Kutaisi, Georgia: travel guide
Ancient capital in the Imereti region, gateway to the UNESCO-listed Gelati Monastery and Bagrati Cathedral, plus nearby Prometheus Cave and Sataplia canyons.
- Country
- Georgia
- Currency
- GEL
- Time zone
- Asia/Tbilisi
- Nearest airport
- KUT
Top places to visit in Kutaisi
Gelati Monastery
Monastery · 4.7 rating · about 1.3 h
UNESCO World Heritage monastery founded in 1106 by King David the Builder, Georgia's greatest medieval cultural and educational centre, its churches covered in brilliant mosaics and frescoes.
Bagrati Cathedral
Church · 4.7 rating · about 0.8 h
An 11th-century cathedral on Ukimerioni Hill built by King Bagrat III, a masterpiece of medieval Georgian architecture reconstructed in 2012, overlooking Kutaisi.
Kutaisi State Historical Museum
Museum · 4.1 rating · about 1 h · entry GEL 7
Regional museum with an important collection of Georgian gold, icons, manuscripts and ecclesiastical treasures from the Imereti kingdom.
Colchis Fountain
Heritage · 4.7 rating · about 0.3 h
Kutaisi's central fountain, ringed by giant gold-coloured replicas of ancient Colchian jewellery and animal figurines drawn from local archaeological finds.
Kutaisi Green Bazaar
Market · 4.6 rating · about 0.8 h
Kutaisi's sprawling central market, piled with Imeretian cheese, churchkhela, spices, honey, fruit and produce — a vivid slice of western Georgian daily life.
Motsameta Monastery
Monastery · about 0.8 h
A small, dramatically sited monastery on a rocky promontory above the Tskaltsitela River gorge, holding the relics of the martyred brothers David and Constantine Mkheidze.
Prometheus Cave
Nature · about 1.5 h · entry GEL 23
One of Georgia's largest show caves near Tskaltubo, with 1.6 km of walkways past stalactites, underground rivers and coloured lighting, plus an optional boat ride out.
Sataplia Nature Reserve
Nature · about 1.3 h · entry GEL 17
A small protected reserve just outside Kutaisi combining a stalactite cave, preserved dinosaur footprints and a glass-floored viewing platform over the Colchis forest.
Things to do
- Prometheus Cave & Sataplia Day Tour Day Trip · 6 h · from GEL 120 per person
- Gelati, Motsameta & Bagrati Tour Cultural · 4 h · from GEL 110 per person
- Okatse Canyon & Kinchkha Waterfall Trek Hiking · 7 h · from GEL 130 per person
- Martvili Canyon Boat Trip Boat · 6 h · from GEL 120 per person
Day trips and tours
- Imereti Caves & Monasteries 8 h · from GEL 140
Where to stay in Kutaisi
- Kutaisi Centre about GEL 150 per night
Compact central area near the river, White Bridge and Green Bazaar, walkable and well-priced.
Hotels
- Best Western Kutaisi 4-star · GEL 160 to GEL 350 per night
- Hotel Argo 3-star · GEL 90 to GEL 180 per night
- Kutaisi Central Hostel 2-star · GEL 30 to GEL 110 per night
Where to eat
- Magnolia Georgian, Imeretian · about GEL 40 per person
- El Depo Georgian · about GEL 22 per person
- Palaty Georgian, European · about GEL 38 per person
- Baraqa Georgian · about GEL 28 per person
Getting around
- Bus main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Minibus main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Taxi main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Walking main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.