Things to do in Kutaisi: A Guide to Georgia’s Ancient City

Kutaisi is unique for its 3,000+ year history as one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities. Believed to be the mythical destination for Jason and the Argonauts, Kutaisi has been a centre of Georgian culture, power, and enlightenment for millennia. Today, Bagrati Cathedral dominates the city skyline, and the UNESCO-listed Gelati Monastery is close by, too. Between them, they tell a compelling story of Georgia’s golden age under the great medieval kings.

Kutaisi isn’t about ticking off a long list of sights – it’s about slowing down, eating well, and exploring at your own pace. The city is compact and walkable, with a relaxed atmosphere and an excellent food and wine scene. And with some of western Georgia’s most spectacular natural attractions right on its doorstep, the day trip options alone make it worth the trip. Budget flights from across Europe make it an easy and affordable place to start a Georgian adventure.

This is my guide covering the best things to do in Kutaisi and beyond.

This guide may include a few affiliate links. If you choose to buy something through one of them, I may earn a small commission (at no cost to you). Thank you for supporting One Small Bag and helping keep this resource ad-free and independent.

Is Kutaisi worth visiting

Absolutely – and in many ways, Kutaisi offers a more authentic Georgian experience than the capital. As Georgia’s third city, it’s small and compact enough to explore comfortably on foot, and refreshingly non-commercialised compared to Tbilisi or the Black Sea bustle of Batumi. Prices are budget-friendly across the board, and the food scene is excellent. This is a great city in which to eat well and eat Georgian.

Beyond the city itself, Kutaisi is an ideal base for exploring some of western Georgia’s best natural attractions. Prometheus Cave, Martvili Canyon, and Okatse Canyon are all within easy reach for day trips, offering the kind of dramatic scenery – underground rivers, turquoise gorges, waterfalls – that would be headline attractions in most European countries.

It’s also worth noting that Kutaisi has its own international airport, well served by Wizz Air, making it a practical and affordable entry point into Georgia, and a very good reason to start your trip here rather than treating it as an afterthought.

Map of Things to do in Kutaisi

I created a map of all the places I’ve mentioned here for your trip to Kutaisi.

We will start in the centre at Kutaisi’s Central Square, David Aghmashenebeli, and cover the central attractions first, which are all just a few minutes’ walk away from each other.

1 Count the horses on the Colchis Fountain

The Colchis Fountain is one of the most striking landmarks in Kutaisi and the natural centrepiece of Central Square – David Aghmashenebeli, the city’s main public square. The square itself is more like a roundabout, and you’ll need to dodge the traffic to get close to it.

Unveiled in 2011, the fountain features rings of gilded replicas of Bronze Age animal figurines, including lions, rams, tigers, sheep, mountain goats (tura) and deer. It’s topped with two golden horses. A nod to the region’s deep roots in Greek mythology, as the land of the Golden Fleece. The multi-tiered fountains are particularly impressive, even more so at night when they’re lit up. It really is unlike any fountains I’ve seen anywhere else.

2 Wander in Central Park

Next, go to Central Park, not because it is the second most important thing to do in Kutaisi, but because it’s right next to the fountain. A welcome green escape and shade from the sun, on a hot day, in the heart of the city. The tree-lined paths lead you through a wide variety of public art, from traditional styles to more modern and quirky pieces. A team of groundsmen and landscapers were there, making improvements and also making themselves at home, hanging their belongings from the statues. Check out some of the striking buildings surrounding the park, too.

3 Find the Soviet sculpture complex

One of Kutaisi’s more unusual sights is the collection of Soviet sculptures near the city hall, including the “Glory to Labour” monument. It’s slightly surreal and a little dilapidated. I’ve not seen anything quite like it anywhere else. The Soviet sculpture complex is a few minutes’ walk from Central Park and the Colchis Fountain, so it’s worth tracking down before moving on to some of Kutaisi’s attractions.

4 Visit the Market and its ornate wall

Kutaisi’s central market is a working market for locals and is well worth a visit. You’ll find the usual spread of fresh produce, including spices, cheeses, and dried fruits, plus all manner of household goods, and look out for churchkhela (the traditional Georgian walnut-and-grape candy).

What makes the market stand out visually is its ornate exterior wall. An elaborate piece of Soviet-era decorative architecture that gives the building a grandeur you wouldn’t necessarily expect. The detailed relief work on the red wall is quite something and one of the most distinctive landmarks in Kutaisi.

5 Admire the river and bridges

The Rioni River runs through Kutaisi and plays a significant role in the city’s character. The riverbanks offer some of the best views in the city, particularly looking up towards the hill on which Bagrati Cathedral sits.

The main bridges to look out for are:

• White Bridge: Traditionally, a place is for dating. Men and boys were required to show their jumping skills by diving into the water from the bridge to prove their love! Brave or foolish? With the matching white stones on the riverbank and the fast-running water, it didn’t look like a very bright idea to me! It’s a pedestrian-only bridge in the old part of the city. Look out for a statue of a boy sitting on the bridge, looking out, considering his jump! When we visited, we found several wedding parties taking their pictures on the bridge.
• Chain Bridge: A striking suspension bridge. It’s actually the oldest bridge, originally wooden, later updated with chains and suspension towers. It’s a road bridge and one of the main transit points for vehicles across the river.

