Wikimedia CEE Meeting 2023/Guide

Clocks in Georgia are set to Georgia Time (GET/UTC+4 hours). Georgia doesn't switch clocks to summertime, the same time all year round. Sun rises at around 05:00 and sets at around 20:30.

 

Georgia’s currency is the Georgian Lari (GEL, ₾). Please consider that you can only pay with ₾ in Georgia and that you will have to change money at a currency exchange office or use an ATM (available throughout the city, including at the conference venue) to withdraw ₾. There are currency exchange offices and ATMs (Visa, MasterCard, American Express) at Tbilisi International Airport (TBS) and at Kutaisi International Airport (KUT).

You can also use a bank card everywhere in Tbilisi when paying for services (in restaurants, cafes, bars, shops, pharmacies, etc.). This will allow you not to waste time withdrawing money or converting currencies. We recommend paying everywhere in Tbilisi with a bank card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express).

 

For Georgia, there are two associated plug types, types C and F. Plug type C is the plug that has two round pins, and plug type F is the plug that has two round pins with two earth clips on the side.

Georgia operates on a 220V supply voltage and 50Hz.

You can also easily buy an adapter for your device in Georgia, where different adapters are available.

Self-funded conference attendees may book accommodation at the hotel where the delegates will be staying or may select other hotels closer to the event venue. The venue and accommodation are located in the Vake neighborhood of Tbilisi. Below are a few hotel options that we recommend.

You can also use popular apps like Booking.com and Airbnb to book your accommodation.

For more information about booking accommodation and our hotel recommendations, check out this page.

There are several types of public transport available in Tbilisi, which are:

Metro

 

The Tbilisi Metro is the fastest and most efficient way to get around the city. It has two lines (Akhmeteli-Varketili, or first line, and Saburtalo, or second line) and covers most of the city’s main attractions and neighborhoods. It operates from 6:00 to 23:59. Metro stations are identified by the red (M) sign.

Bus

Tbilisi has an extensive bus network that covers most parts of the city. On the main streets of the city, there are special bus lines, which speed up the movement of buses, so along with the metro, on the main streets, you can also use buses for fast travel.

Minibus

Minibusses run on fixed routes throughout the city. They are a popular and affordable way to get around Tbilisi.

Taxis

Taxis are widely available in Tbilisi and are a convenient way to get around. However, make sure to agree on a price with the driver before getting in the car or using a taxi application (Bolt, Maxim Taxi, Yandex Go) which is way easier and cheaper.

NOTE: Yandex shares information about its customers with law enforcement agencies of Russia (with Federal Security Service of Russia).

Payment

We use a single payment system in public transport (Metro, Bus, Minibus, and Cable Car). You can pay for public transport using your bank card (Credit or Debit), which works with the international payment system (Visa, MasterCard, and American Express). The fare costs 1 GEL, and from the moment of the first payment, you can ride for free on any type of public transport for 1:30 hours.

You can also buy temporary passes. To do this, you first need to buy a Tbilisi Public Transport card, which is sold at all stations of the Tbilisi Metro and costs 2 GEL. Pass prices are as follows:

• 1 GEL — 90 minutes of unlimited free travel;
• 3 GEL — 1-day unlimited travel;
• 20 GEL — Unlimited travel for 1 week;
• 40 GEL — Unlimited travel for 1 month;
• 100 GEL — Unlimited travel for 3 months;
• 150 GEL — Unlimited travel for 6 months;
• 250 GEL — 1-year unlimited travel.

There are three large mobile operators in Georgia:

1. Magticom
2. Silknet
3. Celfie

We recommend that you purchase a TOURIST data package from Silknet. There are different packages for different prices, where the ideal one for you is 7 days of unlimited data for 15 GEL.

There are official stores of mobile operators at the Airport and in the city center of Tbilisi. Prices are the same everywhere.

Also, if your mobile supports e-sim, you can activate apps like Airalo or Mobimatter.

There are two options for getting from the Airport to the hotel.

This option is available from 06:00 to 23:59.
Tbilisi International Airport (TBS) to Tbilisi Philharmonic Hotel (duration 1 hour 6 min):

• Take   Bus 337 (direction: Station Square);
• Get off the bus at the Philharmonic bus stop (In front of the Philharmonic);
• Walk 5 minutes to the hotel along Melikishvili Street.

If you arrive at night in Tbilisi (between 23:59-06:00), the only option to get from the airport to the city center is to take a taxi.

We strongly recommend you use applications for booking a taxi. Here are some recommended Taxi apps:

• Bolt,
• Maxim Taxi,
• Yandex Go (Please note that Yandex shares information about its customers with law enforcement agencies of Russia).

The fare from the airport to the city center varies from 20 to 35 GEL, depending on the time of the day. If you are asked to pay more than 35 GEL, then they want to scam you and don't agree to this price. Instead, use the taxi app.

Wikimedia Georgia will provide delegates with a transfer from the Airport to the hotel on September 13 and September 14 at a specific time (when most delegates arrive). More details will be provided via email to Delegates and all conference participants. The transfer will also be available to other conference guests if their time matches the Delegates' landing time.

Wikimedia Georgia will also provide a transfer from the hotel to the airport on September 18 at a specific time (when most delegates depart time). It will also be available to conference guests if their departure time matches our delegate's departure time.

 

• International Calling Code for Georgia +995
• Police/Ambulance/Fire — 112

• American Hospital Tbilisi

3 Gotua Street, Tbilisi 0160, Georgia.

Tel: +995 322 43 00 77

• Central University Clinic

9 Vazha-Pshavela Avenue, Tbilisi 0160, Georgia.

Tel: +995 322 39 23 89

• New Hospitals

12 Krtsanisi Str., Tbilisi 0162, Georgia.

Tel: +995 322 190 190

• Evex Clinics

40 Vazha-Pshavela Avenue, Tbilisi 0160, Georgia.

Tel: +995 322 55 05 05

Pharmacies nearby Tbilisi Philharmonic Hotel

• Aversi 63

Melikishvili str. №8/2, Tbilisi, Georgia

Tel: +995 322 99 70 21

• Aversi 107

Kostava str. 22, Tbilisi, Georgia

Tel: +995 322 93 34 81

• GPC Pharmacy

2 Petre Melikishvili St, Tbilisi, Georgia.

Tel: +995 322 94 07 40

In Georgia, the official and main language is Georgian, which is the Kartvelian language and serves as the literary language or lingua franca for speakers of related languages. Georgian has been written in a variety of scripts over its history. Currently, the Mkhedruli script is almost completely dominant. Georgian script is one of the oldest, which dates back to the 4th century BC. English is most commonly spoken in Georgia. Some also know Russian. If you get lost in Tbilisi, you should be able to find someone with at least basic knowledge of English or Russian very quickly.