A hilltop town in Georgia's wine region with 18th-century defensive walls, cobblestone streets, and views of the Alazani Valley and Caucasus Mountains.
Sighnaghi sits on a hilltop in Georgia's Kakheti region, with 18th-century city walls stretching 4 kilometers along the ridge. Walk the narrow cobblestone streets to find the Church of St. Stephen with its distinctive dome, the Sighnaghi Museum with its Pirosmani paintings, and local wine cellars where winemakers age wine in underground qvevri vessels. The town's elevated position gives you unobstructed views of the snow-capped Caucasus Mountains rising above Alazani Valley's vineyards.
Getting to Sighnaghi
You can reach Sighnaghi from Tbilisi in about two hours. Marshrutkas (minibuses) leave every hour from Samgori metro station between 8:00 and 18:00. If you're driving, take the Kakheti Highway east - the road climbs through mountain passes before descending into the vineyard-covered valley.
Walking the City Walls
The defensive walls, built in 1762, include 23 towers and six gates. Each gate bears the name of its closest village. You can walk most of the 4-kilometer wall by accessing it through stone staircases near the main square. From the walls, you'll see the Alazani Valley's grid of vineyards below and the Caucasus mountain range in the distance.
Traditional Wine Making
Georgian winemakers in Sighnaghi ferment wine in qvevri - large clay vessels buried underground. During fermentation, the grape juice stays in contact with skins, seeds, and stems for up to six months, creating amber-colored wines with tannins and earthy notes. Many family wineries, like Okro's Wines and Pheasant's Tears, demonstrate the crushing, fermentation, and aging process.
Streets and Architecture
The town's streets wind up and down the hillside. Two-story houses from the 18th and 19th centuries line the roads, with wooden balconies painted in blues and greens. Look for the grape vine motifs and geometric patterns carved into the balcony railings. The main square centers around the Church of St. Stephen, where local artists sell paintings and handmade carpets in the surrounding lanes.
Bodbe Monastery
Two kilometers from town, Bodbe Monastery houses the tomb of St. Nino, who brought Christianity to Georgia in the 4th century. The 9th-century building contains frescoes depicting biblical scenes and Georgian saints. A 1.5-kilometer stone path leads down to a small chapel built over a natural spring where locals collect water.
Local Food and Markets
The central market, open daily from 8:00 to 17:00, fills with vendors selling churchkhela (walnuts dipped in thickened grape juice), sheep's milk cheese, and local spice blends. In the surrounding streets, bakers make shoti bread in cylindrical tone ovens. Restaurants around the main square serve Kakhetian dishes like mtsvadi (grilled meat skewers) and badrijani nigvzit (eggplant rolls filled with walnut paste).
Weather and Visiting Times
Spring temperatures range from 15-20°C (59-68°F), perfect for exploring the walls and vineyards. Summer temperatures reach 30°C (86°F). September brings the grape harvest, when you can join locals in rtveli (grape picking). Winters stay cool at 5-10°C (41-50°F), with occasional light snow.
