12 Things to Do in Sighnaghi, Kakheti’s Most Popular Town

Sighnaghi, also spelled Signagi, is a small town in the Kakheti wine region with narrow cobblestone streets, colorful houses, wooden carved balconies, a beautiful city wall, and panoramic views of the Alazani Valley, with the Caucasus Mountains range as a backdrop. This ultimate guide offers a wide range of things to do in Sighnaghi, whether you visit it as a day trip from Tbilisi or stay overnight.

The name comes from the Turkish word sığınak for ‘shelter.’ It refers to the fortified city that Erekle II, the King of Kart-Kakheti, built in the mid-18th century to shelter the citizens during various invasions, especially marauding attacks by the Dagestani tribes.

In 2005-2008, the whole town underwent a significant renovation, which resulted in infrastructure development, fixing the roads, refurbishing houses according to their former state, and opening hotels and restaurants. 

During the renovation process, the 24-hour Civil Registry office opened in the city center. It enables couples to get married at any time of the day or night, which is why the city is nicknamed the “city of love.” 

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Best time to visit Sighnaghi

Sighnaghi is lovely year-round; you can’t go wrong with any season. Sighnaghi, one of the beautiful places to visit in Georgia, enjoys a mild Mediterranean-like climate with four seasons. Winters here are moderately cold, and summers can be pretty hot. 

Spring and summer bring blossoms to the city and lush greenery to the Alazany Valley. Autumn is one of the best time to visit Sighnaghi if you want to experience gorgeous fall colors and participate in the wine harvest season (See my post on the best wine tours in Georgia). 

A snow-covered city in winter is lovely, especially when the skies are clear, and you can see the snow-topped Caucasus mountains. 

Want to experience Rtveli in Kakheti? My friends at Eat This! Food and Wine Tours offers three types of Rtveli tours during the season. Book your spot here and use the code RFD5 for a 5% discount.

How to get from Tbilisi to Sighnaghi

Located around 113 km from Tbilisi, Signagi lies in the eastern highlands of the Gombori Range, between the Alazani and Iori valleys. Frequent public transportation makes traveling from Tbilisi to Sighnaghi easy, which takes around two hours. 

Minibuses or marshrutkas depart from Navtlughi bus station at 9 am, 11 am, 1 pm, 5 pm, and 6 pm. The last marshrutka from Sighnaghi to Tbilisi departs at 6 pm. The ticket costs 10 GEL one way.

Additionally, there are shared taxis near Isani Metro for a bit more comfortable travel. You can wait for the taxi to get full (3 people) or pay the total price. 

Alternatively, you can book a transfer via GoTrip and add a few more spots to your trip; this is especially handy if you also want to visit nearby Bodbe Monastery (more on this below) or pop in a winery before (my favorite is Giuaani Winery in Manavi). 

Additionally, renting a car and self-driving gives you more flexibility to travel around Sighnaghi and visit various wineries, cultural monuments, and monasteries. I recommend LocalRent for an affordable and great choice of vehicles.

From Telavi to Sighnaghi 

If you are visiting Telavi (see my ultimate things to do in Telavi post), the central town of the Kakheti region, Sighnaghi, is only 60 kilometers away. The road passes through various villages, including Gurjaani, Vazisubani, and Mukuzani, with many wineries along the way, so if that’s something you are interested in, you can visit some of them. 

The travel time is around 1:20 minutes. Unfortunately, few public transport options exist from Telavi to Sighnaghi, so the best way is to get a shared/private taxi or rent a car. 

Where to stay in Sighnaghi

Despite being a small town, Sighnaghi has many accommodation options if you plan on staying overnight. Here are a few I recommend catering to various budgets. 

Lost Ridge Inn, Brewery & Ranch: While not technically in the city, I stayed here a few years back. Situated amidst vineyards, this rustic-chic hotel offers a unique Sighnaghi experience—sample craft beers brewed on-site, savor hearty Georgian food at the hotel’s restaurant, or take a horseback riding tour through the scenic countryside and enjoy a view of Signaghi from a different vantage point. 

Hotel History • სასტუმრო ისტორია: This charming hotel is housed in a restored building and has an interesting design concept. Each room represents a different historical period, from the Stone Age to the Modern Era, and the wall above the bed has a corresponding design. 

Guest House Eka & Gio: This cozy guesthouse is excellent for budget travelers. Friendly hosts create a warm and inviting atmosphere. Enjoy spacious rooms and panoramic views of the city, Caucasus mountains, and Alazani Valley from its balcony. 

