Kutaisi

• 🌍 King David the Builder International Airport (KUT  ^IATA), Kopitnari, 14 km west of Kutaisi proper on the main S1 highway. Relatively small airport that has second terminal in construction. It has around 160 flights per month during low-season and 240 during high-season. The airport services domestic flights to Tbilisi and several international flights.
  There is a space where you can lie down underneath the inclined windows right after the arrival exit inside the terminal. This can be good for spending the hours (sleeping) before or after an early/late flight.
  There is a money exchange bank counter at the airport, but the ATMs also give small notes down to 5 lari. Bank of Georgia charges a 2 lari fee for some cards without indicating beforehand. (updated Apr 2019)

Specific destinations:

• The Hungary-based, low-cost carrier Wizz Air provides low-cost, low-quality no frills flights from Budapest, Hungary; Berlin Dortmund Memmingen, Germany; Kyiv, Ukraine; London Luton, England; Warsaw, Krakow, Wroclaw, Gdansk, Katowice, Poland; Larnaca, Cyprus; Athens and Thessaloniki, Greece; Bari and Rome and Milan, Italy; Riga, Latvia; Vilnius, Lithuania; Tallinn, Estonia; Prague, Czech Republic; Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg and Paris, France; Copenhagen, Denmark; Vienna, Austria.
• Ukraine Airlines flies from Kyiv and Kharkiv.
• SkyUp Airlines flights from Kharkiv.
• Ural Airlines flies from Moscow Domodedovo, Russia.
• There are also occasional flights from Baghdad, Iraq, on Iraqi Airways.

• Marshrutka – Many go by the airport, heading east to Tbilisi (by Kutaisi), or west to Zugdidi, Batumi, Poti, Samtredia, etc. The prices for theses more distant destinations are pretty much like from Kutaisi itself (see prices below). Most marshrutkas will not go into the airport lane, so just head to the highway, 100 m from the airport, and hail them there. From the airport to Kutaisi it is 2 lari, not more!

Those from Kutaisi bus station towards Batumi, Poti, Zugdidi or Samtredia will also drop passengers off at the airport. But it depends on the mood of the driver, whether he is will take any short-distance passenger. Nevertheless, there are always more than enough marshrutkas going this way. Just wait at the 🌍 crosswalk, where they come out of the station and go west. Here you will also find the ones that come from the east and do not enter the bus station but directly continue after a short stop. It should not take longer than 10 min to find a ride.

From Tbilisi, a marshrutka from the Didube bus terminal to the airport is 20 lari. It is also possible to walk out of the airport onto the highway and hail a marshrutka if headed to a particular destination.

Having said that, at night the options become more sparse and you might have to resort to the shuttle buses. Ask the tourist information or your hotel or hostel beforehand.

• Shuttle Bus – Georgian Bus and Omnibus Express provide bus service between the airport and Kutaisi city center, Tbilisi and Batumi, with bus schedules following flight arrivals. Shuttle buses to Tbilisi (20 lari, 4 hr) terminate at Freedom Square, while shuttle buses to Batumi (18 lari, 3 hr) terminate at the Radisson Blu Hotel. Shuttle buses to Kutaisi city center (5 lari) will stop at any address within the city. Tickets may be purchased online or upon arrival with cash or bank card at the Georgian Bus counter located near the exit, and when returning to the airport, may also be purchased directly from the driver. If you're riding the Georgian Bus service from Kutaisi, you must e-mail them with the name of the hotel from which you will be picked up from.

• Train:

1. (several times per day) Kopitnari railway station is 2 km away. Walk east along the main road. Only regional trains stop here (Direct destinations: Kutaisi, Batumi, Zugdidi). The station has a very friendly countryside climate with staff always positively surprised to see foreigners. Expect to be greeted with local stuff. Tickets are very cheap, 2 lari to Batumi as of March 2019. However, the trains are old Soviet trains and occasionally catch fire (worth the experience but as a rule of thumb they're twice as slow as the road). The new station appears to be up and running.
2. (several times during the day and 1 overnight) A way via Samtredia train station which is 13 km away (or Rioni, which is 30 km away). Hail marshrutka (couple of lari) or taxi (20 lari) to Samtredia. Overnight train to Tbilisi (departs around 01:00, arrives to Tbilisi 06:30), 20 lari. Besides overnight train, there are daytime trains (around 10:00, 13:00, 20:00 and takes 3-4 hr). Buy train tickets beforehand, because there might be no free beds/seats.

