Mtskheta Tour from Tbilisi: UNESCO Sites & Ancient Ruins

Walk through eleven centuries of Georgian Orthodox architecture in a single day

A private full-day tour from Tbilisi to Mtskheta, Georgia's ancient capital, visits Jvari Monastery (6th century), Svetitskhoveli Cathedral (11th century), Samtavro Monastery, and Shio-Mgvime cave monastery with a private English-speaking guide, private transport and all entry tickets. The route covers 105 km and includes walking through the old town with various terrain and stairs.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Jvari Monastery30m
2. Svetitskhoveli Cathedral1h

Explore Mtskheta's UNESCO sites and ruins

• Visit Jvari Monastery
• Tour Svetitskhoveli Cathedral
• Explore Samtavro Monastery
• Visit Shio-Mgvime Monastery

The experience

Jvari Monastery sits atop a 656-meter ridge overlooking the confluence of two rivers, a rare example of Early Medieval Georgian church architecture that has survived nearly unchanged since the 6th century. The monastery defines its own architectural type, one that spread across Georgia and Armenia. From there, the tour moves to Svetitskhoveli Cathedral in the town center, completed between 1010 and 1029, where the claimed robe of Jesus is buried and Georgian kings were entombed for centuries. The exterior stonework shows the decorative style typical of the 11th century, though many of the original frescoes were lost to whitewashing under Russian Imperial rule.

Samtavro Monastery combines a Transfiguration Church and the Nunnery of Saint Nino, founded in the 4th century and rebuilt in the 11th. The day then moves to Shio-Mgvime, a medieval monastic complex built into a narrow limestone canyon where the 6th-century monk Shio spent his final years as a hermit in a deep cave. The earliest church at the site, the Monastery of St. John the Baptist, dates to the 560s–580s and retains its original cruciform design despite alterations in later centuries. Walking through Mtskheta's old town connects these sites across terrain that includes stairs and uneven ground, so comfortable shoes matter.

A private English-speaking guide leads the entire route, and a driver handles the 105-kilometer round trip in air-conditioned transport. All entrance tickets are included, as is bottled water throughout the day. Two options are available at checkout: the tour with lunch, which features local traditional Georgian cuisine, or the budget option, which stops at a restaurant where you arrange your own meal. The operator requests advance notice of any dietary restrictions if you book the lunch version.

What’s included

• Private English-speaking guide throughout the day.
• private air-conditioned transport for the full 105-kilometer route.
• all entrance tickets to Jvari Monastery, Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, Samtavro Monastery and Shio-Mgvime.
• bottled water.

Options for this experience

2 options

Private Budget TourGuide in English · 09:00Includes pickup

Private tour including lunchGuide in English · 09:00Sample local food and wine; pickup is included

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (under 12)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by SelectGeorgia-For Holiday

Is this one for you?Choose the tour with lunch if you want to sample traditional Georgian cuisine without stopping to decide where to eat. Pick the budget option if you prefer to choose your own restaurant and meal. Either way, the private guide and transport mean the entire day moves at your pace without joining a group or coordinating with other travelers.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 12).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is Jvari Monastery and why does it matter?

Jvari Monastery is a 6th-century Georgian Orthodox church built on a mountaintop overlooking Mtskheta. It is a rare surviving example of Early Medieval Georgian architecture that remained almost unchanged for over 1,400 years and became the model for a whole type of church design that spread across Georgia and Armenia.

Where is the robe of Jesus, and can I see it?

Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, completed in 1011, is known as the burial site of the claimed robe of Christ. The cathedral is one of Georgia's principal Orthodox churches and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, though many of its original frescoes were lost over the centuries.

What is Shio-Mgvime and what makes it different from the other monasteries?

Shio-Mgvime is a monastic complex built into a limestone canyon where the 6th-century monk Shio lived as a hermit in a cave. Unlike the cathedral and monastery churches in town, this site is carved into the rock itself, with the earliest church dating to the 560s and retaining its original cruciform design.

Will I need special clothing to enter the churches?

Yes. Women must wear headscarves and dresses in Georgian Orthodox churches. Men cannot wear short trousers. Scarves and dresses are available near some church entrances if you need them.

How much walking is involved, and what is the terrain like?

The tour includes walking through Mtskheta's old town with various terrain, stairs and uneven ground. Comfortable shoes are strongly recommended. The tour is suitable for all fitness levels, though the terrain varies throughout the day.

Can I choose whether to have lunch included?

Yes. You select either the Private Tour with Lunch, which features local traditional Georgian cuisine, or the Private Budget Tour, which stops at a restaurant where you arrange and pay for your own meal. Let the operator know in advance about any dietary restrictions if you book the lunch option.