The city of Mtskheta in Georgia is one of the most visited tourist attractions in the country after Tbilisi. Today it is a small but very ancient and significant town 25 km from Tbilisi with a population of only 7.9 thousand people (according to 2014 data). At the moment, Mtskheta is more than two thousand years old. It is considered a holy place, a spiritual center, and even a ” Second Jerusalem.” The settlement is also included in the UNESCO list.
What is interesting about Mtskheta?
Mtskheta was founded in the first millennium BC at the confluence of two rivers. This city was the first capital of Georgia and the cradle of local culture. At the same time, a fortress was built on the top of the mountain, from which the rivers were clearly visible, and a city grew up at the foot of the mountain. This place was doubly advantageous, as trade routes passed through it. It was from Mtskheta that Christianity later spread throughout the country.
Now Mtskheta is one of the most popular attractions in Georgia, which is not overlooked by either locals or tourists. After restoration, the central part of the city looks European-style attractive and neat. There is a pedestrian street with souvenir shops, two large temples, the ruins of the Bebristsikhe fortress and the most important attraction – Jvari, the monastery of the Holy Cross. The site of this ancient temple offers a canonical view of the confluence of rivers and the entire city.
How to get
The distance between Tbilisi and Mtskheta is from 21 to 27 km (depending on the route you choose).
By minibus
The town center is a 25-minute bus ride away. Minibuses to Mtskheta run from the railway station (Didube metro station) on average every 15-20 minutes. You can buy a ticket at the ticket office for one and a half lari, and there will also be a minibus near the ticket office.
Get off not at the last stop, but at the square in the city center-near the Svetitskhoveli Temple. Here you will also see kiosks with souvenirs and Georgian sweets. To get your bearings in Mtskheta itself, you can use the app maps.me by pre-downloading the offline map of Georgia. The maps in the app are very detailed, so it’s easy to figure out where to go.
By train
You can also take the train from the railway station in Tbilisi. A train ticket will cost 1 GEL. You can walk to the center from Mtskheta station on the road along the river (1.5 km).
By taxi
If you are interested in other ways to get from Tbilisi to Mtskheta, you can take a taxi. The round-trip cost starts from GEL 50 (including waiting time).
Sights of Mtskheta
Svetitskhoveli Cathedral
There are no industrial enterprises in Mtskheta: the local population receives its main income from tourism and pilgrimage. Orthodox believers from all over the country are eager to visit the main church of Georgia-Svetitskhoveli Cathedral. It can often be seen in photos of Mtskheta and Georgia in tourist avenues.
This Orthodox church was built in 1010-1029 by King Vakhtang on the site of another ancient temple built in the IV century (at that time Christianity was adopted in Georgia). The last changes in the architectural appearance of the cathedral were made in the XV century. Since then, it has remained unchanged.
Svetitskhoveli Temple is one of the most popular attractions in Mtskheta. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is considered the spiritual center of Orthodox Georgia. According to local legend, after the execution of Jesus Christ, a shroud was brought to the cathedral from Jerusalem. It was laid in the foundation of the building, and then a cedar tree grew in its place. The tree was cut down and made into seven columns, which became the foundation of the future cathedral. This explains the origin of the name of the temple, which translates as “life-giving pillar”.
Although the cathedral is still in operation, there are no strict rules for tourists. The church is very bright, and visitors are even allowed to take photos. You can enter the cathedral for free: it is open daily from 08: 00 to 19: 00.
Church of Antioch
Not far from the Svetitskhoveli Temple is a small church of Antioch. You will come to it if you go down a little lower, in the direction of the mountain with the Jvari monastery. Originally there was a very ancient church, but in the VIII century it was burned by the Arabs. The building was restored in the XV-XVIII centuries, and today it houses the convent of St. Stephen.
Although the Church of Antioch is rarely visited by tourists, it is very interesting for its unusual architecture and picturesque, cozy monastery courtyard. Inside the church you can see preserved fragments of ancient frescoes.
