The good news: the system is well organised, buses are timed to every flight, including night arrivals, and you can leave even at 3 am. Here's how it works, step by step.
Quick answer
Bus: 30 GEL, about 4 hours, departure tied to your flight.
Operators: Georgian Bus and Omnibus Express.
Where to board: right opposite the arrivals hall exit.
Night flights: buses run, and the airport is open 24 hours.
Taxi: 200–400 GEL — only worth it for a group of four.
What to bring: some cash in lari just in case, although you can buy a ticket online by card.
The key point: don't wander off across the car park looking for alternatives — the bus is right by the exit, and there's nothing else nearby.
How much it costs and why the price changed
The bus from Kutaisi Airport to Tbilisi costs 30 GEL. That's the fare with both Georgian Bus and Omnibus Express — they charge the same.
An important point, and the reason half the articles online are now wrong: in April 2026 both operators raised the fare from 25 to 30 GEL, citing higher fuel costs. If you see "25 GEL" somewhere, that information predates April 2026.
Children's tickets are cheaper — Omnibus has a reduced fare for children under 10. Georgian Bus offers a group discount: buy 5 or more tickets at once and save 5 GEL per person.
The journey takes about 4 hours. According to the operator's timetable, a typical trip looks like this: leave at 05:00, arrive at 09:00. In high season or during roadworks, it can take longer.
Who runs the buses: two operators and the difference between them
Georgian Bus
The main operator, the most visible and with the clearest website. Its key feature is that the timetable is tied to flights, not to clock times. When you buy a ticket, you don't choose "the 2 pm bus" — you choose your specific flight, and the system shows you the matching departure.
That gives you the main practical advantage: there's a bus for every arrival. Land at 3 am from Warsaw — there'll be a bus. Land at 6 am from Larnaca — there'll be one too.
- Tickets: online on the operator's website, or from the representative right at the bus.
- Online sales close 2 hours before departure; from the representative, you can buy 5 minutes before.
- Seats are effectively unlimited: if a bus fills up, the next one arrives within a few minutes.
- There's a flexible ticket option: up to a day before travel, you can change the date within a year or get a refund.
- The hotline works around the clock: +995 32 2 80 60 60.
Omnibus Express
The second operator, with the same flight-based principle and the same price. The difference is its departure point in Tbilisi — not the railway station, but 7 Mikheil Javakhishvili Street (formerly Elbakidze), by the bicycle monument. You can contact them via WhatsApp.
Which to choose. There's practically no difference in price or time. Look at two things: how convenient the Tbilisi departure point is for your return journey, and whose departure fits your flight better. At the airport, both are parked side by side.
Where exactly to board at the airport
The buses stand directly opposite the arrivals hall door, in the car park about twenty steps from the exit. You'll see them straight away — big coaches with logos, not minibuses.
What to do when you come out:
- Go through passport control and collect your luggage.
- Walk out of the terminal — the buses are right in front of you.
- If you bought a ticket online, show the QR code on your phone. If not, buy one from the representative standing by the bus.
- Luggage goes in the hold underneath; there's no extra charge.
You can happily buy a ticket on the spot — there's no need to book in advance, as there are enough seats. But if you're travelling as a large group or arriving at a peak time when three flights are boarding at once, buying online is less stressful.
Where the bus drops you in Tbilisi
Georgian Bus drops you at Station Square, on the Dadiani Street side. The same spot is the departure point for the return journey.
What to know about this spot:
- Next to it is Station Square (Sadguris Moedani) metro station — 10–15 minutes by metro to the centre.
- The railway station is right there if you're continuing by train.
- The passage through the Tbilisi Central building is closed from midnight to 6 am. At night, enter from the Dadiani Street side.
- At night the area around the station isn't the most pleasant, and the metro isn't running. Book a Bolt from the bus while you're still on the road.
Omnibus drops you at 7 Javakhishvili Street, which is closer to Didube than to the centre.
How to pay for the metro and what a ride costs is covered in public transport in Tbilisi. For taxis and apps, see taxis in Tbilisi.
Arriving at night: what to do
Half of Wizz Air's flights land in Kutaisi at night, and that's the main source of panic for first-timers.
Relax: the airport and the buses work around the clock. A night arrival means a night bus — it's timed to your flight and leaves 30–50 minutes after landing, once passengers have cleared passport control and collected their bags.
