Telavi, Georgia: Self-Guided Walking Tour

Looking for things to do in Telavi? This historic city in Georgia’s Kakheti region is best known for Batonis Castle, its former royal role, and its cultural heritage monuments. A visit brings together Georgian history, religious architecture, and the story of one of eastern Georgia’s most important kingdoms. Neywo offers a free audio guide for Telavi with four narrated places, available in 11 languages.

What to See in Telavi

Batonis Castle

Batonis Castle is one of Telavi’s most important landmarks and one of the city’s key places to visit. It is also known as Erekle II Palace and Batonis Castle, while Batonis Tsikhe means “castle of the lord.”

The fortified complex was the royal residence of the kings of Kakheti during the 17th and 18th centuries. Within its defensive walls are the royal palace, two gate churches, a bathhouse, and a cistern. The palace was built in the 1660s and reflects Persian-style architectural influences that shaped the Kakhetian court.

The complex also once contained state institutions, a nobleman’s palace, and a seminary. Only the seminary’s ruins remain today. After falling into disrepair during the second half of the 19th century, the site was rebuilt and expanded with structures including a theological school, a treasury, and a mint.

Today, Batonis Castle also houses a museum. Its collections include archaeological and ethnographic exhibits, ancient manuscripts, rare publications, military equipment, and a fine arts gallery. It is a particularly useful place to begin exploring Telavi’s royal history.

Mother of God Church

The Mother of God Church stands in the heart of Telavi and is a 19th-century cultural heritage monument. It remains an active church.

The building has a cross-inscribed-in-rectangle plan and a central dome. Its brick structure is plastered inside and whitewashed outside. Within the interior, four vaulted arms form a cross, meeting beneath a tall dome set on a twelve-sided drum. The eastern arm is longer than the others and ends in a semicircular apse, while the remaining arms are rectangular.

The church has entrances on its southern, western, and northern sides. Each doorway has an arched portal that widens progressively toward the interior. The arrangement of the dome, vaults, arches, and free-standing piers makes the church’s interior especially notable for its carefully organized central space.

Telavi and the Kingdom of Kakheti

Telavi’s importance becomes clearer when viewed through the history of the Kingdom of Kakheti. The kingdom emerged in 1466, when the previously unified Kingdom of Georgia began to fragment. George VIII, the last ruler of a united Georgia, established himself in Kakheti and founded an independent feudal state under the Bagrationi dynasty.

The kingdom’s capital was initially Gremi, a fortified city that served as its political and economic center. Later, the capital moved to Telavi, where Batonis Tsikhe became the seat of royal power.

For almost three centuries, the Kingdom of Kakheti played an important role in the political and cultural life of the region. It faced repeated threats from Safavid Persia, the Ottoman Empire, and raids by Dagestani mountain tribes, while maintaining periods of internal stability and economic development.

Its kings were also active diplomats. They became the first Georgian rulers to establish direct ties with Moscow in the late 15th century, seeking support from the Russian state. Visiting Telavi therefore offers more than a look at a single castle: it reveals the city’s place in the history of eastern Georgia.

Explore Telavi with Neywo

For a Telavi self-guided walking tour, download the Neywo app and explore the city independently. At present, Telavi has four narrated places in the guide. There are no group arrangements or fixed schedules: the app tells the story of each place as you reach it, at your own pace.

Neywo’s narration is available in 11 languages, making it a practical way to discover Telavi’s heritage while walking through the city. If you are continuing your journey through Georgia, you can also explore other destinations including Tbilisi, Sighnaghi, and Gori.