22 Wonderful Things to Do in Gori on a Weekend

When asking what to see in Gori, many locals and tourists will give you the same answer – Stalin Museum and Uplistikhe Cave Town. While Gori is mainly known as a birthplace of Soviet leader Joseph Stalin and a short stopover for those planning a visit to cave town, there are plenty of things to do in Gori besides these two extremely popular tourist sites. And with this post, I will show you that Gori is an underrated city that offers much more than anyone thinks it does. 

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Why visit Gori

The central city of the Shida Kartli region, Gori, is around 85 km from Tbilisi, making it one of the most convenient day trips from the capital. Although, this post will prove that you might need more than one day to see the city beyond its famous landmarks. 

From ancient times the region of Shida Kartli was crisscrossed by several essential trade routes going from the north to the south and from the east to the west. This contributed to the creation of several towns along the roads: Mtskheta, Mukhrani, Gori, and Urbnisi, to name a few. Therefore, the city of Gori is one of the oldest settlements in Georgia. 

The town’s name comes from the Georgian word ‘Gora,’ meaning the ‘hill.’ According to archeological studies, a city-type settlement was on the territory of modern Gori at the turn of the 1st century AD. 

Natural conditions and the region’s geographical location rapidly defined its role in the country’s establishment. However, the fact that it was the epicenter of world trade roads meant a lot of foreign invasions, including Persians, Ottomans, and Russians who ruled over the entire area. 

Gori is also close to the breakaway region of South Ossetia and its capital Tskhinvali. During the Russia-Georgia war of 2008, the city of Gori was bombed by the Russian Air Force, resulting in dozens of civilian injuries and 228 civil resident deaths. 

According to Human Rights Watch, Russian forces indiscriminately deployed cluster bombs in civilian areas around the town. For a short time during the war, the city was occupied by the Russian military and separatist militia of South Ossetia. They only withdrew forces on August 22, ten days after the war ended. 

Today, the northern part of Shida Kartli, commonly referred to as the Tskhinvali region, is under the de-facto control of a separatist regime and the Russian Federation. The so-called Creeping Occupation is a real deal where Russian troops and militia slowly move the wired fence border towards Gori. It’s needless to say that the occupied territory is off-limits to tourists. Despite that, Gori is an absolutely safe place to visit. 

And if this is not enough to convince you, scroll down the find some of the hidden, popular, and fun things to do in Gori. 

Tip: If interested, there’s a Hollywood movie dedicated to the conflict called 5 Days of War (watch trailer), starring Rupert Friend, Emanuel Chriqui, Heather Graham, and Andi Garcia, to name a few. 

How to get to Gori

Tbilisi to Gori by Marshrutka 

Daily marshrutkas (minibusses) frequently run from Tbilisi to Gori. You can find these marshrutkas at Didube Bus Station (pin here), just a few minutes walk from Didube Metro. Look for გორი writing in Georgian. 

The journey takes around an hour, depending on the traffic. The price for a one-way ticket is 5 GEL. You’ll need to buy the ticket at the cashier right in front of the Gori marshrutkas.

Note: Some Marshrutkas might go directly to the Gori Bus Station, located 2-3km from the center, so before getting on, double-check with the driver. On my recent trip, marshrutka went through the city first, and I could hop off near the Stalin Museum. 

If they go directly to Gori Bus Station, you’ll need a taxi to the city center, which will cost around 3-5 GEL. Bolt taxi is available in Gori, but the wait time might take longer as they have few drivers. Use code: YRP76 to get a discount on your first trip. 

Tbilisi to Gori by minivan

Daily shared minivans from Tbilisi to Gori enable a slightly more comfortable journey than a marshrutka. They are also located at Didube Bus Station, very close to the marshrutkas, and have the same გორი signs on their windshields. The only drawback is that they wait until the van is full to leave for Gori. However, unlike marshrutkas, they go straight to the city center and have their own last stop at the Gori Public Service Hall. 

The price for a one-way journey is 7 GEL and might be the most convenient way to travel from Tbilisi to Gori using public transport. 

