16 photos to convince you to travel to Georgia ASAP

The vibrant interior of Gelati monastery, one of Georgia’s most colorful. Many of the Orthodox monasteries in Georgia are adorned with frescoes dating back hundreds of years, but Gelati’s walls are by far some of the best-preserved. We see how people are so religious in Georgia–it’s hard to think evil thoughts when all of those painted eyes are watching you…

The remote Saphara monastery near Akhaltsikhe, Georgia. Epic view? Check. Perfect architecture? Check. Location? Check check check.

A must-have in Georgia: Adjaruli kachapuri. We dubbed it the “breakfast boat”. It’s a massive piece of bread filled with melted cheese and an egg, topped with butter just in case your heart hadn’t given up already.

A monk walking into the mountains in Kazbegi. Georgia’s snowy mountains are adored by hikers, skiiers, and simple wandering noobs (read: us) alike.

The bizarre Alphabet Tower of Batumi, Georgia’s most popular beach town on the Black Sea. Its odd combination of old and new architecture is definitely a sight to behold. If the Georgian alphabet is proving a tough nut to crack, you could always sit and stare at this tower for a while. Osmosis is a thing, right?

The ancient cave city of Vardzia, near Akhaltsikhe. It’s a verifiable maze of living spaces and wineries cut into the rock, with a monastery hidden away in one of its deepest recesses. The monastery is still in use, but the rest of the caves are empty–possibly the consequence of living on the side of a cliff without any railing to protect the kids from falling off?

A 12th-century winery and academy near Telavi. Georgia has claims to some of the oldest remnants of winemaking in the world, and its residents are only too happy to let you partake in that little bit of history. As one charming Georgian grandmother put it: “Real men drink 4 liters of wine in one dinner.” Challenge definitely not accepted, Grandma.

The peaceful streets of Tbilisi’s old city, a charming blend of peeling old buildings, twisting alleys, and young urbanites on the prowl for their next shot of chacha or three.

The tiny town of Mtskheta, the birthplace of Christianity in Georgia–300 A.D. baby! A place of pilgrimage for Orthodox Christians and/or the billion and one young Georgians lining up to tie the knot at its cathedral.

Sunrise over super chillaxed Kutaisi, a calm (and cheap!) city in the hills chock-full of beautiful monasteries. Sipping wine in the warm sunshine–what more could you ask for?

The lush botanical gardens of Batumi. Aside from the colonial undertones (it was built by a Frenchman with far too much money back in the days of yore, like many things in life), the gardens are filled with plants and trees from all over the world, and are sure to satisfy all of your treehugger and botanist travel companions.

The looming Svan towers of Svaneti, Georgia. Back in the day, families under attack would run to the towers for defense, shooting at their attackers from above. Apparently they never considered the small design flaw of being put under siege, but they do deserve some credit.

Georgian dietary staples: bread. Cheese. More bread. More cheese. Oh, and also bread. With cheese sometimes. Carbo-lovers, rejoice!

The vast Truso Valley, an epic locale filled with abandoned villages, beautiful nature, and the occasional army outpost. Also the starting location of a serious near-death experience.

The sun rising over Gergeti monastery in Kazbegi. It’s the most famous (and most photographed) site in Georgia, so h’obviously it had to make an appearance. Cliches be damned.

The painfully adorable hilltop town of Signagi, our favorite town in Georgia. It has cobblestone streets, gets plenty of sunshine, and being in the middle of Georgia’s wine country, it has a billion and one places to drink lots of wine. Could it be any more perfect?