A large building with a clock tower on top of it

Kutaisi

Western Georgia's old royal capital, with a ruined 11th-century cathedral, a UNESCO monastery nearby and a river-side old town.

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Kutaisi is a city in Imereti, western Georgia, and the administrative capital of the Imereti region. It sits on both banks of the Rioni River, about 220 kilometers west of Tbilisi. King Bagrat III moved the Georgian kingdom's capital here in 978. His Bagrati Cathedral, built in the early 11th century, is now a ruin and the city's landmark.

Gelati Monastery, built by King David IV between 1106 and 1125 and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, lies a few kilometers east of the city. The old town climbs the slopes of the right bank, with narrow streets, stairs and stone and brick houses with glazed balconies. Use Kutaisi as a base for day trips to Sataplia Cave, with its dinosaur footprints, and the spa resort of Tskaltubo. Summers are hot and winters wet and cool, so spring and autumn suit walking best.

Kutaisi in five

Weigh a driver before renting for the canyonsFCDO flags poor roads outside city centers, stray livestock and landslides, and says heavy rain can make remote routes impassable. A tour or driver removes that from a caves-and-canyons day.UK travel advice
Budget 40 GEL plus a 30 GEL boat for Prometheus CaveThe Agency of Protected Areas lists a 40 GEL ticket for foreign adults and a separate 30 GEL boat tour, bought with a ticket. Open daily 10:00 to 17:00; boating stops if the cave water rises.Agency of Protected Areas
Check the forecast before Okatse and MartviliOkatse's hanging walkway closes in rain or snow, and Martvili's boat tour does not run in rain. Both list 20 GEL for foreign adults, so keep a museum or Gelati day as the wet-weather swap.Okatse Canyon fees
Pair Gelati, Bagrati and Motsameta in one morningGelati is a UNESCO-listed monastery near the city, Bagrati Cathedral dates from 1003 and Motsameta lies about 6 km away. Cover shoulders and knees, since many Orthodox churches expect modest dress.
Treat Kutaisi as a gateway, not only an airportThe airport is a low-cost hub 14 km west of the city. By road Batumi is 2 h 15 min, Tbilisi about 3 h 30 min and Mestia 4 h 20 min away, so Kutaisi can anchor a western Georgia loop.Batumi travel guide

Things to do in Kutaisi

See all attractions in Kutaisi

Church · KutaisiBagrati Cathedral

Museum · KutaisiKutaisi State Historical Museum

Landmark · KutaisiColchis Fountain

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to KutaisiPut the places you like in Kutaisi on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Kutaisi (KUT), 14 km west of the city; a low-cost hub
Getting there: By road: Batumi 2 h 15 min, Tbilisi about 3 h 30 min
Getting around: Walk the center; car or tour for caves and canyons
Best base: Central Kutaisi near the river and boulevard
Time needed: 1 day in town; 2 or 3 with caves and canyons

Weather by month

Rainy days
Snowy days

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryRain15 rainy days3 snowy daysHigh9°Low2°Cool, damp
FebruaryRain14 rainy days3 snowy daysHigh10°Low2°Cool
MarchRain18 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh13°Low5°Mild
AprilRain13 rainy daysHigh19°Low9°Green, rain
MayRain16 rainy daysHigh22°Low12°Warm, caves cool
JuneRain17 rainy daysHigh27°Low17°Hot
JulyRain16 rainy daysHigh29°Low19°Hot, humid
AugustClear12 rainy daysHigh31°Low20°Hottest
SeptemberRain13 rainy daysHigh26°Low17°Dry, harvest
OctoberRain12 rainy daysHigh21°Low12°Autumn
NovemberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh16°Low8°Wet
DecemberRain13 rainy days3 snowy daysHigh11°Low4°Cold, damp

Average daily high and low in Kutaisi, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Kutaisi

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 13°
Humidity: 61%
Wind: 13 km/h
Chance of rain: 8%

Kutaisi

12:47 AM

Tuesday, November 3

GMT+4

Today23°16°8%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 23°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 8%.
Wed17°14°79%Wednesday: Rain. High 17°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 79%.
Thu14°8°100%Thursday: Thunderstorms. High 14°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 100%.
Fri11°8°73%Friday: Rain. High 11°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 73%.
Sat8°5°76%Saturday: Rain. High 8°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 76%.
Sun5°1°76%Sunday: Thunderstorms. High 5°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 76%.

Updated 09:50 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 2.595 GEL

Amount

Converted to

GEL · Georgian Lari

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

Day trips by train

Prometheus Caveabout 40 km by roadA karst cave with six halls open to visitors and an optional underground boat section.
Okatse Canyonabout 50 km by roadA 780 m hanging walkway over the canyon, reached by minibus or car.
Sataplia Reserve7 km from the centerDinosaur footprints, a karst cave and a glass viewing platform.

Before you go to Kutaisi

Cave and canyon day toursPickups, no mountain drivingCompare day trips

Guesthouses in KutaisiCentral bases near the riverCheck availability

eSIM for KutaisiNavigation on canyon-road daysRead the guide

Insurance for ImeretiRoads, caves and canyon daysRead the guide

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Rules for Kutaisi, checked

Prometheus Cave: open daily 10:00 to 17:00; foreign adult ticket 40 GEL, boat tour 30 GEL extra; boating stops if the water level rises.Checked Oct 4, 2026 · Source
Okatse Canyon: 20 GEL for foreign adults, open 10:00 to 17:00 daily; the walkway is closed in rain and snow (Agency of Protected Areas).Checked Oct 4, 2026 · Source
Martvili Canyon: 20 GEL for foreign adults and 20 GEL for the boat, open 10:00 to 18:00; no boat tours in rain or snow.Checked Oct 4, 2026 · Source

Plan around Kutaisi

Great Caucasus planner

Svaneti starts here: Mestia is 4 h 20 min by road

Read the guide Batumi travel guide

The Black Sea coast, 2 h 15 min by road

Read the guide Tbilisi travel guide

The capital, about 3 h 30 min east

Read the guide All of Georgia

Entry rules and how the west links to the east

Read the guide Driving permit rules

Who needs an IDP before renting for the canyons

Read the guide Travel insurance

The 30,000 GEL entry rule and activity cover

Read the guide

Kutaisi FAQ

Is Kutaisi worth visiting or just a stopover?

It is worth a day for Bagrati Cathedral, the river-side center and Gelati, and two or three days if you add Prometheus Cave, Sataplia and Okatse. The airport alone is a poor reason to stay.

How do you get to Prometheus Cave from Kutaisi?

The cave is about 40 km from the city near Kumistavi village, so most visitors go by tour, taxi or rental car. The Agency of Protected Areas lists daily hours of 10:00 to 17:00 and a boat section that stops if the water rises.

How much does Okatse Canyon cost for foreigners?

The Agency of Protected Areas lists 20 GEL for foreign adults, 5.50 GEL for ages 6 to 18 and free entry under 6. The route takes 2 to 3 hours and walking is not allowed in rain or snow.

Can you stop in Kutaisi between Batumi and Tbilisi?

Yes. Kutaisi is 2 h 15 min from Batumi and about 3 h 30 min from Tbilisi by road, so it splits the journey into two comfortable legs. Sleep over to add Gelati and one cave or canyon.

When is the best time to visit Kutaisi?

May, June, September and October suit walking and caves. Georgia Travel describes Imereti summers as dry and hot and winters as cold. Okatse's active season runs from April to November.