The capital of Imereti in western Georgia and an ancient Colchian city: Bagrati Cathedral, UNESCO-listed Gelati Monastery and the Colchis Fountain. From here, half-day trips reach Prometheus Cave, a boat ride through Martvili Canyon, the Okatse hanging walkway and the Sataplia dinosaur footprints — great for families. Best in May–June and September–October; July–August is hot and humid. No direct flights from Ulaanbaatar — fly into Kutaisi via Almaty (Hunnu Air + FlyArystan) or Istanbul (Pegasus), or come from Tbilisi by train or bus in ~3 hours; Mongolian citizens need an e-visa, and insurance is mandatory.
🛂 Visa: e-Visa · 30 days✈ Flight: 12h☀ Best months: May, June, September, October
#history and culture#caves#canyons#family-friendly#Georgian food#e-visa
Orange — daytime average, blue — night, grey bars — rainfall, green — sea temperature. Best months: May, June, September, October.
Things to see (12)
🧸 for kids
Bagrati Cathedral★ 4.7 (9,000)
CultureFreeDaily ≈8:00–20:00 (keep quiet during services)
Built in 1003 under King Bagrat III on Ukimerioni hill, the symbol of a united Georgia. Restored after being blown up by the Ottomans in 1692; the hill has fine views over the Rioni river and the city. A 20-minute walk from the centre.
Like a well-travelled friend for a first-timer: before you go, landing, SIM, transport, money, food, safety, manners, apps, leaving — step by step.
🧳Before you goMongolian citizens need a visa for Georgia — an e-visa or entry on a third-country visa; insurance is mandatory.+
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Visa: the evisa.gov.ge e-visa
Mongolia is not on Georgia's visa-free list. Apply online at evisa.gov.ge: up to 30 days within 120 days, fee ~$20 plus a mandatory $15 DuVerify check, decision within up to 5 working days. Attach flight and hotel bookings, insurance and proof of funds.
Visa-free with a Korean, Japanese, US or Schengen visa
Under Government Ordinance No. 256, holders of a valid visa or residence permit of 50 countries including the US, UK, EU/Schengen, Japan and South Korea may enter visa-free for 90 days in any 180. The visa must be valid on the day you cross the border.
Since 1 January 2026 every foreign tourist must hold health and accident insurance of at least 30,000 lari covering the whole stay, shown at the border in English or Georgian.
Tip: Codeine medicines are banned in Georgia — carry prescription medicines in their original packaging.
Three trains a day run from Tbilisi to Kutaisi's Rioni station in ~3 hours, ₾14–27. Marshrutkas to Kutaisi Central Bus Station cost ₾25, take 3–3.5 hours and leave 20+ times a day.
Tip: Train tickets go on sale on tkt.ge 2–3 weeks ahead.
Magti, Silknet and Cellfie have shops at the airport and in the centre; buy a SIM with your passport. A Magti SIM costs ₾10 and 30 days of unlimited data about ₾35.
If your phone supports eSIM, buy one before you go so you can call a Bolt on landing. Free Wi-Fi is common in cafés and hotels; signal can be weak around the canyons and caves.
Tip: Download Google Maps offline maps before heading to the canyons.
🚇Getting aroundWalk the centre; use marshrutkas, Bolt or a tour for Gelati, the caves and canyons.+
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City buses and marshrutkas
City buses cost ₾1 by card or cash; city marshrutkas ₾1–1.5 in cash. The Gelati marshrutka leaves near the theatre, ₾3, ~20 minutes, a few times a day.
To see Prometheus, Martvili and Okatse in one day, a group tour from Kutaisi or a GoTrip car with driver is most comfortable; entry tickets are usually extra. Public transport is sparse and irregular.
Bolt is cheap in town with upfront prices; take one to Sataplia, Motsameta or Gelati and call another to come back. With street taxis, agree the fare first.
💳Money+
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Cards everywhere
Restaurants, shops, Bolt and the cave and canyon ticket offices accept Visa/Mastercard. Withdraw lari from TBC and Bank of Georgia ATMs; avoid high-fee private ATMs. Markets and marshrutkas need cash.
City exchange offices give good rates for dollars and euros; airport rates are poor. Tugrik is not exchanged, so bring dollars from Ulaanbaatar. Restaurant bills usually already include a service charge.
Tip: The airport shuttle bus takes cards only — keep yours handy.
🍜FoodImereti is the land of round khachapuri, Imeretian cheese and white wine.+
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What to eat
Imeretian khachapuri — round bread filled with cheese; khinkali; pkhali — vegetable and walnut pâtés; chkmeruli — chicken in garlic cream; churchkhela. Imeretian white wine (Tsitska, Tsolikouri). Lagidze fruit sodas for the children.
Tip: Imeretian khachapuri is lighter than the others — fine for children too.
