Kutaisi sits at the crossroads of western Georgia, with high mountains to the north, the Black Sea coast 90 minutes west, and the country's second-biggest wine region on its doorstep. Whether you are based in Georgia's second city for a few days or passing through on a longer road trip, there are at least 15 excellent day trips within easy reach. Here are the best excursions from Kutaisi, from the most popular to the genuinely offbeat.
Getting Around from Kutaisi
Four main options for organising day trips:
- Marshrutka vans: Depart from Kutaisi Central Bus Station. Cheap but schedules are limited. Best for short distances like Tskaltubo and Zestafoni. See our transport guide for more.
- Organised tours: Local companies run small group tours to the canyons, caves, Chiatura, and Vardzia year-round.
- Hired driver: Book through GoTrip for fixed-price transfers with as many stops as you want.
- Rental car: The roads around Kutaisi are mild compared to Tbilisi. A rental car from Kutaisi gives complete freedom. For mountain routes, consider a 4x4. Read our driving tips before you go.
The Essential Kutaisi Outings
1. Gelati and Motsameta Monasteries
Distance: 9km (20 minutes) · Best for: History and culture · When: Year-round
A half-day excursion to twin monasteries northeast of Kutaisi. Gelati Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site founded in 1106 by King David the Builder, holds vivid 12th-17th century frescoes and the remains of an ancient academy. Motsameta Monastery sits on a cliffside above the Tskaltsitela River, surrounded by forest that turns fiery red in autumn.
Note: As of 2025, Gelati is under restoration and only opens on Sundays.
Getting there: Taxi via Bolt (12 GEL). Marshrutka runs 5 times daily. You can hike between the monasteries and back down to Kutaisi via the railroad tracks.
2. Martvili Canyon, Okatse Canyon, and Prometheus Cave
Distance: 75km (2 hours) · Best for: Nature and adventure · When: April-October
The canyons and caves of Imereti and Samegrelo are the most popular full-day trip from Kutaisi. Martvili Canyon features mossy branches hanging over brilliant blue waters with an optional boat ride. Okatse Canyon has a suspended canopy walk around the lip of a deep gorge. Prometheus Cave is a massive cave system with a walking trail and underground boat ride. In winter, tours swap Okatse for Sataplia Nature Reserve.
Getting there: No reliable public transport to all three. Join an organised tour or book a driver for the day. A rental car is ideal.
3. Tskaltubo: Soviet Spa Ghost Town
Distance: 15km (20 minutes) · Best for: Photography and urbexing · When: Year-round
Famous for its semi-abandoned sanatoriums and spas, Tskaltubo is a playground for photographers. Dozens of grand Soviet-era bathhouses and sanatoria line the streets, some repurposed as apartments, others undergoing renovation. Beyond the sanatoriums, Central Park is beautiful in autumn, and Otia's Ezo offers wine and beer tastings in a house museum setting.
Getting there: Frequent marshrutka vans from the Red Bridge in Kutaisi centre. Taxi via Bolt costs about 15 GEL.
4. Chiatura, Katskhi Pillar, and Mgvimevi Convent
Distance: 75km (2 hours) · Best for: Soviet architecture and adventure · When: April-October
The mining town of Chiatura is famous for its network of cable cars built during the Soviet period. The original cars were decommissioned in 2021 and replaced with modern gondolas, but in late 2024 the first rehabilitated Soviet cable car relaunched. The town also has fabulous mosaics, Brutalist architecture, and the Pioneers Palace. On the way, stop at Katskhi Pillar, a monastery perched atop a limestone column, and Mgvimevi Convent, pressed into a cliffside.
Getting there: Semi-frequent marshrutka from Kutaisi (from 8am). Old commuter trains run twice daily (6am and 10am, 3 hours). A hired driver is more efficient.
5. Vardzia, Rabati Fortress, and Borjomi
Distance: 230km (5-6 hours) · Best for: History and cave cities · When: April-December
The longest day trip on this list but worth it. Vardzia is Georgia's largest cave city, with chambers, apothecaries, and wine cellars carved from a cliff face. Akhaltsikhe's Rabati Fortress is a sprawling 9th-century castle with a gilded mosque and gardens. Stop at Borjomi spa town on the return to drink mineral water from the original Romanov-era springs.
Getting there: A 14+ hour day. Organised tour or hired driver strongly recommended. A rental car gives flexibility to explore Meskheti at your own pace.
Deeper Into Western Georgia
6. The Abasha River: Wild Waterfalls and Swimming Holes
Distance: 55km (1.5 hours) · Best for: Hiking and swimming · When: May-September
An alternative canyons day trip without the crowds. Dozens of waterfalls and swimming holes line the Abasha River in Samegrelo, mostly around Martvili, Gachedili, and Balda. Highlights include Abhesi Waterfall, Gachedili Canyon, and Kaghu Waterfall. A 16km hiking trail from Balda village leads to Oniore, the tallest waterfall in the South Caucasus. Stop in Martvili town for lunch at Oda Family Marani.
