We have been in Georgia now for a little over seven weeks. This is our first Visit To Kutaisi. So Why Visit Kutaisi, What makes Kutaisi Interesting enough to visit. Having heard and read many good things about Kutaisi, we decided to visit for seven days and see for ourselves. Besides, Kutaisi was on our way to Batumi. Batumi would be our last stop in Georgia before moving onward to Turkey for two months of touring and sightseeing.
Kutaisi is an old city, archaeological evidence indicates that this area has been inhabited since the 17th-century BC. Around Kutaisi, you can find many historical icons from Monasteries to Fortresses. Extraordinary underground caves such as Prometheus Cave and Sataplia where you can see dinosaur footprints and explore Karst cave. Good Georgian food is plenty, plus you can visit the fascinating Green Baazar.
How To Get To Kutaisi
Kutaisi (pronounced koo-tahy-see) is the capital city of the Imereti region and the third-largest city in Georgia. Kutaisi is easy to get to; you can fly in using a low-cost carrier like Wizz Air. Take the train from Tbilisi or Batumi, inexpensive and enjoyable (not the fastest), hire a car (taxi), car rental, and lastly the marshrutka bus service. When tourists visit Georgia, most visit Tbilisi, the Capital of Georgia, 230 km east of Kutaisi. Or Batumi, 145 km southwest of Kutaisi, Georgia’s playground (Las Vegas) on the Black sea coast.
Cindy and I caught the train from Khashuri to Kutaisi after taking a private taxi from Borjomi, wanting to experience the train one last time. We had the option of taking the marshrutka from Borjomi to Kutaisi but we were not a big fan of the minibus. We use the bus if we have to, but they are their own adventure and not that comfortable.
What Makes Kutaisi Interesting
Why visit Kutaisi, as it is so very different from Tbilisi. Tbilisi offered so much to do and saw that we were never at a loss for things to do. Now we find ourselves asking what makes Kutaisi interesting? It was a bit of a tricky question as we had some unpleasant weather conditions, making it difficult to explore our new surroundings. We did make the best of it and very much enjoyed our stay here and used the downtime to catch up on our blogging.
Central (Kutaisi) Park And City Hall
Walking the downtown core allowed us to see what was here for the tourist to experience. One location to visit is Kutaisi Park (Central City) which has many exciting monuments relevant to Kutaisi and Georgian history. Very interesting, and very picture-worthy. Not a big park, but nice and shady, lovely to sit, relax, observe locals doing their thing. The park is close to Colchis fountain, Meskhishvili Theatre, and all central attractions.
Next to Central City Park Kutaisi, you will find City hall, which has its own thought-provoking monuments. We found these very interesting; I wish I knew more about them. We believe that these monuments were built during the Soviet era. Called the Soviet Sculpture Complex
Prometheus Cave Natural Monument (see map)
Prometheus Cave is located in Tskaltubo municipality, approximately a half-hour drive from Kutaisi. Admittance to the cave is 23 GEL each. A boat ride on the river in the cave is a separate cost. The ticket needs to be purchased ahead of the tour starting, dependent on the river’s water level. The water level was too high during our visit, so the boat was not running. There are 22 halls that make up the cave system; just six galleries are open to the public. The walking length is an impressive 1420 meters at a maximum depth of 40 meters. Discover real masterpieces of nature – stalactites, and stalagmites.
The Prometheus Cave is a beautiful natural monument, the cave is about 60-70 million years old. In the Prometheus Cave, you will see a lot of real genuine masterpieces. In the many beautiful forms, Stalactites and stalagmites leave the impression of a fantastic underworld. When walking in the cave, there are “petrification waterfalls” “hanging stone curtains,” all this demonstrates the enormous power of nature. Prometheus Cave is a definite place to visit if you are in the area of Kutaisi.
Motsameta Monastery (see map)
Motsameta Monastery is located 6 kilometers from Kutaisi on a rocky mountain road. From here, you have a beautiful view of the river valley. Motsameta Monastery dates back to the 11th century, but historical records show that a church was constructed in this spot as early as the 8th century. Motsameta Monastery is one of the most important monuments of Georgian culture. Located in the gorge of the Tskaltsitela river, surrounded by mountains. The name Motsameta means the place of martyrs.
During the invasion of Georgia in the 8th-century Arab ruler Marwan, captured David and Constantine in their defeat. Both men were tortured and killed, their bodies were thrown into the Tskaltsitela River. The river carried the martyrs’ remains to the shore at the exact place where the Monastery is located today. Brothers David and Constantine are buried at the Church of the Annunciation, Motsameta monastery was later rebuilt and named after the Mkheidze brothers.
