Is Georgia a Cash-Only Country? Dispelling Payment Myths

You land in Tbilisi, tap your card for a coffee, and everything works. Two days later you reach a marshrutka station or a village bazaar, and nobody wants your card. Many travellers in 2026 worry about this gap, and some read old forum posts claiming Georgia is cash-only. It isn’t. The truth is a hybrid system, and once you know which situations need which payment method, you will not get stuck.

The Short Answer: Georgia Runs on a Hybrid System

Cards are normal in cities and tourist hubs. Cash is still essential in markets, on minibuses and in villages. Plan for both.

The local currency is the Georgian lari (GEL), introduced in 1995. Banknotes come in 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 GEL. Coins are called tetri and come in 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 tetri. By 2026, the 1 and 2 GEL notes are less common, and coins often replace them in daily payments. Keep a small pocket of coins and low notes, because they are what you will need for bread, bus fares and small purchases.

Where Your Card Works Without Any Fuss

In Tbilisi, Batumi, Kutaisi and other major towns, contactless payment is standard. Visa and Mastercard are almost universally accepted. American Express is growing, mostly in higher-end places. Here is where you can count on a tap:

• Supermarkets: Carrefour, Goodwill, Spar, Fresco and Agrohub all take cards.
• Restaurants and cafés: Most places in the major towns accept cards, and many terminals support tap-to-pay.
• Hotels and guesthouses: Almost all hotels and larger guesthouses take cards.
• Retail: Major clothing brands, electronics stores, souvenir shops and pharmacies such as PSP, Aversi and GPC.
• Petrol stations: Gulf, Rompetrol, Wissol and the other major chains accept cards.
• Online services: Many Georgian online merchants accept Visa and Mastercard.

Since 2024, the number of contactless terminals across the country has grown by roughly 20%. The growth has reached small and medium-sized businesses in regional centres, so towns that were cash-heavy two years ago are now much easier.

Where Cash Still Rules

Picture a bazaar at mid-morning: the sharp smell of fresh tarragon and coriander, warm bread stacked on a counter, a vendor weighing walnuts and churchkhela into a paper bag. Nobody there is reaching for a card terminal. Local markets are almost exclusively cash-only.

Expect to need cash in these places:

• Bazaars: Fruit, cheese, spices, honey and wine from small producers.
• Small independent shops: Especially outside city centres and in older districts.
• Street vendors: Food carts, souvenir stalls and similar sellers typically want cash.



• Rural areas: Card infrastructure drops sharply outside towns and cities.
• Family-run guesthouses: Smaller rural ones may prefer cash. Ask when you book, and carry enough to cover your stay and dinner.

In mountain villages, treat cash as your main payment method. Withdraw before you leave the last big town.

Getting Cash: ATMs and Their 2026 Fees

ATMs are easy to find in cities and larger towns. The three main banks with wide networks are Bank of Georgia (bankofgeorgia.ge), TBC Bank (tbcbank.ge) and Liberty Bank (libertybank.ge). Their branches also handle withdrawals and currency exchange, usually Monday to Friday, 10:00 to 18:00.

How to Use a Georgian ATM

1. Find an ATM, preferably one attached to a bank branch for security.
2. Insert your Visa, Mastercard or American Express card.
3. Choose your language. English is usually available.
4. Enter your PIN.
5. Select “Withdrawal” or “Cash Withdrawal.”
6. Choose or type an amount. The machine pays out GEL banknotes. Foreign cards typically have a limit of 1000–2000 GEL per transaction, depending on the bank and your own daily limit.
7. Confirm the transaction.
8. Take your cash, card and receipt.

What It Costs

At Bank of Georgia, TBC Bank and Liberty Bank, foreign cards usually pay 4.5 to 5.5 GEL per transaction, or about 2–3% of the amount, whichever is higher. Fees have risen by about 0.5–1 GEL since 2024 because of rising operating costs. Your home bank may add its own fee on top, so check before you travel.

If the screen offers to convert the amount into your home currency, decline. This is Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC), and it usually gives a worse rate. Always choose to be charged in GEL. Because of the flat fee, fewer and larger withdrawals work out cheaper than many small ones. Just keep within your comfort level for carrying cash.

Exchanging Currency the Smart Way

US dollars and euros get the best rates and are accepted everywhere. British pounds and Turkish lira are also commonly exchanged, but at slightly worse rates. Your options are:

• Official exchange offices: Plentiful in cities and towns, marked “Exchange” or “Currency Exchange.” They usually offer competitive rates and charge no commission.
• Banks: Rates can be slightly worse than at exchange offices, but you get the security of a regulated institution.
• Airports: Convenient, but rates are usually poorer. Change a small amount at Tbilisi International Airport for a taxi or first snack, and do the rest in the city.

Step by Step

1. Find an office that displays its rates clearly.
2. Compare the “Buy” rate (ყიდვა) for your currency with nearby offices. This is the rate you get when selling your currency to them.
3. Hand your money to the teller. For small amounts you typically don’t need to show your passport.
4. Receive your GEL and a receipt.
5. Count the cash before you walk away.

Since 2024, the National Bank of Georgia has tightened licensing and oversight of smaller exchange points. The result is fewer tiny independent kiosks and more larger, regulated offices and bank branches. For travellers, that means more transparency and better consumer protection.

Paying for Transport: Tap, Ticket or Coins

Transport is where the hybrid system is easiest to see, because the payment method changes with the vehicle.