Tbilisi to Gori by train

Another alternative way to travel from Tbilisi to Gori is by train that runs from the capital to bigger cities like Kutaisi, Zugdidi, Poti, and Ozurgeti. 

Coming back to Tbilisi from Gori by train is not a problem either; the last train stops at Gori Trains Station at 10:15 pm, arriving in Tbilisi at midnight. You can see the schedules and buy tickets online at Tkt.ge website. 

Tbilisi to Gori by private transfer 

If you want to avoid all the hustle of public transportation in Georgia, I recommend booking a private transfer via GoTrip. If you plan on exploring Gori in one day and visiting the neighboring cave town of Uplistsikhe, this service allows unlimited stops along the way and a driver for the entire day. 

Renting a car

If you’d want to drive on your own, I recommend renting a car through Local Rent at lower prices than international car rental companies. 

How to travel from Gori to Tbilisi

The easiest and most convenient way to travel from Gori to Tbilisi is via a minivan, especially in the evenings and on weekends. Since there is only a 2 GEL difference in price between a minivan and a marshrutka, I recommend saving time and effort by not going to the Gori Bus Station to catch a marshrutka. 

If you end up in Gori on Sunday evening, ensure you get to the Gori Public Service Hall at least an hour early to get the spot. Most Gori residents are returning from Gori to Tbilisi, and the available spots are rare after 6-6:30 pm. 

If you miss the van, a train will stop at Gori at 10:15 pm, as mentioned above. 

Where to stay in Gori

Accommodation choices in Gori are pretty diverse. Since my last visit to Gori a few years ago, the accommodation options have grown, so there are luxury and boutique hotels and guesthouses to choose from. Most of them are very close to Gori sightseeing, so you can easily walk around. 

My choice: Brick walls – this family-run guesthouse is only 400 meters from the Stalin Museum and features private rooms with private bathrooms and a shared lounge area, a terrace, and a small kitchen with an electric kettle, microwave, and a few utensils to have a breakfast or enjoy a cup of coffee/tea in the morning. 

Georgia Gold – is ideal for those who want a bit of a luxury hotel in Gori city center, right at Stalin Avenue. The hotel has a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar. Every room in this hotel in Gori has a desk, a TV, and a private bathroom. A buffet breakfast has a reasonable price.  

Anna’s Guest House – is another excellent choice if you’d like to support the local guesthouse. This family-run hotel in Gori has a shared kitchen with a bar, a shared lounge, a terrace, and a garden. Some rooms even come with their own kitchen and a minibar. 

Hestia Boutique Hotel – also very close to the city center, Hestia Boutique Hotel provides a bar, a shared lounge and a kitchen, and a garden. The rooms have private bathrooms, AC, a seating area, a TV, and a safety deposit box. The price also includes breakfast. 

22 top things to do in Gori on a weekend

The city of Gori has a lot of hidden spots and interesting places that most travelers, including locals, miss. And despite the town’s size, you can easily spend two leisurely days here wandering the streets, eating the local delicacies, adventuring by a Soviet car, and understanding Gori’s ancient or current history.  

Whether you plan a day trip to Gori or overnight, here are wonderful things to do in Gori for a day or two. 

Get an introduction to the city via Gori Free Walking Tour

Gori Free Walking Tour is ideal for getting acquainted with the city, its history, and its culture. Run by a local female social activist Zhana Odiashvili, the tour takes you to some of the most exciting places the city has to offer. It starts every day at 11 am and lasts around 2:30-3 hours, taking you to Gori’s prominent landmarks, alternative museums, important monuments, and the foot of the Gori Castle. 

Zhana knows her city inside out, and it’s a real treat to see the city from her eyes and listen to her personal stories. Her main aim and mission of starting the free walking tour are to show travelers that Gori is much more than the famous Stalin museum.

She’ll also tell some interesting and quirky stories of Gori, its communist party, and the recent Russia-Georgia war that displaced many residents of Gori and its neighboring villages, including Zhana and her family.  

I recommend sending her a message on her Facebook page and booking your spot in advance. And note that the tour is based on donations. 

