The short answer: from Tbilisi International Airport, city bus 337 runs to the centre from about 07:00 to 23:00 for 1 GEL, tapped with a bank card, and takes around an hour. Outside those hours, book a Bolt or a pre-arranged transfer; a ride to the centre is usually about 30–40 GEL. In the arrivals hall you can buy a local SIM card and take out lari from bank ATMs. Keep your insurance policy on your phone, as the border can ask for it.
At the border: passport and insurance
Most Western passport holders enter Georgia visa-free, but check your own nationality on the Georgian Foreign Ministry's site. Since 1 January 2026, every tourist must also have health and accident insurance with at least 30,000 GEL of cover for the whole stay. Proof can be asked for at passport control, on paper or electronically, in Georgian or English. Have the PDF saved offline, not just in an email you need Wi-Fi to open.
Getting into town
Bus 337
The municipal bus stop is in front of the arrivals hall. Bus 337 runs between the airport and the city centre, via Freedom Square, and on to the central railway station; the airport lists the timetable as about 06:59 to 22:59, and buses run roughly every 15–20 minutes. The fare is 1 GEL, which includes 90 minutes of travel on other buses and the metro if you pay by bank card or a Metromoney card. Tapping a contactless bank card is easiest. Allow about an hour to the centre.
One thing to check in late 2026: Rustaveli Avenue was closed to traffic for works from July to November 2026 and bus 337 was diverted. Look at the live route before you ride, or ask your hotel for the nearest stop.
Train
A railway line links the airport with Tbilisi's central station, but there are only a couple of departures a day, so it rarely fits a flight. Check the current timetable at the station if you want to try it.
Taxi and ride-hailing
- Bolt: works at the airport day and night. A ride to the centre usually costs about 30–40 GEL, and the app shows the fare before you confirm.
- The official airport taxi rank: Wander-Lush lists a fixed 40 GEL for addresses up to 19.9 km and 50 GEL beyond.
- Pre-booked transfer: a driver waits with your name, and the price is agreed in advance.
Ignore drivers who approach you inside the hall offering a ride; agree any price before you get in, or stick to the app or the official rank.
SIM cards and eSIMs
Georgia has three mobile networks: Magti, Silknet and Cellfie. All three have desks in the arrivals hall, and Magti's office is to your right as you come into the hall and is open around the clock. Prepaid tourist packages with plenty of data are cheap. Bring your passport, and allow 10–15 minutes for activation. All three networks also sell eSIMs, which you can set up before you fly. Magti is usually said to have the widest coverage in the mountains, but expect gaps in high valleys whichever you choose.
Money: ATMs and exchange
The currency is the lari (GEL). Inside the arrivals hall there are ATMs from the two big Georgian banks, TBC and Bank of Georgia, which charge a small fee of a few lari. Exchange desks at the airport stay open late but give worse rates than banks and exchange offices in the city, so change only what you need for the first day. When an ATM or card machine offers to charge you in your home currency, choose lari: the conversion rate is usually worse.
Cards and contactless work almost everywhere in Tbilisi, including buses and the metro. Take some cash for villages, markets and church candles. For daily costs, read how much a trip to Georgia costs.
Night arrivals
Many flights land in the small hours. Bus 337 doesn't run then, so plan a Bolt or a transfer. If you land in the middle of the night, book your hotel from the night before, so you can check in on arrival and sleep, rather than waiting in a lobby until the afternoon. Tell your hotel your flight number. On a private tour with us, the airport pickup is part of day one at any hour.
A few more tips
- Download Bolt and an offline map before you fly.
- Carry a few lari in coins or small notes for the first shop or tip.
- Plan an easy first day. A walk through the Old Town and an early dinner is enough.
- For everything else, from church dress codes to Monday closures, see Georgia travel tips for a first trip.
Tours for this: your first days in Tbilisi
Once you have slept, the Tbilisi City Explorer is a private Old Town walk with a guide: Metekhi, the cable car to Narikala, the bath domes of Abanotubani and Sioni Cathedral. If you want the whole trip arranged from the moment you land, Georgia Highlights in 5 days starts with an airport pickup at any hour and ends with a drop-off for your flight home. Both are private, with an English-speaking guide; see the tour page for the current price.
Starting your trip with us
Send us your flight times and we plan the pickup and the days that follow. Or build your own route. Nothing to pay now.
Sources
- Tbilisi International Airport, bus to and from the airport: tbilisiairport.com
- Wander-Lush, "How to Travel From Tbilisi Airport to City Centre in 2026" (updated September 2026): wander-lush.org
- Wander-Lush, "Tbilisi Public Transport Guide": wander-lush.org
- Magti, SIM cards for tourists at Georgian airports: magticom.ge
- US Embassy in Georgia, insurance for all tourists from 1 January 2026: ge.usembassy.gov
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, entering Georgia: geoconsul.gov.ge
Last checked: September 2026. Bus hours, routes and taxi fares change; check the airport's site before you fly.
