Explore Kutaisi by Car — Best Day Trips & Attractions In This Guide The Monastery Loop — Gelati & Motsameta (Half-Day, 35 km Round Trip) Two Caves, One Morning — Sataplia & Prometheus (Full Day, 60 km Round Trip) The Canyon Grand Loop — Okatse, Kinchkha & Martvili (Full Day, 160 km) Kutaisi City — Markets, Fountains & Cultural Experiences Entry Fees & Opening Hours (2026) Practical Driving Info for Kutaisi Region Driving Distances from Kutaisi Airport (KUT) More Driving Guides Explore Kutaisi by Car — Best Day Trips & Attractions You've just picked up your rental car at Kutaisi Airport (KUT), and the entire Imereti region is now at your fingertips. Driving is the single best way to unlock the monasteries, caves, and canyons that make Kutaisi one of the top destinations in Georgia. This guide covers the essential things to do in Kutaisi — organized by driving route, with exact distances, entry fees, and parking details for independent travelers. In This Guide The Monastery Loop — Gelati & Motsameta (Half-Day, 35 km Round Trip) This short loop northeast of the city is the perfect half-day introduction. Both monasteries sit on the same road, and a compact rental car handles the fully paved route with ease. The entire circuit — including time at both sites — takes 2–3 hours. Gelati Monastery is a UNESCO World Heritage site founded in 1106 by King David IV "the Builder." Its 12th-century apse mosaic of the Virgin and Child is one of the finest surviving Byzantine-era artworks in the Caucasus. The monastery sits 10 km from Kutaisi city centre (20-minute drive) with free parking at the gate. Entry is free, open 9:00–20:00 daily. 2025–2026 Restoration: Gelati's main cathedral has extensive scaffolding. The interior may be partially restricted. Check recent reports before driving out — subsidiary chapels and grounds remain accessible. Motsameta Monastery sits on a dramatic clifftop above the Tskaltsitela River, 6 km from the city centre. The 1.8 km side road off the Gelati road is paved but narrow. Free entry, compact parking area with quick turnover. Before or after the loop, stop at Bagrati Cathedral — 1.5 km from centre, with panoramic views over the Rioni River valley. Free entry, open 10:00–20:00. Though delisted from UNESCO in 2017 after a controversial reconstruction, it remains a powerful symbol of Georgian resilience. Two Caves, One Morning — Sataplia & Prometheus (Full Day, 60 km Round Trip) Sataplia Nature Reserve (9 km from centre, 15-minute drive) combines 120-million-year-old dinosaur footprints, a karst cave, and a glass-floored observation platform over the Imereti landscape. Entry: 30 GEL (~€10). Allow 1.5–2 hours. Paved road, adequate parking lot for any car type. Prometheus Cave is the largest show cave in Georgia — 1.4 km of walkway through six vast halls filled with stalactites, stalagmites, and an underground river. The optional boat ride on the Kumi River adds 15 minutes to the experience. Located 20 km from Kutaisi (25-minute drive via Tskaltubo), entry is 40 GEL (~€13) plus 30 GEL (~€10) for the boat. Temperature inside is a constant 14°C — bring a jacket even in summer. Closed Mondays. Plan cave visits for Tuesday through Sunday. Start with Sataplia (shorter visit), then drive 20 km to Prometheus. 2026 Combo Ticket: The Agency of Protected Areas offers a combined ticket for 75 GEL (~€25) covering Prometheus, Sataplia, and the nearby Navenakhevi Cave — significant savings versus buying individually. The Canyon Grand Loop — Okatse, Kinchkha & Martvili (Full Day, 160 km) This is the most popular day trip from Kutaisi and the strongest reason to have your own car hire. The loop covers three dramatic natural sites in the Imereti and Samegrelo regions, with about 3.5 hours of total driving and 8–9 hours door to door. Okatse Canyon features a 780-metre hanging walkway bolted 140 metres above the gorge floor. It's 50 km from Kutaisi (1 hour). From the visitor centre, a 3 km trail descends to the walkway — or hire a local 4x4 transfer (15–50 GEL per car). Entry: 30 GEL (~€10). The walkway closes in rain or snow for safety. Kinchkha Waterfall is just 5 km (10 minutes) past Okatse — a triple-cascade system with a 70-metre main drop. Paved walkways provide excellent viewpoints. Entry: 17.25 GEL (~€5.75). Parking for about 20 cars. Martvili Canyon (50 km from Kutaisi, 1–1.5 hours) is famous for turquoise water between 50–70 metre limestone walls. The 15-minute boat ride through the lower canyon is the highlight.