Tbilisi to Uplistsikhe 2026: Day Trip, Transfer Price & How to Visit the Cave Town
Carved into a sandstone ridge above the Mtkvari river near Gori, Uplistsikhe is one of the oldest urban settlements in Georgia — a rock-hewn town of cave halls, streets and temples inhabited for close to three thousand years. It sits just about 100 km from Tbilisi, making it one of the capital’s easiest and most rewarding day trips. This 2026 guide covers the distance, real prices, every way to get there and the sights to combine along the way.
Tbilisi to Uplistsikhe at a glance: 2026 options
| Option | Price (2026) | Time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private day trip (OrbiTrip) | from ~250 GEL / ~92 USD per car | half to full day, driver waits | Comfort, combining Gori & Mtskheta |
| One-way private transfer | from ~130 GEL / ~48 USD per car | ~1.5 h | Continuing west afterwards |
| Marshrutka to Gori + local taxi | ~25–40 GEL per person total | ~2.5–3 h + waits | Budget travellers |
Distance and the route via Gori
The drive is short and simple. From Tbilisi you head west on the fast Rikoti (E60) highway towards Gori, about 85 km and just over an hour. Just before or after Gori you turn off and follow a quiet local road along the Mtkvari river for the final 10–15 km to Uplistsikhe. The total is about 100 km and 1.5 hours. Because the site is so close to Gori, the two are almost always visited together.
Option 1: Private day trip (the popular choice)
Most visitors see Uplistsikhe as part of a private day trip, because the site itself takes only an hour or so and pairs naturally with Gori and Mtskheta. Your driver collects you from your Tbilisi hotel, waits while you explore each stop, and brings you back — a relaxed, flexible day rather than juggling marshrutkas and taxis. Prices are fixed per vehicle.
| Vehicle | Fixed price (2026) | Seats |
|---|---|---|
| Sedan (day trip, driver waits) | from ~250 GEL (~92 USD) | up to 3 passengers |
| Minivan (day trip) | from ~320 GEL (~118 USD) | up to 6 passengers |
| One-way transfer | from ~130 GEL (~48 USD) | up to 3 passengers |
The price is for the whole car, not per person, and includes the driver waiting at each site — so for two to four people it is excellent value against a group tour, on a schedule that is entirely yours. You pay the driver directly in cash or by agreement; OrbiTrip takes no commission and never charges your card.
See Tbilisi to Uplistsikhe prices & drivers
Option 2: Public transport via Gori
On a budget, take a marshrutka from Tbilisi’s Didube station to Gori (about 1–1.5 hours, 5–8 GEL). There is no direct public transport to the site itself, so from Gori you hire a local taxi to Uplistsikhe and back — usually 20–30 GEL round trip with the driver waiting. It works, but between the change and negotiating the taxi it eats up time, which is why many independent travellers prefer a single private day trip that also folds in Gori without extra arranging.
What to see at Uplistsikhe
Give the site an hour to 90 minutes. You climb through a warren of cave dwellings, along an ancient main street, past a large pillared hall once thought to be a pagan temple, and up to a red-brick Christian basilica from the 9th–10th century that crowns the ridge, with sweeping views over the Mtkvari valley. Wear good shoes: the sandstone is uneven and slippery when wet. Small on-site signage explains the history, but a driver-guide or a little reading beforehand brings the place to life.
Combining Uplistsikhe with Gori and Mtskheta
Just 10–15 km away, Gori offers the Joseph Stalin Museum — the dictator’s birthplace and one of Georgia’s most-visited and most-debated museums — and the hilltop Gori Fortress. On the way back to Tbilisi, Mtskheta sits right by the highway, with the UNESCO-listed Svetitskhoveli Cathedral and hilltop Jvari Monastery. With a private car, Uplistsikhe, Gori and Mtskheta combine into one full, satisfying day of ancient and modern Georgian history.
How OrbiTrip works
OrbiTrip is a free platform connecting you directly with licensed Georgian drivers. You see the fixed price for your day trip up front, choose a vehicle, and agree the stops you want — there is no booking fee, no commission and no card charge. You simply pay the driver directly on the day. It is the transparent, flexible way to arrange an Uplistsikhe day trip on your own schedule rather than joining a fixed group tour.
Tbilisi to Uplistsikhe: frequently asked questions
How far is Uplistsikhe from Tbilisi?
Uplistsikhe is about 100 km from Tbilisi, roughly 1.5 hours by car. You follow the main Rikoti (E60) highway west to Gori, then turn off for the last 10-15 km along the Mtkvari river to the cave town. It is close enough for an easy half-day or a relaxed full day combined with other sights.
How much is a transfer or day trip from Tbilisi to Uplistsikhe in 2026?
On OrbiTrip a one-way private transfer starts from about 130 GEL (~48 USD) per car. A more popular full-day trip, with the driver waiting while you explore and usually adding Gori, is from about 250 GEL (~92 USD) for a sedan and from about 320 GEL for a minivan. The price is per vehicle and paid directly to the driver; OrbiTrip charges no commission.
Can I visit Uplistsikhe by public transport?
Yes, with one change. Take a marshrutka from Tbilisi’s Didube station to Gori (about 1-1.5 hours, 5-8 GEL), then a local taxi from Gori to Uplistsikhe and back (about 20-30 GEL round trip with waiting), as there is no direct public transport to the site itself. It is doable on a budget but a private day trip is far simpler and lets you add Gori without arranging taxis.
What is Uplistsikhe and is it worth visiting?
Uplistsikhe is one of the oldest urban settlements in Georgia, an ancient rock-hewn town carved into a sandstone massif above the Mtkvari river, inhabited from around the 1st millennium BC. You can walk through its cave halls, streets, a pagan-era temple and a later Christian basilica. It is compact, atmospheric and historically fascinating, and pairs perfectly with nearby Gori.
What can I combine with an Uplistsikhe trip?
The classic combination is Uplistsikhe plus Gori, where the Joseph Stalin Museum and hilltop Gori Fortress sit just 10-15 km away. Many travellers also add Mtskheta, Georgia’s ancient spiritual capital with Jvari Monastery and Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, on the way back to Tbilisi, since it is right beside the highway. With a private car all three fit comfortably into one day.
How long do you need at Uplistsikhe?
Allow about 1 to 1.5 hours to walk the site properly, climbing through the caves and up to the basilica for the view over the river valley. Wear sturdy shoes, as the rock underfoot is uneven and can be slippery after rain. Combined with Gori and Mtskheta it makes a full but not rushed day out from Tbilisi.
Related transfer guides
Planning day trips from the capital? See our Tbilisi to Gori day trip guide, the Tbilisi to Mtskheta day trip, and the best day trips from Tbilisi. Heading further west afterwards? Compare the Tbilisi to Kutaisi route or the long haul to Vardzia cave city.