A Holiday.ge collection · World Heritage.

UNESCO World Heritage sites in Georgia.

Mtskheta's ancient churches, Gelati's medieval academy, the tower villages of Upper Svaneti and the Colchic rainforests and wetlands make up Georgia's four World Heritage sites. Each sits in a different region and deserves its own base.

Stone churches and bell tower at Gelati Monastery near Kutaisi — Photo: DDohler · image credits

Choose and plan

Georgia's World Heritage sites.

Georgia has four UNESCO World Heritage sites: three cultural and one natural. They sit in very different parts of the country, so each belongs to its own base rather than one route. Several other famous places, including Vardzia, David Gareja and Uplistsikhe, are on Georgia's tentative list.

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Georgia's World Heritage sites.
Site and base	What is protected	Listed	Planning the visit
Svetitskhoveli Cathedral · Mtskheta	Part of the Historical Monuments of Mtskheta, the ancient capital and centre of the Georgian Orthodox Church.	1994	In the town centre, an easy day trip from Tbilisi; an active cathedral, so dress respectfully.
Jvari Monastery · Mtskheta	The sixth-century church above the river confluence, also part of the Mtskheta property.	1994	A separate drive up from town; combine with Svetitskhoveli and Samtavro in one day.
Samtavro Monastery · Mtskheta	The third Mtskheta component, an active monastery north of the centre.	1994	Walkable from Svetitskhoveli; services can limit access inside.
Gelati Monastery · Kutaisi	King David IV's twelfth-century monastery and academy, famous for its mosaics and frescoes.	1994	A short drive from Kutaisi; Bagrati Cathedral was removed from the listing in 2017 after reconstruction.
Ushguli · Upper Svaneti	Medieval Svan tower houses in the high Caucasus; Chazhashi in Ushguli preserves more than 200 towers and houses.	1996	A long mountain-road day from Mestia; check the road and arrange the return.
Svaneti Museum · Mestia	Icons, manuscripts and treasures that explain the culture behind the Upper Svaneti listing.	Context for the 1996 site	A good first stop in Mestia before Ushguli.
Mtirala National Park · Batumi	Colchic rainforest, part of the Colchic Rainforests and Wetlands site.	2021	About 30 km from Batumi; register at the visitor centre and expect rain.
Kobuleti wetlands · Kobuleti	The Ispani peat bogs, another component of the Colchic site.	2021	Use the permitted paths; ask the administration which trail is open.
Lake Paliastomi · Poti	Wetlands managed by Kolkheti National Park, which looks after several Colchic components.	2021	Book the boat with the national park; weather can cancel trips.

Intangible heritage you can experience.

UNESCO also recognises Georgian traditions: polyphonic singing (2008), the qvevri winemaking method (2013), the living culture of the three Georgian scripts (2016), chidaoba wrestling (2018) and Georgian wheat culture (2025). A qvevri cellar visit in Kakheti or a folk performance are the easiest ways to meet them on a trip.

On the tentative list.

Georgia's tentative list includes Vardzia and Khertvisi, the David Gareja monasteries, Uplistsikhe, Ananuri, Alaverdi, Gremi, Nikortsminda, Dmanisi, Tbilisi's historic district, Shatili and Mta-Tusheti. Many have their own guides on this site and are as rewarding as the inscribed sites.

Sources for this planning guide

Selected experiences · Churches, towers & rainforest

Things to make time for.

Group the visits by base: Mtskheta's three churches in one day from Tbilisi, Gelati from Kutaisi, Ushguli from Mestia and the Colchic sites from Batumi, Kobuleti or Poti. These are independent visits; times exclude travel between places.