Is there a metro to Tbilisi International Airport?

Tbilisi Airport is not on the metro. Bus 337 connects with the city network; use [Tbilisi metro maps](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/tbilisi-metro-maps/id6474893724?uo=4) once you are in town.

Tbilisi International Airport (TBS) Guide: Tbilisi, Georgia

Tbilisi International Airport is Georgia’s main international gateway and the airport most travelers use for Tbilisi, Kakheti wine trips, Gudauri ski transfers, Kazbegi road trips, and onward Caucasus itineraries. TBS is compact enough to understand quickly, but arrival costs vary sharply depending on whether you use bus 337, an app taxi, the official taxi desk, or a private transfer.

This guide is written for travelers who want the useful details first: the real airport name, where it sits, how much to budget for transport, what to expect in the terminal, where to search for flights, and which services to arrange before landing. Prices and routes are updated for June 2026 and should be treated as practical planning ranges rather than fixed promises.

Quick airport facts

Item	Details
Full airport name	Tbilisi International Airport
Short codes	TBS / UGTB
Also searched as	Shota Rustaveli Tbilisi Airport, Tbilisi Airport, Lochini Airport, TBS Airport
City and country	Tbilisi, Georgia
Practical address	Tbilisi International Airport, Tbilisi, Georgia; coordinates 41.669201, 44.9547.
Distance to city	About 16-17 km southeast of central Tbilisi; taxis usually take 20-30 minutes and bus 337 commonly takes 45-60 minutes.
Updated	2026-06-15

Best for: Tbilisi, Kakheti, Kazbegi/Gudauri transfers, Georgia business travel, and Caucasus connections.
Main route logic: Gulf/Turkey hubs, European capitals, Georgian Airways routes, Russia/CIS demand, and fast-growing low-cost links.
Airport style: modern TAV-operated terminal with 24-hour taxi, municipal bus, car rental, cafes, duty-free, lounges, and free Wi-Fi.
Planning rule: use bus 337 if you land in daylight with light bags; use official taxi, Bolt, or a transfer late at night.

Address and location

Use Tbilisi International Airport (TBS) for flight searches and Shota Rustaveli Tbilisi Airport, Tbilisi Airport, Lochini Airport, TBS Airport as backup search wording in maps, hotel messages, and taxi conversations. The practical address is:

Tbilisi International Airport, Tbilisi, Georgia; coordinates 41.669201, 44.9547.

About 16-17 km southeast of central Tbilisi; taxis usually take 20-30 minutes and bus 337 commonly takes 45-60 minutes. For a serious itinerary, save the airport coordinates offline, download the city area in Google Maps or Organic Maps, and keep your hotel address in both English and the local language where possible.

How to get from the airport to the city

Option	Typical time	Approximate cost	Best use
Bus 337 to central Tbilisi	45-60 min	Usually GEL 1	🚌 Cheapest city transfer.
Official airport taxi	20-30 min	GEL 40-60 meter indication	🚕 Best simple late arrival.
App taxi / ride-hailing	20-35 min	Often GEL 25-45	📱 Best value if data works.
Private transfer to hotel	20-35 min	Usually USD 15-35	✅ Best first-time arrival.

Tbilisi Airport’s official taxi page lists taxi service outside arrivals 24 hours a day and gives a city-center taxi range of GEL 40-60. The airport bus page places route 337 in front of the arrivals hall for city-center service.

Transport tips

🧾 Confirm the fare before loading luggage, especially when there is no visible meter or posted rate.
📍 Save the exact hotel pin offline; airport drivers may know districts better than street names.
💵 Carry small local cash for the first transfer, baggage carts, snacks, or phone calls.
🌐 Install an eSIM before departure so you can message your driver immediately after landing.

Public transport and metro

Tbilisi Airport is not on the metro. Bus 337 connects with the city network; use Tbilisi metro maps once you are in town.

Where public transport exists, it is usually best for daylight arrivals with light luggage. For late flights, family travel, heavy bags, or first-time visits, a taxi, hotel transfer, or pre-booked private driver is usually worth the extra cost.

Taxi prices and transfer strategy

Taxi prices around airports are rarely as neat as an official table. Time of day, luggage, driver availability, fuel prices, and whether the destination is inside or outside the central city all matter. The ranges above are realistic planning budgets, but the best practice is simple: agree the fare before moving, keep your phone map open, and avoid changing money with random drivers.

For smoother arrival logistics:

🚕 Use official taxi ranks or a hotel-arranged driver where available.
🧳 Pre-book a transfer if you land late, carry equipment, or travel with children.
🚗 Compare rental cars before arrival with DiscoverCars if you need regional freedom.
🏨 Use Expedia to check hotels near the airport and in the city before choosing a transfer.

Airport facilities, shops, and restaurants

International terminal with cafes, restaurants, duty-free shopping, Georgian wine/souvenir retail, lounges, ATMs, exchange, car rental, parking, and free Wi-Fi.
Arrivals can be busy around late-night Middle East and Turkey flight banks.
If you plan a mountain transfer, sleep in Tbilisi first unless your driver knows the night road conditions.
Keep your hotel address in Georgian or pinned on a map because street transliterations vary.

