Georgia or Montenegro – Where's the Better Holiday?

Georgia and Montenegro are two destinations that, for several years now, have regularly appeared in the holiday plans of European travellers looking for something more than yet another all-inclusive break. They differ in almost everything – climate, cuisine, culture and prices. This article will help you choose the right one.

Two destinations, two worlds – how do they differ?

When you look at the map of Europe and search for a place that offers more than yet more crowded beaches packed with windbreaks and the taste of tourist pizza at the price of a week's budget – sooner or later you land on two names. Montenegro and Georgia. Both countries have a growing fan base across Europe, both are relatively cheap compared with Western Europe, both offer landscapes that take your breath away. And both are so different from one another that they are hard to compare other than through the prism of what you are looking for.

Montenegro is a country that, geographically and mentally, belongs to the Mediterranean world. The narrow streets of Venetian old towns, water the colour of turquoise, the scent of lavender and grilled fish, evenings over a glass of local Vranac. Even if it technically lies in the Balkans, the climate on the coast makes you feel as though you are somewhere between Croatia and Greece – with the difference that there are fewer crowds and prices have not yet reached absurd levels. It is a destination that is easy to understand and easy to find your way around. The tourist infrastructure is well developed, road signs are written in the Latin alphabet, and in the resorts most service staff speak at least some English.

Georgia is a completely different story. It is a country lying in the Caucasus, at the meeting point of Europe and Asia, with its own unique alphabet, a thousand-year winemaking tradition, a cuisine that cannot be compared with anything, and a culture of hospitality that can literally disarm you. When you first land in Tbilisi and see the old town with balconies covered in carved wooden lattices, the sulphur baths and 5th-century churches squeezed between Soviet-era blocks – you understand that this is not just another European capital with a church and a market square. It is a place with a completely different logic, a different rhythm and different rules.

The difference between these two destinations is best seen in how you feel them as a traveller. Montenegro gives a sense of a safe, well-organised holiday – you can plan every day in advance, book an apartment by the beach, rent a car and drive from bay to bay. Georgia, by contrast, requires a little more openness to spontaneity and the unknown. There are many things here that are hard to plan from home before you go – roads that look passable on the maps and are in reality mountain gravel tracks, restaurants with no English menu, opening hours that are more of a rough guide. This is not a flaw – for many travellers it is precisely the greatest advantage.

In terms of distance, both destinations are accessible without particular sacrifice. Montenegro lies closer – both literally and mentally. The flight takes a little over two hours, the country uses the euro, and in the larger towns you will easily get by in English or even Russian. Georgia is a slightly longer journey – the flight takes about four to four and a half hours – but it is still less than to Thailand or Vietnam, and it delivers no less exotica. If you are choosing between Mediterranean classics more broadly, our comparison of Italy or Spain for a first trip abroad is a useful companion read.

It is also worth considering what type of traveller you carry within you. If a holiday for you means above all the sea, relaxation, good food and a few pretty views – Montenegro will answer those needs almost perfectly. If, however, you are looking for something that stays with you for longer – a new culture, flavours you will find nowhere else, and memories that are hard to sum up on Instagram – Georgia has decidedly more to offer. It is not a question of which place is better in an absolute sense. It is a question of what you are looking for and what you want to come home with.

Both countries are experiencing a tourism boom, though at a different pace and for different reasons. Montenegro has for years been building its position as the Balkan Riviera – hotel investments, marinas for yachts, luxury resorts in Tivat and Budva. Georgia, in turn, attracts more and more travellers who do not fancy the thought of yet another well-trodden trail, and who want to discover something before everyone else discovers it. If you are reading this article, you are probably in exactly that place – between these two options. And that is good, because both are worth considering for completely different reasons.

How to get there and how much it costs

Montenegro – how to fly in

Montenegro has two airports handling tourist traffic: Tivat airport and Podgorica airport. From the perspective of most tourists the former is more important – Tivat lies directly by the Bay of Kotor, and from there it is literally a dozen or so minutes' drive to the popular resorts. Podgorica is the country's capital and an airport a little further from the typical holiday destinations, but with a wider range of connections year-round.

