2026-09-23
The best SIM card in Georgia is a tourist SIM from Magti, Silknet or Cellfie, sold at the airport and in city shops for about 10 to 30 GEL for a week with several GB; your passport is needed to register it. Cards are accepted in hotels, malls, supermarkets and most restaurants in Tbilisi and Batumi, Apple Pay works wherever cards work, and cash in lari is still needed in markets and villages. With Hawa Georgia every booking includes one SIM with open internet for a week, handed over by the driver at the airport, with no prepayment, pay on arrival.
All figures below are approximate and were last checked in September 2026. The lari, exchange rates and daily budgets have their own guide in Money and Daily Spending in Georgia: How Much You Need.
The three operators: Magti, Silknet and Cellfie
Georgia has three main mobile operators, all selling prepaid tourist SIMs. They differ in mountain coverage and price more than in city quality.
| Operator | Coverage | Tourist SIM for a week, approx. | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Magti | Widest in the mountains, strongest on the Military Highway and in Svaneti | About 15 to 30 GEL | Families visiting Kazbegi, Gudauri and Mestia |
| Silknet | Good in cities and on highways, acceptable in the mountains | About 10 to 25 GEL | Trips mostly in Tbilisi, Batumi and Kutaisi |
| Cellfie | Good in cities, weaker in remote areas | About 10 to 20 GEL | Short city stays on a budget |
If your programme includes the Caucasus or Svaneti, choose Magti; for Tbilisi and Batumi only, any of the three will do.
Buying a SIM at the airport or in the city
The arrivals hall at Tbilisi airport has counters for all three operators; registration takes a few minutes with your passport, and the price is slightly higher than in town. City shops offer more packages at better prices.
With Hawa Georgia you skip the counter: the driver hands you a SIM with open internet for a week when he meets you. A second SIM for the family is bought at any operator shop on the first day. The arrival sequence is in Tbilisi Airport Arrival Guide: SIM, Exchange and Your Driver, and the meet-and-greet in Tbilisi Airport Transfer with an Arabic-Speaking Driver (Kutaisi and Batumi too).
eSIM in Georgia
eSIMs work in Georgia on phones that support them. The operators sell them, and international eSIM apps work too, but their price per GB is clearly higher than a local SIM. Their one advantage is activation before take-off; a small eSIM for the first day and a local SIM for the rest is a sensible order. If you book with us, the driver waits with a sign carrying your name and does not need you to call.
Internet in Georgia and coverage in the mountains
Internet in Georgia is good in the cities and on the main roads, and 4G is enough for video calls and streaming. Coverage drops on the Military Highway above Gudauri, around the Jvari Pass at about 2,395 m, and in parts of Svaneti, so the signal may vanish for a few minutes and return in Stepantsminda. Download the Kazbegi area in Google Maps offline; the rest of that day is in Kazbegi and the Caucasus: A Day Trip Guide from Tbilisi. Hotel Wi-Fi is standard, and the driver knows the road.
Does WhatsApp work in Georgia?
Yes. WhatsApp works normally, including voice and video calls, which surprises guests from Gulf countries where those calls are restricted. Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat work without blocking, and booking with us happens on WhatsApp. Keep your home SIM active in the second slot, or as an eSIM, because your bank sends verification codes by SMS to your original number; roaming for SMS only costs next to nothing.
Cards and Apple Pay in Georgia
Visa and Mastercard are accepted in hotels, malls, supermarkets and most restaurants in Tbilisi and Batumi, and Apple Pay and Google Pay work everywhere cards do. Tell your bank you are travelling. Saudi mada cards work only when co-badged with Visa or Mastercard, so bring a separate Visa or Mastercard. Hawa Georgia is paid on arrival in cash, US dollars or lari; card payers use a bank transfer to the company's official account, and we never use card terminals. The details are on the terms page.
Cash and exchange: when you need lari
Cash in lari is needed in markets, small cafés, villages, for tips and for taxis without the app. ATMs are everywhere, and fees depend on your own bank. Bring US dollars in clean notes, change a little at the airport, and use the city-centre bureaus for the rest.
Our car with driver is priced per car, not per person: a sedan at about 85 USD a day for three passengers, a minivan at about 100 USD for six, paid in cash at the start of each day, or in full on arrival when hotels are included. No prepayment, pay on arrival. Taxis and the private driver are compared in Bolt, Taxi or a Private Driver in Georgia? When Each One Wins, and the full driver service in Arabic-Speaking Driver in Georgia: Price per Car, No Deposit.
Plugs and useful apps
Electricity is 220 V with European two-pin plugs of types C and F, so Gulf three-pin chargers need a small adapter, sold at the airport and in any supermarket. Apps worth installing: Bolt, Google Maps with Georgia downloaded offline, Wolt and Glovo for food delivery, and a currency converter. The emergency number is 112, answered in English.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best SIM card in Georgia?
Magti for mountain trips to Kazbegi, Gudauri and Svaneti; inside Tbilisi and Batumi all three work well. Hawa Georgia guests receive a SIM with open internet for a week at no charge.
How much does a SIM card with data cost in Georgia?
About 10 to 30 GEL for a week with several GB, roughly 4 to 11 USD as of September 2026, depending on the operator and package. International eSIMs cost more per GB.
Does WhatsApp work in Georgia?
Yes, including voice and video calls, and Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat work as well. Nothing is blocked, and all contact with our office is on WhatsApp.
Does Apple Pay work in Georgia?
Yes, Apple Pay and Google Pay work wherever Visa and Mastercard are accepted, which covers hotels, malls, supermarkets and most restaurants in Tbilisi and Batumi.
Do Saudi mada cards work in Georgia?
Only when co-badged with Visa or Mastercard. Carry a separate Visa or Mastercard, notify your bank, and bring US dollars to exchange into lari.
Do I need to buy a SIM if I book with Hawa Georgia?
No. Every booking includes one SIM with open internet for a week, handed over by the driver at Tbilisi, Kutaisi or Batumi airport. A second SIM costs about 10 to 30 GEL in any operator shop.
Book your driver and collect your SIM on arrival
Send us your name, arrival date and flight number on WhatsApp and we confirm the booking in the same message: a private car with an Arabic- or English-speaking driver waiting with a sign carrying your name, a SIM with open internet for a week, and a direct line to our office. No prepayment, pay on arrival in cash, dollars or lari, and cancellation is free up to 48 hours before departure. Message us on WhatsApp Hawa Georgia and everything will be ready before you land.