The Helpful Guide to Sightseeing in the City of Kutaisi, Georgia

The country of Georgia in the Caucasus is not especially well-known to travellers quite yet. That goes double though for the small city of Kutaisi in western Georgia. Nowhere near as popular as the capital Tbilisi or Batumi on the coast, sightseeing in Kutaisi quickly reveals just how much this destination has to offer.

A quiet city, Kutaisi makes for a nice contrast to Tbilisi and the coast, letting you get in touch with the Georgian heartland a little. Hopefully, with this Kutaisi guide, you’ll get a sense of this destination and maybe even add it to your Georgia itinerary.

Kutaisi is best known for a select few sights, namely the Bagrati Cathedral and the Gelati Monastery. That’s understandable given that together these two places are recognised by UNESCO as world heritage sites. The thing is, there’s plenty more to see and do in the city.

It may not be all that flashy, but Kutaisi has a low-key charm to it that shows you what life is like in modern Georgia. Kutaisi also acts as a great base for various day trips that explore this part of Georgia, but I’ll get to that in another post. For now, let’s get to all the main things to do in Kutaisi.

The City of Kutaisi

Before we delve into all the Kutaisi sightseeing opportunities, it may help to know a little about the city first. Georgia’s third largest city, Kutaisi is the capital city of the Imereti region and historically one of the country’s most important.

In fact, throughout its long history, Kutaisi has frequently been the capital city of whichever kingdom was in power. Proof that the debate between Tbilisi and Kutaisi rages on, the nation’s parliament was moved to Kutaisi in 2012 before being moved back after my trip in 2018.

When visiting Kutaisi, you could probably see most of these sights within a single day if you had to. That certainly wouldn’t include Gelati Monastery, which could instead be included among other destinations in a day trip.

Honestly, I’d advise against rushing your Kutaisi visit because once you’ve done sightseeing you can sit back, relax and enjoy the gentle atmosphere here.

Colchis Fountain

There’s a good chance that one of the first attractions you see in Kutaisi is the Colchis Fountain. Found in the middle of a large intersection in the city centre, it’s not a sight easily missed. The centrepiece of the fountain is a pair of golden horses, with terraces below decorated with animal figures.

The story behind the fountain is that the design is made up of enlarged replicas of unearthed jewellery dating from the ancient Colchis kingdom. Kutaisi was the capital of this ancient kingdom, back around the 5th-6th centuries BC. So the fountain is not only an interesting landmark but a nice nod to Kutaisi’s history.

Kutaisi Park

Just over the road from the fountain, you find what feels like the heart of the city with the Kutaisi Park. This large and central park is thick with trees and park benches, making it extremely popular with locals come the afternoon and evening.

There’s not really much to see here, but if you want to do as the locals do, then it’s a nice place to people-watch later in the day. If you like you can also head to the small cafe/restaurant Savane in the park and sit outside as you have a drink.

Kutaisi Street Art

One of the interesting things about Kutaisi is the way that different sides of the city blend and interact. Kutaisi varies quite a bit from old to modern, traditional to alternative, meaning there’s bound to be a part of the city that speaks to you.

One little corner that stuck with me was a small pedestrian street full of murals. Located between Tsminda Nino Street and Tsisperi Kantselebi Street, this pedestrian path was lined with street art, as well as cafes and cheap eats. There’s definitely a bohemian atmosphere here, but interestingly one that doesn’t spill out beyond this little area.

Rioni Riverfront

The major defining feature of Kutaisi’s landscape is the Rioni River that wiggles its way through the city. The river was quite low while I was visiting in October, with the grey rocky banks clearly visible. Rather than creating a classically beautiful riverfront, I felt it gave Kutaisi a unique look that simply added to the humble nature of the city. While there are plenty of good spots along the river, the nicest spot is the park around the Kutaisi Tourist Information Centre.

Along the river, several bridges cross it, but the two most interesting are the Chain Bridge and the Tetri Bridge. The Chain Bridge crosses northward and is defined by its chunky chains that span the river. Tetri Bridge was being worked on while I visited, but its gleaming white rails stood out.

Bagrati Cathedral

Positioned on Ukimerioni Hill above Kutaisi sits one of the major sights of the city, the Bagrati Cathedral. Dating from the 11th-century cathedral, this formerly UNESCO heritage-listed building is beautiful and lucky to be here.

Having been ravaged by time, a lot of effort went into renovating and rebuilding this medieval cathedral. That work has clearly paid off as the cathedral and its nearby tower cut a nice figure across the hilltop. Down the hill, a little stands a huge cross and a little further again you find a wall that offers simply the best view of Kutaisi that you could get.

