- Most people in Georgia book rides on Bolt. In October 2026 its site listed Tbilisi, Batumi, Kutaisi and seven smaller places, from Telavi to Gudauri and Stepantsminda, and it always shows a fixed price before you book.
- Typical Bolt fares in 2026: about 5-10 GEL (about $2-4) for a short city ride, about 10-18 GEL across Tbilisi, and about 25-40 GEL (about $10-15) from Tbilisi airport to the centre.
- Pay with a card saved in the app, or hand the driver lari at the end. Yandex Go and Maxim work in much the same way, but your home Uber app does not work in Georgia.
- Street taxis have no meters, so agree the price before you sit down. In Tbilisi only white cars with a 'Taxi Tbilisi' roof sign may pick people up from the street.
- For Kazbegi, Kakheti or the canyons near Kutaisi, a driver or a private day tour is usually easier than an app, and you can stop on the way.
Bolt in Georgia works the way it does in most European cities: you drop a pin, see a fixed price and watch the car arrive, usually within a few minutes in Tbilisi and Batumi. In 2026 a short ride in either city is about 5-10 GEL (about $2-4), less than most visitors expect. Yandex Go and Maxim are the backups. Street taxis still exist, but they have no meters, so you settle the fare before the car moves. Kutaisi has fewer cars, and in small towns an app may find nobody at all.
This guide covers which apps work where, what common rides cost, card or cash, street taxis and safety. It also shows where an app stops making sense. For the mountains or wine country, a driver who waits for you, or a day tour, is the better deal. Fares were checked against Bolt's own estimates and recent traveller reports in October 2026. The three airports have their own guides, so here they share one short section.
Bolt in Georgia and the other taxi apps: what works where
Four names come up when you ask about ride apps here. Bolt, an Estonian company, has by far the most cars and the clearest English. Yandex Go comes from a Russian company and is sometimes a lari or two cheaper, though some Georgians avoid it for that reason. Maxim is a smaller service that reaches many provincial towns and also takes orders by phone. Uber is the odd one out.
| App | Where it works (Oct 2026) | How you pay | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bolt | Tbilisi, Batumi, Kutaisi, Rustavi, Gori, Telavi, Zugdidi, Poti, Bakuriani, Gudauri and Stepantsminda | Card in the app or cash | Most cars and shortest waits; few drivers in small towns |
| Yandex Go | Tbilisi and Batumi; recent reports also name Kutaisi and Rustavi | Card in the app or cash | Fare shown upfront; often a little cheaper than Bolt |
| Maxim | 21 towns on its Georgian site, among them Tbilisi, Batumi, Kutaisi, Telavi and Akhaltsikhe | Cash or card | Also books by phone on (322) 60-60-60; simpler cars |
| Uber | Not through the app you use at home | - | A separate Uber Georgia app launched a premium Uber Black service in Tbilisi in 2024 |
Older guides may still say Taxify, which is simply Bolt's former name.
How to use Bolt in Tbilisi, Batumi and Kutaisi
- Get data
Bolt needs mobile data. A local SIM or an eSIM is cheap, and hotel Wi-Fi will do. Sign up with your home number while it still receives texts. - Place the pin with care
Put the pin on your side of the street. GPS drifts in Old Tbilisi's lanes, so pin a nearby church, square or hotel door. - Choose a class
Economy and Bolt are the everyday choices. Premium means a newer car and XL seats up to six. Tbilisi also offers electric cars and licensed white taxis. - Match the car
The app shows the plate number, the model and the colour. Check all three before you open the door. - Pay and rate
Pay as you chose and rate the driver. The emailed receipt helps if you leave a bag or phone behind.
Booking the Taxi class in Tbilisi sends one of the city's licensed white cabs. These may drive in the bus lanes, which can save real time on the big avenues at rush hour. Bolt also lets you book a ride in advance, useful for a dawn train or flight.
Taxi fares in Georgia in 2026: what common rides cost
Apps quote one fixed price before you confirm, based on distance and expected time, and it stays the same if you hit traffic. It does rise with demand: at rush hour, in rain, late at night and on summer evenings in Batumi. In Tbilisi a standard Bolt works out at roughly 1.4-2 GEL (about $0.55-0.75) a kilometre, with a minimum of a few lari.
