Getting to Gori from Tbilisi: marshrutka, train, car or tour

Gori is about 85 km west of Tbilisi, on the main road and railway to western Georgia. It is easy to reach on your own, and you have several options.

By marshrutka

Marshrutkas, Georgia’s minibuses, are the most popular way to get to Gori. They leave from Didube bus station in Tbilisi, next to Didube metro station on the red line, throughout the day. There is no fixed timetable: they leave when they are full, which on this route is usually often. The ride takes about an hour, and you pay the driver in cash.

• Look for the sign with “Gori” or “გორი” in the windscreen.
• Keep small notes and coins for the fare.
• Return marshrutkas to Tbilisi leave from Gori bus station, near the centre.

By train

Gori is on the railway from Tbilisi to western Georgia, and some trains to Kutaisi, Batumi and other towns stop there. The journey takes about 1 to 1½ hours from Tbilisi Central station. Trains are comfortable, but less frequent than marshrutkas, so check the timetable on the Georgian Railway website.

By car

A fast highway runs west from Tbilisi to Gori, about an hour’s drive. Driving in Georgia can be fast and unpredictable, and overtaking can be risky. Many visitors prefer to hire a car with a driver for the day, which also lets you stop at Samtavisi Cathedral on the way.

On a tour

Day trips from Tbilisi include transport, usually with hotel pickup, and combine Gori with Uplistsikhe and Mtskheta. Read our guide to the Uplistsikhe day trip.

From Gori to the sights

• Uplistsikhe: about 20 minutes by taxi. Ask the driver to wait.
• Ateni Sioni: about 20 minutes by taxi.
• Gori Fortress and the Stalin Museum: on foot in the centre.
• Kareli, Khashuri and Surami: by marshrutka or train to the west.

Tips

• Agree taxi prices before you set off, or ask your guesthouse to arrange a driver.
• Download an offline map; mobile data is good on the main road but patchy in the hills.
• See our getting there page for airports and onward travel.