# Imereti > gtour.ge — G Tour, Gateway to Georgia. Cite as: GTour desk, gtour.ge. - Canonical: https://gtour.ge/georgia/imereti/ - Author: Prof. Giorgi Pkhakadze (GTour desk, Tbilisi) - Published: 2026-09-15 - Updated: 2026-10-16 - Language: en - Russian edition: https://gtour.ge/ru/georgia/imereti/ *Guide last checked by the GTour desk on 16 October 2026. Latest news for this region is listed below the guide and updates automatically.* ### Why go Imereti is west-central Georgia’s green heartland, built around the river Rioni and the country’s second city, [Kutaisi](/kutaisi). It mixes a working regional capital with a dense cluster of UNESCO monuments, limestone canyons, show caves and a surreal Soviet spa town, all within an hour or two of each other. Because Kutaisi has its own international airport, the region works equally well as a first stop after landing, a base for day trips, or a halfway break on the road between Tbilisi and Batumi. ### When to go - **Late spring (May-June)** – canyons and waterfalls are at their fullest, countryside is green. - **Early autumn (September-October)** – warm, drier, good light for the gorges and cathedrals. - **Summer** – hot in Kutaisi itself but fine for canyon walkways and cave visits, which stay cool underground. - **Winter** – Prometheus Cave, Bagrati and Gelati stay open; some canyon walkways and boat trips close or run reduced routes, so check conditions before travelling. Check [road status](/road-status/) before heading into the hills in winter, especially toward Okatse and Chiatura. ### Getting there - **By air:** Kutaisi International Airport (KUT) is the main Wizz Air gateway to Georgia, a short drive from the city centre. - **By road from Tbilisi:** around 3 hours on the main highway. - **By road from Batumi:** around 2.5 hours. - **By rail:** regular trains connect Tbilisi and Kutaisi; onward travel to outlying sights requires a car, taxi or organised transfer. A rental car or a driver gives the most flexibility, since most sights beyond Kutaisi are spread across rural roads. See [organised tours](/tours/) for day trips that cover the region without self-driving. ### What to see #### In and around Kutaisi - [Bagrati Cathedral](/bagrati-cathedral) – 11th-century hilltop church overlooking the city, rebuilt after wartime damage. - Kutaisi’s green bazaar – the city’s working produce and spice market, good for cheese, churchkhela and local colour. #### UNESCO and monastic sites - [Gelati Monastery](/gelati-monastery) – 12th-century monastery and academy founded by King David the Builder, with extensive frescoes. - [Motsameta Monastery](/motsameta-monastery) – small monastery perched on a river cliff, a short detour from Gelati. - [Katskhi Pillar](/katskhi-pillar) – a 40-metre limestone pillar topped by a tiny chapel, home to a single resident monk; viewable from the base. #### Caves and natural sights - [Prometheus Cave](/prometheus-cave) – a long, lit cave system with a boat section on its underground river. - [Sataplia Nature Reserve](/sataplia) – preserved dinosaur footprints and a glass-floored viewpoint over the forest. - [Okatse Canyon](/okatse-canyon) – a steel walkway cantilevered along a narrow gorge. - [Kinchkha Waterfall](/kinchkha-waterfall) – a tiered waterfall close to Okatse, usually combined in one trip. - [Martvili Canyon](/martvili-canyon) – boat trips through a turquoise gorge; technically just across the border in Samegrelo but normally visited from Imereti. #### History and curiosities - [Vani archaeological site](/vani) – excavations of an ancient Colchian city, with gold finds now displayed locally and in Tbilisi. - [Tskaltubo](/tskaltubo) – a Soviet-era spa town known for radon mineral baths and large abandoned sanatoriums, now partly restored. - [Chiatura](/chiatura) – a mining town famous for its network of Soviet cable cars climbing the cliffs above the valley. Borjomi and Vardzia lie further south and belong to a separate region; see the dedicated [regional guides](/guides/) for details. ### A three-day plan #### Day 1 – Kutaisi and the monasteries Arrive in Kutaisi (by air, rail or road from Tbilisi, about 3 hours). Visit Bagrati Cathedral and the green bazaar in the afternoon, then drive out to Gelati and Motsameta (around 20-30 minutes each way from the centre). #### Day 2 – Caves and canyons Morning at Prometheus Cave and