Tbilisi Metro, Buses and Cable Car

Since 2025, you can tap a Visa or Mastercard directly on the validator at all Tbilisi metro stations and city buses. A single ride costs 1 GEL. That means most short-stay visitors no longer need the Metromoney card. If you want one anyway, it costs 2 GEL, can be loaded with any amount, and can be shared between several people. The Tbilisi cable car from Rike Park to Narikala Fortress accepts Metromoney or a contactless bank card and costs 2.5 GEL per ride.

Marshrutkas

Marshrutkas are the backbone of local and intercity transport outside Tbilisi, and you pay the driver in cash, on boarding or when you get off. Imagine a packed minibus climbing a mountain road with the engine rattling and coins being passed forward hand to hand. Local city rides typically cost 1–2 GEL. Intercity fares vary with distance, from around 7 GEL (Tbilisi to Mtskheta) to roughly 20–30 GEL (Tbilisi to Batumi).

One small change in 2026: some major hubs, including Didube and Ortachala in Tbilisi, are piloting online booking or card payment at ticket counters for select long-distance routes. On board, though, it is still cash for every route.

Georgian Railway

Train tickets, such as Tbilisi to Batumi or Kutaisi, can be bought online at railway.ge with Visa or Mastercard. Station ticket offices also accept cards. The Georgian Railway mobile app, launched in late 2025, offers a smoother booking process and supports Apple Pay and Google Pay alongside standard cards.

Tipping in Georgia

Tipping is appreciated, and the rules are simple:

• Restaurants: A 10% service charge is often added automatically. If it is on the bill, you don’t need to add more. If not, 10% for good service is customary.



• Taxis: Round up to the nearest GEL, or add 5–10% for excellent service. This applies to metered taxis and to rides through Bolt or Yandex Go.
• Tour guides: About 10–20 GEL per person per day for a full-day tour.
• Hotel staff: 2–5 GEL for porters or housekeepers is welcome but not obligatory.

By 2026, many card terminals in restaurants and cafés show an optional tip prompt (5%, 10% or 15%) before you confirm payment. Check the bill first so you don’t tip twice on top of an automatic service charge.

Apps and Digital Tools Worth Having

• Apple Pay and Google Pay: Widely supported wherever contactless card payments are accepted, so your phone works as well as your card.
• Bolt and Yandex Go: Both are common in cities. You can link a credit or debit card for cashless rides or pay the driver in cash. Card payment is the better choice for transparency.
• Wise and Revolut: Widely used by expats and long-stay visitors for transfers to Georgian bank accounts and for spending abroad, usually at competitive exchange rates.
• Local payment gateways: e-money.ge, Paybox and TBC Pay are used for utilities, mobile top-ups and online shopping, and most accept Visa and Mastercard.

Your First-Day Money Setup

1. Before you fly, tell your bank you are travelling and check your daily ATM limit and foreign fees.
2. Add your card to Apple Pay or Google Pay.
3. On arrival, change a small amount of USD or EUR for a taxi or first meal.
4. Link your card to Bolt or Yandex Go.
5. In town, withdraw a larger sum at a Bank of Georgia, TBC or Liberty ATM, and choose to be charged in GEL.
6. Split your money: keep some in a daily wallet and the rest locked away at your accommodation.
7. Before heading to mountain areas or villages, withdraw all the cash you expect to need.

Common Payment Mistakes to Avoid

• Arriving with only cards. It will work in Tbilisi and fail on the first minibus.



• Accepting DCC at the ATM. Always choose GEL.
• Exchanging everything at the airport. Change only what you need right away.
• Not comparing “Buy” rates. Walk a few doors and you may see a better number.
• Skipping the receipt and the count. Count your GEL at the counter, before you leave.
• Tipping twice. Check whether the 10% service charge is already on the bill.
• Buying a Metromoney card by default. A contactless bank card works on all Tbilisi metro and buses.
• Assuming rural guesthouses take cards. Ask in advance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Georgia a cash-only country?

No. Contactless cards are standard in cities and tourist areas, and Apple Pay and Google Pay work wherever terminals accept contactless. Cash is still needed for bazaars, street vendors, marshrutkas and rural areas. Carry both cards and Georgian lari for a smooth trip in 2026.

Can I use Visa and Mastercard in Georgia?

Yes. Visa and Mastercard are almost universally accepted in supermarkets, restaurants, hotels, pharmacies and petrol stations. American Express is growing, mainly in higher-end places. In Tbilisi you can also tap either card on the metro and buses for 1 GEL per ride.

How much do ATMs charge foreign cards in Georgia?

Bank of Georgia, TBC Bank and Liberty Bank typically charge 4.5–5.5 GEL per transaction, or about 2–3% of the amount, whichever is higher. Your home bank may add its own fee. Decline any currency conversion offer and choose to be charged in GEL.

Do I need cash for marshrutkas?

Yes. Marshrutkas are almost exclusively cash, paid to the driver. Local rides cost about 1–2 GEL, Tbilisi to Mtskheta around 7 GEL, and Tbilisi to Batumi roughly 20–30 GEL. Some Tbilisi hubs pilot card payments at ticket counters for select routes, but on-board payment remains cash.

Should I tip in Georgia?

Tipping is appreciated. If a 10% service charge is on the restaurant bill, nothing more is needed. Otherwise leave about 10%. Round up taxi fares, give guides 10–20 GEL per person per day, and tip hotel staff 2–5 GEL. Many card terminals now show tip prompts.

📷 Featured image by Pacharamon Dorego on Unsplash.