If you’re arriving in Sighnaghi by car from Tbilisi, the best option is to leave your vehicle at the town’s entrance and explore the ancient cobbled streets on foot.
Even before you set foot in the heart of Sighnaghi, you’ll be greeted by a striking bas-relief at the entrance: a suitor reaching out to his beloved on a balcony. This artistic touch instantly signals that you’ve arrived not just in any Georgian town, but in the City of Love.
From this romantic sculpture, Baratasvili Street descends, offering the most iconic view of Sighnaghi — a charming little house with a powder-blue balcony nestled on the right.
Yet truth be told, nearly every house here is a picture of elegance, adorned with finely carved wooden balconies reminiscent of Old Tbilisi.
Just around one of the bends in Baratasvili Street, you’ll discover a whimsical sculpture of a lady with her dog. A little further on, a pair of gazebos open up to breathtaking views of the valley below. Nearby stands a statue of a doctor riding a donkey, inspired by the famed painting by Georgian artist Niko Pirosmani. According to another interpretation, it depicts Doctor Benjamin, a character from Georgiy Daneliya’s beloved film “Don’t Grieve!”, portrayed by the legendary Buba Kikabidze.
At the heart of town lies a quaint and cozy square named after King Erekle II. From here, narrow, photogenic streets fan out in all directions. You’ll spot a charming fountain shaped like a traditional wine jug — a kvevri — crowned with a bronze deer, along with the famous round-the-clock wedding registry office that’s earned Sighnaghi its romantic reputation.
From the square, several walking routes await. To the right leads Kostava Street, while to the left, Dadiani and Lolashvili streets merge almost seamlessly into one.
In our humble opinion, the left-hand route is more pleasant. Along the way lies the tranquil Bebris Park, where you’ll find a fountain and shady trees perfect for a quick rest.
Alternatively, turn right onto the quaint medieval lane known as April 9 Street. Follow it to the end, and then take a left.
During the summer months, cool off in the leafy April 9 Park, home to a statue of the famed Georgian opera singer Vano Sarajishvili, a native son of Sighnaghi. Just a short walk from the park stands his birthplace (No. 9 Sarajishvili Street).
Kostava Street, meanwhile, is known for its tourist information center (No. 10 Kostava), as well as for its inviting cafés and souvenir shops.
No matter which path you take, all roads in Sighnaghi eventually lead to David the Builder Square. This is where you’ll find one of the few modern buildings in town — the City Hall, introduced during the era of President Mikheil Saakashvili, who popularized the term in Georgia.
Also perched on the edge of this square, clinging to a cliffside terrace, is the Sighnaghi Museum of History and Ethnography — a real gem. Its collection was gathered from across the Kakheti region, featuring only the most captivating and significant artifacts.
The museum’s ground floor is dedicated to archaeology: ancient weapons, armor, and pottery from various eras. On the second floor, you’ll find 20 paintings by celebrated Georgian artists Lado Gudiashvili and Niko Pirosmani.
Sighnaghi Museum Address: 1 Queen Tamar Street. Coordinates: 41.61966, 45.92294.
After visiting the museum, head left onto Chavchavadze Street. From there, you’ll catch your first glimpse of the city wall and the early 19th-century Church of Saint Stephen.
What makes this church unique is that it was built within a fortress tower. Its bell tower even doubles as a viewing platform offering sweeping views.
Continue along David the Builder Street, which resembles an octopus with winding alleyways stretching out in every direction.
To the left, Ketevan Tsamebuli Street leads through the ancient city gates — this is the entrance to Sighnaghi from Telavi.
To the right, a charming dead-end lane named after Queen Tamar branches off. From the ivy-covered tower there, Gorgasali Street begins, taking you toward the fortress wall and the Armenian Church of Saint George (Surb Gevork).
Climb atop the city wall to truly grasp the scale of Sighnaghi’s fortress. The wall stretches for 4.5 kilometers, with 8 gates and 28 towers. Many visitors find themselves comparing it — somewhat fancifully — to the Great Wall of China.
