Visiting Uplistsikhe Cave Town, Georgia 

Updated March 2026, Visiting Uplistsikhe Cave Town, Georgia was originally published in March 2022

Looking like an out-of-this-world moonscape, Uplistsikhe is an ancient rock-cut town in Georgia’s Shida Kartli region, just outside Gori. Carved into the cliffs above the Mtkvari River, this sprawling cave complex was once an important religious, political and trading center. Its name translates roughly to “the Lord’s Fortress.”

Today, Uplistsikhe Cave Town is one of Georgia’s most fascinating archaeological sites and an easy day trip from Tbilisi or Gori. The site combines ancient pagan temples, rock-cut halls, wine presses, tunnels, streets and a medieval Christian church, all spread across a rocky hillside overlooking the Mtkvari Valley. Georgia Travel describes Uplistsikhe as one of the oldest inhabited locations in the Caucasus, with its history reaching back to the late Bronze Age.

In this Uplistsikhe travel guide, I’ll cover how to get to Uplistsikhe from Gori and Tbilisi, entrance fees and opening hours, how long to spend there, what to see, and tips for visiting independently.

Need Travel Insurance and Evacuation Services?

Start shopping for travel insurance plans over at IATI Insurance. Readers of the Adventures of Nicole get a 5% discount off your plan.

The Adventures of Nicole partners with Global Rescue to offer the world’s leading medical evacuation and security advisory services. To travel with peace of mind, explore their evacuation coverage.

Uplistsikhe at a Glance

Location	Shida Kartli, Georgia
Nearest city	Gori
Distance from Gori	About 10 km
Distance from Tbilisi	About 80–90 km
Type of site	Ancient rock-cut town and archaeological reserve
Best for	History, archaeology, architecture and independent travel
Time needed	About 1.5–2 hours
Entrance fee	15 GEL
Audio guide	Available for an additional fee
Getting there	Taxi from Gori, public transport to Gori or Tbilisi, or organized tour

Uplistsikhe History

Uplistsikhe’s history stretches back to the late Bronze Age, making it one of the oldest settlements in the Caucasus. The settlement was carved directly into the soft rock above the Mtkvari River and developed into an important religious and political center. Its early history dates back to the late Bronze Age, becoing a major spiritual center by the 4th century BCE.

The site contains evidence of both pre-Christian pagan worship and later Christianity. Pagan temples, ceremonial spaces, wine presses and other structures were carved into the rock before Christian buildings were added to the complex. Rather than Christianity simply replacing everything that came before it, the landscape reflects centuries of religious change.

Uplistsikhe became particularly important during the medieval period. Its position above the Mtkvari Valley gave it strategic importance, and the settlement was connected to major routes through Georgia, including routes associated with the Silk Road.

The city suffered repeated destruction over the centuries and was ultimately devastated by the Mongol invasions in the 13th century. The settlement was gradually abandoned, leaving behind the remarkable collection of rock-cut structures you can explore today.

Why Is Uplistsikhe Important?

Uplistsikhe is significant because it preserves an unusual combination of pre-Christian religious sites, medieval Christian architecture and evidence of everyday life carved directly into the rock. The archaeological reserve includes streets, squares, temples, wine presses, pharmacies, tunnels and other structures.

Starting in the capital? Read the Tbilisi Travel Guide to start planning the perfect stay
Grab a copy of Bradt’s Georgia Guidebook to help you plan

How to Get to Uplistsikhe

From Tbilisi 

Grab a marshrutka from the Tbilisi Bus Station outside of Didube Metro Station bound for Gori. They depart every 20-30 minutes or so when full starting at about 7 am and costs 4 GEL for a seat for the 90-minute ride. 

From the Gori Bus Station, you can get on a minibus to the entrance of Uplistsikhe for 2 GEL per seat. Upon return, you can hail the minibus from the main road to get back to Gori. 

If not wanting to deal with public transportation, you can usually hire a taxi for the day from Gori for around 40-60 GEL.

You can also opt to take the train from Tbilisi to Gori. 

From Gori 

Gori is the easiest place to visit Uplistsikhe from independently. The cave town is roughly 10 km east of Gori, and the journey takes around 20–30 minutes by road.

The simplest option is to take a taxi from Gori to Uplistsikhe, usually arranging a return journey with the driver waiting while you explore the site. A return taxi with waiting time at roughly 40–60 GEL, although prices can vary.

If you’re traveling alone on a tight budget, you can grab a marshrutka from Gori Bus Station for 2 GEL.

Check out the interesting Tbilisi Metro Stations when you’re back in the capital

Uplistsikhe Entrance Fee & Opening Hours

The Uplistsikhe entrance fee is 15 GEL for adults in 2026. An audio guide is available for an additional fee.

Opening hours can change seasonally, so check the current schedule before setting out, particularly if you’re visiting outside the main tourist season.

Allow at least 90 minutes for Uplistsikhe, although I’d budget closer to two hours if you want to explore the site without rushing.

• March 15-April 15 and October 1-November 1: 10 am to 6 pm
• April 16-September 30: 10 am to 7 pm
• November 2-March 14: 10 am to 5 pm

How Long Do You Need at Uplistsikhe?

Plan to spend at least 1.5 hours at Uplistsikhe, which gives you enough time to see the major halls, temples, church and rock-cut streets.

I’d allow around 2 hours if you want to explore slowly, take photographs and read about the history of the site.

