- Gelati, Motsameta, Sataplia, Prometheus Cave and the old spa park of Tskaltubo lie 15 to 35 minutes from Kutaisi.
- The Okatse and Martvili canyons, Vani, Sairme and Nokalakevi take about an hour each way. Chiatura, the Katskhi Pillar and Racha take 1.5 to 2 hours.
- Foreign adult tickets in 2026: Prometheus Cave and Martvili Canyon about 40 GEL (about $15) each, Okatse and Sataplia about 30 GEL (about $12) each. Gelati is free.
- Minibuses stop short of every cave and canyon gate, so a driver saves hours. In winter Okatse shuts on wet days and the Martvili boats stop.
The best day trips from Kutaisi are Gelati Monastery and Motsameta, the caves of Sataplia and Prometheus, and the canyons of Okatse and Martvili. All of them lie within about an hour of the city. Go a little further and you reach the cable cars of Chiatura, the church on the Katskhi Pillar, the carved cathedral of Nikortsminda in Racha and the ancient gold of Vani. Batumi makes a long but possible day.
The twelve trips below run from the nearest to the furthest. For each you get the distance, the sights, the hours to set aside, the best months and the transport. Then come pairings that work, a three-day plan and the winter closures. The city itself has its own page, our Kutaisi travel guide, and our page on where to stay in Kutaisi helps you pick a base.
Kutaisi day trips compared: distance, drive time and transport
Distances are rounded road figures from the city centre. Drive times are for a car with no stops.
| Day trip | Distance | Drive each way | Public transport | Time to allow | Best months |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Gelati and Motsameta | ~6-10 km | 15-20 min | City bus to Gelati, five a day | 2-3 hours | All year |
| 2. Sataplia | ~10 km | About 20 min | None; taxi or Bolt | 1.5-2 hours | All year |
| 3. Prometheus Cave | ~21 km | 30-35 min | Minibus to Tskaltubo, then taxi | 1.5 hours | All year |
| 4. Tskaltubo spa town | ~10-14 km | 15-20 min | Minibus every 15-20 min | Half a day | All year |
| 5. Okatse Canyon and Kinchkha | ~46-51 km | 1 h to 1 h 15 | Minibus to Khoni, then taxi | About 4 hours | April to November |
| 6. Martvili Canyon | ~50 km | About 1 h 15 | Minibus to Martvili, then taxi | 2-3 hours | April to November |
| 7. Vani museum and hot pools | ~41 km | About 50 min | Minibus about hourly | Half a day | All year; museum shut Mondays |
| 8. Sairme and Baghdati | ~54 km | About 1 h 15 | Minibus to Baghdati, then taxi | Half a day or more | June to September |
| 9. Nokalakevi | ~50 km | About 1 h 15 | Minibus to Senaki, then taxi | About 2 hours | April to June, September, October |
| 10. Chiatura and the Katskhi Pillar | ~67-75 km | About 1.5 hours | No direct minibus; driver | Full day | April to October |
| 11. Racha: Shaori, Nikortsminda, Ambrolauri | ~57-77 km | 1.5-2 hours | Two minibuses a day; driver | Full day or a night | May to October |
| 12. Batumi and the Black Sea | ~150 km | About 2.5 hours; train under 2 hours | Minibus or train | 12 hours or more | June to September for swimming |
Short on time? Our top five for a first visit:
- Okatse Canyon and Kinchkha Waterfall, for the cliff walkway and the falls.
- Gelati Monastery, for the finest medieval mosaic in Georgia.
- Prometheus Cave, the most visited protected area in the country.
- Martvili Canyon, for blue-green water between mossy walls.
- Chiatura and the Katskhi Pillar, for scenes found nowhere else.
Under 35 minutes: Gelati, Motsameta, Sataplia, Prometheus Cave and Tskaltubo
1. Gelati Monastery and Motsameta
King David IV, called the Builder, founded Gelati in 1106, and it is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A gold mosaic of the Virgin and Child, from about 1125 to 1130, fills the apse of the main church. The king lies under the south gate, so every visitor walks over him. Conservation work has kept a temporary roof on the main church since 2024, so expect scaffolding. Motsameta Monastery stands on a cliff over a bend of the Tskaltsitela river, just off the same road. End at Bagrati Cathedral in town for the sunset.
- Getting there: Motsameta ~6 km and Gelati ~10 km, 15 to 20 minutes each.
