Tbilisi

Drivers who are hailed directly on the street may quote visitors a substantially higher fare, particularly around tourist areas, transport hubs or after arrival at the airport.

Avoid it: Use Bolt or Yandex Go rather than negotiating with a taxi on the street. Both show the trip price in the app before or during booking. Bolt is a useful default for visitors, while Yandex Go provides an alternative. If you take a street taxi, agree on the complete fare in Georgian lari (GEL) before getting into the car.

Some taxis may be older, poorly maintained or lack usable rear seatbelts. Driving standards can also vary considerably between drivers.

Avoid it: Prefer Bolt or Yandex Go so you can check the driver, vehicle and rating before the trip. When the car arrives, make sure the registration plate matches the app and check that your seatbelt works. If the vehicle appears unsafe, cancel and request another one. Families should not assume a child seat will be available unless one has been arranged in advance.

Tbilisi is not generally associated with extreme levels of pickpocketing, but opportunistic theft can occur in crowded places, transport hubs, markets or nightlife areas.

Avoid it: Keep your phone and wallet in a closed front pocket or zipped bag. Keep backpacks closed on buses and the metro. At cafés and restaurants, avoid leaving a phone or handbag unattended or hanging loosely from the back of a chair. Keep a digital copy of important travel documents separately.

Visitors may occasionally receive noticeably higher quotes for informal services, taxis or souvenirs in heavily tourist-oriented areas.

Avoid it: For taxis, compare the fare in Bolt or Yandex Go. For souvenirs, compare several sellers before buying expensive items, particularly around Old Tbilisi, Kote Apkhazi Street, Meidan and Dry Bridge Market. For services without a displayed price, ask for the total amount in GEL before agreeing.

Exchange offices are common around Tbilisi and their rates can differ. Travelers can also misunderstand the displayed buy and sell rates.

Avoid it: Georgia uses the Georgian lari (GEL). Before handing over cash, ask exactly how many GEL you will receive and whether any commission applies. Compare several exchange offices for larger amounts and count the money before leaving the counter.

Some ATMs may offer to convert a GEL withdrawal into the cardholder’s home currency. That conversion can use a less favorable exchange rate.

Avoid it: Choose to be charged in GEL and normally decline the ATM’s own currency conversion. If given a choice between conversion and continuing without conversion, select the option that keeps the transaction in GEL. Prefer ATMs operated by established Georgian banks.