# Gelati Monastery, Kutaisi > Gelati Monastery is a working 12th-century monastery and UNESCO site 11 km north-east of central Kutaisi, founded by King David IV the Builder in 1106. Entry is free; the grounds are open daily in daylight — roughly 9:00–18:00 by unofficial accounts. One hour is enough. The main Church of the Virgin is under long-term conservation, so expect scaffolding inside. Web page: https://yesgo.io/georgia/kutaisi/gelati-monastery - City: [Kutaisi](https://yesgo.io/georgia/kutaisi), Georgia - YesGo score: 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 1 h - With kids: Fine with kids - Entry: Free; candles and donations in cash (lari) - Hours: Daily in daylight, about 9:00–18:00 — unofficial, sources differ - Main church: Under conservation: temporary roof, possible scaffolding and closed areas inside - Time needed: About 1 hour; half a day with Motsameta - Getting there: Marshrutka 33 from behind the Meskhishvili Drama Theatre, ≈ 20 min; taxi ≈ 15–20 min - Dress code: Shoulders and knees covered; women cover their hair and wear a skirt - Location: A hill above the Tskaltsitela gorge, 11 km north-east of central Kutaisi - Coordinates: 42.29472, 42.76806 - Facts checked: 30.10.2026 ## Key facts - **1106** — founded by King David IV the Builder (source: Georgian National Tourism Administration; English and Russian Wikipedia) - **Free** — entry to the grounds and churches (source: Tonkosti; TripLinkHub — Gelati Monastery) - **UNESCO, 1994** — World Heritage Site no. 710 (source: English and Russian Wikipedia) - **12th century** — apse mosaic of the Virgin and Child flanked by the archangels Michael and Gabriel (source: Georgian National Tourism Administration; Tonkosti; English Wikipedia) - **1125** — David the Builder died; tradition places his tomb at the main entrance, where every visitor steps on it (source: English Wikipedia — David IV of Georgia; Georgian National Tourism Administration) - **1138 or 1139** — Demetrius I brought the iron Gates of Ganja here (source: English Wikipedia (1138); Georgian National Tourism Administration (1139)) - **13th century** — churches of St George and St Nicholas (source: English and Russian Wikipedia) - **Academy** — where the scholars Ioane Petritsi and Arsen Ikaltoeli taught (source: English Wikipedia; Tonkosti) - **Khakhuli triptych** — kept here until stolen in 1859; now in the Art Museum of Georgia, Tbilisi (source: English Wikipedia — Gelati Monastery and Khakhuli triptych) - **Royal necropolis** — burial place of Georgian and Imeretian kings (source: English Wikipedia; Tonkosti) ## Gelati Monastery opening hours and entrance fee Gelati is **free to enter** and open every day in daylight. There is no official timetable: unofficial sources give anything from 9:00–18:00 to 9:00–19:30 in summer, so plan to arrive by mid-afternoon. Donations and candles are welcome — bring a few lari in cash. Services take priority. On Sunday mornings and religious holidays parts of the main church may be closed to sightseers, and photography during a service is not appropriate. > **The main church is under restoration** The Church of the Virgin has been under conservation for years: a temporary roof covers the dome and scaffolding may fill the interior, hiding parts of the frescoes and mosaic. The grounds, bell tower, smaller churches and David’s tomb stay accessible. If the mosaic is your reason to go, ask your guesthouse or guide whether the church is open that day. ## How to get to Gelati Monastery from Kutaisi 1. From David the Builder Square (the Colchis Fountain), walk 2–3 minutes to the Meskhishvili Drama Theatre; the minibus leaves from Mari Brosse Street behind it. 2. Take **marshrutka 33** with a “Gelati” sign in the windscreen. It runs a handful of times a day, 2–3 hours apart; the fare is about 1 GEL in cash to the driver (unofficial). 