Tbilisi Airport Arrival Guide 2026: Construction, Getting to the City, SIM vs eSIM
Updated October 5, 2026
Tbilisi International Airport is being rebuilt around its passengers: a $150 million expansion started in July 2026 and runs to the end of 2028. The airport stays open the whole time, and arriving is still straightforward once you know the layout.
This guide covers what the construction means for arriving travelers, the entry rules including Georgia's 2026 insurance requirement, every way into the city with real prices, and how to skip the SIM booth queue in arrivals.
7 min read
The short version
- The airport is open and operating normally during the 2026-2028 expansion works. Allow a little extra time, since construction zones can shift walking routes and parking around the terminal.
- Citizens of 95 or more countries enter visa-free and can stay up to a year. Since January 1, 2026 every foreign tourist also needs travel health insurance covering at least 30,000 GEL.
- Bus 337 to the center costs 1 GEL, tap a contactless bank card as you board. A Bolt ride is typically 15-25 GEL by day, and the airport train is not running as of October 2026.
- SIM booths in arrivals work around the clock but mean queues and paperwork after a long flight. An eSIM installed before you fly puts you online the moment the plane lands.
The $150M expansion: what changes for arrivals
TAV Georgia, the airport's operator, launched a $150 million expansion on July 13, 2026. The works run to the end of 2028 and will double annual capacity from 5 to 10 million passengers.
The expansion follows a record 2025, when the airport handled 5.4 million passengers through a terminal built for far fewer. The terminal itself grows from 37,500 to 57,000 square meters.
For arriving passengers the practical takeaway is simple: the airport stays open throughout, flights operate normally, and the single terminal keeps handling both arrivals and departures. Expect construction activity around the terminal and give yourself a few extra minutes for pickups and parking.
More gates and stands
Passenger boarding bridges double from 5 to 10 and seven new remote aircraft stands are added, which should mean fewer bus transfers from the plane to the terminal once complete.
Faster passport control
The passport control zone expands to 24 immigration counters, with new check-in desks and two more baggage carousels. Queues at immigration are the slowest part of arriving today, and this is aimed squarely at them.
Landside works
Parking grows by around 500 spaces and new retail and dining areas are planned. Landside areas are where construction is most visible, so follow the signage to the bus stop and pickup zones.
Arrival formalities: visa-free entry and insurance
Georgia is one of the easiest countries to enter. Citizens of 95 or more countries, including the EU, the UK, the US and the Gulf states, enter visa-free and can stay up to a full year.
Passport control is usually quick outside peak hours, and the entry stamp comes with no forms to fill in. The arrivals hall has ATMs, currency exchange and the mobile operators' booths, all open around the clock.
Since January 1, 2026 every foreign tourist must hold travel health insurance covering at least 30,000 GEL (about $11,000) for the whole stay. Visa-free travelers are not exempt, and the real risk of skipping it is being denied boarding by your airline.
Getting to the city: bus, Bolt, train
The airport sits about 17 km southeast of the center. You have three realistic options: the city bus, a ride-hailing app or taxi, and in theory a train, which is suspended as of October 2026.
Bus 337: 1 GEL to the center
Bus 337 leaves from outside arrivals and runs via Avlabari and Freedom Square to Station Square, roughly 49 minutes to Freedom Square. Tap a contactless bank card, phone wallet or Tbilisi transport card as you board; the fare is 1 GEL, slightly more on some foreign cards. It runs about every 15 minutes from around 07:00 to 23:00.
Bolt and taxis: 15-25 GEL by day
Bolt is the standard way to take a taxi in Tbilisi and shows the price upfront: typically 15-25 GEL to the center by day, more at night or in surge pricing. The official airport taxi desk charges a fixed 40 GEL; avoid drivers who approach you inside the terminal.
The train: not running in October 2026
A railway station sits 70 meters from the terminal, but the airport train is not running as of October 2026 and no airport service is listed for sale. Check the Georgian Railway site before counting on it; historically it was a token-fare shuttle with only one or two departures a day.
Many flights into Tbilisi land between midnight and 05:00, after the bus has stopped. At those hours Bolt is the practical option, and ordering one needs mobile data, which is worth sorting out before you fly.
Airport SIM booths vs eSIM
Magti, Silknet and Cellfie all run booths in the arrivals hall, open around the clock, with tourist packages from roughly 15 GEL. Buying one means showing your passport, filling in the registration and waiting your turn.
When several flights land together, especially overnight, the queues stack up fast. You also need a working connection at exactly that moment, to order a Bolt, message your host or pull up the booking.
A Georgia eSIM installed before you fly removes the whole step: your phone connects to a local network the moment the plane lands, and you walk past the booths. Your home SIM stays in place for calls and banking codes.
Frequently asked questions
Is Tbilisi Airport open during the construction?
Yes. The $150 million expansion runs from July 2026 to the end of 2028, and the airport operates normally the whole time. Allow a few extra minutes for changed walking routes and parking around the terminal.
What is the cheapest way from Tbilisi Airport to the city?
Bus 337, 1 GEL per ride, paid by tapping a contactless bank card, phone wallet or Tbilisi transport card as you board. It runs roughly 07:00 to 23:00 and takes about 49 minutes to Freedom Square.
How much is a Bolt or taxi from Tbilisi Airport?
Bolt typically shows 15-25 GEL to the center during the day and more at night or in surge pricing. The official airport taxi desk charges a fixed 40 GEL.
Is there a train from Tbilisi Airport to the city?
Not as of October 2026. The station sits 70 meters from the terminal, but no airport service is listed for sale; check the Georgian Railway site in case it resumes.
Do I need travel insurance to enter Georgia?
Yes. Since January 1, 2026 every foreign tourist needs travel health insurance covering at least 30,000 GEL for the whole stay, and visa-free travelers are included. The biggest practical risk of skipping it is being denied boarding by your airline.
Can I buy a SIM card at Tbilisi Airport?
Yes. Magti, Silknet and Cellfie run booths in the arrivals hall around the clock, with tourist packages from roughly 15 GEL. Bring your passport for registration and expect a queue when several flights land together.
Does an eSIM work in Georgia?
Yes. Install a Georgia eSIM before you fly and your phone connects to a local network as soon as the plane lands, with no booth, paperwork or SIM swap in the terminal.
Landing in Tbilisi? Be online before the seatbelt sign goes off
Your Bolt, your booking and your maps all need data the moment you land, and the SIM booth queue is the slowest way to get it. Install an eSIMPal eSIM for Georgia before you fly and walk straight from passport control to the bus or your ride.
Last updated October 5, 2026. Based on TAV Airports' and TAV Georgia's announcements of the 2026-2028 expansion, Georgian government rules on the 2026 travel insurance requirement, Tbilisi Transport Company fares, and current traveler-facing guides to the airport. Construction details and transport prices change, so treat exact figures as a snapshot and check the airport's site for live updates.
