Bus from Tbilisi to Batumi
The main road from the capital to the sea. About 5-7 hours, departures roughly every hour, many buses with Wi-Fi
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Tbilisi to Batumi by bus at a glance
- Departures roughly every hour through the day.
- The trip takes 5-7 hours, depending on the vehicle, the time you leave and traffic on the Rikoti pass.
- A big bus costs about 40-50 GEL, a marshrutka (a minibus that leaves when full) about 35 GEL in cash - figures from 2026 travel guides.
- You travel by full-size bus, minivan or marshrutka.
Pick a date in the search form above to see the departures for that day and the fare before you pay.
Tbilisi to Batumi bus tickets: departures and fares
The bus is the easiest way to get from the capital to Batumi on a budget, and you rarely need to plan around a timetable: something leaves almost every hour. Booking ahead gets you a seat at the time you want, and the form above takes cards issued in any country.
Where the bus leaves in Tbilisi and stops in Batumi
Tbilisi has several bus stations, and the one you need depends on the vehicle:
- Big buses of Metro Georgia, City Bus and Omnibus leave from Ortachala bus station in the south of the city. There is no metro station nearby, so plan a taxi. City Bus also has departures from Digomi.
- Marshrutkas leave from Didube bus station, next to Didube metro station on the red line, from 07:15, hourly or as soon as they fill up.
- In Batumi buses arrive at the intercity bus station or stop near the Argo cable car.
This is how 2026 travel guides describe it; carriers change platforms, so check the stop printed on your ticket.
Big bus, minivan or marshrutka
The road distance from Tbilisi to Batumi is about 360 km. All three options cover it in 5-7 hours, the difference is comfort.
- A big bus has comfortable seats, air conditioning and a luggage hold, which is handy with children and suitcases.
- A minivan is quicker and usually makes fewer stops.
- A marshrutka is cheaper and often faster than a big bus, but tighter, and you pay the driver in cash.
The road from Tbilisi to the Black Sea
The route crosses Georgia from east to west: Gori, the Rikoti pass between the east and west of the country, Kutaisi, then the coast from Kobuleti down to Batumi. The Rikoti section decides how long the trip takes: in fog, rain or heavy traffic it is 7 hours rather than 5.
Metro Georgia and the way back
For the return trip, Metro Georgia buses leave Batumi from Nikoloz Gogol Street 11; for other carriers, the departure point is in the booking details. Stations and fares in the other direction are on the Batumi to Tbilisi bus page.
Faster by train, door to door by car
The train is quicker: about 4 hours, from 35 GEL, and it arrives at Batumi-Central station on Tamar Mepe highway, about 4 km from the Old Town. Times and seats are on the Tbilisi - Batumi train page.
With a family or a lot of luggage, a car with driver picks you up at your address in Tbilisi and stops on the way when you ask; the price is for the whole car, and you can pay the driver in cash. Check the price of a car from Tbilisi to Batumi (opens in a new tab) - from 342 GEL per car.
Questions about the Tbilisi to Batumi bus
Can I pay for the bus by card?
Online, yes: the search form above takes cards from any country. Marshrutka drivers at Didube take cash in lari (GEL, the Georgian currency).
Which bus station in Tbilisi do I need?
Big buses leave from Ortachala, marshrutkas from Didube. The exact stop is on your ticket.
How long is the bus from Tbilisi to Batumi?
Plan on 5-7 hours. Most of the variation comes from weather and traffic on the Rikoti pass.
Where does the bus stop in Batumi?
At the intercity bus station or near the Argo cable car, depending on the carrier.
Is the train better than the bus?
It is faster, about 4 hours, and costs from 35 GEL. The bus wins when the train is sold out or when you need to leave at a time the train does not run.
Once you are by the sea, have a look at our day trips from Batumi: we run them ourselves, with local guides.