If you are going to Georgia, be sure to visit one of the oldest settlements in the world — the city of Kutaisi. Once upon a time it was a capital city, but now it has the status of the administrative center of Western Georgia. The quiet, beautiful town is on the second position in the country in terms of the number of inhabitants and on the third-in terms of economic indicators.
Where is Kutaisi located
The city is located in the western part of Georgia on the high coast of Rioni. The river in Kutaisi, fast and always muddy, flows from north to south, dividing it in half. Walking along the right bank, you will plunge into the atmosphere of deep antiquity – here is the old town with its historical and cultural values. The left coast of Kutaisi is a modern center with many new buildings. Both districts are connected by colorful bridges.
Although Kutaisi has ceased to be the capital, it still plays the role of an important cultural and business center of the country. This is primarily due to its location – the city is located on the central highway that connects the eastern and western parts of Georgia. It is 220 km from Tbilisi, 150 km from Batumi, and 100 km from Poti.
Harmony of antiquity and modernity
In Kutaisi, elements of ancient architecture, five-story buildings of Stalinist times and modern Art Nouveau buildings get along and combine in an amazing way.
The name of the city has its roots in the Georgian word “stone”, since only the northern rocky side of the Rioni River was inhabited. Kutaisi is also known as the city of May and roses. For more than a century, the City Day has been celebrated here every year on May 2. The second capital of Georgia is a relatively small city. Today, the population of Kutaisi is about 140 thousand (as of 2018). The people here are friendly and friendly.
What to see in Kutaisi
If you walk around the city on foot, you can see a lot of interesting things, admire the narrow streets of the old districts of the city, see the sights. Georgian flavor “breathe” small houses, inexplicably located on steep slopes. You can take the cable car to enjoy the panorama of the city to your heart’s content.
The center of Kutaisi is decorated with a multi-level Colchian fountain with 30 statues located on it. This grandiose creation of architect David Gogchaishvili appeared in 2011 and since then has been considered the pride of the city, attracting the attention of tourists from all over the world.
When you are hungry, you can have a snack in one of the establishments located in the very center of the city, near the fountain. The portions in restaurants are large, the dishes are delicious, and the prices are reasonable.
After a meal, you can enjoy sightseeing.
Places of interest in Kutaisi
Due to its majestic past, Kutaisi is famous for its UNESCO-listed architectural monuments. What to see first in Kutaisi and the surrounding area?
Bagrat Cathedral
The construction of this temple dates back to 1003. Then it was the residence of the Georgian kings. Its convenient location on a high mountain with steep slopes turned it into a well-fortified fortress, which was difficult to capture. After visiting Bagrat Cathedral, you can enjoy a magnificent view of the city and take interesting photos of Kutaisi.
In 2012, the church was completely restored. Judging by the photo, now it looks almost like new. However, there is one unpleasant moment in the restoration: after it was carried out, the attraction was excluded from the UNESCO World Heritage List, as the work carried out significantly changed the appearance of the church.
Gelat Monastery
It is located in the vicinity of Kutaisi, more precisely, 6 km northeast of the city. It was founded in 1106 during the reign of David the Builder. On its territory, surrounded by a wall, 2 more temples were built. An academy was built here and a large bell tower was built. The monastery became the tomb of David himself and other Georgian kings. For several decades, it has served as the cultural, spiritual and scientific center of the country. Now it is a must-see tourist attraction for travelers who have come to Kutaisi. If possible, it is better to come to it from morning to early, while there are no crowds of tourists.
Minibuses run from Kutaisi to Gelati 6 times a day. The cost of travel is GEL 1 per person. From the road you need to walk about 20 minutes.
Motsameta Monastery
It is located near the Gelat monastery, separated from it by a mountain and a canyon. Motsameta attracts tourists with its magnificent landscape, which harmoniously fits a small church standing on the top of a mountain between two gorges. Its construction was dedicated to the brothers, David and Konstantin Mkheidze, who were tortured to death by the Arabs, but never persuaded them to accept Islam.
The entrance to the tomb where the brothers are buried is guarded by wooden lions. Every year, pilgrims come here to pray for the dead.
To visit the attraction, you must be properly dressed. Short shorts and skirts are not allowed. Women must cover their heads.
Martville Canyons
The canyons located in the northern vicinity of Kutaisi can be reached in an hour by car.
The canyons amaze the imagination with their splendor and beauty, rate for yourself in the photo below. No wonder they were given the name pearls of the region. You can endlessly admire the mighty waterfalls, mysterious gorges, azure water. Recent discoveries by paleontologists have confirmed that dinosaurs lived here 73 million years ago. When traveling through the upper part of the gorge, be sure to take a boat ride. And after visiting the lower part, you can take a dip in the bathhouse that once belonged to the king.
Sataplia
While exploring the sights of Kutaisi and its surroundings, you can not ignore the protected area, located 10 km from the city of Kutaisi. There are some fantastic tropical plants growing here, some of them are listed in the Red Book.
In the reserve, you can take a guided tour in English or Russian for GEL 17. During it, you will walk through the relict forest, see the trail of a dinosaur, as well as figures of prehistoric animals. Then you will enter a stalactite cave, the walls of which are illuminated in different colors.
The special pride of the reserve is the observation deck with a glass floor, located at an altitude of 800 meters above sea level. It offers scenic views of the surrounding area.
On a note! You don’t have to take a guided tour. All objects can be viewed independently without too much fuss, information signs will give you a good idea of the place.
Market
Only in the market will you be able to fully experience the local flavor and see life from the inside, and not the “coiffed” picture that is shown to tourists. The Georgian people are very sociable, hospitable and welcoming. Here you will be given a lot of practical tips on where to go and what to see, will tell you the latest news, will be happy to pose for a photo and will definitely be treated. And if you make a lot of purchases, they will also give you something as a gift.
Places to relax in Kutaisi
In this city there is a History Museum, where you can get acquainted with the monuments of Georgian architecture and culture in general. There is a lot to see, because the history of the city goes back more than 3000 years. With children, you can take a walk in the city park – there are many interesting attractions.
In general, there is a lot to see in Kutaisi – the choice of cultural and natural attractions is not small.
Accommodation
You can stay in a hotel, hostel or guest house in the city of Kutaisi. Hotel accommodation with a full list of services will cost $ 50-70 per person per night. These are hotels such as Imeri Park Hotel and Hotel Rcheuli Palace. Living in a hostel is much cheaper ($12-20). Prices largely depend on the season.
Although the choice of accommodation in Kutaisi is quite large, it is advisable to choose a room in advance, because the best options for the price/quality ratio are reserved first.
How to get
You can get from Tbilisi to Kutaisi by bus or train.
By bus
GeorgianBus buses (https://georgianbus.com) depart from Freedom Square in Pushkin Park. The journey time is 4 hours. The fare is 20 GEL. Arrival point-Kutaisi Airport. You can check the current schedule and ticket prices on the official website.
Minibuses in Kutaisi go from Didube bus station every half hour from 8 am to 8 pm. The ticket costs GEL 10, and the journey takes 4 hours. Mini buses arrive at the bus station in Kutaisi.
By train
Train No. 18 runs longer (about 5.5 hours) and costs less (GEL 9). You can purchase a travel document online at the Georgian railway website www.railway.ge en/ by pre-registering in the system.
