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Where is Kutaisi, and what country is it in?

Western Georgia's main city and the former capital of Colchis and Imereti.

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Short answer

Kutaisi is a city in Georgia, the centre of the Imereti region in the west, on the Rioni river, about 230 kilometres from Tbilisi and 150 kilometres from Batumi. It is one of Georgia's largest and oldest cities and at various times was the capital of the kingdoms of Colchis and Imereti. Kutaisi International Airport, served by low-cost airlines, is nearby.

Kutaisi: getting to know the city faq-cover-cities-and-regions.png

Why

  1. Georgia's parliament sat in Kutaisi from 2012 to 2019.
  2. Gelati Monastery near the city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
  3. The road and railway from Tbilisi to the coast pass through Kutaisi.

Details

Trains, buses and minibuses run from Tbilisi to Kutaisi, taking about 3-4 hours. From the airport to the city it is about 20-30 minutes by bus or taxi.

Tip

If you fly into Kutaisi, stay a day: the city and nearby caves and canyons are worth it.

Common misconception

Kutaisi is just a city with a low-cost airport.

What actually happens

Kutaisi is one of Georgia's oldest capitals, near the UNESCO-listed Gelati and caves well worth seeing.

People also ask

  • Where is Kutaisi located?

Sources

Information checked on October 3, 2026.

Kutaisi: getting to know the city

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