Baghdati

By Mariam Lomidze, GTour desk · Fact-checked against the sources listed · Last checked 17 October 2026 · Editorial policy

Overview

Baghdati is a small town in the Imereti region of western Georgia, set on the banks of the Khanistskali River about 30 minutes by road from Kutaisi, roughly 2 hours 55 minutes from Tbilisi and about 2 hours 50 minutes from Batumi. It serves as the administrative centre of Baghdati Municipality and has a population of around 3,707 people. The town sits in a fertile valley at the edge of the Imereti lowlands, where orchards, maize fields and vineyards give way to the forested foothills leading toward the Sairme spa and the Lesser Caucasus.

Baghdati matters to travellers chiefly for two reasons: it is the birthplace of the Russian-Georgian futurist poet Vladimir Mayakovsky, and it anchors one of Imereti’s lesser-visited wine districts, where family cellars still work with native grape varieties such as Tsitska, Tsolikouri and Krakhuna. For visitors touring Imereti beyond Kutaisi, Gelati and Vani, Baghdati offers a quiet, authentic stop combining literary history with village-style wine tourism, and it is often paired with a trip to the nearby Sairme mineral-water resort.

History

Baghdati lies within the historic Imereti lowlands, long part of the medieval Kingdom of Imereti after the breakup of the unified Georgian kingdom. Local tradition connects the settlement’s name to the Bagrationi royal house that ruled Imereti for centuries, though the precise etymology is not firmly documented and should be treated as popular tradition rather than established fact. Through the Russian imperial period the area was administered within the Kutaisi Governorate, part of the broader incorporation of western Georgian territories into the Russian Empire during the nineteenth century.

The town’s modern fame dates to 19 July 1893, when the poet Vladimir Mayakovsky was born in the village of Baghdadi (the pre-Soviet spelling of Baghdati), then in the Kutaisi Governorate. Mayakovsky, who became one of the leading voices of Russian futurism and Soviet-era poetry, spent his early childhood in the town before his family moved to Kutaisi and later Moscow. In recognition of its native son, the Soviet authorities renamed the town Mayakovski in 1940; it reverted to its historic name, Baghdati, after Georgian independence in the 1990s.

What to see

Vladimir Mayakovsky House-Museum

The house-museum in Baghdati marks the poet’s birthplace and preserves personal items, manuscripts and photographs tracing his childhood in Imereti and his later career in Moscow. It remains the town’s principal cultural landmark and the reason many literary travellers include Baghdati on an Imereti itinerary. Exhibits are presented in Georgian and Russian, with some English signage.

Khanistskali River and pedestrian bridge

The Khanistskali River runs through the centre of Baghdati, and a pedestrian suspension bridge crosses it near the town centre, offering views over the water and the surrounding orchards. The riverside setting gives the town a relaxed, small-scale character distinct from the larger urban centres of Imereti.

Sairme resort

A short drive from Baghdati into the forested hills lies Sairme, a balneological resort built around mineral springs that have been used for therapeutic bathing and bottled water since the nineteenth century. The resort’s cool mountain air and spa facilities make it a popular half-day or overnight extension from Baghdati, particularly in summer.

Village wineries of Baghdati Municipality

The hills and valleys around Baghdati are dotted with small family-run marani (wine cellars) that continue traditional qvevri winemaking with Imeretian grape varieties. Several are open to visitors for tastings and informal meals, giving a direct view into rural Imeretian wine culture that is less commercialised than the better-known routes around Kakheti.

Getting there

From Tbilisi, Baghdati is reached by the Tbilisi–Kutaisi–Batumi highway, a drive of about 2 hours 55 minutes by private car or marshrutka; most travellers change at Kutaisi’s bus station for a local marshrutka to Baghdati. From Kutaisi the journey takes about 30 minutes by road, making Baghdati an easy half-day addition to a Kutaisi-based itinerary. From Batumi the drive is about 2 hours 50 minutes along the same west Georgia highway corridor. There is no passenger rail station at Baghdati itself; travellers using Georgian Railway services typically arrive at Kutaisi and continue by road. Current road conditions for the route can be checked via the GTour road status page, and GTour arranges private transfers and guided day trips from Tbilisi, Kutaisi or Batumi with an English-speaking driver-guide.

