Tbilisi to Mtskheta and Jvari Monastery: Private day trip

Explore Georgia's former capital and spiritual center, where Christianity became the state religion in 337 AD, creating the foundation of Georgian national identity. Marvel at Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, allegedly housing Christ's robe and serving as a coronation site for Georgian kings, with 11th-century frescoes depicting Georgian saints and royal ceremonies. Wander cobblestone streets lined with traditional Georgian houses, artisan workshops creating cloisonne jewelry and traditional crafts, and family-run restaurants serving khachapuri cheese bread and local Kartli wines. The nearby Mtkvari River provides peaceful walking paths while traditional markets sell Georgian spices, churchkhela candy, and handwoven textiles.

Climb to this 6th-century monastery dramatically perched on a rocky mountaintop overlooking the confluence of two rivers where St. Nino first erected a wooden cross marking Georgia's conversion to Christianity. Marvel at the perfectly preserved cross-dome architecture representing the earliest Georgian church design, with stone carvings and ancient frescoes surviving 1,400 years of Caucasus mountain weather. Enjoy panoramic views across the Mtkvari and Aragvi river valleys, where Mtskheta spreads below, and Caucasus peaks rise in the distance, creating spectacular photography opportunities, especially during golden hour.