The city is tiny and is just a 30-minute drive from the capital of Tbilisi, making it a perfect day trip option. It is also well connected with public transport with daily minibusses, marshrutkas, leaving Didube Bus Station frequantely.
Even though Mtskheta town is small, it has plenty of exciting and iconic places nearby that are worth visiting. Enlisted as one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Mtskheta should be on everyone’s itinerary in Georgia.
It is best known for the 4th century Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, a fine example of Georgian medieval church architecture, and Jvari Monastery perched on top of the mountain overlooking Mtskheta on the other side of the river. However, there are much more things to do in Mtskheta than visiting these two landmarks.
1. Jvari Monastery
Jvari is a 6th-century Monastery on the hill offering breathtaking views of Mtskheta and the confluence of Mtkvari and Aragvi rivers. The name translates as ‘The Monastery of a Cross’ and has a cross shape. This is where St. Nino, an evangelist who brought Christianity to Georgia, erected her wooden vine cross.
Together with Svetitskhoveli Cathedral and Samtavro Monastery, Jvari makes up the Historical Monuments of Mtskheta and has enlisted as one UNESCO World Heritage Site.
2. Svetitskhoveli Cathedral
Photo Source: wikipedia
Arguably the most well-known cathedral in Georgia, Svetitskhoveli is also one of the biggest in the country. Harsh conditions throughout Georgia’s history couldn’t stop the 10-century-old building from retaining its beauty. With its glorious architecture, the cathedral is one of the finest monuments in Mtskheta.
A masterpiece of the Early Middle Ages, the cathedral is the second largest church building after Tbilisi’s Holy Trinity Cathedral.
Throughout its existence, Svetitskhoveli functioned as the burial place for many Georgian kings. You can still see their tombstones on the floor of the cathedral. The current cross-in-square design was completed between 1010-1029 by Konstantine Arsukisdze, the medieval Georgian architect.
Svetitskhoveli has always been a religious center for all Christians for many centuries. There is a legend that a seamless robe of Jesus Christ is buried within the temple.
Sadly, many of its priceless frescoes were whitewashed by the Russian Imperial authorities when we became part of the Empire in the late 18th century. Small fragments of these paintings, which date back to the 11th century, still show ancient life in Georgia, leaving you amazed and stunned.
3. Chateau Mukhrani Wine Tour
Photo Source: Georgian Holidays
If you are a wine enthusiast, one of the things to do in Mtskheta is to book a wine tour at a Georgian royal family estate built in the 19th century by Ivane Mukhranbatoni. The chateau, with its European architecture and massive green courtyard, is a great place to escape city life for a minute and enjoy fine wines in a peaceful environment.
4. Chamber of Georgian Wine
Photo Source: Travel Geekery
This combines a wine shop and a cafe in Mtskheta serving Georgian and European meals in its modern interior with touches of traditional culture.
The building has three floors, each containing different things you can do. For example, you can listen to stories about rare Georgian grapes and wines on the ground floor. On the second floor, you can taste various wines and learn the process of baking the traditional Georgian bread: Shotis Puri.
Make sure to check out the third floor, where you can sip on delicious Georgian wine while experiencing a breathtaking view of Mtskheta and its Jvari Monastery.
5. Bebris Tsikhe
Photo Source: Georgia Travel
Located on top of a mountain in the north of the city, Bebris Tsikhe is one of the important monuments in Mtskheta. The fortress takes up an area of 1,500 square kilometers, and although parts of it are damaged, it still is a beautiful ancient sight to visit. Make sure to walk up on top of the Bebris Tsikhe for sweeping views of the surrounding landscape.
6. Samtavro Monastery
Photo Source: Georgia Travel
Samtavro Monastery is one of the monuments in Mtskheta worth checking out. It is a magnificent example of medieval Georgian architecture of the 11th century. It is believed that King Mirian III built the church here in the 4th century, which King George I later reconstructed in the 11th century.
Like Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, Samtavro is also a cross-in-shape building featuring typical arches and decorations of 11th-century Georgian architecture.
7. Shio Mgvime
Photo Source: Travel Guide in Georgia
About 13 kilometers from the city of Mtskheta is a limestone canyon where you can find a beautiful medieval monastery complex. In the 6th century, it was a vibrant religious community populated by around 2,000 monks. St. John the Baptist’s Monastery was the first to be built, while the others within the Shio Mgvime complex were built over time.
However, the most intriguing part of this monastery is the various unmistakable caves around the mountain. In one of these caves, Shio, the missionary and founder of Shio Mgvime, one of the original 13 Assyrian Fathers who came to Georgia to spread Christianity, lived. It is because of Shio that the monastery gets its name – Shio Mghvime translated as ‘The Cave of Shio.’
8. Armazi
Photo Source: Advantour
If you are after unique things to do in Mtskheta, visit Armani. Around 3-4 km from Mtskheta railway station is an old chapel of St. Mary, the mother of Jesus. From this chapel up into the hills leads a trail to an ancient fortress dating back to the 2nd-8th Centuries CE. The fort includes an antique bath, several tombs, and a tower.
The buildings are almost ruined, but the tower is still well preserved. It stands high on the hill, and the route is not easy for the amateur hiker. However, the view from there is magnificent. The picturesque nature surrounding the fortress, with its mountains, high hills, and a waterfall, is worth your time.
9. Salobie
Photo Source: Intermedia.ge
Salobie is a general name for a restaurant or cafe that mainly serves beans. Salobie is one of the most famous cafes in Mtskheta many locals come for just lunch or dinner.
Lobio means beans in Georgia, and Salobie would be a place where beans are served. Located right at Mtskheta’s entrance (or exit), make sure to stop by at some point while visiting the town.
They serve other traditional Georgian food besides beans in a clay pot, but beans are an absolute must when dining here.
10. Kera Fish Restaurant
Photo Source: Tripadvisor
One of the cafes in Mtskheta that we recommend is Kera restaurant, a few minutes walk from Svetitskhoveli Cathedral. The restaurant has indoor and outdoor seating at the river’s shore. Sunsets are magical from here.
With a modern and stylish interior, which trances traditional and vintage, Kera offers slow-cooked homey food to its customers. Come here to try local fish and some Georgian and European meals in a charming atmosphere.
