Coming from Georgia without shopping is difficult, rather even impossible. You will definitely want to bring a lot of amazing things and remember this amazing country for a long time.
- Clothing and footwear
- Georgian carpets
- Georgian jewelry
- Georgian ceramic
- Souvenir weapons
- Wine horn
- Food souvenirs
- What else?
- FAQ
What can I buy in Georgia?
For mom — a Georgian carpet, for dad — a souvenir dagger, for grandma and grandpa bring linden honey and chacha. Got a husband? Congratulations! Bring him backgammon, he’ll need it. After all, they develop logical thinking and intellect. For the wife, local handmade jewelry. And for a friend, a papaha for a joke. And now for the details.
Clothing and footwear
Let’s start, perhaps, with the national clothing of Georgians and Georgian women. You will find a large selection of ethnic clothing in local markets and souvenir shops in Batumi, Tbilisi, Borjomi and other Georgian towns and villages. What do the local people wear? The most popular item of clothing is the papakha, a voluminous hat made of karakul or sheepskin wool. Men also wear a shirt made of chintz or silk “Peranga”, a shirt with a standing collar “Arhaluki”, lower pants “Shendishi”, upper wide pants made of black or burgundy cloth “Sharvali”, a short dress made of velvet worn over clothes “Kuladzha”, a woolen coat with a high collar and long sleeves “Choha”, and a caftan “Cherkeska” — completes the image. In addition to the papakha, Georgians prefer to wear a woolen headdress in the form of a cone with a brush “Kabalahi”. On the feet Georgians wear shoes with bent up toes without backs “Koshi”, knitted shoes with fur soles “Chitebi” and boots on fur “Mesti” or “Cagi”.
Women’s costume consists of pants, a Peranga shirt, a long Kartuli dress, a swinging, velvet, long — often false — sleeves, upper robe “Katibi”. An invariable attribute was a velvet or silk belt, the ends of which were embroidered with gold. Women covered their heads with a headscarf “Bagdadi”, a tulle veil “Lechaki” or a light cap “Tavhurva”. Among shoes women had a choice of velvet high-heeled shoes “Koshi”, leather boots with soft toe “Igichi”, felt boots “Kalamani” or leather boots “Pachuli”. Ethnic costumes of highlanders start from 3,000 Georgian lari — if this is expensive for you, there is always the choice to buy one thing. For example, a papakha; a quality and smart hat costs from 100 Georgian lari.
It also makes sense to pay attention to Georgian shawls embroidered with national patterns. For numerous relatives — take socks, gloves, mittens, scarf with local ornaments. Such a warm accessory made of handmade sheep’s wool will be a really good souvenir from sunny Georgia. In Batumi it is better to go to the “Khopa” market for a present, in Tbilisi — go to the spontaneous market near the Dry Bridge. For example, a pair of socks will cost 10 Georgian lari, and a shawl — 55 Georgian lari.
Take a closer look at things that are created by Georgian designers — such items of closet are labeled and sold in specialized boutiques. For example, the brand “Aka Nanitashvili” is a maiden brand, it offers dresses with complex embroideries, translucent blouses, puffy skirts, vests with surreal portraits. Tamuna Ingorokva often uses black and white colors, rigid geometry and large volumes in her works, and also in each of the designer’s clothes one can feel the dispute between masculine and feminine, between monumentality and lightness. Datuna Sulikashvili’s images show the beauties of the past — from Russian noblewomen to Hollywood divas. These are magical dresses that can change epochs. “Informal” brand is characterized by bright, full of irony outfits. The designer Lela Eloshvili draws inspiration from the works of Russian avant-garde artist Lyubov Popova. Galib Gassanov in his eponymous brand uses mainly black, explaining the color of sadness by the fact that the history of Georgia is saturated with wars and women’s violence — both physical and with infringement of rights. And Lasha Devdariani is based on Orthodoxy, and these collections are also diluted with Japanese motifs — an interesting symbiosis. Take a look! Take a closer look at other companies as well: “Samoseli Pirveli”, “Aleksandre Akhalkatsishvili”, “Babukhadia”, “Materiel”, “Lalo”, “Chubika”, “Tatuna Nikolaishvili”, “Lasha Mdinaradze”.
In shopping centers and tourist boutiques of Tbilisi, Kutaisi, Batumi, Rustavi you can easily find famous European clothing brands. However, the choice is not luxurious. It is difficult to find premium-class clothes here. How about “Baccarat Jewelry”, “DKNY”, “Bershka”, “Love Republic”, “Carpisa”, “Colin’s”, “GAP”, “Levi’s”, “LC Waikiki”, “Massimo Dutti”, “Mark & Spencer”, “Lacoste”, “New Look”, “Esprit”, “Uniqlo”, “New Yorker”, “Nike”, “Oysho”, “H&M”, “Parfois”, “Pull&Bear”?
