A spacious airport terminal with travellers waiting by the windows

Tbilisi International Airport (TBS) · Georgia

24-Hour Layover in Tbilisi: What To Do

By AirConnect Editorial

Things to do in Tbilisi

Tours, tickets & day trips

Photo: Atlantic Ambience on Pexels.

Quick answer

Can you leave the airport on a 24-hour layover in Tbilisi?

Entry

Georgia visa-free for most Western, EU, US, UK, Canada, Japan, Korea, Australia + most Middle East passports up to 365 days. Among the world's most-liberal visa policies. Russian Federation passport holders subject to restrictions.

Into town

Bus 37 (to Avlabari metro): 40–60 min, GEL 1 (€0.30).

Time outside

18–20 hours — treat it as a mini trip

Times from TBS arrivals. Check entry rules for your passport before you fly.

Top Tbilisi: Where to Go

The sights in Tbilisi worth leaving the airport for.

neighbourhood

Old Town + Narikala Fortress

Wooden balcony-style houses + Narikala Fortress (4th century, free climb for city panorama). Take the Aerial Tramway from Rike Park (GEL 2.50) up to the fortress.

landmark

Sulphur Baths (Abanotubani)

Historic sulphur bath quarter — bathhouses in beehive-domed buildings since the 17th century. Private room baths GEL 50-100 for 1 hour. The Tbilisi experience.

Rike Park + Bridge of Peace (Bridge of Peace)3

Rike Park + Bridge of Peace

Modern park with a futuristic glass + steel pedestrian bridge by Italian architect Michele De Lucchi (2010). Free walking + concert venue.

Photo: ako-aleko, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

landmark

Kakheti wine region day-trip

Wine country 2 hours east of Tbilisi (Georgia invented wine 8,000 years ago). Half-day tours GEL 200-350. For 8+ hour layovers — Georgia's most-iconic excursion.

Itinerary ideas for Tbilisi

Pick the plan that fits the time between your flights.

Insider tip

TBS is 18km from centre — Yandex Go or Bolt are cheaper than official airport taxis (GEL 15-25 vs 30-50). The Old Town + sulphur baths + wine tasting combination is the iconic Tbilisi short visit.

Into Tbilisi

Getting to Tbilisi City Centre

ModeCostTime
Bus 37 (to Avlabari metro)GEL 1 (€0.30)40–60 min
Yandex Go / BoltGEL 15–25 (€5–9)20–35 min
Taxi (official airport)GEL 30–50 (€11–18)20–35 min
Eat like a local

Eat Like a Local in Tbilisi

Khinkali (Georgian dumplings) at Pasanauri or Zakhar Zakharich. Khachapuri (cheese bread) at any restaurant. Wine + qvevri at Vino Underground. Lunch GEL 30-60 (€11-22).

24 hours in Tbilisi

24-Hour Itinerary

1

Day 1 — Arrival

Into Tbilisi and check in to your hotel

Take Bus 37 (to Avlabari metro) (40–60 min, GEL 1 (€0.30)). Most hotels hold bags before check-in.

2

Day 1 — Afternoon

Old Town + Narikala Fortress

Wooden balcony-style houses + Narikala Fortress (4th century, free climb for city panorama). Take the Aerial Tramway from Rike Park (GEL 2.50) up to the fortress.

3

Day 1 — Evening

Dinner like a local

Khinkali (Georgian dumplings) at Pasanauri or Zakhar Zakharich. Khachapuri (cheese bread) at any restaurant. Wine + qvevri at Vino Underground. Lunch GEL 30-60 (€11-22).

4

Day 2 — Morning

Sulphur Baths (Abanotubani)

Historic sulphur bath quarter — bathhouses in beehive-domed buildings since the 17th century. Private room baths GEL 50-100 for 1 hour. The Tbilisi experience.

5

Day 2 — Late morning

Rike Park + Bridge of Peace

Modern park with a futuristic glass + steel pedestrian bridge by Italian architect Michele De Lucchi (2010). Free walking + concert venue.

6

Day 2 — Departure

Back to Tbilisi International Airport

Head back to Tbilisi International Airport by Bus 37 (to Avlabari metro) (40–60 min, GEL 1 (€0.30)). Be at the airport at least 2–3 hours before an international flight.

Your questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a visa for a 24-hour layover in Tbilisi?

Georgia visa-free for most Western, EU, US, UK, Canada, Japan, Korea, Australia + most Middle East passports up to 365 days. Among the world's most-liberal visa policies. Russian Federation passport holders subject to restrictions. Check the rules for your own passport before you fly.

Is 24 hours enough to leave Tbilisi International Airport?

18–20 hours — treat it as a mini trip. Getting into Tbilisi by Bus 37 (to Avlabari metro) takes 40–60 min each way.

How do I get from Tbilisi International Airport to Tbilisi centre?

Bus 37 (to Avlabari metro): 40–60 min, GEL 1 (€0.30). Yandex Go / Bolt: 20–35 min, GEL 15–25 (€5–9). Taxi (official airport): 20–35 min, GEL 30–50 (€11–18).

A made-up hotel bed with white pillows and warm bedside lamps

Photo: Engin Akyurt on Pexels.

Hotels near Tbilisi Airport

With 24 hours, a day-use hotel room is worth it — shower, sleep, and recharge before your next flight.

Find hotels in Tbilisi

Hotels, hostels & more · Expedia

Search hotels

Also useful for your Tbilisi trip

Airlines that fly to Tbilisi

See each airline’s route map: where else it flies from TBS.

Airport lounges at Tbilisi Airport

Wait for your flight in a lounge — one membership covers lounges at airports across the country and worldwide.

Tbilisi travel deals

Weekly layover, flight + hotel deals. No spam.

How a layover in Tbilisi works

Passport and a phone with a booking on a red suitcase

01

Check you can leave

Georgia visa-free for most Western, EU, US, UK, Canada, Japan, Korea, Australia + most Middle East passports up to 365 days. Among the world's most-liberal visa policies. Russian Federation passport holders subject to restrictions.

Photo: Jacob on Pexels.

A car on a country road heading towards the mountains

02

Head into town

Bus 37 (to Avlabari metro): 40–60 min, GEL 1 (€0.30).

Photo: Artem Yellow on Pexels.

03

Back in time for your flight

Head back to Tbilisi International Airport by Bus 37 (to Avlabari metro) (40–60 min, GEL 1 (€0.30)). Be at the airport at least 2–3 hours before an international flight.

Ready for Tbilisi?

Tours, tickets and day trips that fit between your flights.

Daylight on the ground

Daylight in Tbilisi runs from about 9 hours in Dec to 15 in Jun. Enough of a difference that a winter stopover gives you noticeably less usable time outside than a summer one.