Georgia from the Gulf: A Family Guide to Tbilisi, Batumi and Entry Rules (2026)

Georgia is one of the easiest family trips from the Gulf: a short flight from Dubai, Riyadh, Doha or Kuwait, visa-free entry for many Gulf residents, mild summers, and mountains and sea in a single trip. In 2025 it received 145,513 visits from the Gulf, up 3.4% on the previous year (IndexBox). This guide is for families living in the Gulf, whatever their passport. It covers what you need before you book, from entry rules and the new mandatory health insurance to the best places for kids in Tbilisi and Batumi, halal food, and a suggested 7-day plan.

💡Visa, Mandatory Insurance and Entry Rules

Whether you need a visa depends on your passport, and for many Gulf residents the answer is no.

• GCC citizens: Saudi, Emirati, Kuwaiti, Qatari, Bahraini and Omani citizens enter visa-free for up to one year (Wego).
• Passports that are visa-free anyway: citizens of many countries, including the UK, the EU and the US, enter without a visa on their passport alone. Check the list of visa-free countries for yours.
• Other nationalities with a GCC residence permit: a valid visa or residence permit from a GCC country generally lets you enter visa-free for 90 days in any 180-day period (Embassy of Georgia in the UAE).
• The exception: since May 2025, citizens of 17 countries, including Pakistan, Bangladesh, Morocco, Syria, Yemen, Sudan and Nigeria, need a Gulf residence permit that is valid for at least one more year on the day they enter (OC Media). If yours is shorter, apply for a Georgian visa online before you travel.

Rules can change, so check the embassy page for your country of residence before you book, and make sure every family member's passport and residence permit qualify, children included. Since 1 January 2026, health insurance is an entry requirement for all foreign visitors coming for tourism (VisasNews, Eurofast).

• Minimum cover: 30,000 Georgian lari, about 11,000 US dollars.
• Duration: the whole length of your stay.
• Language: a policy in Georgian or English, printed or digital.
• When it is checked: at any border point, by air, land or sea.

Family tip: buy insurance before you travel for every family member, children included. Make sure the policy is in English and shows the cover amount, and keep a printed copy and one on your phone.

📌Best Time to Visit

The best season for families from the Gulf is June to September: mild mountains and an open sea season in Batumi. Winter is a second season for snow.

• Spring (April and May): Tbilisi is mild and good for walking, but the sea in Batumi is still cold for swimming, and some mountain roads may be closed by snow.
• Summer (June to August): the mountains are at their best and Batumi's beach season is on. Tbilisi gets hot in the daytime in July and August.
• Autumn (September and October): mild weather and autumn colours in the mountains. The sea is warm in early September, and rain in Batumi increases after that.
• Winter (December to March): snow and skiing in Gudauri and Bakuriani. The road to Kazbegi may close temporarily, so check its status before setting off.

📌Tbilisi with Kids

The capital, Tbilisi, is the easiest arrival point. Three days plus one day trip is enough.

• Old Town: narrow streets, houses with wooden balconies, and the sulphur baths district (Abanotubani). Walking it with a stroller is tiring because of the slopes and cobblestones.
• Narikala Fortress cable car: leaves from Rike Park and lifts you above the city in minutes instead of a climb on foot.
• Rike Park and the Bridge of Peace: open riverside spaces for kids, best in the evening.
• Mtatsminda Park: an amusement park on a hilltop above Tbilisi, reached by funicular. Often the kids' favourite place in the city.
• Rustaveli Avenue: the main street, with museums, historic buildings and cafés.
• Tbilisi Sea and Lisi Lake: places for family picnics and walks away from the crowded centre.

Book tickets for activities and tours in advance.

🌊Batumi and the Black Sea

Batumi is Georgia's seaside city, and its family season runs from June to early September. Two to three days are enough.

• Batumi Boulevard: a long seafront promenade with bike lanes, playgrounds and fountains.
• Ali and Nino statue: two moving metal figures that meet and pass through each other, best seen lit up in the evening.
• Botanical Garden: a large green space above the sea outside the city. The paths are steep, so mornings are best.
• Argo cable car: takes you up to a view over the city and the sea.
• Dolphinarium: dolphin shows that kids love. Check show times before you go.

Before you swim: Batumi's beaches are pebble, not sand, so bring water shoes for the kids. Batumi is also one of the rainiest cities in Georgia, so pack umbrellas even in summer.

📌Day Trips from Tbilisi

The best of Georgia is outside the cities. Here are the most popular trips from Tbilisi, from nearest to farthest.

📌Mtskheta

The old capital, with UNESCO World Heritage sites and a view over the meeting of two rivers. A short trip that suits kids.

📌The Mountain Road to Kazbegi

Ananuri Fortress on its lake, then Gudauri and the Friendship Monument above the valley, then Gergeti Trinity Church on a hill above Stepantsminda. It is a long day for children, so staying one night in Kazbegi is easier.

📌Borjomi

The mineral water town, with a forest park that is good for walking. It also makes a handy stop on the way to Batumi.

