Tbilisi - Post Report Question and Answers
Are local buses, trams, trains or taxis safe and affordable?
Extremely affordable, if you can squeeze in. Buses are brand new and beautiful but packed at rush hour. The Soviet era metro is aging with (actually) hazardous noise levels and there are only two lines. Small mini-buses are plentiful but not the safest. Tbilisi ripped out tram tracks and rails so they’re not longer available; the city used to be better connected. Bolt (like Uber) you can get at the touch of a button but drivers aren’t the safest. It’s cheap by American standards. One nice thing is unlike in many middle income countries, there isn’t any non-sense with the driver calling you and asking where you’re going, cancelling, you needing to order another - they just show up. As a result, some colleagues used Bolt to commute to and from work. - Aug 2023
Yes. - Sep 2022
There is an Uber-like service (bolt) that is quite useful and affordable. - Jun 2020
Affordable, yes. Safe, no. And not very efficient if you live outside the center. - Jan 2019
Affordable? Yes. Safe? Eh. Buses are like...$.40, but they're routes are a little hard to figure out. We usually taxi everywhere, and it almost never costs more than 5 lari (10 to get to the embassy). Most taxis don't have seat belts in the back (they're required to have them in the front), and they're usually in rough shape (bumpers missing, headlights missing, etc. The driving here is really (REALLY) chaotic. There's an app called Taxify that's like Uber and those taxis are usually non-smoking and have seat belts. Taxify is also usually a better deal than just hailing a cab. However, they're not always available. - Apr 2017
Taxis are very safe and cheap, but the drivers probably only understand Georgian and Russian. And they have a hard time reading a map. If you want to take a taxi, know where you are going or have someone write down where you want to go in Georgian. - Feb 2017
Taxis are everywhere, but mechanical safety of the car is all over the map. Many do not have seat belts, and Tbilisi taxi drivers are mostly anarchists in their driving. Use with caution. - May 2016
Taxis are fine, but pay the difference get one with seat belts. The drivers in Georgia are very bad. - Jul 2014
Taxis are affordable, though drivers almost never speak English. Fares should be agreed upon in advance. Very few taxis have seatbelts. The embassy recommends a taxi company that does have meters and seatbelts and can be phoned in advance, but this company is more expensive and I've found they rip off customers even more than taxis hailed on the street. Few foreigners take local buses, but I've found this to be a very convenient, inexpensive, and safe option in the center part of the city. There is also a subway system, though its extent is limited and almost all information is in Georgian. Public transportation takes a bit of effort to figure out, but I've found doing so to be well worth it and much less stressful than driving. - Oct 2011
Taxis are abundant and inexpensive. The Embassy has a couple companies that they recommend. - Sep 2011
Very cheap and very safe except for bad driving. - Apr 2011
Taxis are safe and affordable. Trains are safe and affordable. A great way to travel to the west coast/Black Sea. Subway is ok. Buses and marshutkas are definitely not recommended. Travel on these at your own risk. - Jun 2010
Cabs are generally safe and readily available. The embassy advises against using them, but local buses and trains were safe for my wife during the two years she used them. - Oct 2009
I never got on the subway, I rode a city bus a few times without incident. The Red Cab service is what I generally took or made personal acquaintance with cabbies who I would call on at other times. Generally I drove myself without a problem. The key is to drive with a purpose and don't go fast until you identify a problem. - Jan 2009
