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Actualizado: 9 March, 2026
Mtskheta es una de las excursiones más fáciles y bonitas que puedes hacer desde Tiflis. Está a poco más de 20 km y, aunque la ciudad es pequeña, concentra algunos de los lugares más importantes de la historia y la religión de Georgia.
Aquí encontrarás monasterios medievales, vistas espectaculares sobre la unión de los ríos Kurá y Aragvi y un pequeño casco antiguo muy agradable para pasear.
En esta guía te cuento qué ver en Mtskheta, los monasterios más importantes, cómo llegar desde Tiflis y algunos consejos para organizar la visita sin complicaciones.
✅ Excursion to Mtskheta, Jvari full day, with visits to Uplistsikhe and Gori – the most popular.
✅ Tour to Mtskheta and Jvari half day – the cheapest.
✅ Excursion to Mtskheta, Ananuri and Kazbegi – the most spectacular, with a visit to the most beautiful mountain region in Georgia.
Mtskheta: un poco de historia
Mtskheta es la ciudad más antigua de Georgia y fue la capital del reino durante siglos, hasta que en el siglo VI la capital se trasladó a Tiflis porque era más fácil de defender. Aun así, Mtskheta siguió siendo uno de los centros religiosos más importantes del país.
La ciudad está situada en un lugar muy especial: justo donde se unen los ríos Kurá y Aragvi. Desde lo alto del monasterio de Jvari se aprecia perfectamente esta confluencia y es una de las vistas más famosas de Georgia.
Mtskheta también tiene un papel clave en la historia del cristianismo en el país. Aquí fue donde Georgia adoptó oficialmente esta religión en el año 337, lo que explica la gran cantidad de iglesias y monasterios históricos que encontrarás en la zona.
Por todo este conjunto de edificios religiosos medievales, Mtskheta fue declarada UNESCO World Heritage Site en 1994. En concreto, los monumentos protegidos son tres: la catedral Svetitstkhoveli, el monasterio Samtavro (ambos dentro de la ciudad) y el monasterio de Jvari, que se encuentra en la colina justo enfrente.
Qué ver en Mtskheta
1. Jvari Monastery
El monasterio de Jvari es uno de los lugares más famosos de Georgia y tiene las mejores vistas de Mtskheta. Desde aquí arriba verás la unión de los ríos Kurá y Aragvi, una de las postales más conocidas del país.
Se construyó en el monte Jvari, a unos 656 metros sobre el nivel del mar, justo en lo alto de un acantilado.
🔹 Historia
Según cuenta la tradición, Santa Ninó colocó una cruz en este lugar en el año 545, cuando todavía era un antiguo templo pagano. A finales del siglo VI, se construyó la iglesia que se puede ver hoy.
El nombre significa literalmente “monasterio de la cruz”, por la gran cruz de madera que se encuentra en el interior y que se le atribuye poderes milagrosos.
Si viajas por Georgia verás muchas iglesias dedicadas a Santa Ninó. Y no es casualidad: fue ella quien difundió el cristianismo en el país y convirtió al rey Mirian, el primer monarca cristiano de Georgia.
🔹 Arquitectura
La iglesia tiene una planta conocida como tetraconcha, con cuatro ábsides que se organizan alrededor de un espacio central. El interior es bastante sencillo, algo bastante habitual en muchas iglesias georgianas antiguas.
🔹 Túneles de Jvari
Otro detalle curioso son los túneles subterráneos que conectaban con la catedral de Svetitstkhoveli en Mtskheta e incluso con otros monasterios de la zona.
Se cree que se utilizaron para trasladar y proteger reliquias sagradas, entre ellas la famosa túnica de Jesús que se guarda en la catedral.
Hoy en día estos túneles están cerrados al público, ya que necesitan trabajos de restauración.
✔️ Practical Info
- Opening Hours: 9:30 – 17:30
- Mejor momento del día: Si puedes, intenta ir al atardecer.
- Cantos polifónicos: los domingos por la mañana hay misa y se pueden escuchar los tradicionales cantos georgianos.
2. Svetitstkhoveli Cathedral
La catedral Svetitskhoveli es el monumento más importante de Mtskheta y uno de los templos religiosos más importantes de Georgia.
