The National Tourism Administration, in partnership with British Airways, is executing a targeted marketing campaign in the United Kingdom. As part of this campaign, a comprehensive series of promotional features showcasing Georgia’s tourism potential has been published on the authoritative UK online platform Telegraph.co.uk.

“Article 1: This is how to uncover Europe’s coolest capital

Tbilisi – Georgia’s vibrant, beautiful and ever-so-cool capital – is an almost impossibly photogenic place. A city with a long, multilayered history, in a country with the world’s most ancient winemaking tradition, it nevertheless remains tantalisingly off the radar of most travellers – a heady mix of ancient and modern, east and west, where hushed medieval churches vie with contemporary architectural marvels such as the remarkable Music Theatre and Exhibition Hall.

Perfect for a summer or autumn city break, a long weekend in Tbilisi makes for a memorable introduction to the fantastically rich heritage, delicious food and wine, stunning landscapes and genuinely warm hospitality of Georgia. British Airways offers direct flights to Tbilisi four times a week from London Heathrow. With a flight time of just over five hours, excellent onboard service and the enhanced comfort, complimentary food and drinks and generous baggage allowance offered in Business Class, there has never been a better time to get to know the Georgian capital.

The first day --- Begin your exploration of Tbilisi’s Old Town of Kala – an extraordinary jumble of narrow streets, ancient churches, brightly painted facades and wooden balconies, crammed below the ramparts of the Narikala Fortress and the 20m-high Kartlis Deda (Mother of Georgia) statue. It’s here, in the area of the Old Town known as Abanotubani, that you’ll find the city’s historic Sulphur Baths – according to legend, sulphur springs were discovered here some 1,500 years ago – along with the bustling Meidan bazaar, Leghvtakhevi waterfall, the old Synagogue and the Jumah Mosque, and the Clock Tower designed by the late Georgian theatre and film director Revaz Gabriadze, standing outside the Marionette Theatre. There are free walking tours of the old town, starting from Freedom Square – make sure you book online.

Visit the iconic Metekhi Church on the opposite bank of the Mtkvari, beside a statue of 5th-century Georgian King Vakhtang Gorgasali. While you’re on this side of the river, check out the hugely impressive Holy Trinity Cathedral, completed in 2004 – at a smidgen over 86m, it’s the third-tallest Eastern Orthodox cathedral in the world. Then walk back across the river on the Bridge of Peace, a pedestrian bridge with an undulating canopy of glass panels, built in 2010. Finish your day by taking the early 20th-century funicular to the top of Mt Mtastminda, Tbilisi's 770m hill, from where you’ll enjoy breathtaking views of the city below, bathed in golden evening light.

The next day --- Take a stroll along Rustaveli Avenue, the city’s premier shopping street, with its grand, imposing architecture, taking in the National Theatre, the Tbilisi Opera and Ballet Theatre, the Parliament of Georgia, and Kashveti Church, rebuilt in the early 1900s and decorated with frescoes by the celebrated Georgian artist Lado Gudiashvili.

Several of the city’s most important museums are located hereabouts – the Georgian Museum of Fine Arts, Zurab Tsereteli Museum of Modern Art and the Simon Janashia Museum of Georgia (part of the National Museum of Georgia) – and a visit to at least one of these will give you a much better appreciation of the enormous cultural wealth of this little-known country in the Caucasus, from its greatest archaeological treasures to the beautiful paintings of late 19th and early 20th-century artist Niko Pirosmani.

Georgia has imbibed eight glorious millennia of winemaking and drinking, and Tbilisi is the beating heart of the country’s wine bar culture. There are more than 50 to be found across the capital, and well worth exploring. Stop in at Vino Underground, which specialises in natural wines, or the also excellent 8000 Vintages. The Wine Museum on the river will introduce you to Georgia’s long history of the grape, with the qvevri, Georgia's most famous winemaking vessel, taking centre stage.

The final day --- Head out beyond the city centre to see the extraordinary Chronicles of Georgia. Zurab Tsereteli’s jaw-dropping monument, begun in the 1980s, depicts some 3,000 years of Georgian history on a colossal scale – think dark bronze pillars covered with sculptural reliefs, standing some 35m high, like some surreal, otherworldly Stonehenge. It’s set on a hill above the shores of the so-called Tbilisi Sea – a huge reservoir where you can also swim and go boating. Back in town, join a Hidden Tbilisi walking tour – this will take you beyond the well-known sights and into a world of hidden courtyards and unexpected architectural gems. For traditional Georgian cuisine at its finest, and a suitably memorable final evening in Tbilisi, enjoy dinner at Barbarestan, where dishes are based on recipes from a 19th-century cookbook.

