel App, which will not only show you all the important locations of the new destination but also help you out with your travel itinerary. And the beauty of the app is that you can do everything on the desktop too.
Despite the fact that Georgia is a relatively small country, it is quite diverse offering unique sites to its visitors. Famous for breathtaking nature, historical sights, medieval defense towers, and tasty cuisine, the country has something to offer to any type of traveler. If some of you are keen on discovering unusual sites, then visiting Vardzia should be on your Georgia bucketlist as its the biggest, majestic, and simply amazing among other cave towns of the country.
The Internet and smartphones did change the way we plan our next vacation and travel. Let’s face it – who needs travel agents and agencies when you can do all of this on your own and even save up some money. I know how travel planning can be exhausting for some, but it can be a lot of fun once you get a hang of it. And to make this process somewhat comfortable and less painful for you, I have decided to show you several free travel apps I use on the road.
Ukraine’s third most populated city, Odessa is a favorite seaside destination for locals and its neighboring countries. Often called the “pearl of the Black Sea”, there are many interesting things to do in Odessa. Rich in history and culture, every traveler can find something of their taste.
Before Odessa was established as a city, it used to be an ancient Greek settlement. And its name comes from a Greek city of Odessos, which was wrongly thought to have been placed here. Russian Empire’s queen, Catherine the Great declared to set the city of Odessa in 1794.
After Moscow, Warsaw, and Saint Petersburg, Odessa used to be the fourth largest city of the Russian Empire during the 19th century. Surprisingly, the architecture of the city is not Russian. It’s the Mediterranean, influenced by Italian and French styles; while some of its buildings are constructed with the blend of various styles, including Renaissance, Art Nouveau, and Classicist.
The city of Odessa is easily accessible by different means of transport. During our trip to Ukraine, Odessa was our third stop after Lviv. Therefore, the easiest way to get there for us was to take a night train. However, trains run during the day too.
Odessa airport, located only 7.5 km away from the city center, serves various airline companies and flies to and from many western European, CIS, Asian, and African countries, including Istanbul, Warsaw, Kiev, Vienna, Sharm El Sheikh, Tbilisi, Vilnius, Batumi, and Dubai to name just a few.
Reasons to visit Odessa can be plenty. After Lviv, Odessa was the second most beautiful city in Ukraine we have visited. The architecture of the city is absolutely beautiful. It does look like a European city and completely erases the thought that you are in a post-Soviet country.
Much like Tbilisi, Odessa hides beautiful courtyards in its backstreets. When wandering through its streets, enter some of the gates and take a peek at the residential life of the locals.
If you are looking for less known and budget-friendly summer destination where you can soak up the sun and still do some sightseeing, Odessa is a place to be. With its beautiful sandy beaches, attractions, and bustling nightlife, you’ll definitely have a great vacation here. and enjoy the beach, sea, and some fun activities, Odessa should be on your bucket list.
Interested in other cities of Ukraine? Check out Megan Starr’s post on 18 Awesome Places to Visit in Ukraine
I like exploring cities on foot. I rarely take public transportation to get to the destination. And luckily all the Odessa attractions are within a walking distance from each other.
Walk on the pedestrian street Deribasivska situated at the very center of the city. Stretching almost 1 km, the street is full of cafes, various shops, and locals enjoying a nice day.
One of the cool things to do in Odessa is to explore those beautiful buildings. As I already mentioned Odessa does look like a European city with gorgeous architecture. During its existence, lots of artists used to live here getting inspiration from the city’s unique and vibrant culture. Lots of streets are named after these famous people who contributed to the city’s development of any kind.
During our stay here, I found that the Opera House and the Passage hotel and shopping center were the most stunning of them all.
Odessa’s Opera House is the second biggest venue in the world after Milan’s La Scala. However, it should be noted that it is not the first Opera house of the city. Constructed in neo-baroque style, the theater opened in 1887. Its audience hall is decorated in French rococo style. The acoustics of the venue are so well engineered, that even a whisper on the stage is heard in any part of the hall.
Odessa Passage, located at Deribasivska Street, combines a hotel and boutique shops. Built in the 19th century, several sculptures adorn both the interior and exterior of the building, making it one of the most picturesque areas of the city.
Potemkin Steps is another architectural masterpiece of the city. Its 192 steps lead to the Odessa port. The reason why its considered an architectural masterpiece is that its design gives an optical illusion – when looked from the top, the stairs are not visible, but when you look from the bottom, all you see are the stairs.
If walking down 192 stairs scare you, there’s a small funicular you can ride both down and up.
The city does have dozens of various parks and recreational areas for you to relax and enjoy your stay here. City Garden is the oldest park in Odessa boult in 1803. Located at the Deribasivska Street it is frequently visited by many locals and tourists.
Here, you can see the summer theater of Odessa Orchestra, various sculptures, monuments, and pavilion.
Dedicated to the authors of the famous novel Twelve Chairs, the monument is located in the City Garden park. Opened in 1999, it’s one of the most popular spots to take pictures at.
While wandering through the streets of Odessa, you’ll notice some normal and some unusual statues scattered across the city. Thus, one of the fun things to do in Odessa is to hunt down those monuments and learn more about their history.