• 🌍 Rioni station, Kutaisi-Baghdati-Abastumani-Benara road (7.3 km south of Kutaisi, marshrutka #3 connects from the center, plaza and Kutaisi I—the bus stop is up the stairs at the main road, or take a taxi for ~6 lari). 09:00–14:00 and 19:00–22:00 (ticket office). This is the preferred train station to get to/from Kutaisi, because all trains going from West to the East or vice versa always stop at Rioni station. For this reason there are many more trains (day and night) from Rioni than from Kutaisi I (Batumi-Tbilisi, Poti-Tbilisi, etc.). While searching for tickets you should choose Rioni station as destination/departure point. 
• 🌍 Kutaisi I, Tamar the Queen street (თამარ მეფის ქ.) (10-15 min walk from the city center along Tamar the Queen street). This is the main station in the eastern half of the city, but away from the main bus station in the west. It serves Tbilisi and 2 regional destinations: Tkibuli and Sachkhere (for Chiatura). 

• Tbilisi – Ticket costs 9 lari (as of Nov 2020), 5 hr, 3 times daily. All trains from and to Tbilisi Station Square (next to the Station Square metro station) leave from and arrive at the Kutaisi I station. The train also stops in Mtskheta (the old capital of Georgia and Orthodox heart of the country), Gori (the birthplace of Stalin and home of the Stalin Museum) and Zestafoni. It is a relatively comfortable journey because passengers can stand and stretch and walk the length of the wagon) but slow due to long, intermediate stops, including one at Rioni, right outside Kutaisi. There are bathrooms on board (but bring tissue, just in case). There is no cafe or dining car, so bring water and snacks, too.
• Train 633 – Kutaisi I-Sachkhere – 05:30-08:55, return: Train 634 – Sachkhere-Kutaisi I – 10:10-13:30
• Train 635 – Kutaisi I-Sachkhere – 16:05-19:25, return: Train 636 – Sachkhere-Kutaisi I – 20:05-23:25
• Train 6323 – Kutaisi I-Tkibuli – 09:25-12:20, return: Train 6324 – Tkibuli-Kutaisi I – 13:05-16:26
• Train 6325 – Kutaisi I-Tkibuli – 18:15-21:10, return: Train 6326 – Tkibuli-Kutaisi I – 05:30-08:51

• 🌍 Kutaisi II station (southwest; from this station getting a cab is an option, 4-5 lari to any part of the city). Train from Tskaltubo are running to Kutaisi II station. 

While private drivers and transport from Tbilisi are available (Mtskheta and Gori are day trips from Tbilisi and back), the Tbilisi-Kutaisi train route offers a good backbone for a tour of Georgia (with a look at its snow-capped mountains even in May) with leisurely overnights in Mtskheta, Gori, Kutaisi, and on to Batumi and the Black Sea.

• 🌍 Kutaisi central bus station. The official city's website has most correct departure times and prices. 
• 🌍 Kutaisi I (in front of the train station). Serves nearby destination to the east, like Tkibuli, Tuzi and Oni. Timetable for leaving Kutaisi this way see at the end. 
• 🌍 Red bridge station (adjacent area of Red bridge from city center cross the bridge and stop is on the left). Regional marshrutkas, marshrutkas to Racha. The official city's website has most correct departure times and prices. 

From specific destinations:

• Tbilisi – Marshrutkas and full 54-passenger buses depart regularly for Kutaisi from 'Didube Bus Station' located at the Didube metro stop in Tbilisi. Marshrutkas (hourly, 3½ hr, 10 lari); large buses (every 3 hours, 4 hr). While marshrutkas get to Kutaisi quicker than the train, they are not as comfortable. The driver may not leave Didube until the mini-bus is full, which could mean as many 20 people sitting with bags and backpacks in five rows of four seats. There is no guarantee of any stops along the way to smoke or go to the toilet. There is no standing, of course, and, really, very little room to wiggle, especially if there are people sitting on the aisle seats. The best seats in marshrutkas are the ones next to the driver; however, he may, if he chooses, ask you to move to the back of the bus and give your seat to someone else.
• Batumi – The marshrutka will get you to the town centre, or drop you off at the airport on the way, for 15 lari. Usually it takes 2-2½ hr, but give yourself about 3 or so. The bus will wait in Batumi until it is full, which could mean waiting on the bus for an extra 45 min. In Batumi, the buses leave from nearby to the entrance to the cable car, but the port. You will see them all parked there.
• Borjomi – Several during the day, every hour or so, 8 lari, 2 hr. If you do not find a direct bus, it is said to be easy to change buses in Khashuri—3 lari between Borjomi and Khashuri.
• Akhaltsikhe – 10:40, 15:00, and 18:10. 3½ hr. 17 lari. (updated Apr 2022)
• Kharagauli – Twice a day, 10 lari, 3½ hr.
• Zugdidi – There are hourly (or so) marshrutkas until 16:00. 1½-2 hr, 7 lari.

