How to Travel to Mestia from Tbilisi, Kutaisi or Zugdidi in 2025

Last updated: Feb 9, 2025

Svaneti region, located in the northwestern part of Georgia, is widely known for its amazing mountainous nature, picturesque hiking trails and unique Svan towers. That’s exactly the place where the epic mountain Ushba, Tetnuldi Peak, Laila, Adishi, and Chalaadi Glaciers are located. There is also the Mestia-Ushguli Trek, which is one of the most popular trails in Georgia. Because of these and other reasons, Mestia, Ushguli, and the surrounding area were recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. No wonder there is such a growing interest in visiting and hiking in the Svaneti region.

Mainly your starting destinations to Mestia can be the bigger cities such as Tbilisi, Kutaisi, and Zugdidi. Tourism in Georgia is one of the high-growth industries, so there are quite many alternative ways to get where you intend. You can get to Svaneti by train, bus, marshrutkas, or even by plane. With this article, you can get deeper into the transportation system to Svaneti, and based on the information given below, you can choose the alternative that would work best for you.

Leaving by train

You can make Tbilisi, Kutaisi, or Zugdidi as your trip starting point. You can go to Svaneti by train, if you’ll go for Tbilisi-Zugdidi or Tbilisi-Kutaisi train. After arriving in Zugdidi or Kutaisi by train, you can catch marshrutkas from the local bus stations to get to Svaneti.

Basically, the Tbilisi-Zugdidi train runs every day at 08:30 and 6hrs 20mins is needed to get to the destination. The train ticket fare is 16 GEL (6 Euros). After arriving in Zugdidi, you can catch marshrutkas which are waiting for the train, and leave for Mestia at 15:00. There also used to be the night trains to Zugdidi. Actually, this was a great opportunity because you could easily get marshrutkas in the morning and start your hiking the same day. But unfortunately, the Tbilisi-Zugdidi night train has been canceled and hasn’t started running since due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

As for the Tbilisi-Kutaisi train, it also runs every day at 08:50 and you’ll get to the destination in 5hrs 50mins. Its fare is 9 GEL (3 Euros). You can read the detailed information about the Kutaisi marshrutka transfers down below. You can also see the schedules or book the tickets Online or visit the Central Railway Station.

Leaving by Marshrutkas

Traveling by Marshrutkas is a very popular way of transportation in Georgia, since it’s relatively cheap. But if it’s your very first time catching them, you have to take some things into consideration. Since there are usually so many people, It’s important to go to the station earlier to take your seats in advance. Marshrutka leaves the station as soon as it’s filled up. When you have a long road to go, the driver usually makes short breaks, so you can grab your lunch and have a short rest.

From Tbilisi to Mestia

Marshrutkas leave for Mestia from Tbilisi’s Navtlugi Bus Station daily at 07:00, near Samgori Metro Station. The journey takes around 8-9 hours and costs 50 GEL (€17.25). New, more comfortable buses were launched on the Tbilisi-Mestia route from June 2024. It departs from Tbilisi every Wednesday and Friday at 07:00, and returns from Mestia every Monday and Thursday at 08:00. For more details, you can contact: (+995) 598 390 893.

From Kutaisi to Mestia

If you prefer to start your trip from Kutaisi, marshrutkas leave from the bus station near McDonald’s, which you can reach via taxi from the Kutaisi Railway Station or center. It’ll take around 5 hours from the Kutaisi Bus Station to Mestia and the marshrutkas leave at 10:00, costing around 40 GEL (13.80 Euros). The ticket prices are changing by season though.

For travelers flying into Kutaisi International Airport, shuttle buses have been operating since March 2024, providing easy transportation to the city center. These buses are scheduled according to flight arrivals, with a one-way fare of 5 GEL, payable by any bank card. Once in the city center, you can proceed to the marshrutka station for your trip to Mestia.

From Zugdidi to Mestia

If you’re not planning to visit Kutaisi, taking the Tbilisi-Zugdidi train might be a better option. The Zugdidi Bus Station is conveniently located right next to the railway station. From Zugdidi, marshrutkas leave for Mestia at 15:00, and the trip takes about 3 hours. Tickets cost 35 GEL (12.10 Euros).

From Batumi to Mestia

You can also catch Marshrutka from Batumi Cable Car Station. The trip will take around 5-6 hours and the Marshrutkas leave for mestia once in two days at 15:00. The ticket costs 50 Gel (17.25 Euros). The Batumi-Mestia direct transfer isn’t fixed though as it’s seasonal and can change at every minute.

Basically, it’s totally up to you, based on your itinerary and priorities, you can choose any of these ways to travel to Mestia.

Flights to Mestia

Probably, one of the best ways to get to Mestia is by taking a flight. There are several opportunities you can use. For example, you can take a flight from Natakhtari (Mtskheta) which is 20mins away from Tbilisi. Vanilla Sky company provides free transportation from Tbilisi center to Natakhtari airport. Flights to Mestia operate from Natakhtari four times a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. The plane leaves at 10:00 and the trip takes around 30 mins. It costs 90 GEL (31 Euros). There is also a luggage limit, which is 15 kg per passenger (including hand luggage).

You can also take a flight from the Kutaisi National Airport once a week, on Wednesdays at 12:00. The flight takes 25 mins, costing 50 GEL (17.25 Euros). You can see all the schedules, Tbilisi-Natakhtari transfer information and luggage limit details on the following website.

Taking a flight definitely is the fastest and most comfortable way to get to Svaneti but you have to take the weather conditions into consideration, as the flight may get canceled at the last minute due to the unfavorable weather. So, if you have a tight schedule, it can become a problem. If you still decide to take a flight, you have to book your ticket in advance as soon as possible, as so many people are interested in flying to Mestia.

Private Transfers

If you want to travel alone or with your friends quietly and avoid public transportation, private transfers are a great option. Book a comfortable, door-to-door transfer to Mestia with GoTrip here, you can choose your own route, schedule stops, and travel at your own pace.

You can also rent a car and drive yourself. There are so many companies and individuals that offer renting different types of cars in Georgia. To get to Mestia, a 4WD car is recommended. You can see rental terms on different websites, such as localrent.com.

Basically, the prices for Tbilisi-Mestia transfer start from around 700 GEL (241 Euros) in the summer season, and the trip will take around 8 hours.

Leaving Mestia

You can use any of these transportation ways mentioned above to leave Mestia. Mestia-Natakhtari planes operate on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays at 12:00. As for the Mestia-Kutaisi flight, it’s generally scheduled on Wednesdays at 13:30.

You can also take marshrutkas which leave to Zugdidi, Kutaisi, Batumi and Tbilisi from Mestia Bus Station everyday. Marshrutkas leave once a day at 08:00 in the morning. As for the prices,

Mestia-Zugdidi marshrutka costs 35 GEL (12.10 Euros),
Mestia-Kutaisi 40 GEL (13.80 Euros),
Mestia-Batumi 50 GEL (17.25 Euros)
Mestia-Tbilisi 50 GEL (17.25 Euros).

Whether you prefer the adventure of marshrutkas, the speed of flights, or the comfort of a private transfer, there’s an option to suit your journey to Mestia.

For a hassle-free ride with scenic stops along the way, a private transfer to Mestia with GoTrip can be a great choice. Safe travels, and enjoy the beauty of Svaneti!

Apart from Svaneti, there are also some popular tourist destinations that you can find in our tour packages, like Kazbegi, Georgia and Juta, Georgia.