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Georgia is a paradise for hikers, with its mountains and valleys, unspoiled villages and off-the-beaten-path treks.

Now is a wonderful moment to visit, as recent investment in the hiking infrastructure has made it easier to navigate, but the trails are still quiet and wild enough to feel at one with nature.

Hiking is best enjoyed in the country in late spring and early summer. Before this, travelling to the mountains can be made difficult by melting snow and occasional landslides, while from late July the summer can be very hot. Each trail is different though, and winter offers other options, such as skiing and snowshoeing.
Here are five fantastic hikes to whet your walking appetite.

With seaside, mountains, lakes, historic ruins and rich cultural heritage, there’s an abundance of incredible sights you can only see in Georgia. Here are 11 unique and unmissable sights to put on your list.
1. Katskhi Pillar
This 40m high natural limestone wonder is one of the most enduring images of Georgia. It overlooks the Katskhura river valley near the town of Chiatura and a monastery sits on top. It’s not considered safe to ascend now but experts date the church buildings back to the 8th or 9th century.

Georgia’s capital is anything but orderly. Despite this - or because of it - it's one of the best, most strikingly original cities in the world.
There are cities that make sense. The streets glide along straight, clean lines, their names uniform from start to finish. Bridges are crossable. Signs point in the proper direction.
Then there’s Tbilisi.

Riotous and anarchic, the capital of Georgia is anything but organized. Locals use Soviet-era street names - Leselidze, Davitashvili, Perovskaya - found only on decades-old maps. Wine is sold in repurposed Coca-Cola bottles for a dollar a liter from boulevard underpasses. The electricity still cuts out in the heart of the “Kala,” Tbilisi's historic old town.

Heading to Europe’s big cities after the Christmas markets have died down and before the flowers bloom is like wearing a suit on an overnight flight: People mostly tend to do it when they’re on business. From January to March, leisure travel to the continent shifts from urban hubs such as Amsterdam and Berlin to Alpine hangouts like St. Moritz, Lech, or Megève.

But European cities can be magical in winter, so why not do both? Pairing the delights of experiencing a culture capital or historical site with the adrenaline of a few glorious days on the slopes is a total travel twofer. Here are five such combos you might never have considered.