Tbilisi Public Transport: Metro, Buses & Marshrutkas Explained

Tbilisi‘s public transport system has a reputation for being confusing — and honestly, the confusion is usually about payment. Since 2022, the city shifted to a near-cashless model for the metro and municipal buses, but city marshrutkas still run by their own rules. In 2026, first-time visitors regularly show up at metro turnstiles with cash and wonder why nothing works. This guide cuts through that, covering every mode of transport in Tbilisi, how to pay for each one, and how to get out of the city when you’re ready to explore the rest of Georgia.

The Tbilisi Metro — Lines, Stations & What to Expect

The Tbilisi Metro is the fastest way to move around the city, particularly for covering distances across the centre. There are two lines and approximately 23 stations total, running across most of the areas visitors and residents use daily.

The A1 line — also called the Red Line or Akhmeteli-Varketili Line — is the one most travellers spend time on. It runs roughly north to south and passes through Didube (useful for intercity marshrutkas), Station Square (Vagzlis Moedani, the main train station), Rustaveli, Liberty Square, and Samgori. If you’re staying in the Old Town or Rustaveli Avenue area, this is your line.

The A2 line — the Green Line or Saburtalo Line — branches off from Station Square and heads into the Saburtalo residential and university district. It’s less relevant for most tourists but useful if you’re staying in that neighbourhood.

Trains run from 06:00 to midnight every day. During peak hours, you’ll wait 2–3 minutes between trains. Off-peak, expect 5–10 minutes. The stations themselves are clean, safe, and — given that many were built in the Soviet era — genuinely impressive underground spaces. The first time you descend into Rustaveli station and feel the deep Soviet-era chill of the air rising from the escalators, you’ll understand why the metro has a following of its own.

There are no new metro lines expected by the end of 2026, though long-term expansion plans exist. The network you see now is the network you’ll use.

City Buses — Modern Fleet, Routes & the 90-Minute Transfer Rule

Tbilisi’s municipal bus network covers areas the metro doesn’t reach, and since 2024 the fleet has been steadily modernised. The older yellow buses that used to rattle through the city are being phased out and replaced by electric and CNG-powered models — mostly blue or green — that are quieter, cooler in summer, and equipped with card readers at every door.

Buses generally operate from around 07:00 to 23:00 or midnight, with some central routes running later. Route numbers are displayed on the front and side of each bus, and the Tbilisi Transport Company publishes updated maps at ttc.com.ge.

The 90-minute transfer rule is the single most useful thing to understand about Tbilisi’s public transport. When you tap your Metromoney Card or contactless bank card to start a journey — whether on the metro or a bus — you pay 1 GEL. Any additional metro or bus trips you make within the next 90 minutes are free. You’re not buying a single ride; you’re buying 90 minutes of travel for 1 GEL. This makes cross-city trips that involve a metro leg plus a bus connection genuinely cheap.

To board, enter through any door and tap your card on one of the readers mounted near the doors. A green light confirms payment. If you get a red light, try again — sometimes the reader needs a firm, flat tap rather than a wave.

City Marshrutkas — How They Work & Where Cash Still Rules

City marshrutkas are the white or yellow minibuses that weave through Tbilisi’s narrower streets. They run on fixed routes — numbers displayed in the windscreen — but stop more flexibly than large buses. You can flag one down at any point along its route and ask to be dropped wherever you need, not just at designated stops.

Fares sit at 1 GEL or 1.2 GEL depending on the route. Here’s the critical difference from the metro and buses: the 90-minute transfer rule does not apply to city marshrutkas. Each marshrutka ride is a separate, standalone fare.

Payment is where things get inconsistent. Some newer, municipally managed marshrutkas have Metromoney card readers. Many do not. A significant number of city marshrutkas still only accept cash — either handed directly to the driver or dropped into a small box near the front. Always carry 1 GEL and 2 GEL coins or small notes when you’re planning to use marshrutkas. Trying to pay with a 20 GEL note on a busy marshrutka is not a situation you want to be in.

The easiest approach: use the metro and buses for the core network, and treat marshrutkas as a supplement for the streets those larger vehicles don’t reach.

Paying for It All — Metromoney Card, Contactless & TBC WOW

There are three practical ways to pay for the metro and municipal buses in 2026.

The Metromoney Card is the standard option. Buy one at any metro station ticket office or at the Rike Park cable car station. The card costs 2 GEL as a refundable deposit — you get it back if you return the card to a metro station. Top up at station ticket offices or at Bank of Georgia Express payment machines, which are found across the city. The card works on the metro, all municipal buses, and the Rike Park to Narikala cable car.

