The details below come with one caution up front: ATM fees in particular are reported differently by different guides and change over time, so treat the figures as a guide and rely on the fee the machine shows you before you confirm.
Quick answer
Currency: the Georgian lari (GEL). Notes of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200; coins of 1 and 2 lari and smaller tetri coins.
Cards: Visa and Mastercard are accepted almost everywhere in central Tbilisi, Batumi and Kutaisi — hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, taxis through apps. Contactless works on Tbilisi's metro and buses.
Cash is still needed for marshrutkas, markets, small bakeries and cafés, some taxis, tips, and trips out of town.
Always choose to pay in GEL. If an ATM or a card terminal offers to convert the amount into your home currency, decline. That offer is called dynamic currency conversion (DCC), and its rate is typically several percent worse than your own bank's.
ATMs: use bank-branded machines. Fees for foreign cards differ by bank and are shown on screen before you confirm.
Revolut and Wise work for payments and ATM withdrawals and give close to the interbank rate. Carry a second card as a backup.
At the border: no limit on cash, but amounts over 30,000 GEL must be declared.
Where cards work
In the centre of Tbilisi, Batumi and Kutaisi you can pay by card almost everywhere: hotels, restaurants, cafés, supermarkets, pharmacies and most shops. Taxi apps such as Bolt let you link a card.
Public transport in Tbilisi: you tap a contactless bank card on the validator on buses and at the metro turnstile, or use a Metromoney transport card. Cash is not accepted. The one exception to "tap your card" is the Rike–Narikala cable car, which needs a Metromoney card. Details in public transport in Tbilisi and Tbilisi's cable cars.
Trains: Georgian Railway's official site takes bank cards, and there are recent reports of foreign Visa and Mastercard cards working, though the railway doesn't guarantee any particular bank. See how to buy a Tbilisi–Batumi ticket.
Parking: the Tbilisi Parking app takes cards, and street terminals take cash. See parking in Tbilisi.
Where you need cash
- Marshrutkas and the Didube bus station: cash in lari. See Didube bus station.
- Markets, such as the Dezerter Bazaar and the Dry Bridge flea market.
- Small bakeries, shops and family-run cafés, where the terminal may be missing or down.
- Some taxis, if the driver asks for cash.
- The sulphur baths: some accept cash only, and tipping the attendant is easier with cash. See Tbilisi's sulphur baths.
- Trips out of town, where cards are accepted less often.
- Left luggage at the railway station: cash in lari. See luggage storage in Tbilisi.
ATMs
ATMs are everywhere in cities and larger towns. Look for the big banks: TBC Bank, Bank of Georgia, Liberty Bank, Basisbank, Cartu Bank and Credo. In the arrivals hall at Tbilisi airport, a September 2026 guide reports machines from Liberty, Bank of Georgia and TBC by the exit doors; the free-standing terminals outside customs are bill-payment boxes, not ATMs.
Fees: what's reported
Georgian banks may charge a flat fee for withdrawals with a foreign card, shown on the screen before you confirm. Guides disagree on the amounts:
- Bank of Georgia and TBC are generally described as charging a few lari per withdrawal, with one guide describing TBC as the cheapest and another reporting no local fee.
- Basisbank and Cartu Bank are reported as charging nothing for foreign cards, with limits of around 2,000 GEL per withdrawal (September 2026).
- Liberty Bank is reported as charging more than the others; one visitor reported 20 GEL in August 2025.
- Typical limits per withdrawal range from about 400 GEL to 2,000 GEL depending on the bank and machine.
Because these figures vary by source and date, the practical rule is: read the fee on the screen, and if it's more than a few lari, cancel and use another machine. Your own bank may add its own foreign withdrawal fee and a currency conversion charge, so fewer, larger withdrawals cost less than many small ones.
Decline the conversion offer
At an ATM you may see a choice like "Continue in GEL" or "Continue in your home currency". Choose GEL. The home-currency option is dynamic currency conversion: the machine's operator sets the exchange rate, and guides put the extra cost at roughly 3–5%. Your own bank or card will convert more cheaply.
The same applies at card terminals in restaurants and shops: if the terminal asks whether you want to pay in lari or your own currency, pay in lari.
Revolut and Wise
Both work in Georgia for card payments and ATM withdrawals, and both give rates close to the interbank rate, which usually beats a home bank card that adds 2–3% on foreign transactions.
- Revolut: how many free ATM withdrawals you get depends on your plan; check your monthly allowance.
- Wise: a small fee per withdrawal may apply; check Wise's current pricing.
