Luxury holidays in Kutaisi

Charming Kutaisi, in the west of Georgia, is dubbed the ‘city of eternal spring’, and for good bloomin’ reason: a smorgasbord of blossoming wildflowers (magnolias, cherry blossom, camomile, orchids) enliven the streets and surrounding countryside with vibrant colour from March onwards. As impressive as Mother Nature’s green fingers are, culture buffs are equally stirred by Kutaisi’s centuries-old cathedral, hillside monastery and rich ancient Greek history, finding flânant-fuelling sustenance in hole-in-the-wall shops and thriving markets.

When to go

There’s a reason Kutaisi has a spring-themed moniker: March sees the start of warmer weather and blooming flora; the city-wide Kutaisoba festival is thrown annually in May.

Getting there

  • Planes

    Connections from Budapest, Vienna and Athens arrive at Kutaisi International Airport, a 30-minute drive from the city centre. Direct flights from London land at Tbilisi’s airport, which is three hours by road from Kutaisi.

  • Trains

    There’s a 20-minute rail shuttle from the airport’s Kopitnari station to Kutaisi Ilia Chavchavadze Avenue, which is a 10-minute taxi ride from the city centre. Georgian Rail runs routes from Tbilisi to Kutaisi, which take under six hours.

  • Automobiles

    Put someone else in the driving seat and use taxis, public transport or hire a driver: scarce signage and hard-to-navigate roads mean Georgian road trips aren’t for the faint of heart.