Route guide
Tbilisi to 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.
Tbilisi and Batumi are linked by the country's main motorway and its main railway, and both have been upgraded. The highway now runs through new tunnels where the old road crawled over the Rikoti Pass, and Georgian Railway cut the fastest train time to about four hours in August 2026.
If you only want to get to the beach, take the train. If you want the day itself to count, a driver turns the trip into a tour of Georgia's middle: a cave town near Gori, a medieval academy above Kutaisi and a stretch of dark sand on the Guria coast before Batumi.
Ways to go, compared
| Option | Time | Price (2026) | How often |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fast double-deck trainTbilisi Central station (Station Square) | About 4-5 h | from about 35 GEL (about $13) in 2nd class in 2026; 1st and business cost more | Several departures a day in summer, fewer in winter |
| Coach or minibusDidube bus station; some coaches from Station Square | 6-7 h | about 30-40 GEL (about $11-15) in 2026 | Several a day |
| Private transfer with stopsYour hotel in Tbilisi | 5-6 h driving, 9-10 h with stops | see vehicle prices below | Any day |
- Time
- About 4-5 h
- Price
- from about 35 GEL (about $13) in 2nd class in 2026; 1st and business cost more
- How often
- Several departures a day in summer, fewer in winter
- From
- Tbilisi Central station (Station Square)
- Comfortable, air-conditioned, stops at Kutaisi Airport station and Kobuleti
- Sells out in July and August; book on the railway site 10-15 days ahead
- Time
- 6-7 h
- Price
- about 30-40 GEL (about $11-15) in 2026
- How often
- Several a day
- From
- Didube bus station; some coaches from Station Square
- No need to book ahead
- Slower and less comfortable than the train
- Time
- 5-6 h driving, 9-10 h with stops
- Price
- see vehicle prices below
- How often
- Any day
- From
- Your hotel in Tbilisi
- Hotel pick-up at any hour and luggage is no problem
- A long day if you add all the stops
Prices are approximate for 2026 (1 USD is about 2.7 GEL) and change with fuel and season.
Stops on the way
7 stops, adding about 5 h 25 min to the drive. Easy with a private car; buses do not stop.
- 0 km1TbilisiStart
- 22 km2Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, MtskhetaStop about 40 min · Mtskheta lies just off the motorway at the start of the day: the cathedral can be seen in 30 to 40 minutes.
- 95 km3Uplistsikhe cave townStop about 75 min · A rock-cut town from the Iron Age to the Middle Ages, about 10 km off the motorway east of Gori.
- 240 km4Gelati MonasteryStop about 45 min · Royal monastery and academy above Kutaisi, with 12th-century mosaics; a 20-minute detour from the motorway.
- 310 km5Ureki beachStop about 30 min · Black magnetic sand on the Guria coast: a first sight of the sea and a place for a swim in summer.
- 340 km6KobuletiStop about 15 min · Long pebble beach and seaside cafes, good for a final coffee.
- 350 km7Petra FortressStop about 30 min · Byzantine fortress ruins on two seaside hills at Tsikhisdziri, right beside the road.
- 361 km8Batumi Botanical GardenStop about 90 min · Large hillside garden on the Green Cape, 9 km before the centre. Better kept for a separate visit if you arrive late.
- 370 km9BatumiArrive
Private transfer prices
Whole car with driver, one way, stops included. Sample prices
| Vehicle | Seats | One way |
|---|---|---|
| SedanComfortable saloon such as a Toyota Camry or similar hybrid. Right for one to three people with normal luggage on paved roads. | up to 3 | $210 |
| MinivanMercedes Vito, V-Class or similar. For families and groups of four to seven, or three people with a lot of luggage or ski gear. | up to 7 | $280 |
| SUV (4x4)Real four-wheel drive such as a Toyota Land Cruiser Prado or Mitsubishi Delica, with a driver used to mountain tracks. Needed for Tusheti, Khevsureti, the upper Truso valley and snowy winter roads. | up to 4 | $270 |
| MinibusMercedes Sprinter or similar with air conditioning, for groups of eight to seventeen. Paved roads only. | up to 17 | $460 |
- Choose two or three stops, not all of them: with Uplistsikhe, Gelati and Ureki the day is already about 10 hours.
- Travelling west on the train, sit on the right for the last stretch along the sea.
- Summer weekends bring heavy traffic toward the coast on Friday and back to Tbilisi on Sunday.
Do it with us
Tbilisi to Batumi, privately
Any date, any group size. Private guide, transport, horses and camping gear if needed.
Ready-made tourEast to West6 days · from $1,110 pp (sample)Tbilisi to Batumi: FAQ
Which is quicker to Batumi, the train or a car?
The train wins: since August 2026 the best services need roughly four hours, against 5 to 6 by road. Flights are rare and rarely save time once you count the airport.
How far is Batumi by road?
About 370 km and 5 to 6 hours without long stops. With sightseeing on the way, plan a full day.
Can I stop in Kutaisi on the way to Batumi?
Yes. Kutaisi sits about two thirds of the way. A private driver can include Gelati or Bagrati, or you can break the trip with a night there.
Last checked Oct 2026 by the Maspindzeli team. Mountain conditions change: ask us before you go.
Tours on this road
Book a private transfer with stops
Tbilisi to Batumi in your own car with driver, stopping at Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, Mtskheta, Uplistsikhe cave town, Gelati Monastery and more. Fixed price, any time.
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