Kabadoni Boutique Hotel: This sophisticated hotel offers breathtaking valley views, elegantly decorated rooms, an indoor swimming pool, and a wellness center. 

Signagi Glamping: Located only 1.6km from the city center, these luxurious glamping tents, perched on a hillside, offer unparalleled views of the Alazani Valley. 

12 Things to do in Sighnaghi

Wander through the city 

One of the best things to do in Sighnaghi is to walk through its lovely cobbled streets and admire the renovated traditional Georgian houses with wooden carved balconies of the 18th century. 

Don’t miss the beautiful wall honoring city heroes

Right at the central square of Sighnaghi, next to Solomon Dodashvili’s monument, you’ll find a bas-relief type wall showcasing and honoring the citizens of Sighnaghi county who died in World War II. 

Besides listing the surnames with the first name initials on the wall, the monument also showcases the city’s architecture, battle scenes, and Qvevri winemaking process, to name a few.

Enjoy the views of Sighnaghi from its viewpoints 

The picturesque city of Sighnaghi has a few vantage points. The most famous one is in the town once you walk past the memorial.

The second and my favorite one is behind the Sighnaghi National Museum. Both of them are marked as Sighnaghi Viewpoint on my Google Maps list.

For a more distant and overall view of Sighnaghi town, you can stop at Ziplaine Sighnaghi (listed on my maps) right before you enter the city. 

See the paintings of Niko Pirosmani

One of the absolute musts on your things to do in Signagi list should be a visit to the National Museum. Here, you can learn more about the town’s history and culture and admire the magnificent works of Niko Pirosmani, the prominent Georgian painter. 

The museum displays several permanent exhibitions, including ethnographic collections of 5,000 artifacts, archeological finds of the medieval period, and works of famous Georgian painter Lado Gudiashvili.

Besides the National Gallery in Tbilisi, Sighnaghi National Museum has the most extensive collection of Niko Pirosmani’s works, counting around 40, including a portrait of Picasso he drew out of his imagination after seeing his works in France.

• Opening hours: November-May from 10 am to 5 pm; May-November from 10 am to 6 pm. Closed on Mondays and public holidays.
• Entrance Fee: Georgian citizens – 10 GEL, foreigners – 20 GEL. Guided tour from 70 GEL. 

Peek inside St. George Basilica

St. George’s Basilica, located within the fortress walls, is a central religious site in Sighnaghi. It dates back to the 17th century and features traditional Georgian architectural elements.

Walk on Sighnaghi Fortress

As you walk through the city, you will encounter the old city walls and gates, which are part of the well-preserved Sighnaghi fortress. It played an important defensive role in the region. As mentioned earlier, it was built by King Erekle II to protect the area from attacks.

The fortress, covering 40 ha of land and spanning around 4 km, was strategically constructed on the hilltop to provide a vantage point from which to monitor surrounding landscapes and act accordingly if they saw an enemy approaching. 

The fortress 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. To get to the trail, find a small plate that says ‘tourist trail.’

Do a wine tasting at various wineries

Kakheti is a prime wine-producing region, and visiting some of its wineries is one of the best things to do in Sighnaghi. 

Alazani Valley is like the Napa Valley of Georgia. It has a slightly warmer climate than the rest of the region, giving excellent conditions for the grapes to be riper and sweeter.

The area’s primary grape variety is Rkatsiteli (translated as ‘red stem’). Wines from this grape tend to be semi-sweet, ranging from light straw color to golden as the wine ages.

Some wineries are open for walk-ins, but I recommend contacting them beforehand to schedule an appointment. 

There are a few wineries inside the city that offer wine tasting. However, you can also DIY your own wine tour of the county if you have the flexibility with a car or a GoTrip transfer. 

Kerovani Winery is a family-owned small winery that produces natural wines in Qvevri clay pots on-site in their cellar. They make their wine based on bioorganic viticulture and winemaking techniques. Their wine tasting includes several white and red wines, sparkling wine (Pet Nat), and Georgian strong spirit chacha. 

Pheasant’s Tears is one of the region’s most well-known wineries, making artisanal natural wines in Qvevri since 2007. It also has a restaurant of the same name at the entrance of Sighnaghi city, serving a delicious seasonal menu of Georgian dishes. While you can schedule a visit to the winery, you can enjoy a tasting in the restaurant’s courtyard and premises. 