Visit the contradictory Joseph Stalin Museum 

For many travelers, one of the first things to do in Gori is to visit the contradictory museum of the Soviet leader Joseph Stalin because Gori is his birthplace. 

The Joseph Stalin Museum, located in the center of Gori on Stalin Street, includes a memorial house where he was born, an exposition building, and his personal train carriage by which he traveled to Yalta, Potsdam, and Tehran. 

When the Soviet Government decided to build a museum for the great leader, they constructed it around his actual house where he spent his childhood. Therefore, the small stone building you see in front of the main exhibition building is not a replica – it still stands at the exact location it used to be hundreds of years ago. Unfortunately, exploring the house from the inside is not allowed. 

The exhibition building showcases his memorabilia, his study room and office furniture sent from the Kremlin, gifts from the world’s delegations visiting him, manuscripts, his death mask, and the maquette of the mausoleum. More importantly, there are plenty of portraits, photographs, and busts of Stalin anywhere you look.  

Honestly, I list the museum as one of the weirdest/most unusual museums I have ever visited because it showcases the dictator as a great leader, not talking about his actions resulting in hundreds of thousands of deaths. 

Opening hours: every day, 10 am – 6 pm. From November 1 to April 1: 10 am – 5 pm

Entrance fee: adults – 15 GEL the whole complex; students – 5 GEL the entire complex. Both tickets include a guided tour. 

Note: If you think the time spent here during the guided tour was not enough and would like to take a closer look at the exhibits, you can come back after the tour finishes and explore it at your pace without paying again. 

Find rare artifacts at the Ethnographic Museum

Sergi Makalatia Gori Historical and Ethnographic Museum should be your next stop when visiting Gori. 

The museum displays artifacts found during the archeological excavations of the area that date back to the 5-3rd Millenium BC. Here, you can explore ceramic family seals, weapons, astonishing numismatic collections, and everyday items of 18th and 19th-century Gori residents, such as rugs, carpets, musical instruments, jewelry, and traditional clothes, to name a few. 

One of the most exciting and intriguing items displayed in the museum is the artifacts found in Tkviavi village archeological site between 1934-1978. The museum is home to an actual graveyard of a person dating back to the 4th-3rd Millenium BC. 

Also, pay attention to the man’s skull dating the middle of the 3rd Millennium BC and the super cute deer drinking vessel. 

Opening hours: every day, 9:30 am – 5:30 pm; closed on Mondays

Entrance fee: adults – 5 GEL

Learn more about WWII from the Soviet side at the Great Patriotic War Museum 

One of the best things to do in Gori for history buffs interested in World War II and Soviet propaganda is to visit the Great Patriotic War Museum, a few meters from the Joseph Stalin Museum. 

The majority of the exhibition represents Soviet propaganda and the heroic achievements of the Red Army during WWII. However, it also showcases the terrible times during the blockades and how civilians suffered. There are many black-and-white photos from the battlefield, and personal items of the soldiers, including letters to their families, medals, uniforms, and books, to name a few. Besides these, you can also find portraits of Gori heroes who bravely fought in WWII. 

The museum also has a small section on the Russia-Georgia 2008 War, exhibiting photos of the devastated city and bombs that fell and exploded in the city resulting in civilian casualties. There is a separate stand for those heroes who died in this short war. 

Most of the explanations are in Georgian and Russian, but several have English translations. 

To get the whole picture of the museum, I recommend taking a guided tour which costs only a few extra Georgian Lari. 

Opening hours: every day, 10 am – 5 pm; closed on Sundays and Mondays

Entrance fee: adults – 3 GEL; guided tour – 10 GEL

Look for the bullet holes from Russia-Georgian War

As mentioned earlier, Gori was heavily bombed during the Russia-Georgia 2008 war, resulting in the death of 228 civil residents, 170 soldiers, and 14 police officers; 1747 were wounded, and 150,000 left their homes, of which 30,000 are still considered IDPs.

When walking on Stalin Ave and Ilia Chavchavadze Ave, look up to see the holes left from the war. Some are bullet holes, while others are from the explosion and its metal scraps. 