Half-day excursions --- While you’re in Tbilisi, don’t miss the opportunity to weave in one or two short day trips into the surrounding area. Visit Mtskheta, just over 20km north of Tbilisi, home to a number of Unesco-listed wonders, including Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, which remains one of the most breathtakingly beautiful examples of medieval Georgian architecture. Or head to Telavi, just 90 minutes away, which lies at the heart of the Kakheti wine region.

Where to stay --- The Telegraph Hotel is housed in the former post office building on Rustaveli Avenue, transformed into impeccably stylish rooms and suites. Hotel Stamba is a stunning design hotel housed in a former 1950s publishing house, with rooms blending retro elements and contemporary style, along with creative working spaces, an outdoor theatre and a photography museum. Fabrika is a seriously cool hostel in what was once a Soviet sewing factory, with mixed and women’s dorms as well as private rooms”, - reads the statement.

“Article 2 - How to enjoy an active holiday in Georgia

Georgia is blessed with a spectacular range of landscapes – from the balmy beaches of the Black Sea coast through lush forests and gorges to the soaring, jagged peaks of the Caucasus. Together they make Georgia a superb outdoor playground, with world-class hiking as well as excellent cycling, rafting and skiing, all of it surprisingly accessible – Georgia is just over five hours from the UK, with British Airways flying direct from London Heathrow to Tbilisi four times a week.

Western Georgia --- The area around Kutaisi is home to some astonishingly beautiful landscapes, among the most impressive of which are the Okatse Canyon and Martvili Canyon. At the Okatse Canyon, you hike along walkways that are bolted onto the cliff face above a forested gorge. The Martvili Canyon is a beautifully atmospheric stretch of the Abasha River, some 2.4km long and meandering below limestone cliffs overhung with creepers and other plants. A visit to either can be combined into a fantastic day trip from Tbilisi. And while less well-known than the Martvili Canyon, the Balda Canyon is another gorgeous stretch of the Abasha River, which is great for kayaking and wild swimming.

Also near Kutaisi is the Prometheus Cave, a 60 to 70 million year-old geological marvel bristling with stalactites and stalagmites, and just one of the many spectacular caves in Georgia. Visits to the Prometheus Cave take in six of its 22 chambers, covering around 1.5km on foot along with a 380m-long subterranean lake which is crossed by boat. The 25km Borjomi to Bakuriani Trail (also known as the Cuckoo Route) is an excellent and accessible cycle route through Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park, following the course of a former narrow-gauge railway. From there you can head on to Kutaisi and toward the Black Sea coast while further north the Rioni River is Georgia’s premier river for white water rafting. For the best spots on the Black Sea coast for a swim, there is the main city Batumi with its broad, popular beaches, Guria with its unique dark, magnetic sands, or quieter Sarpi near the Turkish border.

The Caucasus --- If you like your great outdoors vast, rugged and untamed, Georgia’s awe-inspiring Caucasus mountains offer limitless possibilities for hiking as well as wildlife watching, mountain biking and rafting. There are challenging treks such as the four-day route between the alpine villages of Mestia and Ushguli, in the wildly beautiful Svaneti region, famous for its remote villages and Unesco-listed stone tower houses. And there are shorter, easier routes such as the hike from Roshka village to the Abudelauri Lakes in the Khevsureti region – three strikingly different coloured lakes, one white, one green and one blue, the highest of which is set at over 2,800m.

What is arguably the most sensational view in Georgia – not that there’s any shortage of contenders – is actually a perfectly straightforward if longish day trip from Tbilisi. The view of the 14th century Gergeti Trinity Church, perched on a sinuous green ridge and silhouetted against the soaring, snow-streaked summit of Mt Kazbek, is frankly unforgettable. An easy and well-walked trail leads from the little mountain town of Stepantsminda up to the church, while a longer and more challenging hike continues from the church up to the edge of the Gergeti Glacier.

Skiing in Georgia --- Finally, Georgia’s Caucasus mountains are a fabulous winter destination for skiing and snowboarding, with modern facilities and unforgettable scenery. And it all comes at a fraction of the cost of the Alps – think lift passes for under £20 per day at Georgia’s top resort – and with a fraction of the crowds. Gudauri is Georgia’s most famous ski resort, set at 2,200m in the heart of the Caucasus. Bakuriani is a great family resort at 1,700m near Borjomi, surrounded by pine forests, while Tetnuldi in the Svaneti region is home to two ski areas, Hatslavi and the Tetnuldi. The latter the country’s longest ski run at 9.5km, and comes with jaw-dropping views of Mt Ushba (often called the Matterhorn of the Caucasus). Georgia’s other ski destinations are Bakhmaro in the Guria highlands, famous for snowcat skiing, and the more tranquil Goderdzi in the Adjara highlands.

