One day in Kutaisi: an itinerary in the best order
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- all 5 free
- Duration
- 5 h · 09:30–14:34
- Start and finish
- White Bridge → Gelati Monastery
- On foot
- ≈ 20 min in total
- Transport
- 2 rides, ≈ 49 min
- Lunch
- around 12:14
- With kids
- fine: short walks
- Best time
- Spring and autumn. The monasteries are open in the daytime, roughly until 18:00 — do not leave them for the evening.
The plan, stop by stop
Times include walking and lunch. Drag a stop by ≡, remove it with the cross or add one nearby — the plan updates.
Kutaisi09:30–14:34 · 5 places · 5 h
White Bridge
· 20 min · Free
- 9 min on foot
Colchis Fountain
· 15 min · Free
- 11 min on foot
Bagrati Cathedral
· 40 min · Free
- 29 min · transport or taxi
Motsameta Monastery
· 40 min · Free
- Lunch · 1 h
- 20 min · transport or taxi
Gelati Monastery
· 1 h · Free
Add nearby
Places near the plan — Yes puts one into the day and the times update.
What the route costs
All 5 stops are free — you pay only for museums inside, if you go in, and for lunch.
| 1 | White Bridge | 44 | 20 min | Free |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Colchis Fountain | 45 | 15 min | Free |
| 3 | Bagrati Cathedral | 44 | 40 min | Free |
| 4 | Motsameta Monastery | 39 | 40 min | Free |
| 5 | Gelati Monastery | 38 | 1 h | Free |
| Total | 3 h | 5 of 5 free |
Tips for each stop
- 1
White Bridge. Start at the 19th-century footbridge: a bronze boy on the railing and glass panels over the river.
- 2
Colchis Fountain. About 30 gilded figures, enlarged from ancient Colchian jewellery, on David the Builder Square.
- 3
Bagrati Cathedral. An early-11th-century cathedral on Ukimerioni Hill, free. The viewpoint takes in all of Kutaisi.
- 4
Motsameta Monastery. A monastery on a cliff above a bend of the Tskhaltsitela, 6 km from the centre. Free; dress modestly.
- 5
Gelati Monastery. David the Builder's monastery, founded in 1106, UNESCO: mosaics and frescoes. Free, open in the daytime until about 18:00.
Who this route is for
- First time in Kutaisi, or flying into Kutaisi airport
- One day on the way to the sea
- On foot and by taxi
- Prometheus Cave, Sataplia and the canyons need a separate day
- Without a car the monasteries need a taxi
Spring and autumn. The monasteries are open in the daytime, roughly until 18:00 — do not leave them for the evening.
What to see in Kutaisi in one day
The morning is on foot in the centre — the bridge, the fountain and Bagrati — then a taxi to Motsameta. After lunch, Gelati: both monasteries lie on the same side of town, about 20 minutes apart.
Remove any stop with the cross or drag it with ≡, and add another one nearby — the times recalculate.
How to get to Gelati and Motsameta
The easiest way is a taxi for half a day with waiting time: Motsameta is 6 km and Gelati 11 km from the centre. Both are working monasteries: women need a headscarf and a skirt, and everyone should cover shoulders and knees.
Where to have lunch
Lunch in the plan comes after Motsameta, on the way to Gelati. You can also eat in the centre by the Colchis Fountain before the trip — the times recalculate.
What else to see around Kutaisi
A second day is for nature: Sataplia with its dinosaur footprints (30 GEL), Prometheus Cave (40 GEL, closed on Mondays), Martvili Canyon and Okatse Canyon.
How to do it right
- Dress modestly for the monasteries; women need a headscarf.
- Gelati and Motsameta are open in the daytime, until about 18:00.
- The Colchis Fountain is lit up in the evening.
- Georgia uses the lari (GEL). Cards work in most cafés and shops; keep cash for markets and minibuses.
- Take the taxi to the monasteries with waiting time — getting back is harder.
Questions
Is one day in Kutaisi enough?
For the centre and the two monasteries, yes. The caves and canyons need another day.
What to do in Kutaisi in one day?
The White Bridge, the Colchis Fountain, Bagrati Cathedral and the monasteries of Motsameta and Gelati.
Can I see Kutaisi on my own?
Yes: the centre on foot, the monasteries by taxi.
How much does this itinerary cost?
Every stop is free; you pay only for the taxi to the monasteries.
How do I get to Gelati Monastery?
By taxi — Gelati is 11 km from the centre of Kutaisi.
When is Gelati open?
Every day in the daytime, roughly 9:00–18:00 by unofficial data, longer in summer.
What is there to see near Kutaisi?
Prometheus Cave, Sataplia, Martvili Canyon and Okatse Canyon — a separate day.
Can I see Kutaisi between flights?
The centre, yes — it is compact. The monasteries need another 3–4 hours.
Is it good with kids?
Yes, though monasteries are less fun for children; Sataplia with its dinosaur footprints is a better pick for them.
Is it worth it in winter?
Yes: the centre and the monasteries are open all year.
Sources and fact-check
- Prices, opening hours and time on site come from each place's page, with its own sources and check date
- National Agency for Cultural Heritage Preservation of Georgia: Gelati, Bagrati
- Wikipedia: Gelati Monastery, Bagrati Cathedral