3. The ride takes about 20 minutes — along the Tkibuli road, then up a winding lane. Get off at the last stop by the monastery gate. 4. Ask the driver about the return times straight away: the last one leaves in the late afternoon and gaps are long. 5. Faster: a taxi or Bolt takes 15–20 minutes from the centre. Ask the driver to wait an hour and stop at [Motsameta](https://yesgo.io/georgia/kutaisi/motsameta-monastery) on the way back. ## Is Gelati Monastery worth visiting? Yes — if you have one day in Kutaisi, this is the trip out of town to make. The hilltop setting, the honey-coloured stone churches and the views over the Imereti hills are worth it even while the main church is in scaffolding. The honest catch: the restoration has dragged on, and the interior highlights — the apse mosaic and the dome paintings — may be partly or fully hidden. If interiors are all you came for, check first. You will see the grounds, the smaller churches and David’s tomb whatever happens. Go on a weekday morning. Pilgrims and tour groups arrive at weekends and on holidays, and Sunday mornings are taken up by the liturgy. ## What to see at Gelati - **The apse mosaic** — the Virgin and Child between the archangels Michael and Gabriel, 12th century, one of very few medieval mosaics in Georgia. The surrounding frescoes span the 12th to 18th centuries. - **The fresco of David the Builder** inside the church — the founder painted among the walls he commissioned. - **David’s tomb** at the main entrance: tradition says he asked to lie where every visitor would step on him. - **The Gates of Ganja** — an iron gate leaf Demetrius I carried home from Ganja, now set into the wall by the tomb. - **St George’s and St Nicholas’ churches** — small, 13th century and usually open even when the main church is shut. - **The Academy building** — the stone hall where medieval scholars taught. - **The view** down the Tskaltsitela gorge to the wooded hills — best in the soft morning light. ## A short history of Gelati King **David IV the Builder** founded Gelati in 1106 as a monastery and a school. Its **Academy** became the intellectual centre of medieval Georgia, where scholars such as Ioane Petritsi translated and commented on Greek philosophy. David died in 1125 and his son Demetrius I finished the Church of the Virgin. The churches of St George and St Nicholas followed in the 13th century. Gelati became a royal necropolis, and the Khakhuli triptych was kept here until it was stolen in 1859. Gelati was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994 together with [Bagrati Cathedral](https://yesgo.io/georgia/kutaisi/bagrati-cathedral); since 2017 the listing covers Gelati alone. It is still a working monastery with monks and daily services. > **Gelati dress code** This is a working monastery and the rules are kept. Women cover their hair and wear a skirt below the knee — wraps are usually lent at the entrance, but your own scarf is more reliable. Men wear long trousers and remove hats inside. Everyone covers their shoulders. During services, stay at the back and put the camera away. ## Before you go: checklist - [ ] Scarf and a skirt, or long trousers - [ ] Cash in lari for the marshrutka, candles and a donation - [ ] Know the return minibus time, or a taxi driver who waits - [ ] Checked whether the main church is open today - [ ] An hour for Gelati and another for Motsameta - [ ] Comfortable shoes — stone paths and steps ## Gelati vs Motsameta vs Bagrati | | Gelati | Motsameta | Bagrati | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | What it is | 12th-century monastery and academy | Small monastery above a gorge | Early 11th-century cathedral | | Where | 11 km from the centre | Between town and Gelati, 4–5 km from it | On a hill in town | | Highlight | Mosaic, frescoes, David’s tomb | River and gorge views | Panorama of Kutaisi | | Entry | Free | Free | Free | | Time needed | ≈ 1 h | 30–40 min | 30 min | With one trip out of town, make it Gelati and add Motsameta on the way back. Bagrati is a walk from the centre for the same evening. ## Churches and monasteries around Kutaisi Every church and monastery in and around Kutaisi rated by YesGo. - [Bagrati Cathedral](https://yesgo.io/georgia/kutaisi/bagrati-cathedral) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 40 min · Free - [Motsameta Monastery](https://yesgo.io/georgia/kutaisi/motsameta-monastery) — YesGo score 39/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 40 min · Free - [Gelati Monastery](https://yesgo.io/georgia/kutaisi/gelati-monastery) — YesGo score 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free ## Kutaisi’s monasteries in a day Gelati in the morning, Motsameta on the way back, Bagrati after lunch, then the evening at the White Bridge and the Colchis Fountain. YesGo fits in the timing and transfers. 