Prices. Narrow metallic-colored pants from Parfois will cost 170 Georgian lari, sneakers from Nike will cost 190 Georgian lari, and pajamas from Mark & Spencer will be yours for 115 Georgian lari. In local markets you will find cheap things from neighboring Turkey or Asian countries. The design of such things is modest and discreet — or, on the contrary, too bright. And prices are low: cotton T-shirts are sold for 15 Georgian lari, sports suits — for 50 Georgian lari, sneakers — for 40 Georgian lari.
As for footwear, Georgia has a well-developed leather industry, which means that you will be able to please yourself with moccasins, dungarees, flip-flops, Timberlands, loafers, Uggs, Monks, slip-ons or other elegant shoes. Pay attention to such companies: “Le Mocassin Zippe”, “Nina Zarqua Collection”, “Mach & Mach”, “Anuka Keburia”, “Irakli Bochorishvili”, “Nutsa Modebadze”, “Tamara Suji”. We recommend to buy boots and shoes in branded boutiques, where you get a check and warranty.
Georgian carpets
Woolen, smart and pile-free, Georgian carpets are not as famous and popular as doormats from Armenia, Dagestan, Persia, Iran, Azerbaijan, India or China. But we will not ignore them. The locals call their carpets “Pardagi”. And they appeared in the XIII–XIV centuries. Today in modern Georgia there are many woolen factories — in the production they use wool of sheep and cows of felted breeds.
Traditionally carpets are made by hand, depicting on them drawings in the form of a cross, a tooth, an eye, a crow’s paw — often master craftsmen use the Georgian symbol of the Sun and eternity “Bordzhgalo” and the ornament associated with the development of sheep breeding and depicting the horns “Rkanahara”. And all patterns of Georgian carpets are exclusively geometric. Colorful images were achieved with the help of natural dyes: onion husks, walnut shells, myrene root, nettle or chamomile.
Wall and floor products are sold directly on the streets. But you can go for a cozy purchase in a store. In Tbilisi, choose the “Aladdin” salon on Giorgi Eristavi Street, 5, the gallery “House of Antique Carpets” on Anton Katalikosi Street, 28 or the home textile boutique “Decori” on Irakli Abashidze Street, 39. Handmade carpets start from 350 Georgian lari.
Georgian jewelry
Georgian women love to dress up, so local jewelers have to keep up to date with jewelry novelties. So foreign tourists have something to hunt for. The distinctive feature of Georgian jewelry is variegated, multicolored, often large, consisting of several ornate details and several stones.
First of all, look at products in the cloisonné enamel technique — “Minankari”. The master puts the drawing on thin silver and bakes the work in the oven — such products are created by the ancient technology of the XII century. Such jewelry is sold even in the markets of Tbilisi, Batumi, Borjomi, Kutaisi and other tourist cities. For silver or gold jewelry you can also go to a specialized boutique. For example, in the salon “Golden Exchange”: in Batumi it is located on the second floor of the shopping center “Batumi Plaza”, and in Tbilisi — in the building of the railway station. An impressive selection of jewelry is at the Ananuri Fortress, which is located 70 kilometers from Tbilisi. Interesting brands of jewelry are: “Eshvi”, “Sofio Gongli”, “Sidonia Nun”, “Khoshtrik” and “George Keburia”.
Here is an approximate range of prices. For example, a minankari style pendant will cost 45 Georgian lari, miniature earrings — 35 Georgian lari, a bracelet — 70 Georgian lari, and a ring will be yours for 60 Georgian lari.
Georgian ceramic
There are very many known centers of ceramic production in Georgia: Adjara, Bodbiskhevi, Tbilisi, Mtskheta, Tskhavati, Gori, Medjvriskhevi, Didzipela, Chkharauli, Imereti, Sairme, Samegrelo, Khutsubani and other locations. Despite the difference in manufacturing techniques and the peculiarity of the shapes of the products, each kitchen utensil will find its own use.
If you’ve been to a Georgian feast, you’ve definitely noticed how local wine jugs and ceramic dishes look like. The choice is enormous. It can be a container for cooking hot dishes in the oven — “Ketsi”, a family bowl — “Kotani”, a pot with low walls — “Chanakhi”, a huge vessel — “Kvevri”, a medium-sized jug — “Churi”, a jug with a narrow neck and spout — “Marani”, a mold for baking bread — “Tone” — and other containers. Most of the dishes are handmade and painted with national patterns.
Where to buy and how much does it cost? Go for ceramic and clay utensils in souvenir stores or prefer specialized stores. In Tbilisi it’s Bohemia Gallery on Iliya Chavchavadze Avenue, 1, in Batumi it’s Pashabakhche Boutique on Alexander Pushkin Street, 136 a, in Kutaisi it’s Tea House Foe-Foe Gallery on Nino Tsm Street, 27.
