Very low violent crime and safe to walk at night in the cities. The two real risks are the Tbilisi bar scam aimed at solo men, and the occupied territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which are a criminal matter, not a border crossing.
- Georgia has a very low violent crime rate and city centres are comfortable to walk at night, with visible and responsive Patrol Police.
- The bar scam targets solo men on Shardeni Street and around Perovskaya in Tbilisi: a promoter invites you in, drinks appear, and security presents a bill of hundreds or thousands of GEL and blocks the door.
- Do not follow a street promoter into a venue you did not choose - and if it happens, call 112 rather than paying.
- Do not attempt to enter Abkhazia or South Ossetia from the Russian side. That is a criminal offence in Georgia, punishable by prosecution and a permanent entry ban.
- Drug law is zero-tolerance and severe, cannabis included, with heavy fines and prison sentences - one of the strictest regimes in the region.
Georgia is a safe country with a very low violent crime rate, and city centres in Tbilisi, Batumi and Kutaisi are comfortable to walk at night. Patrol Police are visible and responsive.
The two scams that matter
- The bar scam. Concentrated on Shardeni Street and around Perovskaya in Tbilisi, and aimed at solo male travellers. A promoter invites you into a bar, drinks appear, and security then presents a bill of several hundred or several thousand GEL and blocks the door. Do not follow a street promoter into a venue you did not choose, and if it happens, call 112 rather than paying.
- The airport tout. Drivers inside the terminal claiming to be your Bolt or offering a flat rate, charging 100 GEL and up for a 25 GEL ride.
Abkhazia and South Ossetia
Do not attempt to enter the Russian-occupied territories of Abkhazia or South Ossetia from the Russian side. Under the Law on Occupied Territories that is a criminal offence in Georgia, punishable by prosecution and a permanent entry ban. This is not a bureaucratic technicality.
Roads and nature
- Driving here is genuinely aggressive: hard overtaking, high speeds, sudden lane changes, and livestock on rural roads. If you are not confident, hire a driver rather than a car.
- Mountain roads: the Georgian Military Highway over the Jvari Pass toward Stepantsminda closes for snow in winter and mudslides in spring.
- Seasonal hazards: spring flooding and landslides in mountain valleys from April to June, avalanche risk in the alpine areas from December to March, and minor earthquakes - Georgia is a seismic zone.
Law and social climate
- Drug law is zero-tolerance and severe, cannabis included. Possession brings heavy fines and prison sentences. This is one of the strictest regimes in the region.
- Solo and female travellers report low levels of street harassment and generally safe conditions.
- LGBTQ+ travellers: same-sex activity is legal, but social attitudes are conservative and public displays of affection outside a few Tbilisi venues can draw hostility.
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