Kutaisi has a warm, humid climate — significantly wetter and milder than eastern Georgia. Summers are hot (July averages 23°C) and rainy, with frequent afternoon thunderstorms. Winters are mild and damp but rarely cold enough for snow in the city, though the surrounding hills get some.
Spring (April–May) and autumn (September–October) are the best times to visit. The Caucasus foothills and Colchic forests are at their most vivid in spring, and autumn brings harvest season — a good time to find fresh churchkhela, local wine, and walnuts in the market.
Summer is busy with domestic Georgian tourists and backpackers. The sights are accessible year-round but Gelati and Motsameta are at their best in clear weather, when the light on the frescoes and the views from the monastery terraces are at their finest.
Winter is quiet and the sights emptier, though some guesthouses close. The Prometheus Caves and Sataplia are open year-round and actually less humid in winter, which is an advantage.