Border crossings can be confusing—especially when there’s little information online. During our overland trip from Romania to the Stans, we travelled across the length of Turkey with the goal of crossing the border into Georgia to reach Batumi. We planned to use the Sarp border crossing, but with so many unknowns, it was hard to figure out the best way to do it.
Now that we’ve done it, we want to share our experience of crossing from Turkey to Batumi—and our tips on crossing the border between Turkey and Georgia without stress.
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Which Border Crossing to Use?
Crossing the border from Turkey to Georgia (or the other way around) is a popular route for travellers heading into the Caucasus. Our journey started in Istanbul and took us across the country using Turkey’s bus and train network to reach Cappadocia. That part was easy.
Things changed after Cappadocia. Transport options became less frequent, and after Erzurum, bigger cities were few and far between. Turkey is huge—and when you’re heading for the Sarp border crossing in the far east, the bus journeys can start to feel long.
The Sarp border crossing is the most popular way to cross between Turkey and Georgia. There are other options, but Sarp is the busiest, most efficient, and best connected. Public transport runs regularly on both sides.
We expected crossing the border between Turkey and Georgia to be stressful. But it turned out to be simple. If you know how to cross the Turkey-Georgia border and what to expect, it’s an easy process. Which is exactly why we wrote this guide—to help make your journey just as smooth as ours!
Getting to the Sarp Border Crossing
Now that we’ve covered which border crossing to use, let’s talk about how to get to the Sarp border crossing. We used a local bus company in Erzurum, which we highly recommend. They run connections to towns along Turkey’s Black Sea coast, making it easy to get to (or from) Hopa near the Sarp border. You can use them to go between major cities like Erzurum, or coastal spots like Rize and Trabzon. It’s a reliable and affordable way to travel to the border.
We booked our journey with Yesil Artvin Ekspres, a local bus company based in Erzurum. You can book tickets online or directly at the Erzurum bus station. We actually met a super friendly staff member there. He not only helped us book our ticket for the next day but also drove us to our hotel and gave us a quick tour of Erzurum! Just another reminder that Turkish hospitality is the BEST!
If you’re looking for a bus from Erzurum to the Sarp border crossing, this company is a great option. They also run routes to other Black Sea destinations like Rize and Trabzon, making it easy to reach the border or vice versa. They’ll drop you off in the border town of Hopa. In our opinion Hopa isn’t really worth spending much time at. It’s quite a busy town along the Black Sea coast with lots of bazaars and places to eat.
Crossing the border between Turkey and Georgia
Once you’ve reached Hopa in Turkey, you’ll need to make your way to Sarp. This is where the border crossing is located. It’s about a 30-minute drive from Hopa, and it’s the last Turkish town before entering Georgia. The best and cheapest way to do this is via a Dolmus which is a shared minibus. These buses leave when they are full but they are extremely cost efficient and only set us back 60 Turkish Lira each (which is about £1.20).
You’ll find the Dolmus vans lined up just outside Hotel Cihan in Hopa. Once you’ve paid the driver and the van is full, it’ll take you straight to the land border crossing between Turkey and Georgia at Sarp.
You can also take a taxi to the Sarp border but it’ll cost a lot more. You’re much better off with the cheap and reliable bus service (unless you’re pressed for time).
Getting to Batumi!
Once you arrive at the border, just follow the signs. Before you know it, you’ll be in Georgia. Our crossing was quick and efficient—less than 20 minutes. We crossed the border in April but bear in mind that the border is likely to be busier in the summer months.
After clearing the Turkish checkpoint, you’ll find places to exchange currency. We highly recommend exchanging money here, as you’ll need cash to catch a minibus to Batumi and other destinations in Georgia.
Just like you can catch a Dolmus to the border on the Turkish side, you can take a Marshrutka (the Georgian equivalent) from Sarpi to Batumi. The journey costs just 2 Georgian Lari (around £0.55), takes about 20 minutes, and leaves once the van is full. It’s the easiest and cheapest way to reach Batumi from the Georgia border. Just tell the driver where to stop—and that’s it, you’re in Georgia!
Our thoughts on crossing the border between Turkey and Georgia
Originally, we thought crossing the border between Turkey and Georgia would be a nightmare. But it actually turned out to be pretty straightforward. Thankfully, we used a reliable bus company to get us to Hopa, and once there, the locals were incredibly friendly—pointing us straight to the Dolmus heading for the border. If you’re well-prepared and know what to expect, crossing the border between Turkey and Georgia is smooth and stress-free—and the bus to Batumi is just as easy.
If you’re looking for more travel tips or guides then check out our other posts here!
