← Part of the Georgia money guide
Georgiachecked Jul 2026A catch or twoTaxis and ride apps in Georgia
Getting around Georgia's cities is cheap and easy once you have the right app. Here is what to install, how to handle a street taxi, and the way locals travel between towns.
At a glance
Best app
Bolt
Also works
Yandex Go
Street taxis
Agree the fare first
Between towns
Marshrutka, cash only
Use Bolt. It is the dominant ride app in Tbilisi, Batumi and other cities, shows the price and driver up front, and is cheap and fair. Yandex Go also works in places. With a street taxi (often an unmarked car with no meter), agree the fare before you get in, since drivers may quote high to visitors. Between towns, locals use shared marshrutka minibuses, which are cash only and very cheap.
The official route
City buses and the Tbilisi metro use a rechargeable travel card; for door-to-door trips, Bolt is the simplest option. Confirm current fares locally.
Tbilisi public transport (Bolt is the main ride app)(opens in a new tab) we earn nothing
Bolt first
Bolt is how most visitors and locals get around Tbilisi and Batumi: you see the fare and the driver before you book, it is inexpensive, and it removes any haggling. It is the easy, fair-priced way in from Tbilisi airport too.
You can usually pay in the app or in cash. If paying cash, carry small lari notes, since drivers may not have change for large ones.
Street taxis, agree the fare
Plenty of street taxis are older cars with no meter, so a driver names a price. Agree the fare before you get in, and expect an opening quote to visitors that is higher than the going rate. If it feels off, book a Bolt instead.
Fares are low by US standards, so this is about avoiding a small overcharge rather than a big risk. Having the Bolt price in mind gives you a fair benchmark to negotiate against.
Between towns: the marshrutka
For travel between towns and regions, the shared marshrutka minibus is how the country moves: frequent, very cheap, and cash only. They leave from set stations when full or on a rough schedule.
For the money side, tipping and choosing lari over dollars, see the Georgia money guide.
Common questions
Quick answers.
Is Bolt available in Georgia?
Yes. Bolt is the main ride app in Tbilisi, Batumi and other Georgian cities, and it is the easiest way to get around, including from Tbilisi airport into the city. You see the fare and driver up front, it is cheap, and you can pay in the app or in cash. Yandex Go also works in some areas.
Do Georgian taxis have meters?
Often not. Many street taxis are older cars without a meter, so the driver names a price, and quotes to visitors can be high. Agree the fare before you get in, or use Bolt, which sets the price in advance. Fares are low by US standards, so it is mainly about avoiding a small overcharge.
How do I get from Tbilisi airport to the city?
The simplest option is Bolt, which is cheap and fair-priced and shows the fare before you book. There is also a city bus and a train into central Tbilisi for very little. If you take a street taxi, agree the fare first, since airport drivers may quote high.
How do Georgians travel between cities?
Mostly by shared marshrutka minibuses, which are frequent, very cheap and cash only, leaving from set stations. There are also trains between major cities like Tbilisi and Batumi. For door-to-door city trips, Bolt is the go-to. Keep small lari notes for marshrutkas and cash fares.
More on Georgia
The little money things nobody warns you about.
- Tipping in GeorgiaGeorgia has a light, emerging tipping culture. It was not traditionally expected, but about 10% is now common in Tbilisi and tourist restaurants. Check the bill for a service charge first. Here is what you actually owe.
- Do US citizens need a visa for Georgia?Short answer: no visa, and you can stay a whole year. The catch for 2026 is new and easy to miss: you now have to carry travel insurance to get in. Here is what you need and how to prove it.
- Do I need cash in Georgia, or can I use cards?Short answer: cards cover most of a city trip, but a little lari is worth carrying, and one habit saves you money at every terminal. Here is how to pay.
Sources, and how this was checked
Last checkedJul 2026
- Tbilisi Transport Companycity buses and metro
Our own readApp coverage and the street-taxi habits are our read from recent traveler reports, not an official transport table, so use your judgment and check current fares locally. Checked July 2026.