Safety Tips for Tbilisi

Look, here's the deal with those vultures outside Tbilisi airport arrivals. They'll hit you with demands for 80+ gel for what should be a simple 25-minute ride to the city center. Complete tourist tax bullshit.

Download Bolt app before you land — It's like Uber but actually works here. Airport to anywhere in central Tbilisi runs 25-35 gel ($9-13), takes 20-30 minutes depending on traffic. You see the exact price upfront, driver's photo, license plate. No haggling, no 'broken meter' excuses, no surprises when you arrive.

Here's what NOT to do: don't get in any taxi without agreeing on the exact fare first. Don't let them take you on some 'scenic route through the mountains.' And definitely don't pay more than 40 gel for ANY ride from that airport, period. These guys prey on jetlagged tourists who don't know better.

Bus #37 to 300 Aragveli metro station costs 0.50 gel, but here's the thing — Service turns to garbage after 10pm and you're still stuck figuring out the final connection to your hotel. For evening arrivals, Bolt's worth every extra gel for the peace of mind.

This scam is so common around tourist areas that I've watched it happen dozens of times, and it still makes me furious. Street taxi drivers approach tourists near Freedom Square, Old Town, or Rustaveli Avenue offering 'Black Sea day trip' for suspiciously reasonable prices (usually 80-120 GEL). Sounds like a great deal for a beach day, right?

Wrong. They drive you 20km outside Tbilisi to 'Tbilisi Sea'—which is actually just a reservoir built in the Soviet era for the city's water supply. No beaches, no resort towns, definitely no actual sea. When you realize you've been duped and demand to go back, they'll still demand full payment and act like you misunderstood something obvious.

The real Black Sea coast is 6 hours away in Batumi—any legitimate day trip would cost 200+ GEL minimum just for transport. If someone's offering a sea trip from Tbilisi for under $100, it's definitely this reservoir scam. I've seen tourists spend entire days arguing with drivers over this nonsense.

Stick to Bolt or Maxim apps where you see the exact route and price upfront. Never get in unmarked cars offering deals around tourist zones. Seriously, the number of visitors who fall for this is embarrassing—don't be one of them.