One of the world's most beautiful airports is in ‘undiscovered' European country – and it is opening a new terminal
Queen Tamar Airport serves the small ski town of Mestia and a new terminal building has been designed to draw on Georgia's history with a completely unique look.
4
4
Currently, Mestia has one small terminal which looks unlike any other in the world.
It's a German designed black and white structure made up of steel and glass bent into an unusual shape which looks like an L from the front.
In 2014, the quirky terminal was named one of the 10 most beautiful terminals in the world by the BBC.
Now, LSG Solutions has revealed its designs for a second timber terminal for Mestia Airport which is in the Svaneti region.
The 2,000-square-metre building will be made from timber and spread across a single story.
The layout inside will be open-plan and it will merge the departure and arrival areas.
In the centre will be skylights which the company said will have "in-built heated glass" and will allow "natural light to pour into the space."
Patterns throughout the terminal will honour Queen Tamar, who reigned during the country's Golden Age in the late 12th and early 13th centuries.
At the moment, there are only six flights per week out of Mestia, Georgia.
These flights operate between Mestia and Natakhtari (near Tbilisi), and there are two flights per week to Kutaisi.
World's biggest island to build three brand new airports – with one opening as soon as this year
4
But the new terminal will open this year and is set to be a game-changer, encouraging more travellers to visit Mestia, the highland townlet in northwest Georgia.
In the Svaneti region are ski resorts, hiking trails, and cultural landmarks.
One Sun Travel reporter went to Georgia and found a "cheaper and undiscovered part of Europe".
On a visit to Tbilisi, the capital, they discovered the ancient Narikala castle, and from there saw the colourful old town and dramatic Soviet-era apartment blocks.
It's a very affordable city with rooms costing just £40 per night and you can get a glass of wine for as little as £2.50.
There's also a traditional dish called khachapuri that they said "you can't miss".
Described as a 'cousin' of pizza, it's a canoe-shaped dough full of melted cheese, topped with an egg.
Here's what the world's most travelled man thought of Georgia when he visited the country.
The lesser-known European destination with hot springs, cheap wine and underrated food now has new flights to four UK cities.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
18-07-2025
- Daily Mail
The overlooked city crowned cheapest for a summer holiday revealed - with £2 pints and cheap flights from the UK
For travellers craving a summer escape that won't burn a hole through their pockets, one overlooked city has emerged as Europe's top budget-friendly destination. According to a new study, Georgia's capital, Tbilisi, outshines 69 other European cities for affordability, in line with combining low costs with an abundance of cultural and historical attractions. The research, which compared the average cost of hotels, meals, drinks, transport, and the number of free attractions, found that a weekend stay costs just £136 - significantly cheaper that major tourist cities such as Paris and Rome. In Tbilisi, a pint of local beer is just £1.64, while a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant costs less than £33. Budget diners can even two lunchtime meals for around £16.50 without compromising on quality and flavour. In Tbilisi, visitors can find a range of hotels to suit different budgets, with options from hostels to more upscale hotels. Budget-friendly accommodations, including hostels and budget hotels, can be booked for as low as £7-£30 per night on KAYAK and Skyscanner, while mid-range hotels can range from £50 to £200 per night, according to the research carried out by luggage storage company Bounce. The capital's food, drink and accommodation are not only reasonably priced, but it also boasts a range of free culture-rich experiences. Tourists can explore the Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi (pictured) - one of the largest religious buildings in the world - free of charge Tourists can explore the Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi - one of the largest religious buildings in the world - free of charge. Its iconic gold dome and landscaped gardens make it a favourite for architecture fans, photographers or those who want an impressive selfie for their Instagram. Another free must-see is the Bridge of Peace, a futuristic pedestrian bridge over the Mtkvari River, which glistens at night with thousands of sparkling LED lights. Georgia's diverse and distinctive cuisine is also a highlight, especially for fans of hearty dishes that incorporate a range of fresh herbs and spices. Visitors are urged to try Khachapuri, a cheesy, doughy dish often described as 'Georgian pizza,' as reported by the Mirror. Khinkali, Georgia's iconic dumplings, are also a must-try, characterised by their distinctive shape and a twisted dough 'crown' at the top. The meat-filled dumplings are known for their juicy broth inside, which you slurp out before eating the rest of the dumpling. Transportation in Tbilisi is surprisingly inexpensive, with a 1km taxi ride costing about the same as a pint, while fares for public transport are even cheaper - averaging just 27p. Transportation in Tbilisi is surprisingly inexpensive, with a 1km taxi ride costing about the same as a pint, while fares for public transport are even cheaper - averaging just 27p Meanwhile, a recent study put Prague at the top of the list of destinations that promise the best nightlife, with factors such as food and drink prices, safety and venue density per square kilometer - making bar crawls easier - all considered. The study by Casinova revealed the top ten party destinations in Europe ahead of this summer and found that the Czech capital won hands down. Already established as a popular stag party destination thanks to low-cost flights from destinations across Europe - with flights from around £25 - the city has worked hard to make its nightlife a more sophisticated affair in recent years. Prices for a tipple
