One of the things Georgia has become most famous for among international travelers is its diverse terrain. From well-paved highways to narrow rural roads to precarious mountainous routes, this small country offers a variety of travel experiences - each with its unique transportation demands. Public transportation is the optimal option in some cases, while others could become a logistical nightmare without renting a car.
Whether you're planning to explore the bustling streets of major cities like Tbilisi or Batumi or travel further into the mountains of Khevsureti or Svaneti, the decision between renting a car and using public transport will significantly affect your experience.
In the blog below, we’ll discuss the pros and cons of each option. In the end, you should have enough information to decide whether public transport is sufficient for your itinerary or whether you need to set aside a part of your travel budget to rent a comfortable car in Tbilisi, Kutaisi, or Batumi when you fly in.
The first question any international traveler asks about transportation is usually how to get from the airport to the city center (and, ideally, beyond).
Currently, Georgia has three international airports: in Batumi, Tbilisi, and Kutaisi.
Batumi Airport is the closest to the city center. You can either board the #10 Bus, book a ride with one of the ridesharing apps, hail a taxi on the spot, or arrange a rental service. The bus is the cheapest option, and compared to other cities, it’s rather quick - takes only about 30 minutes to reach the city center. Hailing a taxi on the spot would be the most expensive (and rather unnecessary, in this case).
Tbilisi Airport offers similar options - a bus, a rideshare, a taxi, or a car rental. That said, it is located farther away from the city center. If you board the #337 Bus, expect the ride to take around an hour. A car, in comparison, would take only 20-30 minutes, depending on the traffic.
Kutaisi Airport is even further away from Kutaisi city center. In fact, it’s not even located in the city proper. It makes up for the location by providing 24/7 shuttle service to the city center (in comparison, the buses in Tbilisi and Batumi are unavailable during the night hours). Local taxis and rideshare services are also available, though they tend to be pricy (Bolt, for example, categorizes the journey as intercity travel and prices accordingly). Last but not least, you can, once again, rent a car straight from Kutaisi Airport and have the car delivered to the location right as you’re flying in, which would take care of the transportation logistics from the get-go.
First things first: is public transport good in Georgia? All in all, yes - but with certain caveats: the larger and more densely populated the city, the better the public transportation.
Major urban areas in Georgia can be conveniently explored using only public transportation. In the largest cities - like Tbilisi, Kutaisi, and Batumi - buses and marshrutkas (minibusses that move along set routes, similar to regular buses) cover most territory, move around frequently, and can quickly get a passenger from one spot to another. In specific areas - like Tbilisi city center - public transport can be even more convenient than private one: designated lanes allow it to move about more freely during rush hours. Add in the fact that Georgia’s public transport is one of the most affordable in Europe, and it becomes a rather attractive option for a visitor, who doesn’t plan to venture beyond major cities.
In smaller cities, however, the advantages of public transport become more spotty. The coverage is sparser, and the schedule is more infrequent. Even in regional centers like Telavi and Zugdidi, you may notice you have to wait for buses longer, and getting from one spot to another may take more time and effort. If your interests lie beyond exploring one major city, using car rental services in Georgia can be a much more comfortable option - it’ll allow you to create your own itinerary and avoid the limitations of fixed schedules.
Those interested in how to travel between cities in Georgia will be glad to know that public transport offers multiple affordable options such as buses, trains, and minivans (marshrutkas). That said, the frequency and convenience of these services vary depending on the starting point and final destination.
For instance, you’ll find it relatively easy to reach Tbilisi, Kutaisi, or Batumi either by bus, marshrutka, or train. But the smaller the towns get, the more complicated the intercity travel: the marshrutka and bus schedules become sporadic, and some cities and towns aren’t reachable via train at all.
Even the major cities are not always dependable when it comes to public transportation. Tbilisi is undoubtedly the best-connected one: you will find if not a train or a bus, then at least a marshrutka leading to most other major cities and towns across the country. Batumi is the second in scope but you’ll find it already offers fewer options than Tbilisi, particularly when it comes to trains.
It’s with Kutaisi that the disparity between public and private transport in Georgia starts to become visible. Though a regional hub with a busy airport that sees plenty of tourist traffic, you’ll start noticing significant constraints - some smaller towns become unreachable via direct travel. It’s one of the reasons why most travelers tend to plan their first trip from Kutaisi to Batumi or Tbilisi. If you’ve yet to settle on your final itinerary - or wish to have some flexibility with it - hiring a car in Kutaisi would allow you the freedom that public transport wouldn’t be able to.
It must be said that despite some possible logistical complications, traveling between Georgia’s cities is perfectly manageable with public transport, even if it takes more time than a rental car would.
However, the same isn’t true for the more remote and rural areas. If not buses and trains, at least marshrutkas can be counted on to connect most urban centers to at least one major city. Once you venture beyond these areas, though, public transportation availability becomes sparse. In rural regions, services may run only a few times a day, if at all, making it difficult for travelers to plan their journeys efficiently. This is especially true in regions with rugged terrain, where routes are less developed and more susceptible to natural forces. For those looking to explore these remote destinations, private transport in Georgia is not just a more convenient option but a necessity.
One of the biggest challenges of rural travel is the terrain itself. Many rural areas require navigating Georgia’s winding and often unpaved roads, which can be particularly dangerous in mountainous regions like Svaneti and Tusheti. In many cases, marshrutkas only travel to larger villages, leaving you to figure out how to get to more remote locations.
If you do decide to explore mountainous destinations, keep in mind that renting a car may also become more complicated (and expensive) the further from major hubs you move. For visitors planning to explore more than one place a car rental is undoubtedly the easiest option, even if they only intend to visit the largest cities. It’ll allow for impromptu stops in places that would otherwise be inaccessible. Opting for private transport in Georgia means having the freedom to take detours, visit off-the-beaten-path locations, and experience the country at your own pace. In these rural areas, where public transport may be hours away or require multiple connections, renting a car means convenience and peace of mind above all else.
