Visit Guide to Mtskheta

The Historical Monuments of Mtskheta are situated in the cultural landscape at the confluence of the Aragvi and Mtkvari Rivers, in Central-Eastern Georgia, 20km northwest of Tbilisi. Some of the attractions you can visit in Mtskheta include UNESCO heritage sites such as Jvari Monastery, Svetitstkhoveli Cathedral, and the Samtavro Monastery.

Getting There

You can use public transport, hire a taxi, or private car.

It takes about 40 minutes of driving from Tbilisi to Mtskheta.

What to Expect

Mtskheta is attractive with its mesmerizing views, beautiful, narrow streets, unique cuisine, extremely hospitable locals, and cultural monuments.

The historic churches of Mtskheta represent the great examples of medieval ecclesiastical architecture in the Caucasus region and represent different phases of the development of this building typology, ranging from the 4th to the 18th centuries.

History

Mtskheta was the ancient capital of Kartli, the East Georgian Kingdom, from the 3rd century BC to the 5th century AD. It was also the location where Christianity was proclaimed as the official religion of Georgia in 337. It remains the headquarters of the Georgian Orthodox and Apostolic Church to date.