- How to go: five city buses a day climb to Gelati from the stop behind the Meskhishvili Theatre, about 2 GEL (about $1) in 2026. The last one returns at about 16:30, so a taxi that waits is easier.
- Cost and season: free, usually 09:00 to 18:00, all year. Cover shoulders and knees.
2. Sataplia: dinosaur tracks and a glass deck
On a wooded hill ~10 km north-west of town, Sataplia Nature Reserve guards fossil footprints that a local scientist spotted in 1933. About 200 tracks are now known, and the clearest lie under a roof. The guided route adds a short lit cave and a glass-floored deck over the forest. Children tend to love the life-size dinosaur models.
- How to go: no bus reaches the gate, so take a taxi or Bolt, about 20 minutes.
- Cost: about 30 GEL (about $12) for foreign adults in 2026, guide included. Open daily 10:00 to 17:30.
3. Prometheus Cave
Near Kumistavi village, Prometheus drew about 286,000 visitors in 2025, more than any other protected area in Georgia. A guide leads you through six of its 22 known halls on a lit route of one to two kilometres. When the underground river is calm, a short boat ride carries you out. The air stays near 14°C all year, so it suits a hot or rainy afternoon.
- Getting there: ~21 km, 30 to 35 minutes. By bus, ride to Tskaltubo, then take a 10-minute taxi.
- Cost: the 2026 ticket for a foreign adult was about 40 GEL (about $15). The boat cost about 30 GEL (about $12) extra. Open daily 10:00 to 17:30.
4. Tskaltubo, the old Soviet spa town
Tskaltubo's radon springs come out of the ground at 33 to 35°C, and in Soviet times the town was among the best-known spas in the USSR. Columned bathhouses and sanatoriums ring its big park, a few restored and many empty. Bathhouse No. 6, put up for Stalin in 1950, still sells soaks. Families displaced from occupied Abkhazia live in some old sanatoriums, so stay outside and ask before taking photos.
- Getting there: ~10 to 14 km, 15 to 20 minutes. Minibuses 30, 34 and 44 leave about three times an hour, about 2 GEL (about $1) in 2026.
Our caves and monasteries day trip links Gelati, Motsameta, Sataplia and Prometheus in about seven hours, with only about two hours on the road.
About an hour: Okatse, Kinchkha and a Martvili Canyon tour from Kutaisi
5. Okatse Canyon and Kinchkha Waterfall
The Okatse visitor centre is in Zeda Gordi, ~46 km north-west via Khoni. A forest path of ~2.3 km crosses the old hunting park of the Dadiani princes. Then a steel walkway of 780 m clings to the canyon wall and ends at a platform high above the river. Kinchkha is ~9 km further up the valley. It falls over three ledges, the biggest drop about 70 m, and runs fullest from April to June.
- How to go: a minibus to Khoni leaves every 30 minutes, about 3 GEL (about $1) in 2026. From Khoni it is ~20 km more by taxi, so a driver is simpler.
- Cost: in 2026 foreigners paid about 30 GEL (about $12) at Okatse, about 20 GEL (about $8) at Kinchkha, or about 40 GEL (about $15) for a joint ticket. Open daily 10:00 to 17:30.
- Rules and season: the walkway shuts in rain and snow, and children under 6 may not use it. Allow about 4 hours, April to November.
6. Martvili Canyon
Martvili Canyon lies by Inchkhuri village in Samegrelo, ~50 km from Kutaisi. A 700 m loop of paths and footbridges follows the Abasha river between mossy limestone walls. On calm, dry days small rubber boats push about 300 m into the narrowest part. Martvili Monastery crowns a hill 15 minutes away. Balda Canyon, smaller and calmer, is a short drive to the north.
- How to go: the Martvili minibus runs hourly, about 6 GEL (about $2) in 2026, then it is ~6 km by taxi.
- Cost: in 2026 a foreign adult ticket was about 40 GEL (about $15), with the boat about 20 GEL (about $8) on top.
- Hours and season: usually 10:00 to 17:30, but official pages disagree on summer evenings, so check first. Best April to November.
Our private canyons day trip takes in Okatse, Kinchkha and Martvili in eight to nine hours from your hotel, for any number of people on the day you pick.
