Metro of Tbilisi

Metros in Georgia: Tbilisi

The city of Tbilisi, also known as Tiflis, is the capital city of Georgia. It is it’s largest and most populated urban area as well: about 1.12 million people live within its administrative area (246 sq. km).

The first settlements were constructed in the early 5th century, and the city has experienced many growth and decline periods throughout its long history. One of the most important ones occurred just recently, while Georgia was part of the Soviet Union. While under soviet rule, Tbilisi experienced a large industrial expansion, and was considered the 4th most important city in the union.

During the second half of the 20th century, the city resumed its long-held status as a bridge city, becoming a commercial hub and strategic connection point between eastern Europe and Asia. As a result, the city prospered and accumulated wealth, driving the population up with it. As this capital grew, the governing authorities decided to anticipate the public transport problems that come with a larger population. Many different strategies were laid out, and studies were conducted to select the best solution.

As was almost logical for a city of its size, the many architects and engineers that worked on the studies concluded that the best solution would be a metro system. Thus, construction began in 1952, and the metro was opened to the public several years later.

The newly built metro was inaugurated on January 11th, 1966. It only had 5 stations at the time. From then, it has been slowly expanding, adding new stations to the system every now and then. Today, this metro system has a total of 26.4 km, with 23 stations. Expansion projects are proposed and considered frequently, so this system will keep on growing.

Guramishvili

Lines and stations

The Tbilisi metro system has two lines and 23 stations distributed along its 26.4 km of track. It carries about 600,000 people every day throughout the city, an impressive feat considering the network is this small.

Line 1

This line, known as the Akhmeteli–Varketili Line, was the first line to be conceived. It was in the late 1940’s that the government realized the need for a robust transport system that could alleviate traffic and congestion on the surface, especially in the future as the city grew. Consequently, its construction began in the next few years, after the project was accepted.

To this day, this first line has a total of 19.6 km of subterranean track. It runs from the Gldani district in the northern side of the city to the Samgori district, to the south. There are plans to expand the line further, but nothing is set in stone yet. The stations that comprise this line are:

• Akhmetelis Teatri: initially known as Gldani station when it was inaugurated in 1989, this station is the northern terminal of line 1, and is located in the Gldani district.
• Sarajishvili: open since January 7th, 1989, this station serves the Nadzaladevi region and its immediate area. This subterranean metro station gets its name from the Georgian tenor Ivane Sarajishvili.
• Guramishvili: this station is located within the Nadzaladevi region and was inaugurated in November 16th, 1985. It was named after Davir Guramishvili, a famous Georgian poet.
• Ghrmaghele: also located in the Nadzaladevi region, this station was initially opened to the public in November 25th, 1985.
• Didube: located in the Didube sector, it was one of the first commercial stations in the system. It was inaugurated the 11th of January of the year 1966.
• Gotsiridze: located within the Nadzaladevi region, this station was first opened in January 11th, 1966. It is named after the Georgian engineer Viktor Gotsiridze.
• Nadzaladevi: one of the stations located within the Nadzaladevi region, it was one of the first to be opened, as it was inaugurated in January 11th, 1966.
• Station Square 1 (Sadguris Moedani I): this station is located in the Chugureti district and was also opened in January 11th, 1966.
• Marjanishvili: also opened in January 11th, 1966, this subterranean station honors Kote Marjanishvili, a famous Georgian theatre director.
• Rustaveli: this station, located in the Mtatsminda area, is the deepest station of the system. The platform is located 60 meters below the surface. It was inaugurated in 1966.
• Tavisuplebis Moedani: this station is an extension of the original line and was opened in the Mtatsminda district in 1967.
• Avlabari: inaugurated in 1967, it is named after the neighborhood it serves. It is located in the Isani district.
• Samasi Aragveli: located within the Isani district, this station was inaugurated the 6th of November, in the year 1967. It plays homage to the 300 (Samasi) soldiers from the Aragvi valley who died defending the city from the Persians in the battle of Krtsanisi, in 1795.
• Isani: also located within the Isani district, this station was initially opened to the public in 1971.
• Samgori: this station was opened in the year 1971 and is located between the Isani and Samgori districts.
• Varketili: this station serves as the current southern terminal for Line 1. It was opened in 1985 and was renovated in 2007.

