If you have traveled across the Caspian Sea to Baku, you may be tempted to go to Georgia to try their famous wine and cuisine. Baku itself is a nice city, and there are a few attractions worth checking out. Luckily it is very easy to get from Baku to Tbilisi, Georgia. One of the best options is to take the night train. The train runs once a day, leaving at 8:40PM and arrives in Tbilisi around 9:30AM the next day. Taking the train is convenient, comfortable, and saves you the cost of a night in a hotel.
Tickets
Tickets for the train can be purchased at Baku Central Railway Station. The station is located at the 28 May/Jafar Jabbarli station of the metro, a transfer station between the green and red lines. Follow the signs from the Metro to the station and the ticket counters. There is a take a number system and everything is well organized. Tickets cost between 23 and 58 Azerbaijani Manat depending on the class of travel.
Tickets can also be purchased online using the Azerbaijan Railways website.
Train
The train has the standard Soviet classes of travel; Spalny Vagon (SV) two-person compartments, Kupe (KP) four-person compartments, and Platskart (PL) open sleeping cars. The Azerbaijan Railways trains are somewhat old, but clean bed linens are provided. In terms of value of money the Kupe class trains are a good balance between cost and comfort. Hot water machines are located at the end of each car. Small snacks and tea are available for purchase.
Border
The train arrives at the border at around 6 AM. Leaving Azerbaijan, border officials collect passports and take them away to be stamped. Arriving in Georgia the border formalities, including the passport stamping is done on the train. Bathrooms are closed while the train is crossing the border. Crossing the border takes an hour and a half for each side, around three hours total. The border officials are professional and will likely want to take a cursory glance inside your luggage.
Arrival in Tbilisi
The Tbilisi Central Railway Station is right next to Station Square Metro station. Rechargeable metro cards are sold at windows inside the metro station. One ride costs half a Georgian Lari and the card itself is 2 Lari. You can use the ATMs or money changers before leaving the railway station to get some Georgian Lari. The Metro is a convenient way to get around town, and in fact we consider it an attraction in itself! Check out our list of more things to do in Tbilisi here.