Track down the street art in Gori

Unlike Tbilisi, Batumi, and a few other cities in Georgia, Gori only gets a little street art. However, in recent years some beautiful art did pop up in the streets of Gori. 

One of my favorite, and maybe of many locals, is the art of Gagosh. This Georgian street artist does an impeccable job of showcasing the country’s social and economic issues. The art, located at the wall of the first building at 47 Ilia Chavchavadze Ave once you turn from Stalin Ave, represents the reality of the current Gori and its creeping occupation after the war.

Since Gori municipality is known for its apples, Gagosh incorporated red apples in this black-and-white art, where grandpa stands with her granddaughter on one side of the wired fence overlooking the horizon – probably the lost home on the other side. The girl has scissors in her hand, representing the hope that one day we can cut the fence and those displaced because of the war can return home. It’s a powerful piece!

Above is the street art, you can see the bullet holes and remnants of explosives well preserved here, along with another art dedicated to the Russia-Georgia war. 

Another interesting piece of street art made recently at 10 Kirion II street shows the Gori fortress in the background while a man plants something in the soil. Created by 17-year-old Giorgi Tatunashvili, the art has Georgian writing underneath, saying, “despite how many times [someone/something] destroyed you, there always is a hope to rebuild.”

One more Gori street art worth checking out is under the bridge on Vasil Barnovi street, dedicated to female empowerment. Commissioned by EU for Georgia, People in Need Czech Republic, and Young Feminists, the art showcases superwomen with writing that girls can do anything. 

Eat local delicacy

One of the top things to do in Gori is to try its local delicacy – Gori Cutlet. So, whenever you get hungry, instead of going to the cafes on Stalin Ave, head to ძმობის დუქანი (Dzmobis Duqani in Eglish) at 60 D. Aghmashenebeli Ave. On Google Maps, for some reason, it’s pinned as გორის კატლეტი (Goris Cutlet in English).

Dzmobis Duqani is the old-fashioned cafeteria with several tables once you enter and a few more private rooms for privacy. There is no menu, and the main dish they serve is the Gori Cutlet with mashed potatoes. However, they might have a few more Georgian dishes, but you’ll need to ask. 

The Gori Cutlet portion comes with two big-sized cutlets and a good amount of mashed potatoes. I also had a simple cucumber and tomato salad. The tomato sauce and the bread are extras that usually accompany such meals. 

Cutlets are made from pork and beef meats and taste quite good. The recipe calls for grounding both meat three times, no seasoning or spices, and water during the preparation process, resulting in a juicy, soft, and delicious cutlet. 

Find your favorite ceramic tile 

This colorful and absolutely fantastic art has been on my bucket list since I saw a picture of them on the internet. 

The massive panel consists of 1,001 handmade and handpainted ceramic tiles that not only present Georgian ornaments but also tell the story of Georgia with each piece. Created by local artist Irina Shotadze and a few more artisans, they placed the panel at Gogebashvili square in 2021. 

It is a pleasure to look at these tiles and figure out what each represents – you’ll find the Georgian alphabet, famous carpet patterns, lurji supra ornaments, religious icons, and many other cultural or historically meaningful imagery. 

See the remnants of Qvevri

Those of you who are very new to Georgia and haven’t seen Qvevri – the gigantic clay vessel we make our unique wine with traditional methods – make sure to stop at the intersection of D. Avaliani str and Stalin Ave. Look for the Louvre-like glass construction. 

Admire old houses in Gori old town

Situated very close to the fortress, the city’s old town boasts picturesque brick houses that need to be included in your things to do Gori checklist. Follow the cobblestone streets of A. Tsereteli and Kristopher Castel streets and get lost admiring these heritage houses. 

Make sure to look at the patterns of the brickwork on each building and appreciate the typical wooden carved balconies. 

Peek inside the Virgin Mary Cathedral

Built around the 1810s, the Virgin Mary Cathedral is one of the important churches in the city. Still a functioning Orthodox church, during the Soviet times, it was used as Gori’s Music School. After Georgia gained independence in the 90s, the church was handed over to the Georgian Orthodox Church. Known for its bright and colorful frescos, it’s with peaking inside even if you are not a big fan of churches. 