Se construyó en el siglo XI y durante siglos fue la iglesia más grande del país, hasta que se inauguró la catedral de Tiflis en 2004. Aun así, sigue siendo uno de los lugares más sagrados para los georgianos y un importante centro de peregrinación.
El nombre Svetitskhoveli significa “pilar de vida”. Está relacionado con una antigua leyenda según la cual aquí se guarda la túnica de Jesús, traída desde Tierra Santa. Esta reliquia es la razón por la que se construyó la catedral y motivo de su enorme importancia religiosa.
🔹 Coronaciones y Tumbas
A lo largo de la historia, esta catedral fue lugar de coronaciones reales y enterramiento de varios reyes de Georgia. Se cree que llegaron a enterrarse diez monarcas, aunque hoy en día solo se han identificado seis tumbas cerca del altar.
Una de las más conocidas es la del rey Vakhtang Gorgasali, considerado el fundador de Tiflis. Curiosamente, su tumba pasa bastante desapercibida dentro de la iglesia (foto de abajo), así que si quieres verla tendrás que fijarte bien entre todos los detalles del interior.
🔹 Frescos y Bodas
Durante la época soviética muchos de los frescos fueron cubiertos o dañados, pero aun así el interior conserva gran parte de su valor histórico y artístico.
Hoy en día es bastante común ver bodas en la catedral, sobre todo los fines de semana. Si tienes suerte, puede que incluso veas alguna novia con el vestido tradicional georgiano (como la de la foto de abajo 😍), algo que le da todavía más ambiente al lugar.
✔️ Practical Info
- Opening Hours: 9:00 a 20:00
- Entrance Fee: gratuita, al igual que el resto de monasterios e iglesias de este artículo. Aunque si puedes, deja algún donativo para ayudar al mantenimiento del lugar.
- Religious services: sábados de 17:00 a 20:00 y domingos de 9:00 a 13:00. Durante estos horarios no se permiten visitas turísticas.
3. Samtavro Monastery
El monasterio Samtavro es otro de los lugares importantes que visitar en Mtskheta. Se trata de un pequeño complejo religioso con mucha historia y que, además, sigue estando activo hoy en día.
El conjunto está formado por varios edificios:
- La iglesia principal. Fue construida en el siglo IV y, según la tradición, se levantó en el lugar donde Santa Ninó se detuvo a rezar. Dentro de la iglesia se encuentran las tumbas del rey Mirian y la reina Nana, los primeros monarcas cristianos de Georgia. También está el sarcófago de San Gabriel, uno de los santos más queridos del país.
- La capilla Makvlovani. Es una pequeña capilla situada a la derecha de la entrada. También pertenece al siglo IV y su nombre significa “zarza milagrosa”. Es muy pequeña, pero merece la pena asomarse.
- El campanario. Es una torre de tres pisos construida en el siglo XIII que se encuentra al fondo del recinto.
- El cementerio. Está situado cerca de la entrada y detrás de la iglesia.
- El convento de monjas. En el monasterio vive actualmente una comunidad de monjas dedicadas a Santa Ninó.
- Una pequeña tienda de recuerdos religiosos.
🔹 San Gabriel
El monasterio es también un lugar de peregrinación para muchos georgianos, especialmente por la figura de San Gabriel.
San Gabriel, cuyo nombre real era Gabriel Urgebadze, fue un monje que vivió en el monasterio. En 1965 quemó una pancarta de Lenin durante la época soviética, algo que le costó ser juzgado y enviado a un hospital psiquiátrico durante meses.
Murió en 1995 y fue canonizado en 2012. Desde entonces, muchos fieles visitan su tumba porque creen que tenía poderes curativos milagrosos.
- Opening Hours: 9:00 a 19:00
4. Shiomgvime Monastery
El monasterio de Shiomgvime es uno de esos lugares que casi nadie visita y que, para mí es uno de los más interesantes. Está a unos 12 km de Mtskheta, escondido entre acantilados y rodeado de un paisaje bastante espectacular.
El nombre Shiomgvime significa “la cueva de Shio”. El monasterio fue fundado en el siglo VI por Shio, uno de los llamados trece padres asirios, un grupo de monjes que llegó a Georgia para difundir el cristianismo.
⭐ Related article: Visit to the David Gareja Monastery (del padre asirio más famoso de Georgia).
