There are many options for transport in Armenia and transportation in Georgia is accessible as well, but you may be wondering how to travel from Armenia to Georgia by land and is there a train service from Yerevan to Tbilisi?
It just so happens, there is! In fact, I’m fresh off the Yerevan to Tbilisi train and here to tell you how it went.
Keep reading to find out the answers to the following questions about travelling from Yerevan to Tbilisi:
⭐ Is there a train from Armenia to Georgia?
⭐ How do I get from Armenia to Tbilisi?
⭐ How much is a ticket on the Yerevan to Tbilisi train?
⭐ Where can I get a ticket for the Yerevan to Tbilisi train?
⭐ How long is the train ride from Tbilisi to Yerevan?
⭐ What is the Yerevan to Tbilisi train like?
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If you’re travelling to Armenia and wondering how you can get to Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, there are several options you can consider.
If you like driving, you might want to hire a car and drive yourself.
Obviously, there are advantages and disadvantages with this option.
The freedom of going where you want, when you want is certainly one of the bigger advantages. It could also be a really cool adventure to share with a friend.
Otherwise, Marshrutkas (minibuses) run regularly from about 6 am between Yerevan and Tbilisi.
They cost 8000 AMD (US$20) and the journey takes about 5 hours. I imagine the roads are very windy considering that the distance between the two cities is only 280km.
That means they might not be the best option for someone prone to motion sickness.
If marshrutkas aren’t your thing, you could take the Yerevan to Tbilisi train.
The Yerevan to Tbilisi train runs every second night, leaving from the Yerevan Tigran Mets Avenue Railway Station at 21:30 and getting into Tbilisi Railway Station (North) at 07:30.
The train is slower, but it’s more comfortable. It also costs more than the minibus. Each ticket costs 11,295 AMD or US$28.60.
This is the route we chose, but we got in closer to 08:30 though. So take note that arrival time may be later than stipulated.
To purchase a ticket for the Yerevan to Tbilisi train, you’ll have to get to the Tigran Mets Avenue Railway Station.
As its name suggests, the station is located on Tigran Mets Avenue, a couple of kilometres from the city centre.
You could walk there if you’re feeling energetic, or hail a Yandex Taxi.
When you walk into the station, it isn’t immediately obvious where the ticketing area is.
First, walk past the big empty entrance area with the huge chandelier, then to the left you’ll see two signs that you probably won’t be able to read.
The room behind those signs is where you can make queries (counter 1) and buy tickets (counter 2).
You can buy your ticket with Armenian Dram or by credit card.
They will ask for your passport then put the details from your passport on the ticket.
The ticket will also show you your carriage (wagon) and seat number.
The Yerevan to Tbilisi train has great facilities, including hot/cold water dispensers, charging ports for your electronics, and even showers!
The heat was set a little high at 27°C though.
I mean, I figured they’d have heat, but it was closer to a sauna!
It’s probably a good thing that they had showers then!
If you’re travelling on this train in winter, it’s a good idea to wear several layers. There is no doubt that within thirty minutes of boarding the train, you will be down to your bottom layer.
Now, you’re probably wondering what the sleeping arrangements are like on the Yerevan to Tbilisi train.
The 11,295 AMD ticket is a second class sleeper ticket, which gives you a bed in an open cabin.
An open cabin is one that only has doors at the entrance to the car. That means that, although the beds are in lots of four, (two bunks on either side of a table), like they would be in normal cabins, there are no doors between each set of four beds.
It’s not really a problem as people are friendly and helpful. I never felt uncomfortable or unsafe at any point.
If you feel it’s an issue, you could always pay more for a first class sleeper ticket, but it honestly doesn’t seem like it would be worth the extra money you would have to pay.
Perhaps one of the best things about the train is that there are power sockets and USB charging ports near most beds.
In the middle of the night, the conductor came around and woke us up as Armenian immigration came on the train at about 03:45.
In what was probably the most convenient immigration experience ever, we just stayed on our beds and the officers came to us.
About an hour after going through Armenian immigration, we hit the Georgian immigration point.
It was around 04:45 and freezing, but we had to get off the train. We lined up in front of temporary, container-type buildings on the platform.
There were stray dogs everywhere and some of them decided to join the line and get some attention.
One strange occurrence was people smoking in the immigration line; it was definitely the first time I’d seen that.
Back on the train, masked customs officers asked about cigarettes and alcohol. You can only bring a certain amount into Georgia without incurring customs duty.
With that done, we went back to sleep.
A little before 08:10, the lights were turned on and we were all woken up for our arrival.
Our old soviet style train made its way slowly into the station just after 08:15. We were finally in the capital of Georgia!
The Tbilisi train station wasn’t very impressive.
It was old, but it was a lot bigger and a little bit more crowded than Yerevan one.
So there you have it; the lowdown on what can happen on the overnight train from Armenia to Georgia. As far as travel experiences go, this was definitely one of the more comfortable ones!
The train wasn’t too ‘jolty’, as some can be, so it was relatively easy to get some quality rest.
If you enjoy reading about uncomfortable, but awesome train rides, you may want to check out my epic journey on the famous Iron Train in Mauritania.
⭐ Is there a train from Armenia to Georgia?
There certainly is. You can catch it at Yerevan, the capital of Armenia and arrive in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia. It runs every second night.
⭐ How do I get from Armenia to Tbilisi?
You can hire a car and self-drive, take a marshrutka or take a train. It all depends on how much you’re willing to pay and how long you want your journey to be.
⭐ How much is a train ticket from Yerevan to Tbilisi?
As of early 2023, one ticket costs 11,295 AMD or approximately US$28.60.
⭐ How long is the train ride from Tbilisi to Yerevan?
The ticketed time is 10 hours, but it could take slightly longer depending on how long immigration formalities take.
⭐ What is the Yerevan to Tbilisi train like?
Surprisingly comfortable with unexpected things like power points, showers and cold/hot water dispensers.
⭐ How can I get from Yerevan to Tbilisi?
There are a few ways to get from Yerevan to Tbilisi. One slower, but more comfortable option is the overnight train for 11,295 AMD. Another quicker, but slightly less comfortable marshrutka for 8000 AMD. The fastest, but possibly more expensive option, is to hire a car to drive yourself.
Now that you know how to travel from Armenia to Georgia by land, you could probably use this guide on Free and Fun Things to Do in Yerevan and this one on What to do in Tbilisi in Winter.
Thinking about taking the Yerevan to Tbilisi train?
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9 Replies to “Yerevan to Tbilisi Train – An Overnight Adventure from Armenia to Georgia”
I love guides like this. It makes being overseas so much more enjoyable and stress-free because I can follow your steps (and pictures).
It’s always easier when someone can show you how it’s done!
Train travel is my favorite, and this train route seems like a fun one to take. I’ve never been to Armenia or Georgia, but I can’t wait to go by train when I get there!
I always prefer trains to buses! This one was more comfortable than most.
I like how there are overnight facilities on this train. I took an overnight train once from Koln to Berlin, and had nothing. Sounds like a much better experience!
Yeah. The shower was very unexpected!
Thanks for the train info! I once took an overnight train from Brussels to Berlin, but this sounds like auxh better experience. I like how they have facilities on this train.
Hi! Thanks for the great article! Quick question: Did you have to take your luggage with you when you exited the train at 4:45 in the am for Georgian immigration? Just wondering about that in the middle of the night, or if you left it on the train? Thanks!
No, we didn’t have to take our luggage out of the train on either side of the border, which was great.
I can barely organise myself, let alone all my stuff, in the middle of the night!