What currency does Georgia use and how much is one euro in lari?

Georgia’s currency is the lari (GEL, symbol ₾), not the euro, and it floats freely against world currencies. As checked on 26 October 2026, the National Bank of Georgia’s official reference rate puts one euro at 2.9082 lari, a figure you can verify any day at gtour.ge/data and gtour.ge/today.

The nuance matters for budgeting: the official rate is a mid-market benchmark, while banks, exchange offices (known locally as “sakur-valuto”) and ATMs apply a small spread either side of it, typically a percent or two. Cards work almost everywhere in cities, so for most visitors the practical question is less “where to change euros” and more “how many lari will this coffee, khachapuri or taxi actually cost,” which we cover below.

The lari in brief

• Official name: lari, ISO code GEL, symbol ₾
• Subdivision: 1 lari = 100 tetri
• Issuer: the National Bank of Georgia, which sets a daily reference rate used by banks and for customs and tax purposes
• Convertibility: fully convertible in practice, with no restriction on bringing euros, dollars or most major currencies into the country

Today’s rate, and how to check it yourself

On 26 October 2026 the National Bank’s reference rates were approximately 2.9082 lari per euro, 2.5966 per US dollar and 3.4665 per British pound. These move daily, sometimes by a full percentage point around holidays or regional news, so treat any printed figure, including this one, as a snapshot rather than a guarantee. For the live number and a running log of recent days, see gtour.ge/data and gtour.ge/today, which we update directly from the official feed.

Cash, cards and ATMs

Contactless and chip cards are accepted in nearly all hotels, restaurants and supermarkets in Tbilisi, Batumi, Kutaisi and the main tourist towns; small guesthouses and rural stalls, especially in Svaneti, Tusheti or Racha, often still prefer cash. ATMs are widespread in cities and issue lari only, with international cards generally charged a foreign-transaction fee by the home bank rather than by the Georgian machine. Street exchange offices give rates close to the interbank figure and rarely charge commission, but always ask for the final lari amount before handing over notes, and avoid changing money at airport kiosks if a better rate is available in town.

Tipping

Tipping is appreciated but not obligatory. A rough local norm is 5 to 10 percent in restaurants if service was good and a bill does not already include a service charge, rounding up for taxis, and 5 to 10 lari per day for a driver or guide on a multi-day private tour such as those listed at gtour.ge/tours. Hotel porters and housekeeping staff do not expect a tip as a rule, though a small note is never refused.

Typical prices, as a rough guide

Prices vary by city and season, so use these as a starting point rather than a promise; always convert at the day’s rate from gtour.ge/data.

For private transport with no surprises, our fixed airport transfer and car-with-driver rates are quoted in euros from the start, for example a sedan from Tbilisi airport to the city centre at a flat €25; see the full list at gtour.ge/services.

Where this comes from

The lari rate quoted here is the National Bank of Georgia’s official daily reference rate, checked on 26 October 2026 and refreshed on gtour.ge/data and gtour.ge/today. Background on currency convertibility and Georgia’s exchange regime draws on the Legislative Herald of Georgia, consumer price trends on Geostat, the National Statistics Office of Georgia, and general visitor guidance on Georgia.Travel, the Georgian National Tourism Administration and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia. Because exchange rates move daily and small-business prices rise with inflation, always re-check the current figure before converting a large sum.

Sources

• Legislative Herald of Georgia
• Geostat, National Statistics Office of Georgia
• Georgia.Travel official visitor information
• Georgian National Tourism Administration
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, travel information
• Government of Georgia portal