If I was you, I’d go just before sunset because it couldn’t be more beautiful up there.

Kutaisi Market

Back down in town, there are several market streets positioned northwest of Kutaisi Park. While there are stores ranging from tech to hardware along these streets, in the middle of it all you find the Kutaisi Market.

Local markets like this always help you gain an appreciation for local cuisine beyond what’s on your plate at restaurants. On sale, you’ll find a lot of the produce you’d expect at a farmers market in this region, fruit, vegetables, nuts, meat etc.

One local snack you’ll also see is churchkhela. Found throughout Georgia, they look like candles but they’re totally edible. Churchkhela is assorted nuts on a string, dipped in fruit juices that dry making them look like ribbed candles. You just tear one off and eat it, simple as that.

Besik Gabashvili Amusement Park

From the centre of Kutaisi, you may notice a Ferris Wheel poking through the trees on a hill across the river. That’s the Besik Gabashvili Amusement Park, another place you should visit in the city. Part of the reason you should go is simply to take a ride in the small, old cable car that connects the city with the amusement park.

A ticket only costs 2 GEL and the bright yellow box zips you up over the river, showing you the city as you go. Once you’re up at the Besik Gabashvili Amusement Park, a variety of carnival rides lay in front of you.

That may appeal to you, especially if you’re travelling with kids, otherwise, there’s just a nice view back over the city. If you’ve been to Tbilisi, know that it’s much smaller than Mtatsminda Park there.

Kutaisi Botanical Garden

Removed from the city centre, you’ll need to walk out of town to reach the serene Kutaisi Botanical Garden. Further upstream past the Bagrati Cathedral, this park has all sorts of garden areas to explore.

Here and there, they’ve set up obvious photo spots but for the most part, it’s just nature pure and simple. The trails wind up and down the Botanical Garden, leading you to different sections like the ponds and amphitheatre. At only 1 GEL entry and with a nice walk along the Rioni River to get there, it’s a pleasant change of pace.

Gelati Monastery

Even further out of Kutaisi up in the hills lies the impressive Gelati Monastery.

Founded in 1106, this is a large monastic complex with great significance to the Orthodox Church of Georgia. More than just a place of worship, Gelati was an institution for study and education in science, philosophy and religion. Built by King David IV, the monastery is recognised by UNESCO as being a relic of the “Georgian Golden Age”.

With several churches in the monastery, each is decorated by vivid murals that are still remarkably intact. The main church actually has a mosaic ceiling and is the only medieval landmark in this region with surviving mosaics.

Outside the churches, you can visit the tomb of King David IV, one of Georgia’s most beloved rulers.

Other Kutaisi Attractions

Much like any short trip, I was unable to fit in some Kutaisi sights during my first visit.

I did see most of the main highlights of the city, but some escaped me. One that I’d like to visit next time is the Kutaisi State Historical Museum. Considered an important local museum, the archaeological, ethnographic and cultural exhibits and artifacts inside would help you better understand the city and Georgia.

The other historical landmark that I’d like to explore outside Kutaisi is the Motsameta Monastery. Not that far from Gelati Monastery upon another hilltop, this historic monastery looks quite different and is an area I’d like to hike about.

Tips for Kutaisi Sightseeing

Part of the reason I visited Kutaisi was that it was so convenient to get to. For starters, Kutaisi Airport is serviced by main budget carriers like Wizz Air. This means you can easily start or end your trip here.  To get from the airport or city centre, Georgian Bus run regular shuttle bus connections to both Tbilisi and Batumi. There’s also the train that passes through Gori to Tbilisi and it’s a pleasant, gentle ride.

In what was a surprise to me, there’s loads of affordable accommodation in Kutaisi, so you have plenty of choices open to you. Based on my experience, I’d happily recommend the Hotel Paradise Road. With a great location by the river and friendly owners, I had everything I needed here. Otherwise, there are plenty more hotels, hostels and guesthouses in the city.

While in Kutaisi, I tried a few different places to eat. Two that I’d suggest trying are the Bagrati Brewery and the Palaty Restaurant. The Bagrati Brewery, as you’d guess, is a brewpub perfect for having a beer and eating standard Georgian food like khinkali dumplings. It’s simple, cheap and does the job.

On the flip side, Palaty is a little more stylish and full of character. Here you can also get good traditional food, but this time with a nice Georgian red wine. Some nights they even have live music as you eat.

Have you ever spent time visiting Kutaisi Georgia? Where would you start your Kutaisi sightseeing? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

This article is now available as a mobile app. Go to GPSmyCity to download the app for GPS-assisted travel directions to the attractions featured in this article.