A contactless bank card (Visa or Mastercard with NFC) works directly on metro turnstiles and bus card readers. The system deducts 1 GEL per trip and tracks your 90-minute window against that card. This is the cleanest option if you already have a card that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees.

The TBC WOW card is a virtual card inside the TBC Bank mobile app. It functions identically to a Metromoney Card — top up in the app, tap your phone on the reader. If you’re a TBC Bank customer or plan to open an account (many long-stay visitors do), this is the most convenient option since you manage everything from your phone.

Pass options on the Metromoney Card for regular users:

• Daily pass: 3 GEL — unlimited trips for 24 hours
• Weekly pass: 20 GEL — unlimited trips for 7 days
• Monthly pass: 40 GEL — unlimited trips for 30 days
• Annual pass: 250 GEL — unlimited trips for 365 days

Students, pensioners, and veterans with personalised Metromoney Cards get discounted or free travel. The full eligibility list is published by the Tbilisi Transport Company at ttc.com.ge.

Getting Out of Tbilisi — Intercity Marshrutkas & Which Station to Use

Intercity marshrutkas are the backbone of travel across Georgia. They connect Tbilisi to almost every major town and many smaller villages, and they’re cheaper and more frequent than trains on most routes. The key is knowing which station to go to before you arrive.

Tbilisi has three main marshrutka departure points, and going to the wrong one wastes your morning.

• Didube Bus Station (next to Didube metro): Destinations to the west and north — Kutaisi, Batumi, Borjomi, Gori, Kazbegi (Stepantsminda), Bakuriani, Mestia



• Samgori Bus Station (next to Samgori metro): Destinations to the east and south — Sighnaghi, Telavi, Lagodekhi, Dedoplistskaro
• Ortachala Central Bus Station: Southern Georgian routes and international services to Armenia and Azerbaijan

Intercity marshrutkas don’t run on fixed timetables. They leave when they’re full. On popular routes like Tbilisi–Kazbegi or Tbilisi–Sighnaghi, that can mean a departure every 15–30 minutes during the morning. On quieter routes, you might wait an hour. Arriving between 08:00 and 10:00 gives you the best chance of a quick departure.

Pay the driver directly — either when you board or when you arrive. Approximate 2026 fares:

• Tbilisi to Kutaisi: 20–25 GEL
• Tbilisi to Batumi: 30–35 GEL
• Tbilisi to Kazbegi: 20 GEL
• Tbilisi to Sighnaghi: 10–15 GEL

Georgian Railway — Trains, Tickets & the Tbilisi–Batumi Run

The train is the most comfortable way to travel between Tbilisi and western Georgia. Georgian Railway (Sakartvelos Rkinigza) runs modern Stadler Kiss double-decker trains on the Tbilisi–Batumi route several times daily. The journey takes around five hours and, on a clear day, passes through landscapes that justify the slightly higher price over a marshrutka.

Tbilisi Central station — Vagzlis Moedani — is the main hub. The Tbilisi–Batumi route no longer features sleeper services; those have been replaced by the high-speed seated trains. Sleeper options may still exist on some routes to Zugdidi using older rolling stock, but they’re not the typical tourist choice.

Other useful routes from Tbilisi:

• Tbilisi–Kutaisi: Stops at Kutaisi I (city centre) and Kutaisi II (Kutaisi International Airport)
• Tbilisi–Zugdidi/Poti/Ozurgeti: Services to other major western Georgian cities
• Borjomi–Bakuriani: The famous narrow-gauge “Kukushka” scenic train — not a Tbilisi service, but worth planning a detour for

Tickets are available online at biletebi.ge or at Tbilisi Central station’s ticket offices and self-service kiosks. For the Tbilisi–Batumi route in summer, book at least a few days ahead. More schedule information is at railway.ge.

Approximate 2026 fares by class:

• Tbilisi to Batumi: 35–70 GEL
• Tbilisi to Kutaisi: 15–25 GEL

Cable Cars, Taxis & 4x4s — Filling the Gaps

Some of the most useful transport options in and around Tbilisi don’t fit neatly into any other category.

Cable Cars

The Rike Park to Narikala Fortress cable car in Tbilisi costs 1 GEL and is paid with a Metromoney Card or contactless bank card — same as the metro. It runs roughly 10:00 to 22:00, with seasonal variation. The views over the Mtkvari River and Old Town at dusk, with the smell of churchkhela and grilling meat rising from the streets below, are the kind of thing that makes Tbilisi feel real in a way a photograph can’t.

The Batumi Argo cable car connects the seafront to Anuria Mountain and costs approximately 30 GEL return. In Chiatura, the historic cable car network — some lines of which have been renovated since 2024 — provides both a transport link for locals and a genuinely unusual experience for visitors. Many lines are free for residents; tourist access and any small fees for renovated lines vary by route.