- Both: the Georgian ATM operator's own fee, if any, still applies, so using a fee-free machine matters.
A sensible setup is one neobank card (Revolut or Wise) as your main card, plus one ordinary bank card as a backup. Let your banks know you're travelling, and keep the cards in different places.
Exchanging cash
Exchange offices usually give a better rate than banks, hotels or the airport, and reputable ones charge no commission. US dollars and euros get the best rates, and notes should be in good condition. Compare two or three offices; at the airport, change only what you need to get into town. The full guide, with where to look and what to watch for, is in where to exchange money in Tbilisi.
If you have a fee-free card, withdrawing lari from an ATM often works out as well as exchanging cash.
How much cash to carry
A practical starting point, from our Tbilisi prices guide:
- First day: 150–200 GEL, so you don't have to look for an ATM on your first evening.
- Reserve in case a card fails: another 200–300 GEL.
- For markets, bakeries and small places: 50–100 GEL in small notes.
- For trips outside the centre: a small stock for marshrutkas and street food.
In all, about 300–500 GEL in cash is comfortable for a couple for a week. There's no point keeping your whole budget in cash.
Tips and service charges
In many cafés and restaurants a service charge of 10–18% is added to the bill. If it's already there, an extra tip isn't required. If there's no service charge, leaving about 10% is customary. Check the bottom line of the menu before you order.
Cash across the border
There's no limit on how much cash you can bring into Georgia, but if you carry more than 30,000 GEL (or the equivalent in other currencies), you must declare it at customs on arrival or departure. See entering Georgia in 2026 for the other border requirements, including the mandatory insurance.
A short checklist
- Bring at least one Visa or Mastercard, ideally a low-fee card such as Revolut or Wise, plus a backup.
- Always choose lari, at ATMs and at card terminals.
- Read the ATM fee on the screen before you confirm.
- Withdraw 150–200 GEL on arrival and top up as you go.
- Keep small notes for marshrutkas, markets and tips.
- Don't change money on the street or at the airport beyond the minimum.
Frequently asked questions
What currency is used in Georgia?
The Georgian lari (GEL).
Can I use my foreign card in Georgia?
Yes. Visa and Mastercard are accepted almost everywhere in central Tbilisi, Batumi and Kutaisi, and contactless works on Tbilisi's metro and buses.
Do Revolut and Wise work in Georgia?
Yes, for payments and ATM withdrawals. The Georgian ATM operator's own fee, if any, still applies.
Should I choose GEL or my home currency when paying?
Always GEL. Choosing your home currency triggers dynamic currency conversion at a worse rate.
Which ATMs have the lowest fees?
It varies, and sources disagree. Basisbank and Cartu Bank are reported as charging nothing for foreign cards; Bank of Georgia and TBC usually charge a few lari; Liberty is reported to charge more. Always check the fee on the screen before you confirm.
Do I need cash in Georgia?
Yes, for marshrutkas, markets, small shops, some taxis, tips and trips out of town.
How much cash should I bring?
There's no limit, but declare anything above 30,000 GEL. For spending, about 300–500 GEL in cash is comfortable for a couple for a week; the rest can go on a card.
Is US dollar or euro cash better?
Both exchange well. Notes should be in good condition.
Can I pay for public transport in Tbilisi with my card?
Yes, with a contactless card on buses and the metro. The Narikala cable car needs a Metromoney card.
Sources and date checked
Checked on 2 October 2026. Fees and limits change, and the figures below are guides, not guarantees.
- Money in Georgia (2026): ATM fees, cards and tipping — The Georgian Guide, September 2026: https://thegeorgianguide.com/practical-info/money-atms-tipping/
- Georgian lari, ATMs and tipping — Georgia Spirit: https://www.georgia-spirit.com/guides/currency-tipping/
- Money in Georgia: A Tourist Guide to ATMs, Cards and Exchange — Backpack Moments: https://backpackmoments.com/money-in-georgia/
- Which ATMs in Georgia have the lowest withdrawal fees? — TripRoadwayPlanner: https://triproadwayplanner.com.ge/which-atms-in-georgia-have-the-lowest-withdrawal-fees/
- ATMs in the Republic of Georgia: credit cards and fees — Wise: https://wise.com/au/blog/atms-in-georgia
- Customs declaration threshold (30,000 GEL): Georgia Today, "Customs seizes undeclared cash at Sarpi border crossing": https://georgiatoday.ge/customs-seizes-undeclared-cash-at-sarpi-border-crossing/
- Georgia Travel FAQ (cash limit and denominations): https://www.advantour.com/georgia/faq.htm