Kutaisi
city
About Kutaisi
Once the capital of ancient Colchis, the kingdom Jason crossed the sea to reach for the Golden Fleece, Kutaisi pairs deep history with the limestone country around it. See the 12th-century frescoes and mosaics of UNESCO-listed Gelati Monastery, the 11th-century Bagrati Cathedral above the city, the stalactite chambers of Prometheus Cave, and the preserved dinosaur footprints at Sataplia Nature Reserve. Cap it with Imeretian cooking: sulguni cheese, mchadi cornbread, and a true Georgian supra.
Culture
Experience authentic Imeretian hospitality, where every guest is considered a blessing and traditional supra (Georgian feast) ceremonies transform meals into profound cultural experiences. Kutaisi's markets overflow with artisan crafts, locally-made pottery, and the warm smiles of vendors eager to share their stories. The city resonates with traditional Georgian polyphonic singing, and local festivals throughout the year celebrate everything from wine harvests to religious traditions, offering visitors genuine glimpses into unchanged Georgian customs.
Travel Tips
Currency: Georgian Lari (GEL)—while cards are accepted at larger establishments, carry cash for authentic market experiences and small family-run restaurants. Language: Georgian is the primary language, with older generations also speaking Russian; younger people increasingly speak English, especially in tourist areas. Safety: Kutaisi maintains its reputation as a remarkably safe destination where solo travelers feel secure exploring both day and night. Transportation: The city center is perfectly walkable, with reliable buses and affordable taxis connecting to nearby attractions; the international airport provides convenient European connections.
Tours Including Kutaisi
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Georgia in 14 Days — Grand Discovery
The definitive two-week journey across Georgia, east to west and mountains to sea. From Tbilisi you explore the wine villages of Kakheti, climb the Military Road to Gergeti Trinity beneath Mount Kazbek, and visit Stalin's Gori, the cave town of Uplistsikhe and Queen Tamar's cliff city at Vardzia. Then west into ancient Colchis — Kutaisi's UNESCO monasteries — and up the Enguri gorge to the medieval Svan towers of Mestia and Ushguli, before finishing on the Black Sea at Batumi. Fourteen unhurried days, every region, expertly guided.
Grand Tour of Georgia — 10 Days
Ten days, mountains to sea, across the best of Georgia. From lively Tbilisi you climb the Georgian Military Road beneath Mount Kazbek to Gergeti Trinity, then sweep south to Queen Tamar's cave city at Vardzia and the spa town of Borjomi. West in ancient Colchis you explore the UNESCO monasteries of Kutaisi before reaching the subtropical Black Sea coast at Batumi, and finish in the wine villages of Kakheti. Ancient capitals, high passes, cave towns, seaside and wine — expertly guided, on prices that stay fair.
Caucasus Jeep Expedition — 8 Days
An eight-day 4x4 expedition the length and breadth of Georgia, off the tarmac and onto the mountain tracks. From Tbilisi you cross to Bakuriani via Manglisi and the volcanic Lake Tabatskuri, climb to the Vardzia cave city and Rabati Castle at Akhaltsikhe, then push west through Kutaisi and up the Enguri gorge to the Svan towers of Mestia and Ushguli. The return runs over the high passes to Gergeti Trinity beneath Mount Kazbek. Seven nights, hearty meals, and country you simply can't reach by paved road.
Western Georgia & Black Sea — 6 Days
Trade the well-worn eastern route for Georgia's green, dramatic west. Over six days you cross from Tbilisi into Imereti and Samegrelo, where limestone canyons cut through forest and rivers run a startling emerald. You climb into Upper Svaneti, a high mountain world of stone tower-houses that have guarded these valleys for nearly a thousand years, and stand beneath Mt Shkhara at Ushguli. Then you drop to the subtropical Black Sea coast, finishing in Batumi among palm-lined promenades and sea air. Expect waterfalls, ancient monasteries, alpine roads and coastline, all guided, all included, at a price that respects your budget.
Heart of Georgia Heritage — 5 Days
This five-day route follows the spine of Georgian history at a comfortable, unhurried pace. You walk through Gori, Stalin's birthplace, and explore the rock-cut town of Uplistsikhe carved into a cliff above the Mtkvari river. In Imereti you stand inside the great medieval monasteries of Colchis, then turn east into Kakheti, Georgia's wine country, where vineyards roll toward the Caucasus. You taste in family cellars around Telavi, visit a cathedral that has watched over its valley for a thousand years, and end above the Alazani in walled Sighnaghi. History, faith and wine, expertly guided and fairly priced.