GE · Imereti · 42.25°N 42.70°E

kutaisi

An old riverside city with covered markets, cheese bread and limestone caves nearby.

Best time
May–June and September–October are comfortable for walks and day trips. July–August is hot and humid; winter is damp, and heavy rain can stop the cave boat rides.
How long
2–3 days
Getting there
Fly with one stop to Tbilisi, usually via Istanbul, Dubai or Doha, about 13–16 hours all in. Kutaisi is about 3.5 hours west of Tbilisi by road, or about 5 by train.
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GE · Imeretikutaisi42.25°N 42.70°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,An old riverside city with covered markets, cheese bread and limestone caves nearby.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingKutaisiGE, Imereti
KLkutaisi
≈ 7,263 km from KL, as the crow flies
Downtown Kutaisi & White Bridge as seen from Mt Gora (August 2011)

Photo: Kober · CC BY-SA 3.0

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

Kutaisi is Georgia's old western capital, an easy-going city on the Rioni River. Spend a day on the market and the cathedral hill, then use it as a base for caves and cliff-top monasteries.

Makan

  1. Imeruli khachapuriRound cheese-filled bread, Imereti's contribution to the national obsession.Map ↗
  2. PkhaliChopped spinach, beetroot or beans pounded with walnuts, served in small colourful balls.Map ↗
  3. MchadiCorn cakes, eaten with beans and young cheese.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. Green BazaarKutaisi's covered market: spices, churchkhela, cheese and pickles.Map ↗
  2. Bagrati CathedralAn 11th-century cathedral on the hill above the river, with views over the city.Map ↗
  3. Prometheus CaveBig chambers of stalactites near Tskaltubo, about 30 minutes away, with an underground boat ride when the water allows.Map ↗
  4. Motsameta MonasteryA small monastery on a cliff above a bend in a wooded river gorge.Map ↗
  5. SatapliaDinosaur footprints and a cave in a forest reserve just outside the city.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Halal meat is scarce outside Tbilisi and Batumi, but Imeretian food is full of cheese, beans and walnut-vegetable dishes. Ask whether the beans are cooked with pork.
  • A driver for the day is the easy way to combine the caves, Sataplia and Motsameta.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.