About an hour south and west: Vani, Sairme and Nokalakevi
7. Vani Archaeological Museum and the hot pools
Vani lies ~41 km south-west, beside the hill of a city that thrived from the 8th to the 1st century BC. Its museum displays gold from rich burials made some 2,400 years ago, and our guide to ancient Colchis tells the story. Sulori spa, ~11 km from Vani, has private baths near 38°C, while the open sulphur pool at Dikhashkho is free. Geguti Palace, a ruined 12th-century royal residence, makes a short stop on the way.
- How to go: minibuses run to Vani about hourly, about 4 GEL (about $2) in 2026. The springs need a taxi.
- Museum ticket: about 20 GEL (about $8) for a foreign adult in 2026. It opens 10:00 to 18:00 and shuts on Mondays.
8. Sairme and Baghdati
Sairme is a forest spa at ~950 m, ~54 km south via Baghdati. Mineral water flows from small pavilions where anyone can drink for free, and the rebuilt resort adds a thermal pool and an 800 m zip line. On a sticky July day the cool air is the real draw.
- How to go: the Baghdati minibus runs hourly, about 3 GEL (about $1) in 2026. The mountain road on to Sairme needs a taxi or driver.
- Season: best from June to September.
9. Nokalakevi
Byzantine writers called this fortress Archaeopolis. It fills a loop of the Tekhuri river ~16 km from Senaki, and its walls climb from the water to a hilltop citadel. Inside are Roman-style baths, the 6th-century Church of the Forty Martyrs and a small museum. In the mid-500s this stronghold of Lazica held out against a Persian siege. Few visitors come.
- Getting there: ~50 km, about 1 hour 15 minutes, and ~25 km from Martvili Canyon. By bus, take a Zugdidi minibus that runs via Senaki, then a taxi.
- Season: April to June and September to October. Summer afternoons are hot.
1.5 to 2 hours: Chiatura's cable cars, the Katskhi Pillar and Racha
10. Chiatura, the Katskhi Pillar and Mgvimevi
Chiatura is a manganese-mining town squeezed into the Kvirila gorge, ~75 km east via Zestaponi. Homes and mines sit on ledges high above the river, so cable cars have lifted people up and down since the 1950s. New cabins replaced the Soviet ones from 2021, and a ride costs small change. Mgvimevi Monastery, from the 13th century, is built into a cliff cave on the edge of town.
The Katskhi Pillar stands ~11 km away. A tiny church crowns this limestone column of about 40 m. Only the monks still climb the ladder, closed to visitors since 2012, so you look up from the monastery at its foot.
- How to go: the official Kutaisi timetable lists no Chiatura minibus in 2026, so go with a driver.
- Time and season: 7 to 8 hours, April to October.
- On the way back: Navenakhevi Cave near Terjola packs about 120 stone columns into four small halls, for about 12 GEL (about $5) in 2026.
11. Racha: Shaori Lake, Nikortsminda and Khvanchkara
Past the mining town of Tkibuli, the road climbs the cliffs in hairpins and crosses the 1,217 m Nakerala Pass. Over the top, Shaori Lake lies on a breezy plateau at ~1,130 m. A few kilometres on, Nikortsminda Cathedral, built in 1010 to 1014, is covered in carved saints and beasts. Ambrolauri, the small regional capital, is ~77 km from Kutaisi. Nearby Khvanchkara gives its name to a naturally semi-sweet red wine.
- How to go: minibuses to Ambrolauri leave at 11:00 and 16:00 and return at 09:30, about 15 GEL (about $6) in 2026. That needs a night away, so take a driver.
- Time and season: 9 to 10 hours, May to October. Our Racha travel guide has longer plans.
- Roads: heavy snow can shut the pass for hours. From 27 October 2026, works closed the road into Oni, beyond Ambrolauri, for about two weeks.
Our five-day Racha and Imereti tour takes this route slowly, with nights in Kutaisi and Ambrolauri.
The long day: Batumi and the Black Sea
12. Batumi
Batumi is ~150 km away, about 2.5 hours by road. The fast train takes under 2 hours, but it leaves from the Kutaisi Airport station, ~20 km west of town. Stroll the boulevard by the sea, wander the old streets, see the Batumi Botanical Garden, and swim from June to September. A minibus seat cost about 15 GEL (about $6) in 2026, with departures roughly every hour. A night by the sea is far more relaxed.
Kutaisi day tours: classic pairings that work
Sights that share a road combine best. Each plan below starts at about 09:00 with a car or driver.
