Colchis Fountain
Kutaisi, Georgia
Bagrati Cathedral, Kutaisi
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Photo: Marcin Konsek, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia CommonsFit in nearby today
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- Free — no tickets or booking
- Hours
- Daily, roughly 9:00–18:00 or 10:00–20:00 — sources differ
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Time on site
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A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes. - 40 min
- With kids
- Fine with kids
- Dress code
- Shoulders and knees covered; women cover their hair and wear a skirt
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Location
- Ukimerioni Hill, right bank of the Rioni, Bagrati Street
- On foot
- 15–20 min from the Colchis Fountain; the last stretch is steep
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Taxi
- A few minutes from the centre by Bolt; unofficially about 3–5 GEL
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Time needed
- ≈ 40 minutes, longer at sunset
Key facts
1003the date in the wall inscription “the floor was laid in chronicon 223”
3 sourcesi
English WikipediaGeorgian EncyclopediaCourtauld Institute “Crossing Frontiers”Bagrat IIIthe king who first united Georgia and gave the cathedral its name
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English and Russian Wikipediageorgia.travel2017removed from the UNESCO World Heritage List because of the reconstruction
2 sourcesi
English and Russian WikipediaCourtauld Institute1692Ottoman troops wrecked it and the dome and roof collapsed (Russian Wikipedia gives 1691)
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English WikipediaGeorgian EncyclopediaCourtauld Institute1994inscribed on the World Heritage List together with Gelati Monastery
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English and Russian Wikipedia2010put on the List of World Heritage in Danger as rebuilding began
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English and Russian Wikipedia300+ yearsthe cathedral stood without a dome or roof
2 sourcesi
English WikipediaGeorgia Today1952scientific restoration began under architect Vakhtang Tsintsadze
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Georgian EncyclopediaCourtauld Institute2009–2012full reconstruction with a new dome; the missing western part is a modern structure by Andrea Bruno
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Georgian EncyclopediaEnglish Wikipedia2001handed over to the Georgian Orthodox Church; services are held again
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English and Russian Wikipedia1770Russian artillery under General Totleben damaged the fortress and the east end
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Russian WikipediaTonkostiCourtauld InstituteDavid IV the Builderwas crowned here
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Russian WikipediaTonkostiBagrati Cathedral opening hours and entry
Entry is free and there are no tickets. The cathedral is open every day from morning to evening, but there is no official visitor timetable: guidebooks give anything from 9:00–18:00 to 10:00–20:00, and it may close earlier in winter. Services and weddings run most days — you can still come in, just keep to the sides.
Entry costs nothing, so payment only matters for getting there: the airport shuttle takes contactless bank cards, Bolt takes cards or cash, and street taxis usually want cash — carry a few lari, which also covers candles.
How to get to Bagrati Cathedral
Tap a route to highlight it on the map.
Where are you starting from?
We’ll draw it on the map on foot and by taxi; metro and buses open in your maps app. Your location isn’t stored.
On foot
- Colchis Fountain is about 13 min away on foot.
- White Bridge is about 17 min away on foot.
More tips
- Start at the Colchis Fountain on David the Builder Square — city minibuses, taxis and the airport shuttle all stop around here.
- Walk a few minutes down to the Rioni and cross on the White Bridge or the Chain Bridge (Jachvis Khidi) a little upstream.
- On the far bank, head up Bagrati Street. Near the top a shaded pedestrian stairway cuts the corner and rejoins the street.
- You reach the gate 15–20 minutes after leaving the fountain. The last part is steep — not ideal with a pushchair.
- Rather not climb? Order a Bolt or take a taxi from the centre: a few minutes to the gate.
Is Bagrati Cathedral worth visiting?
Yes, if you have even half a day in Kutaisi. It's free, it's a short walk from the centre, and the hilltop gives the best view in town — the Rioni, the old roofs and, on a clear day, the mountains. Forty minutes here explains why Kutaisi was once a royal capital.
Just don't expect a medieval interior. The walls are largely rebuilt and there are almost no frescoes inside. If you have only a couple of hours and a car, go to Gelati Monastery first for its mosaics and murals, and come up to Bagrati for sunset.
Why was Bagrati removed from UNESCO?
The ruins were listed with Gelati in 1994. When the Georgian government started a full rebuild with a new dome, UNESCO moved the site to the danger list in 2010 and asked for the work to stop. It went ahead, and in 2017 the Committee delisted the cathedral, judging the reconstruction harmful to its integrity and authenticity.
Gelati Monastery kept its World Heritage status. On the ground the difference is easy to see: at Bagrati, pale new stone sits next to the weathered original, and the western end is a modern steel structure by the Italian architect Andrea Bruno, who received a Georgian state medal for the project.
A short history
King Bagrat III, the first ruler of a united Georgia, built the cathedral at the turn of the 11th century; an inscription by the north window dates the floor to 1003. Richly carved portals were added on the west and south in the 1030s, and David IV the Builder was later crowned here.