No. 1 city bus is a useful circular route (both clockwise and anticlockwise direction) linking the main city square, Kutasi I (main train station), and Kutaisi II (bus station). 0.40-0.50 lari, pay the driver at exit, change given.

From Kutasi II (bus station), clockwise direction (to the left, cross the road from McDonald's) is the faster route to the city centre. Note each direction takes slightly different route on the centre of the city (east side of the river). The clockwise direction does not go in front of Kutasi I but goes south on Tsereteli St. along the river. The anticlockwise direction stops in front of Kutaisi I then goes uphill on Solomon Piveli Street and downhill on 26 Maisi (May) Street towards the main square.

Local marshrutkas ply the city but it can be difficult to find the route for average tourists. Nonetheless, bother enough locals with a map and some broken Russian, and eventually one will take pity and frog march you to the right bus stop.

Schedule of Georgian railways is here.

• 🌍 Small Local History museum, Rustaveli Ave. and Tesereteli St. corner. 10:00-18:00. with English signs like "pottery shreds" offering very little in-depth information 3 lari. 
• Kutaisi Museum of Sport, Paliashvili St., 4. 10:00-18:00. 
• Kutaisi Museum of Martial Art. 
• Museum of Zakaria Paliashvili. 
• David Kakabadze Fine Art Gallery, 8 Shota Rustaveli Street. Houses collections of the 19th and 20th century artists. 

• 🌍 Motsameta Monastery (მოწამეთა) (NE 6 km of Kutaisi. On the way to/from Gelati (see transport options there). The train has the closest stop. Besides, Motsameta is about 5 km from Gelati Monastery, which is about 1 hr walk following the Kutaisi-Tkibuli road. Or starting from Kutaisi, take bus #39 (0.50 lari) from the same station as #33—its 🌍 final stop is a 2.5-km hike from the monastery.). A 11th-century monastery richly decorated with frescoes. On a ridge in between a impressing mountainous region. Has far less tourists than Gelati, but often considered the more beautiful one, due to its interesting location. From along the train tracks you might be able to get a better picture with the hills around the monastery than from within the monastery. (updated Oct 2019)
• 🌍 Gelati Monastery (გელათის მონასტერი), 7, Nazarishvili str (NE 11 km of Kutaisi. There is minibus #33 going to the monastery departing from behind Kutaisi's Meskhishvili Theater (Mari Brosse Street), costs 1 lari, leaves at 08:00, 11:00, 14:00, 16:00, 18:00 and going back 09:00, 12:00, 15:00, 17:00, 18:20. There is a sign indicating "Gelati" in the wind shield. Alternatively get to Gelati on the Kutaisi-Tkibuli road by train (1 lari) or bus and walk for 2 km from the Gelati stop uphill to the monastery.). (updated Sep 2019)
• 🌍 Geguti Palace, Geguti village (S 15 km). One of the few secular monuments of the medieval Georgian kingdom, located on the banks of the River Rioni. It is well preserved and developed for tourism. It's not protected anyhow and thus it's free to enter. 
• 🌍 Vani archaeological site (ვანი) (41 km southwest in Imereti region). one of the most important cities of antique Colchi, from 8th-6th century BC have been discovered. The city was destroyed in the 1st century AD. 
• 🌍 Sataplia Nature Reserve (SW 10 km). Three main attractions of the reserve - a pavilion with well-preserved dinosaur footprints, karst cave and glass balcony - an observation deck on top of the mountain Sataplia (highest point of the reserve). However, the guides are unsatisfactory since they either only speak Russian or give little information. Read the online reviews before heading here. 17 lari. (updated Sep 2019)

• 🌍 Lado Meskhisvili Theater, Gelati Street. 
• Puppet Theater. 

• 🌍 Botanical Garden "Kolchuri" (in the north of the city on the main road towards Zageri). Rather small but still nice botanical garden. Some trees has signs in English. There is also interesting chapel built inside the tree. 1 lari. 
• 🌍 Park of Culture and Rest (Besik Gabashvili Park), Vazha Pashavela St. 
• 🌍 Central Garden (ქუთაისის ბულვარი, ბაღის კიდე), Rustaveli Avenue (across from the water fountain with horned animals in the city's main roundabout). A great central location to rejuvinate, observe, meet, and plan. 
• 🌍 Kharazov Park, Solomon Pirveli Street. 
• 🌍 Youth Park (Pionerta Park), Tbilisi-Senaki-Leselidze Rd.. 
• 🌍 Kikvidze Park, Zviad Gamsakhurdia St. 

