Location: Zeda Bashi
Day 1 - 23 Aug 2021
David the Builder Kutaisi International Airport
Content: Arrive in Kutaisi directly from Europe with a low coast airline WizzAir
Location: Kutaisi
Day 1 - 23 Aug 2021
Black Tomato Kutaisi | შავი პომიდორი ქუთაისი
Content: Check in at this vintage and cool hostel called Black Tomato. If you don't fancy bank beds, they have private rooms too.
Colchis Fountain
Content: Colchis Fountain is at the very center of Kutaisi, making it hard to miss. The fountain features golden figures of horses, tigers, rams, and other animals. If you get closer, among those figures, you can even notice the figure of tamada, the main character and the toast-maker at Georgian traditional feasts, who’ll greet you with a wine vessel in his hand. Those statues are the replicas of the same figures found during the archaeological excavations in different parts of the country and prove that the mythical kingdom of Colchis really existed on this territory, was rich in gold, and Jason and Argonauts were here during their mission to find the Golden Fleece.
Kutaisi
Content: Major buildings in Kutaisi have been renovated in recent years, therefore wander through the streets of the city center. Admire the architecture of opera house, its the one with tall warrior statues on its roof with a sitting lion statue holding its paw on a globe. Then continue your way through the Boulevard, or as locals call it - the central park of Kutaisi. Walk around the square-shaped park and appreciate the beauty of it, or sit down for a short break and watch the everyday lives of the locals.
Bikentia's Kebabery
Content: Come here for a quick lunch. It's an iconic place to eat in Kutaisi. Only serving one meal - kebab with a beer or a lemonade of your choice, Bikentia's is a simple venue with sanding tables that serves quick and delicious meal
Kutaisi State Historical Museum
Content: To learn more about the cultural heritage of the city, visit the History Museum located on Pushkin Street. The museum showcases more than 150 thousand items including artifacts from the Bronze Age and Antiquity period. Besides various household items, you’ll be able to see ancient books, frescos, and armory.
David Kakabadze Kutaisi Art Gallery
Content: The gallery, located on Shota Rustaveli street, displays collections of local artists including works of such famous Georgian artist as Pirosmani. There is a souvenir shops in the museum if you feel like bringing something memorable back home.
National Museum of Military Glory
Content: This is another cool place for history-lovers. Here, you’ll learn more about the military history of the country, including its participation in WWII and local conflicts of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
Bagrati Cathedral
Content: Overlooking the city, Bagrati Cathedral is one of the two UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Kutaisi. It was built by the first king of unified Georgia, Bagrat III, in 1003. The cathedral stood intact until the Ottomans invasion in the 17th century. It is a very important monument and represents a perfect example of medieval Georgian architecture. There’s a shortcut to get to the cathedral on foot. When you cross the Chain Bridge and the following street, look for the staircase on your left side. Tip: The cathedral is much more beautiful during the sunset time.
Location: Kutaisi
Day 2 - 24 Aug 2021
Kutaisi Botanical Garden
Content: The garden was founded in the middle of the 19th century and is the second earliest botanical garden of the country after Tbilisi National Botanical Garden. Here, you’ll explore around 700 plant species of shrubs and trees from all over the world. It’s a nice place to take a stroll and escape the summer heat for a while. However, in the evenings, there are plenty of mosquitos.
Synagogue
Content: Kutaisi was home to Georgia’s largest Jewish community and still preserves a Jewish quarter as its one of the neighborhoods. The synagogue was constructed in 1885 and is believed to be quite beautiful from the inside. Unfortunately, we visited it twice, once during is supposed opening hours in the evening, but both times it was closed…
Location: ქუთაისი
Day 2 - 24 Aug 2021
Green Market
Content: To experience the local everyday life, go to the bazaar. You’ll find several stalls full of fresh vegetables and fruits as well as homemade goods like churchkhela (walnut and grape juice sweets), pickles, cheese, and tkemali (plum sauce) to name a few.
Location: Kumistavi
Day 2 - 24 Aug 2021
Prometheus Cave Natural Monument
Content: There are several karst caves near Kutaisi but the most famous one that every traveler goes is the Prometheus Cave. This karst cave is rich with stalactites, stalagmites, and stalagnites to name a few and are illuminated with colorful lights. The space of the cave is 46.6 ha, while the length of some rooms is around 80-100 meters. You are not allowed to wander in the cave on your own, you wait for a group of people to enter. Therefore, if you are not close to the guide, you can’t here interesting details and history of the cave. In total, you walk around 1420 meters underground before you reach the exit. If you want, you can take a boat ride out of the cave with an additional fee, otherwise, you walk through a tunnel where a service bus is waiting for you and takes you back to the entrance of the cave.