6 Climb up to Bagrati Cathedral and enjoy the views

Bagrati Cathedral is Kutaisi’s most iconic landmark and one of the most important medieval monuments in Georgia. Built in the 11th century under King Bagrat III, it sits prominently on Ukimerioni Hill above the city, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, though the listing came with some controversy following a significant restoration project completed in 2012.

The climb up to the cathedral is rewarding, with plenty to see along the way. The cathedral is large and impressive up close, with some of the original carved stonework still visible. There’s a separate bell tower next to the church. Even if you’re not particularly interested in churches, the location is still worth visiting for the vantage point over the city.

7 Visit the Botanical Garden

Once you’ve walked up to Bagrati Cathedral, you can carry on a little further to Kutaisi’s botanical garden. It’s home to a wide collection of plant species from Georgia and beyond, with different sections covering everything from conifers to subtropical plants.

8 Take the cable car up to the amusement park

There’s a cable car that runs up the hill to an amusement park, and the ride is a highlight, though the gondola is very old, and we wondered how safe it was!

The amusement park at the top has seen better days; some of the old rides and structures are still there, in various states of repair, giving the area an interesting, slightly time-capsule quality. We took a ride on the big wheel, which gave us a clear view of the city from the top.

The park was busy with local families making use of the space. It’s a fun detour, and it turned out to be our favourite activity in Kutaisi.

FREE Travel Tech Toolkit

The exact apps, eSIMs, and tools I use to travel smarter – covering transport, translation, money, connectivity, and more. Tested over years of actual travel.

9 Visit the Holy Annunciation Temple

The Holy Annunciation Temple is the domed church you can see as you go up the hill to Bagrati Cathedral. We found it and had a look inside on the way down. With a striking blue interior, it’s much less ornate than many Orthodox churches we have been in. It was built in the 15th century, became a Catholic cathedral in the 19th Century, and was later converted into an Orthodox church.

10 Spot the statues on top of the Drama Theatre

The Kutaisi Drama Theatre is one of the most visually distinctive buildings in the city centre. Its neoclassical exterior is topped with a series of sculptural figures that stand out against the skyline, making it easy to spot and a natural focal point in the surrounding area.

11 Seek out the street art

Kutaisi has a growing street art scene, with murals and painted works appearing across the city, particularly in older residential neighbourhoods and on the walls of buildings near the centre. The works range from large-scale figurative murals to more abstract pieces.

There’s no single street art district to head to, so finding the murals is simply a matter of wandering and keeping your eyes open, and you’ll spot some genuinely impressive work along the way. There’s also plenty of modern sculpture art too.

12 Discover Kutaisi’s museums

While Kutaisi may lack many visitor attractions, it does have a number of museums, and we walked the central streets quickly, so we had time to explore them, including two very quirky ones! I’m not sure how many foreign visitors these museums get, but we were made so welcome, and the displays were genuinely interesting.

• Kutaisi State Historical Museum: A beautiful museum detailing the history of Western Georgia, with many treasures from ancient Colchian and Classical periods, medieval religious art, and collections of coins and rare manuscripts.
• Museum of Georgian Sports: Several rooms, well organised by sport and country and quite some range of sports too. Bicycles have been part of the country’s history since the late 19th century and have remained popular. There’s a really old wooden bicycle on display. With plenty of football (soccer) memorabilia, there was plenty we could relate to, including sections on the World Cups and a George Best jersey.
• David Mkheidze Photo-Cinema Chronicle Museum: I was less sure about what was going on here, but the caretaker’s enthusiasm to show us round was infectious. It’s beautifully laid out, free; all that’s required of you is a photo with the owners at the end.

There’s also the Museum of National Glory, a military museum which we didn’t get a chance to visit.

13 Enjoy the best of Georgian food and drink

We had some of the best food on our trip in Kutaisi. For authentic and healthy Georgian cuisine, the sharing platter (Gobi) of vegetarian dishes and salads. A perfect choice, especially when paired with a recommended Georgian red.. This was in Doli. Lilestan and Palaty were also close by and looked like excellent choices, too.

The quality of coffee shops, cafes and bars also impressed us. Cafe Stretto, for the best coffee and croissants; Cafe Runa, for refreshing mint lemonade; and Cafe Barca, for a more surprising combo of cheesecake and beer after a lot of walking. An honorable mention to Beer Museum, which was all beer and no museum and served us a tasty meat platter.

14 Take a day trip from Kutaisi

Kutaisi makes an excellent base for exploring the surrounding region, and there are a few standout day trips, if you have time. Sadly, we didn’t, but they are on the list for next time.

Visit Gelati Monastery

Gelati Monastery is arguably the single most important historical site in the Kutaisi area and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. At just 11km from the city centre, it’s very easy to reach by taxi in around 20 minutes, or you can visit as part of a day tour. Founded in 1106 by King David the Builder, one of Georgia’s most celebrated medieval rulers, Gelati was designed to be both a religious centre and a seat of learning, and at its peak it was one of the most significant monasteries in the Orthodox Christian world. King David himself is buried here, beneath the entrance gate. It’s set in the hillside, and it’s still an active monastery.

