Tbilisi to Anaklia 2026: Transfer, Day Trip & Cost
On the far north-western edge of Georgia’s Black Sea coast, where the Enguri River meets the sea, lies Anaklia — a low-key beach resort that feels worlds away from the crowds of Batumi. This is the Samegrelo coast: wide sandy beaches, palm-lined promenades, grilled-seafood cafes and the famous 504-metre Anaklia-Ganmukhuri pedestrian bridge, often called the longest cable-stayed timber bridge in Europe. Anaklia is also the site earmarked for Georgia’s first deep-sea port, and in 2026 the town is seeing fresh investment in its boulevard and seafront. The catch is distance: Anaklia lies roughly 320–345 km from Tbilisi, near the administrative boundary with Abkhazia. This 2026 guide covers every way to make the trip — with real prices, honest travel times and the best things to combine along the way.
Quick comparison
| Option | Price (2026) | Time from Tbilisi | Changes? | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private transfer (door-to-door) | fixed per car (split by group) | ~4.5–5 h direct | None | Families, groups, beach + Svaneti combos |
| Train to Zugdidi + local taxi | ~5–11 GEL + ~10–15 GEL | ~6–7 h + transfer | 1 (Zugdidi) | Solo budget travellers, no rush |
| Marshrutka to Zugdidi + minibus | ~20–25 GEL (~$8-10) + ~10–15 GEL | ~5–6 h total | 1 (Zugdidi) | Backpackers |
| Rental car (self-drive) | car hire + fuel | ~4.5–5 h each way | None | Confident long-distance drivers |
Where is Anaklia, and why distance shapes the trip
Anaklia sits in the Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region, at the mouth of the Enguri River on the Black Sea, just north of the resort village of Ganmukhuri and about 30 km west of Zugdidi, the regional capital. From Tbilisi the road runs west along the main highway through Mtskheta, past Gori and over the Rikoti Pass to Kutaisi, then north-west through Samtredia and Zugdidi before reaching the coast. Allowing for the climb over Rikoti and traffic leaving Tbilisi, the realistic driving time is about 4.5 to 5 hours for the 320–345 km. That is the single most important planning fact: Anaklia is too far for a comfortable day return, so the smart approach is either an overnight stay on the coast or pairing it with onward travel into Svaneti.
Option 1: Private transfer (recommended)
For most travellers a private door-to-door transfer is the most practical way to reach Anaklia. You are picked up from your Tbilisi hotel or apartment at a time you choose, travel non-stop in your own vehicle, and are dropped right at your beachfront hotel — no station changes, no waiting in Zugdidi, no negotiating a local taxi on arrival. On a long west-Georgia drive that comfort matters, especially with children, luggage or beach gear.
Pricing works per car, not per seat, so a couple or a family of four shares one fixed fare rather than buying four separate tickets plus a taxi at the other end. With OrbiTrip you see a transparent fixed price before you book, choose a vehicle large enough for your group and bags, and pay the driver directly at the end — no prepayment and no meter. A direct private Tbilisi→Anaklia transfer is priced from 402 GEL (~$155) per car one way, with the exact selected vehicle price shown before you confirm. Compare the full car price for your group with current train or minibus and local-taxi costs.
The biggest advantage is what comes next: because Anaklia is only 30 km from Zugdidi, the gateway to the mountains, the same driver can carry on the following day up to Mestia and Svaneti or loop back via Batumi. Booking one driver for a coast-and-mountains itinerary removes all the connection stress.
See drivers & fixed prices for a Tbilisi → Anaklia transfer
Option 2: Train to Zugdidi, then local transport
The most comfortable budget route is the Georgian Railway train to Zugdidi. A daily service runs from Tbilisi to Zugdidi, taking roughly 6 to 7 hours and costing about 5 to 11 GEL depending on class. The overnight and daytime trains are clean and reliable, and the seats are far roomier than a minibus. The limitation is that the train terminates in Zugdidi, about 30 km short of the coast, so you finish the journey by local marshrutka or taxi to Anaklia for another 10 to 15 GEL. Connections thin out in the evening, so aim to arrive in Zugdidi with daylight to spare. This route suits unhurried solo travellers who value low cost and a comfortable rail leg over speed.
Option 3: Marshrutka (cheapest, with a change)
Budget travellers can also reach the region by marshrutka (shared minibus). Minibuses to Zugdidi leave Tbilisi from the Didube transport hub through the day, take around 5 to 6 hours and cost roughly 20 to 25 GEL (~$10), cash only. From Zugdidi you again switch to a local minibus or taxi for the final 30 km to Anaklia. In peak summer there are sometimes direct seasonal minibuses to Anaklia itself, but they are infrequent and fill quickly. The marshrutka is the cheapest motorised option, but it is cramped over five hours, follows fixed departure times and leaves you to arrange the last leg on arrival — fine for hardened backpackers, less so for families.
