# Mtskheta on Foot — the Ancient Capital in 2 Hours

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- Canonical: https://gtour.ge/tour/mtskheta-walking-tour/
- Author: 
- Published: 2026-10-28
- Updated: 2026-10-28
- Language: en
- Russian edition: https://gtour.ge/ru/tour/mtskheta-walking-tour/

€75 per person2 hoursPrivate · car & English-speaking guideBased on two travellers

A two-hour walk through [Mtskheta](https://gtour.ge/georgia/mtskheta/), Georgia's fourth-century capital, with an art historian explaining why this small town holds UNESCO status.

The route

[Mtskheta](https://gtour.ge/georgia/mtskheta/)

Why this tour

- —Led by an art historian, not a general guide, with detailed background on Georgian Orthodox architecture and iconography

- —Covers Svetitskhoveli Cathedral and Samtavro Convent, the two churches at the centre of Georgia's conversion story

- —Walk to the Armazi riverbank where the Mtkvari and Aragvi rivers meet, a view described in early Georgian chronicles

- —Finishes on [Mtskheta](https://gtour.ge/georgia/mtskheta/)'s old street, away from the souvenir stalls near the cathedral gate

- —Short format fits into a layover, a half free afternoon, or a slower-paced trip without a long drive

- —Start in [Mtskheta](https://gtour.ge/georgia/mtskheta/) if you are already staying nearby, or add a private transfer from Tbilisi

Itinerary

09:00Meet your guide at the entrance to Svetitskhoveli Cathedral in central [Mtskheta](https://gtour.ge/georgia/mtskheta/).

09:05Visit Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, the burial place of Georgian kings and, by tradition, Christ's robe.

09:40Walk to Samtavro Convent, a short ten-minute walk, to see the church and the grounds where St Nino is said to have prayed.

10:10Continue to the Armazi riverbank at the confluence of the Mtkvari and Aragvi rivers, the view the fifth-century chronicler Leonti Mroveli described.

10:35Walk back through [Mtskheta](https://gtour.ge/georgia/mtskheta/)'s old street, past the smaller shops and houses away from the main tourist row.

11:00Tour ends at or near Svetitskhoveli. Return transport to Tbilisi can be arranged separately if needed.

Included

- ✓ Licensed art-historian guide for two hours

- ✓ Walking route through Svetitskhoveli, Samtavro, the Armazi riverbank and the old street

- ✓ Commentary in English (other languages checked at booking)

- ✓ Flexible meeting point in Mtskheta

Not included

- — Transfer from Tbilisi (can be added as a separate car service)

- — Entrance donations where requested at church sites (small, checked at booking)

- — Food, drinks and tips

- — Jvari Monastery, which sits on the hill above town and is not included in this walking route

Good to know

- · Georgian Orthodox churches require shoulders and knees covered; women are usually asked to cover their heads, and headscarves are available at the church entrance if needed

- · The old street and riverbank path are cobbled or packed earth, comfortable flat shoes recommended

- · The route is flat and suitable for most fitness levels, roughly 2 kilometres of walking in total

- · [Mtskheta](https://gtour.ge/georgia/mtskheta/) churches can close briefly for services, particularly on Sunday mornings and feast days, timing checked at booking

- · Summer afternoons in the Mtkvari valley run hot; an early start keeps the walk more comfortable

- · This tour does not include transport, confirm your own arrival in [Mtskheta](https://gtour.ge/georgia/mtskheta/) or add our Tbilisi transfer service

Questions

**Is this tour private or in a group?**
It runs as a private walk for your party. Solo travellers and groups are both welcome; pricing for solo and larger groups is quoted on request at gtour.ge.

**Can we start from Tbilisi instead of Mtskheta?**
Yes. Add a private car transfer and we can collect you in Tbilisi and bring you back afterward; this is priced separately from the walking tour.

**Do we need to pay to enter the churches?**
Svetitskhoveli and Samtavro do not charge formal entrance fees, though a small donation is customary. Any changes to this are checked at booking.

**Can we visit Jvari Monastery on the same day?**
Jvari sits on the hilltop above [Mtskheta](https://gtour.ge/georgia/mtskheta/) and needs a car to reach. It is not part of this walking route but can be added through our Mtskheta Half-Day tour or a car with driver.

Prices are per person for two travelling together, in euros; solo travellers and larger groups are quoted on request. Every departure is private and adjusted to you. Hotels, wineries and restaurants on our routes are [verified by GTour](/verified/).

*Image: Samtavro Monastery church with its domed tower set against a blue sky and gardens. Photo: Radosław Botev / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0 pl*

*Image: Aerial view of Mtskheta at the confluence of the Mtkvari and Aragvi rivers. Photo: Vyacheslav Argenberg / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0*

Cobblestone Gamsakhurdia street leading toward Svetitskhoveli Cathedral with green mountains behind. · Photo: Aleksey Muhranoff / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0