➡️ Gelati Monastery, Prometheus Cave, Sanatoriums and winetour

Explore Prometheus Cave

Named after the Titan of Greek mythology who, according to legend, was chained to a rock, it is one of Georgia’s most impressive natural attractions. Located around 20km from Kutaisi near the town of Tskaltubo, it’s easily reached by taxi or organised tour in around half an hour. The cave was discovered in 1984 and extends for around 1.4km of accessible passageways, though the full cave system is thought to be much larger.

The guided tour takes you through a series of chambers filled with stalactites, stalagmites, and other cave formations, all dramatically lit in changing colours. It’s both theatrical and spectacular. The tour ends with an optional short boat ride along an underground river. The trip can be combined with the Okatse and Martvili Canyon

➡️From Kutaisi: Martvili & Okatse Canyons & Prometheus Cave

Row a Boat Around Martvili Canyon

Martvili Canyon is one of the most beautiful natural sites in western Georgia, and increasingly popular with visitors. Located around 55km from Kutaisi in the Samegrelo region, it takes roughly an hour to reach by car or taxi. It’s a series of turquoise pools, waterfalls, and sheer rock walls draped with lush vegetation. The main way to explore the canyon is by rowing boat, with a local guide taking you along the river through the narrower sections of the gorge. There are also some walkways above the canyon for those who prefer to stay on dry land. Day tours are popular and frequently combined with Prometheus Cave and Okatse.

➡️Martvili Canyon and Hanged Bridges of Okatse

Sataplia Nature Reserve

Closer to Kutaisi, the Sataplia Nature reserve is just 9km from the city centre and can easily be combined with a visit to Gelati on the same day, and you can take a full-day tour too. The reserve is known for two things: a set of well-preserved dinosaur footprints embedded in the rock, and a glass-floored viewing platform suspended over a forested canyon with views towards Kutaisi. There’s also a small cave system within the reserve.

➡️Kutaisi: Dinosaurs & Wine, Sataplia & Tetra Cave Tour

Motsameta Monastery

This monastery sits just a few kilometres from Gelati and can be visited at the same time as Gelati or as a day tour combining waterfalls and hot pools. It’s a small monastery perched dramatically on a rocky promontory above a gorge of the Rioni River in a stunning setting. It’s even older than Gelati, dating from the 8th century.

➡️ From Kutaisi: Monastery, Cave, Waterfall & Hot Pools Tour

Vardzia Cave City, Borjomi and more

For me, one of the highlights of Georgia was a visit to the Vardzia cave city and cave monastery, as well as the spa town of Borjomi. While we visited from Tbilisi, it’s also possible to visit from Kutaisi, with additional stops in Timotesubani, Mtsvane Monastery and Khertvisi Fortress.

➡️ Vardzia, Borjomi and Beyond: Full-Day Tour from Kutaisi

How long should I stay in Kutaisi

You can walk the city and visit the main sites in a full day. I would recommend staying at least two nights, so you can explore at a more leisurely pace and enjoy some of the many day trips in the area.

Where to stay in Kutaisi

With an increasing number of people arriving in Kutaisi and the recent expansion of flights to the city, plenty of options are popping up. Here’s a map with live options. We stayed at the centrally located Hotel Pushkin.

How to Get to Kutaisi

We arrived in Kutaisi by coach from Batumi and travelled on to Tbilisi by coach as well.

From Kutaisi International Airport

Kutaisi David the Builder International Airport is around 20–23km west of the city centre, and is increasingly busy thanks to low-cost carriers like WizzAir.

There’s an airport shuttle bus that terminates near the tourist centre, or you can use Bolt, which is a better-value option than hailing a taxi.

From Tbilisi

By Bus: Kutaisi is around 220km west of Tbilisi, and the journey is one of the most frequently travelled routes in Georgia. The most comfortable way to travel is by coach. Citibus can be booked ahead. There are also local Marshrutka services. These don’t run to fixed timetables and leave when full. Head to Didube station in Tbilisi to catch one.

By train: A little slower than the coach, the train goes as far as Rioni on the edge of Kutaisi. From there, you can catch a public bus or a Bolt to the centre. Train tickets can be booked in advance.

From Batumi

The Batumi to Kutaisi route takes around 2 hours and 15 minutes by coach. We did this journey and used the Citibus, which runs several times a day.

One thing worth knowing: the bus doesn’t drop you in the city centre. We were dropped off at the sports park on the edge of Kutaisi and called a Bolt to get into the centre, which saved us from waiting for a local bus.

Where to next

I hope you’ve found this guide useful. I’m writing more guides based on my trip to Georgia, including my itinerary, all of which were taken by public transport, which turned out to be easier than I was led to believe. I’ve already published articles covering the astonishing cave city of Vardzia and the Black Sea resort of Batumi.

I do have a regular newsletter, if you would like to receive articles straight to your inbox.

Give it a share!