Shopping and Export

Who this is for

For travellers who want to take home a genuine, local object from Georgia, not an airport souvenir.

And for companies looking for corporate gifts, and residents who need to send a parcel to family.

Our position

We take no commission from shops, craftsmen or market sellers, so wherever we take you, it is for quality and price.

You pay the seller directly for an item, and we never hold your money. The cost of our help is agreed separately and in advance.

What people buy most

Wine, chacha, churchkhela, spices and honey are the most popular food and drink gifts.

Among handmade goods, enamel, felt, ceramics and silver lead the way.

Rarer purchases are carpets, antiques and works of art, which call for more knowledge.

Wine

Wine is best bought directly at a cellar or in a specialist wine shop.

A bottle bought from the winemaker has a story, and you often find wine that is never exported.

We write about shipping wine and custom labels on separate pages.

Chacha and other drinks

Chacha is Georgian grape brandy, and homemade and factory versions differ considerably.

Bottled, labelled chacha passes through the border and customs without trouble.

Taking unlabelled homemade chacha into some countries raises extra questions.

Sweets

Churchkhela, gozinaki and fruit leather are light, keep well and fit easily in luggage.

You buy churchkhela at the market, where quality shows at a glance.

Tightly packed sweets survive even a long journey.

Spices and sauces

Khmeli suneli, utskho suneli, Svan salt and Imeretian saffron are the basis of Georgian cooking.

Tkemali and adjika are sold in bottles or jars and must go in your luggage tightly closed.

You buy spices at the market by tasting, and the seller makes up a blend to your taste.

Honey and tea

Mountain honey, especially from Adjara and Svaneti, is varied and often produced on family farms.

Georgian tea is a historic tradition, and small producers are reviving it today.

Both make good gifts, though some countries restrict bringing in honey.

Cheese and cured meats

Georgian cheese is delicious, but taking it abroad is banned or restricted in some countries.

Restrictions on meat products are stricter still.

Before buying we check your country's customs rules so nothing is confiscated at the airport.

Enamel

Georgian cloisonne enamel is coloured glass fused into gold or silver partitions.

The craft dates back to the Middle Ages, and today craftsmen use it in jewellery and decorative objects.

We write about quality and authenticity on the enamel page.

Felt

Felt is made from hand-rolled wool and is tied to Georgia's mountain tradition.

It is made into hats, slippers, bags and decorations.

In a craftsman's workshop you can also watch felt being made.

Carpets and rugs

Georgian carpets and flat-woven rugs stand out for traditional patterns and natural dyes.

New carpets are bought from a craftsman or workshop, old ones in an antiques shop.

Taking an old carpet out sometimes needs a permit, which we check before you buy.

Ceramics

Georgian ceramics range from the qvevri tradition to contemporary design.

Cups, plates and a ketsi are beautiful gifts for everyday use.

Craftsmen often help pack fragile items themselves.

Silver and goldsmithing

Georgian goldsmithing has a long history, and many craftsmen today use traditional motifs.

Silver jewellery should carry a hallmark and the maker's mark.

For expensive jewellery always ask for a receipt and certificate.

Wood and crafts

Drinking-horn stands, spoons, carved boxes and toys are the work of craftsmen.

The kantsi itself, made from the horn of a wild goat or ox, is a popular souvenir.

Some countries restrict items made from animal parts, which we check in advance.

The chokha and traditional dress

The chokha is the Georgian man's traditional garment, and it can be made to order.

A woman's traditional dress can also be sewn to order, with a choice of size and fabric.

We write about tailoring on a separate page.

Contemporary designers

Georgian designers have made their name on the world fashion scene, and their shops are in Tbilisi.

Here you find clothing, accessories and jewellery sold nowhere else.

Many designers work in small runs, so your size is not always available.

Art and galleries

Tbilisi's galleries sell works by contemporary Georgian artists.

Reproductions of Pirosmani's works are popular souvenirs, while the originals are in the museum.

Taking a work of art out sometimes needs a document, and the gallery helps with it.

Books and maps

Old books, maps and photographs are sold at book fairs and in antiques shops.

Georgian alphabet primers and children's books make good gifts.

Taking a rare edition out sometimes requires a permit.

Icons and religious items

New icons and religious items are sold in church shops.

Buying and exporting an old icon calls for special care and often a permit.

We treat religious items with respect and ask the priest or seller about their purchase.

Antiques

At Georgia's antiques markets you find everything from Soviet objects to old silver.

Understanding authenticity and export rules is most important here.

We write in detail on the antiques page.

The Dry Bridge

The Dry Bridge market is Tbilisi's famous open-air market, selling antiques, paintings and Soviet items.

It is liveliest at weekends, and bargaining is normal here.

Before buying an expensive item, an expert's advice does no harm.

The central market

Tbilisi's central market sells food, spices, churchkhela and household goods.

It is noisy, colourful and very Georgian, an experience in itself.

As anywhere, keep an eye on your pockets and bag at the market.

Shops and malls

Tbilisi and Batumi have shopping centres with international brands.

The old town has many souvenir shops, but quality varies enormously.

We show you the difference between a factory souvenir and a handmade object.

Village fairs and workshops

In the regions craftsmen often work at home or in a small workshop.

There you buy directly from the maker and learn the object's story too.

We fit workshop visits into the tour route.

Agreeing a price

Bargaining is accepted at markets and fairs, but moderately and in a friendly way.

