National currency in Georgia. What currency should I take to Georgia? Let's look at examples. What is the currency in Georgia

Before your trip, you need to stock up on information about the country you are going to visit. Wherever you go, one of the most important things is money. No matter how sad it is, you can’t have a vacation without money.

In this section we will talk specifically about money, or more precisely, about the Georgian currency and everything connected with it.

Banks and currency of Georgia

The national currency of Georgia is lari, in denominations: 1, 2 (coins), 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 (banknotes). Lari consists of 100 tetri - these are coins in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 tetri.

In 2016, new banknotes in denominations of 20, 50 and 100 lari were put into circulation. In the future, it is planned to reissue 5 and 10 lari banknotes. The new banknotes have a higher degree of security and even take into account the needs of visually impaired people. The design belongs to the hand of the Georgian master Bacho Malazonia.

Since 1995, all payments in Georgia have been made only in national currency.

Lari is translated from ancient Georgian as “heritage” or “property”, and tetri means “white”.

In banks and exchange offices you can exchange currency for lari. The most popular currencies available at any exchange office are euros (EUR) and American dollars (USD). Less popular monetary units are rubles, hryvnias, drams and manats. Banks are the most reliable way to exchange currency in Georgia.

Lari to ruble exchange rate for today

The lari to ruble exchange rate for today in Georgia is approximately:

• 1 lari = 23.26 rubles;

Lari to hryvnia exchange rate:

• 1 lari = 10.87 hryvnia;

Lari to US dollar exchange rate

• 2.41 GEL = 1 USD.

Where can I exchange money

In Georgia, as in any other country, there is a pattern: the larger the settlement, the more exchange offices or banks are located in it. Therefore, if your goal is to enjoy wild nature in places remote from large cities, then it is best to change money immediately upon arrival.

In some places, currency exchange can be carried out without presenting documents, however Banks may require a passport.

In, as in any city in Georgia, there will be no problems with exchanging money. Exchange offices are concentrated mainly at train stations, airports, large shopping and entertainment centers and other crowded places. The exchange rate may differ in different places, but it does not make a big difference, so it is not worth pursuing a profit in this case. The difference per 100 dollars will be 1-2 lari.

Another advantage of Georgia is the absence of exchange fees. Here you don’t have to wander the streets looking for the 0% or no commission sign. Everything is working.

The most reliable place to exchange currency is a bank. The most common Georgian banks are Bank of Georgia and TBC Bank. The working day at the bank lasts from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Some exchange offices operate 24 hours a day. At the Bank of Georgia branch on Freedom Square you can change almost any currency.

Money can also be changed at exchange offices. They often look unsightly, but you shouldn't be afraid of them.

If you decide to withdraw money from an ATM, then this is also not a problem. ATMs, as a rule, “speak” all commonly used languages. Among them is Russian. There will be an option in the menu - GEL. If you need local cash, this is the place to go. Commissions depend on the banks' conditions. The average market level of commission for Georgian banks is about 2% of the transaction.

You can pay with cards. The number of points accepting cards is large, but not everywhere. Even in Tbilisi you can easily be left without water if you don’t have 50 tetri in cash.

Restaurants, cafes, most shops, hotels, hostels - they all accept cards. Stalls, bazaars, small shops - surprises can await you in the most unusual places. Therefore, do not walk around the city without a minimum amount of cash.

What currency should I take with me to Georgia?

Based on popularity, it is best to take American dollars or euros with you, because they will definitely be accepted at any exchange office. If we talk about benefits, then you need to calculate it immediately before the trip, because exchange rates do not stand still.

To make the calculation, you need to compare the ruble to lari exchange rate and the dollar to lari exchange rate. For example, we need to change 10,000 rubles. If you exchange them for lari at the rate of 22.00 rubles per lari, you will get 454 lari. If 10,000 rubles are first exchanged for dollars at the rate of 62 rubles per dollar ($162), and then exchanged for lari, the result will be 433 lari. Exchange rates are constantly changing, so be careful.

It is allowed to import any amount of money in foreign currency into the territory of Georgia. However, it is advisable to fill out a declaration if the amount exceeds the equivalent of $2,000. Restrictions are imposed on the import of national currency in the amount of GEL 25,000. It is allowed to export national currency in an amount of no more than 3,000 lari.

