Which cards work in Georgia
The key question for many travelers in 2026. In short:
| Card | Works? | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Visa / Mastercard (non-RU) | yes | ~90% of places in Tbilisi, ATMs |
| Mir card (Russia) | no | not accepted anywhere |
| UnionPay | partly | some ATMs and malls |
| Georgian / Armenian / Kazakh bank cards | yes | everywhere |
The key point: Russian-issued Visa/Mastercard and Mir cards do not work in Georgia due to sanctions. Cards issued outside Russia work fine. If you're coming from Russia, the usual working options are a card from another country (Armenia, Kazakhstan, UAE) or cash. For exchange rates and where to change money, see our first-time guide →.
ATMs: where and how much to withdraw
Tbilisi has plenty of ATMs: TBC, Bank of Georgia, Liberty — on every corner. Withdrawing lari with a foreign Visa/Mastercard is no problem. A few notes:
- Per-transaction limit is usually ₾2,000-3,000, depending on the ATM.
- The ATM may offer "conversion in your currency" (DCC) — always decline and withdraw in lari; your bank's rate is better.
- Some TBC and Bank of Georgia ATMs dispense US dollars — handy if you need cash in USD.
Where you need cash
You can pay by card almost everywhere in Tbilisi, but always keep some lari in cash. You'll need it here:
- Markets and small shops (churchkhela, spices, souvenirs).
- Some taxis, especially street ones — see the Tbilisi taxi guide →.
- Minibuses (marshrutka) and rural transport.
- Small family cafés and guesthouses in the regions (Kazbegi, Svaneti).
- Tips where there's no terminal — see tipping in Georgia →.
Fees and conversion
When you pay in a currency other than your home one, your issuing bank charges a conversion fee (usually 0.5-2%). Within Georgia, shops and restaurants add nothing extra for card payment. The main trap is DCC ("pay in your currency"): the terminal offers to lock the amount in your currency at a poor rate. Always choose to pay in lari.
Should you open a Georgian bank account
For a short trip — no need; cash and a foreign card are enough. An account at TBC or Bank of Georgia makes sense for expats and long-stayers: you get a local card that works everywhere. For settling in Tbilisi long-term, see our guide to exploring Georgia →.
Practical tips
- Bring some cash dollars/euros — they're easy and cheap to change into lari.
- Don't keep all your money on one card; hold part in cash.
- Exchange is better at city bureaus than at the airport (worse rate there).
- Planning a budget? Check Georgia first-time tips →.
- Don't forget travel insurance — mandatory to enter Georgia since 2026.
Planning a trip and don't want to deal with the details?
Take a guided tour — we'll help with money, exchange and everything on the ground. Groups up to 7, hotel pickup.