Mtskheta | The Visa-Free Town in Central Asia I Most Want to Recommend
by Brooks Olivia 56
Jul 10, 2025
If you're planning a family trip to the Caucasus, look no further! This tried-and-tested, mom-approved itinerary, created after exploring with my 7-year-old, is stroller-friendly and full of hidden gems. I'll show you how to capture stunning photos like those from "The Chronicles of Narnia" 👇
[Ten-Day Fairytale Itinerary]
🌄Day 1-2 Tbilisi Adventures:
Browse for Soviet toys at the Dry Bridge Market → Watch a puppet show at the Marionette Theater → Feed pigeons at Holy Trinity Cathedral → Ride the cable car for panoramic night views
✅Family Tips:
▫️Find the beret-wearing vendor at the market to get a "treasure map" and exchange 5 Soviet badges for a Matryoshka doll
▫️Bring a blank canvas bag and have a family portrait drawn by a street artist in the church square
🗻Day 3-4 Kazbegi Wonderland:
Hike in the snow mountains to collect mica → Play with light painting at Holy Trinity Church → Search for wildflowers in Truso Valley
📸Must-See Photo Spots:
1️⃣Stone steps of Holy Trinity Church: Have your child run against the wind with a pinwheel, capturing the dance of hair and prayer flags
2️⃣Juta Valley stream: Wear rain boots and splash in the water, with the melting snow waterfall in the background
3️⃣Breakfast on the guesthouse terrace: Frame Mount Kazbek with a telescope prop
🍷Day 5-6 Sighnaghi Getaway:
Chase butterflies at the ancient Great Wall → Stomp grapes at a winery → DIY red wine ice cream → Sketch under the grapevines
🚗Transportation Tips:
▫️Choose a 9-seater van from Tbilisi to Sighnaghi (more spacious than a bus)
▫️Prepare a car window observation card for your child (count the blue wooden windows along the way)
🏰Day 7-8 Mtskheta Journey Through Time:
Make a rubbing of the fresco at Svetitskhoveli Cathedral (Pillar of Life) → Toss a wishing stone at Jvari Monastery → Make candles at St. Nino Monastery
🎨Hands-On Experiences:
▫️The church provides free wax blocks for tracing Georgian letters on stone slabs
▫️Get natural dyes from the nuns and use mulberry juice to paint icons
🌊Day 9-10 Batumi Magic:
Watch the mechanical kiss of the Ali and Nino statue → Touch the clouds on the Ferris wheel → Play word games at the Alphabet Tower
[A Lifesaver's Guide for Moms]
⏰Tips for Avoiding Crowds:
▫️Claim the empty scene at Holy Trinity Church at 7am, when the pigeons are just released
▫️Choose a morning winery experience, as grape juice is less sticky and easier to clean
🍜Food Recommendations:
▫️Buy churchkhela (nut candy skewers) from stalls near the church for hiking snacks
▫️Pick fresh crabs at the Batumi seafood market and have them cooked on the spot, then debone the meat and mix it with rice for your child
[Zero Meltdown Equipment List]
🎒For Kids:
▫️Mountaineering Velcro sandals (search "stream tracing and mountaineering dual-purpose" on Taobao)
▫️Folding microscope (for observing snow mountain wildflowers)
▫️Anti-lost watch (with a Georgian help sticker)
🎒Mommy Bag:
▫️Portable oxygen tank (for children)
▫️European standard adapter with USB port
Georgia is now in the "snow mountain lake melting season"! I recommend braiding your child's hair with wool and playing the "Finding the Golden Fleece" game in Ushguli. Every photo you take will look like a fairytale book illustration. If you get tired, stay in a Tbilisi guesthouse with a loft. This is the right way to experience the Caucasus with your family! Save this guide and unlock an epic journey for just over 5,000 RMB per person.
(⚠️Safety Tips: Be prepared for large temperature differences with layered clothing, and follow the guide closely on hiking routes)
Post by Reed Avery 42 | Apr 11, 2025























