Tbilisi to Mestia (Svaneti) by train, flight, bus or road

Every option, compared

Door-to-door times (flights include the time at the airports). Fares are typical ranges from the cheapest seat to the premium one.

• Bus, Marshrutka (early morning departures): Marshrutkas leave when full, pay the driver in cash (lari); the last ones go mid-afternoon on long routes.
• Train, Night train Tbilisi–Zugdidi + marshrutka Zugdidi–Mestia (3.5 h): The sleeper reaches Zugdidi early in the morning, and marshrutkas to Mestia wait at the station. Georgian Railways (railway.ge): buy online or at the station with your passport; summer and weekend seats sell out days ahead.
• Flight, Vanilla Sky Natakhtari–Mestia (weather permitting): Vanilla Sky's small planes (about 15 seats) fly from Natakhtari airfield, north of Mtskheta, a few times a week; tight baggage limits, and flights are cancelled in cloud or snow, so keep the road as the backup and a spare day before an international flight. Check the schedule with the airline.

Booking links open the route on the country's transport booking site for trains, buses, boats and transfers, and a flight search for flights, dated about two weeks out; change the date there.

What it costs your group, one way

Fares × people; a private car is priced per car, one car per four people.

Once you’re in Mestia (Svaneti)

• Best time: June – September
• Typical stay: 3 days
• November: Mixed month: November is outside the recommended season (June – September). Nothing in our data flags November as a problem, but it isn't the season the place is best in.

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