Daily Mail
18-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Influencer who had 21 surrogate babies with her murderer husband makes a dramatic comeback: Mother, 27, who 'disappeared' for 2 years throws a lavish party to celebrate her husband, 60, being freed from prison
Nearly two years after she disappeared from social media, a Russian 'mumfluencer' who welcomed 21 children via surrogacy with her criminal millionaire husband has finally made a comeback. Kristina Ozturk, 27, has made a dramatic return to Instagram to celebrate the release of disgraced Turkish bus baron Galip Ozturk from prison after serving two years of his eight-year sentence pertaining to drug-related charges. Galip was born in 1965 in the Ayvacık district of Samsun and is the founder of Metro Turism, one of Turkey's largest intercity passenger transportation companies. He was already on the run, having fled Istanbul to live in Georgia in 2018 after a court of appeals upheld his life imprisonment sentence for allegedly ordering the murder of a Metro Tourism company employee - Kuvvet Köseoğlu - in 1996. After months of radio silence against the backdrop of Galip's incarceration - with her last Instagram post dating back to November 2023 - Kristina Thursday shared an Instagram Reel on Thursday, documenting the family's preparations for his return to their home in Georgia. 'It has been done,' Kristina captioned the clip, which showed her dressing up for her husband as the couple's extended family - including Galip's adult children from a previous marriage - arrived to celebrate It comes after fans expressed their concern for Kristina after one person shared a tearful snap of the content creator in a post on Reddit titled 'Sign of Life' - referring to the extended period of silence on her socials. However, it has now become clear that Kristina - who posted a screenshot of a purported video call with her step-children on June 28 - was crying tears of joy after being informed Galip had secured a supervised release from prison. To mark the occasion, Kristina hosted a lavish party at their house in Batumi - where Galip and Kristina, who is 32 years his junior - met and fell in love. Turkish media outlet Haberler on June 30 reported that the founder of intercity bus service Metro Tourism has been released from jail under the condition of 'supervised release'. Grainy CCTV footage obtained by the publication showed a man believed to be Galip embracing his relatives, who were waiting 'at the door' of the correctional facility, before leaving in a car. Kristina, originally from Moscow, met wealthy hotel owner Galip while holidaying in the coastal town of Batumi in Georgia. In an interview with Fabulous, Kristina described their first meeting as love at first sight, adding the Turkish businessman was her 'mentor, guide and fairytale prince all rolled into one'. Galip added: 'She is so easy to be with, she always has a smile on her lips and yet at the same time is shy and mysterious. 'She was the kind of wife I always wanted for myself, an uncut diamond where I saw what a pure and kind heart she had.' Things progressed quickly for the couple, with Kristina and her young daughter Vika moving to Batumi to be with Galip. Kristina said that despite the fact Galip was 32 years older than her, and had adult children of his own, he had no objections to having a large family. The couple hit headlines in 2021 when Kristina revealed they spent £138,000 (€168,000) on surrogates between March 2020 and July 2021 - with 20 of their babies being born within one year. Kristina also claimed she and Galip planned on having 105 biological children - all conceived via surrogacy - before the businessman was arrested three years after a special forces op unearthed 'particularly large amounts' of drugs at his house. In late May 2022, The Mtavari TV channel broadcast footage of special forces raiding Galip's hotel in the coast of Georgia after his arrest. Galip's arrest was later confirmed by Georgia's Finance Ministry spokeswoman Nato Natroshvili in a statement. The fugitive businessman was on the run from authorities in Turkey, having fled to Georgia in 2018 after an appeal court approved his life sentence for instigating murder back in 1996. In an emotional post shared on her Instagram account on June 9, 2022, Kristina wrote: 'The feeling of loneliness does not leave me even with such a large number of close people around. 'I'm used to my husband always being at home, always around. Since Galip has been working exclusively from home for the last few years, we spent time together constantly during the day. At night, when the children were put to bed, we chatted incessantly. 'If I went to Tbilisi or Istanbul, we chatted on the phone for hours, all night long. 