| Ride | Distance | Standard Bolt, about (2026) | In US dollars, about |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tbilisi: Freedom Square to Fabrika or Sameba | ~2-4 km | 5-10 GEL | $2-4 |
| Tbilisi: Old Town to the central railway station | ~4 km | 8-12 GEL | $3-5 |
| Tbilisi: Old Town to Vake, Saburtalo or Didube | ~5-8 km | 10-18 GEL | $4-7 |
| Tbilisi: centre to the Chronicles of Georgia | ~12 km | 15-25 GEL | $6-10 |
| Tbilisi airport to the centre | ~17 km | 25-40 GEL | $10-15 |
| Batumi: a short hop in the centre | ~1-3 km | 5-8 GEL | $2-3 |
| Batumi: centre to Gonio or Sarpi | ~13-20 km | 15-30 GEL | $6-12 |
| Batumi airport to the centre | ~5-7 km | 10-20 GEL | $4-8 |
| Kutaisi: a ride across town | ~2-4 km | 5-8 GEL | $2-3 |
| Kutaisi: centre to Gelati Monastery | ~10 km | 10-15 GEL | $4-6 |
| Kutaisi airport to the centre | ~20 km | 25-30 GEL | $10-12 |
Premium and XL usually cost a quarter to a half more than a standard car, and Economy a little less. For buses, trains and minibuses between towns, see our transport fares table; our Georgia travel cost guide fits these numbers into a daily budget.
Card or cash: paying for Bolt and taxis in Georgia
Every app lets you choose. A foreign Visa or Mastercard saved in the app is simplest, charged in lari when you arrive. Cash works too, but carry small notes: at 7 am a driver may have no change for 100 GEL.
Two habits avoid most money trouble. Never agree to cancel the booking and pay cash for the same ride, which leaves you with no record, no fixed price and no support. And if a driver claims the app showed only a starting price, show him your screen and pay what it says.
Nobody expects a tip in an app taxi; our tipping in Georgia guide covers the details.
Taxi in Tbilisi: white licensed cabs, street taxis and agreeing a price
Tbilisi licenses its taxis. Under a City Hall reform that took effect in October 2019, only white cars with a 'Taxi Tbilisi' sign may stop for someone waving at the kerb. Cars of any other colour may carry passengers only through apps or phone bookings, and every taxi needs a city permit.
A licence is not a meter, though. Street taxis in Georgia almost never run one, so the fare is whatever you agree. Expect quotes above the app price, above all at the airport, the main railway station and Didube bus station.
How to take a street taxi without overpaying
- Check Bolt first. The price it shows for the same trip is your benchmark.
- Show the address on your phone and ask the price before you sit down.
- Confirm that the price is in lari and for the whole car, not per person.
- If the figure is far above the app, say no thanks and try the next white car.
- Pay at the end, with small notes, and do not reopen the deal on arrival.
For daytime trips in the centre, the metro and buses in our Tbilisi metro guide cost far less than any car.
Bolt in Batumi and Kutaisi: taxis in western Georgia
Batumi
Batumi is compact and flat, ideal for app rides. Bolt runs classes from Economy to XL here, and Yandex Go and Maxim work too. A hop along the seafront or across the old town costs about 5-8 GEL (about $2-3) in 2026. Going south to Gonio Fortress, Kvariati or the border village of Sarpi is roughly 15-30 GEL. In July and August waits get longer and fares climb after dark.
Kutaisi
Kutaisi has far fewer drivers, so waits can be longer, and Maxim makes a good second app. Rides in town cost about 5-8 GEL, and Gelati Monastery is about 10-15 GEL each way. The caves and canyons are another matter: Prometheus Cave, Okatse and Martvili lie ~20-50 km out, signal can be patchy and no cars wait there for the ride back.
A driver who waits is far simpler. Our canyons day trip from Kutaisi pairs Okatse with a boat ride in Martvili Canyon. There are no fixed departures: tell us your day and how many of you are coming, and a guide fluent in your language rides along.
Airport taxis in Georgia: Tbilisi, Kutaisi and Batumi in brief
Each airport has its own guide on our site. The short version:
- Tbilisi (TBS): about 25-40 GEL (about $10-15) by app to the centre in 2026, or about 40-50 GEL at the official rank. Ignore offers inside the hall. More in our Tbilisi airport guide.
- Kutaisi (KUT): about 25-30 GEL (about $10-12) by Bolt into town; the shuttle bus is far cheaper. See our Kutaisi airport guide.
- Batumi (BUS): a short ride from the city's southern edge, about 10-20 GEL (about $4-8) by app. Our Batumi airport guide covers the rest.
For a night landing, heavy luggage or a drive straight on to the mountains, a pre-booked transfer at one price per car is the calmest start.
Is Bolt safe in Georgia? Taxi safety tips
Yes, by and large. Violent crime against taxi passengers is rare, and an app ride leaves a record of the car, the driver and the route. Trouble is more often about money or fast driving. Our is Georgia safe guide covers scams; these habits matter most inside a car.
- Compare the plate on the screen with the one on the car. If they differ, cancel.
- Buckle up in every seat; rear belts often hide under the cushion.
- Late at night, use the app to share your live route with a friend.
- Ride in the back when you travel alone.
- Ask a speeding driver to slow down, and report it in the app afterwards.
- In an emergency, call 112 for the police or an ambulance.
