Visit to Rabati Castle in Akhaltsikhe

Updated: September 13, 2023

What to see when visiting Rabati Castle, all the alternatives to get there and what there is to see in the surroundings.

A little history

The Akhaltsikhe castle dates back to the 9th century and was originally called Lomisa Castle which in Georgian literally translates as “lion”.

Then in the 12th century Lomisa became a royal city with a fortified area that surrounded the city.

At that time it was renamed Akhal-tsikhe which means "fortified city."

Invasions and reconstruction

The fortress was attacked by the Mongols in 1393 and then with the Treaty of Constantinople it passed into the hands of the Ottomans who rebuilt it when they were in the 14th century.

During the Ottoman Empire, a good part of the population were Islamists, however, the Orthodox church inside continued to operate.

But not only the Mongols and Ottomans have been there, they were also Arab Jews who arrived with the Ottoman empire and they were the ones They gave him the name Rabati.

Rabati is the commercial district for Jews where shops and artisans are located.

Interior and construction of the Mosque

Originally, within the walled area was the castle protected by three walls and connected to the outside by tunnels.

Inside the fortification there was also a patio, arsenal area, baths and a church.

Then, in 1772, being in Georgian hands, The mosque was built in resemblance to the Byzantine Orthodox Church Hagia Sophia of Constantinople (now Istanbul).

But since it was a mosque, a minaret was also built to make the call to prayer and the madrasah, which is the building for religious teaching.

Starting in 1828, by order of the Russian emperor, the mosque was consecrated to the Virgin Mary and functioned as a church until 1920.

Present

The fortress area and some of the interior buildings were rebuilt in 2011 and 2012 to attract more tourists.

Today, it is one of the most visited places in the region along with the Vardzia rock monastery.

In some places it can be seen as Rabati Castle and in others as Akhaltsikhe Castle.

What to see inside the Akhaltsikhe fortress?

The fortress is a very special place with a quiet atmosphere that fills you with peace and at the same time it is interesting to see the diversity of cultures that they experienced there.

The venue can be divided into two areas, one that is free to enter and the other that is paid.

Free zone

Access to the first walled area is free and there you will find:

• A part of the wall that you can walk through;
• climb one of the towers that has good views over this area of the fortress;
• There are also some interesting buildings inside, like the one in the photo above, which is the Gino Hotel with the characteristic beautifully carved wooden balconies.

If you go on an excursion, I recommend not spending too much time in this area.

Because you will go with just enough time and the other area is the most interesting where the religious buildings are.

paid tourist area

In my case I went to Rabati because it was included in the excursion I took and my expectations were not too high.

The truth is that the payment area is not very large, but it is pleasantly surprising with all the attractive corners perfect for taking photos.

Although if you entertain yourself you can easily spend a couple of hours inside.

Some of the things you can see:

• The madrasa and the library which is a large building with columns and a patio with a fountain. On the ground floor there is a marble column area which is undoubtedly one of the most photographed areas;
• then to the right is the church;
• In the main area there are some beautiful gardens that are around the mosque;
• the beautiful golden dome mosque which is reflected in the pond in front, its entrance is on the other side, although its interior is very austere. Something curious about its construction are the 12 windows in the dome that symbolize each of the apostles;
• In the gardens there is a beautiful white pavilion with a tower and a fountain in the middle;
• although the true jewel of the garden, at least for me, is the other pavilion of columns with intricate arabesque decoration;
• he castle that houses the History Museum inside, where the most remarkable piece is the oldest copy that contains a fragment of the epic poem The knight in the skin of the tiger by the Georgian poet Shota Rustaveli. If you go up to the top where the tower is you can have the best views over the gardens;
• before you leave you can see a couple of small typical Arabic fountains with their mosaics.

Where is Rabati Castle?

Rabati Castle is in the city of Akhaltsikhe which is the capital of the Samtskhe-Javakheti region. A region that borders both Türkiye and Armenia.

Akhaltsikhe is located just over 200 km from Tbilisi and less than 20 km from the Turkish border.

Practical Tips

• Opening Hours: Open every day, in summer from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. and in winter from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Entry Fee:: 18 lari (6.36 euros)
• Guide: 20 lari (7.06 euros) for a private guide for two people
• Audio guide: 10 lari (3.53 euros)

To buy the ticket you have to go through the first gate of the wall and on the right you will find the tourist office which is where they sell them.

