Are you planning to visit Georgia and looking for a way to get to the Black Sea coast in Batumi? In our article, Tbilisi Batumi Train, you will find all the information about the train that runs between the cities—such as where to buy a ticket, how much it costs, how long it takes, and even our personal experience. If you’re visiting the Caucasus for the first time, especially after visiting Armenia, Georgia is a great choice.
➡️ Looking for more adventure train journey
Read our article about Iron Ore Train ⬅️
Table of Contents
TBILISI BATUMI TRAIN
Train travel between the two largest cities of Georgia, Tbilisi and Batumi, is popular with both locals and tourists. Locals often travel to Batumi for summer vacations, and the city is also a well-known summer destination for tourists from neighboring countries like Russia and Armenia.
This route has multiple trains running daily, including both regional and more modern express double-decker trains. Regional trains make more stops along the way and are slower and older compared to express trains, which have fewer stops and are modernly equipped.
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During our visit to Georgia, we took the express train on the Tbilisi Batumi route, and now, let’s break it down for you—here’s everything you need to know about the Stadler KISS Eurasia train.
Planning to visit Tbilisi soon?
🛏️Booking hotels: Booking.com, Hostelworld
1.Fabrika Hostel & Suites (Affordable)
2.Arts Hotel Tbilisi (Mid-range)
3.Stamba Hotel (Luxury)
🏄🏻♂️Booking tours: GetYourGuide
1.The Chronicle of Georgia Express Guided Tour (2 hours)
2. The Urbex and Soviet Tour of Tbilisi (5 hours)
3.Old and New City Guided Tour with 2 Cable Car Rides (3 hours)
🚗Car renting: Discover Cars
🚑Insurance: SafetyWing
📲Sim-cards: Airalo e-sim
WHERE IS THE TBILISI TRAIN STATION?
Tbilisi Central Railway Station is located just a 2-minute walk from the Station Square metro stop. It is situated inside a shopping mall. The ticket office and waiting room are on the second floor, from where you can directly access some platforms.
In addition to the main railway station, the building also houses shops and small snack stands. There is also a luggage storage area near Platform 1.
WHERE TO BUY A TICKET FOR A TRAIN?
You can buy a ticket directly at the train station or through the official website of Georgian Railways. The train runs three times a day: at 8:00 AM, 5:10 PM, and midnight.
➡️ Buy your ticket or check availability ⬅️
HOW MUCH DOES A TICKET COSTS?
Second-class seats start at around 12€ per person
First-class seats start at around 25€ per person
Business-class seats start at around 40€ per person, but it may not always be available.
Note: If you’re planning to buy a ticket for the Tbilisi Batumi train, be sure to purchase it in advance, as tickets often sell out. Keep an eye on the website, as reservations can be canceled at any time, and you might have the chance to buy a ticket.
HOW LONG IS THE TRAIN FROM TBILISI TO BATUMI?
The Tbilisi Batumi train journey takes over 5 hours, covering a distance of 340 km.
WHAT DOES THE TRAIN LOOK LIKE?
The Tbilisi Batumi train is a modern double-decker. We traveled in second class, where the seats are arranged in a 3+2 layout. The train has first, second, and business class carriages.
There are information screens on the train displaying the time, speed, and next stops.The trains are air-conditioned and have Wi-Fi, which can be unstable, especially in rural areas. However, no Wi-Fi was available during our train journey between Tbilisi and Batumi.
There is no restaurant car, only vending machines for drinks and snacks, so be sure to bring your own refreshments.
WHAT THE JOURNEY LOOKS LIKE?
On the Tbilisi Batumi route, you can watch the landscape change. After leaving the city, you’ll be presented with views of the Caucasus Mountains, green valleys, and the Kura River. As the train approaches its final destination, Batumi, you’ll also be able to observe the Black Sea.
➡️ Buy your Tbilisi Batumi train ticket ⬅️
HOW TO GET FROM BATUMI TRAIN STATION TO THE CITY?
Batumi Train Station is not located directly in the city center, but it is less than 4 km away. The fastest way to get from the train station to the city is by taxi. There is a parking lot right in front of the station where many taxis are parked, but be aware that tourists are often charged much higher prices, sometimes several times more expensive than the real price.
We used Bolt for our trip from the train station to the city, which is available in Georgia. Luckily, we had an Airalo e-sim, so we could use the internet to order the service. Our 7-minute taxi ride cost around 2-3€.
➡️Buy your sim card for your trip⬅️
There are also marshrutkas around the station, which are the cheapest way to get from the train station to the city center of Batumi.
Planning to visit Batumi soon?
