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How do you get from Russia to Georgia?

By air, or by car or bus via Upper Lars.

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Short answer

From Russia you can fly direct to Tbilisi, Kutaisi or Batumi, or drive or take a bus through Upper Lars near Vladikavkaz, the only open land crossing. You cannot enter through Abkhazia: under Georgian law that is an illegal border crossing. Routes via Armenia or Turkey are also possible.

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Why

  1. Upper Lars is the only crossing on the Russia-Georgia land border through which you can legally enter Georgia.
  2. Direct flights between the two countries have operated since May 2023.
  3. Georgia's law on occupied territories bans entry via Abkhazia and South Ossetia from Russia.

Details

Vladikavkaz is about 200 kilometres from Tbilisi, and Moscow over 2,000 kilometres by road. In summer and on holidays there can be queues of several hours at Upper Lars, and in winter the Jvari Pass road sometimes closes because of snow.

Tip

Before heading to Upper Lars, check the pass road status on the Roads Department website.

What may differ

In season and on holidays the Upper Lars queue can last hours, and flights get more expensive.

Common misconception

You can travel from Russia to Georgia by direct train.

What actually happens

There's no direct passenger train; overland travel is by car or bus via Upper Lars.

People also ask

  • How can I travel from Russia to Georgia?

Sources

This answer is for reference only. Entry decisions are made by the Georgian border service and the rules may change, so check official sources before you travel.

Driving to Georgia from Russia

  • How do you get from Batumi to Gori?

    Batumi to Gori is about 300 kilometres, around four and a half to five hours by car via Kutaisi and the Rikoti Pass.

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  • What transport runs between cities in Georgia?

    Georgia's main intercity transport is the marshrutka minibus, running from bus stations to almost every town and village; in Tbilisi these are mainly Didube, Ortachala and Samgori.

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  • How do you get from Ukraine to Georgia?

    There are currently no direct flights from Ukraine to Georgia, so travellers first go to a neighbouring country such as Poland, Moldova or Romania and fly from there to Tbilisi, Kutaisi or Batumi.

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  • How do you get from Borjomi to Kutaisi?

    Borjomi to Kutaisi is about 150 kilometres, roughly two and a half to three hours.

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