Mtskheta, Jvari, Gori & Uplistsikhe Day Tour from Tbilisi

Uplistsikhe Cave Town

On a rocky ridge above the Mtkvari River, about 10 kilometres east of Gori, Uplistsikhe is an ancient rock-hewn town used from the Early Iron Age to the late Middle Ages. At its peak it was a major stop on the caravan routes, with pagan temples, halls, storerooms and a theatre-like hall all carved into the soft sandstone.

Walking through its streets, tunnels and staircases feels like exploring a lost city. A 10th-century basilica stands at the top, showing the town's Christian period. Plan about 90 minutes; the entry ticket is paid on site. Sturdy shoes are essential on the smooth, sloping rock.

Gori and the Stalin Museum

Gori, the main town of the Shida Kartli region, is best known as the birthplace of Joseph Stalin. The Stalin Museum, opened in Soviet times, preserves the small house where he was born, his personal armoured railway carriage and halls full of documents and gifts.

Visiting the museum is optional and paid locally; alternatively you can use the free time for lunch and a walk to the Gori Fortress on the hill above town. Either way, our guide explains the complex place Stalin holds in Georgian memory. Gori is also a good place to try churchkhela, the traditional Georgian sweet of walnuts threaded on a string and dipped in grape juice.

Jvari Monastery

Jvari Monastery, the Monastery of the Cross, was built around 590 to 605 AD on a rocky hilltop where Saint Nino is said to have raised a wooden cross after bringing Christianity to Georgia. Its tetraconch plan became a model for church architecture across the Caucasus.

From the terrace you look down on the meeting point of the Mtkvari and Aragvi rivers and the town of Mtskheta, one of the classic views of Georgia. Allow about 35 minutes for photos and a short visit inside. The hilltop is often windy and cooler than the valley, so keep a jacket handy, especially in spring and autumn.

Mtskheta and Svetitskhoveli Cathedral

Mtskheta was the capital of the Kingdom of Iberia from around the 3rd century BC to the 5th century AD, and its monuments are listed by UNESCO. At its centre stands Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, built in the 11th century on the site where, according to tradition, the robe of Christ is buried.

Inside, frescoes, royal tombs and a small stone chapel reward a slow visit. Afterwards you have time to stroll the pedestrian streets with craft shops. A Mtskheta day trip from Tbilisi is easy, and this tour combines it with the rest of Kartli in one day.