How to get to Akhaltsikhe Castle?

1.- Car

The trip by car to Akhaltsikhe is ideal if you want to continue your tour of other countries in the Caucasus.

The road is good and so is the signage. You can take the opportunity to take a tour passing through Borjomi, Akhaltsikhe, visit Vardzia and then continue to Armenia.

If you go to rent a car in Georgia I recommend this search engine that works only with cheap local companies, with insurance included and generally without the need to leave a deposit.

🔔 parking in Akhaltsikhe: Next to the castle there are 2 parking areas, one where the main entrance is and another at the exit. I recommend parking in the second one, which is larger and that way you will have the car there when you leave.

2.- Marshrutka (mini bus)

The marshrutkas from Tbilisi they leave from Didube, take about 4 hours and cost 15 lari (5.29 euros) the trip.

Departure times are at 6:20; 7:00; 7:30; 8:40; 10:10; 11:00; 11:40; 12:20; 13:00; 13:50; 15:30; 16:30 and 17:30.

I recommend you arrive before the mini bus departure time that interests you because once it is full it leaves even before the time.

Furthermore, as it is a long trip, no one travels standing and there are few seats.

3.- Excursion

Although I think that some areas of Georgia are better done with public transportation, I think the visit to Rabati Castle is better done with an excursion.

Because it is quite far from Tbilisi and so you can take advantage of visiting more places.

Excursions, like this one from the link that includes Rabati, Vardzia and Borjomi a town with a lot of charm that is just passing through.

What to see in the area?

1.- Vardzia

The Vardzia caves are undoubtedly the most interesting stop in the area and perfect to combine it with a visit to Rabati Castle.

Vardzia was a cave city that served as refuge for Georgians during the Mongol invasion.

Today it functions as a monastery excavated in the rock and is the largest rock complex in the country.

😍 In this other article you can read more about Guide to visiting Vardzia in Georgia.

2.- Abastumani Astronomical Observatory

Abastumani is famous among locals for its astronomical Observatory, although not too visited by tourists.

If you fancy a different visit and you like the stars, you will love this stop full of nostalgia They have visitors during the day, night and midnight.

Abastumani flourished at the end of the 19th century when it became a visited destination after a member of the Russian imperial family was treated in its sanatoriums and spas.

The observatory was built in times of the Soviet Union on top of the mountain where access is by road or by cable car.

Recently, it was renovated, but retains its charm and all the glory of that era.

3.- Wagon bridge in Akhalkalaki 

Not far from the cave city of Vardzia there is a train car that functions as a bridge over the Paravani River.

Of course a very curious visit that will not take you much time.

I personally did not dare to cross it because the poor thing clearly has seen better days, but I did enjoy seeing it.

4.- Yoga Retreat near Vardzia

If you have more time and want to combine the trip with a yoga retreatI recommend this link with daily yoga, meditation and pranayama (breathing exercises) classes with accommodation and all meals included.

The retreat includes meals, accommodation at the resort, visit to the cave city of Vardzia and other excursions in the area.

Where to eat in Akhaltsikhe?

One of the best restaurants is the Old Bar, where you can taste the delicacies of the region and is on the other side of the Potskhovistskali River not far from the fortress.

One of its specialties is Khachapuri Meskhetian which is typical of the area, it is crunchy and with several layers of delicious cheese.

Another dish that I recommend you try is their khinkali stuffed with meat or pumpkin.

⭐ In this other article you can read more about 9 Traditional Georgian Food Dishes.

Where to stay in Akhaltsikhe?

If you visit Rabati Castle by car or public transport, the ideal is that you stay at least one night in the city to enjoy the area calmly.

The best hotels in Akhaltsikhe What I can recommend for different budgets are:

• Half: Hotel Gino Wellness
• Cheap: Hotel Lomsia
• Plum: Old Town Akhaltsikhe

More about Georgia and the Caucasus

• Tips for traveling to Armenia
• What to do in Yerevan: 14 best plans
• 24 things to see in Tbilisi
• Visit to the David Gareja Monastery
• Guide to the Best Markets in Tbilisi