Direct flights to Montenegro are operated mainly by Wizz Air, alongside charter connections launched by tour operators in the summer season. In practice, from major European airports you will find regular connections to Tivat or Podgorica in the months from May to October. The flight time is about 2 hours, which makes it one of the closest «exotic» destinations available to the European traveller. If you are flying a budget carrier with strict limits, our overview of cabin baggage dimensions and tips is worth a read before you pack.

Air ticket prices depend heavily on the season and how early you book. Outside the peak – that is, in June and September – it is possible to find return connections from as little as €67–110 per person. In July and August the same routes can cost €155–265, and at the last minute even more. It is worth following Wizz Air promotions and checking connections from different airports, because the price differences between cities can be surprisingly large.

An alternative to the plane is the coach – several companies offer connections from central Europe to Montenegro through the Balkans. The journey takes from 20 to 24 hours depending on the route and stops, but tickets usually cost €45–78 one way. It is an option for really budget travellers or for those who want to see Croatia or Bosnia along the way. Your own car is also a real possibility – the route from central Europe through the Balkans is around 1,500–1,700 km and takes two days' driving with an overnight stop on the way.

Georgia – how to fly in

Georgia is accessible by air mainly through Tbilisi's Shota Rustaveli International Airport. This is the country's main airport and the entry point for the vast majority of tourists. The second airport in Kutaisi handles far fewer connections but can be cheaper – worth checking if you plan to start your sightseeing in western Georgia.

Direct connections to Tbilisi are offered by Wizz Air – flights depart from a handful of European cities. The flight time on a direct route is about 4 to 4.5 hours. The alternatives are connecting flights through hubs such as Vienna (Austrian Airlines), Istanbul (Turkish Airlines) or Riga (airBaltic). Connecting options can be cheaper, but they extend the whole journey to 6–9 hours depending on the layover.

Prices for flights to Tbilisi are more variable than for Montenegro. On direct connections in a good promotion it is possible to find return tickets for €90–155 per person. Standard in-season prices, however, oscillate between €178 and €310, and at the height of summer can exceed €445. Connecting flights are often cheaper and worth comparing in search engines such as Google Flights, Skyscanner or Kayak. Your best chance of low prices is by booking 3–5 months before departure or catching a flash Wizz Air promotion.

The transfer from Tbilisi airport to the city centre is simple and cheap – the metro runs directly from the airport to the centre for a few lari (the equivalent of a euro or two), taxis cost 30–50 lari (about €10–16), and the Bolt app works smoothly in Tbilisi and is usually cheaper than a traditional taxi. In Montenegro the transfer from Tivat airport to Kotor or Budva costs €15–25 by taxi, and from Podgorica to the coast – already €50–80, which is worth factoring into the budget.

From a purely logistical point of view, Montenegro is more convenient and cheaper to reach – a shorter flight, more charter connections in season and a real alternative in the form of the coach. Georgia requires a little more planning and usually a higher budget for the tickets themselves, but the difference is not large enough to rule it out financially. With sufficiently early booking, the cost of a flight to Tbilisi can be comparable to a flight to Tivat in mid-season.

Cabin cases for the flight out

Peli 1510 – Protector Carry-On Case

Peli Air 1535 – Carry-On Case

Peli Air 1535 TRVL – Blue Cabin Case

Peli Air 1535 TRVL – Black TSA Carry-On

Holiday costs – where you spend more, and where less

The question of budget is often the first to come up when planning a trip. And rightly so – because the difference between Montenegro and Georgia in this respect is significant, though not always in the direction you might expect. Despite appearances, Montenegro is no longer a cheap destination – especially in summer, in the popular resorts, where the prices of accommodation and restaurants approach the level of the Italian or Greek coast. Georgia, on the other hand, still remains one of the cheapest destinations you can fly to from central Europe without a connection.

