Travelling Between Cities in Georgia: Trains, Marshrutkas, Buses

Between Georgian cities people travel by train, bus and minibus (marshrutka). The high-speed Stadler train takes you from Tbilisi to Batumi in 4 hours from 35 lari, and marshrutkas leave Tbilisi's bus stations for almost every town and village for 2 to 50 lari. Trains run on several routes to the west of the country, while the mountains, Kakheti and small towns are reachable only by road.

Below, by type of transport: how to buy a train ticket, which bus station your marshrutka leaves from, what the trip to popular destinations costs and what will change in 2027.

How to Choose: Train, Bus or Marshrutka

The train is the most comfortable way to Batumi: it is faster than the bus, smoother and does not depend on traffic. Marshrutkas are cheaper and run often, but they are cramped, luggage goes under your feet or on the roof, and drivers go fast. On mountain roads, especially the Georgian Military Road in winter, this matters, and for routes with many stops car rental in Georgia from 25 dollars a day is an alternative.

Trains

Trains in Georgia are run by the state company Georgian Railway. Modern double-decker Stadler trains run only to Batumi; on other routes the trains are older and slower, but cheaper.

Tbilisi-Batumi

Since a new tunnel opened in summer 2026, the train takes about 4 hours to Batumi instead of five. All year round there are at least two departures, in the morning around 8:00 and in the evening around 17:00, with 2-3 more added in summer. On the way the train stops at Kutaisi Airport, Ureki and Kobuleti.

• Second class: from 35 lari, 2+2 seats, air conditioning and sockets
• First class: about 75 lari, 2+1 seats, quieter
• Business class: about 125 lari, more legroom, a separate zone

In July and August tickets for Batumi trains sell out within a few days, so in high season people buy them 2-3 weeks ahead.

Other Routes

The narrow-gauge Borjomi-Bakuriani train, the famous "Kukushka", is not running for now: service is promised to resume in December 2026. Until then, skiers bound for Bakuriani, one of the main ski resorts in Georgia, take a minibus from Borjomi.

How to Buy a Ticket

• Georgian Railway website: sales open 20-30 days ahead, you need your passport number and an email
• TKT.GE: 10-20 days ahead, with a small service fee
• Station ticket office: no fee, cash accepted

You need your passport both when buying and on the train: the ticket is tied to it. An e-ticket on your phone is accepted, and choosing a seat costs 1 lari. Trains leave from the central railway station on Station Square, easy to reach by the Tbilisi Metro.

Tbilisi Bus Stations

Marshrutkas and buses leave not from one station but from several, depending on the direction. Mixing up the station is the most common mistake: you would have to cross the whole city to get to the right one.

Marshrutkas

Marshrutkas are Georgia's main intercity transport: they go where there are no trains, and on many routes run every 20-60 minutes. On some routes the ticket is bought at the bus station desk, on others you pay the driver when boarding, but always in cash only. Some marshrutkas leave on schedule and some leave when full, so it is worth arriving at the station 30-45 minutes early.

In May 2026 fares went up because of higher fuel prices. Fares from Tbilisi as of September 2026:

Kakheti is faster by shared taxi from Isani metro: a car with fellow passengers costs 25-30 lari per person and takes 1.5-2 hours. Mestia is easier with a change in Zugdidi: marshrutkas leave from Zugdidi around 10:00 for 30-40 lari and take 3-3.5 hours.

Intercity Buses

To Batumi, besides the train and marshrutka, there are large buses from Metro Georgia, City Bus and Omnibus: more than 30 departures a day from Ortachala bus station, 40-50 lari, 6-7 hours on the road. Since the Rikoti highway opened in December 2025 the road has become several hours shorter, and the buses have air conditioning, a luggage hold and sockets. Tickets are sold on the operators' websites and at the bus station.

From Georgia's airports there are separate services too: Georgian Bus coaches from Kutaisi Airport to Tbilisi and Batumi for 30 lari, timed to flight arrivals.

What Will Change in 2027

Georgia has adopted a rule banning minibuses from carrying passengers over distances of more than 150 km: such services are to switch to full-size buses. The ban was due to take effect in June 2025 but was postponed to 2027. For now marshrutkas to Kutaisi, Batumi, Zugdidi and Mestia run as usual, but by the new year fares and timetables on long routes may change.

Plane, Transfer and Taxi

Georgian Airways and Vanilla Sky fly from Tbilisi to Batumi: the flight takes about 45 minutes, in summer there are up to a dozen flights a week, and a ticket costs 150-345 lari. Counting the trip to the airport and check-in, the time saved compared to the train is small.

A transfer with a driver is convenient when there are several of you or you want to stop along the way: to Kakheti from 170 lari per car, from Tbilisi to Kutaisi from 220 lari. When deciding where to live, remember that the trip between the capital and the sea now takes half a day: it is one of the considerations when choosing between Tbilisi and Batumi.

In Short

• Tbilisi-Batumi: Stadler train 4 hours, second class from 35 ₾, in high season book 2-3 weeks ahead
• Train tickets by passport, on the Georgian Railway website 20-30 days ahead or at the station office
• Marshrutkas: cash only, arrive 30-45 minutes early, fares from 2 ₾ to Mtskheta to 50 ₾ to Mestia
• North and west from Didube, Kakheti and Mestia from Navtlughi, buses to Batumi from Ortachala
• From 2027 marshrutkas on routes over 150 km will be replaced by buses