Khobi

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

Overview

Khobi is a small town in the Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region of western Georgia, serving as the administrative center of Khobi Municipality. It sits on the Khobi River between Kutaisi and Zugdidi, close to the main road that links the Black Sea coast with the lowlands of Samegrelo, and lies about 4 hours 30 minutes by car from Tbilisi, 1 hour 20 minutes from Kutaisi and 1 hour 45 minutes from Batumi. The town itself has a population of around 4,242, modest even by Georgian standards, but it functions as a local service center for the surrounding tea- and citrus-growing villages of lowland Samegrelo.

Khobi’s importance for visitors rests mainly on its medieval monastery, one of the notable religious complexes of western Georgia, and on its position as a convenient stop on journeys between Kutaisi, Zugdidi, Anaklia and the Svaneti road. Few foreign travellers make Khobi a destination in its own right, but it is a practical and worthwhile stop for anyone exploring Samegrelo, and GTour includes it in private itineraries that combine the town with nearby monuments and the region’s guesthouses and wineries. The town also offers a quieter, more rural counterpoint to the better-known stops of the western Georgian touring circuit, described more broadly on the Georgia region hub.

History

The lowlands around Khobi lay within the ancient region of Colchis and later the medieval principality of Egrisi-Lazica, part of the broader western Georgian kingdoms described in early Georgian chronicles. The town’s principal monument, Khobi Monastery, dates its main church to the 13th century, built on the site of an earlier foundation.

From the 16th to the 19th century the monastery stood within the domains of the Dadiani family, the ruling princes of Samegrelo (Mingrelia), who patronised its upkeep and, for a period, used it as a residence connected with the Catholicosate of Abkhazia, as summarised in the same source.

During the Soviet period Khobi grew into an administrative settlement serving collectivised tea and citrus farms typical of lowland Samegrelo, and the monastery, like most religious institutions of the era, ceased regular liturgical use for a time. Following Georgia’s 2006 local government reform, Khobi became the seat of the present-day Khobi Municipality. Since Georgian independence, Khobi Monastery has been restored and is active again as a women’s convent, drawing pilgrims and visitors from across Samegrelo.

What to see

Khobi Monastery

The monastery complex, dedicated to the Dormition of the Mother of God, is the town’s principal landmark and remains a functioning convent. Its main church preserves medieval masonry dating to the 13th century, with later additions and restorations carried out under the patronage of the Dadiani princes. The site is included among Georgia’s notable religious monuments and is open to respectful visitors outside services.

Monastery bell tower and enclosure

A freestanding bell tower and surrounding monastic walls complete the complex, reflecting the fortified character common to western Georgian monasteries that also served defensive purposes. The compact courtyard gives a sense of monastic daily life largely unchanged in layout since medieval times.

Nokalakevi archaeological site (day trip)

About half an hour from Khobi near Senaki lies Nokalakevi, identified with ancient Archaeopolis, a fortified Colchian and Byzantine-era city with excavated walls, a bathhouse and a palace complex. It makes a natural extension to a visit based around Khobi for travellers interested in Georgia’s late antique history.

Dadiani Palace Museum, Zugdidi (day trip)

Roughly forty minutes north, the former residence of the Dadiani princes in Zugdidi now houses a museum of regional history and art, managed by the Georgian National Museum. It is a logical pairing with Khobi for visitors tracing the heritage of the Samegrelo principality.

Getting there

From Tbilisi, Khobi is reached by the main west-bound highway through Gori, Kutaisi and Senaki, a drive of about 4 hours 30 minutes; marshrutkas bound for Zugdidi or Poti from Tbilisi’s Didube station pass through the Khobi area and can be asked to stop there. Georgian Railway also operates Tbilisi–Zugdidi services that call at Khobi station, with a journey of roughly five to six hours; details are published by Georgian Railway. Current road conditions can be checked via the road status page or the Roads Department.

From Kutaisi, Khobi lies about 1 hour 20 minutes away along the Samtredia–Senaki road, with frequent marshrutka connections toward Zugdidi and Poti passing through the town. From Batumi, the drive takes around 1 hour 45 minutes, either along the coastal route through Kobuleti and Poti or inland via Senaki; marshrutkas to Zugdidi or Senaki offer a practical public-transport option.

When to go

Samegrelo has a humid subtropical climate with mild winters and warm, rainy summers. Spring (April to June) and early autumn (September–October) bring the most comfortable travelling conditions, with green countryside and fewer heavy rains than midsummer. Winter visits are possible but roads and rural amenities are quieter, and the monastery courtyard can be muddy after rain.

Where to stay and eat

Khobi itself has limited tourist accommodation, and most travellers base themselves in nearby Zugdidi, Senaki or Poti, all within an hour’s drive. GTour’s verified register lists guesthouses, small hotels and restaurants across Samegrelo, with recommendations compiled in the best-of guides and the broader regional guides; private transfers and combined itineraries can be arranged through GTour’s tours.

Practical notes

The national currency is the Georgian lari (GEL); ATMs and currency exchange are limited in Khobi itself but readily available in Zugdidi and Senaki. Mobile data coverage is generally reliable along the main roads. Visitors to the monastery should dress modestly, with shoulders and, for women, hair covered, as is customary at active Georgian Orthodox sites. English signage is minimal outside the monastery and museum sites, so a guide or pre-arranged transport, as offered through GTour, is useful for independent travellers.

Questions travellers ask

What is Khobi known for?

Khobi is known chiefly for Khobi Monastery, a 13th-century religious complex associated with the Dadiani princes of Samegrelo, and for its position as a crossroads town between Kutaisi, Zugdidi and the Black Sea coast.

Is Khobi worth visiting?

Khobi is a worthwhile short stop rather than a standalone destination, best combined with Nokalakevi, Zugdidi or Poti on a wider Samegrelo itinerary.

How do I get to Khobi from Tbilisi?

By car the drive takes about 4 hours 30 minutes via Kutaisi and Senaki; marshrutkas from Tbilisi’s Didube station toward Zugdidi or Poti also pass through the area.

Is there a train to Khobi?

Yes, Georgian Railway’s Tbilisi–Zugdidi line calls at Khobi station, with a journey of roughly five to six hours; schedules are available from Georgian Railway.

Can Khobi be visited as a day trip from Batumi?

Yes, Khobi is about 1 hour 45 minutes from Batumi by road, making it feasible as part of a day trip that also takes in Poti or Zugdidi.

What is Khobi Monastery dedicated to?

The monastery is dedicated to the Dormition of the Mother of God, with its main church dating to the 13th century.

Is Khobi Monastery still active?

Yes,