Didube Bus Station, Tbilisi: Marshrutka Times & Video Tour (original) (raw)

If you’re planning to travel around Georgia using marshrutka vans – the most popular form of intercity road transport – then you’ll definitely find yourself visiting Didube Bus Station in Tbilisi at least a couple of times.

Didube is one of the main bus depots in the city. Minivans and shared taxis to popular day-trip destinations such as Mtskheta and Gori, the mountains north of Tbilisi, and destinations in western/south-western Georgia all depart from here.

Didube can be overwhelming and confusing, especially for first-time visitors.

In this quick guide, I’ll offer a few pointers for navigating the station and share schedules and fares for popular destinations.

For general tips on using marshrutka vans in Georgia, please see this post.

Marshrutka minivans and cars waiting at Didube Bus Station in Tbilisi, Georgia.

Didube Bus Station in Tbilisi.

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What is Didube Bus Station?

Didube Bus Station is the main bus depot in Tbilisi servicing destinations in the north, west and south-west of the country.

It is located on the river in the north-east of Tbilisi, 8 kilometres from Freedom Square (~20 minutes by car), adjacent to Didube metro station.

There are a number of different bus companies located within Didube. Essentially it’s a big terminal with smaller separate stations nested inside. Most of these companies run marshrutka vans (micro-buses). Shared taxis are also available for many destinations.

The station complex itself is made up of several different buildings, car parks and roads. To add to the chaos, there is a busy bazaar on the same spot.

Key things to note:

Drone photo of Didube Bus Terminal in Tbilisi, Georgia.

Didube Bus Terminal.

Marshrutka vans and shared taxis for the following destinations all depart from Didube. You can find additional vans/taxis to some of these places at other stations around Tbilisi as well.

Buses that do not depart from Didube

Buses to Eastern Georgia (Kakheti wine region), Pankisi Valley and also Svaneti and parts of southern Kvemo Kartli region do not depart from Didube.

How to get to Didube Bus Terminal

Didube is easy to get to from the centre of Tbilisi by either metro or taxi.

From the city centre: Take the metro (main red line) to Didube station for 1 GEL, or take a taxi (~12 GEL from Freedom Square when booked through Bolt).

From Tbilisi Airport: Take the airport bus #337 to the end of the line at Station Square (1 GEL), then transfer to the metro and continue to Didube metro station (red line). Or take a taxi (~30 GEL when booked through Bolt).

From the railway station: Enter the metro at Station Square and take the red line travelling north to Didube metro station (1 GEL), or take a taxi (~7 GEL when booked through Bolt).

Navigating Didube Station – video tour

To see exactly where you need to go to catch your van/shared taxi, check out my Didube Bus Station video tour below. (If you don’t see the video, try turning off your ad blocker.)

Or, watch it here on YouTube.

Facilities at Didube

Public toilets

There are several bathrooms at Didube including one on the edge of the car park where the vans to Kazbegi depart from. All are clearly signposted. Make sure you have coins on you to pay with – prices are 20-50 tetri.

Luggage storage at Didube

There is a small, unofficial baggage room on the side of the market directly opposite the area where the Kazbegi vans depart from. Consider a secure storage alternative if you’re carrying valuables.

Food & drink

There are plenty of small bakeries, coffee stands and fruit shops inside the market where you can buy hot pastries, bottled water and other snacks.

If the journey time is 2 hours or more, the driver will make a rest stop part-way. Sometimes this is done at a bakery or shop, but not always – I recommend carrying enough snacks and water to last the journey just in case.

Blue Shatili marshrutka van at Didube Bus Station in Tbilisi.

The bravest marshrutka van of them all – the Shatili bus at Didube.

Georgia bus fares & schedules for 2024 – popular routes from Didube

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There is no one centralised, current timetable for Didube that I know of, so I have decided to create my own by piecing together information from various Facebook pages and schedules posted at the station.

I try my best to keep this information accurate by visiting the bus station in person every month or so. However, things do change – fares go up, services get dropped, and in winter some vans might not run at all.

If your plans hinge on getting the right van, I strongly recommend double-checking times locally before you travel.

Oftentimes this means going to the station in person the day before. If you’re staying at a guesthouse, you might be able to ask your host to make a call .

Some popular destinations have multiple services within Didube, and fares differ slightly depending on the company you use. In this case, I’ve provided a price range.

Prices are continuously going up up up at the moment due to the rising cost of fuel. I will try my best to keep this guide updated, but you should always double-check ticket prices locally.

The information below is for direct vans. If there is no direct service available, it’s usually pretty straightforward to transfer vans. The driver will help you.

Remember that marshrutka vans can drop you off anywhere along the route. If you need to get out early, mention your destination to the driver when you board. Usually the ticket price is the same.

For safety reasons, I highly recommend you avoid travelling by marshrutka van after dark.

Tbilisi to Mtskheta

→ Read my Mtskheta day trip guide to discover the best things to see and do in Georgia’s old capital.

Tbilisi to Kazbegi (Stepantsminda) & Gudauri

→ Read my detailed transport guide for travelling from Tbilisi to Kazbegi.

→ Read my detailed transport guide for the return journey, Kazbegi to Tbilisi.

→ Read my detailed transport guide for travelling from Tbilisi to Gudauri.

→ Read my Kazbegi Travel Guide for tips and the best things to see and do.

Tbilisi to Gori

→ Read my Gori Travel Guide for more transport tips and the best things to do in Gori.

Tbilisi to Kutaisi

→ Read my Kutaisi City Guide for the best things to do in Kutaisi plus a suggested itinerary.

Tbilisi to Chiatura

→ Read my Chiatura Guide for the latest information about the cable cars and other things to see and do.

Tbilisi to Oni (Racha)

Note: This van takes the new road through Sachkhere and does not stop in Ambrolauri. It only runs during the summer season (approximately April to October).

→ Read my Racha-Lechkhumi Guide for the best things to do in Oni and beyond.

Tbilisi to Martvili

→ Read my tips for visiting Martvili Canyon.

Tbilisi to Zugdidi

→ Read my detailed tips for the Tbilisi Zugdidi train.

→ Read my Zugdidi Travel Guide for the best things to do in Zugdidi and Samegrelo region.

Tbilisi to Batumi

→ Read my detailed guide to travelling between Tbilisi and Batumi, including alternative transport options such as high-speed train.

→ Read my Batumi City Guide for the best things to do on the Black Sea coast.

Tbilisi to the Black Sea coast (Ureki, Kobuleti, Grigoleti)

→ Read my Kobuleti Guide.

Tbilisi to Borjomi

→ Read my detailed guide to travelling to Borjomi for tips and alternative transport options.

→ Read my Borjomi Guide.

Tbilisi to Bakuriani

→ Read my detailed guide to travelling to Bakuriani for tips and the best day tour options.

Tbilisi to Akhaltsikhe

→ Read my Akhaltsikhe City Guide for the best things to do, including Rabati Castle and Vardzia.

Tbilisi to Vardzia (direct)

→ Read my detailed guide to travelling to Vardzia for tips and the best day tour options.

Tbilisi to Shatili (Khevsureti)

→ Read my detailed tips for travelling to Shatili from Tbilisi.

→ Read my Shatili guide.

→ Read my Khevsureti itinerary

Questions about travelling from Didube? Updates to share? Please leave your comments below.

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