Look at the Memorial of Georgian War Heroes

A few meters from the Cathedral, at the castle’s foot, stands a monument with soldiers sitting in a semicircle. Get up close to notice that each solder is missing one or several body parts – some don’t have a leg, another arm, or a face. This memorial is dedicated to the horrible results of the war, especially to those fighting in the actual battle. 

Created in 1981-85, these soldiers were initially placed around the Tomb of the Unknown Solder in Tbilisi’s Vake Park. In 2009, the government moved them to Gori. 

Clime up to the Gori Fortress for sunset and panoramic views

Hiking up to the castle is one of the best things to do in Gori after exploring the museums and wandering the old town, especially when the weather promises a beautiful sunset. 

This medieval citadel controlled significant economic and strategic routes and featured a large garrison back in the day. The current ruins of the citadel date back to the 17th and 18th centuries. 

When Georgia became part of the Russian Empire at the beginning of the 19th century, the Russian grenadier battalion used the fortress as their base. The significance of the fortress gradually declined and lost its function.

Today, sitting on top of the hill, it is an ideal spot for stunning panoramic views of the city. 

Look for Soviet signs on Samepo Street

If you are interested in everything Soviet, Samepo street hides a few remnants of the past. This quiet neighborhood once was a busy area, judging from the old signs. The half-abandoned hotel still has a slightly well-preserved but rusty sign saying Kartli hanging on the side of the building in both Russian and Georgian languages. 

A bit down, there’s another retro sign on top of the building at the corner of D. Amilakhvari street, signifying a former Restaurant Kartli. 

And a few meters away, another building still has the Soviet symbol – the hammer and sickle – intertwined with a flower wreath. 

Shop for local apples and other products at the bazaar

As mentioned above, the area is famous for its apples, so one of the best things to do in Gori is to peek inside the bazaar and buy locally produced and sourced products. 

Accessed by a short metal bridge at May 26 Embrakment, the Gori bazaar has both indoor and outdoor stalls selling fresh fruits and veggies, churchkhela, spices, pickles, and preserves, to name a few. 

Take a Soviet Tour and be a passenger in a Soviet car

Looking for fun things to do in Gori? Join Zhana’s Soviet Tour and experience being a passenger in one of the Soviet cars she managed to track down and support the local elderly with her tours for driving us around. 

Stalin’s cult is still preserved among the older generation in Gori, and there still is a communist party in town. The tour’s first stop is the Great Patriotic War museum to understand Soviet history and the recent Russia-Georgia 2008 war. 

One of the highlights of Zhana’s tour is the unofficial Stalin Museum, created by a member of the communist party Nazi, in her own home. It’s fascinating to see how proud she is of her collected items that not even Stalin Museum might have.

She’ll happily show you around a tiny room full of hundreds (maybe even thousands) of Stalin-related items such as photos, documents, medals, books, handpainted portraits, newspaper cut-outs, cups, postcards, and t-shirts, to name a few. She has a ring and a phone case with Stalin’s face on it and even hangs a ‘Saint Stalin’ next to her Orthodox icons. 

Next up on tour will be a few Soviet mosaics, bass reliefs, and monuments from the Soviet past. She can also take you to a tiny Occupation Museum at Gori University upon your request. To book the tour, contact Zhana at Gori Free Walking Tour. 

Look for the Stalin statue at Gori Railway Station

2024 update: the door to the hall is locked and covered with a curtain

This is also part of Zhana’s Soviet Tour, but you can also see it on your own. Even though the government removed the main Stalin statue standing in front of the municipality building in 2010, Gori still has a few of them scattered across the city. 

Gori’s railway station is home to one of them placed behind the closed door in the waiting room with a sign placed on the door saying that entrance is prohibited. Therefore, you can look at it from the glass door. However, if you want to get up close, Zhana has a key to show tourists around during her Soviet tour. 

Enjoy exhibitions at Art House

The circular building inside a park close to the Gori bazaar and fortress is home to an Art House opened in 2020 by Gori Photographers Club. The venue’s primary purpose is to support the development of contemporary art, photography, and culture in general.

