Mtskheta Day Trip
An unhurried day in Mtskheta, the old royal capital: Jvari, Svetitskhoveli and Samtavro, then the cliff caves of Shio-Mgvime in a peaceful side gorge.
Jvari MonasteryPhoto: Alexxx1979, CC BY-SA 4.0Just 25 km north of Tbilisi, Mtskheta served as the royal seat of Kartli, and it was here in the 4th century that the kingdom embraced Christianity. UNESCO lists its three great churches, Jvari Monastery, Svetitskhoveli Cathedral and Samtavro, as a single site, and they are still the spiritual heart of the Georgian Orthodox Church. Your private guide takes you through all three, explaining their history, wall paintings and legends. Afterwards you head up a quiet side valley to Shio-Mgvime, a monastery begun in the 6th century, whose monks once lived in caves hollowed out of the cliffs.
Plan on about six hours, with a leisurely lunch in Mtskheta. The drive is short, roughly half an hour each way from Tbilisi, and the walking is gentle except for a few steps at Jvari and Shio-Mgvime. The trip suits a first or final day in Georgia, or anyone who wants a quiet day to recover from a long stretch in the mountains.
Highlights
- Jvari Monastery high over the confluence of the Aragvi and Mtkvari
- Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, built between 1010 and 1029
- The tomb of King Mirian at Samtavro convent
- The cave monastery of Shio-Mgvime in a limestone gorge
- A Mtskheta lunch of lobiani with local wine
Tour facts
Svetitskhoveli and Samtavro are reached over fairly level paved paths from where the car stops. Jvari has a short climb with steps from the car park, and Shio-Mgvime has uneven steps; both can be viewed from the outside or left out.
Places on this tour
5 places · tap any place to read its guide
- 1Jvari, Svetitskhoveli, Samtavro and the caves of Shio-Mgvime
Day by day
01Jvari, Svetitskhoveli, Samtavro and the caves of Shio-Mgvime
A 30-minute drive brings you to Jvari Monastery, built around 600 on the hilltop where St Nino raised a wooden cross. From its terrace you look down on Mtskheta and on the spot where the Aragvi joins the Mtkvari. Back in town, walk the old streets to Svetitskhoveli Cathedral (1010–1029), where Georgian kings are buried and where, according to tradition, the robe of Christ lies. At Samtavro convent you see the graves of King Mirian and Queen Nana, the royal couple who were the country's first Christian rulers. After lunch, a 10 km drive up a limestone gorge takes you to the 6th-century monastery of Shio-Mgvime, where the monks' caves pit the cliffs overhead. You are back in Tbilisi by late afternoon.
Prices
Price per person for a private tour, by the size of your group. Sample prices
| Group size | Per person | Whole group |
|---|---|---|
| Solo traveller | $190 | $190 |
| 2 travellers | $110 | $220 |
| 3-4 travellers | $80 | from $240 |
| 5-8 travellers | $55 | from $275 |
| 9-15 travellers | $40 | from $360 |
Room and children
- Children under 6 travel free; ages 6-11 pay 50%.
- Prices change with hotel level and season; your quote is final.
Popular add-ons
- Lunch at a family guesthouse$30
- Upgrade to a 4x4 for the whole day$40
What's included
- Collection from and return to your Tbilisi hotel
- Private guide in your language
- Driver and private air-conditioned vehicle
- Lunch in a Mtskheta restaurant
- Water bottles in the car
- Head scarves and wrap skirts for visiting churches
- Extra drinks
- Tips for the guide and driver, at your discretion
- Spending money and personal purchases
- Insurance for your travels in Georgia
Good to know
Who it's for
- First-time visitors who want Georgia's Christian roots in one unhurried day
- Travellers with only a spare half or full day in Tbilisi
- Anyone recovering from long mountain drives who wants a short ride and calm sights
- History lovers keen on church architecture, frescoes and royal tombs
If you want snow peaks and big landscapes rather than churches, choose the Kazbegi Day Trip, which passes Mtskheta on its way north.
What to bring
- A headscarf and a long skirt or wrap for women, and long trousers for men, for all four churches
- Comfortable flat shoes for the worn stone floors and courtyard paving
- A light layer for the cool, shaded gorge at Shio-Mgvime
- Sun hat and water in summer, as Jvari's hilltop has little shade
- Small change if you want to light candles in the churches
- Services take place in all of these churches. On Sundays and feast days they can be crowded, and visitors should stay quiet near the altar.
- Photography inside some churches is restricted. Your guide will tell you where it is fine.
- Shio-Mgvime is a working monastery; if it is closed to visitors on your date, the tour finishes in Mtskheta a little earlier.
Guest reviews
Questions about this tour
How long does the Mtskheta day trip take?
Roughly six hours, counting lunch and the side trip to Shio-Mgvime. If you leave out Shio-Mgvime, the visit fits into a half day of about four hours.
Is there a dress code at Mtskheta's churches?
Yes. Women are expected to wear a headscarf and a skirt that reaches below the knee, while men should be in long trousers, and shoulders should be covered for everyone. Scarves and wrap skirts are normally on hand at the entrance, and we keep spares in the car.
