Batumi to Kutaisi 2026: Transfer, Distance & Airport Price

Updated August 2026 · ~145 km · ~2 h 30 by car · Black Sea coast to Georgia’s third city and KUT airport

TL;DR — quick answer. Kutaisi, Georgia’s third city and the home of Kutaisi International Airport (KUT), is about 145 km from Batumi — roughly a 2.5–3 hour drive inland on the main west-Georgia highway through Samtredia. A fixed-price private transfer is about 120–180 GEL per car door to door; a marshrutka is roughly 15–25 GEL a seat, and there is a slow train option. Most travellers make this trip to catch a low-cost flight from KUT, to change between the coast and the airport, or to see the Bagrati Cathedral and Prometheus Cave. OrbiTrip is free — you pay the fixed fare directly to your licensed driver, no commission and no online card checkout.

Option	Cost (pay driver)	Time	Best for
Private transfer (Batumi → Kutaisi)	~120–180 GEL, fixed per car	~2 h 30	Flights, luggage, families, timing
Marshrutka (minibus)	~15–25 GEL	~2 h 45–3 h	Budget, flexible days
Train (via Rioni/Samtredia)	~8–20 GEL	~4 h + change	Rail fans, scenery over speed

See fixed prices & drivers for Batumi → Kutaisi

Why travellers go from Batumi to Kutaisi

The Batumi–Kutaisi run is one of the busiest domestic routes in western Georgia, and for a simple reason: Kutaisi International Airport (KUT) is the country’s low-cost gateway, with Wizz Air and other budget carriers flying to Europe, so beach visitors in Batumi constantly need to reach it — and arrivals at KUT head the other way to the coast. Kutaisi itself is also worth a stop: Georgia’s third city and a former capital, with the UNESCO-listed Bagrati Cathedral, the Gelati Monastery nearby, and the Prometheus and Sataplia caves on its doorstep. Whether you are chasing a flight or exploring, the 145 km between the sea and the city is an easy half-day move.

The route: Batumi → Samtredia → Kutaisi

From Batumi the road runs north up the coast and then turns inland on the main west-Georgia highway through Kobuleti and Samtredia to Kutaisi — about 145 km and 2 hours 30 of straightforward main-road driving, a little longer with traffic near Batumi or roadworks. Note the difference that catches people out: the airport, KUT, sits about 20 km north-west of the city near Kopitnari, so if your real destination is a flight, the drive from Batumi is closer to two hours and is covered in our Batumi to Kutaisi Airport guide. For the city centre, plan the full 2.5 hours.

Option 1: Private transfer — door to door on your schedule

For anyone with a flight to catch or luggage to carry, a fixed-price private transfer is the reliable choice. One licensed driver collects you from your Batumi hotel and drives straight to your Kutaisi address or the airport terminal, with no changes and no waiting for a minibus to fill. Expect about 120–180 GEL per vehicle in 2026, agreed at booking and fixed whatever the traffic or the hour — which matters for an early or late Wizz Air departure. Because the price is per car rather than per seat, a family or a group with suitcases shares one fare, and you can add a stop at Prometheus Cave or Bagrati on the way if you have time.

Check your date — Batumi to Kutaisi

Option 2: Marshrutka — the budget route

Shared marshrutka minibuses run frequently between Batumi and Kutaisi for roughly 15–25 GEL a seat, making this the cheapest way across. They leave through the day from the Batumi bus stations and take about 2 hours 45 minutes to three hours. The trade-offs are the familiar ones: fixed departure points, limited luggage space, and schedules that will not bend around a specific flight time — and many marshrutkas serve the city, not the airport, so you may need an onward taxi at the end. For a flexible budget traveller they are perfectly good; for a family timing a flight they are riskier than a booked car.

Option 3: The train — slow but scenic

There is also a rail option, though it is more of an experience than a fast link. Trains connect the Batumi area with the Kutaisi and Rioni stations, usually via Samtredia, for a low fare of around 8–20 GEL, but with the connection and station transfers it turns into a four-hour-plus journey and the stations are not central. It suits rail fans and unhurried travellers rather than anyone matching a flight. If you are heading onward to Tbilisi instead, compare the options in our Kutaisi to Tbilisi guide.

Kutaisi, the airport and what to see

Kutaisi rewards a pause. The hilltop Bagrati Cathedral looks over the Rioni river, the medieval Gelati Monastery is a short drive out, and the Prometheus and Sataplia caves — the latter with preserved dinosaur footprints — make an easy half-day. If you are connecting through KUT, our Kutaisi travel guide covers the city, and the Kutaisi Airport transfers guide covers onward routes across Georgia. Travelling the other way, from Kutaisi back to the coast, is in our Kutaisi to Batumi guide.

Practical tips for the Batumi–Kutaisi run

City or airport? Tell us which — KUT is 20 km north-west of Kutaisi, so the price and time differ.
Buffer for flights: for an early Wizz Air departure, leave Batumi with time to spare and prefer a fixed transfer over a minibus.
Add a cave stop: Prometheus Cave sits between the two and makes a natural break on a private transfer.
Cash in lari: you pay the driver directly, handy for a coffee or a cave ticket on the way.
Luggage: tell us the number of bags so the driver brings a vehicle that fits them comfortably.

How booking works with OrbiTrip

Open the Batumi → Kutaisi search, set Batumi as pickup and Kutaisi (or Kutaisi Airport) as destination, then choose date, time and vehicle class. The fixed price you see is the price you pay — no surge, no per-bag fee and no online card checkout. OrbiTrip is a free platform that connects you with a licensed local driver who knows the highway and the airport run; you settle the agreed fare directly with them, and after confirmation you receive the driver’s contact to arrange the exact pickup.

Book your Batumi → Kutaisi transfer →

FAQ: Batumi to Kutaisi

How far is Kutaisi from Batumi and how long is the drive?

Kutaisi is about 145 km from Batumi by road, a drive of roughly 2 hours 30 minutes on the main west-Georgia highway through Samtredia. Kutaisi International Airport (KUT) is about 20 km north-west of the city, so the airport run from Batumi is a little shorter.

How much is a transfer from Batumi to Kutaisi in 2026?

A fixed-price private car is about 120–180 GEL, paid directly to the driver. A marshrutka seat is roughly 15–25 GEL and the train is cheaper but slow. OrbiTrip takes no commission and there is no online card checkout.

Is Batumi to Kutaisi the same as Batumi to Kutaisi Airport?

Not quite. Kutaisi International Airport (KUT) is about 20 km north-west of the city near Kopitnari, so the airport drive is a little shorter and often priced separately. Tell us whether you need the city or the airport when you book.

Is there a direct marshrutka from Batumi to Kutaisi?

Yes. Shared marshrutkas run frequently through the day for about 15–25 GEL and take roughly 2 hours 45 minutes to three hours, though they serve the city rather than the airport and keep fixed schedules.

Can I stop at Prometheus Cave on the way?

Yes, with a private transfer. Prometheus Cave and Sataplia are near Kutaisi and make a natural break on the drive from Batumi; just agree the stop with your driver in advance.

Is a private transfer worth it for a Wizz Air flight from KUT?

For an early or late low-cost flight with luggage, one fixed fare and door-to-terminal service is more reliable than a minibus on a fixed schedule that may not match your departure. It is the safer choice when you are timing a flight.

OrbiTrip — a free platform connecting travellers with licensed Georgian drivers. Fixed prices, paid directly to the driver.