Batumi Airport Transfer Cost 2026: Taxi vs Bolt vs Bus vs Private Transfer
Updated June 2026 · 7 min read
Batumi International Airport (BUS, locally called Chorokhi) is the easiest airport in Georgia to arrive at: it sits just 6–7 km south of the city centre, on the road towards Gonio and the Turkish border. That short distance hides a few traps, though — seasonal Bolt shortages, night arrivals with no buses, and terminal taxi drivers quoting tourist prices. Here is what every option actually costs in 2026, with real travel times, so you can decide before you land.
Quick answer: what should you pay?
| Destination | City bus | Taxi at terminal | Bolt | Private transfer (pre-booked) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Batumi centre (6–7 km) | ~1 GEL | 20–40 GEL | 10–20 GEL | fixed, from ~50 GEL |
| Kobuleti (~35 km) | — | 60–100 GEL | 50–80 GEL (if available) | fixed, ~100–150 GEL |
| Kutaisi (~145 km) | — | negotiated, 200+ GEL | rarely available | fixed, ~200–300 GEL |
| Tbilisi (~370 km) | — | negotiated, 400+ GEL | not available | fixed, ~400–550 GEL |
Prices are 2026 ranges in Georgian lari (GEL). Terminal taxi fares are negotiated — they depend on your bargaining and the time of night. Pre-booked transfers are fixed in advance.
Option 1: City bus — cheapest, daytime only
Batumi municipal buses connect the airport with the city centre for around 1 GEL, paid by transport card or contactless bank card on board. The stop is just outside the terminal. For a solo traveller with light luggage arriving mid-day, this is unbeatable value — you will be on Batumi Boulevard in about 30 minutes.
The catch: buses run roughly from early morning until around 22:00–23:00, get crowded in July–August, and are slow if you are staying at the northern end of the city. With two suitcases and a stroller, the saving over Bolt is a few lari — usually not worth it. There is no bus from the airport to Kobuleti, Kutaisi or Tbilisi; for those you must first get to Batumi bus station.
Option 2: Taxi at the terminal — convenient, but negotiate
There is always a line of drivers outside arrivals. For the short hop into central Batumi they typically open at 30–40 GEL and can usually be talked down to 20–30 GEL. It is the fastest zero-planning option, but prices climb after dark and during the summer season, and the cars are unmetered — agree the fare before you get in, and confirm whether it is in lari.
For longer rides (Kobuleti, Kutaisi, Tbilisi) terminal drivers will quote whatever the market bears that evening. If you are going far, a fixed pre-booked price almost always beats a fare negotiated at midnight with your luggage in hand.
Option 3: Bolt — good in season, thin at night
Uber does not operate anywhere in Georgia; Bolt is the ride-hailing app that matters. In Batumi it works well: the airport is inside the coverage zone, and a ride to the centre is usually 10–20 GEL. In high season (June–September) you will normally get a car within minutes.
Reliability drops exactly when you need it most: after midnight, in winter when the tourist fleet shrinks, and when several flights land at once and surge pricing kicks in. If your flight arrives at 02:00 in November, do not build your plan around Bolt being there.
Option 4: Pre-booked private transfer — fixed price, driver waiting
A private transfer booked online before you fly means a driver tracking your flight, meeting you in arrivals with a name sign, and a price fixed when you book — no negotiation, no surge, no waiting in line. Within Batumi it costs more than Bolt (from around 50 GEL), so its real value shows on three scenarios:
First, night arrivals — the driver waits even if your flight is two hours late, at no extra charge. Second, longer routes: Kobuleti, Kutaisi or Tbilisi door-to-door without dragging luggage through a bus station. Third, groups and families — a minivan for four people with bags often costs less per person than four bus tickets plus a taxi at the other end.
See fixed prices from Batumi Airport →
Arriving late at night? Read this first
Batumi receives evening and night flights from Istanbul year-round, plus seasonal European arrivals that land after 22:00. At that hour the city bus has stopped, Bolt coverage is thin, and the terminal taxi line knows it has no competition. If you are travelling with children, meeting a host at a specific time, or continuing to Kobuleti or beyond, pre-booking is the difference between a 15-minute ride and an hour of haggling in the parking lot.
Going the other way — flying out of BUS on an early departure? The same logic applies in reverse: book the night before rather than gambling on a 05:00 Bolt. Fixed-price rides to Batumi Airport are here.
Batumi Airport to Tbilisi: the long haul
The 370 km to Tbilisi is the one route where it pays to think ahead. The train from Batumi Central station is comfortable and scenic (about 5 hours, roughly 25–60 GEL depending on class), but the station is on the north side of the city — a 20–30 minute taxi from the airport — and tickets sell out in summer. Marshrutkas and buses leave from the bus station, take 6–7 hours, and are the budget option at around 35–50 GEL.
A private transfer goes terminal-to-doorstep in about 5.5–6 hours at a fixed 400–550 GEL depending on vehicle — worth it for groups, night arrivals, or anyone who would otherwise need two taxis plus a train ticket. For a detailed comparison of the Tbilisi–Batumi corridor, see our guide: Tbilisi to Batumi — Transfer vs Train.
Flying into Kutaisi instead?
Many low-cost flights to the region actually land at Kutaisi (KUT), 145 km north-east of Batumi. If that is your airport, the maths is different — coaches are timed to Wizz Air arrivals and a private transfer to Batumi runs about 200–300 GEL. We break it down here: Kutaisi Airport Transfer Cost.
FAQ
How much is a taxi from Batumi Airport to the city centre?
20–40 GEL negotiated at the terminal; Bolt is usually 10–20 GEL; a pre-booked private transfer is a fixed price agreed before you land.
Is there Bolt or Uber at Batumi Airport?
No Uber in Georgia. Bolt covers the airport and works well in season, but is unreliable late at night and in winter.
How do I get from Batumi Airport to Tbilisi?
Train from Batumi Central (~5 h, 25–60 GEL, station is across town), marshrutka/bus (6–7 h, 35–50 GEL), or a private transfer from the terminal (~5.5–6 h, fixed 400–550 GEL).
What if my flight lands late at night?
Buses stop by ~22:00 and Bolt thins out. A pre-booked transfer with flight tracking waits for you regardless of delays.
How far is the airport from the city?
About 6–7 km south of the centre — 15–20 minutes by car.
Book a fixed-price Batumi Airport transfer →
OrbiTrip — private transfers and tours across Georgia. Fixed prices, professional local drivers, free cancellation.