Overview
Tbilisi's public transport network is run by the Tbilisi Transport Company, the same organisation that has operated the Tbilisi Metro (Georgian: თბილისის მეტროპოლიტენი, romanized: tbilisis met'rop'olit'eni) since the metro opened on 11 January 1966. For a visitor, the system is easy to use end to end: you buy a rechargeable Metromoney card or tap a contactless bank card on the validator, then ride the metro, city buses, municipal minibuses and the Bagebi–University Ropeway under one standard fare with unlimited transfers inside a 90-minute window.
The metro is usually the fastest way to cross the city during rush hour, though it can occasionally be interrupted by maintenance or technical problems. Buses and minibuses fill in the routes the metro does not reach, and several cable cars and a funicular serve the hills and viewpoints. Fares and routes change, so treat every price below as approximate and check the operator's own information before you travel.
The network
The system is a mix of modes, each with its own lines, names and quirks.
- Metro (თბილისის მეტროპოლიტენი / tbilisis met'rop'olit'eni): two lines — the First Line (Akhmeteli–Varketili Line) and the Saburtalo Line. The network is about 28.6 km long with 23 stations, and many stations are very deep and vividly decorated in the Soviet-built style. Trains run roughly 06:00–00:00, about every five minutes, and station names are announced in Georgian and English.
- Suburban and intercity rail: Tbilisi Central Station (თბილისი ცენტრალი / Tbilisi Tsentrali) at Station Square (Sadguris Moedani), itself a metro stop, handles domestic trains to Batumi, Gori, Borjomi, Kutaisi, Marneuli, Poti and Zugdidi, plus international services toward Yerevan and Baku.
- City buses: municipal buses run on fixed routes with official stops, generally from about 07:00 to 24:00, with less frequent service early in the morning and late at night. Central-street stops often have English-language boards showing routes and arrival times.
- Minibuses (marshrutkas): municipal minibuses follow fixed routes but traditionally have no fixed stops — you hail them anywhere and get off anywhere. Modern ones use official stops; press the stop button or tell the driver.
- Cable cars, ropeways and the funicular: the Bagebi–University Ropeway is part of the municipal fare system, while the Turtle Lake Cable Car (Vake Park–Turtle Lake), the Rike–Narikala Cable Car (Rike Park–Narikala Fortress), the Rustaveli–Mtatsminda Cable Car and the Tbilisi Funicular (Chonkadze Street–Mtatsminda Park) charge separately.
- Ferries: no ferry service is described in the available sources, so plan your river crossings on foot or by road.
Tickets & fares
Payment is cashless in practice. You either tap a contactless bank card on the validator or use a Metromoney card or Subscription Card. Each passenger should use a separate bank card.
- Standard fare: 1 GEL, covering the metro, municipal buses, municipal minibuses and the Bagebi–University Ropeway, with unlimited transfers within 90 minutes. Always validate your card on entry or boarding, even inside the transfer window.
- Metromoney card: costs 2 GEL, needs no ID or registration, and can be topped up as needed. Buy it at metro station ticket offices, Rike–Narikala Cable Car ticket offices, or selected Bank of Georgia express branches; top up at metro stations, Rike–Narikala cable car stations, or Bank of Georgia payment machines and service centres.
- Subscription Card unlimited packages: 1 day for 3 GEL, 1 week for 20 GEL, 1 month for 40 GEL, 3 months for 100 GEL, 6 months for 150 GEL, 1 year for 250 GEL. These cover the metro, municipal buses, municipal minibuses and the Bagebi–University Ropeway, but exclude the tourist cable cars and the Mtatsminda Funicular.
- Separate-fare attractions: Turtle Lake Cable Car 1 GEL one-way (bicycle +1 GEL); Rike–Narikala Cable Car 2.50 GEL one-way, paid with a Metromoney card; Rustaveli–Mtatsminda Cable Car 12 GEL one-way, with its own payment system that does not accept Metromoney, contactless bank cards or transport subscriptions; Tbilisi Funicular about 10 GEL one-way per person plus a required reusable Mtatsminda Park card.
- Zones and validity: the sources describe a single city fare rather than a zoned system, and there is no separate tourist ticket for the metro — the 90-minute transfer rule is what most visitors rely on.
All prices are approximate and change; fare information in the sources was last checked in August 2026 against the Tbilisi Transport Company's standard tariffs.
From the airport
Shota Rustaveli Tbilisi International Airport (TBS) sits about 17 km east of the city centre.
- Bus №337: the public-transport option, stopping outside the Arrivals Hall and running to central Tbilisi and Station Square via Avlabari, Freedom Square, Rustaveli, Republic Square and Tamar Bridge. Allow about 50 minutes. The fare is 1 GEL with a Metromoney card or 1.50 GEL with a contactless credit card; coins are not accepted, and the 90-minute transfer applies. Service runs roughly 06:59–22:59 every 20–30 minutes, with no night service. Do not count on the last bus or two actually running, and note that since 23 July 2026 roadworks on Rustaveli Avenue have temporarily rerouted bus №337 and other routes, so check the live route before you travel.
- Taxi: official airport taxis operate 24 hours outside the Arrivals Hall, taking about 20–30 minutes to the centre, with fares generally in the region of 20–30 GEL; tourist information at the airport has quoted 30–50 GEL, and ride-hailing apps such as Bolt can be cheaper still. Standard rates are posted on a board by the taxi rank on the right as you exit, but be wary of drivers who accost you in the terminal and quote inflated prices.
Etiquette & customs
- Boarding: board and alight only at official stops on buses, and tap your card on the validator after boarding. On marshrutkas, hail and alight where you like unless it is a modern vehicle using official stops.
- Escalators: the sources do not specify a standing side, so follow the flow of the crowd and keep moving if people behind you are in a hurry.
- Quiet and priority seating: no specific rules are documented, but standard courtesy applies — offer seats to older passengers, pregnant women and people with reduced mobility.
- Eating and drinking: no explicit rules are given in the sources; keep food and drink minimal out of respect for other passengers.
- Rush hour: weekday mornings and evenings are heavy, and the metro is the fastest option then. In the Old Town, walking is often quicker than sitting in traffic.
- Ticket checks: controllers in blue vests with red stripes may check your ticket on buses; the word "biletebi" signals an inspection, so keep your card or ticket handy.
- General reliability: routes can change at short notice because of roadworks, demonstrations or events, so check the live route before you set out.
Official links
Survival terms
- subway/metro — მეტრო (metro)
- ticket — ბილეთი (bileti)
- line — ხაზი (khazi)
- entrance — შესასვლელი (shesasvleli)
- exit — გასასვლელი (gasasvleli)
- transfer — გადაჯდომა (gadajdoma)
- single fare — ერთჯერადი მგზავრობა (ertjeradi mgzavroba)
- day pass — დღიური ბარათი (dghiuri barati)
Before you rely on any route, check the operator's live information, because fares, timetables and even whole routes in Tbilisi can change with little warning.