Mtskheta
history
About Mtskheta
Once the capital of the ancient kingdom of Iberia, Mtskheta is where Georgia first embraced Christianity in the 4th century, and that legacy still shapes every street. A short drive from Tbilisi, this UNESCO-listed town pairs the soaring Svetitskhoveli Cathedral with the hilltop Jvari Monastery and the resting place of St. Nino at Samtavro. Come for the pilgrimage atmosphere, the icon-painting tradition, and a bowl of hearty lobio between the churches.
Culture
A pilgrimage hub, Mtskheta thrives on faith, crafts like icon painting, and cuisine like lobio (bean stew). Religious festivals are vibrant.
Travel Tips
Currency: GEL; cash for small spots. Language: Georgian; some English in tourist areas. Safety: Very safe, serene. Transport: Car/bus from Tbilisi; walkable.
Tours Including Mtskheta
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Romantic Weekend in Georgia — 4 Days
Four unhurried days made for two. You begin in Tbilisi — the Old Town's lanes, the cable car to Narikala fortress and the domed sulphur baths, then an evening among the city's wine bars. From there: the ancient churches of Mtskheta, a drive up the Georgian Military Road past Ananuri to Gergeti Trinity beneath Mount Kazbek, and a day in Kakheti's "City of Love", Sighnaghi, with sunsets over the Alazani Valley and its wineries. An easy, intimate escape pairing culture, mountains and wine, all arranged for you at a fair price.
Grand Tour of Georgia — 10 Days
Ten days, mountains to sea, across the best of Georgia. From lively Tbilisi you climb the Georgian Military Road beneath Mount Kazbek to Gergeti Trinity, then sweep south to Queen Tamar's cave city at Vardzia and the spa town of Borjomi. West in ancient Colchis you explore the UNESCO monasteries of Kutaisi before reaching the subtropical Black Sea coast at Batumi, and finish in the wine villages of Kakheti. Ancient capitals, high passes, cave towns, seaside and wine — expertly guided, on prices that stay fair.
Classic Georgia — 8 Days
Eight days, one unforgettable loop through the heart of the Caucasus. You'll wander Tbilisi's cobbled Old Town and soak in its sulphur baths, raise a glass in Kakheti's vineyards, then climb to where a lone church stands beneath snow-capped Mt Kazbek. Along the way you'll explore UNESCO cathedrals, a rock-hewn cave town, Stalin's hometown, and Queen Tamar's astonishing cliff-carved monastery. With comfortable transport and a knowledgeable English-speaking guide, this is Georgia's greatest hits done properly — culture, wine, and mountains in perfect balance, without the rush.
Georgia in 14 Days — Grand Discovery
The definitive two-week journey across Georgia, east to west and mountains to sea. From Tbilisi you explore the wine villages of Kakheti, climb the Military Road to Gergeti Trinity beneath Mount Kazbek, and visit Stalin's Gori, the cave town of Uplistsikhe and Queen Tamar's cliff city at Vardzia. Then west into ancient Colchis — Kutaisi's UNESCO monasteries — and up the Enguri gorge to the medieval Svan towers of Mestia and Ushguli, before finishing on the Black Sea at Batumi. Fourteen unhurried days, every region, expertly guided.
Georgia & Armenia — 12 Days
Twelve days through two of the world's oldest Christian nations. You'll spend a week in Georgia — Tbilisi's Old Town and sulphur baths, the wine villages of Kakheti, a lone church beneath Mt Kazbek, Stalin's Gori, a rock-hewn cave town, and Queen Tamar's cliff monastery at Vardzia — before crossing south into Armenia. There, five days take in shimmering Lake Sevan, vibrant Yerevan, the holy city of Etchmiadzin, the pagan temple of Garni, cliff-set Geghard and Noravank, and Khor Virap in the shadow of Mt Ararat. One seamless Caucasus journey, fairly priced and expertly guided.
Caucasus Jeep Expedition — 8 Days
An eight-day 4x4 expedition the length and breadth of Georgia, off the tarmac and onto the mountain tracks. From Tbilisi you cross to Bakuriani via Manglisi and the volcanic Lake Tabatskuri, climb to the Vardzia cave city and Rabati Castle at Akhaltsikhe, then push west through Kutaisi and up the Enguri gorge to the Svan towers of Mestia and Ushguli. The return runs over the high passes to Gergeti Trinity beneath Mount Kazbek. Seven nights, hearty meals, and country you simply can't reach by paved road.
Mtskheta, Gori & Uplistsikhe — Day Trip
Cover two and a half thousand years of Georgian history in a single, easy day from Tbilisi. You'll stand inside Svetitskhoveli, where Georgia first embraced Christianity, then climb to the Jvari hilltop for the view that inspired a national poem. The afternoon swings into the 20th century at Gori's Stalin Museum before you walk the carved halls of Uplistsikhe, a town hewn straight from the rock. It's a lot of ground, but the pace stays relaxed, the driving is comfortable, and a good lunch keeps you going. Strong value for four genuine highlights.