Section guide

Transportation and Cars in Georgia

Q: How do you get to Tbilisi Airport at night?

Bus 337 starts running at 7:00, and before that an app-based taxi is the only option. Order it 20-30 minutes before you head out, because fewer cars are available at night.

Q: What is the fastest way from Tbilisi to Batumi?

The Stadler train takes about 4 hours, and a second-class ticket starts at 35 lari. The flight takes about 45 minutes, but once you add the trip to the airport, the time you save is small.

Q: Does a child need a car seat?

Yes, by law a car seat is required for children under 7 years old, and driving without one carries a fine of 40 lari. Regular taxis almost never have seats, but Yandex Go offers a "Kids" fare.

Q: Can you leave for Azerbaijan overland?

The land border with Azerbaijan is closed at least until January 2, 2027. You can leave for Armenia through Sadakhlo and for Turkey through Sarpi at any hour of the day.

Q: How much does gas cost?

On October 1, 2026, Regular cost 3.86-3.94 lari a liter, and Premium cost 4.15-4.16 lari. At the gas station an attendant fills your car, and cards are accepted almost everywhere.

This section covers the airports, getting around Tbilisi, trains and marshrutkas, renting a car, driver's licenses and bringing in your own car. Choose what interests you, and you will see prices, travel times and answers to the most important questions.

1 laribuys a ride in Tbilisi and 90 minutes of transfers

~4 hourson the Stadler train from Tbilisi to Batumi

0toll roads in Georgia

How are you getting around?

The gist in 10 seconds

From the airport into the city

Bus 337 takes you from Tbilisi Airport to downtown for 1 lari and runs from 7:00 to 23:00
A Bolt or Yandex Go ride to downtown Tbilisi costs 30-40 lari
From Kutaisi Airport to Tbilisi, the bus takes 3-3.5 hours and costs 30 lari

Airport

From the Airport into the City

Georgia has three international airports, in Tbilisi, Kutaisi and Batumi. City buses run from the Tbilisi and Batumi airports to downtown, while most passengers landing in Kutaisi, where the low-cost airlines fly, continue on to Tbilisi or Batumi.

By bus from the airport

Tbilisi, bus 337 to downtown1 lari
Kutaisi, shuttle to the city center5 lari
Kutaisi, Georgian Bus to Tbilisi30 lari
Batumi, bus 10 to downtownfrom 70 tetri

City buses do not take cash, so you pay for the ride by card.

From the Airport into the City in GeorgiaTbilisi, Kutaisi, Batumi

How do you get from Kutaisi Airport to Tbilisi and Batumi?
How do you make an early flight out of Tbilisi?

In the arrivals hall

A SIM card first, then a transit card

Without mobile data you cannot order a taxi through an app. A Metromoney card costs 2 lari at the Bank of Georgia counter in the arrivals hall at Tbilisi Airport.

So you do not overpay

Do not accept rides from the taxi drivers who wait at the terminal exit
Exchange only a small amount at the airport, because the exchange offices there offer a rate 5-8% worse than in the city
If you land at 3-5 a.m., it is easier to book your lodging from the previous night, so you can check in right away

Mobile Service in GeorgiaCarriers, SIM cards, plans

The gist in 10 seconds

Getting around Tbilisi

A ride costs 1 lari and gives you 90 minutes of transfers between the metro and buses
An unlimited monthly pass costs 40 lari
After midnight, an app-based taxi is the only option left

Tbilisi

Getting Around Tbilisi

The metro, buses and minibuses share one fare and take the same card. There is no night service, so late in the evening an app-based taxi is the best way to get around, and you see the price before you even order.

Fares and passes

Single ride1 lari
1-day pass3 lari
1-month pass40 lari
1-year pass250 lari

A Metromoney card is sold at the ticket office of any metro station for 2 lari.

Public Transportation in TbilisiMetro, buses, paying the fare

How do you pay for a ride in Tbilisi?
Which bus goes to the Tbilisi neighborhood you need?

Metro

2 lines and 23 stations

Trains run from 6:00 to 24:00, and at rush hour they arrive every 2.5-3 minutes. The only transfer between the lines is at Station Square.