And relax… --- Georgia also excels as a spa and wellness destination, its historic, mineral-rich springs having been famous for over a thousand years. Along with Tbilisi’s historic Sulphur Baths, visit the Borjomi Sulphur Pools where the waters hover between 32C and 38C, and the outdoor pools of different sizes make it a great experience for adults as well as children. The mineral-rich waters of Tskaltubo near Kutaisi are first mentioned as a place of healing in the 13th century – while Sairme in the forested hills south of Kutaisi has been a member of the European Spas Association since 2021. And just in case you need an adrenaline rush to balance all that serenity, Sairme is also home to the longest zip-line in the south Caucasus”.

“Article 3 - The culinary destination you’ll want to savour

It’s worth visiting Georgia just to eat. With an exceptionally rich culinary heritage and the world’s longest history of winemaking, Georgia is a place where food and its enjoyment are both an art and a social ritual – and there’s no better place to fall under the delicious spell of Georgian cuisine than its breathtakingly beautiful capital, Tbilisi. Georgia’s history and position between east and west mean you’ll find influences from surrounding countries, most noticeably Persian cuisine with its extensive use of fresh herbs – but like the country itself, Georgian cuisine remains very much its own, with plenty of regional variation. And with British Airways flying direct from London to Tbilisi four times a week, the Georgian capital and its wonderful gastronomy are more accessible than ever.

Georgia’s two most famous dishes are khachapuri and khinkali – without which, any culinary exploration of Georgia would simply be incomplete. Khachapuri is Georgia’s iconic cheese-filled bread, with multiple regional variations. Khinkali are deliciously juicy meat-filled twists of dough – you’ll almost certainly have seen them, even if you haven’t heard of them, their distinctive, pleated shape gracing just about any photo of Georgian food. There’s a knack to eating khinkali – pick one up by the stem and take a bite, sip the deliciously rich broth from inside, then chomp your way through the rest – they are never eaten with a knife and fork. While the best-known and most widely served khinkali are filled with a mixture of ground pork and beef, there are also a number of vegetarian varieties – khinkali filled with mushroom or potato are particularly good.

Other must-try Georgian dishes include satsivi (chicken or other poultry cooked in a velvety walnut sauce, traditionally eaten cold during New Year celebrations), chakapuli (lamb simmered with tarragon and other fresh spring herbs), and ajapsandali (roasted aubergines, peppers and other vegetables, always popular in Tbilisi). An essential part of any Georgian mealtime is pkhali – walnut-based pastes or pâtes, flavoured with spinach, peppers or other vegetables and herbs. Pickles are another perennial accompaniment on the Georgian table, including the unopened flowers from the jonjoli (bladdernut) bush – as are various sauces, the most famous of which is tkemali, made from the boiled fruit of the cherry plum tree, flavoured with coriander and pennyroyal.

The Georgian Supra, or traditional feast – arguably, all meals in Georgia are a feast – is a measured, social occasion, both relaxed and unhurried but with a firmly embedded sense of ritual. The Supra is an experience to be enjoyed with family and friends, and whether it’s an occasion of celebration or of sorrow, it’s accompanied by multiple dishes and frequent toasting, the latter led by an appointed toastmaster or tamada. If you’re eating out in Tbilisi, don’t be too surprised if another table invites you to join them – perhaps more than anywhere else, Georgia is a place where meals, and their enjoyment, are a time for sharing.

Tbilisi has absolutely no shortage of wonderful restaurants where you can savour the very best in Georgian cuisine. These include the acclaimed Barbarestan, serving dishes based on recipes from a 19th-century Georgian cookbook, and Keto and Kote, listed among the world’s 50 best restaurants, and with an exquisite terrace. Restaurant Otsy is an intimate boutique restaurant in Old Tbilisi that serves a fine-dining twist on traditional Georgian dishes, while Shemomechama has several branches across the city and is widely tipped as one of the best places in Tbilisi for khinkali.

Georgia is the birthplace of wine, with a tradition stretching back 8,000 years. Central to this tradition is the qvevri method of winemaking. Qvevri are large, egg-shaped earthenware pots into which the juice from crushed grapes is poured along with skins, seeds and stalks, and buried underground where natural fermentation occurs. Meaning that Georgia is, quite simply, one of the most amazing places on the planet to try natural wines. Kakheti is Georgia’s main winemaking region, and a wine tour there makes for an easy day trip from the capital. In Tbilisi itself, 8000 Vintages and Vino Underground are standout places to taste Georgian wines, including an unparalleled selection of natural wines.

It’s not only winemaking which enjoys such an impressively long pedigree in Georgia – the earliest known cultivation of wheat has also been traced back to Georgia, where it existed some 8,000 years ago. Meaning Georgia gave us both bread and wine – so gaumarjos! (“cheers!” in Georgian) to that”, - reads the article”.