Georgia Kutaisi Tours

Kutaisi Tours cover one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, set on the Rioni River in western Georgia. In antiquity the city served as the capital of Colchis, the kingdom that appears in Greek mythology as the destination of Jason and the Argonauts in their search for the Golden Fleece. Centuries later Kutaisi became the capital of the unified Kingdom of Georgia, a role reflected in the monuments that still stand across the city today.

Most visitors reach Kutaisi as a stop within a wider Georgia itinerary connecting Tbilisi with the mountain region of Svaneti and the Black Sea coast, since the city sits roughly midway between them and has its own international airport.

Bagrati Cathedral

Bagrati Cathedral crowns Ukimerioni Hill above the city center, built in 1003 under King Bagrat III and named for him. The cathedral suffered damage over centuries of invasion, and later restoration work has kept it, together with Gelati Monastery, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its hilltop position gives visitors a wide view over the Rioni valley and the city below.

Gelati Monastery

A short drive outside the city, Gelati Monastery was founded in 1106 by King David the Builder, who is buried at its gate. The complex preserves mosaics and frescoes dating to the 12th and 13th centuries, and it once housed the Gelati Academy, a center of learning that drew scholars, philosophers and theologians from across the medieval Caucasus. Its churches remain in active use today, and the monastery grounds are typically visited together with Bagrati Cathedral on the same outing.

Prometheus Cave and the Canyons

West of the city, Prometheus Cave contains illuminated chambers of stalactites and underground pools along a marked walking route, with an underground river running through part of the system; the cave opened to visitors in 1984 and its final chambers are reached by a short boat ride across an underground lake. Further out, the canyons of Martvili and Okatse cut through forested limestone gorges, reached respectively by raft on the turquoise river below and by a cliffside walkway extending several hundred meters above the water, and both are popular half-day additions to a Kutaisi tour.

Kutaisi City Center

The city's central square is marked by the Colchis Fountain, decorated with gold-toned replicas of archaeological artifacts unearthed in the region, a reference to Kutaisi's ancient Colchian past. Nearby stands a glass-domed building constructed when Georgia's national parliament relocated to Kutaisi between 2012 and 2018 as part of an effort to decentralize government institutions away from Tbilisi, before parliament later returned to the capital.

Kutaisi Tour Packages

Because of its position between Tbilisi and Svaneti, Kutaisi often serves as a starting or finishing point for multi-day itineraries into the high mountains. The Tour From Kutaisi to Mestia 5 Day follows this route, connecting the city's historic sites with the glacier villages of Upper Svaneti.

Getting Around Kutaisi

The compact city center is easy to explore on foot, with Bagrati Cathedral, the White Bridge over the Rioni River and the Central Market all within easy walking distance of each other. Sites further outside the city, including Gelati Monastery, Prometheus Cave and the surrounding canyons, are typically visited by organized tour or private transfer rather than public transport.

Best Time to Visit Kutaisi

Spring and autumn bring mild temperatures well suited to walking the hilltop sites and canyon trails, with fewer crowds than the peak summer months. Summer remains busy thanks to Kutaisi's role as a gateway to Svaneti, while the cave and canyons stay accessible for most of the year, weather permitting on the outdoor sections.