Israel Travel Guide for Georgian Visitors (2026)

Georgia and Israel share more than geography in the broader neighbourhood — they share ancient wine-making traditions, a deep reverence for landscape and hospitality, and profound histories of diaspora and homecoming. For Georgian travellers, Israel offers a uniquely personal set of connections: a medieval Georgian monastery in the heart of Jerusalem, one of the world’s largest Georgian Jewish diaspora communities, and a wine culture that rivals Georgia’s own millennia-long viniculture tradition. This guide covers the practical information Georgian passport holders need: ETA-IL entry requirements, direct flights from Tbilisi, the Monastery of the Cross, the Georgian diaspora, currency, power adapters and health insurance.

For the broader trip-planning picture, see the complete first-time visitor guide and the is Israel safe guide.

Entry requirements: ETA-IL for Georgian passport holders

Georgian citizens are on Israel’s visa-exempt list — you do not need to apply for a full embassy visa. However, since January 2025, all visa-exempt nationals (including Georgian citizens) must obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA-IL) before travelling to Israel.

Applying for the ETA-IL

• Apply at: iaa.gov.il — the official Israeli Airports Authority portal
• Fee: ₪25 (check the current GEL equivalent at xe.com; the fee is charged in shekels)
• Validity: 2 years, multiple entries
• Processing time: typically 72 hours to several days — apply at least one week before departure
• What you need: your passport number, date of birth and basic travel details — no supporting documents are required for the ETA-IL itself

The ETA-IL is not a guarantee of entry. Israeli immigration officers at Ben Gurion Airport may ask about your travel purpose, accommodation details and return flight. Have your hotel booking confirmation and return ticket accessible on your phone or printed.

On arrival at Ben Gurion Airport

Immigration queues at Ben Gurion can be lengthy during peak periods; allow extra time. Israel generally does not stamp foreign passports — you will receive a small entry card instead. Keep this card for the duration of your stay; some hotels and sites may ask to see it.

For a full overview of what to expect at the border, see the visa and entry requirements guide.

Flights from Georgia to Israel

Georgian Airways (Airzena) operates direct flights between Tbilisi International Airport (TBS) and Tel Aviv Ben Gurion (TLV), with a flight time of approximately 2.5–3 hours — making Israel one of the most accessible long-haul destinations from Tbilisi.

Verify current schedules and fares directly at georgianairways.com or via flight comparison tools — frequency and seasonal availability vary. Turkish Airlines via Istanbul is the most reliable alternative if Georgian Airways direct availability is limited on your preferred dates.

When to book

Fares from Tbilisi to Tel Aviv are typically most competitive in the spring shoulder period (March–April, outside Passover) and in autumn (October–November, outside Jewish High Holidays). Peak pricing windows include the Nowruz and early-summer periods. Book 4–8 weeks ahead for best availability. See the cheap flights to Israel guide for broader tools and fare-finding tips.

The Monastery of the Cross — a uniquely Georgian site in Jerusalem

For Georgian visitors, the Monastery of the Cross in west Jerusalem is one of the most emotionally resonant sites in the entire Holy Land — a medieval Georgian heritage site that stands as a living link between the two countries’ Orthodox Christian histories.

Location and visiting practicalities

The monastery is located in the Valley of the Cross (גיא בן הינום), adjacent to the Israel Museum and the Knesset gardens in west Jerusalem — about 2 km west of the Old City walls.

• Opening hours: typically Monday–Friday approximately 10:00–17:00 (verify at the site entrance or locally before visiting, as hours may change)
• Admission: a modest fee applies (verify on arrival)
• Getting there: a 15–20 minute walk from the Israel Museum; accessible by bus from central Jerusalem (verify current routes with the Jerusalem bus authority); a taxi or car is convenient
• Dress code: covered shoulders and knees required for entry

History and significance

Georgian tradition holds that the monastery was founded in the 5th–6th century CE, on a site associated with the Tree of the True Cross. It became one of the major centres of Georgian monastic life in the Holy Land during the medieval period — a place where Georgian scholars, monks and royal patrons maintained a continuous presence for centuries.