In 1692 Ottoman troops occupying Imereti blew it up and the dome and vaults fell. In 1770 Russian guns under General Totleben, firing on the Turkish-held fortress, damaged the east end too. Restoration began in 1952, the church was returned to the Orthodox Church in 2001, and the 2009–2012 rebuild gave it back a roof and a bronze cross on the dome.
What to see
- The south portal — 11th-century carving and traces of a fresco of the Virgin.
- Carved façades: blind arcades, vine and animal ornament, and fantastical beasts with human or eagle heads.
- The east façade — five arches and two niches, with the building inscription above the windows.
- Old stone versus new — the colour of the masonry shows exactly what survived and what was rebuilt.
- The dome from inside — only under it do you get the true scale of the church.
- The fortress ruins scattered over the hill around the cathedral.
- The view: the Rioni, Kutaisi's rooftops and, in clear weather, the Caucasus on the horizon.
Before you go: checklist
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Bagrati vs Gelati vs Motsameta
| Bagratiyou are here | 11th-century cathedral on a hill in town | City views and history | In town, walkable | Free | ≈ 40 min |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gelati | 12th-century monastery, UNESCO | Mosaics and frescoes | Outside town, by taxi | Free | ≈ 1 h |
| Motsameta | Small monastery above a gorge | Peace and scenery | Outside town, by taxi | Free | ≈ 40 min |
Do Bagrati on foot in the morning or at sunset, and Gelati and Motsameta together by taxi — they are close to each other.
Churches and monasteries around Kutaisi
Every church and monastery in and around Kutaisi rated by YesGo. Tap a column heading to sort.
| Bagrati Cathedralyou are here | 44 | 40 min | Free | — |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Motsameta Monastery | 39 | 40 min | Free | 4.5 km |
| Gelati Monastery | 38 | 1 h | Free | 5.6 km |
Old Kutaisi and the monasteries in a day
The centre and the climb to the cathedral in the morning, then a taxi to the two monasteries after lunch. Add them in one tap — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers.
- Colchis Fountain15 min · Free
- 9 min walk from the previous stopWhite Bridge20 min · Free
- 17 min walk from the previous stopBagrati Cathedralyou are here40 min · Free
- 78 min walk from the previous stopMotsameta Monastery40 min · Free
- 27 min walk from the previous stopGelati Monastery1 h · Free
5 places · about 5 h 6 min with walks · 131 min on foot in total
Nearby — add to your day
White Bridge
Kutaisi, Georgia
How to do it right
- Walk up and come down by the stairway towards the White Bridge — you'll see the old neighbourhood rather than the road.
- Combine it with Gelati and Motsameta: one taxi for half a day costs less than three separate rides.
- For the whole cathedral and bell tower in one frame, step back to the viewpoint on the west side.
- If a wedding is on, take photos from a distance and without flash — it's a private celebration.
- There's little shade on the hill; avoid midday in summer.
Questions
What are Bagrati Cathedral opening hours?
There's no official timetable. It is open daily from morning to evening; guidebooks give anything from 9:00–18:00 to 10:00–20:00.
Is Bagrati Cathedral free to enter?
Yes. There's no ticket and no booking; candles and donations are optional.
How do I get to Bagrati Cathedral from the centre?
Walk from the Colchis Fountain across the Rioni by the White Bridge or Chain Bridge, then up Bagrati Street — 15–20 minutes, steep at the end. A Bolt takes a few minutes.
Is Bagrati Cathedral worth visiting?
Yes for the view, the setting and the story, and it costs nothing. The interior is plain and largely rebuilt, so for frescoes go to Gelati.
Why is Bagrati no longer a UNESCO site?
UNESCO delisted it in 2017 because the 2009–2012 reconstruction with a new dome damaged its authenticity. Gelati Monastery is still on the list.
What is the dress code at Bagrati Cathedral?
Covered shoulders and knees for everyone; women cover their hair and wear a skirt, men remove hats. Bring your own scarf.
How long do you need at Bagrati Cathedral?
About 40 minutes for the church, the fortress ruins and the viewpoint, plus 15–20 minutes each way on foot from the centre.
When was Bagrati Cathedral built?
At the turn of the 11th century under King Bagrat III; an inscription dates the completion of the floor to 1003.
Can I visit Bagrati and Gelati on the same day?
Easily. Walk to Bagrati, then take a taxi to Gelati and Motsameta, which are close to each other east of town.
Have you been? Was it worth your time?
1 — no, 5 — absolutely
Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.
Sources and fact-check
- English and Russian Wikipedia: Bagrati Cathedral; Wikidata Q37222
- Georgian Encyclopedia: Bagrati Cathedral
- Courtauld Institute of Art, Crossing Frontiers project: Bagrati Cathedral
- Georgian National Tourism Administration (georgia.travel): Bagrati Cathedral
- Georgia Today: Re-roofed Kutaisi; Kutaisi.travel — airport shuttle bus
- BucketListly: Kutaisi travel guide; Tonkosti: Храм Баграта
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