It is quite logical that people who want to leave the city by bus look for a bus station. But in Batumi, it is not so simple. Because there is the Old Bus Station, there is the New one, but you will not be able to leave for the most popular destinations from either of these stations. Let’s figure it out!
Bus Batumi – Tbilisi
Large comfortable buses depart for Tbilisi from the railway station. It is located at 3 Odyssey Dimitriadi Street.
Coordinates: 41.659045, 41.678054.
The two main carriers are CityBus and Metro. You can buy tickets in advance on their websites. The price in 2025 is 40 GEL, which is slightly more expensive than the train. Each company operates several flights per day, which try to stick to the schedule.
Please note that when traveling from the capital, the bus will go to the city center (Lower station of the Argo cable car), and some will stop at Batumi airport and even go to the Turkish border in Sarpi. But, on the way back, the first point is the railway station.
Buses do not have a toilet on board, but they make two 15-minute stops, where you will also have the opportunity to buy coffee and a snack.
On the way, buses can call at Kutaisi airport, but not in the city of Kutaisi itself, keep this in mind. The arrival point in Tbilisi is Ortachala bus station. In addition to this, they often make a stop at the entrance to the city from the northern part.
Minibus Batumi – Tbilisi
Many people prefer not to bother with buying tickets in advance and do not want to rely on the bus schedule. Then the best solution is a minibus. The “unofficial station” of minibuses is Tbilisi Square, which is located on the corner of Chavchavadze and Akaki Tsereteli streets. (41.646287, 41.641838).
Once you get there, you will definitely hear loud voices saying two words: “Tbilisi! Kutaisi!” From here, minibuses leave for both of these cities, but keep in mind that there are a few nuances:
• The seat will not be the most comfortable – often there is no room for your knees
• Minibuses often make “loops”, stopping in all the villages along the way. Travel time can thus increase by a couple of hours
• Driving style is specific. If you get motion sickness, then it is better not to risk it
But minibuses leave, although without a schedule, quite often: about once every 15 minutes.
Lifehack:
If you are in a hurry, do not get into an empty minibus – the waiting time for departure may be prolonged. It is better to choose one in which people are already sitting.
Batumi Tbilisi distance
If you look at the map directly, the distance between Batumi and Tbilisi is only 250 kilometers. But don’t let this mislead you: the highway is just over 380 kilometers. It is getting shorter every year, because new sections of the highway are opening. On the sections opened in 2022, the travel time was about 6 hours, and in 2024 it was reduced by almost an hour.
Bus Batumi – Kutaisi
The situation with transport in Kutaisi is the same as in the capital. There is a bus (CityBus has three daily trips) from the railway station, and there are minibuses.
I would like to draw your attention to this once again:
Kutaisi Airport is about half an hour’s drive from the city of Kutaisi itself. And some passing flights only call at the airport, bypassing the city itself. Be sure to check this with the drivers or when purchasing a ticket.
Old Bus Station
The old bus station in Batumi is located on St. Severian Achareli Street (former Mayakovsky Street), no. 1
Coordinates: 41.643885, 41.655275
It looks, to put it mildly, not very presentable. And the atmosphere there is unpretentious. It feels like you’ve gone back 30 years. There are many signs in Georgian, but both the station workers and passersby are happy to share information.
Where can I go from the Old Bus Station?
Suburbs of Batumi
For example, if you are planning to go to Makhuntseti, Kobuleti or the arboretum, it is better to take the minibuses here. Either find out the number you need in advance, or find it by asking drivers or passers-by.
Batumi Vladikavkaz bus
Yes, it is easy to get to many Russian cities by bus from here. With the resumption of air travel in 2023, demand for them has fallen. However, you can take a flight to Vladikavkaz, Mineralnye Vody, Rostov, and even Moscow.
Bus Batumi Istanbul
International transportation is also carried out. Most often, these are those passing from Tbilisi. There are flights to Istanbul, and there are flights to Antalya, passing through Ankara. In any case, we recommend that you check the stops with a specific carrier.
New bus station
As I wrote at the beginning of the article, there is another bus station. But it is not working. Closed. Yes, that happens. Its address is Nikolay Gogolya St., 11. I am mentioning it only so that you do not go there by mistake. Because it takes about half an hour to get from there on foot to both the Old Bus Station and the Railway Station.
Important points
In conclusion, I would like to draw your attention to two very important aspects once again.
First, check with the carrier about the departure point. It may change due to road repairs, construction of new buildings, opening of new interchanges, etc.
Second, starting in 2025, transportation by minibuses over distances exceeding 150 kilometers should be prohibited in Georgia. At the same time, they promise to repair bus stations and license them. That is, it will be possible to travel between Tbilisi and Batumi only on large buses, the number of which will increase, or by train.
Have a great trip, friends!
More about Batumi and Georgia:
Best hotels in the mountains of Georgia
Souvenirs – what to bring from Georgia as a gift
The Best Adjarian Khachapuri in Batumi. Top 5 Places
My name is Vitaly Kibitlevsky, I am a tour guide and creator of unique quests in Batumi. If you want to walk around the city with a fascinating storyteller or plunge into an exciting adventure, write to the mail: vitkibit@gmail.com
Find out more about me and my projects here