One of the world's most beautiful airports is in ‘undiscovered' European country – and it is opening a new terminal
FLY IN One of the world's most beautiful airports is in 'undiscovered' European country – and it is opening a new terminal
A REMOTE airport in Georgia that has been dubbed as one of the most beautiful, is getting 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
New terminal designs reveal a beautiful new airport in Mestia
Credit: LSG Solutions
4
The current terminal was previously dubbed as being one of the world's most beautiful
Credit: Alamy
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
There will be huge skylights in the terminal ceilings
Credit: LSG Solutions
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.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
an hour ago
- Metro
A new 'passage to the peaks' train will connect 6 stunning destinations
Vast forests of fir trees, snow-frosted mountains, sparkling blue lakes. These are just some of the stunning snapshots you might spot from a brand-new train that's set to connect six bucket list destinations in North America. Journeying through the heart of the Canadian Rockies, the Passage to the Peaks route is launching in summer 2026 – and there's a choice between two and 10-day-long experiences, depending on how much time you've got on your hands. The starting point can either be Banff, Alberta – famous for Mounts Rundle and Cascade, which can be spotted looming over the horizon – or Jasper, another mountain town centred around the Jasper National Park. Expect hot springs and lodges galore. Next on the route, from railway tour company Rocky Mountaineer, is Lake Louise, a glacier-fed body of water which, in the summer, is a popular canoeing spot. Amid temperatures as low as -14.9°C, it freezes over in the winter, and skiers flock to the Lake Louise resort, boasting 4,200 acres of slopes spread across an impressive four mountains. Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration. Sign up here. Right at the confluence of the North and South Thompson rivers, the next stop, Kamloops, crosses the border into British Columbia. During the summer, it's popular with hikers and bikers alike – and if you're into archaeology, the reconstructed Secwepemc village is 2,000 years old, spanning roughly one kilometre. Along the way, you'll also be able to spot the likes of Rogers Pass, Shuswap Lake, Castle Mountain, the Spiral Tunnels, and Pyramid Falls – all through the train's glass-topped ceiling, allowing for panoramic views even when you're chugging along. Worried the train won't fully capture the route's beauty? Fear not: you'll be able to get off to explore along the way. Each package features many of the same spots, but the longer it is, the more time you'll have. The two-day rail options tick off Lake Louise, Jasper and Kamloops, while the 10-day 'Grand Adventure' spans Kamloops, Calgary, Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper, and the Columbia Icefield (AKA, the largest in the Rockies at 125 square miles). The latter includes nine nights in total (you'll stay overnight at each stop rather than sleeping in a carriage en route), with two days on board the train itself. Wondering how much it'll set you back? You'll need to get your piggy bank ready, as prices range from £1,670 for the two-day option right up to £7,201 for the full shebang. You'll need to snap up your tickets quickly, though, as the routes will only be running in summer 2026 as a special edition. Looking for a train adventure slightly closer to home? Plans for a direct train between Berlin and London have been announced – and it could significantly chop journey times. More Trending This month, Keir Starmer signed a 'first of its kind' treaty with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, which, as well as strengthening the relationship between the UK and Germany, also plans to establish a direct route between the capital and three German cities. At the moment, those looking to travel between the two cities need to take a Eurostar train from St Pancras to Bruxelles-Midi, changing for a service to Cologne and, finally, to Berlin Hauptbahnhof. While we don't have any specifics right now, the plans have the potential to change how millions of people travel between the UK and Germany, with an estimated 3,200,000 Brits having visited in 2023. Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ MORE: I spent a weekend in Ireland's best-kept secret — the rain didn't matter at all MORE: I stayed in one of the world's biggest Four Seasons resorts — it was the ultimate reset MORE: I spent five days in the less-crowded Canaries alternative that's closer to the UK
Daily Mirror
3 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Inside the Balkan city 3 hours from UK with some of the cleanest Blue Flag beaches