Durante siglos fue uno de los centros monásticos más importantes del país y llegó a albergar hasta 2.000 monjes. Hoy en día el complejo es mucho más pequeño, pero sigue teniendo un ambiente muy especial, en parte porque suele haber muy pocos visitantes.
El conjunto está formado por varios edificios:
- Una iglesia cerca de la entrada donde se encuentra el sarcófago de Shio. Para verlo hay que entrar por un pequeño pasillo a la izquierda del altar. Por cierto, está bastante oscuro, yo no veía ni donde estaba pisando. 😅
- Un pequeño campanario antiguo al que se llega subiendo unas escaleras por el lateral de la iglesia.
- La iglesia principal, que conserva frescos muy coloridos en el interior y merece la pena visitar con calma.
- Delante de la iglesia hay varios olivos centenarios que, según la tradición, fueron traídos desde Jerusalén.
🔹 Cuevas, águilas y capilla
Si miras hacia lo alto del acantilado verás también varias cuevas excavadas en la roca. En el pasado fueron utilizadas por los monjes como lugares de retiro.
Además, esta zona es lugar de anidación de águilas, así que si levantas la vista al cielo puede que veas alguna sobrevolando el valle.
Un pequeño detalle curioso: si sales del monasterio y continúas por la carretera unos 350 metros, encontrarás un caminito que lleva a una capilla diminuta. Según la tradición, fue en ese lugar donde se le apareció la Virgen María a Shio. La capilla es tan pequeña que prácticamente cabe una sola persona dentro.
- Opening Hours: abre todos los días a partir de las 10:00.
5. Casco antiguo
The small town of Mtskheta has a relaxed, almost village atmosphere, which invites you to take a walk through its streets, especially in the old town area.
– Jumble sale
On the street on the left side of the wall From the cathedral you will find the market.
It is a street of little shops with souvenirs, food, drinks such as wines and chacha, carpets.
It is a worthwhile walk and will take you little time because the market is about 200 m long (or less).
But, I warn you that this area is very focused on tourism and the prices of crafts or anything else you want to buy will be more expensive than in Tbilisi.
If you are going to buy something you will need cash because the vast majority of stalls do not accept cards.
From this street, it is one of the places from where you can see Jvari monastery.
– Boat tour
You can also take advantage of a boat ride along the river, on the map I have marked the point from where they depart. Although I have to confess that I didn't try it.
6. Tree of Life Mosaic
The The most interesting mosaic in Mtskheta from Soviet times is the “Tree of Life” from 1973 which was placed in the old cinema.
The building was completely restored to transform it into what is today the Mtskheta Archaeological Museum.
Luckily, this fabulous mosaic, which represents various aspects of Georgian life, remained as part of the façade.
The museum is a very short distance from Samtavro Monastery (point 3) and is worth stopping by to see, it will only take you a few minutes.
7. Pompey Bridge
On the Kurá River are the ruins of an ancient bridge built of stone in 65 BC by Pompey the Great, a Roman commander.
Formerly, it was the only bridge that allowed crossing the river and it was used until the 19th century, when it was rebuilt.
The bridge belonged to the well-known Georgian military road, although the bridge that remains standing is the reconstruction.
But unfortunately It is usually hidden under water and it is only visible on rare occasions when the level is very low or the dam gates are opened.
What you can do is pay attention when you cross the bridge that is in operation, look to the right to make sure it is visible and stop when you turn around.
8. Bebristsikhe Fortress
This fortress located just over 2 km from the Svetitstkhoveli cathedral and next to the Aragvi river was Built to protect Mtskheta and Tbilisi from attacks from the north.
The construction accompanies with its shape the mountains where it is built.
One of the most striking things are the impressive wall walls that exceed 2 m thick.
The fortress is quite abandoned and it really is not one of the most impressive visits, I only recommend it if you have time.
Map
Tips for visiting Mtskheta
These visits are mainly religious, keep the following in mind:
- Take care of your clothing: If you travel in summer, take care of the clothes you wear, it is better that you wear clothes that cover your shoulders and preferably below the knees or take something to cover yourself.
- cover the head: In some places they ask us women to cover our heads, but they have scarves at the entrance so you can use them.