Accommodation

In Montenegro, accommodation prices are heavily seasonal. Outside the peak – that is, before June and after August – you will pay €33–55 a night for a decent apartment for two in Kotor or Budva. In July and August the same apartments cost €78–135, and in the most sought-after beachfront locations even more. Three-star hotels at the height of the season are an outlay of €89–155 a night. Camping is the cheapest option – campsites on the coast cost €11–22 a night for a tent or campervan, but the standard can vary greatly.

Georgia presents itself completely differently on accommodation. Guesthouses – private lodgings run by local families – are an institution in themselves. For a room for two with breakfast you will usually pay €18–33 a night, even in the very centre of Tbilisi or in the mountain villages of Kazbegi. Hostels offer dorm beds from €7–11 per person. Boutique hotels in Tbilisi with a great location and design cost €44–89 a night – and often represent a level that in Western Europe would cost twice as much. Luxury options are growing in number, but Georgia still remains a country where a good night's sleep does not require a big budget.

Food and drink

Montenegro is a country where eating out is pleasant but not necessarily cheap – especially if you aim for places on the waterfront or in the tourist old towns. Dinner for two at an average restaurant in Kotor or Budva is an outlay of €13–27. Fish and seafood – what the gourmets come here for – are pricier: a plate of grilled fish costs €11–18, and a whole meal with wine can approach €33–44 for two. A cheaper alternative is the bakeries and small places serving burek or čevapi – here you will pay €4–8 per person for a full meal.

In Georgia, food is not only cheap but also surprisingly abundant. Khinkali – Georgian dumplings with meat or cheese – cost €0.45–0.90 each at a local eatery, and a portion of six to eight will comfortably fill an adult. Khachapuri in its various regional variants is an outlay of €3–7 for a whole, enormous portion. Dinner for two at an ordinary Tbilisi restaurant is €9–18 including a drink. Even in the tourist spots in central Tbilisi it is hard to overpay for food – which is a rarity in Europe. Add to that Georgian wine, which with a meal costs a pittance compared with European prices.

The table below sets out approximate daily costs for two people travelling in a tourist style – no luxuries, but no particular scrimping either:

The difference is striking. A week's trip to Georgia for two, including air tickets booked in advance, can come in at €667–1,110. A comparably comfortable trip to Montenegro in July or August is a real €1,335–2,225. Of course, with rigorous saving – the cheapest accommodation, cooking on the spot, avoiding beachfront restaurants – you can go lower in both cases. But with a similar style of travel, Georgia comes out twice as cheap.

It is also worth mentioning a few hidden costs that can take you by surprise. In Montenegro, parking near the beach or in central Kotor costs €2–5 an hour in summer – with a rented car this is an outlay that quickly adds up. Entry to Kotor's Old Town costs €3 per person. Renting a sunbed and umbrella on the beach is another €10–20 a day. In Georgia there are far fewer such charges – most attractions are free or cost a few lari, and entry to churches and fortresses rarely involves a fee. Car rental is cheaper, fuel costs less, and taxis via the Bolt app are one of the cheapest forms of transport you will find in any European tourist destination.

If budget is an important criterion in your choice – and there is nothing wrong with that, because sensible financial planning is part of good travel – Georgia wins this comparison without question. Montenegro is getting more expensive year on year, especially in the summer season, and long ago stopped being that cheap Balkan discovery it was a decade ago. Georgia still is.

Bags for coast-hopping and trekking

Peli Aegis PX18 – Protective Backpack

Peli Aegis PX25 – 25 L Protective Backpack

Peli Aegis HY22 – Rolling Travel Duffel

Peli Aegis HY32 – Large Rolling Bag

Beaches, mountains and monuments – what to see and experience

Attractions are an area in which the two countries play in completely different leagues – not because one is richer in interesting places, but because they offer completely different types of experience. Montenegro tempts above all with landscape – a combination of sea, mountains and Venetian old towns that makes an impression instantly and requires no preparation. Georgia works differently – its attractions often require a little more effort to reach, but reward you in a way that is hard to describe to someone who has not been there.