How much money to take on vacation?

Georgia is becoming one of the most popular destinations among tourists. Therefore, when going there, you need to know what currency to go to Georgia with in 2019, how much money you will need or whether credit cards will be enough. Such questions are natural, and before the trip, you need to look at the exchange rates, get acquainted with the features of the national unit, in which places it is best to change money and whether there is a commission.

In this sunny country, since 1995, money called lari (inheritance or property), consisting of 100 tetri, has been put into circulation. Banknotes are issued in denominations such as 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200.

The last three denominations appeared in circulation only in 2016, and have a higher degree of protection; they can be used by people who have poor vision. It is worth remembering that the 500 lari banknote is not in circulation and can only be found in museums.

The coins are called tetri (translated from Georgian as white), and have denominations from 5 to 50 tetri. Coins – 1, 2, 10 – are also in use.

Euro or dollar

To know which currency to travel to Georgia with in 2019, you need to consider several factors:

• View the current exchange rates in the country against the euro and dollar. Other types of currencies - hryvnia or ruble - will be much more difficult to exchange.
• Make an approximate cost estimate.
• See the places where currency exchange is carried out and whether there is a commission for this.
• Write down the work schedule of banking institutions, find branches in a particular city located near the hostel or hotel. If these are resort cities, are there exchange offices there?
• Is it possible to pay for services with bank cards?
• Do you need a passport for exchange transactions?

The current exchange rates of the country's monetary unit to the euro and dollar are:

• For one American dollar you can get 2.64 Georgian lari ($100 will be a little more than 264 lari).
• For 1 euro they give 2.79 lari (100 euros equals 279 Georgian lari).

Thus, the euro exchange rate to the Georgian currency is slightly higher than to the US dollar. But it is necessary to check currency indicators before the trip. It is better to have both dollars and euros with you.

In some places you can pay in rubles, but the exchange rate to the Russian ruble cannot be called favorable. 100 rubles will be 4.47 lari.

You can import foreign currency into Georgia, and if the amount is more than 2 thousand conventional units, then you need to fill out a declaration at customs. The maximum amount of imported amount should not exceed 25 thousand lari. You can export no more than 3 thousand lari.

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For this money you can rent a good apartment for 1 day abroad or in Russia. The bonus only works for new accounts.

Is it possible to pay with bank cards?

When going to Georgia, it is worth stocking up on cash - euros, dollars, rubles, which are exchanged for lari in one of the cities. You can take a bank card, but in most cases it will be useless unless you withdraw money from ATMs.

Payment is carried out only in national currency and mainly in cash. In eating places - cafes or restaurants, bars, taxis, shops, everywhere you need to pay for purchases and services in cash. You will need small change on the beaches or while walking around the city, when you want to buy treats for yourself or your children, or purchase a souvenir. In public transport, payment is also made in lari.

If you don’t have enough cash on hand, then you can use a card to withdraw money. Tourists who have visited Georgia several times are advised to have several credit cards with them and check them before leaving abroad so that they are not blocked. If you can’t withdraw from one card, then you can use another.

It’s interesting that there are a lot of terminals that accept cards, but they don’t work everywhere. In some shopping centers, often large ones, bank cards can be accepted for payment. You can pay with a card in hotels or hostels, but you should still have cash with you.

Where to exchange

A special feature of Georgia is that there are many exchange offices in big cities. This applies to both banks and exchangers. This factor should be taken into account by those who are planning to visit remote places where there will be no opportunity to exchange foreign currency for lari. Money changes in places such as:

• Banks.
• Exchangers.
• Terminals.

No exchanges by hand to avoid becoming victims of scammers.

Banks are located in most Georgian cities, with the largest number in Tbilisi. Sometimes banking institutions ask to show your passport.

The system of exchange offices is more extensive:

• Stations.
• Airports.
• Metro in Tbilisi.
• Shopping and entertainment centers.
• Supermarkets.

The exchange rate between banks and exchangers does not make much difference, usually it is 2 or more lari. The advantage of Georgia is that there is no exchange fee.

