Ankara to Tbilisi (ESB–TBS) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections

Turkish passport holders enter Georgia visa-free for up to 1 year. No fee, no advance application. You can enter with a passport or the new-type Turkish ID card with a chip. Passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of entry. At Tbilisi (TBS) or Kutaisi (KUT) airports, you receive a stamp and that's it. Georgia is one of the most accessible destinations for Turkish travelers, with no visa paperwork and the longest visa-free stay available to Turkish nationals anywhere.

The 1-year stay covers tourism, visiting family, and short business trips but does not include the right to work. For employment, apply for a work permit through a Georgian employer. Turkey and Georgia share a land border at Sarp-Sarpi (Artvin to Batumi), one of the busiest overland crossings in the region. The border operates 24 hours and processes vehicles and pedestrians. Batumi is just 15 minutes from the Turkish border.

Direct flights from Istanbul (IST) to Tbilisi run about 2 hours 30 minutes on Turkish Airlines and Georgian Airways. Istanbul to Batumi runs about 2 hours 15 minutes. Ankara, Trabzon, and Antalya also have seasonal direct service. Georgia uses the Georgian lari (GEL), trading at roughly 0.08 GEL per TRY 1 (or about 12.5 TRY per GEL 1). ATMs are common in Tbilisi and Batumi. Card payments work at restaurants, shops, and hotels. Tbilisi Metro costs GEL 1.00 per ride (about TRY 12.50). Marshrutkas (minibuses) connect cities cheaply: Tbilisi to Batumi costs GEL 25 to GEL 35 (TRY 310 to TRY 440) for a 5-hour ride.