What to see in Montenegro

Montenegro is a small country – you can drive its length in a day – but a surprising amount has been fitted into that small space. The absolute centre of the tourist map is the Bay of Kotor, the Boka Kotorska, on the UNESCO list. It is one of the most photogenic corners of the entire Adriatic – a fjord surrounded by steep mountains, beside which lie a succession of medieval towns. Kotor with its Venetian walls and labyrinth of narrow streets is a must-see for anyone who comes to Montenegro. The climb up the walls with a view of the whole bay is one of those experiences that stay in the memory for a long time.

• Kotor – a medieval Old Town surrounded by defensive walls, the church of St Tryphon, the climb to the San Giovanni fortress with a panorama of the bay.
• Budva – Montenegro's most developed resort, its own Old Town on a peninsula, the Mogren and Jaz beaches, intense nightlife in season.
• Sveti Stefan – the iconic view of the island-hotel connected to the mainland by a causeway, one of the most recognisable photographs of Montenegro.
• Durmitor National Park – a mountain massif in the country's interior with the Black Lake, the Tara River Canyon (one of the deepest in Europe) and the chance to go rafting.
• Perast – a tiny town by the bay with two islets on the water and Baroque architecture – one of the calmest places in the whole country.
• Ulcinj – the far south of Montenegro, an oriental atmosphere, the longest sandy beach on the Adriatic – the Great Beach, almost 13 km long.

Montenegro works brilliantly as a combination destination – within a week you can easily combine a few days on the coast with a trip into the mountains. The drive from Kotor to Durmitor takes about three hours, but leads through some of the more spectacular passes in the Balkans. Renting a car decidedly broadens the possibilities – public transport between smaller towns is limited and irregular.

What to see in Georgia

Georgia is a country that, on first contact, can overwhelm you with the number of things to see. Into a relatively small area are fitted ancient cities, monasteries on the edges of cliffs, the highest peaks of the Caucasus and one of the oldest wine regions in the world. Touring Georgia requires more planning than Montenegro, because the distances between attractions are greater and some of them are harder to reach – but that is precisely why the satisfaction of getting there can be disproportionately great.

• Tbilisi – a capital with character: the carved balconies of the Old Town, the sulphur baths in the Abanotubani district, the Narikala fortress with a view over the whole city, the Bridge of Peace and modern architecture alongside 5th-century churches.
• Kazbegi (Stepantsminda) – a mountain town at the foot of Mount Kazbek (5,047 m) with the iconic Gergeti Trinity Church suspended on a ridge above the clouds – one of the most spectacular views you can see without high-mountain climbing.
• Kakheti – the eastern region of Georgia, the heart of Georgian winemaking, dozens of wineries open for tastings, the towns of Telavi and Sighnaghi (called the «city of love», with a panorama of the Caucasus).
• Kutaisi – Georgia's second city with the Bagrati monastery (UNESCO) and the nearby Prometheus Cave, the gateway to western Georgia and the Samegrelo region.
• Mestia and Svaneti – a mountain province in the country's north-west with medieval stone towers, trekking trails and views of Ushba – one of the most difficult peaks of the Caucasus.
• Vardzia – a cave city-monastery carved into rock from the 12th century, one of the best-preserved examples of Georgian cave architecture, impressive even for those unmoved by history.

In a week you can sensibly see Tbilisi, take a trip to Kazbegi and visit Kakheti – and that is already a very satisfying programme. Svaneti and western Georgia are a subject for a second trip or a version for those who have at least ten days. Georgia rewards those who do not rush and do not try to cram everything into one stay.

The difference between the two countries in the context of attractions comes down to a simple question: do you want to rest and admire beauty that is all around you – or do you want to discover it? Montenegro serves attractions on a plate – Kotor is beautiful and you know it immediately. Georgia demands activity – to see Gergeti Trinity in the mist at dawn, you have to get up at four in the morning and drive up by jeep on a mountain road. But that is precisely why you remember it for the rest of your life.

