Tbilisi metro and city transport: a complete 2026 guide

How Tbilisi moves

Tbilisi has one of the best-value urban transport systems in Europe. The metro, at 50 tetri per ride (about 19 cents), is among the cheapest big-city subways in the world. Buses are 1 GEL. Bolt rides across the city rarely exceed 15 GEL. For large parts of the Old Town and adjacent districts, you do not need any transport at all — the city is genuinely walkable.

This guide covers the practical mechanics: how the metro works, which lines matter, how to use the MetroMoney card, what buses and marshrutkas add to the picture, and when to just open Bolt. If you are arriving at Tbilisi airport, that guide covers the airport-specific transfers; this one is about moving around the city itself.

The Tbilisi metro

Two lines, simple network

The Tbilisi metro has two lines that cross at Sadguris Moedani (Station Square) in the centre:

Line 1 (Red): runs east-west from Varketili in the southeast, through the Old Town, to the west of the city. Key stations for visitors: Avlabari (near Old Town), Rustaveli (main avenue), Liberty Square (Old Town heart), Station Square (central rail station), Didube (main marshrutka terminal).
Line 2 (Green): runs roughly north-south connecting the northern suburbs to the centre. Key stations: Sadguris Moedani (interchange with Red line), Rustaveli (via Red line), Tsereteli.

The network is small — you can cross the city in 20 minutes on the metro. Stations are deep (Soviet-era engineering with long escalators) but efficient. Announcements are in Georgian and English.

Hours and frequency

The metro runs from roughly 6am to midnight, seven days a week. Trains run every 2–4 minutes during peak hours, every 5–10 minutes off-peak.

What to know about stations

Escalators are fast by Western European standards — hold the handrail
Platforms are narrow at older stations
Most stations have clear route maps posted in English
Some station exits bring you out blocks from where you expect — check the exit numbers before emerging if you are navigating to a specific address

The MetroMoney card

What it does

MetroMoney is Tbilisi’s rechargeable transport card. It works on:

Metro (single ride: 50 tetri)
City buses (single ride: 1 GEL)
Yellow Tbilisi buses (including airport 337)
Some marshrutka routes within the city

The card itself costs 2 GEL (refundable deposit at major stations if you return it). Load any amount from 5 GEL upward at station kiosks or via the TTC app.

Where to buy

Every metro station has a staffed booth and machines that sell MetroMoney cards. Staff speak basic English and the process takes two minutes.

Alternative: contactless bank card

Bank of Georgia and TBC Bank contactless cards, and many international contactless cards and phones (Apple Pay, Google Pay), now work directly at metro turnstiles and bus card readers. The fare is the same. This is the easiest option for visitors who do not want to deal with a physical transport card for a short stay.

Alternative: disposable paper ticket

Single-use paper tickets are available at metro stations for visitors who do not want a card. Less convenient and slightly more expensive in practice, but possible.

Buses in Tbilisi

The city bus network is extensive — far more routes than the two-line metro, covering every neighbourhood. Fare is 1 GEL per ride, paid by MetroMoney or contactless card.

Yellow city buses

The modern yellow buses (operated by Tbilisi City Transport) are the bulk of the network. Air-conditioned, relatively frequent, reliable. Most useful routes for visitors:

Bus 88 — Rustaveli to Vake and Saburtalo (useful for reaching Vake Park and Lisi Lake area)
Bus 44 — connects Old Town to Vake
Bus 37 — airport express from the Old Town to Tbilisi International (see airport guide)
Bus 337 — night airport service

Google Maps has accurate Tbilisi bus routes and schedules — use it to plan rather than trying to decode physical stops.

Old buses

A few older buses still operate on some routes. Less comfortable, but the 1 GEL fare is the same. Tourists are rarely on these routes.

Marshrutkas in the city

Marshrutkas (yellow minivans) still operate on some urban routes, particularly serving outer neighbourhoods. They are the informal backbone of Tbilisi public transport but are being progressively replaced by the yellow bus network.

How to use them

Flag one down at any reasonable stopping point (or wait at a designated stop)
Fare is typically 0.80–1 GEL paid in cash to the driver
Destination is displayed on a front placard (in Georgian)
Tap the shoulder of the passenger in front or call “gaacheret” (stop) when you want to get off
They stop at a gesture from the pavement or at a shouted request from inside

When to use an urban marshrutka

For short everyday trips, yellow buses are more comfortable and no more expensive. Marshrutkas make sense for specific routes not served well by the bus network, or for very short hops between neighbouring districts.

For intercity marshrutka travel, see the getting around Georgia guide — this guide covers the urban picture only.

Ride-hailing apps: Bolt, Yandex Go, Maxim

Bolt: the default

Bolt is the dominant ride-hailing service in Tbilisi and Georgia. The app works as you would expect: download, add payment card, request a ride. Cars arrive in 3–7 minutes in central areas.

Typical fares:

Old Town to Vake: 6–10 GEL
Old Town to Rustaveli: 4–6 GEL
Airport to Old Town: 15–25 GEL (surge can push higher)
Cross-city corner-to-corner: 10–18 GEL

Surge pricing applies in rain, late at night, and during commuter peaks. Surge rates can double or triple base fares but are still typically below Western equivalents.

