Hi,
I'm planning on going to Turkey and Georgia soon. Well not soon, but anyway....
I was wondering does anyone have a rough idea of how much a bus would cost from Istanbul to Tbilisi? Or even Ankara to Tbilisi? Has anyone done this before? Is it good?
I want to go to Georgia first because I'm going there by myself and meeting up with my friends in Turkey later. But flying from Australia to Istanbul is a million times cheaper than flying directly to Tbilisi. So I thought I may as well just catch a bus. Hopefully it's not too long. But I can deal with long bus rides.
Thanks
anonymous
1
talltravel
The best bus companies are Ulusoy, Metro, Kamil Koc, or Van. Pay extra for VIP service if offered especially for night buses. Metro is the best from Istanbul to Hopa (turkish border town).
1. a) Istanbul-Goreme (Cappadocia 3 days min) 10 hour night bus
b) Goreme-Kayseri (1 hr) Kayseri-Trabzon 15 hr
c) Trabzon-Hopa (3 hr)
d) short minibus or taxi to Georgian border Sarpi
e) Tborder Sarpi or Batumi (30min)
2. a) Istanbul-Hopa (20 hrs)
b) short minibus or taxi (5 lira per person for shared taxi) to border Sarpi
c) Batumi(2 lari or $1; 30 min from Border)
2
zashibis
There are actually direct buses from Istanbul to Tbilisi as well, but they're not particularly to be recommended. See this thread for the reasons it's better to break up your journey a little as suggested by #1.
Cost for Istanbul to Hopa is about 55 USD; cost for Batumi to Tbilisi is about 10 USD (in a cramped minibus) or 15 USD by train.
3
CajunClarke
Hi there
New update from Istanbul to Georgia/Batumi/Tbilisi
So i took the day to find out about the buses from Istanbul to Georgia and this is what i came up with,
you will need to make your way to Aksaray by either the metro or the tram line, once there ask around for the Emniyet Goraji its not that hard to find if you have asked to info center in Aksaray..
The trip will cost you $50 to Tbilisi, if you need to go to Batumi you can bargain them down..
There is alternative routes to get to Georgia, that is if you would like to travel a little more to see what Turkey has to offer you. If that is the case make your way to Otogar that is on the metro line. There are a lot of buses that will take you anywhere at anytime...
Getting your visa is a hassle but once you got it it should be a breeze. for an American and British passport it is $20
From Georgia to Turkey/Ankara/Istanbul
The price from Batumi to Ankara is $31
This bus leaves at 16:30 and gets to Ankara at 10:00 in the morning.
From there you have many bus options all in different price ranges, to get to Istanbul witch is around $20
although it is $6 more, it is totally worth it. Ankara has a lot to offer if you have the time
The price from Batumi to Istanbul is $45
Pro tip
Lonely Planet
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