Taxis

4-7 lari for a short ride around downtown Tbilisi

People order taxis through Bolt, Yandex Go and Maxim, since Uber does not operate in Georgia. All three apps show the final price before you order.

Taxis in GeorgiaApps, prices, street taxis

How do you hail a taxi on the street without overpaying?
Where can you order a taxi with a child seat?

The gist in 10 seconds

Trips around the country

The Stadler train to Batumi takes about 4 hours, and tickets start at 35 lari
Marshrutkas cost from 2 to 50 lari, and they take cash only
Sadakhlo on the Armenian border and Sarpi on the Turkish border are open around the clock

A double-decker Stadler train of Georgian Railway

Trips

Between Georgia's Cities and Across the Border

The train is the most convenient way to reach Batumi, while marshrutkas, the shared minibuses, serve the mountains, Kakheti and the smaller towns. You can also travel overland to Armenia and Turkey, and at Sadakhlo and Sarpi people even cross the border on foot.

From Tbilisi, 2026

Mtskheta, marshrutka2 lari
Kazbegi, marshrutka20 lari
Kutaisi, marshrutka25 lari
Batumi, Stadler trainfrom 35 lari
Mestia, marshrutka50 lari

Intercity Transportation in GeorgiaTrains, marshrutkas, bus stations

How do you buy a train ticket to Batumi?
What changes for marshrutkas in 2027?

Tbilisi bus stations

Which station to leave from

DidubeMtskheta, Kazbegi, Gudauri, Kutaisi, Batumi, Borjomi
NavtlugiSighnaghi, Telavi and Mestia
Ortachalacoaches to Batumi, Yerevan and Istanbul

From Georgia to Armenia and Turkey OverlandCrossings, transportation, visa runs

How do you get from Tbilisi to Yerevan?
What do you need to come back to Georgia after a visa run?

The gist in 10 seconds

Driving in Georgia

An economy car costs from $25 a day in winter and $35-50 in summer
A foreign driver's license is valid for 1 year from your last entry
Exchanging it for a Georgian license costs 16 lari and involves no exam

Cars on the switchbacks near the Jvari Pass in Georgia — Switchbacks near the Jvari Pass

Driving

Renting a Car and Driver's Licenses in Georgia

Georgia has no toll roads, and you can pick up a rental car right at the airport. For the first year you drive on your foreign license, and after that you exchange it for a Georgian one without taking an exam.

Rental per day

Economy, November-Marchfrom $25
Economy, June-September$35-50
Crossover, November-Marchfrom $40
4x4 SUV, November-Marchfrom $60

For rentals of 15 days or more, the daily rate is 25-30% lower.

Renting a Car in GeorgiaPrices, deposit, insurance, fines

How large a deposit do rental companies in Georgia take?
Can you drive a rental car to Tusheti?

A year after you enter

License exchange with no exam

Licenses are exchanged at the Service Agency of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the procedure usually takes 15-20 minutes. You will need a certificate from the authority that issued your license, with an apostille and a translation, and the certificate is valid for 90 days.

Rules of the road

The speed limit is 60 km/h in town, 90 outside it and 110 on the expressway
The legal blood alcohol limit is 0.3 per mille
From December 1 to March 1, winter tires are required on mountain roads
After an accident, leave the car where it is and call 112, because without a police report the insurance will not pay

Driver's Licenses in GeorgiaExchange and requirements

Which documents do you need to exchange a license?
How many years is a Georgian license valid?

The gist in 10 seconds

Bringing in your own car

The excise tax on a left-hand-drive car no more than 6 years old is 1.5 lari per cubic centimeter, and for an older car it climbs to 4.5 lari
Passenger cars are exempt from VAT, and left-hand-drive electric cars are exempt from the excise tax as well
You can drive on foreign plates for up to 90 days without clearing customs

Used cars at the car market near Rustavi — Car market near Rustavi

Your own car

Importing and Registering a Car in Georgia

The biggest charge when you import a car is the excise tax, and since April 2, 2026, it has depended on the car's age, its engine size and which side the steering wheel is on. Next to it, the import duty looks small.