This being our second stop of the day for us, we had hired our guesthouse’s son to drive us around, looking at sights outside of Kutaisi. This Monastery is magnificent that still functions today, as there was a service in progress while we were visiting. We recommend making the time and visiting this Monastery as it is not too far out of town. The views of the Monastery, gorge, and river make it a must-see destination.
Bagrati Cathedral (see map)
Bagrati Cathedral is located in Kutaisi, on Ukimerioni hill. Built-in 1003, during the reign of Bagrat III. It is a symbol of the unity and strength of Georgia. In 1692, the Ottomans entered from Akhaltsikhe, captured the Kutaisi fortress, and blew up the Bagrati temple during the battle. They also seized the wealth of the church. In 1770, King Solomon I of Imereti recaptured the fortress and liberated the Bagrati Temple from the Ottomans. Bagrati church is wholly restored but has been removed from the UNESCO list after its restoration.
Bagrati Cathedral sits on top of a hill and can be easily seen from pretty much anywhere in Kutaisi. Getting there is relatively easy; you can walk from downtown or take a taxi. We decided to walk as it was not that far, two kilometers maybe, some uphill but not a challenging walk.
Bagrati is a beautiful Cathedral; when we arrived, a couple was having their wedding pictures taken, unique location to take photographs. Not sure if they got married here. Bagrati Cathedral is like many that we have seen in Georgia, large, beautiful, and old. We never tire of these visits; the building’s beauty and the interiors are incredible, with paintings and icons of years gone by. I suppose a window into the past, a life so much different than we know today, especially in the west. We recommend visiting as it is effortless to get to and would be a shame to miss, being so close.
Green Baazar (see map)
The Green Baazar is a large market in Kutaisi that sells pretty much everything. It is a great place to pick up fresh vegetables, fruits, meat, and fish. In addition, other items can be found such as cooking ware, clothing and any number of useful things around the home. Cindy and I love the market as the selections are vast and all organic, plus the flavors can’t be beaten.
These markets are also a great place to taste local foods; they may be similar to what you have seen or tasted before. Or, more often than not, they are unique to the country or region, and sometimes even the city may put its own unique spin on it. We love to try different foods, so this is another reason to seek out such grand places.
Colchis Artwork
In walking around the outside of the market, we ran across a fantastic piece of artwork that has to be seen to appreciate. So if the market is not your thing, you need to come down here to see this fascinating piece of art. This piece of artwork is referred to as Colchis, and Colchis is viewed as the origins of the nation of Georgia. The artwork was created by Georgian artist Bernard Nebieridzeby between 1980 and 1985.
Gelati Monastery (see map)
Unfortunately, we missed visiting this Monastery, not knowing about it. Gelati Monastery is located 11 km westwards of Kutaisi. This Monastery was built between the 12th and 17th centuries. Gelati was an important religious, cultural and educational center of Georgia. The monastery is included in UNESCO’s World Cultural Heritage List, and its architecture is well known for its beautiful mosaics and frescos. King David the Builder, the most celebrated King of Georgia, is buried in the yard at the Monastery.
Chiatura Trams, Mgvimevi Convent and Katskhi Column
Unfortunately, we missed these three locations as they are a bit of a drive from Kutaisi, and we had just recently received snow. We had talked to a fellow blogger and were told that the tram system located in Chiatura was not that exciting since everything had been upgraded recently.
Mgvimevi Convent, small, less known in Georgia cave nunnery named by Holy mother Nativity and located in Chiatura region right next to Chiatura city. The Mgvimevi Monastery is a rare case of a cave monastery and looks like Vardzia.
Katskhi Column, I’m sorry that we missed it, and I think this would have been something extraordinary to see. Katskhi Pillar is a natural limestone monolith located at the village of Katskhi in the western Georgian region of Imereti, near the town of Chiatura. It is approximately 40 meters tall and has a small church sitting on top of the column.
We Had Our Reason To Visit Kutaisi (Covid Booster)
One reason for our visit to Kutaisi was the opportunity to get our Covid -19 Booster shot. Let me explain; we have been in Georgia for nearly two months. Georgia’s policy is it will give the vaccine booster shot to tourists that have been in Georgia for three months.
Many countries are moving toward a six or nine-month window after your original Covid Vaccine to get the booster. Receiving a booster within this time frame, you are then considered vaccinated. When traveling, this should make life a little less complicated. I was already past this nine-month window.
Cindy and I hoped we could visit the Kutaisi hospital and see if we could get our boosters done here. Thinking Kutaisi hospital might be a little more lenient on the time frame requirements. We made our way to the hospital and approached the front desk with google translate in hand. We requested a booster shot and said to them that we were tourists.
I must say that I was not very optimistic about our prospects. Well, within a half-hour of entering the hospital, we had both received our boosters with documentation to prove it. We are very grateful and sincerely appreciate what Georgia gave us, and this will make our travel possible going forward.