Line 2

This line, also known as the Saburtalo Line, was inaugurated in 1979. It was designed to provide service to the western part of the city, from the Didube district an up to the Saburtalo area. It has a track length of 6.8 km, and currently serves 7 stations along the way. They are:

• Station Square 2: this station was opened in April 15th, 1979. It serves the Didube district.
• Tsereteli: also located within the Didube district, it was inaugurated in 1979. It was named after the Georgian poet Akaki Tsereteli.
• Technical University: also part of the first stage of Line 2, this station was opened to the public in 1979, and was constructed to provide service to the Saburtalo district.
• Medical University: constructed in the vicinity of the Saburtalo district, it was opened in 1979.
• Delisi: located within the Saburtalo neighborhood, it was also opened in 1979.
• Vazha-Pshavela: an extension of Line 2, this station was opened in the year 2000. It is located in the Vake district.
• State University: attending to the Saburtalo district, this is the latest addition to the system. Despite commencing construction in 1985, it was halted due to lack of funds, but was finally completed in 2017.

tbilisi Metro

Connections with other systems

As it is a relatively small metro system, it is not possible to reach all places in the Georgian capital through the metro. However, users can easily find bus stops that connect to most places in the city outside of the Tbilisi metro stations. Some of the most important are:

• Didube: this station is one of the most important transfer hubs of the system, as the Central Bus Station of Tbilisi is nearby. From here, passengers may take buses to many popular tourist destinations like Bakuriani and towards the outskirts of the city, as well as other cities.
• Station Square 1: this station provides access to the central part of the city, and thus a great way to get around the historical areas. It also connects to the second metro line, the Saburtalo Line.

Schedule and timetables

The metro of Tbilisi is open throughout most of the day in order to reach as much people as possible. Passengers may use the metro from 6:00 a.m. to midnight. This schedule is the same for all days of the week, including Sundays.

What does vary is the frequency of the trains. During busy hours, passengers must wait an average of 2.5 minutes between each train. Outside of this scope, the frequency lowers and the trains pass every 5 or 6 minutes. This lapse increases towards the later hours of the night, as the estimated time between trains reaches up to 12 minutes before closing.

Tariffs, tickets and cards

Passengers have two main ways to pay for their use of the metro: through traditional tickets that are common around the world or with an electronic card (the latter of which is preferred).

Tickets may be purchased at any ticket booth in any station paying 1 GEL (Georgian Lari) for a one-way trip ticket. It is possible to use this ticket for the next 90 minutes after its initial validation, and it can also be used within the local bus system. This price is for a single trip, regardless of its length.

The MetroMoney card is the prepaid card that allows its users access to several public transport networks around the Georgian capital, without the need to buy tickets for each one. Users enjoy access to the metro and bus systems, and it can also be used in the cableway of Tbilisi.

As expected from this kind of prepaid cards, the MetroMoney has additional benefits and special discounts. Any user can buy the card in commercial areas found inside the metro stations, and within the Rike-Narikala cableway stations. Users must pay a fee of ₾2.00 (2 Georgian Lari, equivalent to about $0.78 USD) refundable upon return. It is not personalized, so any user can lend it to friends or family (as long as it has credit, of course). It is quite easy to acquire and use.

A metro trip with the Metromoney card costs 1 lari. The first trip on the metro can be used for additional trips on other means of transport during the ninety minutes following its first use.

The MetroMoney card needs to be reloaded with credits once it runs out. This can be done through vending machines or through the ticket offices in any metro or cableway station. Additionally, it can also be recharged through the Bank of Georgia and many other commercial establishments.

In case the user wishes to see how much credit is left in the card, the amount remaining is displayed in the tourniquets at the metro stations, at the validation point in the buses or at the ticket offices at the cableway.

The MetroMoney card can be returned within the first 30 days of use, to a full reimbursement of the ₾2.00 fee. However, the original ticket of purchase must be presented with it to be valid.

If the card has any flaws or damage (that come from the factory, not the normal wear from use or any other damage caused directly or indirectly by the passenger), users can get a free replacement through Customer Services in Avlabari and Medical University stations. However, if the card is deemed to have been damaged by the user, it won’t be free and have a reposition cost of ₾2.00 (the cost of a new MetroMoney card).

If for any reason a MetroMoney card is lost, the metro authorities will block the card number in their network, so it can’t be utilized. After the affected user gets another card, the available balance will be transferred to the new card.

Other Options

In 2022, a new fare system was introduced for using public transport in Tbilisi that includes cards allowing unlimited trips during selected periods such as 90 minutes, one day (3 GEL), one week (20 GEL), one month (40 GEL), 3 months (100 GEL), 6 months (150 GEL), or even an annual pass (250 GEL). Holders of these passes will be able to travel on any type of public transport during the selected period.

Therefore, depending on the length of your stay and the frequency with which you plan to use the metro, you may be interested in exploring these options.