Sample calculation

A left-hand-drive 2018 car with a 2.5-liter engine

Import duty175 lari
VAT0
Excise tax11,250 lari
Total for customs clearance in 202611,425 lari

For a 2020 car with the same engine, the excise tax would come to 3,750 lari.

Importing and Registering a Car in GeorgiaDuty, excise tax, documents

How much does it cost to clear a right-hand-drive car through customs?
Who can import a car free of duty and excise tax?

After import

Registration within 60 days

Vehicle inspection20 lari
License plate80 lari
Registration certificate100 lari

With a complete set of documents, registration at the Service Agency of the Ministry of Internal Affairs usually takes about an hour.

Relocation exemption

One car per family can be brought in free of duty and excise tax if you hold a permanent residence permit or a Georgian passport
The car must have been registered in your name for at least 6 months, and you must present it to customs within 90 days
A temporary residence permit does not qualify you for the exemption

Residence Permits in GeorgiaTemporary and permanent residence permits

Your first trips

How to Start Getting Around Georgia

These four steps save you money and time from day one.

Internet

Buy a SIM card while you are still at the airport and install Bolt or Yandex Go. The Tbilisi Transport app shows the city's bus routes.

Transit card

A Metromoney card for 2 lari or a bank card gets you the 1 lari fare and transfers within 90 minutes.

Train tickets

Sales open on the Georgian Railway website 20-30 days ahead. In July and August, tickets to Batumi sell out 2-3 weeks before the trip.

License

A foreign driver's license is valid for a year from your last entry. Request the certificate for the exchange shortly before your visit to the Service Agency, since it is accepted for only 90 days.

FAQ

Questions About Transportation in Georgia

Can you pay cash on the bus?

Not in Tbilisi, where buses and minibuses take only a Metromoney card or a bank card. Cash is how you pay on intercity marshrutkas.

How do you get to Tbilisi Airport at night?

Bus 337 starts running at 7:00, and before that an app-based taxi is the only option. Order it 20-30 minutes before you head out, because fewer cars are available at night.

What is the fastest way from Tbilisi to Batumi?

The Stadler train takes about 4 hours, and a second-class ticket starts at 35 lari. The flight takes about 45 minutes, but once you add the trip to the airport, the time you save is small.

Does a child need a car seat?

Yes, by law a car seat is required for children under 7 years old, and driving without one carries a fine of 40 lari. Regular taxis almost never have seats, but Yandex Go offers a "Kids" fare.

Can you leave for Azerbaijan overland?

The land border with Azerbaijan is closed at least until January 2, 2027. You can leave for Armenia through Sadakhlo and for Turkey through Sarpi at any hour of the day.

How much does gas cost?

On October 1, 2026, Regular cost 3.86-3.94 lari a liter, and Premium cost 4.15-4.16 lari. At the gas station an attendant fills your car, and cards are accepted almost everywhere.

In short

Transportation in Georgia in Five Points

In Tbilisi, one ride costs 1 lari, and the metro and buses run until midnight.
You order taxis through Bolt, Yandex Go or Maxim, and you see the price in advance.
Between cities you travel by train or marshrutka, and marshrutkas take cash only.
You rent a car with a passport and a plastic driver's license, and for the first year you drive on your foreign license.
When you bring in your own car, the excise tax remains the biggest expense, so work it out before you buy.

Catalog of transportation companies in Georgia

Coming soon to the catalog: car rentals, transfers, bus carriers and vehicle inspection stations in Georgia

We are preparing listings of transportation companies and services in Georgia. We publish only what we have checked ourselves.

Soon

Car rentalsfrom economy cars to 4x4 SUVs

A taxi on Chavchavadze Avenue in Tbilisi

Soon

Transferscars with a driver across Georgia

Ortachala central bus station in Tbilisi

Soon

Bus carriersbuses between cities and countries

A vehicle inspection station on Kakheti Highway in Tbilisi

Soon

Vehicle inspectionstations and car registration

Pictured: an SUV on the road in Tusheti, a taxi on Chavchavadze Avenue in Tbilisi, Ortachala bus station in Tbilisi, and a vehicle inspection station on Kakheti Highway in Tbilisi.