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Uplistsikhe cave town

Updated: November 3, 2026

Shida Kartli · about 80 km from Tbilisi

Uplistsikhe is a town carved into the rock on the left bank of the Mtkvari, 10 km east of Gori. The name means “fortress of the Lord”.

People lived here from the late 2nd millennium BC. Dwellings, halls, pagan temples and wine cellars were cut into the rock, and in the 9th–10th centuries a Christian basilica was built on the summit. After the Mongol raids of the 14th century the town was abandoned.

Uplistsikhe has been on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List since 2007. It is one of Georgia’s most unusual monuments — and easy to combine with Mtskheta or Gori in one day.

Where10 km from Gori, about 80 km from Tbilisi
Agefrom the late 2nd millennium BC
Ticket15 ₾ for adults
Hoursfrom 10:00; until 19:00 in summer, 17:00 in winter
How long1–1.5 hours to look around

How to get there and prices — in our article →

Tours that visit Uplistsikhe

Uplistsikhe excursion from Tbilisi — photo 2

Uplistsikhe excursion from Tbilisi — photo 3

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History of Uplistsikhe

Uplistsikhe is one of the oldest urban settlements in Georgia. In antiquity it was an important religious and political centre of Kartli: pagan sanctuaries stood here, and a trade route along the Mtkvari passed through the town.

With the arrival of Christianity the town’s importance declined, but it remained a fortress. The Mongol raids of the 14th century finally devastated Uplistsikhe, and later it served only as a temporary refuge. A strong earthquake in 1920 destroyed some of the caves; conservation work has been under way here since 2000.

What’s inside

Main street — a road cut into the stone rises from the river to the summit.
Queen Tamar’s Hall — a large hall with columns and a coffered ceiling, carved into the rock.
Arched halls, a “pharmacy”, wine cellars with hollows for jars and the remains of a theatre.
Basilica on the summit of the 9th–10th centuries — the only building that was constructed rather than carved; it has a view over the Mtkvari valley.
Tunnel to the river — a secret passage residents used to go down for water.

Best time to visit

The best light is in the morning, from 8:00 to 10:00, and after 16:00. From 11:00 to 15:00 the stones get very hot; in spring and autumn this is less noticeable. The complex is open from 10:00, until 19:00 in summer and 17:00 in winter.

Tickets, hours and how to get there

What	2026
Adult ticket	15 ₾
16 April — 30 September	10:00–19:00
15 March — 15 April, 1 October — 1 November	10:00–18:00
2 November — 14 March	10:00–17:00

By car from Tbilisi — about 1.5 hours. Without a car — marshrutka or train to Gori, then a 10–15 minute taxi ride. More about the road and prices in the article about Uplistsikhe. Hours and prices may change — check before your trip.

Tips and safety

You need shoes with a good sole: the stone is uneven and slippery after rain.
Bring water — there are no cafés on site; in summer it is hot and there is no shade.
Arrive at opening time: fewer people, soft light, and the stones are not yet scorching.
There are almost no railings at the cliff edges — keep an eye on children.
Bring a torch — some caves go deep into the rock and are dark even during the day.