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Where to eat
Plenty of restaurants and cafés around the Colchis Fountain and White Bridge; cheap food, cheese and fruit at the Green Bazaar. On canyon trips, lunch at a roadside family restaurant.
The Okatse walkway, waterfalls and cave steps are slippery — wear non-slip shoes. The Martvili boat and Okatse walkway have children's height limits and may close after rain or high water. In July–August carry water and a hat.
Political protests have continued in Tbilisi since late 2024 — keep away from any protest. Never go to Russian-occupied Abkhazia or South Ossetia. Don't enter Tskaltubo's abandoned sanatoriums — they can collapse.
At Bagrati, Gelati and Motsameta women cover their heads and wear a skirt (wraps are lent at the door), and men take off hats and avoid shorts. Keep quiet during services and ask before taking photos.
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Hospitality
Georgians are extremely warm to guests; bring a small gift if invited home. At a feast the tamada proposes toasts — it is fine to politely decline alcohol. 'Gamarjoba' — hello, 'Madloba' — thank you.
📱Useful apps+
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Maps, taxis and trains
Bolt — Kutaisi's main ride-hailing app. Google Maps shows bus and marshrutka routes. Buy train tickets to Tbilisi and Batumi on tkt.ge and airport buses on Georgian Bus online.
Kutaisi airport is some way out of town, so plan the shuttle-bus timetable or a Bolt ahead; arrive early for international flights and allow for passport-control queues. If you fly out of Tbilisi, travel there the day before to be safe.
Take Imeretian wine, churchkhela, spices from the Green Bazaar (khmeli-suneli) and cheese as gifts. Wrap wine in checked luggage and check transit-flight and Mongolian customs alcohol limits. Spend leftover lari in Georgia — it is not exchanged in Mongolia.
🚨 Emergency numbers
Unified emergency number (police, ambulance, fire)112
AI answer: double-check anything beyond our researched facts with an official source.
Daily ≈9:00–18:00
A monastery and academy founded in 1106 by King David the Builder, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Gold mosaic, 12th–17th-century frescoes and King David's tomb. About 11 km from town by ₾3 marshrutka or Bolt; pair with Motsameta for a half day.
A small 8th-century monastery on a sheer rocky promontory above the Tskaltsitela river gorge, honouring the martyr brothers David and Constantine. On the way to Gelati, about 6 km from town; superb river views.
A huge cave with a 1.4 km lit trail past stalactites and stalagmites; about 14°C year-round inside, so cool on hot days. Children love it; there are many steps. About 20 km from town, beyond Tskaltubo.
NatureAdults ₾40; ages 6–18 ₾5.5; boat ₾20Daily ≈10:00–18:00; boats depend on water levels
A narrow canyon with deep emerald water: a forest walkway, waterfalls and an inflatable-boat ride through the gorge. Children under 1 m can't ride the boat. About 45 km from town; combine with Okatse on a tour or by GoTrip.
NatureOkatse ₾30 (+ ₾12 off-road transfer); Okatse + Kinchkha combo ₾40Daily ≈10:00–18:00; closes in rain or snow
A ~780 m hanging walkway bolted to the canyon wall, ending in a viewing platform over a 140 m drop. Children under 1.2 m are not allowed in. Nearby Kinchkha is a three-tier waterfall about 88 m high. About 45 km from town.
KidsAdults ₾30; children cheaperDaily ≈10:00–18:00
A children's favourite: 120-million-year-old dinosaur footprints under a protective shelter, dinosaur models, a small cave, trails through Colchic forest and a glass-floored viewing platform. About 9 km from town.
Kutaisi White Bridge and Colchis Fountain★ 4.5 (10,000)
CityFree24 hours
The city centre: the Colchis Fountain with more than 30 replicas of ancient Colchian gold figures, and the 19th-century White Bridge over the Rioni, with a glass-floored section. Lovely for an evening stroll past the Meskhishvili Theatre and the old streets.
A big renovated market: Imeretian cheese, churchkhela, spices, fruit, homemade wine and sour cream. Food stalls and cafés upstairs; a fun place to let children taste fruit and churchkhela.
A tiny church on top of a 40 m limestone pillar — only the monk climbs the iron ladder. View it from below and visit the chapel at its foot. About 55 km east of town on the way to Chiatura; Bolt or GoTrip.
RelaxRuins free; a spa bath around ₾20Daylight hours
A famous Soviet-era radon spa town: grand, columned, abandoned sanatoriums and a large park. Some bathhouses still operate. Abandoned buildings are unsafe to enter — look from outside. About 12 km from town.
Imeretian khachapuri and Georgian wine★ 4.5 (5,000)
FoodKhachapuri ₾10–18; wine ₾5–10 a glassRestaurants ≈11:00–23:00
Imereti is the home of round cheese-filled khachapuri — try it fresh and hot in Kutaisi. Share an Imeretian white wine (Tsitska, Tsolikouri); during the harvest (September–October) visit a family marani nearby for a tasting.