- Free: all the monasteries and churches in the article are free, but if you can leave a donation they are always welcome to maintain the places. These places also help people with few resources.
- I respect: Always be respectful of the faithful who are there, especially when taking photos and give them way.
- Masses: Religious services are reserved for the faithful, but you can go and behave respectfully without attracting attention as a tourist. In my experience, polyphonic songs are very beautiful to listen to, relaxing and of course part of the local culture.
- Remember: as the saying goes, "Wherever you go, do what you see".
Dónde comer en Mtskheta
In Mtskheta you will find many good restaurants where you can have lunch.
My favorite is the restaurant Ornament Express They have many dishes of Georgian cuisine that are worth it.
For example, him lobio What they prepare there is very good, it is a bean-based stew that is served with the fried bread mchadi and here they also accompany it with jonjoli.
Another of the notable dishes in this restaurant is the trout and the lobiani is finger-licking good.
😋 You may be interested in this other article about 9 Best Traditional Georgian Food Dishes and where to eat them.
Cómo ir a Mtskheta desde Tiflis
Driving
Mtskheta is very close to Tbilisi and well signposted and if you are going to drive you can take advantage of the day to visit other nearby sites.
The best way to rent a car in Georgia It is with this practical search engine that works with Georgian companies.
Therefore, the prices are the cheapest, you ensure that you will not be scammed and you contribute to the local economy instead of hiring an international company.
Bolt and Taxi
If you order a car with Bolt it will cost you between about 20 and 25 lari (7.16 and 8.95 euros) according to the application.
But in my experience there are no cars that respond to this type of trips because then they don't know if they will have passengers to return.
The best thing would be to find a taxi and negotiate a rate to make several stops to visit what interests you.
A good price is about 100 lari (35.80 euros) or even a little more depending on the stops you ask for.
Bus from Tbilisi to Mtskheta
The marshrutka or minibuses They leave from Didube every half hour, the first one leaves at 8 a.m. and It takes about 30 minutes to arrive.
It costs 2 lari (0.72 euros) and you can pay when you arrive to the driver.
But I recommend you buy the ticket at the office which is next to the bus, because passengers with a ticket always have priority over those who do not have one.
I would say the stops in Mtskheta are when someone asks for them, I got off when the majority of passengers got off (point 9 on the map) which was very close to the cathedral.
Bus from Mtskheta to Tbilisi
To return to Tbilisi The bus goes on the street parallel to the one it arrives at. That is, if you go from the cathedral, you have to walk one more street, the street is called Narekvavi-Mtskheta-Railway Station.
Keep in mind that on that street there is no stop bus.
Simply go to that street and when you see the marshrutka with the Tbilisi sign, signal it to stop. Then You pay the driver the 2 laris when you arrive in Didube
⭐ In this other article you can read more about How to get around Tbilisi, Georgia and visit neighboring countries? with lots of advice.
Train
Honestly, I haven't tried it because right now There are only 2 trains a day.
The train takes 23 minutes, It leaves from Square Station and costs between 1 and 3 euros.
The Mtskheta railway station is on the other side of the Kura River, about 2 km from the city center, from there you will have to go by taxi or walk for half an hour.
Excursion
A very practical way to visit these places and take advantage of the day to see Gori and the cave city of Uplistsikhe is to take a tour. I recommend this one full day excursion.
Finally, if you are short on time, the best option is to do this tour to Mtskheta, Ananuri and Kazbegi.
Kazbegi, is one of the most beautiful mountain regions in the country with the famous Gergeti church, you can read more in this Guide to Kazbegi and Ananuri.
Below you can see availability and book this tour.
Cómo ir de Mtskheta a Jvari
- Taxi: will cost between about 15 and 20 lari (5.37 and 7.16 euros), you may have to negotiate a little and takes about 20 minutes from the center of Mtskheta.
- Bus: in summer there is a bus which takes you to the Jvari monastery, you will have to ask for more details at the Mtskheta Tourist Office which is very close to the entrance of the cathedral. When you leave the walled area, walk to the left along that street and you will see it right away.
Hiking to Jvari
From both Tbilisi and Mtskheta you can take a taxi to the Zahesi-Jvari Monastery road.
If not, another alternative is to go from Tbilisi with the metro to Sarajishvili M/S and from there with bus 381 that leaves you at point 10 on the map.