Among banks, preference should be given to:

• Bank of Georgia.
• TVS jar.
• ProCredit Bank Georgia.
• Liberty Bank Georgia.
• KartuBank Georgia.

The working day in institutions begins at 9 am and lasts until 18 pm, except Saturday and Sunday. In this they lose to exchangers that are open around the clock.

You can also withdraw money from the terminal, but here you will have to pay a commission, the size of which is equal to 2% of the transaction. There are most exchangers and ATMs in Batumi, Kutaisi, and Tbilisi. Exchange rates are unfavorable in border regions.

Lari is the monetary unit of Georgia. One lari is equal to 100 tetri.

The lari was introduced into circulation during the reign of E. Shevardnadze in 1995. Currently in circulation are coins in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 tetri and banknotes in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 lari.

All lari banknotes depict Georgian historical figures who contributed to the culture and history of the country.

The ancestor of the modern lari was the lari coupon, which existed until 1995. Initially, it was equal to the Soviet ruble and had only banknotes in denominations of one to one million coupons. It differed in that there were amounts that were unusual for monetary turnover and were multiples of three (3, 3,000, 30,000 and 150,000 coupons). After the hyperinflation of 1995, it was replaced by the modern currency of 1:100,000,000

Now the lari is quite a hard currency. For 1 lari they give about 15 Russian rubles.

On the front side:
portrait of the outstanding Georgian primitivist artist Niko Pirosmani with the inscription “Pirosmani 1862-1918”.
On the back side:
panorama of the Georgian capital Tbilisi and a doe from a painting by Pirosmani.

On the front side:
a portrait of the Georgian composer Zakharia Paliashvili with the inscription “Zakharia Paliashvili 1871-1933”, and on the left side are the notes of the overture from his opera “Abessalom and Eteri”.
On the back side:
the building of the Tbilisi State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater named after Zakhary Paliashvili with the signature “Tbilisi National Opera and Ballet Theater 1887”

On the front side:
portrait of Georgian academician Ivane Javakhishvili with the inscription “Ivane Javakhishvili 1876-1940”.
On the back side:
building of Tbilisi State University. Ivane Javakhishvili, below - an open book and floral decoration, on the left side - a golden sculpture of a lion of the 3rd millennium BC and a situational map of Georgia.

10 lari

On the front side:
portrait of the Georgian poet and public figure Akaki Tsereteli with the signature “Akaky Tsereteli 1840-1915”, a swallow and a branch in bloom.
On the back side:
a portrait of the mother of the Georgian artist David Kakabadze from the painting “Imereti - My Mother”, as well as on the sides of a vine branch with grapes.

20 lari

On the front side:
a portrait of the Georgian poet and public figure Ilya Chavchavadze with the signature “Ilya Chavchavadze 1837-1907”, on the left side are the magazine “Bulletin of Georgia (Sakartvelos Moambe)” and the newspaper “Iveria” founded by him, as well as personal belongings.
On the back side:
monument to the founder of Tbilisi, King Vakhtang Gorgasali. In the background is a map of Tbilisi in the 18th century compiled by Vakhushti Bagrationi and a panorama of old Tbilisi with the image of Narikala.

50 lari

On the front side:
a portrait of Queen Tamara with the caption “Queen Tamara of the 12th century”, on the left side there is an image of a griffin from a fragment of decoration of the Samtavisi temple.
On the back side:
zodiac sign - “Sagittarius”, from a Georgian miniature of the 12th century.

100 lari

On the front side:
a graphic portrait of the 12th-century Georgian poet Shota Rustaveli with the signature “Shota Rustaveli of the 12th century,” on the left side is the composition “Ascension of the Cross by Angels.”
On the back side:
a composition with a biblical plot - “Daniel in the lion’s den”, and a relief image from the monastery in Martvili with the caption “Martvili 7th century”.

200 lari

On the front side:
portrait of the national hero Kaikhosro (Kakuts) Cholokashvili. The background is accompanied by relief fragments of monuments of Georgian culture.
On the back side:
view of Sukhumi and a fragment of the found village. Tsebelda (Gulrypshsky district) relief image. Inscription in Abkhazian: 200 lari.

