Public transport in Georgia: a Tbilisi guide

Last updated: August 2026Written by Anthony Toast6 sources

Georgia doesn't have a single national local-transit ticket app, so the practical answer begins with Tbilisi. The capital has a simple 1 GEL, 90-minute municipal fare when you validate every leg with the same MetroMoney card or bank card.

Plan with the official Tbilisi Transport app, but validate with MetroMoney or one eligible contactless card throughout the journey. Buy MetroMoney for 2 GEL if bank payment is uncertain. From the airport, bus 337 costs 1 GEL and the airport currently publishes service from 06:59 to 22:59, but major 2026 roadworks are temporarily diverting it and other routes.

Choose the right Tbilisi transport setup

Your situation	Best move
A few Metro and bus trips	Tap the same accepted bank card each time, with MetroMoney ready if the first validation fails.3
You want the most dependable visitor fallback	Buy a 2 GEL MetroMoney card at a Metro ticket office and keep its purchase receipt.3
You need a day, week or longer pass	Use the dedicated subscription card required for those packages, not an ordinary contactless bank card.3
Tbilisi Airport to the city before 23:00	Take bus 337 from Arrivals and check its live route because current roadworks have changed the central section.4 5

App details

Tbilisi TransportEssential

Official Tbilisi journey planner with Metro and bus routes, live vehicle information, stop search and offline timetables.

Pro tip: Keep a MetroMoney card as the simple fallback if a foreign bank card or phone payment fails. Validate each boarding with the same medium.

App Store Play Store Website

Moovit

Optional second planner for checking public-transport routes in Tbilisi and selected Georgian cities.

Pro tip: Cross-check unfamiliar routes, but use the local operator for fares, disruptions and the official live feed.

App Store Play Store Website

This is a Tbilisi system, not one Georgia-wide ticket

Local transport in Georgia is organised city by city. Tbilisi Transport Company operates the capital's Metro and municipal surface network, while Batumi, Kutaisi and other places use separate local arrangements. Do not load a Tbilisi fare product expecting it to pay for every Georgian bus.1 3

Moovit can be a useful second route planner in selected cities, but it is not a national ticket. In Tbilisi, use TTC for current fares, official route changes and live bus data, then use the fare medium accepted by TTC.1 2

One GEL covers 90 minutes only with the right medium

The standard 1 GEL fare gives 90 minutes of unlimited travel on Tbilisi Metro, municipal buses, minibuses and the Bagebi-University ropeway when payment is made with MetroMoney or an eligible bank card. Validate every boarding with the same card so the system can recognise the transfer window.3

TTC explicitly says payment in the mobile app and cash paid at an onboard bus machine do not receive the 90-minute unlimited package. A route planned in the app does not create a fare entitlement; planning and validation are separate jobs.3 1

MetroMoney is a cheap fallback if a bank card fails

A MetroMoney card costs 2 GEL and is sold at Tbilisi Metro payment offices and Bank of Georgia express branches. Keep the purchase receipt because TTC says it is needed to restore a lost or damaged card.3

The published unlimited packages cost 3 GEL for one day, 20 GEL for one week and 40 GEL for one month, with longer options also available. TTC requires a subscription card for these packages. An ordinary contactless bank card gives the standard 90-minute fare, not a hidden automatic day cap. Georgia's tourism authority publishes daily Metro hours of 06:00 to 00:00.3 6

Bus 337 is the official low-cost airport link

Bus 337 stops in front of the Tbilisi Airport arrivals hall and links the airport with the city centre and Station Square 1. The airport currently publishes departures from 06:59 to 22:59. The standard 1 GEL transfer fare applies with MetroMoney or bank contactless.4

That timetable is not overnight service. For an arrival after the last published departure, use an official airport taxi or a pre-arranged ride. Check the flight delay before depending on the bus for the final connection.4

Rustaveli Avenue works are changing central routes in 2026

TTC announced full rehabilitation of Rustaveli Avenue from 23 July 2026 for four months, with traffic restrictions between Tamar Chovelidze Street and Freedom Square. The affected list includes bus 337 and many other bus and minibus routes, which are using temporary central diversions.5

Use the official app's real-time bus position and journey planner immediately before departure. The app also provides route maps, stop search and offline timetables, but an old saved route can still be wrong while the rehabilitation is active.1 2 5

If the app does not work

If the official app is unavailable, use the TTC web journey planner or ask Metro staff for the correct route. For a late airport arrival, use the official taxi channel or a pre-arranged transfer.1 4

What this does not cover: Tbilisi fares and airport times are current to the review date. The Rustaveli works are temporary, so recheck TTC news and the live route after their scheduled four-month period.

Frequently asked questions

How do I pay for public transport in Tbilisi?

Validate with MetroMoney or one eligible contactless card throughout the trip. The 1 GEL municipal fare opens a 90-minute transfer window; switching payment media starts a separate journey.

Can I tap a foreign bank card on Tbilisi transport?

TTC says different bank cards are accepted for the standard fare. A foreign card can still fail, so a 2 GEL MetroMoney card is the practical fallback. Do not switch cards during a 90-minute journey.

How do I get from Tbilisi airport to the city by bus?

Take municipal bus 337 outside Arrivals during its published operating window. It is not an overnight service, so check the current timetable after a delayed flight.

Does the Tbilisi Transport app sell tickets?

Treat it as the official planner for routes, live bus positions, maps and timetables. TTC's fare page ties the 90-minute package to MetroMoney or eligible bank-card validation, not to planning in the app.

These apps need data

Guac eSIM covers Georgia with plans from $0.58 per GB. Install it before you land and activate instantly.

A data eSIM gives you internet, not a local phone number, so it cannot receive SMS verification codes.

Compare SIM and eSIM options for Georgia→

Get an eSIM