Georgia Trip Preparation 2026: Services & Travel Tips
The services that cover a whole trip to Georgia: mobile internet, flights, buses and trains, taxis, car hire, places to stay, tours and insurance.
Planning a trip to Georgia: mobile internet, transport, accommodation and tours
Georgia draws travellers with its mountains, Black Sea coast and food. This guide collects the services we use and recommend for planning a trip here, step by step: staying online, getting to the country, moving between cities, where to sleep, which tours to book and what insurance you now need at the border.
What this checklist covers
Mobile internet in Georgia
Georgia has three mobile operators: Magti, Silknet and Cellfie. Travellers often find that coverage outside the cities is patchy, and that in some valleys only one network gets a signal. If you plan day trips into the regions, an eSIM such as Yesim or Airalo is the easier option: it connects to whichever network is strongest at that spot, including 5G where available.
A local SIM works too. Magti sells tourist packages at the airports, for example 5,000 MB for 15 days at 15 GEL (2026 prices, check the operator's site before you fly). According to travel guides, shops ask for your passport when selling a SIM.
Yesim plans
Airalo plans
Getting to Georgia
By coach
Coaches are the cheapest and slowest way in. Direct routes run from several neighbouring countries, and the ride can take more than a day. Once you arrive, you can switch to local buses or trains to continue around the country.
Flying to Batumi or Tbilisi, or cheaper via Kutaisi
Georgia has three international airports: Tbilisi, Batumi and Kutaisi. Fares to Kutaisi are usually the lowest, especially in high season, when direct flights to Batumi and Tbilisi get much more expensive. Many travellers land in Kutaisi and take a bus or a transfer from there, and it does work out cheaper than flying direct.
A simple, budget-friendly route:
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Book a return flight to Kutaisi.
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Book a bus from Kutaisi Airport to Batumi (about 2.5 h) or to Tbilisi (about 3 h). Buses are timed to arriving flights, and you can choose between a full-size coach with a luggage hold and a minibus.
Luggage storage in Tbilisi
With Radical Storage you can leave your bags in a secure spot and spend the day exploring the city before a late train or flight. The price is per bag per day.
Getting around Georgia
Intercity buses
Buses are the easiest way between Tbilisi, Batumi and Kutaisi. The two largest operators, Metro Georgia and Georgian Bus, run air-conditioned coaches and serve free tea on board. Some of their departures are timed to flight arrivals and departures, which makes airport connections easy to plan. Smaller private operators fill the gaps with minibuses and minivans outside the main timetable.
Taxis
Use a ride-hailing app rather than hailing a car on the street. Bolt works in Tbilisi and Batumi, and travel guides report that Yandex Go runs in both cities as well. You order only through the app and can pay by card or in cash, and you see the price before you get in. Street drivers usually ask two to three times more, and you may end up showing them the way yourself. Fares are low enough that app taxis have replaced public transport for our own team.
Car hire
For more freedom, look at renting a car through Localrent, which lists local rental companies with clear terms. Motorbikes, scooters, quad bikes and bicycles can be booked online through BikesBooking.
Transfers
GoTrip lets you build your own route, then pick the car and the driver by photo, rating and reviews. Drivers speak English or Russian. It covers transfers from Kutaisi, Tbilisi and Batumi airports and rides between cities in a few clicks.
Trains
Railway lines connect Tbilisi with Batumi on the Black Sea coast, with Kutaisi and with the western regions. Expect views of the Caucasus, the Rioni river and subtropical forest along the way. Tickets go on sale only one month before departure. Georgian Railway sells them on its own website and app and at station ticket offices; the link below shows the timetable and current fares.
Accommodation
Georgia has places to stay for every budget, from hostel dorms to apartments and full-service hotels. Guesthouses are common both in cities and in mountain villages, and Batumi keeps adding new hotels as the resort grows. Many hotels offer airport pick-up, breakfast and a pool. We suggest booking on Booking.com with no prepayment: paying at check-in lowers the risk of arriving to find there is no room for you.
Based on feedback from our guests, we have put together lists of the best places to stay in Batumi:
- Best hotels in Batumi
- Best 5-star hotels in Batumi
- Best budget hotels in Batumi
- Best hostels in Batumi
Tours and day trips
At Travel Batumi we run tours across Georgia from Batumi, Tbilisi, Kobuleti and Kutaisi. Go with certified guides, read reviews from other guests and get a closer look at Georgian life and culture.
Travel insurance
Since 1 January 2026, foreign tourists need health and accident insurance to enter Georgia. The policy has to cover at least 30,000 GEL for your whole stay and can be on paper or electronic, in English or Georgian. Patrol police may check it at the border. Our guide explains what the policy must include and how to buy one quickly:
With connections, transport, a bed and insurance sorted, the rest is choosing what to see. Browse our tours and book your dates, and see you in Georgia.
Written and checked by the Travel Batumi team →
