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Kutaisi gives you the churches, river views and Georgian food that people go to Tbilisi for, in a smaller, slower city that costs less day to day. Bagrati Cathedral and the old centre are walkable, Gelati Monastery is a short ride out, and the Prometheus and Sataplia caves and the Martvili and Okatse canyons are easy day trips. Many low-cost flights land at Kutaisi's own airport, so you can skip Tbilisi entirely, or come from Tbilisi by train for 14 GEL. Two or three days covers the city and one or two day trips; vans and buses cost a few lari.
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When to go
May, June and September are the best months: average highs of about 24-27°C. July and August average around 30°C and feel humid. Kutaisi is wet all year (about 1,360 mm of rain), and October to March are the wettest and greyest months, though winter highs stay around 10°C. Canyon boat rides stop when rivers run high, often in spring and after heavy rain.
Kutaisi right now and the next 7 days
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Kutaisi on the map
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The area
Getting there
Places to see
Day trips
Kutaisi · Open in Google Maps ↗
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Step 3 of 11Next: Cost↓What your trip costs
Change anything and the numbers update. Every price is what the bus, room or ticket itself costs. We take no commission and sell no packages, so this is what you pay booking each piece yourself.
Ballpark ranges, not live quotes. Prices last updated 5 November 2026. Prices move with season and demand, so check live fares before you book. Spot a wrong price? Tell us and we fix it.
On the ground: stay, food, local travel and tickets. Pick a route above to add the journey.
Kutaisi in 2 days: a day-by-day plan
Our suggested plan, in a sensible order with times. Move things between days, remove them or add more. It saves on this device, and you can share it.
- 11:00Bagrati Cathedral1 h · free · 11th-century cathedral on the hill above the old town. No entry fee is listed by recent guides. Dress modestly: covered shoulders and knees.
- 12:30Lunch break
- 13:30Cable car and the White Bridge1 h · ₹175 each · 5 GEL one way across the Rioni, then walk back over the White Bridge.
- 15:00Kutaisi Botanical Garden1 h · ₹175 each · 5 GEL entry. Quiet riverside garden in the city.
- 08:00Gelati MonasteryHalf day · free · UNESCO-listed 12th-century monastery a 20-minute drive north-east. Partly closed for restoration and reported open only on weekends and religious holidays. No fee listed by recent guides; one aggregator claims 10 GEL, which could not be confirmed. A driver covering Gelati and Motsameta costs about $25.
- 13:00Lunch break
How to get to Kutaisi
One-way prices per person. The cheapest sensible option is marked. Each button opens live times and fares for the date you picked above.
Flight + airport shuttle Cheapest
₹1755 GEL one way, timed to flights and running around the clock. Card only (Visa/Mastercard), no cash. It ends near the Red Bridge and Green Bazaar. The airport is about 23 km west of the centre; Bolt quotes a flat 25-30 GEL.
Train
₹49014 GEL in second class, 26 GEL in first. Rioni station is 15-20 minutes from the centre by taxi. Some faster trains stop only at Kutaisi Airport station (33 GEL, 22 km out), so check which station your train uses.
Marshrutka or coach
₹875Imeritrans vans cost 25 GEL and leave every 30-60 minutes from about 06:00 to 21:00, when full. Okriba coaches also run from Didube for 25 GEL, four times a day.
Getting around once you're there
On foot
FreeBagrati Cathedral, the White Bridge, the cable car, the Green Bazaar and the Colchis fountain are all in or near the centre. Bagrati's hill is a short, steep climb.
City bus
₹35About 1 GEL paid with a bank card or phone, or 60 tetri with a local transport card.
Bolt or taxi
₹70About 2 GEL to start and 2 GEL per km on a standard tariff. Use the Bolt app rather than drivers who approach you.
Cable car
₹1755 GEL one way across the Rioni to the amusement park hill. Good views of the old town.
Van to Tskaltubo
₹702 GEL from the far end of the Red Bridge, about 20 minutes. First leg for Prometheus Cave.
Where to stay in Kutaisi
Price per night for the room. The buttons open live availability for your dates.
Dorm
₹750/nightDorm beds start at about €4-10 in listings, so budget about €7. Many small hostels around the centre.
Guest room
₹2,660/nightHostel and guesthouse private rooms average about $28 a night; cheapest in winter, dearest in July. Breakfast is often extra (15-20 GEL).
Hotel
₹4,080/nightSearch-engine averages put a double room at about $43 a night.
What to eat, and what it costs
Meal at a simple restaurant
₹910About 26 GEL; the cheapest places charge about 15 GEL. Imeretian khachapuri, lobio (bean stew) and salads.
Three-course dinner, mid-range (per person)
₹1,400About 80 GEL for two without drinks.
Cappuccino
₹185About 5.30 GEL.