Covid-19 Protocols
Here are some of the Covid-19 protocols that we have run across in our stay in Kutaisi and, for that matter, in most of Georgia as well. You may need to prove that you have been double vaccinated if requested. Georgia uses a green passport system; being a tourist, this passport is hard to activate using the app. In conclusion, you should have no problems as long as you can prove that you are double vaccinated. We haven’t had any issues, and we have been in Georgia for two months at this point.
Our Final Thoughts “Why Visit Kutaisi, What Makes Kutaisi Interesting”
- Our first impression of Kutaisi was not overly favorable. Kutaisi is a little more layed back then what we were used to since spending so much time in Tbilisi. The winter weather that we were experiencing didn’t help the situation either. We picked Kutaisi to visit because it was on the way to Batumi and we wanted to receive our Covid booster shot. It took a little while to feel out Kutaisi and find out what it offered it’s visitors. In the end we did appreciate the slower pace and if you get out of town there are some amazing destinations to experience this region of Georgia.
Our Positives
- People are so friendly and welcoming
- Enjoyed walking around town and trying many of the restaurants located in the downtown area.
- We felt safe at all times
- Prometheus Cave we very much enjoyed as it was very large and extremely interesting to visit
- The Monasteries we visited were beautiful with the amazing history surrounding them.
Would have, Could have, Should have
- We should have made the effort to visit Mgvimevi Monastery and Katskhi Column as I think these could have been the highlights to Kutaisi. Even though one does research and tries to lay out a plan in what to visit things sometimes do not work out. Well if ever back these two items will be front and center to visit.
Next Stop
We are off to Batumi to spend our last two weeks in Georgia. Looking back on it all, it has been an incredible experience. Georgia, the country, has been a fantastic experience for us both. The people are great, the food has been interesting, and the wine has been exceptional. We recommend that everyone take the opportunity to visit; you will not regret it. We sure haven’t. Try to avoid the winter months; I think Georgia in full color would be inspiring.
More Posts About Our Stays In Georgia
Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, is the country where we started our Georgian adventures. We fell in love with the city and ended up staying six weeks here. A large post with lots of good information.
Signagi (also spelled Sighnaghi) is a beautiful town in the Georgian wine region of Kakheti. We decided to visit this much talked about town after being in Tbilisi for two weeks. Signagi is known as “the City of Love”, is a two-hour Marshrutka (van) ride from Tbilisi.
Gori the first town we visited after leaving Tbilisi in our travels toward Batumi and onward to Turkey. Please have a read, and I hope you enjoy it.
Akhaltsikhe, we have four days booked, where we intend to visit these unique sights. Akhaltsikhe has a vast and impressive Fortress situated atop a hill. In addition, you can visit the Resort Town of Abastumani, which is a short drive away. Here you can soak your weary bones in sulfur bath pools as the Russian nobles did so many years ago. If looking for something completely different, then visit the Cave Monastery of Vardzia. Known as the home of Queen Tamar.
Batumi is a seaside Georgian City located on the black sea just 12 kilometers north of the Turkish Georgian border. Cindy and I are happy to be here, the last stop of our Georgian travels, and we are excited to Experience Batumi and Discover What Makes It Special. We have set aside two weeks to explore Batumi.
Support Our Blog And It’s Unique Travel Content
You can support our site by using the links through our travel Essential. If you purchase items using our links, we will receive a small commission. There are no extra or hidden costs to you. These commissions assist us in our travel, so we can provide unique content to you through each blog post. If you enjoy our blog and find it interesting and informative please share it with friends. Subscriber, so you never miss a new post. Thank you.
Recommended Travel Essential
Cindy and I call ourselves nomadic, so we use certain essentials to make this way of life easier and more comfortable with our lifestyle. With this in mind, we have composed a list of what we feel are essentials and some tips you might use to plan or take your next travel adventure.
- Travel Packing Essentials to help organize and make this task less stressful
- Travel Safety Essentials to make your life on the road a little safer, giving you peace of mind
- Living essentials to make life a little more comfortable, be this resting, working, or playing.
Accommodation Options While Traveling The World
- Booking.com is one of our go to’s when we are looking for a place to stay for a couple of days or longer
- Agoda.com we find is best to use when in Southeast Asia, but hey you never know what you might find
- Airbnb.com used to be our go-to but some of their cancelation policies are resaonable, give them a try as well
Travel Insurance
We always travel with travel Insurance, be it just medical or complete trip coverage. We use Heymondo as we find their costs reasonable. Remember, don’t travel, and without coverage, the savings are not worth the possible costs.
Some links on this page are affiliate links, meaning if you buy a product using our link, we may earn a commission. This commission comes at no additional cost to you. Disclaimer.
