Kutaisi

Understand

Kutaisi is the traditional rival of Tbilisi for capital status. Since the days of the Golden Fleece, Kutaisi has been considered the capital of Western Georgia (then Ancient Colchis). It is Georgia's third largest city (after Tbilisi and Batumi), but, to the irritation of the proud locals, it does not come even close to Tbilisi's present size and wealth. Nevertheless, Kutaisi is more respectful of pedestrians than Tbilisi. Its sidewalks are generally even and flat with very few cars parked on them, whereas in Tbilisi pedestrians are often forced into the streets because of cars sitting on sidewalks. Kutaisi drivers generally stop in front of crosswalks to let pedestrians cross, whereas in Tbilisi pedestrians have to be in the middle of the street to get a car to slow down for them. Since the Georgian Parliament moved to Kutaisi in 2012, there has been a lot of work on restoring streets, buildings, parks and monuments in the city, and it has become much safer. There seems to be a bit more variety in the materials, facades, and designs of the buildings along Kutaisi's streets. In Kutaisi as in Tbilisi, a look up to the second floor can reveal balconies of elaborate ironwork. Kutaisi's central park is a nice (and safe) place to sit and watch people.

Local information Kutaisi City Hall website

Getting there

By plane Flight destinations:

The Hungary-based, low-cost carrier Wizz Air provides low-cost, low-quality no frills flights from Budapest, Hungary; Berlin Dortmund Memmingen, Germany; London Luton, England; Warsaw, Krakow, Wroclaw, Gdansk, Katowice, Poland; Larnaca, Cyprus; Athens and Thessaloniki, Greece; Bari and Rome and Milan, Italy; Riga, Latvia; Vilnius, Lithuania; Tallinn, Estonia; Prague, Czech Republic; Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg and Paris, France; Copenhagen, Denmark; Vienna, Austria. Ural Airlines flies from Moscow Domodedovo, Russia. There are also occasional flights from Baghdad, Iraq, on Iraqi Airways. 1 King David the Builder International Airport (KUT IATA), Kopitnari, 14 km west of Kutaisi proper on the main S1 highway. Relatively small airport with around 160 flights per month during low-season and 240 during high-season. The airport services domestic flights to Tbilisi, Mestia, and quite a few international flights.There is a space where you can lie down underneath the inclined windows right after the arrival exit inside the terminal. This can be good for spending the hours (sleeping) before or after an early/late flight.There is a money exchange bank counter at the airport, but the ATMs also give small notes down to 5 lari. There are two cafes and two convenience stores operating at the airport. (updated Apr 2025) Getting there/away:

Shuttle bus – goes non-stop between the airport and the Kutaisi tourist information office (next to the Red Bridge) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Departures every 2 hours, 40 min travel time. 5 lari (as of 2025), which should be paid with credit card only upon boarding. Marshrutka – Many go by the airport, heading east to Tbilisi (by Kutaisi), or west to Zugdidi, Batumi, Poti, Samtredia, etc. The prices for theses more distant destinations are pretty much like from Kutaisi itself (see prices below). Most marshrutkas will not go into the airport lane, so just head to the highway, 100 m from the airport, and hail t

Getting around

The interesting parts of the town are walkable. To visit the monasteries in the mountains nearby booking a day-tour may be a time-saving option.

By bus No. 1 city bus is a useful circular route (both clockwise and anticlockwise direction) linking the main city square, Kutasi I (main train station), and Kutaisi II (bus station). 0.40-0.50 lari, pay the driver at exit, change given. From Kutasi II (bus station), clockwise direction (to the left, cross the road from McDonald's) is the faster route to the city centre. Note each direction takes slightly different route on the centre of the city (east side of the river). The clockwise direction does not go in front of Kutasi I but goes south on Tsereteli St. along the river. The anticlockwise direction stops in front of Kutaisi I then goes uphill on Solomon Piveli Street and downhill on 26 Maisi (May) Street towards the main square. Local marshrutkas ply the city but it can be difficult to find the route for average tourists. Nonetheless, bother enough locals with a map and some broken Russian, and eventually one will take pity and frog march you to the right bus stop.

By train Schedule of Georgian railways is here.

See

1 Bagrati Cathedral (former UNESCO World Heritage site), Bagrati Street (on foot, from Kutsaisi Park (Central Garden), cross the river on the Nino Street bridge. Over the bridge, turn right, cross the street, and look for the stairs that go up the hill. At the top of the hill follow Bagrati Street to the right). Ancient church that was built in the 11th century by King Bagrat III, a symbol of a unified Georgia. Foundations of an earlier building have been found. Blown up by marauding Islamic invaders in the 18th century, then carefully restored over the last 100 years; the interior is also almost completed. The difference between original and replacement is clearly obvious. The ongoing reconstruction aimed at returning Bagrati Cathedral back to its original state as a religious space has led ICOMOS to recommend that it should be left as a ruin and added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in danger. The site has since been removed from the World Heritage Sites list. There are headscarves for women available by the entrance. Free admission. (updated Jul 2025) 2 Uqimerioni Fortress (adjacent to Bagrati Cathedral, 50 meters behind it). 3 Synagogue, 57-59 Boris Gaponov St. 4 St. Thekla church, Daniel Chonkadze St. 5 St Elijah the prophet church., Chekhovi Street I. 6 St. Cyprian and Justina church, David Agmashenebeli Ave,. 7 Parliament of Georgia, Irakli Abashidze St (in the west of the city on the main road to Tskaltubo). Completed in 2012. It was one of the most prestigious projects of President Mikheil Saakashvili to relocate the parliament from Tbilisi to Kutaisi. However, the relocation of Parliament is cancelled by the new government Ivanishvili. In what way this new €50 million building will be used is still unclear. 8 White Bridge. Over the river Rioni, known by the bridge Springer scene in the movie "Neobyknovennaja Vystavka" (updated Jun 2018) 9 Soviet Mural. (updated Aug 2019)

Museums 10 Kutaisi State Historical Museum, ☏ +995 431 24 56

Do

Football: 1 FC Torpedo Kutaisi, Ramaz Shengelia Stadium, ☏ +995 551 511154. They play soccer in Erovnuli Liga, the top tier, with a split spring / autumn playing season. The stadium is 3 km southwest of city centre; it was rebuilt in 2023 and has a capacity of 11,700. (updated Dec 2024) 2 Tskaltubo Spa Resort, 23, Rustaveli ave., Tskaltubo, ☏ +995 599-091610, [email protected]. Besides the decaying old building of the old sanatorium, there is this hotel which offers spa and mineral treatments, sauna and