7. Khvamli Mountain: Easy Day Hike with Epic Views
Distance: 69km (1.5 hours) · Best for: Hiking and panoramic views · When: May-October
North of Kutaisi in Lechkhumi Region, Khvamli is a brilliant spot for a short day hike. A paved road takes you most of the way up. The 4km circuit to the peak takes about 3 hours, with panoramic views of both the Greater and Lesser Caucasus at the top. For an easier option, walk to the plateau to visit the Church of St. George. The drive passes Rachkha Waterfall, one of the most powerful cascades in Georgia. In spring, wildflowers line the entire path.
8. Vani Archaeological Museum and Sulfur Springs
Distance: 40km (1 hour) · Best for: History and hot springs · When: Year-round
The award-winning Vani Archaeological Museum displays gold artefacts and burial objects from the ancient Kingdom of Colchis, including the original Tamada (Toastmaster) statue replicated in Old Tbilisi. The museum sits atop an ancient burial ground. Nearby, the Dikhashkho Sulfur Geyser features perfectly round travertine pools for soaking.
Getting there: Marshrutka from Kutaisi every hour from 7am. The museum is a 20-minute walk from Vani bus station.
9. Nokalakevi Fortress and Jikha Hot Spring
Distance: 50km (75 minutes) · Best for: Archaeology and hot springs · When: Year-round
A restored Byzantine fortress and open-air museum on the site of the former capital of Colchis. Interactive exhibits and ancient walls make it great for families. The location on a bend in the Tekhuri River is stunning. Further upriver, the Jikha hot spring is a surreal sulfur formation that pours piping hot water into the cool river.
10. The Monument Route: Soviet Relics to Zugdidi
Distance: 75km (75 minutes) · Best for: Soviet architecture and photography · When: Year-round
The road between Kutaisi and Zugdidi is lined with Soviet-era monuments, culture houses, mosaics, and abandoned sanatoriums. Highlights include Marani Culture House, Abasha mosaics and memorials, Sujuna Palace, and Senaki's war memorial and theatre. Allow a full day for all stops. Best done with your own rental car.
11. Baghdati, Sairme, and the Imereti Wine Route
Distance: 50km (1.5 hours) · Best for: Wine and mineral pools · When: Year-round
Head south into the Lesser Caucasus foothills. Sairme is a mineral water resort with open-air and indoor pools. Stop in Baghdati for the Vladimir Mayakovsky House Museum. The Imereti Wine Route runs through this area, with family vineyards offering tastings of local varieties. Combine with our Racha road trip guide for a longer exploration.
12. Zestafoni: Mosaics and Markets
Distance: 40km (40 minutes) · Best for: Soviet architecture and photography · When: Year-round
An industrial city east of Kutaisi known for its ferroalloy plant and incredible mosaics, including a Poseidon mosaic inside a former swimming pool. Like Rustavi near Tbilisi, Zestafoni was purpose-built for Soviet workers. The massive undercover bazaar has amazing light and is very photogenic. Visit the railway station, walk the park, and tour the small local museum.
Getting there: Marshrutka every hour from 7am, or Bolt taxi (~50 GEL).
13. Racha: Mountains, Wine, and Medieval Cathedrals
Distance: 75km (1.5 hours) · Best for: Scenery, hiking, and wine · When: May-October (autumn colours spectacular)
One of Georgia's most underrated mountain regions. Start with the Tskhrajvari (Nine Crosses) viewpoint near the Nakerala Pass for panoramic views of the Greater and Lesser Caucasus. Stop at Shaori Lake for a picnic. Visit Nikortsminda Cathedral for incredible frescoes and stone carvings. Continue to Ambrolauri for a Khvanchkara wine tasting. See our Racha road trip guide for the full experience.
14. Ajameti Managed Reserve: Old-Growth Forest Hiking
Distance: 12km (20 minutes) · Best for: Nature walks and families · When: Year-round
A pocket of old-growth forest on Kutaisi's southern outskirts with majestic oak trees, wild mushrooms, and well-posted trails of various lengths. Almost completely shaded and flat, making it perfect for summer hikes. After the walk, visit Chateau Vartsikhe, a wine estate with a pool, mountain views, and a restaurant open to walk-ins.
15. Renegade Tea Estate: Georgia's Tea Revival
Distance: 12km (20 minutes) · Best for: Cultural immersion · When: Spring (first flush) through autumn
North of Kutaisi, abandoned Soviet-era tea fields have been rehabilitated by an Estonian-run project. Tours run twice weekly and include a hands-on look at the plantations and processing equipment, plus a tea tasting. Perfect for families (children under 15 are free). For more on Georgia's tea culture, see our Guria guide.
Planning Tips for Kutaisi Day Trips
- Combine wisely: Gelati + Motsameta work as a half day. Martvili Canyon + Abasha River waterfalls make a full day. Chiatura pairs well with Katskhi Pillar and Sachkhere.
- Airport connections: If arriving via Kutaisi Airport, many of these day trips can be done en route to or from the airport. A Kutaisi Airport rental lets you start exploring immediately.
- Seasons matter: Canyons and caves close boat rides in heavy rain. Mountain hikes (Khvamli, Racha) are best May-October. Tskaltubo and Zestafoni work year-round.
- Connectivity: Pick up a Georgian SIM card at the airport for navigation.
- Beyond Kutaisi: For day trips from Tbilisi, see our Tbilisi day trips guide. For longer road trips, see our 10-day Georgia road trip and top road trips guide.