If you’re visiting from Tbilisi, remember that the travel time is considerably longer than the time spent inside Uplistsikhe itself. For this reason, it makes sense to combine the visit with Gori rather than traveling all the way from Tbilisi solely to see the Uplistsikhe cave town.

Other Tips for Visiting Uplistsikhe

• Go later in the day: Uplistsikhe can be busy with organized tours, particularly in the morning. A late-afternoon visit can be quieter.
• Allow 1.5–2 hours: You can see the main sights in about 90 minutes, but history nerds will want longer.
• Bring water: There is very little shade, and the exposed rock can become seriously hot in summer.
• Wear sturdy shoes: You’ll be walking over uneven rock, climbing stairs and navigating narrow passages.
• Bring sun protection: A hat, sunscreen and sunglasses are useful because much of the site is completely exposed.
• Watch your footing: Some of the carved paths and stone surfaces are uneven and can become slippery.
• Check the weather: Uplistsikhe is primarily an outdoor archaeological site, so heat, rain and strong sun can make a noticeable difference to your visit.

What to See in Uplistsikhe

Uplistsikhe is much more than a collection of caves. The archaeological site contains rock-cut temples, halls, streets, wine presses, a theatre, a pharmacy, tunnels and Christian churches, giving you a glimpse into how the settlement functioned as a city.

The site is spread across the hillside, so don’t just wander into the first few caves and call it a day. Follow the paths uphill and you’ll find some of the most interesting structures and viewpoints.

Queen Tamar’s Hall

Queen Tamar is one of Georgia’s most important historical figures, having run the kingdom in the 12th and 13th centuries. But Queen Tamar never lived in Uplistsikhe! So why is the hall named after her in the first place?

Thanks to the resemblance of this hall at Uplistsikhe to her former room at the Vardzia Cave City is the most likely reason why this hall got its misleading name. 

Queen Tamar’s Hall is the most intricately decorated and the largest cave of Uplistsikhe. It’s widely believed that the hall was a pagan worship temple. 

Uplistsikhe was also a center of wine production and a winemaking pit can be found right outside Queen Tamar’s Hall. Another feature not to miss is the Apothecary here, where medicinal herbs would have been stored for use. 

Don’t miss the Rkoni Monastery, another hidden gem associated with Queen Tamar

Single Pillar Hall

The Single Pillar Hall, is one of the most distinctive structures at Uplistsikhe. Two rock pillars support the ceiling of the carved chamber, creating one of the site’s most recognizable interiors.

Church of the Prince

Also known as the Long Temple, the Church of the Prince is one of the most obvious Christian structures at Uplistsikhe. Unlike the surrounding rock-cut chambers, the church was constructed from masonry and stands prominently above the cave complex.

Being a newer construction, the church dates back to the 10th century and is the only structure that survived the 13th century Mongol Invasion. 

Three Nave Basilica

The Three-Nave Basilica is a Christian structure carved directly into the rock below the Church of the Prince. The Three Nave or Three-Sided Basilica would have been constructed in the 6th century.

The site is thought to incorporate an earlier pagan sacred space, dedicated to a sun goddess, illustrating the religious transition that took place at Uplistsikhe as Christianity spread through Georgia.

Temple of Makvliani

The Temple of Makvliani is thought to have been one of Uplistsikhe’s main pagan worship sites. The complex consists of multiple chambers carved into the rock and is traditionally associated with worship of a sun deity.

Fun fact: Makvliani means “blackberry” in Georgian, and blackberry vines can still be seen growing around the caves.

The Theatre

Despite being known as the Theatre, the exact function of this structure remains uncertain. It is more likely to have been a temple or ceremonial space than a theatre in the modern sense.

The structure is thought to date to the 1st century AD and is recognizable by its triangular facade and columns.

Caisson Hall

The Caisson Hall was one of my favorite spaces at Uplistsikhe. Its carved ceiling has a striking geometric pattern of arches and recessed panels, making it one of the most visually distinctive interiors in the cave town.

The hall forms the central section of the Theatre, so it’s easy to combine the two when exploring this part of the site.

The Abandoned Town of Uplistsikhe

What you see today is only part of the ancient settlement. Religious and elite structures were carved into the main rocky complex, while much of the population lived in houses spread across the area below.

The abandoned settlement is not fully open to visitors, but you can see parts of it from the upper sections of Uplistsikhe.

Uplistsikhe Day Tours from Tbilisi

If you don’t want to deal with changing transport in Gori, joining an organized Uplistsikhe day tour from Tbilisi is the easiest option.

Many tours combine Uplistsikhe with Gori, Mtskheta and Jvari, making better use of the long day than visiting Uplistsikhe alone. Current tour itineraries commonly combine these sites.

Head over to Get Your Guide and check out this highly-rated day trip to Uplistsikhe, Mtskheta, Jvari, and Gori from Tbilisi. 

Is Uplistsikhe Worth Visiting?

Yes, especially if you’re interested in Georgia’s history and archaeology. Uplistsikhe feels very different from Georgia’s better-known cave city, Vardzia. Rather than a monastery complex tucked into a dramatic mountain valley, Uplistsikhe is an ancient settlement spread across an exposed rocky plateau above the Mtkvari River.

I particularly like that you can see several layers of Georgian history in one relatively compact site, from pre-Christian religious spaces to medieval Christian architecture.

If you’re already visiting Gori, Uplistsikhe is an easy addition to the itinerary. From Tbilisi, I’d combine it with Gori or another nearby attraction rather than making the journey solely for Uplistsikhe.

Have Any Questions About Visiting Uplistsikhe?

Ask in the comments section below.

Posts from Georgia