How to Travel From Tbilisi to Bakuriani: Easy Transport Guide for 2026

Option 1: Group tour to Bakuriani from Tbilisi – day trip option

Much like Gudauri, Bakuriani is primarily a ski resort. If your main objective is to soak up some mountain scenery and see snow, then a day trip from Tbilisi might suffice.

There are dozens of different companies that offer Bakuriani tours, normally combined with other nearby attractions such as the mineral water town of Borjomi.

My top pick is this Bakuriani and Borjomi full day tour with Gamarjoba Tours. I have travelled with Gamarjoba myself and know their guides to be engaging and very professional. This particular tour includes transfers to and from Tbilisi, and spends a whole 3 hours at Bakuriani ski resort.

Check prices & availability here on Viator.

Option 2: Private transfer to Bakuriani with GoTrip – efficient option

If you prefer to travel at your own pace in the comfort of a private car, but you don’t feel comfortable driving yourself, then GoTrip is a great compromise. It’s also the best option for families and small groups.

You can use this website to book a driver for the day and travel to any destination in the country, either one-way or round-trip. Drivers are available 24/7, and they are vetted to ensure higher safety standards. In winter, cars are equipped with proper tires. You can book a direct door-to-door transfer, or use the GoTrip Trip Planner to create an itinerary that includes as many sightseeing stops as you wish.

When travelling with GoTrip, you’ll have plenty of room for all your luggage (including winter gear and skis, if you have them). They can even provide car seats for kids on request. Best of all, the price is locked in at the time of booking and won’t change. Payment is made in cash directly to the driver once the trip is complete.

A private transfer to Bakuriani from Tbilisi starts from 200 GEL per car. Click here to check prices for your travel dates. I recommend booking at least a few days in advance, or a few weeks in advance if you’re travelling during the Christmas/New Year holiday period.

Along the way, I highly recommend stopping at Surami Fortress, Khashuri (for a piece of nazuki sweet bread), and in Borjomi.

Option 3: Tbilisi to Bakuriani train via Borjomi – slow travel option

In 2020, Georgia’s one and only scenic railway, the 1902 Kukushka train from Borjomi to Bakuriani, sadly ceased operating and has not started up again. This means it is no longer possible to travel all the way to Bakuriani by train.

Now, you can only go as far as Borjomi. The train from Tbilisi to Borjomi is an old electric train that stops at every station. Because of this, it’s very slow – and it’s not very comfortable either!

There are two daily trains that depart from Tbilisi Central Station (Station Square) at 6.35am and 6.45pm. Travel time to Borjomi is just over 4 hours. Tickets cost 2 GEL and can only be purchased from the conductor on board the train (card payment only, no cash).

Once in Borjomi, alight the train at Borjomi Parki Railway Station. To get to Bakuriani from there, you can take a taxi for 60-70 GEL. I recommend using Bolt app to book a taxi or asking your accommodation in Bakuriani to organise a driver. I don’t recommend travelling by road in Georgia at night, so you should consider spending the night in Borjomi if you go this route.

Alternatively, you can continue on by local bus (marshrutka van) the next morning. There are 6 daily departures to Bakuriani from Borjomi Bus Station (see the exact location here on the map), leaving at 8.30am, 9am, 10.30am, 12.15pm, 3pm and 4.30pm. The trip takes 45 minutes and the fare is a 3 GEL. Double-check times locally.

Marshrutka van is also a good option if you plan to do a day trip from Borjomi to Bakuriani.

Option 4: Tbilisi to Bakuriani by marshrutka van – budget option

Since there are no coach buses that go to Bakuriani, the only option here is marshrutka minivan. Marshrutka vans can be cramped and uncomfortable. Because they aren’t terribly safe, I normally don’t use them to travel long distances or for trips into the mountains (especially in winter).

If you do decide to go by van, you will find direct vans to Bakuriani from Tbilisi’s Didube Bus Terminal. To get to Didube, take the metro to the station of the same name and exit into the market.

The area you want, Bus Station Nige, is immediately on the left as you exit from the last tunnel. The ticket desk is located near the orange Bank of Georgia branch. Watch my Didube video tour for directions to the correct bus station.

There are at least four direct vans to Bakuriani every day, including departures at 9am, 10am and 11am. The fare is 20 GEL.

An alternative option is to take a van to Borjomi (every hour on the hour between 8am and 7pm; 12-15 GEL) and then transfer to another van or take a taxi the rest of the way, as described above.

Marshrutka vans arriving from Tbilisi terminate at Borjomi Bus Station (see the location here). Vans bound for Bakuriani depart from the same station throughout the day between 9am and 6pm. In Bakuriani, vans terminate at the bus station in town (see the location here).

Option 5: Driving to Bakuriani – DIY option

Renting a car and driving in Georgia can be a great experience, as long as you’re confident on the roads.

As always, I recommend renting through Local Rent, a platform that offers lower priced cars from local agents (as an alternative to big-name companies). Insurance is standard, and usually there is no deposit.

The biggest advantage of self-driving to Bakuriani is getting to make photo stops along the way. There are countless gems off the road between Borjomi and Bakuriani, including the historic ‘Eiffel Bridge’ and the phenomenal Libani Sanatorium (pictured below).

For detailed information about the road to Bakuriani, see the next section.

Check rental car prices and availability here on Local Rent.