Transport and cars in Georgia

How people get around Georgia

In Georgia the main means of transport is the car. The railway covers only a few routes, and domestic flights go only to two mountain airfields. So most of the country opens up by car or by marshrutka.

That means the choice of transport often shapes the whole trip: how much you see, how tired you get and how much you spend. That is why we treat it as a category of its own rather than an add-on to a tour.

Distances and real travel times

From Tbilisi to Kutaisi is about three hours by car, and to Batumi five and a half to six. Sighnaghi is two hours away, Kazbegi three, and Mestia eight or nine.

In the mountains kilometres do not translate into time. Hairpin bends, slow lorries and livestock on the road bring the average speed down to forty kilometres an hour, and that is the norm, not the exception.

So we always plan a route in hours rather than kilometres. And we allow for a stop every two or three hours - that is a rest, and often the most interesting part of the journey too.

With a driver or behind the wheel yourself

Hiring a car without a driver gives you freedom: you stop where you like and change the plan every morning. In the lowlands, in the cities and on the main roads between them, that is a perfectly realistic option.

Travelling with a driver is better when the route goes into the mountains, when it is winter, or when you are planning a wine day. A local driver knows where the ice is, where traffic slows and where you can stop.

Often the best answer is a combination: yourself in the cities and lowlands, with a driver in the mountains. We put both into one route.

Georgian roads and driving style

Traffic drives on the right, and the main roads are in good condition. But the driving style surprises many people: overtaking is frequent, the horn is part of the conversation, and on a bend the oncoming car may be on the centre line.

In villages and in the mountains cows and flocks of sheep on the road are an everyday sight, especially in the evening when the animals come home. That is why we do not advise driving mountain roads at night.

None of this means driving here is dangerous - it means you need to be careful and patient. People who adjust to the rhythm usually have no problems.

The train

From Tbilisi to Batumi the train is the most comfortable way to go: about five hours, with a view from the window and none of the fatigue of driving. In summer tickets sell out quickly, so we buy them in advance.

On other routes the railway is less practical - trains are slow and infrequent. Some regions, such as Svaneti or Kakheti, cannot be reached by train at all.

The night train to Yerevan runs seasonally and is a small adventure in itself. If you are going to the neighbouring country and have time, it is a good alternative to the car.

Marshrutkas and buses

The marshrutka - a minibus on a fixed route - is the country's main public transport. It is cheap and goes almost everywhere, but the timetable is often notional: some leave when they fill up.

There is little room for luggage, the air conditioning is not guaranteed, and on mountain roads the driver's style will not suit everyone. For someone travelling alone with little luggage it is perfectly acceptable.

Between cities several companies run large, comfortable coaches to a regular timetable. We describe that option in detail on the tickets page.

Domestic flights

In Georgia domestic flights go only to Mestia and Ambrolauri, on a small aircraft from Natakhtari. A scheduled flight between Tbilisi and Batumi appears seasonally, but not always.

The Mestia flight turns an eight- or nine-hour drive into one hour, but it depends on the weather and seats are few. So we plan it with a backup.

If the flight is cancelled, a car is ready and you travel by road the same day. We always arrange that, because a mountain flight falling through is not rare.

Taxis and apps

In Tbilisi and Batumi ride-hailing apps are widely used, and for a short trip across town that is the simplest and cheapest option. The price is shown in advance and there is no haggling.

In a taxi hailed on the street, agree the price first, especially at the airport and at tourist sites. Inflated fares for foreigners are the most common problem here.

We do not recommend taxis between cities: the driver often does not know the mountain road, and the car is not ready for a long journey. That is what transfers are for.

A minibus for a group

For a group of eight to nineteen passengers a minibus is the most logical transport: everyone travels together, there is room for the luggage and there is one driver.

In the mountains size matters. A large coach cannot get along narrow roads, while a minibus copes with the main mountain roads without trouble. In Tusheti and Khevsureti, though, it is 4x4s only.

For more than twenty people we suggest a coach or several minibuses, depending on the route. We describe this in detail on the group page.

Scooters and mopeds

In Batumi in summer a scooter is a popular way to get along the seafront. In Tbilisi it is less practical: the city is hilly, the traffic is dense, and drivers do not always notice a motorcyclist.

To ride a scooter you need a driving licence in the appropriate category, and a helmet is compulsory. We check this before hire, because the insurance does not apply without the licence.

We do not recommend a scooter in the mountains - steep climbs, gravel and tight bends make it a risk. We go into this in detail on the scooter page.

Winter and mountain roads

In winter the Jvari Pass - the road to Kazbegi and Gudauri - closes temporarily when there is heavy snow or avalanche risk. Traffic then stops for hours or even days.