This beautiful coastal city is surrounded by clean beaches and crystal-clear waters Residing in the UK and journeying within Europe allows you to hop on a plane for just over two hours and land somewhere entirely different, with contrasting weather, a new language, and unique culture to discover. This is precisely what led me to an impromptu summer holiday in a sunny locale where the language was almost alien to me. Yet, it wasn't the local cuisine or peculiarities of Dubrovnik that took me by surprise, although I must admit my first encounter with Noah's Ark shell – a local type of mollusc – in my seafood pasta was quite startling. What truly amazed me was the pristine appearance and cleanliness of its old town and surrounding Blue Flag beaches, despite being heavily frequented by tourists. Indeed, Dubrovnik often ranks among European cities with the cleanest seawater, with places like Lapad promenade and Copacabana Beach standing as testament to this. One of the city's major advantages is its closeness to the Balkan bucket list destinations of Kotor Bay in Montenegro, and Mostar in Bosnia. There are only a handful of notable excursions departing from Dubrovnik, including three boat tours exploring the nearby islands, beaches, and caves. However, day trips to Kotor Bay and Mostar are essential, as these ancient towns, besides their obvious beauty, offer insights into the region's historical context and cultural distinctiveness. Beyond the usual seasonal activities, the food in Dubrovnik can be extraordinary — but only if you know the right places to dine. Tourist traps can be found in every corner, and they're not always as obvious as a three-star restaurant on the promenade with picture menus and poorly translated dish descriptions. Rather than being lured by the allure of traditional-looking eateries boasting breathtaking harbour views, I try to dine like a local — and I usually succeed. One of the most memorable meals I enjoyed in Dubrovnik was at an unpretentious place named Restaurant Maskeron, complete with a charming little patio. Another top pick of a similar ilk was Restoran Madonna. Interestingly, neither establishment is situated anywhere near a body of water, which is telling. Ironically, the best meal I savoured there came from a local bakery perched atop Bellevue Beach. There's something uniquely satisfying about tucking into fresh burek and sipping on drinkable yoghurt before a relaxing day spent seaside.
Metro
4 hours ago
- Metro
Antiques Roadshow expert reluctantly values rare spoon and discovers it's worth
A man has been left shocked after being told a set of silver spoons that once belonged to Captain James Cook are worth £20,000. On last night's episode of the long-running BBC series Antiques Roadshow, the experts were at Sefton Park Palm House in Liverpool. It was there that expert Gordon Foster met a descendant of the explorer, who came along with a 'humble' set of items he was keen to get valued. As Gordon explained: 'Eagle-eyed viewers of the roadshow would know we don't often feature silver spoons unless they are something special…and these are.' He went on to share that the spoons were a Georgian pair from 1750 that had Cook's initials engraved on them. On the episode, a repeat from 2022, the man explained that he was the 'fifth grand nephew' of Cook. With one of the spoons passed down as a family heirloom, he obtained the other in an auction after discovering that his item had once been part of a set. He recalled how there'd been 'no limit' on how much he'd spend to have the set in his possession. The items were used by Cook during his journey navigating and claiming Australia in 1770. But as said on the show, while he was celebrated in his day for mapping 'uncharted lands', he now remains a controversial figure for his 'colonial exploits and violent encounters with Indigenous peoples'. When it came time to share his valuation, Gordon said that similar spoons could usually be purchased for around £40. 'But the question is, how much does the provenance add to the spoon? And I can tell you this provenance is like gold dust. This takes this spoon in a completely different stratosphere of value,' he said. 'It is quite incredible. I can say with a lot of confidence that one spoon is worth £10,000.' As the crowd gathered around them gasped, the man's eyebrows raised, and he nodded while taking in the extraordinary value of his items. After briefly being left speechless, he exclaimed: 'That's extraordinary.' Gordon then thanked the man for bringing the items and 'sharing them with us'. More Trending Captain Cook was a British Royal Navy officer, explorer and cartographer who led three important voyages of exploration to the Pacific and Southern Oceans between 1768 and 1779. He was also the first European to visit the east coast of Australia and the Hawaiian Islands. However, he was killed in 1779 during his second visit to Hawaii when a dispute with the native Hawaiians turned violent. View More » Antiques Roadshow is streaming on BBC iPlayer. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you.
