Tbilisi Transport Guide for Travellers: Navigate Tbilisi Like a Pro!

Arriving into a new city for the first time with no idea how to use the public transport brings about a level of stress that you really could do without!

Trust us, we’ve been there many a time.

We have felt the pain and the confusion and we’ve even been fined because we got it wrong!

So now, before we head to a new country or city, we check out info on what to do and absolutely what not to do.

Do I need to get a transport card? Does the bus only accept cash? Do I need to bring ID?

And after having spent three months in Tbilisi, I feel like we’ve kind of gotten the hang of it all.

So, here’s our Tbilisi transport guide for travellers which gives you everything we know and have found out the hard way ourselves during our time in Tbilisi.

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Transport Cards

There are two types of transport cards you can use on Tbilisi public transport: Metro Money and a Blue Travel Card.

Metro Money

This is the one that we use ourselves and recommend for travellers.

You buy the card, top up the card and then tap the card at the machines for each use of public transport. When it runs out, you top it up again. It’s very straight forward.

You can use it to access the metro, buses and cable cars. Tbilisi is a very walkable city and so realistically able tourists will not need to take public transport a huge amount.

Blue Travel Card

This is a card for people that will be using public transport a lot. You can buy a card that is valid for a day, a week, a month, even a year!

You pay a set fee, and then you can use it all day everyday with a maximum cap of 20 uses per day.

How to Buy Your Card

Inside all metro stations throughout Tbilisi, you will find Metro Money kiosks. Tell them which card you want, and hand over 2 GEL (it’s the same price for both cards).

You have to pay with cash to buy the initial card. You do not need to show any form of ID as the card itself is not registered or linked to you.

How to Top Up Your Card & How Much to Top Up

At the same kiosks within the metro stations, you can hand over cash to be added on to your card.

There are top-up machines on the streets all around the city that you can also use to add credit to your transport cards.

They have a free-standing ATM look about them. At these machines, you can use cash or card to top up, but be aware that you won’t get any change at these machines; the full value of the note you insert will be added to your card.

How to Use Your Card

On the metro and the cable cars, you just tap your card at the barriers to open them. You do not need to tap again to leave.

A flat fee is charged on your single tap, so whether you get off after one stop or six stops, you pay the same amount.

On buses, the card readers are within the bus, so you don’t tap before you get on. It’s very much a case of getting on the bus as a priority and then tapping your card later.

As it’s a flat fee, you pay the same regardless of when you tap on your journey.

If you tap your card on multiple legs of a journey within 90-minutes, the subsequent taps will not be charged.

So, say you travel on the metro, and then jump on a bus, the fee will still be the flat 1 GEL if taken within the 90-minute window from the first tap.

How Many People Can Use One Card?

So, I’m not aware of an official cut-off number, but I have used our card for me, Chris and two friends who came to visit us all in one journey.

I would imagine that the 90-minute window rule would only apply to the first tap, but if you have tried it out, let us know!

Do You Actually Need a Transport Card?

It’s actually not a necessity! The card readers on buses, metro, and cable cars will accept other cards, but you will be charged a little extra.

It depends on how much you will be using public transport during your visit. If you’re only going to be in the city for a long weekend and plan on walking everywhere, except a scenic cable car ride, then you might as well just tap your card from back home.

A tap on a metro/bus with a Metro Money card costs 1 GEL, whereas a tap from a credit card costs 1.5 GEL.

This means that you would need to tap your card 4 times to make your money back on the initial payment for the physical card.

Metro

Tbilisi metro is efficient and clean and really pretty good. Trains run regularly (every 5 minutes or so) between 6 AM and midnight.

Built during the Soviet Union, the metro stations are deep and many have the lavish decoration that ex-Soviet metro stations are renowned for.

The only other thing with ex-Soviet metro stations is that they tend to have ruling on photography; don’t ask me why. It’s been the same across many countries that we have visited, it’s such a shame especially when the decoration is so beautiful!