Abandoned for years, today, the gallery hosts various exhibitions and events to support emerging local artists. To see what’s on display, check their Facebook page for updates. 

Opening hours: every day, 12 pm – 7 pm

Entrance fee: FREE

Admire the only Persian bathhouse in Gori

After all the Soviet-related landmarks, it’s a surprise to see a different architectural sight in Gori. This Georgian Cultural Heritage Sight since 2015 stands at 43 Rustaveli street. Unfortunately, there is no exact time when it was built, but scholars believe it should have been constructed either in the 17th or 18th centuries. 

According to the plan, the bath has a rectangular shape built with old bricks and gravel. In 2017, the bathhouse was fully reconstructed and turned into a gallery space. Unfortunately, the doors were closed on my visit, and I couldn’t see it from the inside.

Bring a souvenir from Giorgi Tatulashvili Ceramics Studio and Museum

Giorgi Tatulashvili is a famous ceramic artist from Gori who created a workshop studio, a shop, and a museum in his basement. His works are widely acclaimed and displayed at the Ethnography Museum of Gori and sold at various souvenir shops in Tbilisi. 

He uses Georgian red clay to create his pottery and practices in black, yellow, purple, and blue glazed ceramics – a very distinctive style from traditional Georgian pottery.

One of his most famous creations is wine-drinking vessels, especially Marani, a circular duplex structure where the lower section serves as a pot base for the upper section. The upper part has various small statues; it might be a man surrounded by qvevris from which one can drink wine. 

Another well-known creation is a deer wine-drinking vessel, a replica of an ethnographic artifact found during the archeological excavations in Gori (the original one is at the Gori Ethnography Museum). 

Browse some of this and his students’ creations in his basement shop museum while he gladly explains what they are and how to use them. 

Find the hidden Gori Synagogue

Gori Synagogue is hidden inside a typical residential house, similar to the mosque I saw in Tsalka.

The religious site is not accepting visitors and tourists. However, if you ask Zhana, she can try to arrange a short visit during her Free Walking or Soviet tours. 

Georgia always had a significant Jewish community back in the day, but unfortunately, fewer and fewer remain in the country. However, unlike Oni, Kutaisi, or Akhaltsikhe, Gori still has enough Jews to keep the synagogue active. 

It’s fascinating to hear that there is no rabbi and no one can read or write Hebrew. However, the community still keeps it running with Torah translated and written phonetically in the Georgian alphabet. 

Go on a day trip to Uplistsikhe Cave Town

Many tourists visit Gori and Uplistsikhe cave town as a day trip from Tbilisi, as mentioned earlier. After all the things to do in Gori listed here, I highly recommend visiting the oldest cave town in Georgia if you still have the time and energy. 

Located only 14 km from Gori, the complex dates back to the first half of the 1st Millenium BC. This rock-hewn town is characterized by a unique combination of different rock-cut cultures of Iran and Anatolia that co-exists along with Christian and pagan architecture. 

If you are interested in adding this to your Gori itinerary, read my separate post on how to visit Uplistikshe either from Gori or Tbilisi. 

Where to Eat in Gori

Unfortunately, there are not that many places to eat in Gori. Here are just a few cafes or restaurants I recommend stopping at for lunch or dinner when visiting Gori. 

Cafe 22 

Cafe 22, located on 22 Stalin Avenue, is perfect for any meal. They serve an omelet with cheese and ham for breakfast and have a wide choice of appetizers, soups, salads, pasta, pizzas, and main course. 

L’avenue

Another cafe in the city center serves a wide selection of Georgian and European meals. The menu is diverse so that everyone can find something to their taste. Khachapuri has the right amount of cheese, chicken wings and sticks are well seasoned, and potato wedges are crispy and soft on the inside. 

Dzmobis Duqani

I already mentioned this earlier, but I included it here so you don’t miss it. Come to Dzmobis Duqani, or Brotherhood Tavern in English, for the cutlets Gori is so famous for. Expect a simple restaurant with no menu and a limited amount of meals. I highly recommend this place for Goris Cutlet.