Marjanishvili

Rules and regulations

As with most metro systems in the world, the Tbilisi metro has an established set of rules and regulations that passengers must abide so that everyone using the network can have a good experience. They are also intended to provide a safe environment for all. Some of those rules are:

• No dangerous objects are allowed within the trains, such as any kind of weapon or large tool, fire hazards, fuels or any other object that could represent danger or cause harm to oneself or other passengers.
• Access to the driver’s cabin is strictly forbidden for any unauthorized personnel.
• Access to administrative or restricted areas is also forbidden for any unauthorized personnel.
• Avoid blocking the doors as they close, as the train will not start running until all the doors are properly closed.
• Personal entertainment devices are allowed, as long as they don’t annoy or disturb other users. It is heavily encouraged to use headphones.
• Any distribution of pamphlets, advertisements or posters is forbidden within the trains and stations of the metro, unless given explicit authorization to do so by the metro authorities.
• Passengers may only use one seat per person. Blocking or using seats to put baggage or other personal items is not allowed.
• Do not distract or annoy the staff while you wait for the trains.
• Beggars are not allowed inside the system (unless for transportation, of course).
• Smoking is strictly forbidden, both inside the stations and the trains.
• Animals and pets are also forbidden from entering the network. So, if you are travelling with your pet, please take the necessary previsions.
• Please allow other users to disembark from the trains first, before you board.

Fun facts

• Even though the size of the Tbilisi metro is rather small comparing it to other metro systems around the world, this network moves a considerable amount of people every year: about 97 million passengers use the services provided by this metro.
• Several stations within the system have been renovated in the last two decades, trying to keep or even increase the great beauty that characterizes the ex-Soviet subway stations.
• Some stations have changed name: Guramishvili, Gotsiridze, Station Square 1 and Avlabari were originally inaugurated under different names, but after the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991 that promoted many ideological and political shifts, they were modified from TEMKA, Elektrodepo, Vagzlis, Moedani and 26 Komisari, respectively.
• The Tbilisi metro has a total of 170 trains, each comprised of about 3 or 4 wagons. They ride beneath the city at an average speed of 33 km/h, and there are several maintenance and repair workshops distributed around the network.
• The metro was the target of a terrorist attack in 2004, when poisonous gas was released in one of its stations, and sadly several people were killed in the incident.

Connection with the airport

The Tbilisi metro has no direct connection with the International Airport of Tbilisi, located to the southeast, on the outskirts of the capital. To reach it, users can take a bus that heads directly to the terminal. Passengers riding the metro must head to Station Square (either 1 or 2). There is a bus stop just in front of the metro entrance. Users must then wait for bus line 37 that will take them to the airport. This bus line is run by the Tbilisi Transport Company, so the MetroMoney card is also valid there. It takes about 35 to 40 minutes to reach the airport, and the ride has a cost of 50 tetri (about $0.19 USD). The buses stop right in front of the main airport terminal, so users need only descend and walk into the building.

To reach the metro from the Tbilisi International Airport, the procedure is basically the same. Just outside the terminal buildings, passengers will find several taxi and bus stops, as well as the classic rental car depots. Users may opt to take a taxi for a faster ride to the city, but the bus line is also a good option. Passengers must only look for bus line 37 that heads to the center of the city and connects to the metro via Station Square.

The bus option is cheaper, of course. However, if there is a lot of baggage involved, it may be wiser to take a taxi instead, as it is more secure and there is less hassle with the bags, so it will result in a more comfortable experience.

Future expansions

The most important project involving the expansion of the metro is the construction of Line 3 of the Tbilisi metro (Rustaveli 2 – Vazisubani Line), originally designed and projected in the 80’s. If the original layout is followed, it would primarily serve the Vake district, adding 14 new stations to the underground network.

In fact, construction began on 5 of these stations in the year 2000, but they were never completed. The works have been frozen since then, but local authorities have expressed their intentions to recommence construction on this third line. It would probably connect to the existing metro system through Didube station, on Line 1. Regardless, the project is currently frozen, and there is no clear indication that it will be resumed any time soon.

In the meantime, local authorities have opted for the renovation of several of the original stations of the system. Many of them were already falling into a state of disrepair and needed an uplift as soon as possible. Thus, further extension of the Tbilisi metro seems unlikely in the near future.

Tourism and sightseeing

Many of the visitors that head to Tbilisi seek it for its historical past, specially as a part of the fallen Soviet Union. The city keeps many historical attractions that prove a great sight for those who decide to visit this beautiful capital. Some of the most important sites are:

Simon Janashia Museum of Georgia: this attraction is reachable through Tavisuplebis Moedani station, of Line 1. This magnificent edification lays very close to the metro entrance. Within it, many of the country’s most important archeological findings are on display. The building itself has a long history, having had several different names throughout the 20th century, and it was even sacked during the Russian revolution of 1917. It also became a historical landmark for the symbolical fights for freedom.

Rustaveli Avenue: reached through the same station (Tavisuplebis Moedani station, of Line 1), this avenue is famous for the contrast it presents between past, present and future Tbilisi and Georgia itself. It was designed by the French architect Georges-Eugène Haussmann, who wanted the newest architectural projects in the city to diverge from the old city that lies just a few meters away. Along its 1.5 km length, visitors can find luxurious hotels and typical Georgian markets. It is a great place to start the visit to the city, and it is close to many other tourist attractions.