Location: Tskaltubo
Day 2 - 24 Aug 2021
Tskaltubo
Content: Tskaltubo used to be a famous spa resort of Imereti region. Back in Soviet times, Tskaltubo was a popular destination due to the healing properties of its hot thermal waters. There were dozens of sanatoriums and resorts to host thousands of people from all over the world. Today, most of those resorts are abandoned and halfway demolished, however, there are a couple that has been renovated to the international standards. Those resorts have a distinguished architecture which makes you feel as if you traveled back in time in the 1950s
Location: Kutaisi
Day 2 - 24 Aug 2021
დები Sisters
Content: This cute vintage restaurant is an excellent place to have dinner in Kutaisi. Order an Imeretian Plate to try all the goodies this region is famous for.
Location: Motsameta
Day 3 - 25 Aug 2021
Gelati Monastery
Content: Gelati Monastery is one of the most important medieval building of Georgia and is believed to be the quintessence of local architecture. Located 11 km from Kutaisi, the monastery was founded by David the Builder, the most powerful king of Georgia between 12th and 13th centuries. His grave is also located here. Along with Bagrati Cathedral, Gelati Monastery is enlisted as UNESCO World Heritage Site. The complex includes different building, but from them, the most distinguished one is the Monastery of Holy Mother of God and its gorgeous frescos. At the very center of the church, there is a fresco of St. Mary with Baby Jesus in her hands and ringed with archangels Michael and Gabriel. Those frescos are typical Georgian creation and have no analog in medieval art.
Motsameta Monastery
Content: Motsameta monastery is located close to Gelati and was built to immortalize the names of two brothers - David and Constantine Mkheidze. This religious building dates back to the 11th century, but the very first church here was built in the 8th century. Breathtaking deep gorges and mountains surround the church. The name in English translates as ‘the place of martyrs’ and several legends are connected to its name. According to one of them, Dukes of Argveti, David and Constantine, were tortured during the Aran invasion.
Location: Zeda Gordi
Day 4 - 26 Aug 2021
Okatse Canyon
Content: Okatse Canyon is considered to be the deepest canyon of the country, located around 50 km from Kutaisi. Located in Zeda Gordi village, the canyon offers breathtaking views of surrounding gorge. The length of the canyon is 16 km with the depth of 35-50 meters. In some parts, the walls of the canyon align with each other and create beautiful, natural stone bridges. Unfortunately, you can’t explore the whole canyon as it's not fully studied yet and has only 1.5 km long hanging iron walkway built only several years ago.
Location: Martvili
Day 4 - 26 Aug 2021
Martvili Canyon
Content: Martvili Canyon is another stunning natural gem of the country, located in Samegrelo region and 50 km away from Kutaisi. I have seen dozens of gorgeous pictures before my visit, so I was very excited to finally manage a trip here. However, honestly speaking, I was very disappointed not because of its beauty, but because of the service offered here. Moreover, I haven’t read a detailed review of the place anywhere, so here it is.
Location: Katskhi
Day 5 - 27 Aug 2021
Katskhi Column
Content: Katskhi Pillar is a natural limestone pillar located in Katskhi village, 62 km from Kutaisi. The name of the pillar is believed to derive from Svan language (one of the three languages spoken in Georgia) and means ‘peak’. With its hight of approximately 40-45 meters, the pillar is a fascinating natural wonder to visit. The area of its top is around 150 sq. meters, the lower part of the pillar is narrower than the upper one, creating a negative tilt. There’s a monastery on top of the pillar, which is only accessible for monks. The current church was a result of restoration works done between 2005-09, but no one knows how people have transported the materials back in the day to construct the first church.
Location: Chiatura
Day 5 - 27 Aug 2021
Chiatura
Content: Chiatura used to be a famous manganese town of Georgia which was founded in 1879. During the Soviet times, it saw its heyday. The manganese from here was sent all across the Soviet Union and other countries of the world as well. The town is divided into lower and upper Chiatura. Due to its vast amount of manganese mines, the Soviet government developed a plan to help workers to get to the mines easily. Due to its mountainous landscape, the means of transport was chosen to be a cable car. There are probably dozens of cable cars in the town which connected different neighborhoods and mines with each other.
Location: Kutaisi
Day 5 - 27 Aug 2021
Kutaisi
Content: Back to KUtaisi, to get some rest and prepare for the flight back.