In this article we will tell you what currency to travel to Georgia with so as not to have problems with exchanging and paying for purchases. Read before your trip.

What is the national currency here?

The local currency is the Georgian lari (GEL), and most of the commodity and monetary transactions in the country are carried out in it. Lari consists of one hundred tetri. Metal coins and paper bills are in use in the country.

The coins start with one tetri, followed by coins of 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 tetri. In the form of coins there are lari in denominations of one and two lari. The rest of the laris are paper bills. The banknotes come in the same sequence as the coins - from one to fifty lari, there are banknotes in denominations of 100 and 200 lari.

Features of money exchange

Changing money in Georgia is not a problem. You can exchange currency directly at the airport, at banks or exchange offices. The exchange rate at the airport is often more favorable than the exchange rate at exchange offices and banks.

The network of exchange offices is developed; they can be found in large cities. They accept foreign international currencies, that is, the American dollar and the European euro, and the money of neighboring countries - Russian rubles, Armenian drams and Turkish lira. Flexible work schedule, they work until the evening or around the clock. An important feature of exchange in Georgian exchange offices is that the rate there is often higher than the bank rate.

The lari to ruble exchange rate for today can be found using this calculator.

If you are going to exchange money at an exchange office, be it dollars, euros or rubles, you should visit 3-4 places, or better yet 5-6. The difference can reach 20-30 tetri, which will be noticeable for large amounts. In the exchanger, you should pay special attention to the difference between the rates for selling and buying currency. A difference of twenty to thirty tetri is a lot, and it is better to look for an exchange office with a difference of no more than 10 tetri.

There are enough banks in Georgia, even in small towns. Opening hours from 10.00 to 18.00 local time. Exchange rates at banks are relatively fair for dollars, euros and rubles. If tourists brought other types of currencies with them on vacation, the exchange will be negative for the client.

It’s somewhat difficult to say what exactly to go on vacation with. Exchange rates are not stable and can change several times a day. You can arrive with rubles, euros, and dollars, and exchange on the spot. Many Georgian shops and restaurants support payments using bank cards.

The country allows you to use bank cards, but in general it is somewhat unprofitable. When cashing out money from a card, the currency is converted through the dollar or euro and, as a result, it turns out to be unprofitable. It is better to come with cash and exchange it on the spot; the import and export of currency is not limited by law. When bringing cash into Georgia, you do not need to declare it.

Speaking about the import and export of cash, it is worth mentioning an interesting feature of local legislation concerning the local currency - the Georgian lari. So you can take them out of the country in an amount of no more than three thousand lari, and no more than 4 banknotes of the same denomination. That is, when planning to leave, you should make sure that your cash complies with this rule, or exchange it in advance for another currency.

We have already talked about different types of currency exchange, but I would also like to mention an additional exchange opportunity inherent in the Middle East - money changers. There are such people in Georgia, you meet them in markets and bazaars. The exchange rate they offer is, as a rule, very favorable, but here the tourist will probably be deceived. If you come across a private money changer offering a favorable exchange rate, you should not give in to greed, but rather use the services of official organizations.

Another little trick a tourist should remember is to try to avoid unnecessary currency conversions. If you arrived with rubles, then it’s better to exchange it immediately for lari. You should not exchange rubles for dollars, euros, and then for lari; the costs of commissions and so on will be greater than the benefits.

The single monetary unit used in internal and, to some extent, external payments in Georgia is the Georgian lari. The name of the currency comes from the Georgian word, meaning “property” or “reserve” when translated into Russian.

Characteristics of the national currency of Georgia

To date, there are two issues of money in circulation in Georgia. The first dates back to 1999, the second to 2006. Banknotes and coins of both series have the same appearance and attributes of authenticity. Also in circulation there is a special series issued for the anniversary of the national currency of Georgia, coins with a face value of 10 lari.

The issue of coins was carried out by order of the Central Bank of Georgia at the Paris Mint and partly at the mint factories of Slovakia and Bratislava.

Just like other currencies of the world, the Georgian lari is divided into a unit of smaller denomination - the tetri. One lari is equal to one hundred tetri.