Yandex Go

Yandex’s ride-hailing service works in Georgia and is often marginally cheaper than Bolt. The interface is less polished but functionally similar. Drivers are largely the same pool — many drivers are signed up to both services.

Maxim

A third option, sometimes the cheapest, with longer average wait times and fewer drivers in the city. Worth having as a backup when Bolt is surging.

Language and driver communication

Most drivers speak limited English. The apps handle the destination transmission, so language is rarely a practical problem. A friendly “gaumarjos” (hello) and thank-you at the end is appreciated. Tipping is not expected on app rides — rounding up or leaving 1–2 GEL as a gesture is common but not required.

Traditional street taxis

Unregistered street taxis still operate in Tbilisi, particularly around tourist areas. Avoid them as a default. Prices are almost always higher than app fares and require negotiation at which most visitors lose.

Exception: if you are in a part of the city without a strong app driver presence at the moment you need to travel, a flagged street taxi with an agreed fare beforehand is fine. Always settle the price before getting in.

Walking: the underrated option

Much of Tbilisi is genuinely walkable. The distances that look long on a map often take 15–25 minutes and involve interesting streets.

Typical walking times

Freedom Square to Sameba Cathedral: 25 minutes
Rustaveli to Old Town: 10 minutes
Rike Park to Narikala (via cable car): 3 minutes; (walking up): 20 minutes
Old Town to Vake: 30 minutes
Marjanishvili to Rustaveli: 15 minutes

Where walking works best

The Old Town (Abanotubani, Kote Afkhazi, Meidan, Bethlemi, Sololaki): cobblestone streets, hills, tight alleys — walk everywhere
Rustaveli Avenue: the main central boulevard, walking is more pleasant than any transport alternative
The riverside (Mtkvari promenade, Rike Park): pleasant pedestrian zones
Mtatsminda and Vera: residential but atmospheric

Where walking is hard

Long east-west crossings (Didube to Isani): take the metro
The Vake–Saburtalo corridor: distances are larger than they appear
The approaches to Turtle Lake and Lisi Lake: pleasant walks but long; bus or Bolt saves time
Cobblestone streets in heavy rain: slippery

The funicular and cable cars

Mtatsminda Funicular

Links the Rustaveli area (lower station near the old Funicular Park) to the summit of Mount Mtatsminda, where the Mtatsminda amusement park and restaurant sit at the top of the ridge. Fare is 3 GEL each way, payable by MetroMoney or contactless card. Useful for the view and a quick trip up; the walk down via the forested path is one of Tbilisi’s quiet pleasures.

Narikala Cable Car

Links Rike Park (on the river) to Narikala Fortress. Fare is 2.50 GEL each way. A short ride that saves the climb up from the fortress side — useful for less-mobile travellers or for photographers wanting the elevated angle.

Accessibility

Tbilisi’s transport accessibility for wheelchair users is improving but remains below Western European norms. The metro has elevators at a minority of stations; most stations are stairs-only. Buses vary — newer yellow buses have ramps, older vehicles do not. The Old Town’s cobblestone streets and steep terrain are challenging independent of transport choice.

For wheelchair users, pre-booked accessible taxis are often the most practical option. Some private transfer services specialise in wheelchair-friendly vehicles.

Common confusions for visitors

Which metro exit

Stations often have multiple exits emerging at different points in the neighbourhood. Check the “exit to” signs inside the station before going up. A wrong exit at Station Square or Rustaveli can leave you several hundred metres from where you expected.

Bus directions

Buses run in both directions on most routes. Make sure you are on the side of the street going your way. Google Maps disambiguates this reliably.

Surge pricing surprise

Bolt surge can surprise visitors at 1am when the bar close pushes demand. The app shows the fare before you confirm — if the number looks wrong, wait ten minutes or consider walking to a less busy area before requesting again.

Metro deep escalators

The escalators at older stations (Rustaveli, Freedom Square, Vagzlis Moedani) are genuinely deep and fast. Hold the handrail, keep to the right to allow walkers to pass on the left.

A reasonable daily transport pattern

For a typical tourist day:

Walk the Old Town morning explorations
Metro to Rustaveli for cultural sites and shopping
Walk Rustaveli Avenue itself (more pleasant than any transport)
Bolt back to accommodation if tired, or metro if energetic
Metro or Bolt out to dinner in Vake or other outer neighbourhoods
Bolt home if late

Total daily transport spend at this rhythm: 5–20 GEL per person, depending on how much Bolt is involved.

For longer stays

If you are in Tbilisi for a week or more, the rhythm becomes:

MetroMoney card topped up with 20–30 GEL covers most daily moves
Bolt occasionally for group dinners or rain days
Walking as the default for the central districts

Monthly transport cost for a resident-style Tbilisi stay is genuinely modest — often under 150 GEL all in. The digital nomad guide covers the long-stay picture.

Tbilisi airport guide — arrival transfers
Getting around Georgia — intercity transport
Day trips from Tbilisi — where to go from the capital
Save money in Georgia — including transport budget tips
First-time visitors — broader orientation