If you are travelling around Georgia and getting out of Tbilisi then the chances are you have heard of and are heading north to the mountains of Kazbegi.
The road to Kazbegi is undoubtedly Georgia’s most spectacular drive. And the best thing is it’s less than four hours from the capital and easy to reach by public transport.
Here is everything you need to know about getting a marshrutka from Tbilisi to Kazbegi (Stepantsminda).
What are the options for transport from Tbilisi to Kazbegi?
There are several options for getting to Kazbegi (Stepansminda).
- Marshrutka van (micro-bus)
- Shared taxi
- Private taxi/van
- Hire a car (from Tbilisi)
In this quick guide I will give you some tips for taking a marshurtka van (micro bus) from Tibilisi to Kazbegi, Georgia.
How much does a marshrutka cost from Tbilisi to Kazbegi?
A seat in the marshrutka costs 15 GEL ($6 USD).
How long does it take?
The marshrutka from Tbilisi to Kazbegi takes 3.5 hours.
Where do the marshrutka vans depart from in Tbilisi?
The marshrutka from Tbilisi to Kazbegi departs from the busy Didube Bus Station in Tbilisi. This is Tbilisi’s largest bus station and main transport depot servicing destinations in the north, west and south-west of the country.
Didube Bus Station is located in the north-east of Tbilisi just over 8 kilometres from Freedom Square.
Most of the signs for departing marshrutka are all written in Georgian and drivers speak little or no English.
But everyone is friendly and as long as you know the name of your destination you will be pointed in the right direction to find your marshurtka.
What is a marshrutka van like?
Marshrutka all over Georgia are pretty much identical. The van will be a reasonably late model 17-seater micro-bus (a Mercedes Sprinter or similar).
The vans we travelled on did not have air conditioning but there are several windows in the back that can open. (There is air flowing through!).
What is the drive like from Tbilisi to Kazbegi?
You may have heard of the winding roads and fast drivers heading in any direction out of Georgia’s capital. It’s really not that bad.
The road from Tbilisi to Kazbegi is fairly well maintained as Georgia’s Military Highway and the views once up into the hills are stunning. And certainly, work well to draw your attention away from the odd pothole.
The drive is not as fast as we were bracing ourselves for expecting.
As you head further away from the city the roads are slower and with an impending line of trucks heading for the border there isn’t space for speed on the hills.
Instead, there is plenty of time to spot the first snowcapped mountain tops and to take in the breathtaking views as you pass by the Russian-Georgia Peace Monument and limestone waterfall north of Gutauri.
Does the marshrutka stop between Tbilisi and Kazbegi?
Not necessarily. We had read originally that when getting a bus from Tbilisi to Kazbegi that the marshrutkas stop halfway for a short toilet and refreshment stop in Ananuri.
This could be dependent on how the drive is going and whether passengers require a stop. Don’t be shy to ask.
Where does the marshrutka drop you off in Kazbegi?
The marshurtka stops right outside the Tourist Information Centre and small bus stop on the main street of Stepantsminda.
- Tip: There is a SPAR supermarket 100m up the road and a Liberty Bank ATM 100m beyond that.
Where to from there?
There are taxis and small 4×4 vans lined up on the main street just next to the bus stop in Kazbegi.
The drivers will likely aprpaoch you (immediately) asking if you would like a taxi to the monastery, church or waterfalls. You can also ask them to drive you up the hill to your guesthouse.
- Tip: The standard fare within Stepantsminda is 10 GEL ($4.50).
Watch out for those standard taxi stories…
Whether you are catching a marshrutka from Tbilisi to Kazbegi or the other way round, do watch out for the usual ‘classic’ taxi scams.
Albeit the word ‘scam’ might be a little harsh but there will undoubtedly be taxi drivers approaching you offering you another option of a shared smaller van as he states there is no marshrutka today.
This isn’t true.
There are marshrutka between Tbilisi and Kazbegi every day. But this could be another option if you aren’t keen or confident on the marshrutka or don’t have time to wait for the next trip.
Prepare yourself. And enjoy the ride!
The drive is seriously stunning. Spectacularly so.
Prepare yourself with water and snacks and sit back and take in Georgia’s most spectacular road.
Where we stayed in Georgia
- Tbilisi: Kindli Hotel
A very friendly small boutique hotel in Tbilisi. Only a few metres from the famous Clock Tower! Beautiful buffet breakfast and a balcony with chairs that is perfect in the evening with live music. Highly recommend.
- Kazbegi (Stepantsminda): Targmani Cottages
Beautiful A-Frame cottages just up on the hill with incredible views over Kazbegi. Only 10 minutes walk to centre of town.
- Sighnaghi: Nato & Lado
A beautiful small family-run guesthouse in Sighnaghi. Basic accommodation for a very affordable price and an amazing family who will welcome you to Georgia the local way! We would love to return. Highly recommend.
Welcome to Georgia!
Useful links for your travels in Georgia and beyond…
These are the companies we use while traveling fulltime as a family and that we would recommend to anyone planning and booking travel.
- Booking.com – The best all-around accommodation booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation and it’s easy to filter and sort into price and availability with all the extras you are looking for personally.
- Skyscanner– This is by far our favourite flight search engine. They are able to search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites often miss. We book all our flights through Skyscanner.
- GetYourGuide– Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions offered all around the world including everything from walking tours, to street-food tours, cooking classes, desert safari’s and more!
- SafetyWing – A global travel insurance that covers people from all over the world while outside their home country. You can buy it short or longterm; and even if you are out of the country.
- World Nomads – Travel insurance tailored for longterm travel and nomads (including those who have already left home).
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