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Samtavro Monastery
A short walk from Svetitskhoveli Cathedral is the Samtavro Convent, which is particularly popular with locals. This is the second largest temple of Mtskheta, which was founded in the IV century by King Mirian III. The church was destroyed several times, and then restored. In the XI century, it was expanded and decorated with a unique ornament, which has no analogues in Georgian architecture. The temple is interesting not only for its architecture, but also for the many shrines inside. In the 1990s, a famous Georgian monk, Archimandrite Gabriel, lived in the tower of King Mirian in this church.
Bebristsikhe Fortress
Bebrstsikhe Fortress is an important historical landmark of Mtskheta and Georgia with an area of 1500 m2. The fortress was built in the IX century, but on its territory the ruins of an even more ancient fortress built before our era were discovered. The fortress can be reached on foot. There is nothing inside the structure, but from here you can see most of the settlement and take very beautiful photos of Mtskheta. Some tourists catch a minibus near the fortress when they return to the main city of Georgia, Tbilisi.
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Jvari Monastery
On the top of Krestovaya Gora, on the other bank from the city center, is the famous Church of the Holy Cross, better known as the Jvari Monastery. This masterpiece of architecture with perfect forms was built in the VI century. For some time, the monastery was under threat of destruction, and then became the first attraction of Georgia in the UNESCO list. By the way, Jvari, together with the Zedazen monastery, is considered the setting of Lermontov’s poem “Mtsyri”.
If you overcome a rather difficult uphill climb, you will get the opportunity to admire not only the Jvari temple, but also the most beautiful view of Mtskheta and the confluence of the Kura and Aragvi rivers. From here, you can see the entire city as if in the palm of your hand. In good weather, even Mount Kazbek and the Georgian Military Road can be seen from here.
How to get to Jvari Monastery
If you get to the monastery on foot from the city center, the road will take from 2 to 3 hours, depending on the route. You can go along the bypass road or on the mountainside. It is advisable to study the route in advance, use an online map or printout of the area. You will need to walk about 5 km: to the foot of the mountain and up the serpentine or pedestrian path.
If you want to start your journey to Mtskheta by visiting the Jvari Temple, ask the driver to stop at the foot of the Cross Mountain. To reach the top, you will need to spend about 40 minutes (if you have a small child with you, twice as much).
You can get to Krestovaya Gora by bus to Kazbegi, Gori and Kutaisi from the railway station in Tbilisi. You can also take a minibus to Mtskheta, but you will need to get off at the turn where you will see a sign for Jvari.
There is no public transport to the mountain itself, but you can take a taxi or hitchhike. The taxi rank is located near the Mtskheta railway station. A round trip will cost about 20-25 GEL.
Can I stay in Mtskheta
If you want to visit different cities of Georgia during your trip, it is better to stay in Tbilisi. You will not be able to travel from Mtskheta, because all long-distance minibuses do not enter the city. But if you want to live in a small, colorful and peaceful town, then Mtskheta in Georgia will be a great option. Many guest house rooms and apartments are available for rent in the city. You can book accommodation on the portal Booking.com.
How to leave Mtskheta
You can get back to Tbilisi using the same methods that we listed above. If you are traveling to another city in Georgia, you will still have to return to the train station in Tbilisi first. You won’t be able to get into a minibus on the road, because in Georgia they don’t stop on the way and leave from the starting point without free seats.
Interesting facts
- Svetitskhoveli Cathedral is the largest historical building in Georgia. Only Tsminda Sameba in Tbilisi, built in 2004, is bigger than it.
- “Jvari” is translated from Georgian as “cross”.
- The walls of the Jvari temple are not frescoed, which is unusual for a Christian church today.
- The city status was granted to Mtskheta only in 1956, before that it was an urban-type settlement.
- Salobie Restaurant has been open in Mtskheta since 1960. In Soviet times, it was not allowed to everyone who wanted to, but only members of the trade union.
