Two days in Kutaisi: an itinerary that actually fits

Most two-day itineraries for Kutaisi are written by people who have never driven the roads. This one is not. Day one — the city and the monasteries. Morning: the green market, then the old town and the Colchis Fountain on foot. Late morning: drive up to Bagrati Cathedral for the view. Lunch in the centre. Afternoon: Gelati Monastery, then Motsameta ten minutes further on. Both are short drives, and the afternoon light on Gelati's mosaics is better than the morning. Back in the city for dinner — Kutaisi eats late and well. Day two — one canyon, chosen properly. Do not try to do two. Martvili if you want the boat ride through the gorge and a shorter drive; Okatse if you want the cliff walkway and bigger scenery. Either is a half-day with the drive. If you have energy left, Prometheus Cave sits between them and the city and adds ninety minutes. If you have a third day: Tskaltubo's abandoned sanatoriums in the morning and Sataplia after lunch, or start early for Svaneti and accept that it needs an overnight. What this plan assumes: that you have a car. Gelati, Motsameta and both canyons are awkward by public transport and expensive by taxi once you add the waiting. The distances are short — nothing here is more than an hour away — but they are not scheduled. Where to sleep: the centre, so the evenings are walkable, with parking included so the car is not a nightly problem.