Winter tyres are essential in the mountains, and on some stretches chains as well. A hire car does not always come with winter tyres - we check that when you book.

If you are heading into the mountains in winter and have no experience of driving on snow, we recommend a driver. This is the case where saving money is not worth the risk.

Crossing a border by car

Driving into Armenia and Azerbaijan is possible, and into Turkey as well. But not every company allows it with a hire car, and you need the permission in writing.

At the border they check the vehicle documents and the insurance. Insurance valid abroad is arranged separately, and without it you cannot cross.

It is often simpler to take a transfer to the border, cross on foot and continue in another car on the other side. We compare both options and tell you which is better.

Fines and cameras

There are many traffic cameras in Georgia, especially in the cities and on the main roads, and fines are issued automatically. Speeding, red lights, seat belts and mobile phones are the most common reasons.

On a hire car the fine goes to the owner - the hire company - which then passes it on to you, often with a handling fee added. So it is better to check and pay fines promptly.

We help you check and pay fines, and challenge them if a fine is unfair. That is a separate service, and we describe it in detail.

An accident: what to do

In an accident the first call is to 112. The police draw up a report on the spot, and that document is essential for the insurance and for the hire company.

Without the report the insurance often does not pay out, and the hire company will ask you for the full amount. So even after a minor accident it is better to call the police.

At that point we help with interpreting and with communication with the hire company and the insurer. If a dispute arises, we put you in touch with a lawyer.

Buying and exporting a car

Georgia is a major hub for the used-car trade: cars arrive from America, Europe and Asia, and many of them then move on to neighbouring countries. The car market in Rustavi is one of the largest in the region.

When buying, the main risk is the car's history: accidents, mileage, paperwork. So before you buy we check the car both technically and legally.

Export involves customs procedures, and every country has its own rules. We cover all of that in detail on a separate page.

Fuel, parking and roads

Filling stations are frequent on the main roads and you can pay by card everywhere. In the mountains they are few and far between, so fill the tank before you climb.

In central Tbilisi and Batumi parking is paid and divided into zones. A car left in the wrong place can be towed away, which can eat up a whole day.

There are no toll roads in Georgia. That keeps the cost of a hire simple, and the cost of a journey comes down mainly to fuel and the car.

Children in the car

A child seat goes into every one of our vehicles, on transfers and hires alike, chosen by age and weight. We ask about this in advance so we can prepare the right seat.

Taxis and marshrutkas usually have no child seat. That is one of the reasons we suggest a transfer to families.

On a long drive with children we allow for a stop every hour and a half. It makes the journey longer, but the day goes more calmly for everyone.

How we choose drivers and vehicles

Our drivers are professionals, not random people from an app: they know the routes, the mountain roads and winter conditions, and on a wine day they do not drink at all.

The vehicles are insured, roadworthy and clean. We do not send an old car under a "comfort" label - if the age or model of the car matters, we tell you in advance.

We choose hire companies with transparent terms: the deposit, the insurance, the limits and the penalties are in the contract, not in the small print.

How to book

Send us the route, the dates, the number of passengers and the luggage. From that we choose the way to travel - sometimes something quite different from what you first had in mind.

For a transfer or a hire, 24 hours is usually enough. In summer and over holidays cars and drivers are booked up early, so a few days ahead is better then.

All the terms - price, insurance, cancellation - are sent to you in writing before you book. There should be no surprises on the day.

Public transport in the cities

In Tbilisi the metro runs on two lines and connects the centre and several districts quickly. City buses cover a wider network, and you can pay the fare with a bank card.

In Batumi buses connect the seafront and most of the city, and a cable car climbs from near the sea up to a nearby hill - it is transport and a view at the same time.

For a traveller spending a day or two in a city, public transport and walking are often all you need. A car only becomes necessary when you leave town.

Travellers with reduced mobility

Adapted transport is still rare in Georgia. Marshrutkas and much of the city transport are not wheelchair friendly, and not every station on the Tbilisi metro has a lift.

So for such a passenger we offer a transfer in a minivan with a sliding door, where a folding wheelchair fits in the boot. The driver helps with getting in and out.

If the wheelchair does not fold or is electric, we need to know in advance - finding suitable transport takes time. We say so plainly so that no problem arises on the spot.

Cycling and walking

Batumi is the most bike-friendly city in the country: a long cycle path runs along the seafront, and there is bike hire in the city. On a summer evening it is the best way to get to know the place.

Tbilisi is less suited to cycling: hills, narrow streets and heavy traffic. The old town, though, is best discovered on foot - cars cannot get into many of its streets anyway.

So we often plan a city day without transport: on foot in the centre, and a car only where walking would be too far. That is cheaper, and you see more of the city.