By train to Georgia: routes, travel time, tickets

2024 Author: Harold Hamphrey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:06

Georgia has always attracted travelers and has become a very popular resort destination in recent years. The majestic Caucasus, the Black Sea coast, enchanting bays and amazingly beautiful nature attract tourists and travelers from all over the world to the country. The main question is how to get to all the benefits of this wonderful country.

The three largest cities in Georgia with international airports are the capital Tbilisi, Kutaisi and Batumi. Having reached any of them, you can continue your journey around the country by road or rail. How to get to Georgia by train, plane or by sea, read the article.

Hospitable Georgia

Georgia is a hospitable country where every traveler will find something dear to his soul. People come here to see the majestic Caucasus, appreciate the fine Georgian wines, relaxunder the palm trees on the seashore. All the benefits for a wonderful holiday are in this amazing country.

Svaneti is considered the pearl of Georgia, where you can get lost both in time and space at any time of the year, whether it is a snowy winter or a hot summer.

Adjara is an original region of Georgia, washed by the Black Sea, with a wonderful subtropical climate.

In Kakheti people come to Alaverdi Cathedral, one of the most ancient temples of Georgia. The cave monastery of Vardzia is considered the spiritual center of Georgia and gathers pilgrims from all over the world.

Ancient buildings Uplistsikhe, the first capital of Georgia, the village of Mtskheta, the main temple of Georgia, is a frequently visited place by pilgrims and tourists. Ananuri Fortress, located on a high mountain 70 kilometers from Tbilisi, is a must-see.

And, of course, it's worth taking a stroll through beautiful Tbilisi, which will charm anyone with its friendliness, wines, smiles and prayers.

Resorts

The main seaside resort of Georgia is, of course, Batumi. The beach season here lasts from April to October. The resort is being actively built up and developed, and in recent years the flow of tourists from Russia, Belarus and Ukraine has increased here.

The resort of Kobuleti also attracts many tourists, mainly from Armenia, but the infrastructure is poorly developed, so vacation prices are lower than in Batumi.

The Georgians themselves are relaxing in resorts located south of Batumi. In Gonio, Kvariati or Sarpi you can live inexpensively in an atmosphere of comfort and tranquility.

In addition to the Black Sea resorts, a largethe ski centers of Georgia are popular. Gudauri - the most famous ski resort - offers a large selection of quality pistes and high lift capacity.

In the cold season, the resort of Bakuriani is in great demand. In Soviet times, the training of the Olympic skiing team took place here. In recent years, the resort has undergone changes for the better, new slopes have been built.

How to get to Georgia

By train or plane, which is better? The easiest way to get to wonderful Georgia is by plane. The number of flights is large, prices are reasonable, travel time is minimal. Since Georgia has three international airports, the trip can be planned anywhere in the country. Direct flights from Russia to Georgia are offered by leading Russian airlines and Georgian carriers.

There is no rail service, so you can only get to Georgia by train through neighboring countries.

In addition, Georgia can be reached by sea. The ferry "Express Batumi" runs from the port of Sochi to the resort Batumi. It departs only once a week, but in the summer months the number of flights can be increased. Travel time is 5-6 hours.

If only train

Getting to Georgia by train is long and inconvenient, but there are tourists who, on principle, choose only this type of transport. Lack of communication requires complex routes.

Communication by rail betweenIt is not carried out by Russia and Georgia, there is no direct Moscow-Tbilisi train, so you can only travel by train through neighboring states - Armenia, Azerbaijan, North Ossetia. These countries can be reached both by air and by train.

How long to travel by train to Georgia on such difficult routes can only be calculated approximately by summing up the time in flights and the estimated time of waiting and transfers.

Georgian rail links

Traveling around Georgia by train is quite comfortable and cheaper than traveling by minibuses and buses. Difficult terrain creates difficulties in the development of rail links, but traveling by train has its advantages.

Types of trains in Georgia:

International flights from Baku and Yerevan.
Night passenger flights from Tbilisi to Zugdidi and Ozurgeti.
Daytime passenger trains from Tbilisi to Batumi, Poti, Kutaisi, Zugdidi and others
Passenger electric trains between the cities of the country.
Electric trains.

The first two categories are ordinary carriages with reserved seats and compartments. The rest of the trains are equipped with seats. The new Stadler trains run from Batumi to Tbilisi and back, providing two class seats, a convenient schedule and a fast route - only 5 hours.

Night flights are used by many tourists to move between cities, which allows them to spend the night comfortably without paying for the hotel. ita great way to get to, for example, Svaneti.

Through Armenia

The capital of Armenia can be reached by flights of leading Russian companies from Moscow, Samara, Nizhny Novgorod, St. Petersburg, Krasnodar, Sochi, Rostov-on-Don and Novosibirsk.

To Georgia, the journey can be continued by train to the cities of Tbilisi and Batumi. The "Yerevan-Tbilisi" train runs on even days, the travel time is 10 hours. The "Yerevan-Batumi" train departs daily and reaches its destination in 16 hours. From Baku to Tbilisi, the train also leaves daily, travel time is 15 hours.

Through Azerbaijan

From Moscow to Tbilisi by train, you can get through the capital of Azerbaijan, Baku. Baku can be reached by rail from Moscow with a change in Rostov-on-Don or Shamkhal. Travel time 52-55 hours.

The distance between Baku and Tbilisi is 580 kilometers. A night train runs between the capitals, which departs every day. Travel time is 16 hours including border controls on each side.

It is very difficult to buy a ticket online on the Azerbaijani Railways website, and Russian bank cards are not suitable for payment. Therefore, it is better to buy train tickets in advance, you can the day before departure, although during peak periods they may simply not be available.

In the reviews of tourists you can find information that the Baku-Tbilisi train is very old and uncomfortable.

Through Vladikavkaz

Nearest station, towhich can be reached by train to Georgia from Russia is the city of Vladikavkaz in North Ossetia, then you can continue the journey by road. Choose what is more convenient - a taxi, a ride or a bus.

To get a ticket to Georgia by train, you will have to make a difficult route.

A train departs to Vladikavkaz from St. Petersburg, travel time is 50 hours, and from Moscow, travel time is 35 hours. A taxi from the airport to the border of Georgia can be reached for a thousand rubles. But you won't be able to cross the border on foot, it's forbidden. So you need to either pay for a taxi before crossing the border, or ask compliant motorists to provide a place in the car. Please note that the Upper Lars border checkpoint operates around the clock only in summer.

Unfortunately, tours to Georgia by train are not currently provided, therefore, to get to Georgian resorts, you will have to make difficult travel routes.

Before you buy a train ticket, you should look at the special offers of airlines, because the plane will be much faster, more comfortable and cheaper.

If you still need a train, then you should choose a route through Baku. In addition, the trains are provided with luxury carriages, which will brighten up a long journey by rail.