Getting Around Tbilisi: Public Transport, Taxis & Walking

💰 Click here to see Georgia Budget Breakdown

💰 Prices updated: August, 2026. Budget figures are estimates — always verify before travel.

Exchange Rate: $1 USD = ₾2.62

Daily Budget (per person)

Shoestring: ₾80.00 – ₾120.00 ($30.53 – $45.80)

Mid-range: ₾150.00 – ₾300.00 ($57.25 – $114.50)

Comfortable: ₾500.00 – ₾1,000.00 ($190.84 – $381.68)

Accommodation (per night)

Hostel/guesthouse: ₾30.00 – ₾60.00 ($11.45 – $22.90)

Mid-range hotel: ₾140.00 – ₾200.00 ($53.44 – $76.34)

Food (per meal)

Budget meal: ₾15.00 ($5.73)

Mid-range meal: ₾55.00 ($20.99)

Upscale meal: ₾100.00 ($38.17)

Transport

Single metro/bus trip: ₾1.00 ($0.38)

Monthly transport pass: ₾40.00 ($15.27)

Tbilisi‘s transport system has improved dramatically since 2024, but it still catches first-time visitors off guard. The metro misses large chunks of the city. Buses require an app or a local to decode them. Taxis outside the ride-hailing apps can still overcharge. And in 2026, with tourist numbers at a record high and ongoing construction around the new metro extension near Didube, getting around without a plan costs you both time and money. This guide covers every option honestly, so you spend your days exploring the city rather than standing confused at a bus stop.

Tbilisi’s Metro: Fast, Cheap, and Limited

The Tbilisi Metro is the backbone of the city’s public transport — when it goes where you need to go. There are two lines: the red Akhmeteli-Varketili line running east to west, and the green Saburtalo line branching north from Rustaveli station. Together they cover about 23 stations, which sounds sufficient until you realise that the Old Town, Abanotubani, Mtatsminda Park, and most of the tourist-facing neighbourhoods sit nowhere near a metro entrance.

Still, the metro earns its place. The trains are fast, air-conditioned (a genuine relief in July when temperatures hit 36°C), and run from around 06:00 to midnight. Fares are a flat 1 GEL per journey, regardless of distance. That buys you a ride from Didube bus station all the way to Isani in the east without changing anything except trains.

Getting a MetroMoney Card

You need a MetroMoney card to use the metro, buses, and minibuses. Pick one up at any metro station entrance kiosk for 2 GEL (the card itself, non-refundable). Load it with credit at the same kiosks — minimum top-up is 2 GEL. Tap the card on the yellow reader at the turnstile and walk through. Simple enough, though the kiosks occasionally display only Georgian text; choose the flag icon on-screen to switch to English.

As of 2026, the MetroMoney card also works on all TbilisiBus routes and on the new BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) corridor along Rustaveli Avenue, which launched in late 2025. One card handles everything.

Most Useful Metro Stations for Tourists

• Rustaveli — central, near the main boulevard, Fabrika, and Liberty Square
• Avlabari — closest metro point to Old Town and the Holy Trinity Cathedral



• Marjanishvili — for the Left Bank bar district and pedestrian street
• Didube — transfer hub for marshrutkas to Mtskheta, Gori, and beyond
• Isani / Samgori — for the Lilo Mall area and eastern residential districts

City Buses and Minibuses: The Full Network, If You Can Read It

Tbilisi’s bus network is genuinely comprehensive and reaches places the metro never does — including Vake, Saburtalo’s upper reaches, Avlabari’s hillside streets, and Ortachala. The challenge is navigation. Routes aren’t always obvious from the stops themselves, and in 2026 the city is still mid-transition between old-style minibuses (marshrutkas) and the newer TbilisiBus articulated coaches.

The most reliable way to find the right bus is the Moovit app or the official TbilisiBus app. Both show real-time locations, route numbers, and walking times to stops. Download one before you land. Bus fares mirror the metro: 1 GEL per journey on TbilisiBus routes. Private marshrutkas still charge separately — usually 1–1.50 GEL — and require exact cash or a tap of your MetroMoney card depending on the operator.

Bus number 37 is the one most tourists eventually learn: it connects Rustaveli with Vake Park and continues up toward Turtle Lake. Route 1 covers the Rustaveli–Marjanishvili–Old Town corridor on the west side of the river. Neither runs 24 hours — most city buses stop around 23:30.

Taxis and Ride-Hailing: What to Use and What to Avoid

This is where Tbilisi either charms you or frustrates you, depending entirely on which kind of taxi you step into.

Bolt and Yandex Go

Both apps work well in Tbilisi in 2026 and are the standard way locals get around. Bolt is generally slightly cheaper for short trips within the centre. Yandex Go has better coverage in outer districts and tends to have more cars available late at night. A typical ride within central Tbilisi — say, from Rustaveli to Old Town — runs 6–10 GEL. A ride from the airport to the city centre via app is usually 25–35 GEL.