The smart rule at TBS is to treat the terminal as a transfer point rather than as a shopping destination. Eat before arriving when possible, keep a refillable bottle where security rules allow, and bring a small power bank. If you have a long delay, an airport-area hotel or city hotel is usually more comfortable than waiting in the terminal.

Airlines and where the airport flies

FlightConnections shows planned flights from Tbilisi to 65 destinations, while FlightsFrom lists 50 airlines from TBS to 136 airports in its wider schedule view as of June 2026. Search Istanbul, Sabiha Gokcen, Ankara, Antalya, Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Warsaw, Riga, Athens, Vienna, Amsterdam, Milan, Rome, Geneva, Zurich, Jeddah, Riyadh, Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Urumqi, and Shanghai seasonal links.

Georgian Airways, Turkish Airlines, Pegasus, AJet, Flydubai, Air Arabia, Air Arabia Abu Dhabi, Qatar Airways, LOT, Aegean, airBaltic, Transavia, easyJet, Lufthansa-group partners, China Southern, Air China, China Eastern, Flynas, Red Wings, Azimuth, and regional operators appear by season.

Cheap routes to check first

Tbilisi to Istanbul, Sabiha, Antalya, Dubai, Sharjah, or Abu Dhabi: best first checks for cheap onward travel.
Tbilisi to Warsaw, Riga, Athens, Milan, or Rome: useful Europe fare benchmarks.
TBS versus KUT: compare Kutaisi for low-cost Europe if the bus transfer still makes sense.

Cheap airport strategy is different from simply sorting by lowest fare. Always compare the final cost after checked baggage, seat selection, payment fees, transfer costs, and missed-connection risk. A slightly more expensive flight into the correct airport can be cheaper than a low base fare that forces a long taxi ride or overnight hotel.

Where to buy flights and hotels

Start with broad searches, then verify the exact airport code before paying. This is especially important in cities with more than one airport or with airport transitions.

Need	Recommended booking link	Why it matters
Internet on arrival	🌐 Yesim eSIM	Install before flying so maps, airline apps, WhatsApp, and hotel messages work as soon as you land.
Flights and hotels	🏨 Expedia flights and stays	Useful for comparing nearby hotels, airport overnights, and onward tickets in one search.
Tours and transfers	🎟️ Viator tours and airport transfers	Best for guided city tours, day trips, private arrival transfers, and skip-the-line activities.
Rental cars	🚗 DiscoverCars	Compare local and international rental agencies before accepting a walk-up airport rate.
Travel medical insurance	🛡️ SafetyWing	Check coverage, exclusions, and country wording before travel, especially on complex itineraries.
Support this airport-guide project	🤝 Patreon: HEDONISMcloud	Helps keep airport guides updated with fares, route changes, and city transport notes.

eSIM, internet, insurance, and car rental

🌐 Internet: install Yesim eSIM before the flight. Airport Wi-Fi can be slow, blocked by SMS verification, or unavailable exactly when you need maps.
🛡️ Insurance: compare policy wording with SafetyWing. Read exclusions for the destination, adventure activities, medical evacuation, political/security events, and pre-existing conditions.
🚗 Cars: compare vehicles on DiscoverCars before arrival. Airport counters can run out of automatic cars or quote higher walk-up rates.
🎟️ Tours: use Viator for airport transfers, city tours, day trips, and guided experiences when independent transport is inconvenient.

Practical arrival checklist

Before you fly	Why it matters
Check the IATA code on the ticket	Prevents booking a hotel or transfer for the wrong airport.
Save airline, hotel, and driver contacts offline	Messaging apps may not work until data is active.
Carry local cash	Useful for taxis, snacks, and small airport expenses.
Recheck live departures	Regional schedules can change more quickly than major-hub schedules.
Keep insurance documents accessible	Helps at medical facilities and during airline disruption.

Safety and travel notes

Tbilisi is easy for visitors, but airport overcharging is still possible. Use official taxis or app rides, keep mountain-trip insurance wording clear, and carry a working eSIM for driver messages.

The most reliable traveler is the boringly prepared traveler: documents printed, data working, transport confirmed, hotel address saved, and enough time between every moving part of the itinerary.

Short airport excursion idea

If you have a long layover or an overnight stop, choose one simple plan rather than trying to see everything. Stay close to the city center or a known hotel district, keep the return transfer booked, and avoid cutting the return to the airport too close. In smaller airports, a missed flight may mean waiting a day or more for the next practical departure.

Frequently asked questions

How far is Tbilisi International Airport from Tbilisi?

About 16-17 km southeast of central Tbilisi; taxis usually take 20-30 minutes and bus 337 commonly takes 45-60 minutes.

How much is a taxi from TBS airport?

Typical taxi planning ranges are shown in the transport table above. The safest method is to confirm the price before loading luggage and to use a hotel-arranged driver when arriving late or visiting for the first time.

Are there restaurants and shops at Tbilisi International Airport?

Yes, but the depth of choice depends on the airport size and operating schedule. Expect practical cafes or snack options at smaller airports and a better range at major hubs. Carry backup snacks and water for delays.

Which airlines should I check first?

Is there a metro to the airport?