Updated 20 October 2026
Tbilisi to Batumi: train, bus or private car?
Tbilisi and Batumi are about 375 km apart. The train takes about 5–5.5 hours and costs 35–75 GEL per person; a marshrutka is cheaper but slower (about 6–7 hours); a private car takes 5–5.5 hours door to door with stops and costs from $250 for the whole car. Alone or as a couple with light bags, take the train; with family, luggage or stops on the way, the car.
Transfers
Every option at a glance
| Option | Price | Time | Door to door | Stops on the way |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Train (Tbilisi Central → Batumi) | 35–75 GEL per person | 5–5.5 h | No | No |
| Marshrutka / bus | cheapest, cash on board | about 6–7 h | No | No |
| Private car, sedan (up to 3) | $250 per car | 5–5.5 h | Yes | Free, up to 1 h |
| Private car, minivan (up to 6) | $330 per car | 5–5.5 h | Yes | Free, up to 1 h |
Train fares: Georgian Railway, by class; our prices per car, updated 20 October 2026.
When the private car makes sense
Three or more people with luggage, children or a late arrival in Tbilisi. The driver picks you up at the hotel, stops where you want — Mtskheta, Uplistsikhe near Gori, a khachapuri place in Imereti — and drops you at your Batumi door, which the train cannot do.
Worth stopping on the way
- Jvari monastery and Mtskheta (UNESCO), 30 minutes from Tbilisi.
- Uplistsikhe cave town near Gori (+1 hour, ticket extra).
- Kutaisi: make it two days — Tbilisi → Kutaisi, then Kutaisi → Batumi.
Train tips
Trains sell out in July and August — buy on the Georgian Railway site a few days ahead. At Batumi you still need a taxi from the station to your hotel.
Questions
How long is Tbilisi to Batumi by car?
About 5 hours without stops, 5.5–6 with a lunch break.
How much is a private transfer from Tbilisi to Batumi?
$250 for a sedan, $330 for a minivan, $380 for a 4x4 — per car, not per person.
Can I go straight from Tbilisi airport to Batumi?
Yes, from $250 per sedan, with a name sign at arrivals.