Taxi Apps

Bolt and Yandex Go are the two dominant taxi apps in Tbilisi in 2026. Both work the same way: download the app, register with a phone number, enter your destination, and confirm. Bolt tends to be slightly more reliable in English; Yandex Go is often marginally cheaper. A short hop across the centre costs around 5–10 GEL. Longer city rides run 15–30 GEL. Both apps allow payment by card in-app or cash to the driver.

4×4 Hire for Mountain Regions

For Tusheti, Khevsureti, upper Svaneti (particularly Ushguli), and parts of Racha-Lechkhumi, a regular car will not get you there safely — or at all outside summer. You need a high-clearance 4×4. Self-drive rentals (Toyota Land Cruiser, Mitsubishi Pajero) run 150–300 GEL per day. Hiring a 4×4 with a local driver — strongly recommended for Tusheti and Khevsureti where the roads are genuinely dangerous — costs 250–600 GEL for a full day depending on route and distance. Multi-day tours are priced accordingly. Book in advance during summer; demand for mountain-capable vehicles increased noticeably through 2025.

2026 Budget Reality — What Public Transport Actually Costs

Here’s an honest breakdown of what a day or a trip costs across different transport types.

In Tbilisi (daily urban transport)

• Budget: Metro and bus only, using 1 GEL fares and the 90-minute transfer window — most people spend 2–4 GEL per day getting around
• Mid-range: Mix of metro/bus and 2–3 Bolt rides — 10–20 GEL per day
• Comfortable: Bolt or Yandex Go for most journeys — 25–50 GEL per day depending on distance

Intercity transport

• Budget: Marshrutka — 10–35 GEL depending on destination
• Mid-range: Economy class train — 15–50 GEL
• Comfortable: Business class train or private transfer — 50–150+ GEL

Mountain regions

• Budget: Shared marshrutka where available (e.g., Tbilisi–Kazbegi: 20 GEL)
• Mid-range: Self-drive 4×4 rental — 150–300 GEL per day
• Comfortable: 4×4 with local driver — 250–600 GEL per day

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Trying to pay cash at metro turnstiles. It won’t work. The metro is fully cashless. Get a Metromoney Card before your first ride or use a contactless bank card.
2. Going to the wrong marshrutka station. Didube for the west and north, Samgori for the east. Getting this wrong costs you an hour minimum.
3. Not booking Tbilisi–Batumi train tickets in advance. In summer, popular departure times sell out days ahead. Check biletebi.ge early.
4. Assuming city marshrutkas take card payment. Many do not. Always have small GEL coins and notes available.
5. Using a regular car for mountain roads. Tusheti and Khevsureti roads are not navigable in a standard vehicle. A 4×4 is not optional — it’s a safety requirement.
6. Ignoring the 90-minute transfer window. If you’re taking a metro ride followed by a bus, don’t tap a new fare on the bus — your original tap already covers it within 90 minutes. Tapping again wastes 1 GEL.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a foreign bank card on the Tbilisi Metro?

Yes. Any contactless Visa or Mastercard with NFC functionality works directly on metro turnstiles and bus card readers in 2026. The system deducts 1 GEL per journey and applies the 90-minute transfer window. Check that your card doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees, or you may pay more than necessary on each tap.

How do I get from Tbilisi to Kazbegi by public transport?

Take the metro to Didube station, then walk to the adjacent bus station and find the Kazbegi (Stepantsminda) marshrutka. The fare is around 20 GEL in 2026. Marshrutkas leave when full and are most frequent between 08:00 and 10:00. The journey takes roughly three hours depending on traffic and road conditions.

Is it safe to use Bolt and Yandex Go taxis in Tbilisi?

Both apps are widely used and considered reliable in Tbilisi in 2026. You can see the driver’s rating, vehicle details, and estimated fare before confirming. Paying by card in-app avoids any cash disputes. Street hailing is less recommended as unmetered taxis may quote inflated prices to tourists unfamiliar with local rates.

What is the cheapest way to travel between Tbilisi and Batumi?

The intercity marshrutka from Didube station is the cheapest option at 30–35 GEL in 2026, though the journey can take six or more hours depending on traffic. The train is faster (around five hours) and more comfortable, starting from 35 GEL in economy class. For the price difference, many travellers choose the train.

Do I need a 4×4 to visit Kazbegi?

No. Kazbegi (Stepantsminda) is accessible by marshrutka or taxi on a paved road year-round. A 4×4 is only necessary if you’re heading into more remote areas beyond Stepantsminda — for example, to Shatili in Khevsureti or Dartlo in Tusheti — where unpaved mountain roads require high-clearance vehicles, especially outside summer.

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📷 Featured image by Alexander Voronov on Unsplash.