The homemade wine in the bazaar in Kutaisi is apparently not that good, because more than often they mix with sugar and other stuff. This is at least what some locals are saying.

• 🌍 Bazaar (Village Market), off Zakhira Paliashvili (Paliashvili V Aly) St (From Kutsaisi Park (the Central Garden) walk towards the river in the direction of the Bagrati Cathedral and then follow the people). In addition to fruits, vegetables, and whole chickens, natural, homemade red wine is sold in Kutaisi's market, bottled in re-used plastic soda pop containers (from 2 lari a bottle). Look for a row of sellers in the first floor of a shabby building not far from the sellers on the street; the wine seller is on one end of this building in a walk-up stall. 
• 🌍 Regular stores, along Tsereteli St.. 

• 🌍 Tea House Foe-Foe (Foe-Foe), Rustaveli St. 5 (Across the street from the Kutaisi opera building), ☏ +995 577577533, althaustea1@gmail.com. 10:00-00:00. Free Wi-Fi. Menu: Speciality teas, and Georgian, European and Mediterranean dishes (main courses, soups, salads, crepes, sweets). This is a Althaus-brand tea houses, similar to the two in Tbilisi. It appears that this cafe is in the wide lobby of what was once an office building with multi-tier seating on the steps leading up to the office's main entrance. Floor-to-ceiling windows make watching passer-bys easy. Hip music, hippy vibe, tasty tea, decent food. 5-15 lari (May 2015), credit cards accepted. (updated May 2022)
• 🌍 Bikentia's Kebabery, 9 Tsisperi Kantselebi Street. Local spot with delicious foods. Excellent and simple concept - one meal, beer or soft drink, one price. The place is popular for locals (updated May 2022)
• 🌍 ქართული • Kartuli, 6 Pushkini Street II. Very good authentic Georgian restaurant. Mari is an amazing host. She is very attentive, caring, provides superb customer service. The food is amazing, just like homemade. Ask for their domestic wine. (updated May 2022)
• 🌍 best shwarma, grishashvilis 1. Tasty spicy shawarma. Friendly service. (updated May 2022)

• 🌍 El Depo, ☏ +995 431244273. Seems to be the same owner as El Paso, hence similar dishes. But more like a pub for the evening though. (updated May 2022)

• 🌍 Fleur (just south of the plaza). Excellent Georgian restaurant good for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Staff speaks English. (updated Aug 2022)
• 🌍 El Paso (at the plaza). Specialising on Khinkali, but also has other Georgian dishes. Does not seem to charge the 10% service fee. Inexpensive, beer 2 lari (Sep 2019). (updated May 2022)
• 🌍 Khvicha (close to Kutaisi I Railway Station). For an authentic experience, where only locals eat, try to go to this place. Do not expect much — it is a dukkan. There is no menu. You can order a tasty soup or khachapuri. Portions are really big. They speak only Georgian and Russian. (updated May 2022)

