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I'm trying to find out for a hostel guest what time buses and/or marshrutkas depart Tbilisi to get to Batumi.

I can find on the Internet that the travel time is between four and six hours and that the price should be 18 GEL (Georgian lari).

But I can't seem to find anywhere that has a timetable.

Are there both buses and marshrutkas or only one or the other?

Do marshrutkas leaves whenever they are full or do they adhere to a timetable? Even if they leave when full I assume there is a set time for the first and last trip.

Ideally I'd like to know for both Ortachala and Didube bus stations since I believe there are departures from both.

hippietrail
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2 Answers2

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It turns out that Ortachala and Didube are not the only places to catch a bus or marshrutka in Tbilisi. It's easier to find the departure times on the Internet when you know the names of the others. Here is the full info compiled from the official government published Tbilisi Guide tourist information handbook:

By bus

Ortachala (ორთაჭალა)

a.k.a Tbilisi Central Auto Station, a.k.a Central Bus Station, in the south of the city, not near a metro station.

  • 11.30
  • 22.30

Dedakalaki (დედაქალქკი)

Literally "Capital", in the centre of the city near Station Square metro station.

  • 10.00
  • 13.00
  • 16.00
  • 00.00 (midnight)

By marshrutka (mini bus)

Okriba (ოკრიბა)

In the north of the city near Didube metro station.

  • 09.00
    then hourly until
  • 17.00

Dedakalaki (დედაქალქკი)

Literally "Capital", in the centre of the city near Station Square metro station.

  • 09.00
  • 11.30
  • 14.00
  • 16.30
  • 19.00
  • 00.00 (midnight)

References:

hippietrail
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4

How's your russian? If good take a look at the discussion on batumionline.net

If not I will attempt to translate:

Marshrutkas are leaving from multiple places for Batumi.

  • From the Railway Station starting at 8 in the morning and leaving every hour or if full.
  • There those leaving from the Sports Palace starting at 9 and then every hour.
  • From Didube but noone claims a schedule available.

One of the things that I have been able to find and most people claim that travelling by train is better either via express or overnight passenger. Both of which can be found at Georgian Railway Site. Just FYI Batumi = Makhindjauri

Karlson
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