Tbilisi Transfer
Tbilisi Transfer
Just 20 kilometers and a 30-40 minute drive from Tbilisi, and you're standing in a different era. Mtskheta served as Georgia's capital for nearly a thousand years, from the 3rd century BC to the 5th century AD, and it was here in 326 AD that the country adopted Christianity as a state religion — one of the earliest in the world to do so. The historic center of Mtskheta and Jvari Monastery are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list, and the town remains the spiritual heart of the Georgian Orthodox Church, traditionally the site of royal coronations and burials.
This 6th-century monastery sits on a cliff above the point where two rivers of different colors meet — the muddy Aragvi and the clear Mtkvari. From its viewing platform you get arguably the most iconic view in Eastern Georgia — the same landscape immortalized in Mikhail Lermontov's poem "The Novice." It's almost always windy up here, so bring a light jacket even in summer.
The main cathedral of the Georgian Orthodox Church, built in the 11th century on a site tradition holds to be the burial place of Christ's robe. Inside are rare medieval frescoes, including an unusual zodiac calendar, and the royal necropolis of the Bagrationi dynasty. The cathedral is still active and hosts the country's most important state and church ceremonies.
An active convent a five-minute walk from Svetitskhoveli. It holds the tombs of King Mirian III and Queen Nana, under whom Georgia adopted Christianity in 326 AD, as well as the relics of Saint Gabriel (Urgebadze), one of the most revered Georgian saints of the 20th century.
Mtskheta is an ideal half-day trip: most visitors leave Tbilisi in the morning, spend 3-4 hours in town, and return by lunch or early evening. We provide any car class you need — from an economy sedan to a minivan for a group — for a flat trip price rather than a meter, with no limit on photo stops. On the way back, your driver can recommend a riverside home-style café or the well-known "Salobie" restaurant for authentic Georgian food.
Usually 3-4 hours is enough to see Jvari, Svetitskhoveli, and Samtavro at a relaxed pace. We don't run a meter — your driver simply waits for you.
No, the monastery sits on a mountain across the river — you need a car. We take you up to Jvari first, then down into Mtskheta itself.
Yes, the route is short with no difficult mountain roads — comfortable for kids and older relatives alike.
Yes, Mtskheta is most often combined with Gori and Uplistsikhe as a full day. Tell us your plans when booking and we'll build the route and quote a price.