By plane

Tbilisi International Airport (IATA: TBS) (ICAO: UGTB),is 17km southeast of the city centre. A new, modern terminal was inaugurated on February 7, 2007. George W. Bush Avenue leads from the airport to downtown Tbilisi.

By road

Marshrutkas run regularly every day of the week between Tbilisi's Didube market and the main street in Mtskheta. Note that there are fewer marshrutka drivers operating on Sundays and that this mode of transportation therefore becomes less dependable and more crowded.

Svetitskhoveli (The Life Giving Pillar) Cathedral, Jvari Monastery, Samtavro (Place of the Ruler), Bebris Tsikhe (The Elder's Fortress)

Svetitskhoveli (The Life Giving Pillar) Cathedral

Svetitskhoveli is one of the most sacred places in Georgia and, along with Jvari Monastery, the clear highlight of a trip to Mtskheta. It was founded in 1010, built on the site of Georgia's first church, and contains the graves of the ancient Georgian kings, including Sidonia, who was said to have been buried holding Christ's robe. There are many (unaggressive) beggars at the entrance gate.

Jvari Monastery

The 6th century monastery of Jvari is situated on a cliff above Mtskheta. It is the culmination of a number of artistic and architectural aspiration in early Christian Georgian architecture. The view from above is great.
Be sure you travel there when there's clear weather and before dusk.

Samtavro (Place of the Ruler)

Samtavro is located to the north up the main road, within easy walking distance from the Svetitskhoveli complex. According to legend, St. Nino actually lived on this site and prayed within the smaller of its two extant churches. This small church dates from the 4th century. The larger church on this site was built in the 11th century and contains the graves of Mirian, the Georgian king who adopted Christianity, and his wife.

Bebris Tsikhe (The Elder's Fortress)

Located further up the main road from Samtavro, the ruins of Bebris Tsikhe are fun, if a bit dangerous, to climb on for views overlooking Mtskheta and the valley formed around the Mtkvari and Aragvi rivers.

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