The wall follows the natural contours of the mountains and hills, encircling an enormous expanse of emptiness. Within this 38-hectare enclosure, there’s almost nothing left.
Some believe the interior was destroyed long ago — but if Sighnaghi was never conquered, as historians claim, why then was the inside leveled while the walls survived? It’s a mystery that adds to the town’s intrigue.
From the fortress tower that towers over the town, you’ll be rewarded with some of the finest views of the Alazani Valley — an unforgettable panorama.
If you’re pressed for time and can’t spend more than a day in Sighnaghi, plan to arrive closer to sunset. You’ll catch the golden light spilling across the town and the Alazani Valley, and then enjoy a magical stroll under the town’s romantic nighttime glow. As darkness falls, Sighnaghi’s fabled charm only deepens.
One of Eastern Georgia’s most revered landmarks, the Monastery of Saint Nino, lies just 2 kilometers from Sighnaghi in the village of Bodbe.
Here rest the relics of Saint Nino — Georgia’s most venerated saint, credited with bringing Christianity to the country. She is the same Saint Nino who once lived under a blackberry bush at Samtavro Monastery in Mtskheta and fashioned Georgia’s first cross from grapevines tied with her own hair.
Before her death, she expressed her wish to be buried in Bodbe. But King Mirian had other plans — he wanted her entombed in Mtskheta, where she had baptized him and launched Georgia’s conversion to Christianity.
Legend has it, however, that no fewer than 200 men failed to move her remains. Eventually, the king relented and fulfilled her final wish.
On the day of her burial, King Mirian founded the Monastery of Bodbe — now bearing her name. The monastery’s main church stands precisely where Saint Nino’s tent once stood.
Despite its spiritual importance, the monastery fell into disrepair during the Middle Ages, largely due to the devastation inflicted on Kakheti by Shah Abbas of Persia in 1601. It wasn’t restored until 1889, under the personal order of Russian Emperor Alexander III.
In 1924, the monastery was shut down and converted into a hospital. Only after Georgia regained independence did the monastery begin to flourish once more.
Today, Saint Nino’s tomb is located in the right-hand side of the altar in the Church of Saint George — the monastery’s main temple. Another treasured relic here is the myrrh-streaming Iveron Icon of the Mother of God, one of the most sacred icons in all of Georgia.
In spring and summer, the view from the monastery walls over the blooming Alazani Valley is nothing short of breathtaking.
Legend has it that even Emperor Alexander III, upon seeing the view, exclaimed: “Have you ever seen anything like this in Switzerland?”
How to get to the monastery
Coordinates: 41.60627, 45.93347.
From central Sighnaghi, follow April 9 Street, which becomes Saint Nino Street and leads directly to the monastery. Marshrutka minibuses run regularly from the Sighnaghi bus station.
From the monastery, a stone staircase winds down to a sacred spring and baptismal pool whose waters are believed to possess healing properties.
The descent takes about 20 minutes. The first time we visited Saint Nino’s Monastery, we arrived in the evening and rushed straight down to the spring.
A long line of pilgrims had formed, hoping to immerse themselves in the holy waters — and we realized we wouldn’t make it before closing. Then, in a beautiful gesture of Georgian hospitality, a local man kindly gave up his place in line, saying, “Guests come first.”
You can buy a white shirt for immersion at the spring for 10 GEL. Bringing a towel is also a good idea — the water isn’t icy, but it’s certainly refreshing.
If you’d prefer to avoid the stairs, you can reach the spring directly by car, bypassing the monastery. Take the S177 road, which begins with a steep descent about 200 meters before the monastery parking lot. The drive to the lower parking area takes about three kilometers.
Taxis wait at the bottom, and the fare for this short trip is typically around 15 GEL.
Lower parking lot coordinates: 41.60649, 45.93273.