1. [Gelati Monastery](https://yesgo.io/georgia/kutaisi/gelati-monastery) — YesGo score 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free 2. [Motsameta Monastery](https://yesgo.io/georgia/kutaisi/motsameta-monastery) — YesGo score 39/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 40 min · Free 3. [Bagrati Cathedral](https://yesgo.io/georgia/kutaisi/bagrati-cathedral) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 40 min · Free 4. [White Bridge](https://yesgo.io/georgia/kutaisi/kutaisi-white-bridge) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 20 min · Free 5. [Colchis Fountain](https://yesgo.io/georgia/kutaisi/colchis-fountain) — YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 15 min · Free ## Good to know Gelati is also the name of the village around the monastery. The famous Khakhuli triptych that once hung in the church is now in the Art Museum of Georgia in Tbilisi. Cards work for Bolt rides, but marshrutkas, street taxis and candle stalls take cash only. ## Tips - Pair Gelati with Motsameta: same road, 5–10 minutes by taxi, or about an hour’s walk mostly downhill. - Arrive before 11:00 on a weekday — fewer groups and gentler light on the façades. - Bolt is the easiest taxi in Kutaisi and you can pay by card; agree on waiting time before you set off. - Step back onto the lawn in front of the church to fit the church and bell tower into one shot. - Back in town, climb to Bagrati Cathedral for the view over all of Kutaisi. ## Questions ### What are Gelati Monastery opening hours? There is no official timetable. Unofficially the grounds are open daily from about 9:00 to 18:00, later in summer; the main church may be closed during services and works. ### Is there an entrance fee at Gelati Monastery? No, entry is free. Candles and donations are optional — bring cash in lari. ### How do I get to Gelati Monastery from Kutaisi? Take marshrutka 33 from behind the Meskhishvili Drama Theatre — about 20 minutes, a few runs a day — or a taxi or Bolt, 15–20 minutes. ### Is Gelati Monastery worth visiting? Yes. It is the top sight around Kutaisi and a UNESCO site. Just check whether the main church is open if the mosaic is your priority. ### How long do you need at Gelati? About an hour on site. With Motsameta and the drive from Kutaisi, allow half a day. ### Is the main church at Gelati open during restoration? Access changes: the dome is under a temporary roof and there may be scaffolding inside. The grounds and smaller churches stay open. ### What should I wear to Gelati? Cover shoulders and knees. Women need a headscarf and a skirt — wraps are usually lent at the gate. Men wear long trousers. ### Can you walk from Gelati to Motsameta? Yes, about an hour, mostly downhill along the road towards Kutaisi. With small children a taxi is easier. ### Where is David the Builder buried? Tradition places his tomb at the main entrance of Gelati, under a slab every visitor steps on. Historians note this attribution is a long-held belief rather than proven. ## How we checked The monastery publishes no official opening hours, so hours are unofficial and marked “checking”; sources range from 9:00–18:00 to 9:00–19:30 in summer, and we show the cautious version. Free entry is confirmed by two independent sources. The marshrutka number and departure point agree in Wikivoyage and TripLinkHub, but timetables and fares differ, so we give no exact schedule. Sources date the Gates of Ganja to 1138 or 1139, so we show both. The 11 km distance comes from the Georgian National Tourism Administration. Restoration news is from JAMnews (August 2026), Georgia Today and 1TV; whether the main church is open on a given day is not announced officially. David’s tomb is described as tradition, as sources do. ## Sources - Georgian National Tourism Administration: Gelati Monastery — history, distance from Kutaisi - English Wikipedia: Gelati Monastery, David IV of Georgia, Khakhuli triptych; Russian Wikipedia: Gelati; Wikidata Q679979 - Tonkosti: Gelati — entry, history, road from the Kutaisi–Tkibuli highway - Wikivoyage: Kutaisi — marshrutka 33, departure point, route to Motsameta - TripLinkHub: Gelati Monastery — minibus, taxi, dress code, access to the main church - JAMnews, 18.08.2026: Gelati Rehabilitation Committee on the works; Georgia Today and 1TV on the temporary roof - Georgia transport guides on paying for Bolt, taxis and minibuses --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.