Then from there There is no specific path, but rather there are a lot.
If you did the road trip They are less than 6 km and an ascending gradient of 193 m.
I Between round trips along the trail I did almost 16 km because I climbed the little mountain that is before, which has views towards Jvari.
I probably also did a lot more accumulated elevation gain, because I went up to the other little mountain, went down almost to the lake that is in the valley and then went up to the little mountain where Jvari is.
The route is very good and not difficult, I would say it is a medium to low level. In winter the route becomes a little more technical because there is snow and ice.
The most attractive part of the trail is the valley that has a beautiful forest and the lake, and it is also very quiet.
📢 Friendly Tip: There are cows in the area, keep your distance (a lot of distance) because they are very well protected by sheepdogs.
I passed about 10 meters away and in a matter of seconds I was surrounded by 3 large and 2 medium dogs. After a few minutes they left, but what a scare. 😅
Cómo ir a Shiomgvime desde Mtskheta
If you visit the Shiomgvime monastery you will see that there is almost no one, I was there for a little over 1 hour and I only saw a small group arrive when I was leaving.
Although it can receive large groups on religious dates.
That's why, you will not find public transport alternatives to go to this monastery.
The best way to get there is drive or go with a taxi which will cost you between 15 and 20 lari (5.37 and 7.16 euros) round trip.
There is a taxi rank in front of the Mtskheta fountain, near the Samtavro monastery (point 11 on the map).
Dónde alojarse en Mtskheta
To see Mtskheta in 1 day you will have enough, but staying there can be a good idea to then continue visiting other regions of Georgia such as Kazbegi or Kakheti and even follow the route to Armenia.
Here are 2 of the best hotels in Mtskheta and both have a very good price:
- Cheap: Old Capital It is next to the cathedral and has fantastic views from the terrace.
- Half: Magdalena Hotel It is a small hotel with a lot of charm and rich and abundant breakfasts, without a doubt the best hotel in terms of quality and price.
🔝 If you want to know the best of the Caucasus without worrying about anything, book this All-inclusive trip to Georgia and Armenia, que cuesta menos de 130 euros al día.
Final Thoughts
As you have seen in this article, there are many things to see in Mtskheta, both historical places and beautiful landscapes that you cannot miss on your trip to Georgia.
If you have any questions, leave me a comment below and I'll help you as much as I can. If you found the article useful, share it with other travelers. Have a good trip! 😘
More about Georgia
Hi, I’m Andrea, creator and author of Viajeros Activos (Active Travelers). I write about Southeast Asia, the Caucasus, and Europe. I’m a full-time traveler, passionate about good food, and always looking for new adventures.
Hello! I'm glad I discovered this blog.
Now a few questions:
Are the temperatures in these places Mskteha very freezing at the end of October?
More or less how many degrees is the lowest?
I'm thinking of going to Georgia that season and I'd like to know what the temperatures are like. I also hope it doesn't rain too much by then.
Another question: is it worth buying a VPN?
First I will go to Azerbaijan and then I will be in Georgia, maybe I will take one of those day tours to Armenia that they offer.
Get your Guide and those companies.
Greetings
Hello Sandra
I'm glad the information is helpful to you!
At the end of October it is not as cold as during the Georgian winter, but it is still cold.
When I lived in Tbilisi, I turned on the heating in late September/early October; in Mtskheta, the temperature is a little cooler.
During the day, temperatures will hover around 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit), enough to warrant wearing a coat. At night, temperatures can drop to 0 degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit).
Bring a coat, gloves, and a hat, as well as some thermal clothing if you're not used to the cold. This will also be useful in mountain areas that will already be covered in snow.
I would recommend a VPN if you're going to be in Georgia for a while and connect to a Wi-Fi network. Otherwise, you won't need it.
A good (and economical) alternative is to buy a local SIM card that you can use whenever you have to make a transaction where important information could be compromised. You can also use the SIM card as a hotspot with other devices. I don't know if you've read my guide on tips for traveling to Georgia, but I'll leave it here, maybe it'll help. I talk about SIM cards and other topics there.
By the way, there are day tours for Armenia that take you to the monasteries along the border, but if you want to visit Yerevan or other places, you'll have to go to Armenia and spend a few nights there.
Enjoy it a lot!