Getting from Tbilisi to Batumi is now easier and faster than just a couple of years ago. At the end of 2025 the new highway over the Rikoti Pass opened in full, and the road that used to wind through Khashuri, Zestaponi and a mountain serpentine now runs as an almost straight expressway through tunnels and over bridges. The train has become faster too: it now takes about 4 hours.
Below are all the options: train, bus, car, transfer, minibus and plane, and an honest take on which one suits you best.
Tbilisi to Batumi in brief (2026)
| Option | Travel time | Best for |
| Stadler train | about 4 hours | most people: fast, comfortable, inexpensive |
| Bus | 5.5–6 hours | if the train is sold out or you need a night departure |
| Own or rented car | about 4–5 hours | those who want freedom and stops along the way |
| Transfer with a driver | about 4–5 hours | families and groups with luggage |
| Minibus (marshrutka) | 5–6 hours | only if nothing else is available |
| Plane from Natakhtari | — | fans of small planes; not every day |
The distance between Tbilisi and Batumi on the new highway is about 370 km.
The new highway over the Rikoti Pass
This is the biggest change of recent years, and it is worth knowing about even if you go by train or bus.
The road from Tbilisi to Batumi used to go through Khashuri, then up a narrow serpentine over the Rikoti Pass, then through Zestaponi and Kutaisi. In summer there were queues behind trucks, and in winter the pass could be tricky. Not any more. On 30 December 2025 the new four-lane highway over Rikoti opened in full: 52 km with 51 tunnels and 97 bridges. The longest tunnel is 1,800 metres and the longest bridge 1,362 metres. The route is 8 km shorter, and travel time on this stretch has roughly halved.
What this means in practice:
- Gori, Khashuri, Zestaponi and Kutaisi now stay off to the side. You join the highway in Tbilisi and drive with almost no traffic lights. There is no point turning off at Khashuri; turn off at Gori only if you want to see the town and Uplistsikhe, and at Kutaisi only if you want to explore the city or visit the canyons and caves nearby. If you just want to reach the sea, drive on by.
- A couple of short stretches between Kutaisi and Kobuleti are still being finished (Samtredia–Grigoleti), where the route briefly switches to the old road. It is short and hardly affects travel time.
- Buses and minibuses also use the new highway, so they are noticeably faster than older articles say.
Train from Tbilisi to Batumi
The most popular and, in my opinion, the most comfortable option. The trains are double-decker Stadlers: comfortable seats, air conditioning, sockets, toilets, and room to stretch your legs. The journey takes about 4 hours. On the way the train stops at several stations, including Ureki and Kobuleti.
Train timetable (October 2026)
- Tbilisi to Batumi: 08:05 → 12:06 and 17:10 → 21:11, plus on some days 10:15 → 14:16.
- Batumi to Tbilisi: 08:00 → 12:00 and 16:50 → 20:50, plus on some days 18:30 → 22:30.
There are more trains in summer and may be fewer in winter. The timetable changes with the seasons, so always check the current one on the website or in the app before you travel.
Ticket prices, and why we do not trust the numbers
Train fares in Georgia go up almost every year. Here is how the price of a Tbilisi–Batumi ticket has changed:
| Year | 2nd class | 1st class |
| 2019 | 25 GEL | 61 GEL |
| 2023 | 35 GEL | 75 GEL |
| 2026 (October) | 36 GEL | 76 GEL |
The 2026 prices come from the ticket sales website in October. We would not be surprised if they changed tomorrow, so check the exact fare when you buy. Children aged 5 to 10 get 50% off, and children under 5 without their own seat travel free.
Where to buy tickets
Tickets are sold online on tkt.ge (accepts foreign cards, has an English version and an app), on the official Georgian Railway website and at station ticket offices. Sales open about 20 days before travel. In summer and on holidays, tickets for convenient trains sell out days in advance, especially in 2nd class, so book early. In autumn, winter and spring you can usually get a ticket for the next day. Bring your passport: it is checked at boarding.