One of them is the monument to Orange. Yes, you read it right. The fruit that apparently saved the city. Situated at Zhvanestskii boulevard, the story behind the monument is as follows: at the end of the 18th century when the Russian Emperor Paul I cut off the funding for the completion of the seaport, locals started to send him tropical fruits to St. Petersburg in winter, which obviously did change his mind in the end.
If you are traveling to Odessa with your loved one, there’s a place where you can put locks to commemorate your eternal love. The Mother-in-Law bridge is a narrow pedestrian construction that connects two roads in the city. The origin of the name is debatable, but it has nothing to do with declaring your love to the mother-in-law as you might think.
One of the theories of the name is connected to the fact that the bridge is not a secure piece of architecture and sways vigorously during the strong winds or if several people jump on it. Therefore, many identify this shaking to the mother-in-law’s tongue.
As the bridge is poorly built, the government continually removes the locks that weigh down the bridge and built a large, metal heart at one of its ends.
However, if you are traveling to Odessa to find love, make sure you read about Ukrainian brides to avoid various scams.
This goes without saying that if you happen to be in Odessa during late spring and summer, take advantage and spend at least a day at one of its beaches.
Prepare for the trip
To ease your travel planning, check out all the posts about Ukraine travel. Additionally, here are some of the websites and services I use when preparing for my next adventure anywhere in the world.
– Book affordable flights on Kiwi.com, a platform that shows the best routes and flight deals to your destination. There’s a money-back guarantee if you miss the flight!
– Check iVisa to see if you need a tourist visa to visit Ukraine, how to apply online if applicable, or where’s the nearest embassy or consulate
– Find budget-friendly deals on all sorts of accommodation types on Booking and Agoda, or find a cool apartment on Airbnb!
– Pre-book your private transfer from Kyiv Zhyliany, Odesa, or Lviv airports
– Buy the most flexible and budget-friendly travel insurance, SafetyWing, to cover all sorts of health problems on the road
– Pack your copy of Lonely Planet’s Ukraine travel guide.
– Book in advance some of the best city walks, cultural experiences, and day tours to maximize your stay and experience here
Plus what to eat in Budapest and cheaper activities to do in Hungary’s capital
Hungary’s capital Budapest is the most populous city in the country and one of the largest in the European Union. In 1873 it became one city occupying both banks of the Danube River and unified Hungary’s former cities Buda, Óbuda, and Pest. Therefore, if you’re looking for fun, free things to do in Budapest while traveling on a budget, this post will definitely come in handy.
Hvar island, located very close to Croatia’s second-largest city of Split, is considered to be another jewel of the Adriatic Sea. Famous since ancient times, because of its significant nautical, and strategic position, the island is rich in culture, natural monuments and historical sights. Most of Hvar attractions are located in Hvar town, making it a great day trip either from Split or Korcula island.
Korcula island is a collection of natural and cultural heritage, but its jewel is undeniably the town of Korcula. According to a legend, Korcula was discovered and founded by the Greek hero Antenor, who escaped from Troy. Thus, the old town of Korcula is one of the best examples of a
The Great Ocean Road is renowned as one of the world’s great drives, with stunning beaches, quaint seaside towns and as an added bonus the Otway Ranges curl along the coast. In the morning you can be hiking through the bush by a waterfall in the morning, sunning yourself on the beach by lunchtime and enjoying dinner in a “hatted” restaurant for dinner.
Croatia’s capital Zagreb is not as a popular destination for travelers as Dubrovnik, Split, Plitvice National Park, or its islands. Zagreb is no less than those destinations and should definitely be on your bucket list. Moreover, it’s one of the cheapest cities in the country! Usually, the capital is the most expensive one, but here, its the opposite.
Besides, gorgeous beaches and beautiful sunsets, Croatia boasts with breathtaking national parks. With Krka National Park and Plitvice Lakes, being the most popular ones, we had to decide which one to visit on our trip to the country. However, the beauty of Plitvice National Park outbalanced and we had a great day-trip from Zadar on our way to Zagreb.
Zadar might not be
The New Year has brought new adventures for my family and Adventure & Chill. We started off 2018 with a trip to Washington, D.C. The kids didn’t know, but I had acquired passes to tour the White House. Yes, a White House Tour. All photos are shot with an iPhone X since cameras with detachable lenses are prohibited.
Hostel 101 Dalmatinac or 101 Dalmatian Hostel is a comfortable, fun, and friendly place to stay in Split. What makes this venue unique is its design and concept that represents the region of Dalmatia.
Tbilisi has its fair share of restaurants serving international cuisine. Here, you can easily find Asian, Chinese, Russian, Lebanese, and Japanese restaurants, but until October last year, there was none which focused only on the Mediterranean. Yes, there are venues that serve some of the meals from the cuisine, but none of them were oriented in it.
I visited Marrakech in Morocco as a solo traveler and found that it was very affordable. The old city of Marrakech is known as the Medina. Many of the buildings are older, many of the streets are narrower but you’ll also find that it is affordable and you get to be surrounded by culture. Get a hotel or riad deep in the Medina and the 9 sites below will all be within walking distance.
Trogir, a historic harbor town on the
In Montreal, you don’t need to search for hidden alleys or rooftops to catch urban art, in fact, it is the contrary. The city has become a hub for graffiti, murals, and urban art. Luckily, to admire these you don’t need to pay an expensive ticket to a site, these are free and are scattered through the different neighbors. It seems that almost every building and walls are decorated with gigantic works of art giving a vibrant and colorful personality to the city.