Half-litre of local draught beer
₹115About 3.25 GEL.
Places to visit and things to do in Kutaisi
Tap “Add to my plan” and it goes into your day-by-day plan above.
Bagrati Cathedral
Free11th-century cathedral on the hill above the old town. No entry fee is listed by recent guides. Dress modestly: covered shoulders and knees.
Gelati Monastery
FreeUNESCO-listed 12th-century monastery a 20-minute drive north-east. Partly closed for restoration and reported open only on weekends and religious holidays. No fee listed by recent guides; one aggregator claims 10 GEL, which could not be confirmed. A driver covering Gelati and Motsameta costs about $25.
Cable car and the White Bridge
₹1755 GEL one way across the Rioni, then walk back over the White Bridge.
Prometheus Cave
₹875Show cave near Tskaltubo, about 20 km away, with a guided walk. The official tariff page lists 25 GEL for foreign adults plus 20 GEL for the underground boat, but a guide checked in October 2026 reports 40 GEL plus 30 GEL, so expect either. Open daily 10:00-17:00 (18:00 in spring and summer). Van to Tskaltubo, then van or taxi to Kumistavi: about 3.20 GEL in vans.
Sataplia Nature Reserve
₹700Dinosaur footprints, a short cave and a glass viewing platform, about 10 km out. 20 GEL foreign adult on the official tariff page; a 2026 guide reports 30 GEL. Banoja bus (2 GEL) then about 10 GEL in a local taxi up the hill. The glass platform closes in rain and snow.
Kutaisi Botanical Garden
₹1755 GEL entry. Quiet riverside garden in the city.
Day trips and next stops
Motsameta Monastery
Check fareTaxi or Bolt, often combined with Gelati
Martvili Canyon
₹175Van to Martvili town from the central bus station (4-5 GEL), then 5 km by taxi or on foot
Okatse Canyon and Kinchkha Waterfall
₹140Van to Khoni, then van to Gordi (about 4 GEL in total), then about 4.5 km on foot
Tbilisi
₹875Marshrutka or coach from the central bus station, or train from Rioni
Know before you go
Mistakes to avoid
- UK travel advice (updated 15 Sep 2026) reports more than 650 days of political protests, mainly in Tbilisi but also in other towns. Avoid demonstrations.
- Protected-area ticket prices for Prometheus, Sataplia and the canyons differ between the official tariff pages and 2026 guides. Check at the cash desk and carry enough for the higher price.
- Landslides and flooding can close roads after heavy rain, and canyon boats stop when rivers are high. Check before a day trip.
Ways to spend less
- Flying straight into Kutaisi skips Tbilisi's prices, and the airport shuttle is only 5 GEL.
- Bagrati Cathedral, the White Bridge and the riverside old town cost nothing.
- A 2 GEL van to Tskaltubo and a second short ride get you to Prometheus Cave without a tour.
Say it in Georgian
A few words go a long way, especially when you ask a price.
Russian is widely understood too.
The pronunciation is a simple guide, not a native recording. Spot a mistake? Tell us.
Before-you-go checklist
Kutaisi in pictures
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Step 11 of 11Next: FAQ↓Questions people ask
When is the best time to visit Kutaisi?
On our month-by-month scores, the best months are May–Jun, Sep. May, June and September are the best months: average highs of about 24-27°C. July and August average around 30°C and feel humid. Kutaisi is wet all year (about 1,360 mm of rain), and October to March are the wettest and greyest months, though winter highs stay around 10°C. Canyon boat rides stop when rivers run high, often in spring and after heavy rain.
How do I reach Kutaisi?
Flight + airport shuttle: → Kutaisi (KUT), then shuttle bus to the city centre, About 40 m, about ₹175 one way. Train: Tbilisi Central → Kutaisi (Rioni station), Georgian Railway, About 2 h 50 m, about ₹490 one way. Marshrutka or coach: Tbilisi Didube → Kutaisi Central Bus Station, 3-3.5 h, about ₹875 one way.
How much does a 2-day trip to Kutaisi cost?
On the ground (stay, food, local travel and tickets), one person spends about ₹5,200 on a shoestring, ₹13,600 mid-range or ₹21,000 in comfort over 2 days. Add the journey: the cheapest sensible option is flight + airport shuttle (→ Kutaisi (KUT), then shuttle bus to the city centre) at about ₹175 each way.
How many days do you need in Kutaisi?
2 days is right for most people. That covers Bagrati Cathedral, Cable car and the White Bridge, Kutaisi Botanical Garden, Gelati Monastery without rushing.
Is Kutaisi good for families or solo travellers?
Out of 5 on our scores: solo 5, couples 5, families 4, groups 4. It works well for families. It is easy to do on your own.
Is vegetarian food easy to find in Kutaisi?