In shops and craftsmen's workshops prices are often fixed.

Asking a very low price for a craftsman's work can be taken as an insult.

Payment

Card payment is widely accepted in city shops.

At markets, fairs and village workshops cash is often the only way.

For a large purchase a bank transfer is possible, and always ask for a receipt.

Currency

The local currency is the lari, and you get cash from ATMs or exchange offices.

Some shops take dollars or euros, but the rate is often unfavourable.

We write about currency exchange in the concierge section.

VAT refund

In Georgia foreign travellers can get a VAT refund on goods bought in participating shops.

For this you take a special form in the shop and present the goods and receipt at the airport.

We check the minimum amount, time limits and procedure under the rules in force.

Receipts and warranty

For an expensive purchase a receipt is needed both for a VAT refund and for customs.

For jewellery and electronics ask about warranty terms when buying.

Return policies differ from shop to shop, and we ask before you buy.

Real and fake

In tourist spots factory enamel and fake antiques are sold as handmade and old.

The maker's mark, a certificate and the workshop address are the best proof of authenticity.

If a price is suspiciously low, the item is often not what it is claimed to be.

Exporting cultural property

Taking an item of cultural value out of the country often requires state permission.

This applies to old icons, rare books, archaeological items and some works of art.

Exporting without a permit breaks the law, so we always check these items in advance.

Daggers and bladed weapons

A Georgian khanjali dagger is a beautiful souvenir, but it may count as a bladed weapon.

It is banned in cabin baggage, and import rules in the destination country differ.

Before buying we check your country's and the airline's rules.

Luggage and weight

Wine, honey and ceramics quickly add to your luggage weight.

Excess baggage fees are often high, so shipping is sometimes better.

When planning purchases we take your baggage allowance into account from the start.

Cabin bags and liquids

Liquids are limited in cabin baggage, so wine, chacha, honey and sauces must go in checked luggage.

Drinks bought at the airport duty-free after security can go in the cabin, unless transit rules say otherwise.

For a connecting flight we check the rules in advance.

Packing wine

Wrap each bottle in soft packing or a special wine bag.

Put bottles in the middle of the suitcase, between clothes, away from the edges.

Many wine shops offer a sturdy box and packing themselves.

Fragile items

Craftsmen often pack ceramics, glass and enamel safely themselves.

An expensive fragile item is better carried in the cabin, if its size and the rules allow.

For a large item professional packing and shipping is safest.

Shipping abroad

Courier companies send parcels from Georgia to most countries in the world.

Many companies restrict shipping alcohol or set special conditions.

We write about shipping wine in detail on a separate page.

Customs in your country

Every country has its own limits on bringing in alcohol, food and valuable items.

Goods above the limit incur duty and tax, usually paid by the recipient.

Before buying we check your country's limits so there are no surprises at the airport.

Prohibited items

Bringing in plants, seeds, soil and some foods is banned in many countries.

The vine cuttings and fruit you might fancy as souvenirs are often on that very list.

If in doubt, declare the item rather than hiding it.

Duty-free

The airports of Tbilisi and Batumi have duty-free shops with wine and souvenirs.

The choice is small and prices often high, so we suggest doing your main shopping in town.

For a last-minute gift, though, it is a convenient place.

A custom label

Wine with your name, photo or logo makes an unforgettable gift for a wedding or a company.

Label design and printing take time, so we start early.

We explain the details on the custom label page.

Made-to-measure clothing

Tailors in Tbilisi sew a chokha, a suit or a dress to order.

An order needs several fittings, so we start it at the beginning of your trip.

We write about tailoring on a separate page.

A shopping assistant

An assistant helps at the market and in shops with translation, advice and bargaining.

They know where the genuine handmade goods are and where the factory souvenirs are.

Our assistant takes no commission from shops, and that is the value of their advice.

Gift cards

A gift card for an experience - a wine lesson, a spa or a tour - makes a good present.

The card is issued with an open date, and the recipient chooses a convenient day.

We explain the details on the gift cards page.

Corporate gifts

Companies often send partners Georgian wine, enamel or a spice set.

A gift can be wrapped with a logo or a personal card.

For a large order we plan delivery and customs in advance.

For children

Children love wooden toys, felt figures and Georgian alphabet books.

Churchkhela and gozinaki are sweet, wholesome souvenirs.

Traditional costume is also sold in children's sizes.

Sustainable choices

Buying directly from a craftsman keeps traditional crafts alive.

An object made from local materials tells far more than a factory import.

That is why our suggestions often point to small workshops.

For people living here

Foreigners living here often send families wine, spices and handmade goods.

For regular shipments we recommend a reliable courier and packing rules.

In the holiday season we start shipping early so it arrives on time.

Opening hours

City shops usually open from morning until late evening, seven days a week.

Markets and craftsmen's workshops often close earlier.

On major religious holidays some shops are closed, which we check in advance.

Common mistakes

Buying an old icon or carpet without checking the export rules.

Packing cheese and cured meats without understanding your country's customs rules.

Paying a handmade price for a factory souvenir without checking the maker's mark.

What we need from you

What you are looking for: food, handmade goods, art or antiques.

Where the item needs to go and how: in luggage or by shipping.

A rough budget range and how much time you have for shopping.

Price

The seller or craftsman sets the item's price, and you pay them directly.

We take no commission from shops and add nothing to their price.

The fee for an assistant, arranging packing and our help is agreed separately and in advance.