Kutaisi Airport to Tbilisi 2026: Transfer Price, Shuttle Bus & How to Get There
Kutaisi International Airport (KUT) is Georgia’s low-cost gateway — the landing point for most Wizz Air and Ryanair flights — but it sits about 230 km west of Tbilisi, so almost every arriving traveller faces the same question: how do you get to the capital? This 2026 guide covers the distance, the real cost of every option from a private transfer to the budget shuttle, and how to handle the late-night arrivals this airport is famous for.
Kutaisi Airport to Tbilisi at a glance: 2026 options
| Option | Price (2026) | Time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private transfer (OrbiTrip) | from ~300 GEL / ~110 USD per car | ~3–3.5 h, door to door | Groups, luggage, night arrivals |
| Shuttle bus (Georgian Bus) | ~30–40 GEL / ~11–15 USD per person | ~3.5–4 h to a city point | Solo budget travellers, daytime flights |
| Shuttle/taxi to Kutaisi + marshrutka | ~30–45 GEL per person total | ~4–5 h with changes | Flexible budget travel |
| App taxi (Bolt/Yandex) one-way | ~180–260 GEL (if available) | ~3 h | Rarely worth it for this distance |
Distance and the route to Tbilisi
The drive covers about 230 km and takes 3 to 3.5 hours in normal conditions. From the airport you join the main Rikoti (E60) highway and head east across central Georgia, passing Zestafoni and Khashuri and crossing the mountainous Rikoti Pass — now much faster thanks to the modern tunnel-and-bridge sections opened in recent years. The final approach brings you into western Tbilisi. It is a straightforward, well-surfaced route, but it is long enough that comfort and a reliable pickup matter, especially after a budget flight.
Option 1: Private transfer (the easy door-to-door choice)
A private transfer is the simplest way to reach Tbilisi, particularly if you are arriving with family, luggage or after a late flight. Your driver meets you in the arrivals hall with a name sign, helps with bags, and drives you directly to your hotel or apartment anywhere in Tbilisi — no changes, no waiting for the bus to fill, no negotiating. Prices are fixed per vehicle before you travel.
| Vehicle | Fixed price (2026) | Seats |
|---|---|---|
| Sedan | from ~300 GEL (~110 USD) | up to 3 passengers |
| Minivan | from ~390 GEL (~145 USD) | up to 6 passengers |
| Larger group / two cars | on request | 7+ passengers |
The price is for the whole car, not per person, so for a couple or a group it is genuinely competitive with buying separate shuttle tickets — and it saves you two to three hours of hassle. You pay the driver directly in cash or by agreement; OrbiTrip takes no commission and never charges your card. Flight tracking means the driver already knows if you land early or late.
See Kutaisi Airport to Tbilisi prices & drivers
Option 2: The shuttle bus (cheapest for solo travellers)
Operators such as Georgian Bus run a shuttle from Kutaisi Airport to Tbilisi timed to major arrivals, for roughly 30–40 GEL (11–15 USD) per person. It is the most affordable way to reach the capital and perfectly good in daylight. The trade-offs: it leaves only when a scheduled flight lands (so it can be crowded or sold out), it drops you at a fixed city point rather than your accommodation, and with boarding and stops the total journey often stretches to four hours. Book the shuttle ticket in advance online when you can, as popular flights fill the bus quickly.
Option 3: Budget route via Kutaisi city
If no shuttle suits your flight, you can take a short local transfer or airport taxi into Kutaisi (about 20 km), then a marshrutka minibus from the central station to Tbilisi (about 20–25 GEL, roughly 3.5 hours to Didube station). It is cheap and frequent in the daytime, but the changes, waiting for the van to fill, and a drop at Tbilisi’s Didube terminal — from where you still need a city taxi — make it slow. It suits flexible backpackers more than anyone arriving tired at night.
Arriving late at night? Read this first
Kutaisi is a low-cost hub, and a large share of its flights land late in the evening or after midnight. That is exactly when the scheduled shuttle may already be full, finished for the day, or an unappealing option for a long dark drive. It is also when app taxis are scarce at a small regional airport. For these arrivals a pre-booked private transfer is the sensible choice: the driver monitors your flight, waits at arrivals no matter the delay, and delivers you safely to your door in Tbilisi. Knowing your ride is guaranteed before you even board your flight is worth a great deal at 2am.
How OrbiTrip works
OrbiTrip is a free platform that connects you directly with licensed Georgian drivers. You see the fixed price for your Kutaisi Airport transfer up front, choose your vehicle, and confirm — there is no booking fee, no commission and no card charge. You simply pay the driver directly on arrival. It is the transparent, reliable way to arrange the long ride from Georgia’s budget-flight gateway to the capital, on your schedule rather than the bus timetable’s.
Kutaisi Airport to Tbilisi: frequently asked questions
How far is Kutaisi Airport from Tbilisi?
Kutaisi International Airport (KUT) is about 230 km from Tbilisi, roughly a 3 to 3.5 hour drive. You follow the fast Rikoti (E60) highway east across central Georgia through the new tunnel section, then into the capital. It is the main low-cost gateway to Georgia, so this is one of the country’s busiest arrival routes.
How much is a transfer from Kutaisi Airport to Tbilisi in 2026?
On OrbiTrip a private transfer starts from about 300 GEL (~110 USD) for a sedan (up to 3 passengers) and from about 390 GEL (~145 USD) for a minivan (up to 6). The price is per vehicle, fixed in advance and paid directly to the driver; OrbiTrip charges no commission. Split between three or four people it is comparable to individual shuttle tickets but far faster and door to door.
Is there a shuttle bus from Kutaisi Airport to Tbilisi?
Yes. Georgian Bus and similar operators run a shuttle timed to major flights, costing around 30-40 GEL (~11-15 USD) per person. It is the cheapest option, but it drops you at a fixed city point rather than your hotel, takes 3.5-4 hours or more with stops, and only runs for scheduled flights, which is a problem for late arrivals.
How do I get from Kutaisi Airport to Tbilisi at night?
Many Wizz Air and Ryanair flights land late in the evening or after midnight, when the last scheduled shuttle may already be full or gone. A pre-booked private transfer is the most reliable option for night arrivals: your driver tracks the flight, waits at arrivals however late, and takes you straight to your Tbilisi address.
Can I take a train or marshrutka from Kutaisi Airport to Tbilisi?
Not directly. There is no train or marshrutka from the terminal itself. You would first take a shuttle or taxi to Kutaisi city or Rioni railway station, then a marshrutka (about 20-25 GEL) or a train to Tbilisi. This works on a tight budget but involves changes and long waits; for most travellers a direct shuttle or a private transfer is far simpler.
Are Bolt or Yandex taxis available at Kutaisi Airport?
Ride-hailing apps like Bolt and Yandex Go work in Kutaisi, but coverage at the airport can be thin, especially late at night when most flights arrive, and a one-way app ride all the way to Tbilisi is expensive and not guaranteed. For a fixed price you can rely on, a pre-arranged transfer is the safer choice for the long airport-to-capital run.
Related transfer guides
Landing at KUT? See our Kutaisi Airport transfers hub for every route, the Kutaisi Airport to Batumi guide, and Kutaisi Airport to the city centre. Heading back for a flight? Compare the Tbilisi to Kutaisi route, or read our complete Georgia airport transfers guide.