'Now it's more difficult than ever for me, I can't stand silence, I can't stand his absence, I can't sleep and wake up alone, I can't see his empty workplace... I can't see his smile, I can't hear his voice, I can't feel his embrace.' Shortly after Galip's arrest, Kristina also admitted she struggled to explain what had happen to her oldest daughter Vika. While Kristina has yet to comment on Galip's alleged release from, she frequently used her platform to talk about his incarceration - expressing she 'couldn't stand his absence' in one post. In February 2023, Kristina's bus baron husband - who was convicted and sentenced to life in prison for a 1996 murder in Turkey before he fled to Georgia - was handed an eight-year sentence on drug-related charges that his lawyer called 'made up'. The following month, Kristina bundled up her oldest surrogate baby, Mustafa, and travelled to the Georgian prison to visit Galip - a trip that she documented on Instagram in a post titled 'The Longest 24 Hours'. 'It felt like we were newlyweds,' Kristina mused, recalling the moment she set eyes on her jailed husband. 'Both were nervous, their palms were sweating, their thoughts were colliding and gathering.' 'It's hard to talk about some household things or joys when all thoughts are far away and busy just waiting for my husband to come home to us.' In September 2023, she penned a heartwarming post after Galip's aunt came to visit the brood. 'Times are difficult, and communication with loved ones becomes especially valuable,' she wrote. 'We all need support and understanding. When loved ones help us get through a difficult time, it's really wonderful. 'Love helps us overcome difficulties and makes our lives brighter.' On her birthday in 2023, Kristina also marked a 'new beginning' for her journey. 'I started a blog when my kids were just coming out, and my goal was to share the hardships and joys of motherhood. But as often happens, life does not go as planned, and today I'm at a tipping point,' she explained. 'All the challenges I've faced helped me grow and learn, and my first attempts will probably be chaotic, but I believe I can succeed. I decided to live. For the next seven months, the 'momfluencer' kept her social media channels up-to-date with information about Ozturk's legal trials as well as updates about her brood and reflections on surrogacy and parenthood. Then she went dark. The last time Kristina posted to her Instagram feed was on 14 November 2023 to mark her eldest daughter, Victoria's ninth birthday. Unlike her step-siblings, Victoria was not conceived via surrogacy; she was born in 2014 from Kristina's previous marriage. Today, the overwhelming majority of comments under Kristina's Instagram posts are from concerned followers enquiring about her whereabouts and well-being - as the 'momfluencer' with her brood of 22 stays mum. Apart from her eldest, Vika, and son Mustafa, Kristina is also a mother to Maryam, Ayrin, Alice, Hassan, Judy, Harper, Teresa, Hussein, Anna, Isabella, Ismail, Mehmet and Ahmet - all of whom are three - and Ali, Kristina, Alena, Sarah, Lockman and Alparslan, who are two years old. Her and Galip's youngest child, daughter Olivia, was born in January 2021.
Daily Mirror
10-07-2025
- Daily Mirror
British expat moves to Spanish coast and points out downside many don't realise
A woman who moved to Spain shared a drawback of tourist season (stock image) (Image: Getty Images) For countless Brits, swapping the dreary, overcast weather of the UK for Spain's glorious sunshine represents the ultimate fantasy. It's easy to understand why this Mediterranean nation has captured the hearts of so many expats seeking a new life abroad. Boasting roughly 3,000 hours of annual sunshine - nearly twice what Britain offers - alongside stunning coastlines, mouth-watering cuisine and a more relaxed lifestyle, the appeal is undeniable. Yet beneath this seemingly perfect exterior, relocating to Spain isn't without its challenges, as one British resident has candidly revealed. Georgia, who runs the TikTok account Geo in Spain, has opened up about the less glamorous realities of her life in Malaga, confessing that despite adoring her Spanish home, "there are some things I don't like". The coastal city's magnetic pull for holidaymakers has become a significant source of frustration - particularly throughout the sweltering summer months. Local pubs and eateries become absolutely "super busy" with visitors during peak season, leaving residents battling for tables. "You're probably going to have to make reservations for the places you would normally go without any trouble," the expat cautioned. Georgia explained that during the peak months Malaga is packed with tourists (Image: Getty) Georgia elaborated: "It's the same with the beaches and pools. Obviously, everything gets super busy, so it's good if you can plan your day out." She suggested hitting popular venues first thing in the morning, before the tourist hordes arrive. "Or if you have a pool at home, just try to find solutions to get away from those problems," she advised. Another gripe during the peak holiday season is the nightmare of finding a parking spot: "Parking in summer is horrendous - and I am just trying to go to work. "I can never find parking because people come on holiday, leave their car there and don't move it for a week." Georgia also disclosed that securing a parking space to rent is both challenging and costly. It's not only expatriates who are feeling the pinch. Spanish locals have been expressing their dismay at overtourism within the country, often through public demonstrations. Earlier this year, saw tens of thousands march through 40 cities throughout Spain. Rallying behind the banner "Let's end the housing business", the protests are set to kick off in Madrid before spreading to other major cities including Barcelona, Valencia, Malaga, as well as the Balearic and Canary Islands.
