Tbilisi Public Transport Guide: Metro, Buses, Cable Cars & More (2026)

Tbilisi's public transport is cheap, surprisingly decent, and occasionally baffling. A metro ride costs about 15 cents. Buses run until midnight. The cable car over the Mtkvari River is one of the best deals in tourism. But nobody explains how the transport card works, which buses actually matter, or why Google Maps sometimes sends you on a 40-minute detour when a marshrutka would get you there in ten.

This is the guide I wish existed when I first arrived. Not the sanitized tourism board version — the real one, with the quirks, the workarounds, and the stuff that'll save you from standing at the wrong bus stop for half an hour.

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The Transport Card (Metromoney)

Before anything else: get a transport card. You technically can pay cash on some buses, but nobody does, and the driver will look at you like you just asked them to break a 100-lari note. The card — called Metromoney — is your ticket to everything: metro, buses, cable cars, even some marshrutkas.

Here's the thing most guides won't tell you: you can tap one card for multiple people. Just tap it once for each person entering. This is official policy, not a hack. So a couple only needs one card.

Top up at metro stations, at yellow top-up machines scattered around the city (they're at most major bus stops), or through the TBC Bank app if you have a Georgian bank account. The balance never expires.

Transfers: The 90-Minute Rule

This is the best part of Tbilisi transport that almost nobody knows about. After your first tap (₾0.50), all subsequent transfers within 90 minutes are free. Metro to bus? Free. Bus to bus? Free. Bus to cable car? Free. The system tracks it automatically through your card.

So if you're sightseeing and hopping between neighborhoods, time your trips right and you can ride all day for practically nothing.

The Metro

Tbilisi's metro is one of the deepest in the world. Some stations are 50+ meters underground, which means the escalator rides feel eternal. It's Soviet-built, opened in 1966, and while it's not going to win any design awards, it works. Two lines, 23 stations, trains every 3–5 minutes during peak hours.

The Two Lines

The lines connect at Station Square (Sadguris Moedani), which is both the central metro hub and where the main train station sits. Transfers between lines are free — just follow the signs.

Stations That Matter for Tourists

Metro Tips

• Rush hour (8:30–10 AM and 5:30–7:30 PM) is genuinely packed. If you're carrying luggage, avoid these windows.
• No English announcements on older trains — station names are in Georgian and sometimes Russian. Newer trains have screens. Count your stops.
• Phone signal works in stations but cuts out in tunnels. Download your map offline.
• The escalators are fast. Stand on the right, walk on the left. Some escalators are the longest in the former Soviet Union — hold on.
• No public bathrooms in metro stations. Plan accordingly.

Buses

Tbilisi's bus network is extensive and, after a fleet upgrade in the last few years, actually comfortable. Most routes now run modern, air-conditioned buses with digital displays. The old yellow marshrutka-style city buses are mostly gone from central routes.

There are roughly 100 bus routes covering the entire city. Most run from 7 AM to midnight, with some night routes running until 2 AM on weekends.

Bus Routes Tourists Actually Use

Honestly though, unless you're commuting daily, you'll use the bus a few times and then default to the metro and Bolt for most trips. The metro is faster for crossing the city, and Bolt is so cheap that buses only really make sense for routes the metro doesn't serve.

Cable Cars

Tbilisi has two aerial cable cars, and one of them is arguably the single best-value tourist attraction in the city.

Rike Park → Narikala Fortress

This is the one you want. For ₾0.50 (yes, the same price as a metro ride), you get a gondola ride over the Mtkvari River with a panoramic view of Old Town, the sulfur baths district, and Narikala Fortress. It's genuinely one of the best views in Tbilisi, and it costs less than a bottled water.

Turtle Lake Cable Car

The second cable car runs from Vake Park up to Turtle Lake (Kus Tba). It's more of a local escape — Tbilisi residents head up here for weekend barbecues and swimming in summer. The lake itself is small and not particularly scenic, but the forested trails around it are pleasant, and on hot days the altitude makes a noticeable difference.