What to do in Anaklia
Anaklia rewards the long drive with a relaxed, distinctly Georgian seaside scene rather than a built-up resort strip:
| Highlight | What it is |
|---|---|
| Anaklia-Ganmukhuri bridge | A striking 504-metre pedestrian bridge over the Enguri river mouth, designed by architect Peter Walser and billed as the longest cable-stayed timber bridge in Europe — the town’s signature walk. |
| The beach & promenade | A long sand-and-pebble beach backed by palms, bike paths, an amphitheatre, beach bars and an aqua park near the bridge — far quieter than Batumi. |
| Kitesurfing | Steady coastal winds make Anaklia one of Georgia’s better spots for kitesurfing and windsurfing, with seasonal rental and lessons. |
| Seafront dining | Casual cafes serving grilled Black Sea fish and Megrelian specialities such as elarji and kharcho — Samegrelo is Georgia’s spice belt. |
| Ganmukhuri | The neighbouring resort village just across the bridge, with its own quieter beach and youth-camp roots. |
Note that the much-discussed deep-sea port is still a project rather than a working harbour; in 2026 the visible activity is focused on renovating Anaklia’s boulevard and seafront, so do not expect heavy industry — the appeal remains the beach and the bridge.
Combine Anaklia with Svaneti
The single best reason to make the long trip is that Anaklia is the coastal bookend to a Svaneti adventure. Zugdidi, just 30 km away, is the main road gateway up to Mestia and on to Ushguli. A classic west-Georgia loop is two or three nights combining a beach day in Anaklia with the medieval tower-houses and glaciers of the high Caucasus, all linked by one private driver. If you are flying into Kutaisi airport rather than Tbilisi, the Anaklia leg is even shorter — see our complete airport transfers guide for the connections.
How an OrbiTrip transfer works
Booking is simple. Choose your route, pick a vehicle size for your group, and see a transparent fixed price before you confirm — no hidden surcharges and no prepayment. You then receive the driver’s contact details to agree your exact pickup time and any extra stops, such as a lunch break in Kutaisi or a photo stop at a fortress along the way. You settle the agreed fare directly with the driver at the end of the journey. Child seats can be requested at booking, and English- or Russian-speaking drivers are available — useful in this western region where onward public transport is thin and signage limited.
Which should you choose?
If you are travelling as a couple, family or small group, or want to chain Anaklia with Svaneti, a private transfer wins on comfort, speed and door-to-door simplicity, and the per-car price splits well. If you are a solo budget traveller with time to spare, the train to Zugdidi plus a local taxi is cheap and pleasant. The marshrutka is the rock-bottom option but the least comfortable over five-plus hours with a change. Whichever you choose, plan Anaklia as an overnight rather than a day trip — the distance is simply too great to enjoy there and back in a day.
Ready to go? Compare drivers and fixed prices for your Tbilisi → Anaklia transfer and build your west-Georgia coast-and-mountains trip in one booking.
Frequently asked questions
Anaklia is roughly 320 to 345 km north-west of Tbilisi by road, and the drive takes about 4.5 to 5 hours one way via Kutaisi and Zugdidi. Because of the distance, most travellers treat Anaklia as an overnight beach break rather than a single-day round trip from Tbilisi.
The cheapest route is the train or marshrutka to Zugdidi (around 8 to 25 GEL) and then a short local minibus or taxi the final 30 km to Anaklia for roughly 10 to 15 GEL. It is inexpensive but slow, with a change in Zugdidi and limited evening connections.
Yes. A private door-to-door transfer is the only option that takes you straight from your Tbilisi address to the Anaklia seafront with no changes. Pricing is per car rather than per seat; compare the full selected car price with marshrutka and local-taxi costs for your group.
Anaklia is a Black Sea resort in the Samegrelo region, famous for its long sandy beach, palm-lined promenade and the 504-metre Anaklia-Ganmukhuri pedestrian bridge over the Enguri River, said to be the longest cable-stayed timber bridge in Europe. It is also the planned site of Georgia's first deep-sea port.
Yes, and it is one of the smartest ways to use the long drive. Anaklia sits just 30 km from Zugdidi, the main gateway to Svaneti, so many travellers spend a night on the coast and then continue up to Mestia and Ushguli with the same private driver.