• 🌍 Hostel Bavaria, 108 Tbilisi street, ☏ +995 598 36 26 36, hostelbavaria@mail.ru. Meet the small family that runs the hostel. Spacious and quiet house. Residential area near a park and a shop. Accessible on foot from the main square. Minibus 34 passes close to the hostel. 15 lari. (updated Jul 2015)
• 🌍 Hostel FORREST (თბილისის ქუჩა), 92 Tbilisi St. (1 km southeast of the plaza), ☏ +995 591031030, +995 593442611. Inexpensive hostel with great reviews. Near the center, colors bridges and just 25 min to the Bagrati Cathedral. Try Whatsapp for the best rates. (updated Sep 2019)
• 🌍 Hostel Kutaisi, 14 Solomon I (Solomon Pirveli St) Street (next to main square in the historical part of the city), ☏ +995 431 253873, +995 551 471100 (mobile), hostelkutaisi@mail.ru. In the hostel Kutaisi you will be served by experienced people (English spoken). Amenities include free Wi-Fi, internet, linen, towels, shampoo, coffee, tea, cable TV, maps, different guide books, advice about Kutaisi and Georgia in general. 20 to 30 lari per night. 
• 🌍 Medico & Suliko Guest House, Tbilisi Street 3rd Lane #6 (#6 on the alley running between #83 Tbilisi St. and #72 26 May St.(26 Maisi St.). From the main city square (fountain), Tbilisi street runs towards southeast. Walk uphill until 81 Tbilisi St. and turn left, you see a house with green metal gate at No. 6 of the alley. To get there from the main bus station (Kutaisi II Railway Station): Take a #1 city bus traveling to the right (from McD walk right the same side of street to find the bus stop). The bus pass the Kutaisi I station and go uphill to 26 Maisi Street. Get off at #72 (there is a cross on sidewalk) and you walk into the alley, which is Tbilisi St. 3rd Lane. From Kutaisi I station, take #1 bus or walk out to the right uphill on Solomon Pirveli St. for th 6-7 min up the hill to Tbilisi St. Taxis from the bus station is 5 lari, but they tend to take you to similarly named guesthouse to get commission. Give them the street address rather than ask for "Suliko's."), ☏ +995 431 243007. Run by a retired couple, a large room of their house serves as a dorm, two smaller private rooms are available. Theoretically one may stay to sleep only, alas one is very likely to be treated to the excellent fare the lady of the house serves up as well as the homemade wine the husband produces, i.e., if they like you, you are likely to be treated to one of those infamous Georgian welcomes, heavy on your liver. They will give you as much chacha, Georgian wine and Georgian food as you can handle. The food is all hand-made and freshly prepared. It is amazing, the hospitality is unparalleled and only the modesty of the facilities leaves anything to be desired. The beds are clean and the house is good by local standards, and the new bathroom was completed by summer 2011 in this friendly homestay. Free WiFi Internet is available, and there is a computer available for use. Dorm: 15 lari. Double Room: 20 lari. Dinner: 10 lari. Breakfast: 5 lari. 
• 🌍 Temi Hostel, Tamar The Queen Street 60, II floor (On the main street near the station. There is a sign above the door and from there, the hostel is on the second floor on the right), ☏ +995 551 44 47 74. Check-in: from 14:00, check-out: until 12:00. Small, social hostel in a great location in the city. The owner is friendly and helpful. The hostel has a kitten (May 2018) and a balcony which is great for relaxing and meeting other guests. All facilities are kept very clean. Book in advance! A year on since it opened it is now very popular. From 15/10 lari high/low season. 

• Gelati Guest House (საოჯახო სასტუმრო „გელათი“), 26 May Street, (Vtoraya Liniya 4), Second Turn., ☏ +995 597 986222. 5 rooms, 12 people. incl. breakfast 35 lari (2013?). 
• Guesthouse Zelimkhani, ☏ +995 431 222441. 14 comfortable rooms for 28 people. 50 lari per night incl. breakfast. 
• Guesthouse Beka, 26 Debi Ishkhnelebi Street, ☏ +995 431 246923. 16 comfortable rooms for 30 people. 40 lari incl. breakfast. 
• Guesthouse Gora, 22 Debi Ishkhnelebi Street, ☏ +995 431 252170, +995 599 574625. 43 comfortable rooms for 100 people. 40 lari incl. breakfast. 

• 🌍 Hotel Kolkha, Axalgazrdoba Avenue 38, ☏ +995 597 731056. 
• 🌍 Hotel Oazis, Mari Brosse St. (behind the large round theatre in the city centre). Small hotel in the center. Clean, cozy rooms with narrow beds; wifi, A/C, heating. One of the few budget options in central Kutaisi. 
• 🌍 Hotel Tirifiholiday (tirifebi), Zviad Gamsakhurdia Str.45 (Between McDonald's and Patrol police), ☏ +995 592 961515, tiripi000@gmail.com. 31 air-conditioned guestrooms with separate bathrooms. Room service 24 hr. Complimentary full breakfast in the breakfast area. Multilingual staff, laundry facilities, free car parking, free wireless Internet access in all areas of the hotel. 20-120 lari. 
• Hotel Rcheuli Palace, 21b Gr. Khandzteli St, ☏ +995 431 292900. 28 comfortable rooms, 50 people. 115 lari incl. breakfast. 
• Hotel Imperiali (სასტუმრო „იმპერიალი“), 28 Mchedlidze St, ☏ +995 579 191939. 9 comfortable rooms, 18 people. 100 lsri. 
• Hotel Aieti’s Sasakhle (ასტუმრო „აიეტის სასახლე“. Aeetes Palace), 34 G. Tabidze St., ☏ +995 431 253533. 13 rooms, 26 people 100 lari. 
• Hotel Dzveli Kalaki, 3/4 Ioseb Grishashvili St., ☏ +995 431 251451, +995 599 51 60 56. 10 rooms for 24 people. 100 lari incl. breakfast. 
• Hotel Bagrati, 2a Tsereteli St, ☏ +995 431 25 55 55. 16 comfortable rooms with a maximum capacity of 32 people. 140 lari incl. breakfast.