One of the world's most beautiful airports is in ‘undiscovered' European country – and it is opening a new terminal

Scottish Sun

6 hours ago

One Sun Travel writer shared his thoughts when he visited the 'undiscovered' country
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.
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New terminal designs reveal a beautiful new airport in Mestia
Credit: LSG Solutions
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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
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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.