📌Kakheti (Sighnaghi)

A hilltop town overlooking a wide valley and the Caucasus mountains. The region is famous for its vineyards, and tours there usually include wine tasting. Tip: for Kazbegi, a private car with a driver or an organised tour is easier for a family than driving the mountain road yourself.

📌Getting Around and Renting a Car

For a large family, a rental car or a car with a driver is the most comfortable option: the sights are far apart and public transport between cities is limited.

• Ride-hailing apps (such as Bolt): inside Tbilisi and Batumi, with the price shown before you ride.
• Rental car: freedom to move between cities and the countryside.
• Car with a driver: for mountain roads such as Kazbegi, or if you would rather not drive.
• Train or domestic flight: between Tbilisi and Batumi if you are not renting a car.

Before you rent: book child seats in advance, ask for a 4x4 if you are heading into the mountains, and check with the rental company which driving licence they accept and how much deposit they hold. Georgia drives on the right, and mountain roads are narrow and winding. Search for a car in Tbilisi or Batumi and compare offers on our car rental page.

🏨Where Should the Family Stay?

For a large family, serviced apartments are often a better fit than standard rooms: separate bedrooms, a kitchen and a washing machine.

• Tbilisi, Old Town and Sololaki: walking distance to the main sights, but busy and hilly.
• Tbilisi, Vake: a quieter residential area with parks and restaurants.
• Tbilisi, Saburtalo: usually cheaper, and close to the metro.
• Batumi, near the Boulevard: the sea and the amusement rides on foot.
• Batumi, Old Town: quieter, with restaurants and the mosque.
• Kazbegi, Stepantsminda: one night with a mountain view.

Compare hotel and apartment prices and book directly.

🏛️Halal Food and Mosques

Most Georgians are Christian, so halal restaurants exist but are not the norm. With a little planning you will find what you need easily, especially in Tbilisi and Batumi.

• Search Google Maps for "halal" in the area where you are staying. Arab, Turkish and Iranian restaurants are a common choice.
• In Georgian restaurants, ask what meat is used: pork is common in grilled dishes and in khinkali dumpling fillings.
• Meat-free Georgian dishes kids like: khachapuri (cheese bread), lobio (cooked beans) and aubergine with walnuts. Check the ingredients at each restaurant.
• Wine is part of the country's culture, and may be served in restaurants and on Kakheti tours. You can ask for juice instead.

Mosques: in Tbilisi, the historic Jumah Mosque is in the baths district (Abanotubani) near the Old Town. In Batumi, the Adjara region has a Muslim community, the Orta Jame mosque is in the Old Town, and halal restaurants are easier to find than elsewhere.

🗓️Suggested 7-Day Plan

A relaxed family plan: Tbilisi, then the mountains, then the sea, arriving in Tbilisi and leaving from Batumi.

1. Day 1 (Tbilisi): arrival, and an evening walk in Rike Park and over the Bridge of Peace.
2. Day 2 (Tbilisi): Old Town and the Narikala cable car in the morning, Mtatsminda Park in the afternoon.
3. Day 3 (Kazbegi): Mtskheta, then the mountain road via Ananuri and Gudauri, and a night in Kazbegi.
4. Day 4 (Tbilisi): Gergeti Church and nature in the morning, then back to Tbilisi.
5. Day 5 (Batumi): drive to Batumi with a stop in Borjomi, or take the train or a flight.
6. Day 6 (Batumi): the Botanical Garden in the morning, then the beach, the Boulevard and the Ali and Nino statue in the evening.
7. Day 7: the Argo cable car or the Dolphinarium, then departure.

Shorter trip (4 days): Tbilisi, Mtskheta and Kazbegi only, flying in and out of Tbilisi. Search for flights to Tbilisi (TBS) and from Batumi (BUS).

💡Practical Tips

• Currency: the Georgian lari (GEL). Cards are accepted in cities, but carry cash for villages and small shops.
• Internet: a prepaid eSIM works the moment you land and saves buying a SIM at the airport.
• Clothing: even in summer, pack a jacket for the mountains, and modest clothes for visiting churches.
• Walking: Tbilisi is a city of hills, so comfortable shoes are a must, and a light stroller is better than a heavy one.

📌Frequently Asked Questions

📌Do I need a visa for Georgia if I live in the UAE or Saudi Arabia?

Often not. GCC citizens enter visa-free for up to a year, and most other nationalities with a valid GCC residence permit can stay up to 90 days without a visa. Citizens of 17 countries need a permit valid for at least one more year. Health insurance has been mandatory for everyone since 2026.

📌How many days are enough for Georgia with kids?

Seven days cover Tbilisi, Kazbegi and Batumi at a relaxed pace. Four days are enough for Tbilisi and one mountain trip.

📌Tbilisi or Batumi?

Tbilisi for the city and mountain trips, Batumi for the sea and amusement rides. If time allows, combining both is best for families.

📌What is the best month to visit Georgia?

June to September for the mountains and the sea, and December to March for snow.