Sataplia, both within about 30-40 minutes of Kutaisi. In the afternoon, continue to Okatse Canyon and Kinchkha Waterfall (roughly 1-1.5 hours from Kutaisi); add Martvili Canyon if starting early, as it sits a further 40-50 minutes on. #### Day 3 – Tskaltubo, Katskhi and onward Spend the morning at Tskaltubo (15-20 minutes from Kutaisi), walking the sanatorium park or taking a radon bath. Detour to Katskhi Pillar (around 1 hour from Kutaisi) before heading onward to Batumi (about 2.5 hours) or back to Tbilisi (about 3 hours). ### Where to stay - **Kutaisi** – the main base, with city hotels, guesthouses and apartments near the centre and the bazaar; best for travellers using the airport or wanting walkable access to Bagrati. - **Tskaltubo** – quieter, spa-oriented guesthouses and restored sanatorium hotels, suited to travellers interested in the baths or a slower pace. GTour’s verified register lists hotels and guesthouses for Imereti below, checked for standards and accurate location details. ### Eat and drink - **Imeretian khachapuri** – the region’s round, cheese-filled bread, the everyday version found across Georgia. - **Imeruli cheese** – a mild, brined cheese used in khachapuri and eaten on its own with bread and greens. - Market produce from Kutaisi’s green bazaar – walnuts, pkhali, pickles and seasonal fruit. - Local wines from western Georgia, generally lighter than the better-known Kakhetian styles; worth asking for by region in local restaurants. ### Practical notes - **Money:** card payment is widely accepted in Kutaisi; carry cash for rural sites, small guesthouses and market stalls. - **Connectivity:** mobile data coverage is reliable in Kutaisi and along main roads; expect weaker signal inside canyons and caves. - **Roads:** main routes are paved and in reasonable condition; side roads to Katskhi, Chiatura and some canyon car parks are narrower and slower than distances suggest. Check [road status](/road-status/) in winter. - **Safety:** Tskaltubo’s abandoned sanatoriums have unstable floors and should be entered with care or with a guide; canyon walkways and cave paths can be slippery when wet. ### Quick answers **How many days does Imereti need?** Two full days cover the main sights comfortably; three allows a slower pace with Tskaltubo and Katskhi added. **Can I fly directly into the region?** Yes, Kutaisi International Airport (KUT) is Georgia’s main Wizz Air gateway. **Is Martvili Canyon part of Imereti?** It sits just across the border in Samegrelo but is usually visited as part of an Imereti itinerary. **Do I need a car?** A car or driver is strongly recommended, since most sights lie outside Kutaisi on rural roads. **Is Imereti a good stop between Tbilisi and Batumi?** Yes, it sits roughly midway and works well as a one- or two-night break on that route. **Are Borjomi and Vardzia part of this region?** No, they belong to a separate region further south. ### Latest news for Imereti [Travel guides #### Planning a Kakheti wine trip: Sighnaghi, Telavi, Kvareli, Tsinandali and the Alazani valley — routes, cellars, seasons 1 November 2026 · Mariam Lomidze](https://gtour.ge/kakheti-wine-route-planning/)[Travel guides #### Day trips from Tbilisi: Mtskheta, Kazbegi, Kakheti, Gori and Uplistsikhe, David Gareja, Birtvisi — times, costs and how 1 November 2026 · Nino Gelashvili](https://gtour.ge/day-trips-from-tbilisi-guide/)[Travel guides #### Where to stay in Tbilisi: Old Town, Sololaki, Vera, Vake, Marjanishvili and Saburtalo compared 31 October 2026 · Nino Gelashvili](https://gtour.ge/tbilisi-neighbourhoods-where-to-stay/)[Festivals & Events #### Shekvetili: A Quiet Coastal Stop in Guria for an Autumn Visit 31 October 2026 · David Kiknadze](https://gtour.ge/shekvetili-a-quiet-coastal-stop-in-guria-for-an-autumn-visit/)[Travel guides #### Soviet modernist architecture in Tbilisi and beyond: the Ministry of Highways, Chess Palace, Chronicle of Georgia and the sanatoria of Tskaltubo 31 October 2026 · Mariam Lomidze](https://gtour.ge/soviet-modernist-architecture-tbilisi/)[Safari News #### Kenya’s Premium Safari Tier: What Top-Dollar Camps Actually Buy 31 October 2026 · Safari News — Africa Calling Safaris](https://gtour.ge/kenyas-premium-safari-tier-what-top-dollar-camps-actually-buy/) Plan your Georgia Tell us your dates and what you love. 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