What to do in Sighnaghi – Day Trips from Tbilisi

Sighnaghi, a small town in the Kakheti region, makes a perfect spot for day trips from Tbilisi. With its narrow cobblestone streets, colorful houses, and wooden carved balconies, the town does attract many tourists. Situated on the steep hill, the city overlooks Alazani Valley, with a Caucasus mountain range on its background. And even though the town is relatively small, here are my recommendations on things to do in Sighnaghi for a full day.

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HOW TO GET TO SIGHNAGHI FROM TBILISI

Traveling from Tbilisi to Sighnaghi is not hard at all. There are daily minibusses, marshrutkas, going from Isani and Navtlughi bus stations every 2 hours – The first one leaves at 9 a.m. However, if you’d like to travel more comfortably, take shared taxis near Isani Metro Station. They run daily towards various cities of Kakheti. You can wait for the taxi to get full (4 people), or pay the total price.

Marshrutka from Signaghi to Tbilisi is the same, leaving every two hours daily. The last one leaves at 6 p.m. The price for a one-way ticket is 6 GEL.

WHY VISIT SIGHNAGHI?

Sighnaghi, or Signagi, is one of the oldest towns in Georgia, which received the status of a town in 1801. The name comes from the Turkish word and means’ shelter’. The fortified city of Sighnaghi existed from the 13-14th century, built by Kartl-Kakheti King Erekle II.

He moved 100 families of merchants and handicraftsmen to settle down here and built defensive city walls made from stone and brick around the city.

In 2005-2008, the whole town underwent a significant renovation which resulted in infrastructure development, fixing the roads, and refurbishing houses according to its former state, to name a few.

WHAT TO DO IN SIGHNAGHI

Wander through Sighnaghi City

As I already mentioned, the town was renovated a decade ago, giving it a charming look. Wander through its narrow streets, admire the ancient residential houses with carved wooden balconies, and respect the heroes whose names are inscribed on a particular wall.

During the renovation process, the 24-hour working Civil Registry office opened in the very center of the city. It enables couples to get married at any time of the day or night. Therefore, the city got its second name – The City of Love!

Ensure to walk behind the Sighnaghi national museum for picturesque views of the town, its wall, and Alazani Valley.

Walk on Sighnaghi Fortress

The main thing to do in Sighnaghi is to visit its well-preserved defensive fortress, one of the largest ones in Georgia. The fortress walls span around 4km and cover 40ha of land. The wall has two floors, 23 towers, and five gates. A walking trail on the wall lets visitors enjoy panoramic views of Alazani Valley and the Caucasus mountains.

Visit Sighnaghi National Museum

Make sure to stop by the Sighnaghi museum to learn more about the history and culture of the town. The museum displays several permanent exhibitions, including ethnographic collections of 5,000 artifacts, archeological finds medieval period, and works of famous Georgian painters like Niko Pirosmani and Lado Gudiashvili.

Occasionally, the museum also hosts temporary exhibitions. For instance, on my last visit to Signaghi, I had a chance to see photo archives of Frida Khalo and Diego Rivera.

Opening hours: 10 a.m – 6 p.m every day, except Mondays.

Entrance Fee: 5₾ for adults, 1₾ for students, 45₾ for guided tours

Take a small tour at Bodbe Monastery

Bodbe Monastery is one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Georgia. Located only 2km away from Sighnaghi, the monastery was built around the tomb of St. Nino, the evangelist who brought Christianity to Georgia in the 4th century. The garden of the monastery complex is lovely and well taken care of. There’s a new, bigger church that has been built within the territory. Additionally, the pilgrims come here to take a bath in miraculous waters.

WHERE TO EAT IN SIGHNAGHI: Pheasant’s Tears

While Sighnaghi has plenty of restaurants, Pheasant’s Tears is the best one. They have delicious and healthy meals made from seasonal ingredients. Opened by John Wurdeman, a winemaker, and a painter, who, together with his Georgian partner, has established a natural wine company of the same name. The restaurant boasts finger-licking Georgian cuisine and has a slight twist.

The restaurant offers a wide choice of wines made in their winery. The company specializes in natural qvevri wines, so they don’t use any chemicals on their vines or add anything during fermentation. They can also take you to their vineyard and cellar and offer you a wine tasting package. However, please note that it’s better to book the tour in advance.

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