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Large cave halls cut into the pale sandstone at Uplistsikhe under a blue sky with white clouds

Day trips

Uplistsikhe day trip from Tbilisi: tours, transport and tips

  • 2 min read

Uplistsikhe is one of the most popular day trips from Tbilisi, and for good reason. In a little over an hour you can be walking through a town cut into the rock, which people lived in for some 3,000 years. Here are the ways to get there and how to make the most of it.

Option 1: a guided day trip

The easiest option is an organised tour. The classic route combines Uplistsikhe with Gori and with Mtskheta, the old capital, which is on the way. Expect a long day of 8 to 10 hours, with hotel pickup in Tbilisi, a driver and usually a guide. Check whether entrance tickets and lunch are included.

  • Pros: no planning, a guide to explain the site, three places in one day
  • Cons: limited time at each place, fixed schedule

Option 2: on your own by public transport

Take a marshrutka from Didube bus station in Tbilisi to Gori, about an hour, or a train from Tbilisi Central. In Gori, take a taxi to Uplistsikhe, about 20 minutes, and ask the driver to wait for you. There is no regular bus to the site itself. See our guide to getting to Gori from Tbilisi.

  • Pros: cheap and flexible, time to see Gori too
  • Cons: taxi prices to negotiate, a little more effort

Option 3: a private driver

A car and driver for the day costs more, but lets you choose your stops. Add Samtavisi Cathedral on the way, or Ateni Sioni after Uplistsikhe.

What to see at Uplistsikhe

Allow 1½ to 2 hours. Walk up the main street worn into the rock, look into the great halls with their carved ceilings, find the theatre and the wine cellars, and climb to the Prince’s Church at the top for the view over the Mtkvari valley. On the way out, walk down through the tunnel that once carried water up from the river.

The Prince’s Church, a restored medieval basilica, on the highest point of Uplistsikhe.

When to go

Spring and autumn are best. In summer, the bare rock gets very hot, so arrive early. In winter the site is quiet and still open, but the rock can be icy.

Tips

  • Wear shoes with good grip; the rock is smooth and there are few railings.
  • Bring water, a hat and sunscreen in summer.
  • An audio guide or a local guide at the entrance brings the empty rooms to life.
  • Read our one-day Gori itinerary to combine the site with the city.
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