The poet Shota Rustaveli, author of the Georgian national epic The Knight in the Panther’s Skin, is associated with the monastery; a portrait-fresco identified as his likeness appears on the interior walls. The frescoes — though darkened and partially damaged by time — include Georgian-language inscriptions that are among the oldest Georgian texts found outside Georgia, and donor portraits of members of the Georgian royal family who funded the monastery’s construction and operation.

In the 17th century, the monastery passed from Georgian control to the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, which administers it today. It remains an active monastery. Georgian visitors should note: this is a Georgian heritage site, not a Georgian-administered church — but its character and artistic legacy are unmistakably Georgian.

What to see inside

• The main church: the stone interior with its medieval fresco cycle; look for the Georgian inscriptions in the apse and on the donor portraits near the nave entrance
• The Rustaveli fresco portrait (identified by Georgian and art historians; the attribution is traditional, not definitively proven — a point worth noting honestly)
• The ancient well in the courtyard, associated with the monastery’s long history of self-sufficiency
• The view of the Valley of the Cross from the monastery’s outer wall — a quiet, green valley surprisingly close to modern west Jerusalem’s urban bustle

Combining the Monastery with nearby sites

The monastery pairs naturally with the Israel Museum (a 5-minute walk; home to the Shrine of the Book Dead Sea Scrolls and major archaeological finds) and the Knesset (Israel’s parliament building, with public guided tours available). A morning loop — monastery, then Israel Museum, then a falafel lunch near the museum — is a satisfying half-day for any Jerusalem visit.

See the 1-day Jerusalem itinerary for a full-day plan that can be extended to include this site.

The Georgian Jewish community in Israel

Approximately 100,000–120,000 Mountain Jews (Juhuri) and Kartvelian (Georgian-Jewish) families have made aliyah — emigrated to Israel — from Georgia and the broader South Caucasus, primarily during three waves: the 1970s (Soviet emigration), the 1990s (post-Soviet economic collapse) and the 2000s.

Where to find the Georgian community in Israel:

Georgian families visiting relatives or diaspora communities will find a warm welcome across these cities. Georgian food culture — churchkhela (walnut-filled grape-must candy), lobiani (spiced bean bread), khinkali (dumplings), mtsvadi (grilled meat skewers) — is well-represented in Georgian immigrant restaurants, particularly in Ashdod.

Georgian and Israeli wine culture

Both Georgia and Israel claim ancient wine-making traditions reaching back thousands of years. For Georgian visitors, Israel’s wine country offers a fascinating parallel world of ancient viticulture.

Georgia’s wine legacy: 8,000 years of continuous wine-making; the qvevri (clay amphora) method is UNESCO-inscribed; Rkatsiteli, Saperavi and Kakheti are internationally known varietals.

Israel’s wine renaissance: Israel has approximately 5,000 years of archaeological wine-making evidence; the modern Israeli wine industry (focused on Galilee, Golan Heights, Judean Hills and the Negev) has produced internationally awarded vintages over the past two decades. Israeli wineries like Yarden, Mony and Recanati have earned recognition at major international competitions.

Where to taste in Israel:

• Judean Hills: the wine region closest to Jerusalem; boutique wineries including Clos de Gat, Flam and Tzora; accessible by car in 30–45 minutes from central Jerusalem
• Galilee / Golan Heights: the largest and most varied wine region; Yarden and Golan Heights Winery produce internationally distributed wines
• Negev (Ramat Negev): a surprising desert wine region with loamy soils and wide day-night temperature variation — Carmey Avdat is a standout boutique winery

See the Israel wine and wineries guide for regional maps, winery recommendations and tasting-room logistics.

Payments and banking

Georgian Lari (GEL) cannot be exchanged in Israel. Israeli exchange bureaux and banks do not trade GEL.

