How to Get from Turkey to Georgia: Border Crossings, Flights and What to Expect

Turkey and Georgia share a border on the Black Sea coast, and the combination of the two countries in a single trip is one of the most rewarding itineraries in the region. Eastern Turkey's Kaçkar mountains, the Black Sea highlands and the ancient Georgian churches of Artvin province connect directly into Georgia's own extraordinary landscape — Tbilisi, the wine region of Kakheti, the mountain villages of Svaneti.

The crossing itself is simple. The planning requires a little more thought.

Option 1: The Sarp Border Crossing (Land)

The Sarp border crossing is the only land border between Turkey and Georgia on the Black Sea coast, connecting the Turkish town of Sarp (in Artvin province) to the Georgian town of Sarpi, just outside Batumi.

Where it is: Sarp is approximately 20 km north of Hopa, the last significant Turkish town on the coast road. From Trabzon: approximately 2 hours by road. From Artvin: approximately 1.5 hours.

How to cross:

By bus:

• Several bus companies operate direct Trabzon → Batumi services passing through Sarp
• Journey time Trabzon → Batumi: approximately 3.5–4 hours
• Cost: approximately €8–15 per person
• Buses from Trabzon's otogar (bus terminal) — check current operators at the terminal as schedules change

By dolmuş and walking:

• Take a dolmuş from Hopa to the Sarp border post (approximately €2)
• Walk across the border on foot (the pedestrian crossing is straightforward)
• Take Georgian transport (taxi, marshrutka) from the Georgian side into Batumi (approximately 15 km, 20 minutes)

By taxi:

• A private taxi Trabzon → Batumi costs approximately €50–70 — comfortable and direct

By rental car:

• Most Turkish rental car companies prohibit taking vehicles into Georgia — check your rental agreement before attempting this
• Georgian rental cars can be rented in Batumi for onward travel within Georgia

The crossing itself:

• Turkish exit procedures: passport stamped, straightforward
• Georgian entry: most Western nationalities enter Georgia visa-free for up to 365 days — one of the most generous visa policies in the world. Check current requirements for your nationality at georgia.gov.ge before travel
• The crossing is open 24 hours
• Peak times (July–August, Georgian national holidays) can produce queues of 1–2 hours for vehicles; pedestrians move significantly faster

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Option 2: Fly Istanbul → Tbilisi or Batumi

From Istanbul:

• Georgian Airways, Turkish Airlines, Pegasus, Wizz Air all operate Istanbul (IST or SAW) → Tbilisi (TBS) routes
• Flight time: approximately 2 hours 30 minutes
• Prices: typically €40–120 one way depending on airline and advance booking

From Istanbul to Batumi:

• Several airlines operate Istanbul → Batumi (BUS) — approximately 2 hours
• Batumi is Georgia's Black Sea resort city and the most convenient entry point for western Georgia

From Trabzon:

• Trabzon Airport (TZX) has limited connections to Tbilisi — check current schedules as routes vary seasonally

The flight advantage: Much faster than the land crossing for those coming from Istanbul or western Turkey. The disadvantage is cost and losing the scenic Black Sea coastal drive.

Option 3: Combine the Two Directions

The most satisfying itinerary for those combining Turkey and Georgia: enter Georgia overland via Sarp and exit by flight (or vice versa). This allows you to experience the coastal landscape at ground level in one direction and save time with a flight in the other.

Practical Information

Visas:

• Georgia for Turkish citizens: Visa-free for up to 90 days
• Georgia for EU/UK/US/Australian/Canadian citizens: Visa-free for up to 365 days — exceptional access
• Georgia for Indian citizens: E-visa required — apply at evisa.gov.ge

Currency:

• Turkey: Turkish Lira (TRY). Current rate: 1 EUR ≈ 56 TRY
• Georgia: Georgian Lari (GEL). Current rate: approximately 1 EUR ≈ 2.75 GEL
• Georgian lari is not widely available outside Georgia — exchange at Batumi or Tbilisi ATMs on arrival

Time zone:

• Turkey is UTC+3
• Georgia is also UTC+4 — 1 hour ahead of Turkey

What to see in Georgia:

• Tbilisi — one of the most atmospheric capitals in the former Soviet space; the old town, the cable car, the sulphur baths
• Kakheti wine region — Georgia is one of the world's oldest wine-producing countries; the wine tour from Tbilisi is extraordinary
• Svaneti — remote mountain region with medieval tower villages; UNESCO World Heritage
• Batumi — Black Sea beach city with a lively waterfront and a surprisingly good old town

How to Combine Turkey and Georgia in One Trip

10-day itinerary: Black Sea Turkey + Georgia

• Days 1–3: Trabzon — Hagia Sophia, Atatürk Mansion, Sümela Monastery
• Day 4: Uzungöl day trip — the famous highland lake
• Day 5: Artvin — Georgian churches of Yusufeli valley (the Çoruh River valley contains some of the oldest Georgian Christian monuments, now partially submerged by dams but still significant)
• Day 6: Cross the Sarp border into Batumi — arrive, settle in
• Days 7–8: Tbilisi — old town, cable car, sulphur baths, Georgian food
• Day 9: Kakheti wine region day trip
• Day 10: Fly Tbilisi → Istanbul → home

Want to see eastern Turkey's Black Sea region before crossing into Georgia?
Our Black Sea and Eastern Anatolia tours cover Trabzon, Artvin and the Kaçkar highlands — the perfect foundation for a Turkey–Georgia combination trip.

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