Batumi Airport to Kutaisi 2026: Transfer, Price, Distance & Time
Arriving at Batumi International Airport (BUS) and need to reach Kutaisi — Georgia’s third city, the gateway to Imereti and the home of the country’s busiest budget-flight hub at Kutaisi International Airport (KUT)? It is one of the most common cross-country hops in western Georgia, linking the Black Sea coast with the inland valleys, and in 2026 there are several ways to do it. This guide compares every option — private transfer, shared minibus, train and taxi — with honest prices, real journey times and practical advice, so you can pick the route that fits your budget, your luggage and, above all, your flight time.
Batumi Airport to Kutaisi: options compared
| Option | Price (2026) | Time | Door-to-door? | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private transfer (sedan) | from ~230 GEL (~85 USD) | ~2 h 30 m | Yes | Couples, flight connections, comfort |
| Private transfer (minivan) | from ~320 GEL (~120 USD) | ~2 h 30 m | Yes | Families & groups with luggage |
| Shared marshrutka | ~15–20 GEL pp | ~2 h 45 m + waiting | No (city centre) | Solo budget travellers, no rush |
| Train (to Rioni) + taxi | ~10–18 GEL + taxi | ~3 h + transfers | No | Rail fans, flexible schedules |
| Airport taxi (metered) | ~250–350 GEL | ~2 h 30 m | Yes | Walk-up, but no fixed price |
The route: 150 km from coast to Imereti
Batumi Airport sits just south of the city on the Black Sea, while Kutaisi lies inland in the Rioni river basin. The drive of around 150 kilometres runs north along the coast through Kobuleti, then turns inland across Guria and into Imereti on the upgraded E60/E692 highway. It is one of the easier long drives in Georgia: mostly flat, well surfaced and increasingly dual-carriageway, with petrol stations, bakeries and fruit stalls along the way. Allow about 2 hours 30 minutes door to door, a little more in summer when the coastal stretch near Kobuleti and Ureki gets busy with beach traffic.
If you are continuing to Kutaisi International Airport (KUT) rather than the city itself, the airport is at Kopitnari, about 19 km west of central Kutaisi, so a driver can take you straight there without doubling back — a real advantage over public transport that terminates in the city.
Book a fixed-price Batumi → Kutaisi transfer
Option 1: Private transfer (the simplest door-to-door choice)
For most travellers — and especially anyone with a flight to catch — a private transfer is the obvious pick. Your driver meets you in the Batumi Airport arrivals hall (or at your hotel) holding a name sign, helps with bags, and drives you directly to your Kutaisi address or to KUT airport. On OrbiTrip the fare is fixed and shown before you confirm: from about 230 GEL (~85 USD) for an economy sedan seating up to three, and about 320 GEL (~120 USD) for a minivan seating six or seven with luggage. There is no meter, no surge pricing and no online prepayment — you simply pay the driver in cash or by agreement at the end. OrbiTrip is a free volunteer platform that connects you to the driver; the money goes to the driver, not to us.
This is the only option that genuinely works for early or late Kutaisi flights, because the driver commits to your pickup time rather than leaving when a minibus happens to fill up. For the reverse direction, the same applies to the Kutaisi to Batumi transfer.
Option 2: Shared marshrutka (cheapest, least convenient)
Georgia’s marshrutka minibuses are the backbone of cheap intercity travel. From Batumi bus station they run to Kutaisi for roughly 15–20 GEL per person, leaving when full from early morning until late afternoon. The catch is that they depart from the city centre, not the airport, so you first need a taxi or bus from BUS into Batumi (~10–15 GEL), and they drop you at Kutaisi’s central station, from where you would need another taxi out to the airport. For a solo traveller with light luggage and no flight pressure, it is the budget winner; for a couple or family, once you add both taxi legs, a private car is often comparable and far less hassle.
Option 3: Train via Rioni station
Georgian Railways runs comfortable trains on the Batumi–Tbilisi line that stop at Rioni, the station serving Kutaisi, for around 10–18 GEL. The trains are pleasant and punctual, but Rioni is several kilometres from central Kutaisi and further still from the airport, so you finish with a taxi anyway. The schedule is also limited to a couple of departures a day. It is a fine choice if you enjoy rail travel and your timing lines up, but it is not a door-to-door solution for an airport connection.
Option 4: Airport taxi
You can always grab a taxi at Batumi Airport and negotiate a price to Kutaisi, typically 250–350 GEL depending on your bargaining and the season. The downside is the lack of a fixed, agreed fare in advance and the uncertainty over vehicle size and luggage space. A pre-booked transfer removes that guesswork for a similar or lower price.
Tips for catching a flight from Kutaisi (KUT)
Kutaisi International Airport is Georgia’s low-cost gateway, with Wizz Air and others flying across Europe, and many of those flights leave at awkward hours. If your departure is early morning or late at night, book your transfer for a pickup that leaves a generous buffer — we suggest arriving at KUT at least two hours before a European budget flight. Confirm your pickup time with the driver the day before, and keep their contact details handy. Our Kutaisi Airport transfer cost guide and the broader Georgia airport transfers guide cover prices and timing for every direction.
How OrbiTrip booking works
Booking is deliberately simple. Choose your route, pick a vehicle size, and see a transparent fixed price before you confirm — no hidden fees. You then receive the driver’s contact details to coordinate the exact pickup, and you pay the driver directly at the end of the journey. OrbiTrip does not take commission and does not sell the ride; it is a free platform that simply connects travellers with vetted local drivers, who earn the fare. That means no prepayment risk and a real person you can message about your flight time or pickup point.
See your Batumi Airport → Kutaisi price now
What to do in Kutaisi while you are there
Kutaisi rewards a stop of its own. The UNESCO-listed Bagrati Cathedral and Gelati Monastery crown the hills above town, while just outside the city the Prometheus Cave and Sataplia dinosaur reserve make an easy half-day. Our guide to things to do in Kutaisi, Prometheus Cave and Martvili maps out the best nearby trips, and from the coast you can compare it with our Batumi things to do and day trips guide for the seaside end of the journey.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Batumi Airport to Kutaisi drive?
About 2 hours 30 minutes for the roughly 150 km route on the E60/E692 highway, a little longer in peak summer coastal traffic.
What is the cheapest way from Batumi to Kutaisi?
A shared marshrutka at ~15–20 GEL per person is cheapest, but it leaves from Batumi city centre, not the airport, and only departs when full.
How much is a private transfer in 2026?
From about 230 GEL (~85 USD) for a sedan and 320 GEL (~120 USD) for a minivan, fixed in advance, paid directly to the driver.
Will a transfer get me to Kutaisi Airport (KUT) for a flight?
Yes — a private transfer goes straight to KUT at Kopitnari at a fixed pickup time, the only option reliable enough for early or late budget flights.
Related routes & guides
- Batumi → Kutaisi transfer — fixed-price door-to-door car.
- Kutaisi Airport to Batumi guide — the reverse coastal run.
- Kutaisi Airport transfer cost — prices for every direction from KUT.
- Batumi Airport transfer cost — fares from BUS across Georgia.
- Things to do in Kutaisi — caves, monasteries and canyons.
- Georgia airport transfers complete guide — every airport, every route.