Mtskheta Day Tour from Tbilisi

Mtskheta was the capital of the Kingdom of Kartli for nearly a thousand years, and it still feels like the centre of something. The city is compact — you can walk across it in twenty minutes — but its weight in Georgian history, art and faith is impossible to overstate.

Svetitskhoveli Cathedral was built in the 11th century and is the burial place of many Georgian kings. Its stone carvings, frescoes and the legend of the Living Pillar draw pilgrims and travellers alike. From there we drive the few minutes up to Jvari Monastery, built in the 6th century on the very spot where Saint Nino planted a cross when she brought Christianity to Georgia. The view from the top — the two rivers meeting in the valley below, the old capital stretching to the horizon — is one of the finest in the country.

If you'd like a longer day, we add Shio-Mgvime, a 5th-century cave monastery carved into a limestone canyon about 10 km from Mtskheta. It is quiet, beautifully preserved and sees only a fraction of the visitors the main sites get. Most people do not regret adding it.

— The Georgia by Car team

We pick you up directly from your Tbilisi hotel or apartment — no meeting point to find. Because the drive is short, we can start as late or as early as you like. Mtskheta also works well as a first or last thing before an airport transfer, if the timing suits.

The sites are all easy to walk. Jvari requires a short uphill path from the car park, but it is paved and takes only a couple of minutes. Dress modestly for entry to the cathedral and monastery — shoulders and knees covered. Scarves are available at the entrances.