Airzena Georgian Airlines (A9) (website: www.airzena.com), the national airline, operates regular flights from Athens, Frankfurt/M, Kiev, Moscow, Paris, Prague, Tel Aviv and Vienna.

None.

Tbilisi (TBS) is 18km (11 miles) east of Tbilisi city centre. To/from the airport: Mini-buses and taxis are available to the city centre (journey time – 30 minutes), state buses run throughout the day (website: www.airport-transfer.ge). Facilities: Bureaux de change, bars, restaurants, duty-free shops. In winter, power failures may affect the airport.

Main ports: Batumi and Poti. Batumi and Poti provide international connections with sea ports in Bulgaria, Ukraine and Russia.

The Transcaucasian railway operates overnight services between Baku (Azerbaijan) and Yerevan (Armenia). The main line runs towards the Russian Federation through Georgia along the Black Sea coast.

The Silk Road Express also runs a service from Baku to Tbilisi.

War in the breakaway region of Abkhazia has adversely affected Georgia’s rail link with Russia, and it is currently not available.

Access is from Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan via the Dariali Gorge. The Russia-Georgia checkpoint at Kazbegi (the Georgian Military Highway), Tskhinvali (the Roki Tunnel) and routes across the Georgian-Abkhaz boarder are currently closed.

Airzena Georgian Airlines (website: www.airzena.com) flies between Tbilisi and Butani, Kutaisi and Senaki.

In total, Georgia has almost 1,600km (987 miles) of railway. The government has now restored order on the railway, which had suffered from fuel shortages, armed attacks on trains, sabotage of track and bridges, and there is now a fundamentally sound infrastructure. However, rail travel through the Russian border in the north and west is not possible owing to the conflict in Abkhazia and visitors are advised not to undertake long-distance rail travel. Rail passengers are advised to store their valuables in the compartment under the seat/bed and not to leave the compartment unattended. It is also a good idea to ensure the compartment door is secure from the inside by tying it closed with wire or strong cord. Reservations are required for all trains. There are two classes of trains, primarily distinguished by the comfort of the seats. Children under five years of age travel free and children from five to nine years of age pay half fare.

Traffic drives on the right. Georgia has approximately 20,000km (12,428 miles) of asphalted roads, and there is an ambitious project to construct a motorway connecting the Black Sea ports to the border with Azerbaijan, passing through Tbilisi. Travellers attempting to drive around Georgia independently should be aware that it is difficult to buy fuel without highly specialised local knowledge and that an adequate supply of fuel should be obtained in Tbilisi beforehand. Also, reliable road maps or signposts do not exist.

Buses: These are in poor condition. Timetables frequently change and should not be relied upon.

Documentation: It is possible for holders of an EU licence to drive in Georgia but an International Driving Permit is required to hire a vehicle.

Tbilisi is served by buses, trolleybuses, cable cars and a small underground system. The underground system has three lines and 16 stations. It is common practice to flag down official taxis, but fares should always be negotiated in advance, bearing in mind the likelihood that rates set for foreigners will be unreasonably high. In view of the rising crime rate, foreigners should take precautions before getting into a car, and it is generally safer to use officially marked red taxis which should not be shared with strangers. It is inadvisable to take a ride if there is already more than one person in the car.