Show the address in Georgian: language tips for taxis
Few drivers speak much English, though many older ones know Russian. With an app this hardly matters, since the destination is on the driver's screen. For a street taxi, or when a driver phones, show the address in Georgian script: ask your host to send it as a message, or copy it from your booking.
| English | Georgian |
|---|---|
| Please take me to this address | ამ მისამართზე წამიყვანეთ, თუ შეიძლება |
| How much to the airport? | აეროპორტამდე რა ღირს? |
| Stop here, please | აქ გამიჩერეთ, თუ შეიძლება |
| Please drive slowly | ნელა იარეთ, თუ შეიძლება |
| Airport | აეროპორტი |
| Railway station | რკინიგზის სადგური (in speech: ვაგზალი) |
| Bus station | ავტოსადგური |
| Freedom Square | თავისუფლების მოედანი |
| Tbilisi, Batumi, Kutaisi | თბილისი, ბათუმი, ქუთაისი |
If you cannot follow a driver's call, reply in the app chat with a short note and a fresh pin. A simple 'madloba' (thank you) at the end goes a long way.
Taxis between cities and to the mountains
Apps are built for rides inside a city. Bolt sells intercity trips under its Travel class in Tbilisi, Batumi and Kutaisi, but drivers often turn long jobs down, and a route such as Tbilisi to Batumi runs to a few hundred lari with no stops built in.
Gudauri and Stepantsminda have their own small Bolt zone with 4x4 and minivan classes. It helps for short hops near the ski lifts or the village, once you are up there.
| Option | Best for | How the price works |
|---|---|---|
| Bolt or another app | Rides inside a city and short hops around it | Fixed price per ride, shown before you book |
| Shared taxi from Didube or Samgori | A cheap seat to Kazbegi, Kakheti or western towns | Per seat; about 40-60 GEL (about $15-23) to Stepantsminda in 2026; leaves when full |
| Private driver or transfer | Stops on the way, families, luggage, early starts | One price per car, agreed in advance |
| Private day tour | Mountains, wine country and monasteries with a guide | One price for your group, with car, driver and guide |
Shared taxis wait in the same yards as the minibuses; our Tbilisi to Kazbegi guide explains how seats are sold. A private driver costs more but changes the day: you stop at Ananuri or Jvari, take photos where you like, and the car waits while you walk. Our route pages give per-car prices for trips such as Tbilisi to Kazbegi, Sighnaghi, Borjomi or Kutaisi.
Our Kazbegi day trip covers Ananuri, the Jvari Pass and Gergeti Trinity Church in one long day from Tbilisi. For wine country, skip the rental car: on the Kakheti day trip somebody else drives, so everyone can taste. Both tours are private: you choose the date, bring as many people as you like, and the guide speaks your language.
Child seats, wheelchairs, pets and luggage
Child seats are the weak spot of app taxis in Georgia. None of Bolt's Georgian city pages listed a child seat class in October 2026, and few drivers carry one. Pack a light travel booster, or book a transfer with seats; ours fits them on request.
No app offered a wheelchair-accessible class either. A folding chair fits in an XL car or minivan, so choose XL and message the driver first. For a power chair, only a pre-booked van is reliable.
Bolt's pet class runs in Tbilisi and Batumi. It asks for a muzzle on dogs, a carrier for small animals and a cover on the seat. For big suitcases or ski bags, book XL, since many standard cars fit only two large cases.
Bolt and taxis in Georgia: FAQ
Does Bolt work in Georgia?
Yes. It is the most used ride app in the country, with plenty of cars in Tbilisi and Batumi, fewer in Kutaisi, and small zones from Rustavi and Gori to Zugdidi, Poti, Telavi, Bakuriani and the Kazbegi area. The price shows before you book.
How much is a taxi in Tbilisi?
With Bolt, a short ride in central Tbilisi costs about 5-10 GEL in 2026 and a ride across the city about 10-18 GEL (about $4-7). The airport run is about 25-40 GEL. Street taxis have no meter and usually ask more, so agree the price first.
Is Bolt cheaper than a street taxi in Tbilisi?
Usually, yes, and the price is fixed before you get in. Street drivers tend to quote high to visitors, most of all at the airport and the stations.
Does Bolt work in Batumi?
Yes, with several classes, and Yandex Go and Maxim work there too. Short rides cost about 5-8 GEL in 2026, with longer waits and higher prices on summer evenings.
Can I pay for Bolt in cash in Georgia?
Yes. Choose cash in the app before you book, then pay the driver in lari at the end. A card saved in the app works too, and most foreign cards are accepted.
Does Uber work in Georgia?
Not through the Uber app you use at home. In 2024 a separate local app, Uber Georgia, began a premium Uber Black service in Tbilisi, but for everyday rides Bolt is the practical choice.
Can I take a Bolt from Tbilisi to Kazbegi?
Sometimes, but do not count on it. Drivers often refuse long trips, and a car back is harder still to find. A shared taxi from Didube, a private driver or a day tour is more reliable.
Does Bolt need a local SIM in Georgia?
It needs mobile data, not a Georgian number. Register the app with your own number before you travel, then book over a local SIM, an eSIM or Wi-Fi.
