Bolt taxi is cheapest — always use the app, never street hail
Trust L4Updated May 7, 2026
Old Town · Experience date Apr 5, 2026
Tbilisi
How to get around efficiently with clear cost comparisons.
You'll quickly learn that flagging a taxi on the street can cost 30-50GEL for a short ride, while the Bolt app (or YandexGo) reliably charges 8-12GEL ($3-4.50) for the same trip-so always book through the app. The city bus network is cheap and comfortable: a single ride is only 0.50GEL if you tap a Metromoney card on the reader, and routes like Bus50 (RustaveliVake) get you across the main districts without the chaos of marshrutkas. For longer excursions, the overnight Georgian Railway train to Batumi leaves Tbilisi Central around 11pm, arrives at 6am, and costs 35-70GEL for a couchette; a day trip to Kazbegi (157km) is the most popular mountain getaway. If you decide to drive, expect aggressive, informal traffic-lanes are treated as suggestions, double-parking is routine, and speed limits drop to 60km/h in the city, so stay alert and give yourself extra travel time. **Next step:** download Bolt, purchase a Metromoney card at any kiosk, and tap the card on a nearby bus to test the system today.
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Old Town · Experience date Apr 5, 2026
Bolt rides across Tbilisi are typically 8-12 GEL ($3-4.50). Much cheaper than flagging a taxi on the street where tourists get quoted 30-50 GEL for the same trip. Yandex Go is a good alternative.
Saburtalo · Experience date Dec 1, 2025
Tbilisi has a city bus network alongside marshrutkas. Buses: 0.50 GEL fare, paid via Metromoney card (tap on reader). More comfortable and less chaotic than marshrutkas. Key routes: Bus 50 (Rustaveli to Vake), Bus 37 (Old Town to Saburtalo), Bus 1 (Didube to Isani via centre). Bus schedule and route info: available on Tbilisi Transport Company app (Georgian only) and partially on Moovit. Buses run 7am–11pm. Combined Metro + bus monthly pass: 40 GEL — excellent value for daily commuters. For occasional city travel: Bolt is more convenient than navigating bus routes.
Didube · Experience date Jan 7, 2026
Georgian Railway (railway.ge) connects: Tbilisi–Batumi (4.5 hours, frequent, $5–20), Tbilisi–Kutaisi (3.5 hours, several daily), Tbilisi–Zugdidi (5.5 hours, gateway to Svaneti). Trains are comfortable, air-conditioned, on time. No trains to Kazbegi or most mountain areas. The overnight Tbilisi–Batumi train with sleeping compartments is particularly popular with expats for weekend trips. Book online at railway.ge (English available) or at Tbilisi Central Station (Sadguris Moedani). Prices are very low by European standards — most routes cost $5–20 per ticket.
Old Town · Experience date May 5, 2026
Mtskheta, Georgia's ancient capital (founded 5th century BC), is 20 km from Tbilisi — a 20-minute commuter train ride from Tbilisi Central Station (2 GEL). Home to Jvari Monastery (visible from the train as you arrive) and Svetitskhoveli Cathedral (UNESCO World Heritage). Very popular with expat day-trippers. Trains depart hourly from Tbilisi. Alternatively: Bolt taxi from Tbilisi ($8–12 one way). Mtskheta is walkable — the cathedral and monastery take 2–3 hours. Return to Tbilisi for dinner. One of the easiest and most rewarding day trips from the capital.
Rustaveli · Experience date Nov 12, 2025
Tbilisi is navigable without Georgian. Key points: younger Georgians (under 35) speak some English, especially in Rustaveli, Vake, and Fabrika areas. Older generations speak Russian — useful if you have any Russian. Google Translate: handles Georgian script (Mkhedruli) well — photograph Georgian menus, street signs, or forms. Google Maps: works well in Tbilisi for navigation. Bolt and Yandex Taxi: entirely in English — no language barrier. Metro stations: both Georgian script and Latin transliteration on signs. Main challenge: government offices and older neighbourhood shops — bring a Georgian-speaking friend or use Translate app.
Rustaveli · Experience date Nov 19, 2025
Tbilisi to Yerevan, Armenia: approximately 5–6 hours by bus or shared taxi. Shared taxis: depart from Ortachala bus station in Tbilisi, 25–35 GEL/person, fill up and depart (from 8am). Regular bus: 20–25 GEL, 6 hours, Ortachala. Border crossing at Sadakhlo/Bagratashen: typically 30–60 minutes wait. Yerevan is a popular side trip for Tbilisi expats — similar digital nomad scene, slightly cheaper, good Armenian food. Both countries allow 365-day visa-free stay for most nationalities. The shared taxi experience (old Mercedes, hairpin mountain roads) is quintessentially Caucasian — memorable even if occasionally terrifying.
Didube · Experience date May 5, 2026
Petrol in Georgia: approximately 2.70–3.00 GEL per litre ($1.00–1.10) — roughly half the EU price. Main fuel stations: Lukoil, Gulf, BP, SOCAR (Georgian state oil). All accept card payment. Quality: standard EU-grade fuel widely available. Diesel: also cheaper than EU. LPG: widely available and very cheap (1.10–1.30 GEL/litre) — many older Georgian taxis run on LPG. Electric vehicle charging: limited in Tbilisi, almost non-existent outside cities — if driving an EV, plan carefully. For road trips around Georgia: fuel costs are negligible compared to EU equivalents.
Vake · Experience date Apr 7, 2026
Tbilisi Metro has 2 lines: Red line (Akhmeteli–Alekseyevka, east to west, 13 stations, passes through Rustaveli and Tavisuplebis Moedani/Freedom Square) and Green line (Varketili to Didube, south to north through Saburtalo). Key stations: Rustaveli (central, Red line), Tavisuplebis Moedani/Freedom Square (Red/Green interchange), Vake (Red line, for Vake neighbourhood). Metro runs 6am–midnight. Frequency: every 3–5 minutes peak, 8–10 minutes off-peak. Fare: 1 GEL per trip with metro card (0.50 GEL with Metromoney app). Covers most expat-relevant areas except Old Town.
Didube · Experience date Jan 14, 2026
Kazbegi (Stepantsminda) is the most popular excursion from Tbilisi — a dramatic mountain town at 1,740m with views of the iconic Gergeti Trinity Church against Mount Kazbek (5,047m). Distance: 157 km, 2.5–3 hours by car. Options: shared taxi (marshrutka) from Didube station (10 GEL/person, departs when full, roughly 8am–11am), private taxi ($60–80 return), or renting a car. There is no regular bus service. The Georgian Military Highway (route) is spectacular. Kazbegi gets very busy in summer — arrive early. Essential Tbilisi area trip that most expats do within their first month.
Rustaveli · Experience date Nov 20, 2025
Tbilisi International Airport (TBS) connects to: Istanbul (Turkish Airlines, multiple daily — from $80 return), Dubai (flydubai, FlyOne — from $100 return), Vienna (Austrian Airlines — from $200 return), Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin (various — from $150 return). Wizz Air operates several EU routes from TBS. Low-cost options: Pegasus (Istanbul), flydubai (Dubai), Wizz Air (multiple EU cities). Note: direct flights to US not available — connect via Istanbul or Frankfurt. Flying via Istanbul is cheapest for most Western European and US routes. Booking: 4–8 weeks in advance gets best prices. Google Flights and Kiwi.com are useful for flexible date searching.