Visit Uplistsikhe Cave Town: Tips, Costs, & Attractions

Uplistsikhe is one of the cave towns in Georgia, besides Vardzia and David Gareji. Located around 80 km from Tbilisi, it is easily visited as a day trip. However, most travelers combine a visit to the town with Gori or Mtskheta. Despite what you plan, here is a detailed guide on how to visit Uplistsikhe cave town and things to know. 

Why it’s worth visiting Uplistsikhe cave town?

The name of the cave city translates into English as ‘the lord’s fortress’ and is located only 14 km from the city of Gori. The complex dates back to the first half of the 1st Millenium BC, making it the oldest cave tow of the country. 

Spread across 10 ha of land, Uplistsikhe is the only landmark of the Classical antiquity era in Georgia that still stands intact above the ground. The area was a fully functioning town with streets, irrigation pipes, squares, various buildings, four gates, a defense wall, and a secret tunnel towards the Mtkvari river, to name a few. 

This rock-hewn town is characterized by a unique combination of different rock-cut cultures of Iran and Anatolia that co-exists with Christian and pagan architecture. 

Archeologists have found various temples devoted to a sun goddess, who was worshiped before Georgia adopted Christianity. Items found during excavations suggest that the town was inhabited during the 16-15th centuries BC, while from the 4th century BC to the 3rd century AD, Upliststikhe was a religious and administrative center of Kartli. 

When Georgia adopted Christianity in the 4th century AD as its official religion, the settlements in Uplistskhe decreased but still remained a well-fortified castle. 

Because Uplistsikhe was located near the main trade route of Georgia, it was the subject of many invasions, both from local kings and foreigners. Conquering the town meant ruling over the Kartli region. 

When the Arabs conquered the capital in the 8th-10th centuries, Uplistsikhe became the residence of the kings of Kartli, resulting in its second heyday – the town became a significant caravan trading spot on the Silk Road. The population grew and equaled almost 20,000 citizens. 

When David Agmashenebeli retook Tbilisi in the 12th century and made it the capital of Georgia once again, the number of inhabitants reduced. And the Mongol invasions in the mid-13th century resulted in total abundance. Afterward, it was occasionally used as a shelter during other invasions in the country.  

Today, only 40,000 sq. meters of Uplistsikhe is available as a tourist destination, less than half of the original area.

Since 2007, Uplistiskhe has been enlisted at UNESCO World Heritage Site’s tentative list under its Cultural category, and we hope one day, it gets the statues it deserves. 

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Legend of who built it and why its called Uplistsikhe

There is little information and proof of who built the town or why it’s called Uplistsikhe; therefore, there are various legends around its name. One of them says that Uplistsikhe was built by the mythical Uplos, the sun of Mtskhetos and grandson of Kartlos (in Georgian mythology, Kartlos is the eponymous ancestor of Georgians),  in the 10-6th century BC. Hence comes the name, which translates as the “castle of Uplos.”

According to another legend, the town was built by slaves. They used metal pickaxes to curve the town. Underneath that metal was gold, so they had to wear it out to be rewarded with freedom and gold. 

Not sure if any of them are true, but one thing is clear – a lot of effort and devotion has been put into making this spectacular town. 

Best time to Visit Uplistiskhe 

Uplistsikhe cave town is a year-round destination enabling you to visit at any season and month. It’s an open space, so it can be very cold during fall and winter. 

Summers in Uplistiskhe can be pretty brutal in terms of heat; there is no shade except for the inside caves you can escape the sun. If this is the only time, you can visit Uplistiskhe cave town, plan your trip as early as possible in the morning or later in the afternoon. 

Spring brings wildflowers in bloom in the area, making it a pleasant scenery to explore and photograph. 

Autumns are also lovely for visiting the area; however, it can get relatively windy. 

Winters sometimes bring snow, but I haven’t visited it during this time of the year. 

How to visit Uplistsikhe

Uplistsikhe is in the Shida Kartli region, around 80km from Tbilisi, 55km from Mtskheta, and 14km from Gori. Visiting Uplistsikhe cave town is easy as a stand-alone day trip from Tbilisi or a combination with Gori or Mtskheta. If you’ll combine it with other cities, make sure you have one full day. 

Tbilisi to Uplistsikhe cave town by public transport

There is no direct public transport from Tbilisi to Uplistsikhe cave town. You’ll need to catch a minibus from Tbilisi to Gori first and then change it to Kvakhvreli at Gori Bus Station. There are a few options to get to Gori from Tbilisi, including a minibus, a van, and a train. I have a detailed explanation of this in my Gori city travel guide.

