Not to miss

Batumi

Batumi is an exotic-looking subtropical city on the Black Sea. Palms, cypresses, magnolias, oleanders, lemon and orange trees, thuja and box trees grow flowering and fragrant in this thriving border town which is both an industrial city and an old trading port.

It has a variety of entertainment facilities, and a dolphinarium, of which the locals are extremely proud. Nearby are the botanical gardens, which are a genuine highlight. In the far southwest of Georgia, Batumi is a good point of entry if you're coming from Turkey, but mind the border guards if they're stroppy, and don't pay customs a single lari.

Tbilisi

Red-roofed, low-rise and higgledy-piggledy, Tbilisi has a distinctly cosmopolitan feel, and is a major economic and cultural centre. It's famous for its historical monuments and gorgeous architecture, which include the Sioni Cathedral Church, dating from the 5th century and the ancient Narikhala fortress.

Visitors can also take in the local theatre scene. Three of the city's most famous and long-established theatres are situated in Rustaveli Avenue, including the Paliashvili Opera House, founded in 1851.

Sveti-Tskhoveli Cathedral

Dominating the low-rise town of Mtskheta is this impressively grand 11th-century cathedral, the largest functioning cathedral in Georgia. According to tradition, this was where Christ's robe was buried. It was the site of Georgia's first church, in the 4th century. Its the burial site of numerous Georgian kings.

Tbilisi History Museum

Pleasant, pedestrianised Sionis kucha is home to the Tbilisi History Museum. Housed in an old caravanserai, this look at the history of the city includes some wonderfully evocative photographs of the pre-Soviet Georgian capital. There's a contemporary art gallery upstairs, as well as a large collection of weaponry.

Cave City

The cave city of Vardzia is a cultural symbol with a special place in the hearts of Georgians. In the 12th century Giorgi III built caves as fortifications, but his daughter turned the military complex into a religious one. It grew into a city of 50,000 people. Though none of the guides speak English, they're useful for leading you through the maze of caves.