Located at 1,500 metres in the Caucasus Mountains, Mestia is a charming town in northern Georgia. It has traditionally been home to the Svans, an ethnic subgroup of the Georgians, and is an important cultural centre. Mestia is famed for its stone-built defensive towers, churches and forts, several of which are now designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Things to do in Mestia
Don’t miss the Svaneti Museum of History and Ethnography, which houses around 4,000 artefacts illustrating the history and culture of the region. In addition to 10th-century painted icons and religious manuscripts, you’ll find ancient silverware, weapons and jewellery. Also on display are ethnographic objects detailing daily life for the Svans.
Occupying a centuries-old residential complex is Margiani's House Museum, which showcases the living quarters and towers of the Margiani family. See the chief’s throne and where the wine was once stored, alongside grain, hay and clay jugs filled with honey. For sweeping views across Mestia and the surrounding countryside, climb to the top of one of the towers.
A cable car connects Mestia to the resort of Hatsvali, where you can go skiing and snowboarding in the winter months. Once the snow melts, you can follow the hiking trail that leads to the Koruldi Lakes, a series of alpine lakes at the foot of Mount Ushba. Continue trekking to the Ola View Point for magnificent panoramas across the Caucasus Mountains.
Getting around Mestia
Mestia is a five-minute drive from Queen Tamar Airport, which has regular flights to Kutaisi and Natakhtari. The much larger David the Builder Kutaisi International Airport is 4.5 hours away. Renting a car is the most convenient way of getting to Mestia while the town centre is small enough to explore on foot.