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Kutaisi
Ancient Colchis, monasteries and canyons
- Best time to visit
- May, Jun, Sep, Oct
- Currency
- GEL
- Time zone
- UTC+4
- Country
- Georgia
Georgia's third city and the heart of ancient Colchis, a low-cost gateway with UNESCO monasteries, caves and canyons nearby.
- Tbilisi
- Batumi
- Kutaisi
- Rustavi
Quick facts
- Country
- Georgia
- Capital
- Tbilisi
- City population
- 130,000
- Population of Georgia
- 3.7M
- Country area
- 69,700 km²
- Official language
- Georgian
- Currency
- Georgian Lari (GEL) · 1 USD ≈ 2.6 GEL
- Time zone
- UTC+4
- Calling code
- +995
- Drives on the
- Right
- Elevation
- 125 m
- Plugs
- C / F · 220V
- Emergency numbers
- 112
- Best time to visit
- May, Jun, Sep, Oct
Temperatures through the year
Average daily high and low for each month in °C. Months marked with a drop are often rainy.
Temperatures through the year
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High | 9° | 10° | 14° | 19° | 24° | 27° | 29° | 30° | 26° | 21° | 15° | 11° |
| Low | 2° | 2° | 5° | 9° | 13° | 17° | 20° | 20° | 16° | 12° | 7° | 4° |
Best time to visitOther months
Approximate daily cost
Per adult per day: food, local transport and half a double room, without activities or flights.
- ConservativeSimple stays, free and low-cost sights first.$32
- HighComfortable hotels, a balanced mix of sights and trips.$72
- LuxuryLuxury hotels, more paid experiences and day trips.$165
Top things to do
- Free
Bagrati Cathedral
An 11th-century cathedral on the hill above the river, with the best view over the city.
- Half day
- Kutaisi centre
- Good in the evening
- Free
Gelati Monastery
A UNESCO-listed medieval monastery and academy with golden mosaics, 20 minutes from the city.
- Half day
- Imereti countryside
- ≈ $20
Prometheus Cave
A lit walk through halls of stalactites and underground rivers; closed on Mondays.
- Half day
- Imereti countryside
- Good for kids
- Indoors
- Closed: Monday
- ≈ $30
Day trip: Martvili and Okatse canyons
A boat ride through a green gorge, and a hanging walkway along a canyon wall; often combined in one day.
- Full day
- Imereti countryside
- Good for kids
- Free
Green Bazaar and the Colchis Fountain
The covered market for cheese, spices and churchkhela sweets, and the golden-animal fountain in the main square.
- Half day
- Kutaisi centre
Before you go
Entry and visas
Citizens of many countries, including the GCC states and the EU, can stay visa-free for up to a year; others apply for an e-Visa at evisa.gov.ge. All visitors must have health and accident insurance covering the whole stay, including arrival and departure dates, with coverage of at least 30,000 Georgian Lari. You may be asked for proof at airline check-in or by immigration on arrival.
Official websiteFrom the airport
Kutaisi International Airport, a hub for low-cost flights, is about 25 minutes away; Georgian Bus meets flights and continues to Tbilisi and Batumi.
Getting around
The centre is compact. For the caves and canyons, take a tour or hire a driver; marshrutka minibuses are cheaper but slower.
Local tips
- Plan Prometheus Cave for any day except Monday.
- Canyon boat rides can stop after heavy rain.
- Kutaisi is a good base for western Georgia; Batumi is about 2.5 hours away.
- Try Imeretian khachapuri, the round cheese bread named after the region.
Areas worth knowing
- Kutaisi centre
- Imereti countryside
The UK Foreign Office last updated its advice for this country on September 15, 2026. The advice includes warnings against travel to some areas. Read it before booking.
Read the advice on GOV.UKMore cities in Georgia
All destinations
Sources: Georgia e-Visa portal · Georgian National Tourism Administration