Northern Turkey or Georgia for families? A pre-summer comparison

In short

• Northern Turkey is the easiest for families: halal food everywhere, bidet showers in hotels, mosques nearby, and the same time as Riyadh.
• Georgia suits travellers who want different mountain scenery and varied cities, from Tbilisi to Batumi.
• Both are at their best from June to September.

Nature

Northern Turkey has Uzungöl lake, the Ayder plateau in Rize, and tea terraces and forests running down to the Black Sea. Georgia has the towering mountains of Kazbegi, old Tbilisi and the beaches of Batumi.

The most beautiful places in northern Turkey →

Flights and visas

Direct flights run to Trabzon from Riyadh and Jeddah, with more in summer, and seasonally from Dammam; ordinary Saudi passport holders need no visa for Turkey for up to 90 days. Direct flights run from Riyadh to Tbilisi in about 3.5 hours, and Georgia is visa-free for up to a year with mandatory health insurance.

Flights from Riyadh to Trabzon →

Where to stay

Northern Turkey has chalets and bungalows with a private jacuzzi that families love, and most hotels have a bidet built into the toilet. Georgia has hotels and serviced apartments in Tbilisi and Batumi; not all hotels have a bidet shower, so we check with the hotel before booking.

Uzungöl hotels and chalets →

Food and atmosphere

Turkey is a Muslim country with halal food and mosques everywhere, which puts most families at ease. Georgia has halal restaurants in Tbilisi and Batumi, but not everywhere.

Can you combine them?

Yes, Batumi is close to the Turkish border, so many travellers start in northern Turkey and continue to Batumi. We find you the lowest available rates for your hotels at both stops.

Batumi hotels →