Both apps show the price before you confirm, use GPS tracking, and allow cashless payment. There’s no negotiation, no meter-watching, and no concern about being taken the long way. For solo female travellers especially, these apps are the strongly preferred option after dark.

Street Taxis

Street taxis — the yellow or white cars that approach you near tourist sites — still operate and are not all dishonest. But the pricing is entirely negotiated, and the expected “tourist rate” from drivers near Narikala Fortress or the Dry Bridge Market runs significantly higher than app prices. If you do use one, agree the price before you get in and confirm it means GEL, not USD. Some drivers still quote in dollars to create confusion.

A fair negotiated rate from Old Town to Rustaveli should be no more than 8–10 GEL. If they open with 20 GEL, walk away and open Bolt.

Cable Cars and the Mtatsminda Funicular

Two aerial routes in Tbilisi function as genuine transport, not just tourist rides — though they’re both, honestly.

Rike-Narikala Cable Car

This short cable car runs between Rike Park on the left bank of the Mtkvari River and the Narikala Fortress complex above Old Town. The ride takes about three minutes and drops you at the top of the Old Town’s hill quarter, saving a steep 20-minute climb through narrow alleys. Cost: 2.50 GEL each way, paid at the station. It runs daily from approximately 10:00 to 22:00, though hours shift slightly by season. The views across the river and the Metekhi cliff as you ascend are worth the cable car fare alone — the copper-coloured rooftops of the Old Town spread out beneath you like a relief map.

Mtatsminda Funicular

The funicular climbs from the Vere neighbourhood near Rustaveli up to Mtatsminda Park, the amusement park and viewing platform at 770 metres. It runs in two stages — lower and upper — and costs 5 GEL each way per stage, or 8 GEL for the full return journey. The cars themselves date from a Soviet-era renovation and have a particular mechanical creak as they pull away that is either charming or alarming depending on your disposition. At the top, on a clear evening, you can see the entire Tbilisi basin lit up below — the kind of view that makes you understand why people keep coming back to this city.

Walking Tbilisi: Where It Works and Where It Doesn’t

Old Town Tbilisi is made for walking, and the best way to understand the city is on foot. The historic core — from Metekhi Church down through Abanotubani, up through the carved wooden balconies of Shardeni Street, and along the river to Rike Park — covers a manageable 3–4 kilometres and takes about 90 minutes if you don’t stop. You will stop.

The streets here are uneven in ways that demand attention. Cobblestones shift after winter rains. Some alleys in Kala (the oldest quarter) have no lighting after 21:00. Wear shoes with grip, not sandals that slide. The famous wooden balconies overhang so close to the street in places that you can smell jasmine from the courtyard gardens above — a particular sensory detail that no photograph conveys.

Where walking becomes difficult: Vake and Saburtalo are built on steep gradients, with few pedestrian-friendly shortcuts. Avlabari’s upper plateau roads are wide Soviet boulevards with long blocks and little shade in summer. For these areas, bus or taxi beats walking every time.

Rustaveli Avenue itself is a pleasure — wide pavements, tree shade, and the rhythm of the city’s main artery. The stretch from Liberty Square to the Rustaveli Theatre takes about 15 minutes at a tourist pace and shows you a completely different Tbilisi than the Old Town.

Getting from Tbilisi International Airport into the City

Tbilisi International Airport sits about 18 kilometres east of the city centre. In 2026, there are four realistic options.

Express Bus (Route 37 Airport)

The dedicated airport express bus runs to Ortachala bus terminal, then continues to Freedom Square. Cost: 0.50 GEL with a MetroMoney card, or 1 GEL in cash. Journey time: 40–60 minutes depending on traffic. Buses run roughly every 20–30 minutes from early morning until around midnight. This is the best option if you’re travelling light and arriving outside peak hour. The bus is air-conditioned on newer vehicles and often packed with locals — not a hardship, but worth knowing if you have large bags.

Bolt or Yandex Go from Airport

Both apps function at arrivals. Walk past the taxi touts at the exit doors, connect to the airport WiFi, and request a ride. Price to central Tbilisi: 25–35 GEL. Journey time: 25–40 minutes. This is the most popular option for first-time arrivals with luggage and no local SIM yet — airport WiFi is reliable enough to complete the booking.

Official Airport Taxi Rank

There is an official yellow taxi rank outside arrivals with metered fares. Expect to pay 35–45 GEL to the centre. Legitimate and safe, but more expensive than app-based options.

Georgian Railway Airport Shuttle

As of 2026, the airport train service that used to run to Tbilisi Central Station is suspended for track infrastructure work linked to the broader Georgian Railway modernisation programme. Check the Georgian Railway website for updates before travel — it may resume in late 2026, but confirm before relying on it.

Getting Around After Midnight

This is where the city’s transport system shows its gaps. The metro closes around midnight. TbilisiBus stops by 23:30. What remains is the night bus network — a handful of routes marked with an “N” prefix that run infrequently through the early hours — and ride-hailing apps.

