8 Reasons Why You Should Visit Kutaisi Over Tbilisi

Most of the travellers who come to Georgia start their trip from Tbilisi and move around the country from there. To see most of the country, you might not want to start here. Tbilisi is located in eastern Georgia. Therefore it takes a couple of hours to drive west to see the natural wonders of the country. Thus, if you plan to experience Georgia’s wonders, the best strategic location to start your trip would be Kutaisi. Here are eight reasons why.

Direct cheap flights

A couple of years ago, Wizz Air launched its very first direct flight from Kutaisi International Airport. It has since expanded its destinations, and now flies to and from major European cities like London, Barcelona, Paris, Prague, Warsaw, Munich, Milan and Budapest to name a few.

An ancient town

A former capital of Georgia, Kutaisi is one of the oldest cities in the country. It was a capital of the Kingdom of Colchis, where people used to live as early as the second millennium BC. Moreover, it’s enlisted as one of Europe’s 16 oldest cities, something you might want to add to your wishlist of places to see.

Interesting landmarks

Kutaisi and the surrounding area is full of impressive monuments, such as caves, dinosaur footprints, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, monasteries and a futuristic parliament building to name a few. In fact, there are so many things to see and do in the area, you might wind up staying in Kutaisi longer than expected.

Natural wonders

With its central location, Kutaisi is a perfect hub for those who love to visit canyons or natural reserves. From here, you can spend a day or more exploring incredible natural parks without exhausting yourself from hours of driving. Okatse and Martvili Canyons, Katskhi Pillar, and the Vardzia cave town are within a short car drive.

Riding an old Soviet tramway

Chiatura, a mining town in the Imereti region, is about one and a half hours from Kutaisi. The city has a very industrial setting and is famous for a Soviet-era tramway that is still in use today. The surrounding area of the town is abandoned and looks post-apocalyptic. Most of the nearby factories were abandoned and stripped after the collapse of the Soviet Union and the Georgian civil war.

Visiting Samegrelo

A two hour drive will take you to Zugdidi, the central town of the Samegrelo region. Here, you can walk around the city and visit the Dadiani Palace, which holds some of the most important relics of the wold, including objects connected to Emperor Napoleon.

From here, you can hike to one of the most beautiful lakes in Georgia: Tobavarchkhili

Highest settlement in Europe

The region of Svaneti is one of the most remote areas of Georgia and is home to the village Ushguli, 2,100 meters (6,889 ft) above the sea level. It is still inhabited year round. This makes it the highest settlement in Europe. First, take a four-hour drive to Mestia, the central city of Svaneti. You can rest here for a day and acclimate to the altitude. While you’re here, you can visit the national museum to see some of the most iconic cultural artifacts collected in the region and learn more about the customs and traditions of Svans. Once you’re acclimated, make the rest of the journey to Ushguli.

Swimming in the Black Sea

If your trip happens to be in summer, you should save some time for a visit to Batumi. This central city on the coast of the Black Sea is the go-to summer destination for many locals and is only three hours away from Kutaisi. Apart from visiting the city and taking a walk along its 12km (7.4 mile) long boulevard, you can journey outside the city and arrange a day trip to see even more of the Adjara region.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.