☀️ Gamardjoba, everyone!
Don’t be surprised - we came to Tbilisi for the holidays. Right after arrival we realized this trip would be very different from spring and summer, when you can go to the mountains and around many sights. So the next posts will focus on what to do in Tbilisi in winter. ❄️ We’ll build our personal guide in real time. 🐾
Let’s start with transport. There are several ways to get to the capital of Georgia:
🚂 South Caucasus Railway. Yerevan-Tbilisi train.
I don’t know about you, but for me trains are linked to childhood: card games in a compartment with parents, tea in a rattling glass holder, stations, cities, and landscapes. There is a special atmosphere and nostalgia in it - I traveled by train a lot.
The downside of the Yerevan-Tbilisi route: you usually can’t sleep properly until 5-6 a.m., and the train arrives in Tbilisi at 7:35. You also get nonstop customs checks from around 1 a.m.: first the Armenian border, then getting off the train at 2-3 a.m. on the Georgian side for about 30 minutes, then more officers walking through the cars. Tickets for three people round-trip are around 20,000 RUB.
The return trip from Tbilisi to Yerevan felt a bit easier: departure is earlier, customs starts earlier and ends faster, and arrival in Yerevan is around 7:00 a.m. Trains from Yerevan run on even dates, from Tbilisi on odd dates. You can check prices and coach photos on the website, but online purchase often fails because the site is unstable. Buying in person at the station is more reliable: https://www.railway.am/ru/table
🚘 Minibus from central Yerevan.
This is the easiest and cheapest option. You can book time via the POPUTI app. Seats are random - no selection. If you leave at 7:00 a.m., you can be in central Tbilisi by 12:30; travel time is about 5.5 hours. There are a couple of stops on the way for snacks. If you don’t get carsick, this is close to ideal. For three people, round trip is around 5,000 RUB. Vehicles are usually full (8-12 passengers).
✈️ Plane.
Flight time is only 30 minutes, but departures are in the morning (around 9:35), so you need to wake up early and get to the airport early. It is more expensive than the train: for three people, around 40,000 RUB round trip.
Each option has its own pros and cons. The choice is yours.
#trip #NewYear #Tbilisi