Built for jeep tracks and mountain roads

Peli ATX HC22 – Carry-On Travel Case

Peli ATX HC25 – Medium Grey Case

Peli Air 1646 – Large Wheeled Case

Peli ATX HC30 – Black Check-In Case

Food and drink – a culinary clash of two countries

There are trips you bring photos back from. And there are those you bring flavours back from – and for years you try to recreate them in your own kitchen, knowing in advance it will never turn out the same. Both Montenegro and Georgia have their culinary identities, but the scale of the experience is completely different. Montenegro offers good, solid Mediterranean-Balkan cuisine. Georgia offers something most travellers have not encountered anywhere else – and which for many becomes the main reason to return.

Montenegrin cuisine is above all fish and seafood – and that is hardly surprising, given the country's access to the Adriatic. Grilled sea bass or bream served with oil and herbs, octopus prepared under a cast-iron lid called a peka, mussels with garlic and white wine – these are the classics you will find in almost every restaurant on the coast. The quality is usually high, the freshness of the produce beyond doubt, and eating fish with a view of the bay is an experience hard to overvalue. Inland the cuisine changes character – more meat, more Balkan influences. Čevapi, small sausages of minced meat served with onion and ajvar, burek with meat or cheese, kačamak – a kind of cornmeal porridge with cheese and cream – are dishes that fill you up properly and cost a pittance.

The local Njeguši cheese from the mountain area of Njeguši is one of the products worth seeking out – smoked, hard, with a pronounced flavour that bears no resemblance to supermarket versions. Similarly Njeguši pršut, the local ham dried in mountain air. Add to that Vranac – the Montenegrin red wine made from a local grape variety – and rakija as an obligatory element of any more serious meal. Montenegrin cuisine is tasty, honest and well suited to the climate of the place. It does not revolutionise your ideas about food, but it does its job solidly.

Georgia is another story. Georgian cuisine is often described by travellers as one of the greatest culinary discoveries of their lives – and that is no exaggeration. It begins with khachapuri, which is bread with cheese in name only – in reality it is soft, stretchy dough filled with local cheese, often with egg and butter, taking completely different forms depending on the region. Adjarian khachapuri in the shape of a boat with a runny yolk in the middle is a dish that is in itself a reason to travel. The Megrelian version – with cheese both inside and on top – is equally indecently good.

Khinkali are Georgian dumplings with soup inside – the most important rule for eating them is: do not bite straight in, or you will scald yourself on the broth that gathers under the dough during cooking. You hold it by the knot at the top, bite carefully and sip out the broth before eating the rest. The filling can be meat, mushroom or cheese. A portion of eight khinkali at a good eatery costs about the same as a coffee at a city chain cafe. Puri – Georgian bread baked in a traditional tonir oven – is so good that Georgians eat it with almost every meal. Satsivi (chicken in walnut sauce), lobiani (bread with bean paste) or badrijani nigvzit (aubergine with walnuts and garlic) are further items you will remember long after you return.

But the greatest treasure of Georgian food culture is wine. Georgia is considered the cradle of winemaking – archaeologists have found evidence of wine production here going back more than 8,000 years. The traditional method of fermentation in clay amphorae buried in the ground, called qvevri, is on the UNESCO list of intangible heritage. Natural wines made by this method have a completely different character from what you know from European shops – especially the amber wines from white grapes fermented with skins and pips, which give a tannic, complex flavour that you have to get used to, but which then becomes something you long for. Add to that chacha – Georgian spirit made from grape pomace, usually homemade and of an unpredictable strength – as an obligatory element of any more serious dinner.

You cannot talk about Georgian food without mentioning the supra – a traditional feast that is more than a meal. It is a social ritual during which the table groans under dozens of dishes set out at once, and the tamada, the master of ceremonies, delivers toast after toast, pouring wine into a horn or a large goblet. If you are lucky enough to be invited to a supra by a Georgian family – go. Even if you do not understand a word of Georgian.

In a direct culinary clash, the result is clear-cut for those seeking new flavour experiences. Montenegrin cuisine is good – Georgian is unforgettable. If, however, you love fresh fish by the sea, Italian influences in a Balkan rendering and a solid Vranac to go with it – Montenegro will give you everything you are looking for. It is a question of whether you want to taste the place, or you want the place to taste you.