Gori to Uplistikshe by public transport

There are daily minibusses from Gori to Uplistsikhe that run every 30 minutes. These marshrutkas are bound to the neighboring village of Kvakhvreli, so they don’t take you directly to the entrance of the cave town. They stop at the nearest point (mainly a bridge), and you’ll need to walk 2km to get to the entrance. The price for one way ticket is only 2-3 GEL. 

If you are short on time, taxis are available at the Gori Bus Station to take you to the town, wait for 1:30-2 hours, and take you back. The price for the taxi is around 35-40 GEL.

To go back from Uplistsikhe to Gori by marshrutka, you need to walk back two kilometers to the nearest village, the spot your driver dropped you off before. The last minibus that leaves Kvakhvreli to Gori is around 5-5:30 pm, but please check it with the driver to be on the safe side. 

Visit Uplistsikhe with a private transfer

If you wish to visit Uplistsikhe on your own and have unlimited stopovers on your way, I highly recommend Gotrip.ge transfer service. 

Driving on your own

In case you want to rent a car and explore the Shida Kartli region on your own, I advise renting a car at LocalRent for cheaper prices compared to the international companies operating in Georgia.

When driving from Tbilisi to Uplistikhe, you need to follow the S1 highway (Zahesi-Mtskhata-Kavtiskhevi-Gori)  and make a turn to the right when you see the sign Kvakhvreli.  

Join an organized Uplistsikhe tour

Since Uplistsikhe is a popular tourist destination, companies are offering organized tours. The most popular one is combining Mstkheta, Jvari, Gori, and Uplistikshe to see the best in one full day.

Time needed to explore the cave town

There are no marked trails in Uplistiskhe, so you can wander on your own or wherever you want. The area has two entrances – one with the tunnel and another via a staircase. I usually start my visit with the staircase and end with the tunnel. 

When wandering around on your own, an hour or an hour and a half are enough. You might need longer if you take a guide or an audio guide. 

Uplitsikhe entrance fee and opening hours

Uplistsikhe cave town is open every day except for public holidays. The opening hours differ by season, so here is a breakdown. 

• March 15 – April 15 & October 1 – November 1:10 am – 5 pm
• April 16 – September 30: 10 am – 7 pm 
• November 2 –  March 16: 10 am – 5 pm

Ticket prices are as follows: 

• Adults – 15 GEL
• Georgian citizen students and elderly – 1 GEL
• Children under 6 – FREE

Additional services:

• Guided tour – 45 GEL
• Audio guide –  15 GEL

What to bring

Since you’ll be walking on rock-cut structures, staircases, and uphills, comfortable shoes are the first thing to bring when visiting Uplistsikhe. Other than that, there are no strict rules on how to dress when exploring the sight. 

Summer months can be very hot, and exposed to the sun, so have sunscreen on hand, bring a hat, and maybe even a light scarf to cover your neck, shoulders, and arms. 

Be cautious when visiting in fall and winter, and wear weather-appropriate closes as it can be pretty windy. 

Bring plenty of water and a few snacks, no matter the season. If the weather is nice, sitting down at the highest point, enjoying the views, and nibbling on some snacks is a great experience. 

When entering the church inside Uplistsikhe, men should wear long pants and women long skirts, just like in any church in the country. Women should also cover their heads inside the church. There are a few wrap-around skirts or scarves at the entrance, but I advise you to have your own.  

What to see inside Uplistsikhe complex

Hall of Queen Tamar: We Georgians call King the only female ruler we had in medieval times. She ruled the kingdom in the 12th and 13th centuries, but the site at the complex is called Queen Tamar’s Hall. She never lived in Uplistsikhe, and this hall is named after her because it resembles her foom at Vardzia cave town. 

The hall is intricately decorated and is the biggest within the complex. It’s also believed that the area was used as a pagan worship temple for some time. 

The Single Pillar Hall has two rock pillars that support the ceiling and is one of the most essential structures of Uplistsikhe.

The Three Nave Christian Basilica is believed to be constructed in the 6th century in a place of a former temple dedicated to a sun goddess. 

The Church of the Prince stands higher, offering fantastic views of the surrounding area. It’s a relatively new construction dating back to the 10th century and is the only structure within the complex surviving 13th-century Mongol invitations. 

The Caisson Hall is hard to miss with its geometrically patterned carved arched ceiling.

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