Vegetarian is easy: khachapuri (cheese bread), lobio (bean stew), pkhali (walnut and vegetable pastes), badrijani (aubergine rolls with walnut) and salads with walnut dressing are everywhere. Vegans do well during Orthodox fasting periods, when many places offer meat- and dairy-free dishes; otherwise check for cheese and butter.
Will my phone and cards work in Kutaisi?
Phone signal: Buy a local prepaid SIM at the airport or in the centre with your passport. Cards and UPI: Cards are taken in most hotels, cafes and restaurants. The airport shuttle bus takes cards only. Cash: Georgia uses the lari (GEL). Carry small notes and coins for vans and markets; marshrutkas are cash only.
Guides for Kutaisi
Longer reads from our blog that cover this trip.
Sources and last check
Checked 5 November 2026. Fees, hours and rules change, so confirm on the official site before you pay.
- apa.gov.ge OfficialAgency of Protected Areas tariff page (via search index; direct fetch returned 404 on 2026-11-05): Prometheus Cave foreign adult 25 GEL, boat 20 GEL, ages 6-18 5.50 GEL, guide included, winter hours 10:00-17:00
- apa.gov.ge OfficialAgency of Protected Areas tariff page (via search index; direct fetch returned 404): Sataplia foreign adult 20 GEL, citizens 10 GEL, 10:00-17:00 daily
- apa.gov.ge OfficialAgency of Protected Areas tariff page (via search index): Martvili Canyon foreign adult 20 GEL, boat 20 GEL
- nationalparks.ge OfficialPrometheus Cave open daily; spring/summer 10:00-18:00, autumn/winter 10:00-17:00
- gov.uk OfficialUpdated 15 Sep 2026; no travel to Abkhazia/South Ossetia; safety page: 650+ days of protests, also in other towns; landslides and flooding; use app taxis
- frontnews.geNews, 24 Jan 2024: from 1 March 2024 foreign fees Prometheus 25 GEL, boat 20; Sataplia 20; Martvili 20, boat 20; Okatse 20 (matches APA pages)
- thegeorgianguide.pages.devGuide updated Oct 2026 (tickets checked 17 Oct 2026): Prometheus 40 GEL + boat 30 GEL, Sataplia 30 GEL (conflicts with APA); Prometheus about 20 km, Sataplia about 10 km; van to Tskaltubo 2 GEL from Red Bridge, about 3.20 GEL total in vans; Banoja bus 2 GEL + about 10 GEL taxi; Sataplia glass platform closes in rain/snow
- thegeorgianguide.pages.devGuide updated Sep 2026: Martvili about 50 km, vans to Martvili 4-5 GEL about hourly 08:00-18:00, canyon 5 km from town; Okatse about 49 km, vans via Khoni to Gordi about 4 GEL total, about 2 km + 2.5 km on foot; Okatse 30 GEL, Kinchkha 20 GEL (conflict with APA); boats stop at high water
- wander-lush.orgUpdated 20 Sep 2026: airport about 23 km west of centre; shuttle 5 GEL, about 40 min, 24/7, card only, ends near Red Bridge/Green Bazaar; Bolt flat 25-30 GEL; Georgian Bus to Tbilisi/Batumi from airport 30 GEL
- wander-lush.orgUpdated 2 Aug 2026: train to Rioni 14 GEL 2nd / 26 GEL 1st, about 2 h 50 m, Rioni 15-20 min from centre; Kutaisi Airport station 33 GEL, 22 km out; Imeritrans marshrutka 25 GEL, 3-3.5 h, every 30-60 min 06:00-21:00 from Didube; Okriba coach 25 GEL, four a day
- wander-lush.orgUpdated 4 Nov 2026: cable car 5 GEL one way; Botanical Garden 5 GEL; city bus 60 tetri with card or about 1 GEL by bank card/phone; Gelati partly closed for restoration, weekends and religious holidays only, no fee listed; Bagrati no fee listed, modest dress; GoTrip driver Gelati + Motsameta about $25
- numbeo.comUpdated 2 Oct 2026: inexpensive meal 26 GEL (range 15-40), mid-range for two 80 GEL, cappuccino 5.29, beer 3.25, local transport 0.90, taxi start 2 GEL, 2 GEL/km
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Make the plan yours
Set your dates and group at the top, shape the days, then book each piece directly.
Back to the planner ↑Costs are indicative ballparks for doing it yourself and change with season and demand. Always check live fares, rates and opening rules before you book. Trip Under is not a travel agency: we sell nothing, take no commission, and we link to maps and official sites, never to booking sites. Photographs come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences; see credits.
By Gokul · Updated 5 November 2026 · Photo: Bernard Gagnon · CC BY 4.0 · source · Photo: Bernard Gagnon · CC BY 4.0 · source · Photo: Kober · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · Photo: Gaga.vaa · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: Dudva · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
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