🛏️Booking hotels: Booking.com
1.Hostel Jeal (Affordable)
2.Apartment In Porta Batumi Tower (Mid-range)
3.Radisson Blu Hotel Batumi (Luxury)
🏄🏻♂️Booking tours: GetYourGuide
1.Wine & Dine Tour To Waterfalls (6 hours)
2.Mtirala ATV, Buggy and Horse Riding Adventure (4 hours)
3.Martvili Canyon and Prometheus Cave Tour (10 hours)
🚗Car renting: Discover Cars
🚑Insurance: SafetyWing
📲Sim-cards: Airalo e-sim
OTHER OPTIONS OF TRANSPORT FROM TBILISI TO BATUMI
By bus (5-6 hours) prices starts at 14€
By taxi (5.5 hours) prices starts at 192€
Rent a car with DiscoverCars prices starts at 121€
OUR EXPERIENCE ON THE TBILISI BATUMI TRAIN
As we mentioned earlier, we traveled on the Tbilisi Batumi train in second class. However, our original plans changed as the train was sold out on the day we needed it. So, we bought bus tickets while keeping an eye on train availability. Later, tickets became available, and we were able to purchase them. In the end, we managed to take the train.
Unfortunately, and fortunately, we did not have window seats. The windows were covered with advertisements, making it impossible to see out, which was quite annoying. Even though the Tbilisi Batumi route is quite scenic, we would not have enjoyed the ride at all if we hadn’t stood in the corridors for more than half of the journey, where the windows were not covered with advertisements.
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There was no Wi-Fi on our train, but it wasn’t a problem for us. Unless we were working on our computers, we mostly enjoyed looking out the window in the corridors. It’s worth mentioning that we traveled during the peak season, so the train was extremely crowded, and luggage was everywhere – sometimes in places it shouldn’t have been. The train emptied a bit at the Kutaisi Airport stop. We arrived in Batumi a few minutes late. The Batumi train station was under reconstruction and closed during our visit, but the reconstruction has since been completed, and the station is now open.
WATCH OUR VIDEO FROM TBILISI BATUMI TRAIN
CONCLUSION
Overall, we rate our Tbilisi to Batumi train ride as an interesting experience, but also one that felt rather average. While the train itself was modern and comfortable, a few aspects detracted from our enjoyment. One major downside was the advertisements covering the windows, which made it impossible to fully appreciate the beautiful views along the journey. Although we spent a considerable amount of time standing in the train corridor due to the lack of available window seats, it was at least an opportunity to observe the changing landscapes. From the bustling capital of Tbilisi to the serene beauty of the Black Sea coast, the scenery shifted dramatically, offering us a glimpse of Georgia’s diverse terrain.
It’s also worth mentioning that the train doesn’t have a restaurant car, so bringing your own food and drinks is essential for the trip. There are only vending machines available, which may not offer much variety or satisfy your hunger on such a long journey.
In comparison, the bus ride (which was our original plan before train seats became available) takes about the same amount of time as the train, and we found it to be a more affordable option.If you’re traveling during the high season and want to avoid the packed trains, the bus is a good alternative. It’s more budget-friendly and offers a less stressful travel experience.
That said, if we return to Georgia in the future, we would like to try the regional trains, even though they are slower. These trains make more stops and provide a chance to enjoy a slower, more relaxed journey through the country.
➡️Buy your Tbilisi Batumi train ticket⬅️
Q&A
How long is the train from Tbilisi to Batumi?
The train journey on the double-decker Stadler KISS Eurasia takes just over 5 hours, covering a distance of 340 km.
Is Batumi worth visiting?
Batumi has a lot to offer, but it is primarily known as a summer vacation destination along the Black Sea. In addition to its beautiful promenade, with the sun setting right over the sea, the city boasts attractions like churches, cathedrals, parks, and a cable car with panoramic views of the entire city, as well as excellent restaurants and cafes.
How many days are enough for Batumi?
Unless you are going to Batumi for a classic summer vacation, 2-3 days will be enough for a city trip to see several attractions and taste the local cuisine.
OUR FAVORITE TRAVEL RESOURCES
Did you know…
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Accommodation: We use Booking.com where we always find great deals for hotels.
For hostels, we use Hostelworld where we find cheaper options and meet new people.
Rental cars: To rent your car with free cancellation check out Discover Cars.
Ferries: For cheap ferry tickets worldwide we use Direct Ferries.
All travel options in one place: Omio.com we use for easy travel planning where we can find trains, buses, ferries, and more.
Tours and other activities: Wherever we go we look at GetYourGuide to find the best tours and many other activities around the world!
Travel insurance: Never travel without travel insurance! Ekta works all over the world and has 10 years of experience in the industry. It is your right choice!
Reviews: Before we travel somewhere we always look at Tripadvisor, where we always find a summary of restaurants, places to visit, or hotels with current ratings and photos from people who have visited this place recently.
Luggage storage: Radical storage is such a helpful Luggage storage network! When we have a late check-in or an early check-out we don’t need to carry our luggage with us, we just simply put it in the Radical storage which operates in over 70 countries!
E-sim card: The best way how avoid all the stress of searching for local SIM cards or wifi signals and save time after you arrive in your new country is to get Airalo e-sim. Download and install a digital data pack from 200+ countries/regions!
