Tbilisi: Mtskheta & Jvari UNESCO Sites, Wine Tasting

Two UNESCO Sites & Georgia's Ancient Capital in One Morning

You visit two UNESCO-listed monasteries (Jvari from the sixth century and Svetitskhoveli Cathedral in the ancient capital Mtskheta) plus the carved stone monument Chronicles of Georgia, all in five hours with a knowledgeable guide. Hotel pickup is included if your group is four or more. Otherwise you meet at a central landmark. Wine tasting is optional but worth adding if you want to taste Georgian wine without arranging it separately.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Jvari Monastery30m
2. Svetitskhoveli Cathedral2h

Tbilisi to Mtskheta and back

• Meet at Bicycle Monument 8:45AM
• Drive 30 minutes to Jvari Monastery
• Visit Jvari Monastery
• Free time in Mtskheta for 1 hour
• Visit Chronicles of Georgia
• Return to Tbilisi at 14:00

The experience

You've just landed in Tbilisi or you're staying nearby with a free afternoon: either way, you're standing in front of the Bicycle Monument near Radisson Blu Iveria at 8:45am, or your hotel lobby at 8:15 if you're in a group of four or more. A guide in a red scarf meets you there. Thirty minutes later, the van pulls up to Jvari Monastery, a sixth-century stone structure perched on a rocky mountaintop where two rivers meet below. It's called the Monastery of the Cross, and from up there you can see why the monks chose this spot: the view drops straight down to Mtskheta, the ancient capital that sits in the valley like it's been waiting for you to arrive.

Mtskheta itself is where you spend the next hour or so, and it's smaller and quieter than you'd expect for a place that was the coronation and burial ground for Georgian kings until the 1800s. The Svetitskhoveli Cathedral dominates the town center. It's the second-largest church building in Georgia, and locals will tell you it holds Christ's mantle. You're free to walk around, duck into the cathedral if you want, grab lunch at one of the small restaurants, or sit with a glass of wine at one of the tasting spots scattered through the old streets. The guide doesn't rush you. They're there to answer questions, not to herd.

On the drive back toward Tbilisi, you stop at the Chronicles of Georgia, a monument that most visitors miss entirely. It's thirty meters of carved stone pillars designed in 1985 by artist Zurab Tsereteli, and it overlooks the Tbilisi Sea: a reservoir that catches light in a way that makes the whole landscape shift. The carvings tell Georgia's history in stone: kings, saints, battles, moments. It's the kind of place where you stand for a while without talking. If you've selected wine tasting as an add-on, that happens somewhere along the route: Georgian wine, not the stuff you know from elsewhere, and the guide will explain what you're tasting instead of letting it be a blank experience. By 2pm you're back in Tbilisi, and the whole morning has the feeling of something you didn't have to organize yourself.

What’s included

Air-conditioned vehicle with experienced guide, visits to Jvari Monastery and Svetitskhoveli Cathedral in Mtskheta, time to explore the ancient capital, stop at the Chronicles of Georgia monument overlooking Tbilisi Sea, and hotel pickup if your group is four or more. Wine tasting, sweets tasting, and churchkela tasting are optional add-ons available when you book.

Options for this experience

2 options

Guided tour, no tastings includedGuide in English · 09:00

Guided tour with wine, chacha and sweets tastingGuide in English · 09:00Guided tour that includes wine and sweets tastings

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (3 to 65 years) · Under 3: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 50

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Budget Friendly Tours FZE LLC

Is this one for you?Pick this if you want to see Georgia's oldest sites and the ancient capital without arranging transport or timing yourself: the fixed schedule and included guide handle all three stops in one morning, leaving your afternoon free.

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Top questions

What time does the tour start?

8:45am at the Bicycle Monument near Radisson Blu Iveria (50m from Rustaveli metro station). If you're a group of four or more, pickup from your hotel is at 8:15am instead.

How long is the tour?

Five hours total. You return to Tbilisi at 2pm.

What are the two UNESCO sites?

Jvari Monastery (sixth-century monastery on a mountaintop) and Svetitskhoveli Cathedral in Mtskheta (the ancient capital of Georgia).

Is wine tasting included?

Wine tasting is optional. You can add it when you book, and it happens during the tour. Sweets and churchkela (a traditional Georgian candy) tasting are also available as add-ons.

How much free time do you get in Mtskheta?

Around one hour. You can use it to explore the town, visit the cathedral, eat lunch, or do wine tasting at local spots.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes, if your group is four or more people. Otherwise you meet at the Bicycle Monument near Radisson Blu Iveria.

What's included in the price?

Air-conditioned vehicle, experienced guide, and entry to the sites. Wine tasting, sweets, and churchkela are optional add-ons.

Is this tour suitable for families with young children?

Yes. Infants must sit on an adult's lap. The tour is not recommended for pregnant travelers.