Protect your gear on the road

Peli 1440 – Protector Case

Peli 1470 – Laptop Protector Case

Peli 1490 – Laptop Protector Case

Peli 1495 – Laptop Protector Case

When to go? Seasonality and crowds

The choice of travel dates can decide whether a holiday will be a memory for life or a frustrating experience with queues, heat and prices that snatch the money from your hand. Both Montenegro and Georgia have their golden time windows – and it is worth knowing them before you buy tickets for the first available date in mid-summer.

Montenegro, as a Mediterranean destination, is governed by laws similar to Croatia or Greece. July and August are the absolute peak of the season – the beaches are crowded, accommodation prices reach their maximum, and in Kotor or Budva you have to fight for a free table at a good restaurant from noon onwards. The air temperature then reaches 32–36°C, the water is 25–27°C and ideal for bathing, but the heat itself can be overwhelming, especially for those not used to a Mediterranean summer. Add to that the day-trippers from cruise ships that regularly dock in Kotor – at certain hours the Old Town is literally impassable.

June and September are decidedly the best months for a trip to Montenegro for someone who wants to combine beach time with pleasant sightseeing. The air temperature is then 26–30°C, the water is warm, crowds are clearly smaller, and accommodation prices drop by 30–50% compared with the peak. June has the additional advantage that everything is fresh after winter – the vegetation is intensely green, and the venues are just starting the season, so the service tends to be more attentive and less tired. September, in turn, offers a warm, calm sea and golden light that does wonders for photos of the bay.

Spring – April and May – is a great option for lovers of mountains and hiking. The coast is still cool for bathing, but Durmitor National Park and other mountain areas of the country look spectacular then, and the trails are not crowded. Autumn – October – is a similar situation: the sea still relatively warm, no crowds, but some venues start to close for winter. In winter the coast goes quiet – most restaurants and apartments are closed, but the mountains offer the chance to ski at the Kolašin resort.

Georgia is governed by slightly different laws, because its climate is more regionally varied. Tbilisi in summer can be very hot – in July and August the temperature regularly exceeds 35°C, and with high humidity the city can be stifling. The mountains at the same time are pleasantly cool, so many travellers plan their trip to combine a few days in the capital with a week in the mountains. Kazbegi in summer has daytime temperatures of 18–24°C – ideal for trekking.

The golden months for Georgia are May, June and September and October. In spring the country is covered in greenery, temperatures are pleasant across the whole region, and the vineyards in Kakheti look beautiful. Autumn, in turn, is grape-harvest time – if you are lucky enough to catch the turn of September and October, you can take part in the traditional harvest and taste young wine straight from the qvevri. It is one of those experiences hard to plan from home, but which often turns out to be the most beautiful memory of the whole trip.

An interesting conclusion emerges from the table: Georgia has a longer window of ideal conditions than Montenegro. From April to June and from September to October – that is six months in which the country is pleasant in almost all of its regions at once. Montenegro, as a beach destination, has its peak very clearly concentrated around summer, which means you either go in the crowds and pay a lot, or give up bathing in the sea.

It is also worth remembering that Georgia is attractive in winter in a completely different way from Montenegro. Gudauri – a ski resort less than two hours from Tbilisi – attracts more and more travellers looking for an alternative to crowded Alpine resorts. Lift and accommodation prices are far lower than in the Alps, the runs are varied, and the drive from Tbilisi is simple and cheap. It is an option few people think of when planning a summer trip to Georgia, and which can be a revelation for skiers tired of the European mainstream.

If you have a flexible schedule and can choose your travel dates – in both cases avoid August like the plague. September is better than August in absolutely every respect: prices, crowds, temperature, comfort of sightseeing. It is one of those things every experienced traveller knows and every first-timer discovers too late.

Safety, formalities and practical info

The most beautiful trip can turn into a nightmare if, before departure, you ignore a few basic practical matters. Visas, insurance, currency, SIM card – these are things one usually thinks about at the last minute, but which are worth having ticked off long before departure. The good news is that neither Montenegro nor Georgia puts particular entry barriers in the way of EU travellers. The bad – that they differ from one another enough not to be treated identically. Whatever you carry, our guide on choosing hard or soft luggage is worth a look for rough mountain roads.

