How to Get Georgian Lari (GEL) for Your Trip: ATMs & Exchange

You land in Tbilisi late at night, tired, with no lari in your pocket. The airport exchange desk is right there, but you suspect the rate is bad. You also don’t know which ATM will charge you the least, or whether the machine will try to trick you into a worse deal. This guide covers where to get Georgian lari in 2026, what it costs, and how to avoid the most common money traps.

Why Cash Still Matters in Georgia in 2026

Georgia’s currency is the lari (GEL), introduced in 1995. Cards work well in Tbilisi, Batumi, and Kutaisi. Supermarkets, restaurants, cafés, hotels, and larger shops mostly accept Visa and Mastercard. American Express and other networks may be accepted in fewer places, so do not rely on them.

Cash is still essential. Marshrutka minibuses, small shops, markets, street vendors, and rural services all run on lari notes and coins. Picture a stall at a morning market, where a vendor hands you a paper bag of warm bread and wants exact change. A card does nothing for you there.

Contactless payment is now the main way to pay by card in the big cities. Since 2024, more small businesses use contactless-only terminals, so inserting a physical card is less common. Apple Pay and Google Pay should work wherever a contactless terminal exists.

Step-by-Step: Withdrawing GEL at a Georgian ATM

An ATM is the easiest way to get lari when you arrive and throughout your trip. You will find them in cities, at airports, at major train stations, and increasingly in larger towns. Three banks matter most:

• TBC Bank: the largest bank, with an extensive ATM network. Website: www.tbcbank.ge. The TBC Bank app is on iOS and Android.
• Bank of Georgia (BoG): another major player with a wide ATM presence. Website: www.bankofgeorgia.ge. The Bank of Georgia app is on iOS and Android.
• Liberty Bank: known for reaching smaller towns and villages because it handles pension payments. Website: www.libertybank.ge. The Liberty Bank app is on iOS and Android.

Other banks such as BasisBank and VTB Georgia also operate ATMs. VTB’s status may change depending on geopolitical factors, so check before you plan around it.

Here is the process, from card to cash:

1. Insert your card.
2. Select your language. English is almost always an option.
3. Enter your PIN.
4. Select “Withdrawal” or “Cash Withdrawal”.
5. Choose or enter the amount in GEL.
6. When the screen asks “Convert to [Your Currency]?” or “Continue without conversion?”, choose “Continue without conversion” or “Charge in GEL”.



7. Confirm the transaction.
8. Take your cash, then your card, and finally your receipt.

What ATM Withdrawals Really Cost

Fees are the most important budget point in this guide. Most Georgian banks charge a fee when you use a foreign card. Based on current expectations for 2026, here is what to plan for:

• TBC Bank: 3 GEL to 5 GEL per transaction, plus a possible 1.5% to 2% of the amount withdrawn.
• Bank of Georgia: a similar structure, possibly 4 GEL to 6 GEL per transaction, plus 1.5% to 2%.
• Liberty Bank: often slightly lower fixed fees, around 2.5 GEL to 4 GEL per transaction, plus 1% to 1.5%.

Since 2024, fees for foreign card withdrawals have risen slightly and become more standardized across the major banks. Some smaller banks may have introduced new, slightly higher fixed fees. Because fee tables change, treat the numbers above as a planning range and check the machine’s on-screen fee notice before you confirm.

Your own bank may add to this. It might charge an international ATM fee (for example, around $5 USD equivalent) and a foreign transaction fee (for example, 2% to 3%). Call or check your app before you travel.

Daily limits also apply. Most Georgian ATMs set a limit of 1000 GEL to 2000 GEL per transaction or per day, depending on the bank and the machine type. Your home bank may set its own limit as well.

The Conversion Prompt That Quietly Drains Your Money

Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) is a bank’s offer to charge you in your home currency, such as USD or EUR, instead of GEL. It sounds helpful, but it is a trap. When you accept, the ATM provider sets the exchange rate, and that rate is unfavourable. You end up paying noticeably more.

The fix is simple: always choose GEL. Your own bank or card provider then does the conversion, usually at a far better rate. The same rule applies when a shop’s card terminal asks which currency you prefer. If you are asked, pick GEL every time.

Using Exchange Offices Without Getting Burned

Currency exchange offices, called “Valuta” or “Exchange,” are everywhere in tourist areas, city centres, and near border crossings. They often beat the rates at airports and hotels.

Which currencies to bring

US dollars (USD) and euros (EUR) are the most widely and favourably exchanged. British pounds (GBP), Turkish lira (TRY), Armenian dram (AMD), and Azerbaijani manat (AZN) are also commonly accepted. Rates for those are slightly less competitive.

Reading the board

Offices display “Buy” and “Sell” rates. The “Buy” rate is what they pay you for your foreign cash. Many advertise “0% Commission,” which means the displayed rate is what you get with no extra fee. Their profit is built into the gap between buy and sell. For major currencies, expect a spread of roughly 1% to 3%. A difference of 1 to 2 tetri per USD or EUR looks tiny, but it adds up on a large sum.

Four habits that protect you

1. Compare: check rates at two or three offices before you commit.
2. Count: count your lari at the counter, before you walk away.
3. Ask for small notes: having some 10 and 20 GEL notes helps for marshrutkas and market stalls.
4. Skip airports and hotels: their rates are almost always much worse than city-centre offices.

