Georgia Mtskheta Tours

Mtskheta Tours explore one of the oldest continuously inhabited towns in Georgia, a small settlement on the Mtkvari River that served as the country's capital for roughly a thousand years, from the third century BC until the fifth century AD. Today the town sits about twenty kilometers north of Tbilisi, and its churches remain the spiritual heart of the Georgian Orthodox Church.

Visiting Mtskheta usually forms a half-day excursion from the capital or a stop on a longer Georgia itinerary that continues toward Kakheti or the Caucasus. Most Mtskheta Tours combine two main sites: the cathedral in the town center and the monastery on the hill above it, both part of UNESCO's Historical Monuments of Mtskheta listing.

Svetitskhoveli Cathedral

Svetitskhoveli, meaning "Living Pillar," stands at the center of the old town and ranks among the largest church buildings in Georgia. Built in the eleventh century on the site of the country's first church, it is traditionally said to hold Christ's robe beneath its foundations, a claim that has drawn pilgrims for centuries and made the cathedral the site of Georgian royal coronations and burials.

Jvari Monastery

A short drive up the hillside leads to Jvari Monastery, a sixth-century structure perched at the point where the Aragvi and Mtkvari rivers meet. The monastery marks the spot where Saint Nino is said to have erected a wooden cross after bringing Christianity to Georgia in the fourth century, and its terrace gives the clearest view over the confluence and the old town below.

Samtavro Monastery and the Old Town

Within walking distance of Svetitskhoveli, Samtavro Monastery holds the tombs of King Mirian III and Queen Nana, the royal couple credited with adopting Christianity as Georgia's state religion in 337 AD. The surrounding old town, with its low stone houses and small wine cellars, is easily covered on foot between the main churches.

A Living Pilgrimage Site

Unlike many historical monuments, Mtskheta's churches remain active places of worship rather than museums. Sunday services and religious feast days such as Svetitskhovloba in October draw worshippers from across Georgia, and visitors are welcome to observe as long as they dress modestly and keep a respectful distance during services.

Local Crafts and Wine

Stalls along the main street between Svetitskhoveli and the river sell churchkhela, the strung walnut-and-grape-juice candy found throughout Georgia, alongside local wine and handmade crafts. Small family-run cellars in the surrounding villages produce wine using the same qvevri method associated with the wider Kakheti region, and some Mtskheta itineraries add a short tasting stop on the way back to Tbilisi.

Combining Mtskheta with Nearby Sites

Because of its location on the main road north from Tbilisi, Mtskheta often appears as the first stop on itineraries continuing to Ananuri Fortress and the ski town of Gudauri, or as a pairing with the cave city of Uplistsikhe near Gori to the west. Both routes keep travel times short while adding contrasting sites to a single day.

Mtskheta Tour Packages

Mtskheta Tour Packages typically pair the town with other sites reachable on the same road network, such as Jvari, Ananuri Fortress or Tbilisi's own old district, and some extend into wine tastings in nearby villages. Mtskheta Tour – UNESCO World Heritage & Holy City of Georgia covers the cathedral and monastery together with commentary on the town's role in Georgian Christianity.

Getting There and Best Time to Visit

Mtskheta lies close enough to Tbilisi that most visitors arrive by car or minibus in under an hour, making it one of the more straightforward day trips from the capital. Spring and autumn bring mild temperatures for walking between the churches and the riverside paths, while the Jvari viewpoint can be windy through the winter months.