Okro’s Wine Restaurant & Cellar is another family-owned boutique winery that produces natural wines free of sulfates and additives. It also has a restaurant serving traditional Georgian meals. If the weather is nice, you can enjoy wine tasting and snacks on the rooftop terrace with beautiful views over the city. 

In case you have little time or you are visiting Georgia to learn more about its traditional winemaking techniques and visit as many artisanal wineries to have a unique experience with a bit of time to explore Sighnaghi, I recommend joining a tour of my friends at Eat This!. I have personally taken their Sighnaghi wine tour and even wrote a review for you to know what to expect. 

→ You can book the tour here, and remember to use code RFD5 for 5% off. 

Shop for local produce at a market 

Sighnaghi Old Bazar is a small indoor market where locals sell Georgian spices, fruits, vegetables, and wine in repurposed plastic bottles. They also sell churchkhela, a candle-shaped grape juice and walnut snack. 

Buy hand-knit accessories

As you approach the Sighnaghi Fortress, you’ll encounter stalls selling hand-knitted accessories. If the weather is warm and sunny, you might even see ladies knitting on the spot. Hats, gloves, scarves, toys, and socks in various colors and patterns are on display. 

Drink local craft beer or do horseback riding at Lost Ridge Inn

Located around 2km from the city center, Lost Ridge Inn combines a boutique hotel, a restaurant, a beer brewery, and a ranch. 

Even if you are not staying in the hotel, you can come in for dinner or a beer tasting of Svia craft beer. I recommend contacting them in advance to see if they can host you. 

One of the unique things to do in Sighnaghi is horseback riding from their ranch and exploring the surrounding areas. During my visit to the place a few years back, we rode to Bodbe Monastery and saw Sighnaghi from a completely different vantage point. 

Visit Bodbe Monastery – an important religious site in Georgia

Bodbe Monastery is one of Georgia’s most important pilgrimage sites. It is only 2km from Sighnaghi city center and is often the first stop for many locals and organized tours before going to Sighnaghi. 

The monastery was built around the tomb of St. Nino, the evangelist who brought Christianity to Georgia in the 4th century. As a child, I remember being able to enter the burial site, but during my last visit, the doors were closed. 

The frescos in the small church are absolutely stunning, depicting various scenes from the Bible. I especially love the one where Adam and Eve eat an apple and are exiled from heaven. The scenes showing Christ’s life and deeds are also spectacular. 

The Iconostasis is also quite impressive with the scenes from the Last Supper and other scenes. 

The monastery complex’s garden is lovely and well cared for by around a dozen nuns living here. A new, bigger church was built within the territory a few years ago.

Around 3.4 Km down the monastery, accessed via a stone-stained path, a St. Nino Spring is believed to be miraculous and heal various diseases if you bathe inside.

Where to eat in Sighnaghi

The most popular Kakhetian meals are Mtsvadi, Khashlama, Chakapuli, and Khinkali. However, the restaurants all over Kakheti also offer regional and other traditional Georgian meals. 

• Mtsvadi is the name of grilled meat (often pork) on a skewer cooked over an open fire. The meat is not marinated, but its distinct flavor comes from the vine branches used in the open fire. 
• Khashlama is a traditional slow-cooked chunk of meat (typically beef and rarely lamb) with herbs, onions, and spices. The meat is tender and flavorful, but the meal is simple. 
• Chakapuli is a spring, seasonal lamb or beef stew made from different fresh herbs. The main ingredients are tarragon, sour green plums—tkemali—and white wine, which give this meal a unique and distinct flavor.

Dergi

Located in Nukhiani village on the way to Sighnaghi, it is an excellent Georgian restaurant for lunch or dinner before or after your Sighnaghi trip. The restaurant focuses on Kakhetian cuisine and offers a wide range of meals. I have tried a handful of their dishes, and all of them were very tasty and bursting with flavors.

Pheasants Tear’s 

Pheasant’s Tears serves a seasonal menu of delicious and healthy Georgian meals with a slight twist. The restaurant was opened by John Wurdeman, a winemaker and painter who, together with his Georgian partner, established a natural wine company of the same name. 

Besides enjoying lunch or dinner (booking is advised), you can also opt-in for the wine tasting of their flavorful wines. 

The Terrace Restaurant

It is an excellent place to enjoy magnificent panoramic city views while savoring Georgian and European dishes. It’s a walk uphill, but the views are worth it, especially if you time it for the sunset. 

Okro’s Wine Restaurant and Cellar 

This restaurant and wine cellar offer views over the Alazani Valley from their terrace. They serve traditional Georgian meals and their wines.

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