Since 2024, regulators have looked more closely at smaller exchange offices. This should mean clearer signage and fewer predatory practices, though you should still compare. Some digital platforms may also offer live rate comparisons.

Cards and Digital Wallets: How to Carry Less Cash

Digital banking services such as Revolut, Wise, and N26 are highly recommended for tourists. They typically offer good exchange rates and low or no international transaction fees. You can use their physical or virtual cards in shops and at ATMs, often at much better rates than a traditional bank gives you.

Use contactless Visa or Mastercard in cities, whether by tap or through Apple Pay or Google Pay. Set the card to charge in GEL, not your home currency. Their use in Georgia keeps growing, and some services may allow direct top-ups for Georgian mobile numbers or utility payments, which mainly helps long-term visitors.

Do not go card-only. Carry a mix: a main card, a backup card from a different bank, and some cash. Also tell your home bank your travel dates and destination so it does not block your card for suspicious activity.

2026 Budget Reality: What Your Lari Will Buy

Knowing typical prices helps you decide how much to withdraw. These are the current ranges for everyday items and transport. Think of the low end as the budget tier, the middle as mid-range, and the high end as comfortable.

• Bottle of water (0.5 L): 1 GEL to 2 GEL.
• Coffee (latte or cappuccino): 6 GEL to 12 GEL. Budget travellers will pay near 6 GEL, while stylish city cafés sit near 12 GEL.
• Khachapuri (Acharuli): 10 GEL to 20 GEL. Imagine the yeasty steam rising from a boat-shaped loaf as you tear the crust and stir the egg and butter into the molten cheese.
• Local beer: 4 GEL to 8 GEL in a supermarket, and 8 GEL to 15 GEL in a bar or restaurant.
• City marshrutka ride (for example, in Tbilisi): 1 GEL to 1.5 GEL. Pay the driver in cash, or use a Metromoney card in Tbilisi.
• Intercity marshrutka (for example, Tbilisi to Kutaisi or Batumi): 15 GEL to 35 GEL depending on distance, paid in cash to the driver.
• Tbilisi to Batumi high-speed train: 35 GEL to 75 GEL depending on class (economy or business). Buy tickets online at www.railway.ge or at stations. Other routes vary by distance and class.

Plan to carry about 100 GEL to 200 GEL in cash for small purchases, marshrutkas, and emergencies. Top it up from an ATM as needed. These ranges can move, so allow yourself a little room in your budget.

Tipping and Small Change

Tipping is appreciated in Georgia, but it is not expected to the same degree as in some Western countries. Having small notes ready makes it easy.

• Restaurants: many places, especially in tourist areas, add a 10% to 18% service charge to the bill. It may be marked as “მომსახურების საკომისიო” (momsakhurebis sakomision). If it is included, extra tipping is optional, though rounding up for great service is common. If there is no service charge, 10% is standard for good service, and 15% is generous.
• Taxis and ride apps (Bolt, Yandex Go): round up to the nearest lari or add 1 GEL to 2 GEL on a 10 GEL to 15 GEL fare. No fixed percentage is expected.
• Tour guides: for multi-day tours or private guides, 20 GEL to 50 GEL per day is a good guideline, or more depending on group size and service. For shorter tours, 5 GEL to 10 GEL per person is appreciated.
• Hotel staff: 1 GEL to 2 GEL per service for porters and housekeepers.

Larger venues increasingly let you add a tip on the card terminal, which is handy if you have no cash left. This is still not universal, so keep a few small notes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it better to use an ATM or an exchange office in Georgia?

Both work. ATMs are the most convenient on arrival, but foreign cards usually incur fees. City-centre exchange offices often give good rates on USD and EUR, with a spread of about 1% to 3%. Compare a few offices, and avoid airports and hotels for large exchanges.

How much cash should I carry in Georgia?

Carry about 100 GEL to 200 GEL for small purchases, marshrutkas, and emergencies. At the airport, exchange only 50 GEL to 100 GEL for immediate needs such as a taxi. Use your card for larger payments in cities, and top up your cash at ATMs as you go.

Do Georgian ATMs charge foreign cards?

Yes. Expect about 3 GEL to 5 GEL plus 1.5% to 2% at TBC, 4 GEL to 6 GEL plus 1.5% to 2% at Bank of Georgia, and 2.5 GEL to 4 GEL plus 1% to 1.5% at Liberty Bank. Your home bank may add its own fees.

Which foreign currencies can I exchange in Georgia?

US dollars and euros get the best and most widely available rates. British pounds, Turkish lira, Armenian dram, and Azerbaijani manat are also commonly accepted, although the rates are slightly less competitive. Always check the “Buy” rate on the board before you hand over your money.

Should I pay in GEL or my home currency?

Always choose GEL. When an ATM or card terminal offers to charge you in your home currency, that is Dynamic Currency Conversion, and the provider applies an unfavourable exchange rate. Selecting “Continue without conversion” or “Charge in GEL” lets your own bank handle the conversion, which costs less.

📷 Featured image by Portraits of Modern Dairy on Unsplash.