Bolt and Yandex Go both operate 24 hours, though wait times increase after 01:00 on weekends when demand spikes around the Fabrika and Marjanishvili bar areas. During peak weekend nights, surge pricing can push a short ride to 15–20 GEL. This is still a reasonable cost, but budget for it if you’re planning late nights.

The night buses — routes N1, N2, and N3 — cover the main arteries but run every 60–90 minutes. They are cheap (1 GEL) and largely empty, which makes them either efficient or eerie depending on the route. N1 covers Rustaveli to Isani. For most visitors, Bolt remains the sensible choice after midnight.

2026 Transport Updates Worth Knowing

The most significant ongoing change is the metro line extension toward the Tbilisi Hills development in the northeast. Construction has been visible since 2024 and in 2026 the extension to Lisi station is in the final build phase, with an expected opening in late 2026 or early 2027. When complete, it will give direct metro access to the growing residential corridor north of Vake — watch for announcements from Tbilisi Transport Company.

The BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) corridor along Rustaveli Avenue launched in late 2025 and has materially improved journey times on that route during peak hours. Dedicated bus lanes mean the number 1 and number 5 routes now run reliably — something that wasn’t true before.

The MetroMoney contactless payment upgrade, completed in early 2026, now allows travellers to tap a Visa or Mastercard contactless card directly at metro turnstiles — no physical MetroMoney card required. This is a practical improvement for short-stay visitors who don’t want to buy a card. The fare remains the same: 1 GEL per journey.

Daily Transport Budget Breakdown

Here’s what realistic daily transport spending looks like in Tbilisi in 2026, depending on how you travel.

• Budget traveller — Metro and buses only, walking between stops: 3–6 GEL per day. A day of moving around the city on public transport, including a cable car ride, costs almost nothing.
• Mid-range traveller — Mix of metro, 2–3 Bolt rides for evenings or areas buses don’t reach: 20–35 GEL per day. This covers comfortable, reliable movement with no route-planning stress.
• Comfortable traveller — Bolt or Yandex for most journeys, no time spent waiting: 50–80 GEL per day. Even at this level, transport in Tbilisi is inexpensive compared to most European capitals.

Airport transfers add to the above: budget 1 GEL (bus) or 25–45 GEL (taxi/app) each way depending on your preference.

Practical Tips for Getting Around Without Frustration

Contactless cards now work on metro turnstiles — you no longer need a MetroMoney card for occasional use, though the card remains useful for buses and marshrutkas that haven’t all upgraded readers yet.

Download Moovit or TbilisiBus app before you arrive. Google Maps bus data for Tbilisi is inconsistent in 2026 — local apps have better real-time accuracy.

Bolt works in Georgian, Russian, and English. Set your app language before arrival. When you open it in Tbilisi it may default to Georgian. Three taps in settings fixes this.

Tbilisi’s hills are deceptive on maps. What looks like a 10-minute walk between two points can involve a 60-metre elevation gain on uneven steps. Always check the terrain on satellite view before deciding to walk.

There is no tipping culture for public transport or taxis. Rounding up a Bolt fare to the next whole number is done occasionally but expected by nobody.

Accessibility is limited. Most metro stations lack working lifts as of 2026. The BRT buses are wheelchair accessible but older minibuses are not. This is a genuine gap in the system that the city acknowledges but has not fully addressed.

Keep small change for marshrutkas. Even in 2026, some private minibus operators running outer routes don’t have card readers. Having 1–2 GEL in coins on you avoids an awkward moment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a taxi from Tbilisi Airport to the city centre cost in 2026?

Using Bolt or Yandex Go from the airport, expect to pay 25–35 GEL to central Tbilisi. Official metered taxis at the rank run 35–45 GEL. The airport express bus costs just 0.50–1 GEL but takes 40–60 minutes and requires luggage management. All prices are in Georgian lari.

Is the Tbilisi metro enough to get around the city as a tourist?

For some journeys, yes — Rustaveli, Marjanishvili, and Avlabari stations put you close to major areas. But the metro misses Old Town, Vake, and Mtatsminda entirely. Most visitors combine metro with occasional Bolt rides and walking to cover the full city without difficulty.

Do I need a MetroMoney card or can I pay by contactless card?

As of early 2026, Visa and Mastercard contactless payments work directly at metro turnstiles, so you no longer need a MetroMoney card for the metro. However, buses and some minibuses still prefer the MetroMoney card. For a multi-day visit, buying a card for 2 GEL remains the most convenient choice.

Is Bolt safe to use in Tbilisi at night?

Yes. Bolt and Yandex Go are the standard, trusted way to move around Tbilisi after dark in 2026. Both apps track the route and store driver details. Wait times are longer after 01:00 on weekends, and surge pricing applies during peak bar hours, but the service itself is reliable and widely used by locals and tourists alike.

What is the cheapest way to get around Tbilisi?

The metro and TbilisiBus network charge a flat 1 GEL per journey, making them the cheapest option by a significant margin. A full day of public transport — including a cable car ride — costs under 6 GEL. Walking the Old Town and Rustaveli areas costs nothing and rewards more than any vehicle.

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📷 Featured image by Kirill Iudin on Unsplash.