Now, I have taken photos in the metro quite obviously (like, I wasn’t discreet or secretive about it), and I have not been told off, so who knows?

Metro Lines

There are two metro lines with 23 stops. The red Akhmeteli-Varkeltili Line has 16 stops and runs north to south through Tbilisi, while the green Saburtalo Line has 7 stops and runs west from the Tbilisi Central train station to the university.

The only stop where the two metros connect is Station Square which is at Tbilisi Central train station, so if you need to switch lines you have to do it here.

Metro Tips

The metro stations tend not to have their station names written in a way that is visible to the passenger on the train. So, when you’re trying to check if this is the station where you need to jump off, it can be a little tricky.

There is, however, an announcement just before each stop, which is said in Georgian and English, so make sure you listen out.

As a failsafe, count how many stops on the map on the station/in the train and count as you go!

Buses

Buses are modern and look like any you would get in any other European city. Jump on the bus, tap your card, and then jump on when you get to your destination.

It’s pretty straight forward. If you want to double check you’re getting on the right bus, I usually say my destination to the driver as a question.

You will get a funny look because they notoriously do not like to speak to anyone, but we have always at least got a nod or shake of the head from the driver. Along a similar vein, drivers do not deal with any tickets and will not accept cash payment.

Google Maps has good info on bus stops and schedules with live tracking on the buses. Traffic around Tbilisi can get a bit mad, so if you can avoid the buses and get there by metro, definitely avoid the bus.

If you’re flying into/out of Tbilisi during the day time, there is a bus that runs between the city centre and the airport.

It’ll usually get you there in half an hour, and it only costs 1 GEL if you tap your Metro Money card!

Marshrutka

Now, we have never taken a marshrutka in Tbilisi, only to travel to other parts of the country. And in all honesty, I would not advise it within the city.

They are the least comfortable option, and they have to drive through all the traffic which means they are not a quick option.

If you want to experience a classic marshrutka, and I absolutely recommend that you do, don’t do it within Tbilisi.

I recommend your first marshrutka ride be to somewhere like Georgia’s ancient capital: Mtskheta. It’s an easy half-day trip with a 30-minute drive, so it won’t be too intense.

Once you’ve got the hang of it, venture to Gori or even the Kazbegi mountains by marshrutka!

Cable Cars & Funicular

Back in the olden days, Tbilisi used to be full of cable cars, but nowadays there are only a handful. Not all of these cable cars allow the transport cards.

The Mtatsminda card is specifically for the cable car and funicular that take you to the park at the top of the hill.

The park has fairground rides, and you can also pay for these rides by tapping your Mtatsminda card.

Transport to/from the park and rides are all paid for with one card. You cannot pay with cash.

There are booths at the cable car/funicular stations and on top of the hill where you can buy the card and exchange cash for credits on the card.

The card costs 2 GEL, and then a one-way journey on either the cable car or funicular costs 12 GEL per person. The cost of rides vary, but you’ll find this info in the park itself.

The funicular and cable car up to Mtatsminda are not cheap, so if you don’t fancy paying to go up and down, you could walk.

There is a nice paved path with scenic views over the Tbilisi, and Mtatsminda Pantheon makes a great stop half way.

You could probably do the walk within about 40 minutes.

Taxis

Bolt is the most prominent taxi service in Tbilisi, so make sure you download the app on to your phone.

You can request drivers within a couple of clicks on the app, and you can even prearrange a trip, which is perfect if you have an early flight or train journey for example.

Have you got the hang of Tbilisi public transport?

Well, if you’re looking to travel to other parts of the country, you’ll likely be getting a marshrutka, so our post on marshrutka madness is a good place to start. They’re not as bad as the horror stories you’ve heard!

Otherwise if you’re staying longer in Tbilisi, there are loads of really unique things to do and even more places to eat delicious vegetarian food!

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