Tabor Monastery of the Transfiguration in Tbilisi: hilltop church above the Old Town

⛪ Active monastery · ⏱️ 1–2 hours · 📍 Mount Taboris-Mta, Tbilisi

🧭 Who this article is for

The Tabor Monastery of the Transfiguration — or Tabori — is one of Tbilisi's best viewpoints, and one that most tourists skip because of the climb. The monastery is visible from everywhere in the city, yet very few people make it up there. This guide covers how to get there, what to expect, and why it's worth the effort.

⛪ The monastery above the city

From almost any point in central Tbilisi, you can spot a white domed church on a hilltop above Abanotubani — higher than Narikala. That's the Church of the Transfiguration of Tabor Monastery (Georgian: თაბორის ფერისცვალების მონასტერი). Visitors regularly compare it to the Jvari Monastery above Mtskheta: the same idea of a hilltop church as a beacon over a historic city.

The monastery was founded on 7 September 2002. By historical standards it's very new. But the hill itself — Taboris-Mta — carries a much longer story.

📜 Why the hill is called Tabor Mountain

Taboris-Mta translates from Georgian as «Tabor Mountain» or «Favori Mountain» — a direct reference to Mount Tabor in Galilee, near Nazareth, which is traditionally held in Orthodox Christianity to be the site of the Transfiguration of Christ: the moment when Peter, James and John saw Jesus shine with uncreated divine light.

The Tbilisi hill was given this name several centuries ago. There was an 18th-century fortress on the summit, making it a strategically vital point overlooking the Old Town. Now the monastery occupies this place, giving the mountain a new purpose.

👁️ The main reason to climb: the view

The views from Tabor Monastery of the Transfiguration are among the best in Tbilisi — and this isn't an exaggeration.

Narikala Fortress is visible from below and slightly above — a rare perspective. Normally the fortress gazes down on you from above; here the positions are reversed. Below the fortress stretches Old Tbilisi: Avlabari, Abanotubani with its dome-shaped sulphur bath rooftops, the minaret of Juma Mosque, the colourful carved balconies. To the right: the Peace Bridge and Rike Park. To the left: the canyon of the Botanical Garden and, in the distance, the former Wedding Palace with its distinctive mushroom-shaped roof.

At night the picture shifts: Tbilisi glitters across the valley, and the Transfiguration Church — now behind you — is illuminated and visible from different parts of the city far below.

🥾 How to get up there

Since summer 2023, there is an officially maintained path to the monastery, complete with lighting and security cameras.

1️⃣ From Abanotubani, find Firdousi Street — the landmark is the Maspindzelo restaurant on the riverside.

2️⃣ Walk along Firdousi, then turn onto Bazovi Street (formerly known as Gertsel Baazovi / Herzel Bazovi Street) — cobbled and extremely steep.

3️⃣ At the end of Bazovi, small concrete steps lead up to house No. 23, where a metal spiral staircase begins.

4️⃣ From there the path opens up along the ridge, passing several viewing platforms on the way. Blue direction signs are attached to walls along the route.

The full walk from Abanotubani takes 30–45 minutes. The climb is steep — Bazovi Street in particular. In rain or frost, take care. By taxi from the centre: 10–15 GEL; tell the driver «Tabori monastery» or give coordinates 41.68580, 44.81301.

💬 What visitors say

«The monastery has a great view of the old town. It's a bit of a walk to reach it. It looks really nice when it's lit up at night.»

«There is a convenient path for visitors, complete with lighting and security cameras. The view is amazing!»

«A faster route than shows on Google Maps is to walk on Ioseb Grishashvili street past the sulphur baths and turn right onto Firdousi Street which becomes Gertsel Bazovi Street. At the end of Gertsel, you will feel as though you are entering someone's yard, but just follow the path and the steps leading up. On the way, you'll notice a couple of small blue signs attached high on the wall directing you to the monastery.»

«Situated on a hill opposite Narikala Fortress, Tabor Monastery firmly belongs to the skyline of Tbilisi. If you have enough time, you can walk up there and enjoy the view of the capital from the top of the hill.»

🏁 Is it worth the climb?

Yes — if you're prepared for a steep walk. Tabor Monastery of the Transfiguration gives one of the finest views of Old Tbilisi, with almost no crowds and a quiet you won't find at other viewpoints. The church is calm and unstaffed — candles on an honesty system, nobody waiting for tips. Especially rewarding at dusk and at night.

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ℹ️ Active monastery, free admission. Dress code required. Bazovi Street is very steep — wear sturdy footwear. Information is current at time of publication.

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