Prices: a round ketsi without glaze costs 40 Georgian lari, a ketsi “kokotnitsa” — 55 Georgian lari, a ceramic wine jug — 115 Georgian lari, a khash plate — 35 Georgian lari, a “khachapurnitsa” — 45 Georgian lari, and a teapot will be yours for 85 Georgian lari.
Souvenir weapons
The Georgian dagger is a symbol of masculinity, bravery and courage. Besides, it belongs to ethnic male clothing. Even little boys have national knives, how about you? The first dirk was found during archaeological excavations of late antiquity in the Sachkhere region in western Georgia. And in XVIII-XIX centuries Georgia, along with India, was famous for the world’s best masters of steel forging.
You can buy such a souvenir for your husband, father, father-in-law, son-in-law or respected boss. Do you have one? A dagger usually consists of a double-sided blade, hilt and sheath. The hilt is made of steel, bone or animal horn, and the steel sheath in the Caucasus is usually decorated with stones, figurative slits or engraving. The scabbard is also treated very carefully, almost more closely than the weapon itself. Scabbards, for example, are made of steel, bone or upholstered in leather. From the jewelry masters prefer gold and silver inlays or thin metal lace.
Buy cold souvenir weapons can be in branded stores or flea markets (old samples are presented at the antique bazaar near the Dry Bridge). Either way, you’ll need to declare your purchase and put it in your luggage. In souvenir shops sell both inexpensive products and very expensive exclusive copies. The cost varies from 20 to several thousand Georgian lari.
Wine horn
If it is customary in your family to say special toasts “Ganskhvavebuli”, you need the main and colorful wine glass. And it’s a horn with a capacity of up to two liters! Although it can be a very small pocket-sized specimen.
Most often horns of ibex, ram, buffalo or bull are used to make this vessel. The process is not simple: first of all, the horns are boiled, then they are cleaned, then trimmed, and then polished. The most pleasant part is the decoration: engraving with blackening, applying metal patterns or decorating with silver, gold, brass, melchior or precious stones, attaching a chain. A simple horn will cost 15-20 Georgian lari, a glass made of natural rocks is more expensive, it can cost from 50 to 250 Georgian lari, depending on the size and decoration.
Food souvenirs
Georgia is a gastronomic paradise. Georgian cuisine has been honed for centuries and is elevated to an absolute. Here you should definitely try the local cuisine and, if possible, take away a part of it with you.
These are spices, cheeses, sauces, sweets, honey, nuts, churchkhela, Georgian tea, mineral water Borjomi (and not only), wines and other alcohol, famous lemonade and other products from Georgia. This is a really big topic, and we have written a separate article about edible souvenirs from Georgia.
What else can you bring from Georgia?
Backgammon is the favorite board game of Georgians. They organize competitions right on street benches. Are you familiar with this game? Then buy backgammon and learn it already! Flea markets and specialized galleries sell backgammon decorated with gold, silver, precious and semi-precious stones, wooden carvings. A handmade board game starts from 100 Georgian lari.
Do you remember what the national costume of Georgians and Georgian women looks like? In order not to forget it, you can buy a doll in ethnic attire and put it in a prominent place. The doll can be clay, cloth, felt, glass, metal, wooden or made of bull horn. Also, the souvenir can be of different sizes, male or female. The price depends on these differences: you can find a doll for 30 Georgian lari, and you can find one for 300 Georgian lari. There are also more expensive ones.
Don’t forget to bring a magnet or a key chain from Georgia to your friends, relatives and yourself. This accessory can depict one of the country’s sights. For example, Piazza Square, Shio-Mgvim Monastery, Martvil Canyon, Stalin Museum, Batumi Botanical Garden, Museum of Soviet Occupation, Narikala Fortress, Turtle Lake, Sulphur Baths, Rezo Gabriadze Marionette Theater, Lake Tobavarchkhili or Kinchkha Waterfall.
Frequently asked questions about shopping in Georgia
What is the currency in Georgia?
The national currency of Georgia is the Georgian lari. It is good if you have American dollars with you, as this currency usually has the most favorable exchange rate. Otherwise, bring another popular currency, such as euro, and exchange it for local lari.
Where is the best place to change money in Georgia?
Exchange points are in the centers of major cities, look for them near the cluster of tourists. There are also ATMs in Georgia, so the easiest way is to withdraw GEL from your card – the conversion will be at the exchange rate of your bank. In the banks themselves you can also change money, but they work only on weekdays and not late, and you will need a passport.
What is forbidden to take out of Georgia?
Icons, sculptures, paintings, souvenir weapons and other items of heritage, history and art cannot be taken out so easily, for these products you need a permit from the Ministry of Culture of Georgia. Do not forget to declare jewelry and high frequency radio electronic devices or communication equipment. Customs officers will not let a passenger take more than five kilograms of plant products and more than five kilograms of animal products.
We wish you successful shopping in Georgia and a good trip around the country!
