Kutaisi is the centre of the Imereti region in western Georgia and one of the country's oldest settlements. The Rioni river divides the city, which is remembered as the centre of the kingdom of Colchis and served as one of Georgia's medieval capitals. Gelati Monastery to the east was founded in 1106 by King David the Builder and worked as an academy as well as a monastery, and it is on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Prometheus Cave and the Okatse and Martvili canyons lie just outside the city, which makes Kutaisi a natural base for time outdoors.
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See flights to Kutaisi →When to visit Kutaisi
May to June and September to October are the most balanced months, with daytime temperatures between 20C and 27C that make canyon walks comfortable. July and August are humid and reach 32C, when the caves become a cool refuge. November to March is wet, and Imereti is among the rainiest regions of Georgia. The grape harvest falls between late September and October.
Things to do in Kutaisi
Gelati Monastery
Founded in 1106 by King David the Builder, the monastery counts among the most accomplished works of medieval Georgian architecture and is on the UNESCO World Heritage list. The 12th century mosaic of the Virgin in the apse of the main church and the wall paintings show Byzantine influence, and the founder's tomb lies at the south gate.
Bagrati Cathedral
Completed in 1003 under King Bagrat III, the cathedral stands on Ukimerioni hill above the city and lost its dome during an Ottoman siege in the 17th century. The extensive rebuilding finished in 2012 was criticised for altering its authenticity, and the building was removed from the UNESCO list in 2017. The hill gives a view over the whole city.
Prometheus Cave
Discovered in 1984 near Tskaltubo, about 20 kilometres northwest of Kutaisi, the cave has a visitor route roughly 1.4 kilometres long. Chambers hung with stalactites and stalagmites are walked along a lit path, and a boat trip on the underground river is also possible.
Martvili Canyon
Carved by the Abasha river through limestone, the canyon lies about 50 kilometres west of Kutaisi and is travelled by inflatable boat over its green water. The walkway above leads to the waterfalls and to the pool the Dadiani family once used for bathing.
Okatse Canyon
A steel walkway some 780 metres long is fixed to the canyon wall, carrying visitors about 140 metres above the valley floor. It is a walk of roughly 2.5 kilometres through forest from the entrance to the platform, and the viewing deck at the end projects out over the drop.
Colchis Fountain Kutaisi
The fountain on the city's main square is crowned with enlarged copies of ancient Colchian gold ornaments found in excavations across Imereti. The lions, horses and rams reproduce finds dated to the first millennium BC, and the square is where the city gathers in the evening.
Flights from Turkey to Kutaisi
A direct flight from Sabiha Gokcen to Kutaisi takes about 1 hour 50 minutes and the route is operated by Pegasus. It runs year round. Kutaisi airport grew as Georgia's low cost gateway, so fares are usually lower than to Tbilisi, and there are road connections on to Batumi and Tbilisi.
Kutaisi FAQ
How many days do you need in Kutaisi?
Two days cover the city centre together with Gelati and Bagrati. Adding Prometheus Cave and the Martvili and Okatse canyons calls for four, and many travellers use Kutaisi as a base before moving on to Batumi or Tbilisi.
How far is the airport from the city centre?
David the Builder Kutaisi International Airport is about 14 kilometres from the centre, a 20 minute drive. From the same airport Tbilisi is roughly three and a half hours away by road and Batumi about two.
Do you need a visa for Georgia?
Turkish citizens can stay up to a year without a visa, and a national identity card is accepted at the border in place of a passport. The currency is the Georgian lari. Cards are widely accepted in the city, though it is practical to carry cash at canyon and cave entrances.
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