- Gelati, Motsameta and Bagrati: 4 to 5 hours
Monasteries in the morning, lunch in town, then Bagrati in the late light. - Sataplia, Prometheus and Tskaltubo: 6 to 7 hours
Dinosaur tracks first, the cave after lunch, then a soak. A good plan with children. - Prometheus Cave and Martvili Canyon: 7 to 8 hours
They are ~42 km apart, about an hour by car. Cave at opening, canyon in the afternoon. - Okatse and Kinchkha: 5 to 6 hours, or 8 to 9 with Martvili
Walk Okatse while it is cool. Martvili is ~30 km on, so all three fit in a long day. - Martvili Canyon, Martvili Monastery and Nokalakevi: 7 to 8 hours
The canyon at opening, the hilltop church, then the ruins in the quiet afternoon. - Chiatura, Katskhi and Navenakhevi: about 8 hours
Cable cars in the morning, the pillar at midday and the small cave on the drive home.
A 3-day plan from Kutaisi
Three days cover the best of the region from one base.
- Day 1: monasteries and caves
Gelati and Motsameta in the morning, lunch in Tskaltubo, then Sataplia or Prometheus. Watch the sunset from Bagrati. - Day 2: the canyons
Okatse and Kinchkha first, a Megrelian lunch on the road, then Martvili Canyon. - Day 3: your choice
Chiatura and the Katskhi Pillar for industrial history, Racha for mountains and wine, or Vani and Sairme for ancient gold and mineral springs.
Kutaisi day trips in winter and rain: what closes
Winters in Kutaisi are mild and damp, and snow seldom settles in the city. The limits are rain at the canyons and snow on the mountain roads.
| Trip | December to March | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Gelati, Motsameta, Bagrati | Open | Short days; the steps down to Motsameta can be slippery |
| Prometheus, Sataplia, Navenakhevi | Open | About 14°C inside; Sataplia's glass deck shuts in rain and snow |
| Tskaltubo | Open | Quiet; ask ahead about bath times |
| Okatse and Kinchkha | Shut on rainy and snowy days | Go on a dry day; Kinchkha can be thin or icy |
| Martvili Canyon | Paths open; boats usually stopped | Boats also stop in any rain |
| Vani museum | Open Tuesday to Sunday | Indoors, so a good wet-day plan |
| Chiatura and Katskhi | Open | Check which cable car lines run |
| Racha | Open, with snow on the pass | Heavy snow can close the Nakerala Pass for hours; check road status |
| Sairme | Open | Snowy and quiet; check your hotel is open |
| Batumi | Open | Mild but wet; no swimming |
Marshrutka, Bolt or a driver: getting around
- Minibuses (marshrutkas) leave mostly from Chavchavadze Avenue 67, by the central bus station, for about 2 to 6 GEL (about $1 to $2) in 2026.
- Bolt and taxis suit Gelati, Sataplia and Prometheus. Kutaisi has fewer cars than Tbilisi, so agree a waiting time.
- A driver for the day is the best value for the canyons, Racha and Chiatura.
All our tours are private: any date, two people or twenty, with a guide in your language. The inclusions are listed on every tour page.
Day trips from Kutaisi: questions people ask
What is the best day trip from Kutaisi?
For a first visit, the canyon day: the Okatse walkway, Kinchkha Waterfall and Martvili Canyon. With half a day, see Gelati and Motsameta. On a rainy day, pick Prometheus Cave and Sataplia.
Can you visit Prometheus Cave and Okatse Canyon in one day?
Yes. They are ~27 km apart, about 40 minutes by car, so the cave in the morning and the walkway after lunch fit easily. No bus links them, so you need a car or driver.
Is there a Martvili Canyon tour from Kutaisi?
Yes. Our private canyons day trip pairs Martvili with Okatse and Kinchkha, with a hotel pick-up. Without a tour, take the hourly Martvili minibus, then a taxi over the final ~6 km.
Can I do Kutaisi day trips by public transport?
Partly. Minibuses reach Tskaltubo, Khoni, Martvili and Vani, and a city bus serves Gelati. The caves and canyons still need a taxi at the end, and Racha and Chiatura need a driver.
Which day trips from Kutaisi work in winter?
The monasteries, the caves, Tskaltubo, the Vani museum and Batumi all work from December to March. Okatse closes on wet or snowy days and the Martvili boats usually stop.
Is Racha a good day trip from Kutaisi?
Yes, with an early start: Shaori Lake, Nikortsminda and a Khvanchkara tasting fit into about ten hours. A night in Ambrolauri lets you add Barakoni Church without rushing.
