Georgian Railway Guide

Complete buying guide · Matareblis biletebi

How to buy Georgian Railway tickets

The full step-by-step guide for travellers: from search to seat map to boarding — how to buy your railway ticket online at matarebeli.ge in a couple of minutes.

Open Matarebeli.ge

Before you start: the essentials

Georgian Railway — matarebeli in Georgian — connects Tbilisi with Batumi, Kutaisi, Zugdidi, Poti, Gori and dozens of smaller stations. Tickets are sold per named passenger with assigned seats, demand on coastal and night routes is real, and the station ticket office means queues and a possible language barrier. Buying online at matarebeli.ge solves all three: English interface, card payment, instant e-ticket.

You'll need three things: your travel dates, the passport or ID each passenger will carry on board, and a Visa or Mastercard. That's it — here is the whole process.

The 8-step process

Open Matarebeli.ge

Go to matarebeli.ge on your phone or laptop. The interface works in English, so you don't need to read Georgian to buy Georgian Railway tickets. No app download is required — the site itself is the ticket office.

Search your route and date

Enter your departure station (e.g. Tbilisi), destination (e.g. Batumi) and travel date. The search returns every Georgian Railway departure for that day with live availability — the same inventory as the station counters, without the queue.

Compare trains and classes

Each result shows departure and arrival times, train type and prices per class. On the flagship double-deckers, first class means 2+1 leather seating; second class is a comfortable 2+2. Night trains to Zugdidi additionally offer berths.

Choose your exact seat

Pick your place on the interactive carriage map. Tip: on the Tbilisi→Batumi run, right-hand window seats catch the Black Sea views after Ureki; on the upper deck, the panorama is best of all.

Enter passenger details

Type each passenger's name and ID or passport number exactly as written on the document — conductors check tickets against ID on board. Children's fares and documents are handled in the same form.

Pay securely by card

Pay with Visa or Mastercard. Payment is processed instantly and your booking is confirmed on the spot — the seat is locked to you the moment payment completes.

Receive your e-ticket

Your matareblis biletebi arrive by email within moments. There is nothing to print: the PDF or the booking screen on your phone is a valid ticket on every Georgian Railway service.

Board the train

Arrive at the station ~20 minutes early, find your carriage number on the platform display, and show your e-ticket plus the ID used at booking. Settle in — the matarebeli does the rest.

Pro tips from frequent riders

  • Book Batumi early in summer. July–August matareblis biletebi for the coast sell out days ahead. The moment your dates are fixed, buy.
  • Night train to Zugdidi = free hotel night. Board in the evening, wake at the foot of Svaneti as the Mestia marshrutkas load up outside the station.
  • Upper deck, right side, toward the sea. The best seats on the Batumi double-decker for Black Sea views after Ureki.
  • Keep the booking email offline. Save the e-ticket PDF to your phone — rural stretches of the line have patchy signal.
  • Match the ID. The name and document number on the ticket must match what you carry. Double-check before paying.
  • Arrive 20 minutes early. Tbilisi Central is straightforward, but platforms are announced close to departure — give yourself margin.

Ready to board?

Check live Georgian Railway schedules, pick your seat and buy your railway ticket online in a couple of minutes — matareblis biletebi without the station queue.

Buy tickets on Matarebeli.ge →

Buying guide FAQ

Can foreigners buy Georgian Railway tickets online?

Yes — matarebeli.ge accepts international Visa and Mastercard and works fully in English. A foreign passport number is all you need for the passenger form.

How early do ticket sales open?

Sales typically open several weeks before departure. For summer Batumi trains and Zugdidi night berths, buy the moment your dates are fixed.

Can I get a refund if plans change?

Tickets can generally be returned before departure subject to Georgian Railway's refund rules and deadlines; the refund conditions are shown during booking on matarebeli.ge.

What if my name has unusual spelling?

Enter it exactly as in the passport you'll carry. The conductor matches the ticket to the document — spelling consistency matters more than format.