One of the many reasons Tbilisi is so attractive to remote workers and long-term visitors from around the world is the city’s excellent, modern infrastructure. It's simply very easy for remote workers to get around Tbilisi. The city is very walkable and safe in general, but its public transport system makes it hugely convenient to get around town and see the city in full. With five main methods of transportation available in Tbilisi, we hope you find this remote workers' Guide to Tbilisi's Public Transport useful!
Your first step in navigating the city’s public transportation system will be to purchase a Metromoney card and top it up with enough credit for your journeys. The Metromoney card has a cost of just 2GEL and is refundable upon return for up to a month. You can buy your Metromoney card at the airport in Tbilisi, at any metro station, the main cable car stations and Bank of Georgia branches.
The Metro here is a hugely convenient form available to remote workers getting around the Tbilisi. It is safe, clean and reliable generally. The network boasts 21 stations and connect the four main cardinal points of the city with two lines -- the Akhmeteli-Varketeli Line (Red) connects the city from north to south-east through Avlabari, and the Blue Saburtalo line starts in the west of the city and ends in the central Station Square station. Both lines converge at Station Square, making transfers quite easy if you live in Saburtalo or the Mtatsminda area, for example. Signage across the network is in English and Georgian, and the fare is of 0.5GEL for any single trip.
Operated by the publicly-owned Tbilisi Transport Company, the city’s bus network feels modern, safe and reliable also. The city’s buses are blue and yellow, and have designated stops across the entire city. Each stop is equipped with a digital display noting arrival times for nearby buses, and a comprehensive website and app makes journey planning on Tbilisi’s buses a convenient experience for remote workers. The Bus system in Tbilisi operates from 7am until midnight, although early-morning and late-night services are likely to be infrequent. Single trips have a cost of just 0.5GEL with a Metromoney Card.
This remote workers' guide to Tbilisi's public transport would not be complete without mentioning the city's minibus network as it is certainly the city’s most comprehensive public transport option and the one remote workers are likely to use the most. These yellow mini-vans are found everywhere in the city and, although they have designated routes, they operate on a hail-and-ride basis. The cost of riding a Marshrutka in Tbilisi ranges from 0.3 to 1 GEL generally, depending on your distance of travel, and you can pay with your Metromoney Card. Marshrutkas will be hugely useful to remote workers looking to take one of the many fantastic day trips from Tbilisi without spending large amounts on private transport.
There are 2 main cable car networks in the city as well as and, although they are largely touristic attractions, they can be useful for remote workers to get around Tbilisi. The cable lines from Turtle Lake to Vake Park and the Funicular up to Mtatsminda provide beautiful views of the city and are excellent ways to enjoy the respective attractions. The most useful Cable Car line for Remote Workers will be the one connecting Rike Park with the Narikala Fortress across the river in Old Tbilisi -- the ride provides sweeping views of the ancient parts of town and is a quick, hassle-free way of getting across the river if you happen to be in Avlabari. Riding the Cable Car and Funicular has a cost of just 2GEL with your Metromoney Card.
This remote workers' guide to Tbilisi's public transport focuses on public transit options but taxis are also readily available! Most taxis in Tbilisi are metered, but not all. If you encounter an unmetered taxi, you should confirm the price of the journey before boarding and exercise the usual caution. Remote workers can also use Bolt (Taxify) and Yandex, popular ride-sharing apps legal and useful in Tbilisi.
For more information about living in Tbilisi as a remote worker, check out our complete Tbilisi guide.