Cost: ₾1 each way. Hours: 10 AM – 9 PM. Closed Mondays for maintenance.

The Funicular

The Mtatsminda funicular is the oldest mechanical transport in Tbilisi, originally built in 1905 by a Belgian company. It climbs from Chonkadze Street (near the Rustaveli area) to the top of Mtatsminda, where you get a panoramic platform and the slightly kitschy Mtatsminda Park amusement area.

Worth it? For the view, absolutely. For Mtatsminda Park itself, only if you have kids or enjoy slightly run-down amusement rides. The panoramic restaurant at the top is overpriced but the terrace is free. Go at sunset.

Marshrutkas (Minibuses)

Marshrutkas are the yellow (sometimes white) minibuses that serve routes the metro and city buses don't reach. Within Tbilisi proper, they're less important than they used to be since the bus fleet upgrade. But for getting to nearby towns and intercity travel, marshrutkas are still king.

City Marshrutkas

Some still run within Tbilisi on fixed routes — you'll spot them by the route number in the windshield. They cost ₾0.50 with a Metromoney card, or ₾0.80 cash. Wave them down at designated stops (or honestly, anywhere on the route — drivers are flexible). Tell the driver where you're going when you board. Tap your card on the reader near the door.

Intercity Marshrutkas

This is how most Georgians travel between cities. They depart from specific hubs:

Intercity marshrutkas don't have fixed schedules — they leave when full. Show up at the station, find the one going where you want (ask around or look for handwritten destination signs), and wait. Morning departures are most frequent. Last departures are usually mid-afternoon for distant destinations.

Ride-Hailing Apps: Bolt & Yandex

Let's be honest: for short-to-medium trips in Tbilisi, ride-hailing is so cheap that it competes with public transport. A 10-minute Bolt ride across the city center costs ₾3–5 (about $1–2). This is why many expats rarely use the bus.

Ride-Hailing Tips

• Always set the destination in the app. Some drivers will try to negotiate a cash price if they think you don't know the route. The app keeps them honest.
• Rate 2 AM surge: Friday and Saturday nights, Bolt prices can triple. Budget for it or take the metro (last train around midnight).
• Airport runs: Bolt to/from the airport costs ₾15–25 depending on traffic. The bus #37 costs ₾0.50 but takes 40+ minutes. Your call.
• No English needed. The app handles communication. If a driver calls, they usually just want to confirm the pickup location — say the street name or landmark.

Getting to/from the Airport

Tbilisi International Airport (TBS) is about 17 km southeast of the city center. Here are your options, ranked by practicality:

The bus #37 runs from about 7 AM to 11 PM. If you're arriving on a late flight, Bolt is your only reasonable option. Connect to the airport WiFi, open Bolt, and order. Drivers usually take 5–10 minutes to arrive at the pickup area outside arrivals.

Trains (City & Regional)

Tbilisi doesn't have a commuter rail network worth mentioning for tourists, but the national railway is useful for two specific routes:

Book train tickets at tkt.ge — it's the official Georgian Railway booking site. You can also buy at the station, but popular routes (especially Batumi in summer) sell out.

Walking & Cycling

Tbilisi's center is highly walkable. Old Town, Sololaki, Vera, Marjanishvili, and the Rustaveli area are all within a 30-minute walking radius of each other. This is genuinely the best way to experience the city — you'll discover courtyard cafés, street art, and vine-covered balconies that you'd miss from a car window.

Cycling is another story. Tbilisi has a bike-share system (green bikes at docking stations around the center), but the cycling infrastructure is limited. There are a few dedicated lanes along the river, and Rike Park connects to the Dry Bridge area via a decent path. But most roads have no bike lanes, and Georgian drivers are... not accustomed to sharing the road with cyclists. If you ride, stick to parks and the riverfront.

Transport Budget: What to Expect

That's roughly $2–4 per day on transport. In most European capitals, a single metro ticket costs more than your entire daily transport budget in Tbilisi.

Useful Apps & Tools

Common Mistakes

Frequently Asked Questions