The history of the Central Station dates back to 1872. By this time, the construction of the railway had been going on for 6 years. The first train in Georgia departed from Tbilisi to Poti, and this happened on October 10, 1872, which is the date of birth of the Georgian Railway.
Unfortunately, the station building, built in 1872, has not survived to this day. The old station was demolished and in 1952 a new building was built in its place, which accommodated all passengers and allowed them to comfortably sit in the waiting room until the train arrived. However, if you visit the Tbilisi station now, you will not be able to see this massive structure of the Stalin era.
Tbilisi Railway Station. Description and photos
In 1982, it was decided to replace it with a modern station building that would meet the needs of the new era. The Stalinist building was so strong and could not be demolished that the foundation had to be blown up. They started building a new building but did not have time, the collapse of the Soviet Union began. So the station building was used in an unfinished state.
Then, a quarter of a century later, the building was reconstructed. This is how a traveler will see it if you find yourself there at the moment. Surprisingly, the station itself occupies a fairly small part of the entire building. Only one floor – the third. Also in the station building is the shopping center “Tbilisi-Central”, which has many shops of various themes, here you can buy electronics, clothes, shoes, accessories, souvenirs and much more.
The station is open from 06:00 to 12:00
While waiting for the train, you can while away the time in a small food court on the top floor. A calm atmosphere, good food, and what is important, cheap, will brighten up your waiting time and allow you to refresh yourself before a short journey.
To help you navigate the building better, there is a sign with a map of the railway station at the entrance.
The train to the capital of Adjara is the most popular, but in addition to it, trains to Yerevan, Baku, Borjomi, etc. also run from the station. You can see the full schedule of all trains on the official website of Georgian Railways at the link: railway.ge
Train Tbilisi-Batumi. Schedule and prices for 2025
First of all, we will tell you about the high-speed train from Tbilisi to Batumi. This is the most convenient, fastest and most popular way to get from the capital to the Black Sea coast.
Three trains normally operate: two depart from Tbilisi in the morning and one in the evening. During the peak tourist season and on holidays, additional trains are added, one of which may be a night train. In the “low season,” one of the evening trains is removed.
Departure from Tbilisi Arrival in Batumi
8-00 13-20
10-25 15-39
17-05 22-25
Departure from Batumi Arrival in Tbilisi
8-10 13-23
17-20 22-33
18-20 23-28
Modern double-decker Swiss trains travel along this route. The train is on the road for 5 hours, and during this time you will have time to enjoy the wonderful view from the window. Considering that the train will pass through the entire territory of the country from east to west, then all of Georgia will appear before you, in all its diversity of natural landscapes. Free Wi-Fi works in the carriages.
The cost of travel depends on the class: the price of a second-class ticket is 35 lari, a first-class ticket will cost 70 lari.
What’s interesting in Batumi: A guide to the old town
Where to buy a train ticket Tbilisi-Batumi
The first option we will consider is purchasing tickets at the ticket office of the railway station in Tbilisi. The practice of electronic queues is practiced in many establishments and institutions in Georgia. Banks, post offices, mobile phone operator offices, the House of Justice and the railway station are equipped with such devices.
By clicking on the screen, you will receive a receipt with a serial number. Then you can sit down and wait for this number to appear on the screen.
Next to your number there will also be the number of the ticket office, which you need to go to to buy a ticket for the Tbilisi Batumi train. But most often there are no queues and immediately after receiving the receipt, information appears on the screen about where to go for a ticket. When you approach the ticket office, show your number, which should match the number indicated on the screen at the ticket office.
On the electronic board located on one of the walls, you can see detailed information about trains, availability of seats, ticket prices and departure times. As you can see, the information is presented in an interesting symbiosis of two languages, Georgian and Russian at the same time.
Well, then the procedure for buying a ticket is standard. Looking at the ticket, you will notice that the information is duplicated in Georgian and English. Moreover, for ease of perception, each block has its own symbol, designation. A calendar, a clock, a chair help those who do not speak either Georgian or English to get their bearings.
The second option is to buy tickets online. Tickets for the train from Tbilisi to Batumi can be bought on the following websites:
Official website of Georgian Railways – http://www.railway.ge
Another popular portal for selling tickets to various events and trains- https://biletebi.ge/startup.aspx?id=90
A site selling all kinds of tickets from cinema to train – tkt.ge
The first and last sites are difficult to navigate, so it’s better to use the second one.
Getting to the train station in the capital of Georgia
In fact, it is very easy to get to the station from any part of the city. Right in front of the station, on the square, a huge number of minibuses stop, which come here from all over the city and the country. If the metro suits you, then the nearest station Tbilisi-Central is located in the neighboring building. Walking to the station, even with heavy suitcases, will not be difficult, since the whole journey takes no more than 2-3 minutes. A taxi from the city center costs about 1-2 dollars.
If you need to get from the airport to the Tbilisi train station, use one of the following options: take a taxi, wait for bus number 37, or use another budget option – an electric train. The price of a bus and an electric train is 0.50 tetri, which is about 20 cents. For a taxi trip, you will have to part with 25-30 lari, which is about 10 dollars. The most convenient and cheapest way is to use mobile applications. Such well-known companies as Maxim, Yandex-taxi and Taxify operate in Tbilisi.
More about Tbilisi and Georgia:
Best hotels in the mountains of Georgia
Souvenirs – what to bring from Georgia as a gift
Top 6 Restaurants for the Best Khinkali in Tbilisi
Best Hotels in the Center of Tbilisi
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