Montenegro – what to know before you go

Montenegro is an EU candidate country and in many respects already functions according to European standards. For the EU traveller this means above all no visas – you enter on a valid national ID card or passport and can stay in the country for up to 90 days within 180 days. No additional formalities, no invitations or border fees.

• Visa: not required for EU citizens – a valid national ID card or passport is enough.
• Currency: the euro – Montenegro uses the euro although it belongs neither to the eurozone nor to the EU; ATMs available everywhere, card payments accepted in most tourist venues.
• Language: Montenegrin (very close to Serbian); in the resorts English is no problem, in smaller towns Russian or Serbian can help.
• Insurance: the EHIC does not apply in Montenegro – the country lies outside the EU/EEA, so the European Health Insurance Card is not valid here. Some countries have bilateral healthcare agreements with Montenegro, but you should not rely on them – full travel insurance covering medical costs and evacuation is strongly recommended.
• Safety: a very calm country, crime against tourists at a low level; standard precautions (watching documents and electronics) are entirely sufficient.
• Phone and internet: EU roaming does not apply (Montenegro is outside the EU), but most operators offer reasonable roaming packages; alternatively a local SIM from Telenor or m:tel costs a few euros and gives a good data allowance.
• Vaccinations: no vaccinations required for entry; the standard vaccination schedule is entirely sufficient.
• Road traffic: drive on the right; mountain roads can be narrow and demand attention, especially on the route over the Lovčen pass.

It is worth knowing that prices in Montenegro are quoted and paid exclusively in euros – cards are widely used in hotels, restaurants and larger shops, but in small villages and at markets cash remains essential. ATMs work without problems, though withdrawal fees can be higher than at home – it is worth checking your account's terms before you travel.

Georgia – what to know before you go

Georgia lies outside the European Union and outside the zone European travellers visit most often – which means the formalities are often underestimated. Wrongly, because several matters differ significantly from European destinations and are worth knowing in advance.

• Visa: EU citizens can enter Georgia visa-free for stays of up to 365 days – one of the most liberal visa policies in the world; a valid passport is enough (note: a national ID card may not be accepted at the Georgian border, so travel with a passport).
• Currency: the Georgian lari (GEL); the rate is around €0.30 per lari, roughly 3.2 lari to the euro (worth checking the current rate before departure); ATMs available in cities, in mountain villages it varies – worth having cash; currency exchange at bureaux in Tbilisi is favourable, the rate often better than at banks.
• Language: Georgian with its own unique alphabet; in Tbilisi English is increasingly common among the younger generation, outside the capital knowledge of English is limited; the older generation understands Russian, though its use can be read ambivalently in a political context.
• Insurance: the EHIC does not work in Georgia – the country lies outside the European Union and there is no reciprocal health-cover arrangement; full travel insurance is absolutely essential, ideally with a high medical sum insured (minimum €50,000) and a clause covering mountain-rescue costs if you plan to trek.
• Safety: Georgia is a generally safe country for tourists; Tbilisi and the popular tourist destinations are calm; you should avoid the regions by the border with Russia – South Ossetia and Abkhazia are separatist areas, entry to which is forbidden and dangerous.
• Phone and internet: a local SIM is the most sensible solution – the operators Magti or Geocell offer cards with a data package for the equivalent of €3–6; coverage in the cities is excellent, in the mountains it can be limited or completely unavailable.
• Vaccinations: no compulsory vaccinations; recommended: up-to-date tetanus and diphtheria (standard); when planning trekking in remote regions it is worth consulting a travel-medicine doctor.
• Navigation and maps: the Georgian alphabet makes navigating by road signs tricky; the Maps.me app with downloaded offline maps works very well in Georgia and is recommended by almost all travellers visiting the country.

