Georgia
Cards, ATMs and cash in Georgia: what to expect
Cards work in Tbilisi and Batumi hotels, supermarkets, cafés and Bolt, but cash still runs marshrutkas, village guesthouses, markets and small wine stops. Carry GEL 100–200 in small notes, withdraw from bank-branded ATMs inside branches, and always choose to be charged in GEL, not your home currency.
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GuideGeorgia
Key facts
- Card acceptance
- Widely accepted in Tbilisi and Batumi; patchy in villages and for marshrutkas
- Cash still needed for
- Marshrutkas, markets, small guesthouses, tips, rural taxi and wine stops
- ATM withdrawal feecheck
- Local bank fee often GEL 2–5 plus your own bank's fee (check)
- Safest ATMs
- Bank-branded machines attached to a branch, during opening hours
- Currency choice at the terminal
- Always pay in GEL; refuse dynamic currency conversion
- Contactlesscheck
- Works for Tbilisi metro and buses with a bank card (check)
- Card networkscheck
- Visa and Mastercard widely accepted; Amex patchy (check)
Details
Georgia is a mostly cash-friendly country that has moved quickly to cards in its two big cities. In Tbilisi and Batumi you can pay by card at hotels, supermarkets, chain cafés, restaurants and Bolt rides, and contactless is normal. Outside those cities the picture changes fast: guesthouses in Svaneti, family wineries in Kakheti, market stalls and almost all marshrutka drivers expect cash in GEL.
Plan a two-pocket system. Keep a card for hotels, fuel, supermarkets and app rides, and carry GEL 100–200 in mixed notes for the day. Small notes matter: a GEL 100 note can be hard to break at a village shop or a GEL 1 marshrutka fare.
Withdraw from an ATM attached to a bank branch, ideally during opening hours, and use the machine inside the lobby when there is one. Standalone machines in tourist streets and clubs carry higher fees and more skimming risk. If a machine offers to convert your withdrawal into USD or EUR, decline: the rate is worse than your own bank's.
Notify your bank before you travel if it requires it, and carry a second card from a different network stored separately. Visa and Mastercard are the reliable pair; American Express is accepted in fewer places (check).
| Situation | Card | Cash |
|---|---|---|
| Tbilisi hotel, supermarket, chain café | Yes | Not needed |
| Batumi restaurants and bars | Usually | Useful for small bills |
| Marshrutka, rural taxi | No | Required, small notes |
| Village guesthouse, family winery | Often no | Required |
| Tbilisi metro and buses | Bank card tap (check) | Metromoney card (check) |
| Markets and street stalls | Rarely | Required |
Acceptance varies by owner and season; ask before you order (check).
Summary table
Use this as a quick rule of thumb for what to carry and what to expect to pay.
| Item | What to expect | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ATM local fee | GEL 2–5 per withdrawal (check) | Plus your home bank's fee |
| ATM daily limit | Often GEL 1,000–2,000 (check) | Varies by bank and card |
| Card payment fee | Usually none added | Merchant absorbs it |
| Dynamic currency conversion | Avoid | Choose GEL at the terminal |
| Cash to carry daily | GEL 100–200 | Small notes |
| Emergency backup | Second card, separate place | Different network if possible |
Fees and limits are set by each bank and can change; confirm at the machine (check).
Tips
Withdraw larger amounts less often: a single GEL 500 withdrawal usually costs less than three GEL 200 ones once your home bank's fixed fee is added.
Keep your card in sight when paying. In small shops the terminal is often behind the counter, so walk with the waiter or ask them to bring it to you.
Photograph your card front and back, and store the pictures in a password manager rather than your camera roll. If a card is swallowed, the branch can usually return it during opening hours.
Carry a few GEL 5 and GEL 10 notes for marshrutkas, toilets and tips. Drivers rarely have change for a GEL 50.
If you plan to move around by metro and bus in Tbilisi, test your contactless bank card at the gate before relying on it; otherwise buy a Metromoney card (check).
For exchange rates and where to change leftover cash, see the country money pages linked below.
FAQ
Questions people ask
Are credit cards widely accepted in Georgia?
In Tbilisi and Batumi, yes: hotels, supermarkets, restaurants and Bolt all take Visa and Mastercard. Outside the cities, acceptance drops sharply. Carry GEL cash for marshrutkas, markets, village guesthouses and small wineries.
Which ATMs have the lowest fees in Georgia?
Bank-branded ATMs attached to a branch are usually the cheapest and safest, with local fees around GEL 2–5 plus your own bank's charge (check). Avoid standalone machines in tourist streets and nightlife areas, and always decline conversion to your home currency.
Should I pay in local currency or my own?
Always choose GEL. If the terminal or ATM offers to charge you in USD, EUR or your home currency, that is dynamic currency conversion and the rate is worse. Paying in GEL lets your bank set the rate.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check
Sources
- officialNational Bank of Georgia
- officialGeorgian National Tourism Administration
- secondaryWikivoyage – Georgia