Where Is Batumi’s Passenger Railway Station Located?
Address: Batumi, 3 Odisea Dimitriadi St.
Coordinates: 41.658634, 41.677401
De jure, the railway station is situated in Batumi, near the Tamari district. However, de facto, it lies on the outskirts of the city, which is sometimes considered part of the suburbs. The distance from the railway station to the historic city center exceeds three kilometers, while the New Boulevard is over six kilometers away.
Important: Walking to Batumi’s city center with luggage isn’t the best idea.
How to Get from the Railway Station to Batumi’s City Center
When you exit the station building, you’ll be greeted by a stunning view of the sea straight ahead and the city of Batumi slightly to your left.
Buses and Minibuses
If you prefer public transport, cross the promenade via the pedestrian crossing. On the opposite side, you’ll find a bus stop. Keep in mind, there’s no shelter there, so you won’t be protected from rain or wind. If the weather is unpleasant, walk about 200 meters away from Batumi, and you’ll find a covered bus stop.
Most minibuses and buses will take you to the city center.
Bus numbers: 3, 6, 8, 10, 10a
All buses except number 8 travel directly and reach the historic center in about 10 minutes. Route 8 takes a longer circular path, roughly doubling the travel time.
Payment options:
- In buses, you can pay using Georgian bank cards or a special transportation card (fare: 30 tetri per trip).
- In minibuses, payment is made in cash upon exiting (fare: 80 tetri per trip).
Taxis
Avoid taking taxis from drivers waiting at the station entrance to pick up passengers, as this can triple your travel cost.
Instead, use the YandexGo or Bolt apps. A trip to the city center will cost no more than 10 GEL.
Pro tip:
When the train arrives, there’s a surge in demand for taxis, which increases both wait times and fares. Book your taxi as the train approaches the station and stops, rather than waiting to get off the platform. The waiting cost will be much cheaper than the inflated surge fare.
How to Get from Batumi to the Railway Station.
How long before train departure should I leave Batumi?
You can reach the station the same way you arrived in Batumi: by bus, minibus, or taxi.
Plan Your Travel Time Wisely
We strongly recommend leaving with a generous time cushion, especially during peak tourist season! In the summer of 2024, there were significant traffic jams on the way to the station every day, forcing many travelers to walk part of the route with their luggage.
While a taxi ride from the city center to the station normally takes about 10 minutes, it could stretch to an hour during heavy traffic.
Pro Tip:
About 1.5 hours before your train’s departure, check navigation apps to see the estimated travel time from your location to the station. Use this information as your guide for when to leave.
Information for drivers:
There is a paid parking lot near the station (3 GEL per hour), you won’t be able to leave your car on the highway, local police are watching this closely.
Trains from Batumi station
Batumi-Tbilisi Train
The most popular route from Batumi is to Tbilisi. High-speed, comfortable double-decker trains designed by Stadler operate on this route.
The train stops at the resort towns of Kobuleti and Ureki, as well as near Kutaisi International Airport. The journey to Georgia’s capital takes just over 5 hours.
Ticket Prices (2025):
- Standard Class: 35 GEL
- Business Class: 70 GEL
Train Schedule: Batumi to Tbilisi
In regular periods, three trains run daily: one in the morning and two in the evening. During the peak tourist season and holidays, additional trains are added, including a possible night train. In the off-season, one of the evening trains is removed.
Departure from Batumi Arrival in Tbilisi
8-10 13-23
17-20 22-33
18-20 23-28
Departure from Tbilisi Arrival in Batumi
8-00 13-20
10-25 15-39
17-05 22-25
Batumi-Kutaisi Train
As mentioned earlier, you can reach Kutaisi from Batumi by taking the train bound for Tbilisi. However, note that the railway station is not located in the city itself but about a 30-minute drive away near the airport. Free shuttles operate between the station and the airport.
If your destination is the city of Kutaisi, you can take a commuter train. It will arrive directly at the Kutaisi railway station. However, keep in mind the travel time: while the Tbilisi-bound train gets you to the airport in just 2 hours, the commuter train takes twice as long.
Below is the commuter train schedule:
Departure from Batumi Arrival in Kutaisi
8-25 12-37
19-15 23-32
Departure from Kutaisi Arrival in Batumi
5-40 10-02
16-45 20-55
Batumi-Yerevan Train
In the summer, you can travel from Batumi to Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, by train.
- Travel Time: 17 hours
- Ticket Prices: ~120 GEL for a third-class sleeper (Platzkart) and ~150 GEL for a second-class compartment (Kupe).
Customs Procedures
Unfortunately, customs clearance requires passengers to disembark from the train, even if it is nighttime on the way to Yerevan or late evening on the return trip.
Frequency
The train operates once every two days and only during the tourist season.
How and Where to Buy Train Tickets
You can purchase tickets at the railway station. However, to secure your seat, it is recommended to visit the station a few days in advance.
- Required Documents: A valid international passport or a Georgian citizen’s passport is necessary to purchase tickets.
- Class Options: For long-distance trains, you can choose between standard and business class, with ticket prices differing by approximately double.
Electronic Tickets – A Convenient Alternative
For those who prefer digital solutions, train tickets can also be purchased online:
Official Georgian Railway Website
- Website: https://ticket.railway.ge/
- Steps: Register, choose your travel date and time, and pay with a Georgian bank card.
- Important: Russian cards are not accepted.
- Downside: You cannot choose your seat; the system assigns it automatically.
Aggregator Services
- Example: TKT.GE
- Benefits: Allows you to select your preferred seat (for instance, a window seat on the upper deck).
- Drawback: Tickets are slightly more expensive than at the station or the official railway website.
Batumi Central Railway Station – What’s Inside?
The first railway station in Batumi was built in the late 19th century. Housed in a beautiful Moorish-style building, it remains intact and now serves as a TBC Bank office. The station operated until the late 20th century, when intercity train arrivals were moved to the nearby suburban village of Makhinjauri.
In 2015, a new railway station was constructed, welcoming tourists and locals alike.
Today’s Facilities Include:
- Ticket offices
- Platforms for arriving and departing trains
- A waiting area
- A café
- Restrooms (note: usage fee is 1 GEL)
In general, the station meets all modern requirements, but it is worth considering that this is a station in a city with a population of less than 200 thousand people, and not to demand too much from it.
The railway station is the key to the gates behind which all of Georgia opens up.
Have a great trip!
More about Batumi and Georgia:
Souvenirs – what to bring from Georgia as a gift
Best hotels in the mountains of Georgia
Boni Market – the central food market in Batumi
Shekvetili Dendrological Park (48 km from Batumi)
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