Major city · Georgia
Kutaisiქუთაისი
Use Kutaisi as a base for Imereti's caves and monasteries rather than a destination in itself, especially if you're flying in on a low-cost carrier; two nights work well before heading to Tbilisi or Batumi.
Kutaisi is Georgia's third-largest city, in the west of the country and one of its oldest, with roots going back over 3,000 years. It has a UNESCO-listed cathedral, a lively central market and a compact, walkable centre split by the Rioni River. Day trips reach canyons, caves and monastery sites across the Imereti region.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Best months
- Apr–Jun and Sep–Oct: mild temperatures and lower rainfall than winter
- avoid Jul–Aug (hot and humid in the valley), Dec–Feb (Imereti's wettest and coldest months, and some canyon walkways close)
- Airport
- KUT
- Nights
- 2
Rules in force · 6The Armenia–Azerbaijan and Armenia–Türkiye land borders a…Georgia treats entry to Abkhazia or South Ossetia from Ru…Do not plan travel to Abkhazia or South Ossetia
- Caucasus ↗The Armenia–Azerbaijan and Armenia–Türkiye land borders are closed; any route that crosses them is not a route, however short it looks.
- Caucasus ↗Georgia treats entry to Abkhazia or South Ossetia from Russia as illegal; entering that way can mean arrest or a ban when you next reach Georgia proper.
- Georgia ↗Many passports enter visa-free for a long stay; if yours needs a visa, apply only on the official e-visa portal.
- Georgia ↗Do not plan travel to Abkhazia or South Ossetia: crossing their boundary lines from Georgian-controlled land is treated as illegal entry, and many governments advise against it.
- Georgia ↗In Orthodox churches women cover their heads and shoulders and wear a skirt or a wrap; men remove hats and avoid shorts.
- Georgia ↗Carry Georgian lari in small notes for minibuses, markets and the metro card; cards work in most Tbilisi cafés and shops but not everywhere outside the capital.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide
What is in this basic guide6 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Kutaisi112 ▾
- General emergency (police, fire, ambulance)112
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Kutaisi, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the Georgian lari (₾, GEL).Georgia-wide
- SIM or eSIMMagti, Silknet (Geocell) and Cellfie sell SIMs with a passport; cheap data.Georgia-wide
- Tap watercheckTap water is widely drunk in Tbilisi and mountain towns (check locally); bottled is cheap.Georgia-wide
- TippingcheckRestaurants: Check the bill for a service charge; otherwise 10%.Georgia-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/F. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 220 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Georgia-wide
- SafetyKutaisi has low crime and is straightforward for independent travel; the main planning risk is informal transport schedules to the canyons and caves.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsFree in cafés for customers; small fees at stations.Georgia-wide
- Emergency numbers112 General emergency (police, fire, ambulance) (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysMuseums close Mondays; church services continue daily.Georgia-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportKUT David the Builder Kutaisi International (About 20 km (12 mi) from the centre; buses and taxis run on flight schedules).KUT David the Builder Kutaisi International (About 12 mi (20 km) from the centre; buses and taxis run on flight schedules).
- Getting aroundThe centre is compact and walkable.
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- KUT David the Builder Kutaisi International (About 20 km (12 mi) from the centre; buses and taxis run on flight schedules)KUT David the Builder Kutaisi International (About 12 mi (20 km) from the centre; buses and taxis run on flight schedules)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
Feb
Avoid
Mar
not flagged
Apr
Best
May
Best
Jun
Best
Jul
Avoid
Aug
Avoid
Sep
Best
Oct
Best
Nov
not flagged
Dec
Avoid
Best: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct. Avoid: Jul–Aug, Dec–Feb. Month by month →
Weather and climate
Kutaisi: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
The centre is compact and walkable. Taxis and marshrutkas reach Gelati Monastery, Prometheus Cave and the Imereti canyons, though schedules for the latter are informal — ask your guesthouse to confirm times. Trains and buses connect Kutaisi to Tbilisi (about 4 hours) and Batumi (about 2–3 hours).
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
City centre
Walkable to cafes, the Green Bazaar market and the Rioni riverbank.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Watch out
Safety
- Canyon walkways and cave tours can close after heavy rain or in winter; check conditions before planning a day trip.
- Marshrutka (shared minibus) schedules are informal and rarely posted online; ask locally or at your accommodation the day before.
- The airport is popular with European low-cost carriers, so taxis and buses can be in short supply right after a flight lands; book a transfer in advance if possible.
Emergency numbers
- General emergency (police, fire, ambulance)
- 112
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Kutaisi. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Apr–Jun and Sep–Oct: mild temperatures and lower rainfall than winter · avoid Jul–Aug (hot and humid in the valley), Dec–Feb (Imereti's wettest and coldest months, and some canyon walkways close)
- 1 airport and 1 area to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast
- 3 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
- Walking clusters with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Field-verified times and fares
Sources
- officialGeorgia Tourism
- secondaryWikivoyage — Kutaisi
Ask about Kutaisi
Loading…