How To Get From Tbilisi To Kars

How To Get From Tbilisi (Georgia) To Kars (Turkey)
Tbilisi to Kars via Sarpi Border

Tbilisi to Kars via Sarpi Border

The journey from Tbilisi (Georgia) to Kars (Turkey) takes two full days with an overnight stop in Hopa. There is no direct public transport from Tbilisi to Kars. This guide divides the trip into three clear, numbered sections with full details based on real traveller experience.

1
Tbilisi to the Sarpi Border (Day 1)

Start from Tbilisi Central Bus Station (Ortachala Avtovagzal). The most reliable option is the Metro Turizm bus departing at 10:00 am daily. It travels via Batumi to the Sarpi border crossing into Turkey.

Buying Metro Bus Tickets

Metro’s website claims online booking is possible, but payment processing rarely works (as experienced by many travellers). Purchase tickets in person at Tbilisi Central Bus Station a day or two before departure — buses frequently sell out. Go downstairs to the departure area and buy at window number 10. You will need at least one passport to purchase tickets.

Bus Departure & Route Details
Departure time: 10:00 am daily from Tbilisi Central Bus Station
Route: Tbilisi → Batumi → Sarpi border
Arrival at border: Mid-afternoon (exact time varies with traffic and stops)
Bus company: Metro Turizm
Distance: Approximately 450–500 km
Buy tickets 1–2 days in advance — our bus was full. Bring snacks, water, rain protection, warm layers, and patience. The bus will continue to Hopa after the border, but delays are common.
2
Crossing the Sarpi Border (Georgia → Turkey)

The Sarpi border is notoriously slow, crowded, and unpredictable. Delays are very common — be prepared for long waits, pushing queues, and variable weather conditions.

Step-by-Step Border Process
1. Arrival at Georgian side: Bus stops → take all hand luggage with you (leave hold luggage on bus) → enter crowded passport hall
2. Georgian passport control: Expect pushing and queues (only limited people allowed in at once) → receive exit stamp
3. No-man’s-land: Proceed outside → collect hold luggage from the bus
4. Turkish side: All luggage scanned (X-ray) → pass security check → go through Turkish passport control
5. Re-board bus: Bus waits outside on Turkish side → continue journey to Hopa
Border delays are very common and unpredictable: We spent about 1 hour in passport/customs and waited another 2 hours in pouring rain for the bus to continue. Total time can easily be 2–4+ hours depending on crowds, weather, and any issues with the bus/driver.
The Georgian passport hall often feels like a “rugby scrum” — people push and shove hard to get to the front of the queue.
Take hand luggage when the bus stops. Bring rain protection (poncho/umbrella), snacks, water, and warm layers — even in summer the wait can be cold and wet. Stay calm, keep belongings secure, and be patient. If delays are extreme, you can leave the bus and take a taxi from the Turkish side (though finding one late at night can be difficult).
3
Sarpi Border / Hopa to Kars (Day 2)

After crossing Sarpi, the bus continues to Hopa (arrives late afternoon or evening). Stay overnight in Hopa. The next morning take the single daily bus from Hopa Otogar at 10:30 am to Kars, arriving around 17:30. Distance: approximately 300 km. The route is extremely scenic and beautiful.

Overnight in Hopa

Hopa Central Bus Station is about 1 km from the main strip of hotels and restaurants. Walk or take a short taxi to your accommodation. Find a place near the centre for convenience the next morning.

Hopa to Kars Bus Details
Departure: 10:30 am daily from Hopa Otogar
Arrival: Kars Central Bus Station ~17:30 (arrival time approximate)
Ticket price: 80 TL (buy at station or online via Biletall); approximately 16€ through a travel agent (~100 TL)
Otogar location: 1.5 km west along coastal highway (Karadeniz Sahil Yolu), next to petrol station
The Journey Hopa to Kars

This is one of the most beautiful bus routes in the region. The bus travels through lush valleys with rivers, along the sides of towering mountains, past ongoing dam construction sites, and through a series of massive tunnels bored directly through the mountains — an impressive feat of engineering. It stops for a lunch break along the way. Later, it crosses a pretty alpine meadow dotted with nomadic beekeepers before descending into Kars and terminating at the Kars Central Bus Station.

The Hopa–Kars highway showcases dramatic natural scenery combined with modern infrastructure — huge tunnels and dams carved through the rugged landscape.
Arrive at Hopa Otogar by 10:00 am to buy your ticket and board comfortably. Buy the day before if possible. Bring snacks, water, and a camera — the views are spectacular and constantly changing. Once in Kars, taxis or local transport are available from the central bus station to hotels and attractions.

Disclaimer: Information based on real traveller experience and current schedules at time of writing. Timetables, prices, border conditions, and bus availability can change without notice. Always verify locally (bus stations, Biletall, or official sources) before travel. Border crossings can be unpredictable — allow extra time. Safe journeys!