Mtskheta

მცხეთა

Georgia's ancient former capital and spiritual center, a UNESCO World Heritage site at the confluence of two rivers. Home to the magnificent Svetitskhoveli Cathedral and the hilltop Jvari Monastery overlooking the valley.

Things to do

• Svetitskhoveli Cathedral — Explore the 11th-century UNESCO cathedral said to hold Christ's robe, the historic coronation and burial site of Georgian kings.
• Jvari Monastery — Drive up to the 6th-century hilltop church for panoramic views over the confluence of the Mtkvari and Aragvi rivers.
• Confluence viewpoint — Watch the two rivers meet where the muddy Aragvi joins the Mtkvari, immortalized in Lermontov's poem 'Mtsyri'.
• Samtavro Monastery — Visit this working convent with a 4th-century church and the tombs of King Mirian and Queen Nana, who brought Christianity to Georgia.
• Old Town streets — Wander the cobbled lanes around the cathedral lined with souvenir stalls, wine shops, and traditional houses.
• Shiomghvime Monastery — Take a short trip into a rocky canyon to this remote 6th-century cave monastery complex northwest of town.
• Bebris Tsikhe fortress — Hike to the ruined medieval castle on the northern edge of Mtskheta for a quieter historical stop.

Food to try

• Churchkhela — Buy this candle-shaped candy of walnuts dipped in grape must from stalls near the cathedral, a Georgian sweet sold everywhere in town.
• Mtsvadi — Try skewers of grilled pork or veal cooked over grapevine coals, a staple at local taverns.
• Khachapuri — Sample Georgia's cheese-filled bread, freshly baked in bakeries and restaurants along the old town.
• Homemade wine — Taste local qvevri-fermented wine or chacha spirit at family-run cellars and shops around Mtskheta.
• Khinkali — Order these spiced meat dumplings eaten by hand, grabbing the twisted top and sipping the broth inside.

Local customs & good to know

• Dress modestly at churches — Women should cover their heads and wear skirts (wraps are provided at entrances) and men should avoid shorts inside monasteries.
• Come early or late — Mtskheta is a popular day trip from Tbilisi, so visit in the morning or evening to avoid the tour-bus crowds at Svetitskhoveli.
• Photography rules — Interior photography is often restricted or forbidden in the churches, so ask or look for signs before shooting.
• Easy from Tbilisi — Marshrutka minibuses from Didube station reach Mtskheta in about 30 minutes, making it a simple half-day excursion.

Nearby

• Jvari Monastery — 1 km
• Shio-Mgvime Monastery — 9 km
• Tbilisi — 17 km
• Rustaveli Avenue — 18 km