When to go

Late spring through autumn is the most comfortable period for visiting Baghdati, with September and October bringing the Imeretian grape harvest (rtveli), when wineries are most active and welcoming to visitors. Summer suits a combined trip with the Sairme resort, where cooler elevations offer relief from the valley heat. Winters are mild by Georgian standards but quieter, with fewer cellars open for informal tastings.

Where to stay and eat

Baghdati itself has limited formal lodging, so most visitors stay in Kutaisi and visit as a day trip, or combine the town with an overnight at Sairme. For wine tasting and informal meals, GTour’s verified register includes several family cellars in the Baghdati area: Shotiko’s Winery, Maximus Wine Cellar, Marani Naturalisti, Mirianis Marani, Saba Pulariani’s Wine Cellar, Kvirikashvili Brothers Marani, Akaki Khoravas Wine Cellar, and Marani Nadzveli Onise Kbilashvili. GTour’s verified register lists more options below, and further coverage of the wider area is available through the Imereti region hub.

Practical notes

Georgian lari (GEL) is the local currency; Baghdati has limited ATM and currency-exchange facilities compared with Kutaisi, so arranging cash beforehand is advisable. Mobile coverage is generally reliable along the main highway and in town. Many wineries operate informally and are best visited with advance notice or through a guided tour; GTour’s guides and private tour planning can arrange visits and tastings in Georgian with translation. English signage at the Mayakovsky museum and most rural cellars is limited, so a guide is useful for context.

Questions travellers ask

What is Baghdati best known for?

Baghdati is best known as the birthplace of the poet Vladimir Mayakovsky and as a quiet wine-producing town in the Imereti region, close to the Sairme mineral-water resort.

How far is Baghdati from Kutaisi?

Baghdati is about 30 minutes from Kutaisi by road, making it an easy half-day trip from the city or Kutaisi International Airport.

Can visitors tour the Mayakovsky house-museum?

Yes, the house-museum in Baghdati is open to visitors and displays personal items, manuscripts and photographs related to the poet’s early life. Hours can vary seasonally, so checking in advance or visiting with a guide is recommended.

Is Baghdati a good base for wine tasting?

Baghdati and its surrounding villages host several small family wineries working with native Imeretian grape varieties, making it a worthwhile stop for travellers interested in rural, less commercial wine tourism.

How do you get from Baghdati to the Sairme resort?

Sairme is a short drive into the hills above Baghdati and is typically reached by private car or organised tour, as there is limited public transport directly to the resort.

Is there marshrutka transport from Tbilisi to Baghdati?

Travellers generally take a marshrutka or train from Tbilisi to Kutaisi and then a local marshrutka onward to Baghdati, since direct long-distance services from Tbilisi are limited.

When is the grape harvest in the Baghdati area?

The Imeretian grape harvest, known locally as rtveli, generally takes place in September and October, when village wineries are most active and open to visitors.

Is Baghdati walkable as a town?

Baghdati is a small town and its centre, including the river bridge and the Mayakovsky museum, can be covered comfortably on foot within a short visit.

Where should travellers stay if visiting Baghdati?

Most visitors base themselves in Kutaisi, about 30 minutes away, and visit Baghdati as a day trip, or combine it with an overnight stay at the Sairme resort for a longer itinerary.

Is Baghdati suitable for a family visit?

Yes, the town’s small scale, riverside setting and nearby spa resort make it a relaxed stop suitable for families as part of a wider Imereti itinerary.

Sources

• Georgian National Tourism Administration — Baghdati
• Georgian National Tourism Administration — Imereti region