Tbilisi Public Transport Card: Everything You Need to Know for Easy Travel

You land in Tbilisi, find a bus stop, and watch locals tap a small plastic card while you dig for coins. Fares have risen since 2024, many city marshrutkas have moved away from cash, and the rules for transfers are not obvious from the street. A single card solves most of this. Here is how the Tbilisi Public Transport Card works in 2026, where to get it, what it costs, and where it stops being useful.

What the Tbilisi Transport Card Is and What It Covers

The Tbilisi Public Transport Card is a rechargeable plastic card. Locals often call it “MetroMoney” or just the “Transport Card.” Either name works when you ask for it at a ticket booth. It replaces cash on most urban routes, so you stop worrying about exact change.

In 2026, the card works on:

• Tbilisi Metro (all lines)
• Tbilisi city buses (all routes)
• Tbilisi city marshrutkas (minibuses)
• The Rike Park to Narikala Fortress cable car
• The Turtle Lake cable car

The marshrutka coverage is the biggest change. Before 2024, many city minibuses were cash-only. Now most are integrated with the card system, and tapping is the standard way to pay.

How to Buy, Load and Use Your Card, Step by Step

Getting the card takes about five minutes if you know where to go.

1. Buy it. Go to any metro station ticket booth, or to a Bank of Georgia Express branch. Most branches across the city sell the card. Ask for a “Transport Card” or “MetroMoney.”
2. Pay the card fee. The card costs 3 GEL. This is a purchase fee, not credit.
3. Load an initial balance. Add something like 10–20 GEL for your first days.
4. Top up when needed. Use a metro station booth or self-service machine. You can also use a Bank of Georgia ATM or Express payment machine and select the “Transport Card” option.
5. Tap and go. Touch the card to the reader at the metro gate. On buses and city marshrutkas, tap on the validator near the driver, or at the middle doors of a bus.

Online top-up through Bank of Georgia’s mobile app or online banking is possible if you hold a Georgian bank account. It is generally not available for foreign bank cards, so visitors should plan on topping up in person.

Fares and the 90-Minute Transfer Rule

A single ride on the metro, a bus or a city marshrutka costs 1.20 GEL in 2026. That is up from 1 GEL in 2024. Even so, it remains one of the cheapest city transport systems you will find in the region.

The transfer rule is where the card really pays off. Within 90 minutes of your first fare payment, further rides on the metro, buses or city marshrutkas are free. The rule works across all three modes. You can take a bus to a metro station, ride the metro, then catch a marshrutka to your final stop. You pay only once, as long as you finish within the window.

Plan sightseeing loops with this in mind. A single 1.20 GEL payment can carry you through two or three connections, so a short cross-city trip often costs less than a bottle of water.

Metro, Buses and Marshrutkas: What to Expect on Each

Tbilisi Metro

The metro is the fastest way to cross the city when traffic builds up. There are two main lines, the Akhmeteli-Varketili Line and the Saburtalo Line, with a third line under development. Trains run roughly from 06:00 to 00:00. Peak hours (07:00–10:00 and 17:00–20:00) bring trains every 5–7 minutes. Off-peak waits stretch to 10–15 minutes, and late evenings to 15–20 minutes.

You tap the card at the turnstile, and the gate opens. Inside, a warm, slightly metallic breeze pushes through the tunnel just before each train arrives. It is a good cue to step back from the platform edge.

City buses

The yellow and blue city buses cover areas the metro does not reach. Routes are marked with numbers and destinations, and stops are frequent. Buses generally run from 07:00 to 23:00, though some routes start earlier or finish later. Expect a bus every 10–20 minutes on typical routes, and longer gaps in the evening or on less popular lines.

City marshrutkas

These smaller minibuses run fixed routes but can be flagged down between stops. The route is displayed on the front window. They are very frequent, often leaving when full, with typical waits of 5–15 minutes on popular routes. In 2026, almost all of them accept the card by tapping on a validator inside the vehicle. Some drivers may still take cash, but do not count on it.

Cable Cars: What the Card Covers and What It Doesn’t

Two of Tbilisi’s cable cars are part of the card system, and each ride costs 3 GEL (up from 2.5 GEL in 2024):

• Rike Park to Narikala Fortress: generally open 10:00 to 22:00, though hours may vary by season. Tap your card at the entrance gate. Late in the day, the cabin lifts you above the Kura River while the old town lights come on below. It is a calm, quiet ride compared with the street noise.
• Turtle Lake cable car: seasonal, typically May to October, from 11:00 to 22:00. Tap your card at the entrance gate.

Cable cars outside Tbilisi are a different story. The Batumi Argo Cable Car, which links the port area with Anuria Mountain, costs about 35 GEL return in 2026 (up from 30 GEL in 2024). You buy tickets at the lower station, and the Tbilisi card does not work there. In Chiatura, the mining town known for its Soviet-era cable car network, rides are free. The network was being replaced and modernised in 2024, so expect a mix of newer and older cabins, and check locally which lines are running before you go.

Beyond the City: Trains and Marshrutkas That Need Other Payment

The transport card stays in Tbilisi. For travel between cities, you use different systems.

Georgian Railway

General information is at railway.ge, and online booking is at tickets.railway.ge. Booking online is highly recommended, especially for Tbilisi–Batumi. You can also buy tickets at Tbilisi Central Station (Vagzlis Moedani) and other major stations.

