Getting around Georgia
Routes: how to get from A to B
Every way to make the journey, side by side: marshrutka minibuses, trains, shared taxis, flights and a private car with driver. Times and prices are for 2026, with the best stops on the way.
KutaisiPhoto: Kober, CC BY-SA 3.0Batumi → Kutaisi
About 150 km north along the coast and then inland across the Colchis plain. Roughly 2.5-3 hours of driving, and Petra Fortress, the Guria beaches and Prometheus Cave all lie close to the road.
- CheapestMarshrutka · about $6
- FastestTrain · About 1.5-2 h
TbilisiPhoto: Alexey Komarov, CC BY-SA 4.0Kutaisi Airport (KUT) → Tbilisi
About 245 km from David the Builder Kutaisi International Airport to the capital. Shuttle coaches timed to flights take 3 to 4 hours; a private car takes about the same and can turn the transfer into a day of sightseeing.
- CheapestBus · about $7
- FastestBus · 3-4 h
MestiaPhoto: Q-lieb-in, CC BY-SA 4.0Kutaisi → Mestia
About 240 km from Kutaisi via Martvili or Senaki and Zugdidi, then up the Enguri gorge. Around 4.5 hours of driving, which leaves time for a canyon walk and the Enguri Dam on the way.
- CheapestMarshrutka · about $3.7
- FastestFlight · About 40 min
BatumiPhoto: Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet, Public domainTbilisi → Batumi
About 370 km by road from the capital to the Black Sea. The fast train is now the easiest way, at about 4 hours on the quickest services; a private car takes 5 to 6 hours but lets you see Uplistsikhe, Kutaisi and the Guria coast on the way.
- CheapestBus · about $11
- FastestTrain · About 4-5 h
BorjomiPhoto: Sergey Sebelev, CC BY-SA 4.0Tbilisi → Borjomi
About 160 km west on the motorway to Khashuri, then south into the wooded Mtkvari gorge. Two and a half to three hours by car, with Samtavisi, Uplistsikhe and Surami as natural breaks.
- CheapestMarshrutka · about $4.5
- FastestPrivate car · 2.5-3 h driving, 6 h with stops
KutaisiPhoto: Kober, CC BY-SA 3.0Tbilisi → Kutaisi
About 230 km west on the E60 motorway, through Shida Kartli and the new Rikoti tunnels into Imereti. Three hours of driving with plenty of easy stops: Mtskheta, Uplistsikhe, Gori and Surami.
- CheapestBus · about $7
- FastestTrain · About 3 h
MestiaPhoto: Q-lieb-in, CC BY-SA 4.0Tbilisi → Mestia
About 460 km across the whole country, west on the main highway to Zugdidi and then 135 km up the Enguri gorge into Svaneti. It is a long day by road, a slow day by train and minibus, or one hour in a small plane when the weather allows.
- CheapestTrain · about $6
- FastestFlight · About 1 h in the air
OmaloPhoto: Abramia Giorgi, CC BY-SA 4.0Tbilisi → Omalo (Tusheti)
About 200 km, of which the last 72 km is a narrow dirt road climbing to roughly 2,850 m at Abano. 4x4 only, usually open from June to early October, weather permitting. Allow a full day.
- CheapestShared taxi · about $37
- FastestShared taxi · 4-5 h from Alvani
SighnaghiPhoto: Levan Gokadze, CC BY-SA 2.0Tbilisi → Sighnaghi
About 113 km east on the Kakheti highway through Sagarejo, ending with a short climb to the old walled town on its ridge over the vineyards. Two hours of driving, easily combined with a cathedral, a bakery stop and Bodbe Monastery.
- CheapestMarshrutka · about $6
- FastestPrivate car · 2 h driving, 5-6 h with stops
Stepantsminda (Kazbegi)Photo: Supanut Arunoprayote, CC BY 4.0Tbilisi → Stepantsminda (Kazbegi)
About 155 km north along the Georgian Military Road, climbing from the Aragvi valley over the Jvari Pass (2,379 m) to the foot of Mount Kazbek. Allow 3 hours without stops and a full day if you want to see the fortresses and viewpoints on the way.
- CheapestMarshrutka · about $6
- FastestPrivate car · 3 h driving, 6-8 h with stops
TelaviPhoto: Jelger Groeneveld, CC BY 2.0Tbilisi → Telavi
About 96 km over the Gombori Pass, a forested mountain road, or about 156 km on the longer, flatter road through Sagarejo and Gurjaani. Two to 2.5 hours either way, with monasteries and fortresses along both.
- CheapestMarshrutka · about $6
- FastestPrivate car · 2-2.5 h driving, 5-6 h with stops
VardziaPhoto: Alexkom000, CC BY 4.0Tbilisi → Vardzia
About 265 km via Borjomi and Akhaltsikhe, ending in the canyon of the upper Mtkvari below the 12th-century cave monastery. Around 4 to 4.5 hours of driving, best done with a night in Borjomi or Akhaltsikhe.
- CheapestMarshrutka · about $6
- FastestPrivate car · 4-4.5 h driving, best over 2 days
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