Getting to the stations
In Tbilisi, trains leave from the central station on Station Square, next to Station Square metro. More about the station, ticket offices and platforms in our article «Tbilisi Railway Station».
In Batumi the train arrives at Batumi Central station by the sea, more than 3 km from the historic centre, so walking with suitcases is not a good idea. Across the pedestrian crossing opposite the station is a bus stop for buses 3, 6, 10 and 10a: about 10 minutes to the centre. Or take a taxi via an app. Everything about the station is in our article «Batumi Railway Station».
Bus from Tbilisi to Batumi
A good option if the train is sold out or you prefer to travel at night. Large buses leave for Batumi many times a day, including at night, from the Ortachala and Okriba (near Didube metro) bus stations and from Station Square. The journey takes 5.5–6 hours. In October 2026 a ticket cost 30 to 45 GEL depending on the company and time. Tickets are sold on tkt.ge and at bus stations.
In Batumi most buses arrive at the bus station in the centre: see «Batumi Bus Station».
By car: your own or a rental
With the new highway this is the most flexible option. You drive at your own pace, stop where you like, and in Batumi you already have a car for trips to mountainous Adjara, the waterfalls or Gonio.
It is easy to rent a car through Localrent, which lists offers from local rental companies with prices and conditions. Many of them let you pick up the car in Tbilisi and drop it off in Batumi for an extra fee; this is stated in the conditions of each offer.
Where the route temporarily switches to the old road between Kutaisi and Kobuleti, take extra care: it is a two-lane road through villages.
Transfer and taxi
A transfer is a car with a driver who picks you up at your hotel in Tbilisi and drops you at your hotel in Batumi. It works well for a family or a group with luggage: you split the cost. The main advantage is that you can agree on stops along the way, for example in Mtskheta or Gori. Within a city it is cheaper to order a taxi via an app, but for such a long trip it is better to agree on the price, stops and time with the driver in advance.
Minibus (marshrutka)
Minibuses to Batumi also run, mostly from Didube bus station. They take 5–6 hours, are cramped, and luggage is stowed wherever it fits. Now that there are comfortable trains and buses, a minibus is only worth it if there is nothing else.
Plane
You can fly from Tbilisi to Batumi, but it is more of an adventure than a way to save time. Flights are operated by the small airline Vanilla Sky from Natakhtari airfield near Tbilisi, and not every day. Add the trip to Natakhtari and from Batumi Airport, and you will gain almost nothing over the train. But the view of the Caucasus from a small plane is an experience in itself.
What to see along the way if you are not in a hurry
The new highway bypasses the towns, so everything below means turning off, and ideally a separate day or several. If you want to turn the drive into a short trip:
- Mtskheta: 20 minutes from Tbilisi, the ancient capital with Jvari and Svetitskhoveli.
- Gori and the cave city of Uplistsikhe: half a day.
- Borjomi: the mineral-water spa town, about an hour’s detour from the highway.
- Kutaisi with Sataplia, Prometheus Cave and Martvili Canyon nearby: a full day.
- Ureki with its magnetic sand and Kobuleti: already by the sea, just before Batumi.
From Batumi to Tbilisi
Everything is the same in the other direction: trains leave in the morning and evening (timetable above), buses leave Batumi bus station many times a day, including at night. By car on the new highway it takes about 4–5 hours.
Where to stay in Batumi
If you want an apartment with a sea view, we have our own apartments in Batumi.
FAQ
How far is Tbilisi from Batumi?
About 370 km on the new highway.
How long does it take to get from Tbilisi to Batumi?
About 4 hours by train, about 4–5 hours by car on the new highway, and 5.5–6 hours by bus.
Which is better, train or bus?
The train is faster and more comfortable. The bus helps if the train is sold out or you need a night departure.
Where can I buy a Tbilisi–Batumi train ticket?
Online on tkt.ge or the Georgian Railway website, or at the station ticket offices. Sales open about 20 days in advance; in summer, book early.
Is there a night train from Tbilisi to Batumi?
In October 2026 there is no night train in the timetable: the last train from Tbilisi leaves at 17:10. At night you can take a bus.
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