A separate matter worth attention is the geopolitical situation in the region. Georgia borders Russia, and relations between the two countries have been tense since the Russian invasion of 2008 and subsequent events. Georgian territory recognised by the government in Tbilisi is safe, but it is worth following your country's current foreign-ministry advisories before departure. In practice, for a tourist visiting Tbilisi, Kazbegi or Kakheti the political situation does not affect the comfort or safety of the trip – but it is a country in which it is worth being aware of the context and keeping common sense when planning routes.

It is also worth knowing that Georgia is a country with a very strong culture of hospitality – Georgians are among the most open and helpful people you can meet in your travels. If you get lost in Tbilisi and ask for directions, there is a real chance a local will personally walk you to the right address. That is something no app or guidebook can replace.

Who is Montenegro for, and who is Georgia for?

After going through costs, attractions, food, seasonality and formalities, the time has come for the question that really lies behind this whole comparison: which country is for you? There is no single right answer – but there are concrete traveller profiles that fit one or the other destination better. And there are situations in which the choice is obvious, as long as you know what you are looking for.

Choose Montenegro if…

• The sea and the beach are an absolute priority for you – Montenegro offers some of the most beautiful beaches on the Adriatic, warm water all summer and access to the coast from almost every seaside place to stay.
• You are travelling with children – the country is safe, the tourist infrastructure well developed, the distances between attractions small, and the shallow bays ideal for children who are just learning to swim.
• You care about European comfort – the euro as currency, English-speaking service in the resorts, well-signed roads and predictable infrastructure mean Montenegro requires no particular adaptation.
• You like to combine relaxation with a little sightseeing – a few days on the beach plus a trip to Kotor and Perast and one day in Durmitor is a programme that requires no intensive planning and gives a sense of a full holiday.
• You do not want to risk the unknown – Montenegro is a safe choice that rarely disappoints; you will get no surprise here, either up or down.
• You care about a short flight – two hours in the air is an argument hard to overvalue, especially when travelling with children or when you have only a week off.

Choose Georgia if…

• You are looking for a cultural discovery – a new alphabet, a different religion, a thousand-year winemaking tradition and a cuisine you will find nowhere else in Europe – Georgia gives a sense of real exotica without having to fly to the other side of the world.
• Trekking and mountains matter more than the beach – the Caucasus offers some of the most spectacular hiking trails available to the average tourist; Kazbegi and Svaneti are places that impress even experienced walkers.
• You have a limited budget – with a similar comfort of travel, Georgia is twice as cheap as Montenegro in season; if every euro counts, the choice is obvious.
• You are interested in food and wine above all – Georgian cuisine and the winemaking tradition are reasons to travel in themselves; for lovers of culinary adventure Georgia is one of the most interesting destinations in the world.
• You already have a few standard European trips behind you – if you have already been to Croatia, Greece and Italy and are looking for something that will give you different memories – Georgia is exactly what you need.
• You value contact with local culture more than hotel comfort – guesthouses run by Georgian families, supras, spontaneous invitations for wine – Georgia offers a kind of travel that is increasingly rare in commercially developed destinations.

There is also a third option, rarely mentioned, which for some travellers turns out to be the best: both countries in one trip. It sounds ambitious, but with the right planning it is entirely realistic. You could, for example, fly to Tbilisi, spend a week there, and then return via Istanbul or Vienna with a connection to Montenegro for another week. Or the other way round – start with Montenegro's beaches and end the trip with a Georgian adventure. Budget-wise such a solution need not be much more expensive than one longer stay, if you plan the connections well. And if cheaper, sun-soaked Balkan coast is what tempts you, it is worth seeing why some travellers swap Egypt for neighbouring Albania too.

It is also worth saying plainly what emerges from this whole comparison: Georgia is a destination that gives more for less. Cheaper, more interesting, more exotic and with a greater load of memories that stay with you for a long time. Montenegro, in turn, is a destination that delivers exactly what you expect of it – a beautiful coast, good food and a pleasant holiday with no surprises. Both values make sense. Both answer different needs and different stages of a traveller's life.

If you do not know which to choose – ask yourself one thing: after you return, would you rather say «I had a great holiday», or «I was in a place that changed me»? Montenegro usually gives the former. Georgia – almost always – the latter. And neither of these choices is wrong.