• Tbilisi–Batumi (Stadler Kiss double-decker): about 3.5–4 hours. Second Class is 40–55 GEL, First Class 60–90 GEL, and Business Class 80–120 GEL.
• Tbilisi–Batumi sleeper: an overnight service. Prices run 55–110 GEL depending on whether you choose a 2-berth or 4-berth coupe.
• Tbilisi–Kutaisi: trains stop at Kutaisi International Airport (Kopitnari station) for 12–18 GEL, and at Kutaisi city (Rioni station) for 6–12 GEL.

Intercity marshrutkas

Marshrutkas remain the backbone of intercity travel, and in 2026 they are almost exclusively cash-only. You pay the driver, usually after departure. Know which station to use:

• Didube Bus Station (Didube Metro): Western Georgia and the mountains, including Kutaisi, Batumi, Mestia, Kazbegi/Stepantsminda, Borjomi and Bakuriani.
• Ortachala Bus Station (near Ortachala Bridge): Southern and Eastern Georgia, including the Kakheti region, Armenia and Azerbaijan.
• Samgori Bus Station (Samgori Metro): Eastern Georgia, including Kakheti and Rustavi.

Timetables are informal. Marshrutkas leave when full, or on a rough schedule for longer routes. Arrive at the station, look for your destination in Georgian or English, and ask the driver or other passengers about the next departure. Luggage goes on the roof rack, for a small extra fee, or in the back.

Taxi Apps and 4×4 Hire as Backup

When the metro is closed or your destination is off the bus map, Bolt and Yandex Go fill the gap. Bolt dominates in Tbilisi, Batumi, Kutaisi and other major towns, and Yandex Go is also widely used in Tbilisi. Uber does not operate directly in Georgia.

1. Download the app and register with your phone number.
2. Enter your pickup point and destination.
3. Choose a car type, such as Economy or Comfort.
4. Confirm the fare shown.
5. Pay by linked card, or choose “Cash” and pay the driver. Card payment is generally recommended.

Short rides within Tbilisi start from around 4–6 GEL. Fares rise with distance, demand and time of day, so a rainy evening can cost noticeably more.

For the mountains, public transport and city cards are not enough. Roads to Ushguli in Svaneti, to Tusheti, and to parts of Kazbegi such as Gergeti Trinity Church can be unpaved and steep, especially outside peak summer. You will want a 4×4 with high ground clearance. Rental agencies in Tbilisi, Kutaisi and Batumi offer them, and in Mestia or Stepantsminda you can often hire a local driver with a 4×4 for specific excursions. If you have not driven mountain roads before, hiring a driver is the safer choice, and many double as guides. In peak season, book ahead.

2026 Budget Reality

Here is how typical daily transport costs look in Tbilisi, using 2026 fares.

• Budget: metro, bus and marshrutka only. Four paid journeys a day cost 4.80 GEL, and many days will be cheaper thanks to the 90-minute transfer rule. Add the 3 GEL card fee once, plus your first load of 10–20 GEL.
• Mid-range: six paid journeys (7.20 GEL), one cable car ride (3 GEL), and one short Bolt or Yandex Go ride (about 4–6 GEL). That is roughly 14–16 GEL a day.
• Comfortable: taxi apps for most trips, with a few metro rides when it is faster. Short rides start from 4–6 GEL each, so costs depend on how often you ride and how long the trips are.

Refunds and Leaving the City

Before you fly out, you can get the remaining balance on the card refunded at Bank of Georgia branches. The 3 GEL purchase fee is typically non-refundable. If you plan to return to Tbilisi, keep the card. It works the same way next trip.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Buying a card and loading only a tiny amount. Load at least 10 GEL, so you are not stuck at a gate with 0.50 GEL left.
• Tapping again after transferring inside 90 minutes. The window exists so you do not pay twice. Watch your balance on your first transfer to see how it works.
• Expecting the card to work outside Tbilisi. It does not cover the Batumi cable car, and intercity marshrutkas want cash.
• Relying on online top-up. It is generally limited to Georgian bank accounts, not foreign cards.
• Waiting for a printed timetable for intercity marshrutkas. Go to the station, ask the driver, and be ready for them to leave when full.
• Booking Tbilisi–Batumi trains late. Book at tickets.railway.ge in advance for popular dates.
• Looking for Uber. Use Bolt or Yandex Go instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does the Tbilisi Public Transport Card cost in 2026?

The card itself costs 3 GEL, a non-refundable purchase fee. This is up from 2 GEL in 2024. You then load credit on top, and most visitors start with 10–20 GEL. A single metro, bus or city marshrutka ride costs 1.20 GEL.

Where can I buy and top up the card?

You can buy it at any metro station ticket booth or at most Bank of Georgia Express branches. Top-ups are available at metro station booths and self-service machines, and at Bank of Georgia ATMs and Express machines using the “Transport Card” option. Online top-up generally needs a Georgian bank account.

How does the 90-minute transfer rule work?

After you pay your first fare, further rides on the metro, buses or city marshrutkas within 90 minutes are free. It applies across all three modes. You could go from a bus to the metro to a marshrutka and pay only the first 1.20 GEL, provided you finish within the window.

Can I use the transport card on intercity marshrutkas or the Batumi cable car?

No. Intercity marshrutkas are almost exclusively cash-only, paid to the driver. The Batumi Argo Cable Car, at about 35 GEL return, sells tickets at the lower station and does not accept the Tbilisi card. The card works only on Tbilisi city transport and the two Tbilisi cable cars.

Can I get a refund on the card when I leave?

Yes, partly. The remaining balance can be refunded at Bank of Georgia branches. The 3 GEL card purchase fee is typically not refunded. If you expect to return to Tbilisi, it is simpler to keep the card and use the leftover balance next trip.

📷 Featured image by J K on Unsplash.