What to do before and on arrival

1. Convert GEL to USD or EUR in Tbilisi (at TBC Bank, Bank of Georgia exchange points or Tbilisi International Airport) before departure
2. Or: withdraw New Israeli Shekels (₪) directly from Israeli ATMs at Ben Gurion Airport or in Tel Aviv/Jerusalem on arrival using your Georgian-issued Visa or Mastercard
3. When using Israeli ATMs, select “charge in local currency (NIS)” to avoid dynamic currency conversion fees

Carry approximately ₪200–400 in cash for markets, street food, sheruts (shared minibus taxis) and smaller establishments. For the current GEL/ILS exchange rate, check xe.com — this guide does not quote a fixed rate.

Power adapter

Israel uses Type H sockets — a unique three-pin flat configuration found almost nowhere else in the world.

Georgia uses Type C/F sockets (round two-pin or round two-pin with earth clip). Georgian plugs do not fit Israeli sockets without an adapter.

Voltage is compatible: Georgia operates at 220–230V/50Hz and Israel at 230V/50Hz. Most modern phones, laptop chargers and camera chargers are rated “100–240V” and require only a plug adapter (not a voltage transformer). Check the label on each device. Type C-to-Type H adapters are available in Tbilisi at electronics shops and at Ben Gurion Airport arrivals, though airport prices are considerably higher.

Health insurance

Georgian state health programmes — including the Universal Healthcare (UHC) programme — do not cover medical costs outside Georgia, and there is no reciprocal health agreement between Georgia and Israel. Medical treatment for uninsured tourists in Israel can be expensive; an emergency room visit or overnight hospital stay may run to several thousand shekels.

Take out an international travel insurance policy with emergency medical cover, hospitalisation, evacuation and trip-interruption benefits before departure. Confirm that Israel is explicitly included as a covered destination in the policy wording. International providers commonly used by Georgian travellers include SafetyWing Nomad Insurance, World Nomads and Allianz Travel.

Mobile connectivity

Georgian SIM cards (Magticom, Silknet, Beeline Georgia) can roam in Israel — verify your carrier’s international roaming rates before departure, as they can be high.

Better options for Israel connectivity:

1. Israeli tourist SIM — available at Ben Gurion Airport arrivals from Golan Telecom and Hot Mobile kiosks (typically open around the clock). A 30-day unlimited-data SIM costs approximately ₪50–90; your Georgian phone must be SIM-unlocked to use it
2. eSIM — providers such as Airalo, Nomad or Holafly offer Israel data eSIMs; activate before leaving Tbilisi on compatible handsets (iPhone XS or later, many Android flagships)

Embassy contacts

Embassy of Israel in Georgia (Tbilisi)
Abashidze Street 49, Tbilisi 0162
Website: embassies.gov.il/tbilisi
Verify current opening hours and appointment requirements before visiting.

Embassy of Georgia in Israel (Tel Aviv)
3 Daniel Frisch Street, Tel Aviv
(Verify the current address and consular hours at mfa.gov.ge/tel-aviv before travel — diplomatic office details can change.)

Quick reference for Georgian travellers

Planning your Israel trip from Georgia

A 7–10 day itinerary covers the main historical, religious and natural highlights comfortably from Tbilisi: 3–4 nights Jerusalem (Old City, Monastery of the Cross, Israel Museum, Western Wall, Via Dolorosa, Yad Vashem, Mount of Olives); a Galilee or Judean Hills day trip with winery visits; 1–2 nights Tel Aviv (Jaffa Old City, Mediterranean beaches, Carmel Market); and an optional Dead Sea day trip (the lowest point on Earth, about 1 hour from Jerusalem by car).

For the complete trip-building framework, see the Christian pilgrimage Holy Land guide if a faith-based itinerary is your focus, or the 1-day Jerusalem itinerary to plan your Jerusalem day in detail. For budget planning, see the Israel cost and budget guide. For the latest safety situation, see the is Israel safe guide.