Things to keep in mind:
- You'll reach Tbilisi around 6 or 7 am. Hotel check-in is usually at 2 pm, so have a plan for the morning or message your host in advance — many in Tbilisi will let you in early if the apartment is free.
- If you arrive while the metro isn't running yet, take a Bolt to your accommodation.
- For where to leave your bags before check-in, see luggage storage in Tbilisi.
If your flight is delayed
This is a routine, solvable situation, because the ticket is tied to your flight rather than a clock time.
- Your departure from Europe is delayed. The operator sees the airport schedule and usually shifts the bus. If in doubt, call the hotline — it's open 24 hours.
- You're held up at passport control. Call and let them know: the bus waits a maximum of 10 minutes, then leaves.
- You've missed it completely. Not a disaster — there'll be another bus for the next flight. The representative will sell you a ticket on the spot.
That's also why it's not worth buying a bus ticket with a fixed time from third-party booking sites: the operator ties your ticket flexibly to your flight, while an aggregator gives you a rigid time.
Alternatives to the bus
Taxi and transfer
A car straight from Kutaisi Airport to Tbilisi costs 200–400 GEL, depending on whether you negotiate on the spot or book through an app, and on the class of car.
It makes sense in two cases: there are four or more of you (so the cost per person is comparable to the bus), or you're travelling with small children and lots of luggage. In all other cases, you're paying 7–13 times more.
There'll be plenty of taxi drivers in the arrivals hall quoting "whatever you'll give me". Aim for the lower end of the range and don't take the first offer.
Train
About one and a half to two kilometres from the terminal is the Kutaisi International Airport railway station, on the Tbilisi–Batumi line. A shuttle runs between the station and the airport.
It's a cheap option (tickets from 9 GEL), but it involves two changes and a fixed timetable that isn't timed to flights. It only makes sense if you're heading not to Tbilisi but to Batumi or further west, and the times happen to fit. How to buy Georgian Railway tickets is explained in our guide to buying Tbilisi–Batumi train tickets on railway.ge.
Marshrutka via Kutaisi
In theory, you can take the shuttle into Kutaisi (about 5 GEL) and a marshrutka from there to Tbilisi. You'd save around ten lari and lose it all on a change, waiting, and a packed minibus instead of a coach for four hours on the road. Not worth it.
The return journey: from Tbilisi to Kutaisi Airport
Same bus, same price — with one important caveat.
Georgian Bus departs from Station Square, on the Dadiani Street side. The pick-up point has moved, and older articles give the wrong address, so check the operator's website before you set off.
The timetable in this direction is also tied to flights: when you buy a ticket, you choose your departure flight and the system picks a bus with enough time for the journey and check-in. Don't try to "optimise" by taking a later bus — four hours on the road can easily turn into five because of roadworks.
Build in a margin: leave at least 6–7 hours before your flight.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the bus from Kutaisi Airport to Tbilisi?
30 GEL per person. The fare went up from 25 to 30 GEL in April 2026. Children under 10 pay less, and groups of 5 or more get 5 GEL off each ticket.
How long does it take?
About 4 hours. With roadworks or in high season, up to 5.
Do I need to buy a ticket in advance?
No. You can buy one from the representative right by the bus, even five minutes before departure. Online sales close 2 hours before departure.
Is there a bus at night?
Yes. The timetable is tied to arrivals, not to the time of day. There's a bus for every flight, including night ones.
What if my flight is delayed?
The bus is usually rescheduled. Call Georgian Bus's 24-hour hotline and let them know. If you miss it completely, you'll go on the next one.
Where do I board at the airport?
Directly opposite the arrivals hall exit, in the car park. The buses are big coaches with logos — you'll spot them straight away.
Where does the bus arrive in Tbilisi?
Georgian Bus arrives at Station Square, next to the metro and the railway station. Omnibus arrives at 7 Javakhishvili Street.
How much is a taxi to Tbilisi?
200–400 GEL. It's only worth it for a group of four or more, or with children and lots of luggage.
Can I get from Kutaisi Airport to Batumi?
Yes — the same operators run buses to Batumi, which is closer, about 2.5 hours away. For the city itself, see our Batumi travel guide.