History of Georgian currency

Previously, before the collapse of the USSR and the annexation of Georgia, USSR banknotes - Soviet rubles - were used in calculations, then they were temporarily replaced by Georgian coupons. However, the use of coupons in Georgia lasted only 4 years - in 1995, by decree of President Shevardnadze, lari were introduced into circulation.

The Central Bank entrusted the development of banknote design to European designers, in particular, French and Slovak masters contributed. The currency of Georgia contains images of cultural figures and national heroes, and on the reverse, the reverse side of banknotes and coins, there are images of architectural and art monuments belonging to Georgia.

Special attention was paid to the coins from the anniversary issue: a thoughtful, meticulous design, coupled with the use of a bimetallic manufacturing method, made it possible to obtain several colors: silver, copper and gold.

Denomination and appearance of the currency of Georgia

The currency of Georgia has a wide denomination; 8 banknotes of various denominations, 7 standard issue coins and 5 anniversary coins are used in circulation.

Georgian banknotes have a very convenient nominal division and contain images of important people and cultural monuments of the state:

• 1 lari. On the front side is the artist Niko Pirosmani, on the back is a landscape of the city of Tbilisi.
• 2 lari. On the front side is the composer Zakhary Pashiashvili, on the back is the building of the Grzinsky Opera and Ballet Theater named after the same composer.
• 5 lari. On the front side is Academician Ivane Javakhishvili, on the back is Tbilisi State University named after him.
• 10 lari. On the front side is public figure Akaki Tsereteli, on the back is a fragment of David Kakabadze’s painting “Imereti is my mother.”
• 20 lari. On the front side is public figure Ilya Chavchavadze, on the back is a monument to King Vakhtang I Gorgasal against the background of an 18th-century map of Tbilisi.
• 50 lari. On the front side there is Queen Tamara and an image of a griffin from the Samtavisi temple, on the back there is “Sagittarius” from a Georgian engraving of the 12th century.
• 100 lari. On the front side is a portrait of the poet Shota Rustaveli, on the back is a graphic depiction of a biblical story from the monastery in Martvili.
• 200 barks. On the front side is the national hero of Georgia Kaikhosro Cholokashvili, on the back is a view of Sukhumi from an ancient engraving.

The Georgian currency has a wide nominal differentiation, which greatly simplifies settlements and also allows citizens of the country to flexibly manage their personal finances.

Monetary policy of Georgia

Today, the management of the monetary policy of Georgia is entirely entrusted to the Central Bank of Georgia, whose activities are regulated by state laws, while, according to Article 95 of the Constitution of Georgia, the Central Bank carries out its activities independently of the executive authorities.

The national currency of Georgia is one of the central objects of regulation of the Central Bank of Georgia. The following goals and objectives facing it are highlighted:

• Maintaining a fair market exchange rate for the national currency.
• Maintaining the target inflation level.
• Maintaining price stability.
• Ensuring the effective use and accumulation of gold and foreign exchange reserves.
• Supervision of the banking sector and other financial institutions on issues of circulation and exchange of national currency.
• Control of the authenticity of currency in circulation.

Georgian lari to ruble and other currencies

The basis for the formation of the lari exchange rate in relation to other foreign currencies is the action of market forces - demand, supply and price. In December 2015, the Central Bank of Georgia canceled the currency peg to the dollar. According to international standards, lari has the abbreviation GEL.

The fundamental criterion determining the market parity of the lari is the price of oil, due to the fact that Georgia is one of the oil exporting states. There is a strong inverse correlation between the oil price and the lari exchange rate.

At the end of 2015 and the beginning of 2016, the exchange rate of the lari against a basket of major world currencies was as follows:

• USD/GEL 0.414.
• EUR/GEL 0.379.
• GBP/GEL 0.285.
• CAD/GEL 0.587.
• AUD/GEL 0.590.
• NZD/GEL 0.633.
• RUR/GEL 0.032.

Recently, the lari exchange rate has weakened noticeably against the backdrop of falling oil prices; it remains under threat, therefore, in the period 2016-2017. it is possible for the Central Bank of Georgia to carry out a number of foreign exchange interventions in order to keep the currency exchange rate from falling deeply.