Uplistsiche Cave Town
Uplistsiche Cave Town
4.5
Historic SitesAncient RuinsPoints of Interest & Landmarks
About
Duration: 2-3 hours
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listing
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Plan your visit
See what travellers are saying
  • ErkiBear
    London, United Kingdom384 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great unusual place to spend a couple of hours.
    Really interesting place to see how people lived at one time in this area. A challenging walk in areas but there are plenty of walkways to make it easier. Some of the caves have carvings and structures that can indicate how they were used. Great unusual place to spend a couple of hours.
    Visited September 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written 13 October 2023
  • jbg74
    Saint Paul, Minnesota1,094 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Amazing Ancient Cave City
    This is an amazing 3,000 year old ancient cave city carved on top of a hill. About two-thirds of it was completely destroyed by Genghis Khan then the remaining third was severely damaged by earthquakes in the middle-ages. It was occupied through the middle-ages and is a really cool historic site.
    Visited November 2023
    Travelled solo
    Written 10 November 2023
  • Georgian Tourist Service
    Tbilisi, Georgia48 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    One of the rarest monuments in the world
    Uplistsikhe - a city carved into a rock, one of the first cities in Georgia and in the Caucasus. The city arose at the end of the 2nd - beginning of the 1st millennium BC and contains various structures dating from the Early Iron Age to the Late Middle Ages. In its heyday, Uplistsikhe included more than 700 caves and cave structures, of which only 150 have survived to date.
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 10 April 2024
  • mel7155
    Singapore, Singapore1,344 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Similar to Cappadocia caves and just as historic
    It was great visiting the historic site with all the cave houses and churches . Very similar to what you see in Cappadocia in nearly all ways other than the fact that there is still a working church here . Recommend that you pair this tour with other sites . I took a tour from Tbilisi so it was quite a worthwhile tour . There are many tour agencies organizing the tour to this city , so get any of these tours for a day trip out of the city .
    Visited May 2024
    Travelled solo
    Written 8 May 2024
  • Cloud
    1,214 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Wear trekking shoes
    The caves and the church are very interesting. Please note: allow extra time to see this attraction as it is requires some resting times because it is not exactly easy to access. Would suggest trekking shoes as the path is not clearly defined and some areas are slippery: not all areas are reachable by the iron stairs, you will mostly have to climb on stones and find your own way to and fro. Once well equipped, you will appreciate the attraction at its best!
    Visited April 2024
    Travelled solo
    Written 12 May 2024
  • Milind Shah
    Ahmedabad, India2,017 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    A must visit place in Georgia
    Unlistsikhe, often referred to as "the Lord's Fortress," is a mesmerizing ancient cave town located in the Shida Kartli region of Georgia. This remarkable site, dating back to the early Iron Age, offers a unique glimpse into the past with its intricate network of caves, tunnels, and rock-cut structures. One of the most striking features of Uplistsikhe is its blend of architectural styles, reflecting influences from both pagan and Christian traditions. As you wander through the site, you'll encounter a variety of structures, including ancient dwellings, a theater, and even a basilica from the 9th-10th centuries. The craftsmanship and ingenuity required to carve these structures from solid rock are truly awe-inspiring. The town's strategic location along the Silk Road made it a significant center of trade and culture. Walking through Urlistsikhe, you can almost feel the echoes of the past, imagining the bustling activity that once took place here. The panoramic views of the Mtkari River and the surrounding landscape add to the site's allure, making it a perfect spot for photography and contemplation. Despite its historical significance, Uplistsikhe is not as crowded as some of Georgia's other tourist attractions, allowing for a more intimate and immersive experience. Whether you're a history enthusiast, an architecture lover, or simply someone looking for a unique adventure, Uplistsikhe is a must-visit destination that promises to leave a lasting impression. Don't forget to try the Wine tasting tour at the end of the tour, where you can experience a wine cellar. You can get separate tickets to the cellar by paying 5 Lari more.
    Visited June 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 19 August 2024
  • dizzyb3
    1,435 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Take time to visit
    A really great place to visit and learn about the past. Myself and my 73 year old mum managed to scramble around and see everything. It is best to have a guide to learn about the site. There is a video that's worth watching before entering. Definitely an interesting and picturesque place to visit.
    Visited August 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 23 August 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles823 reviews
Excellent
542
Very good
227
Average
48
Poor
3
Terrible
3

Mohammad Qutishat
Amman, Jordan2,216 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2020
I recommend that you skip it and go to Vardzia caves instead, they are much more interesting.
There is not much to see in Uplistsiche; the caves are in a bad condition, the view is nice.
You can rent audio guide headsets in English, and when you pass specific numbered points, you can enter the number and listen to an explanation of this point.
The hike up to the caves is not easy, make sure to wear comfortable shoes
Avoid using the bathroom, it is not free which means it should be clean; unfortunately, it is very filthy.
Written 27 February 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Eryk T
Rumia, Poland4 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2021 • Friends
The view from there is pretty nice and caves look beautiful., but it was pretty boring (maybe because we didn’t purchase the audio guide). If you are going to Gorilla I would recommend to visit the place but in my opinion it is not worth going there solely to the purpose of seeing the caves.
Written 24 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

mel7155
Singapore, Singapore1,344 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2024 • Solo
It was great visiting the historic site with all the cave houses and churches . Very similar to what you see in Cappadocia in nearly all ways other than the fact that there is still a working church here . Recommend that you pair this tour with other sites . I took a tour from Tbilisi so it was quite a worthwhile tour . There are many tour agencies organizing the tour to this city , so get any of these tours for a day trip out of the city .
Written 8 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Milind Shah
Ahmedabad, India2,017 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
June 2024 • Family
Unlistsikhe, often referred to as "the Lord's Fortress," is a mesmerizing ancient cave town located in the Shida Kartli region of Georgia. This remarkable site, dating back to the early Iron Age, offers a unique glimpse into the past with its intricate network of caves, tunnels, and rock-cut structures.
One of the most striking features of Uplistsikhe is its blend of architectural styles, reflecting influences from both pagan and Christian traditions. As you wander through the site, you'll encounter a variety of structures, including ancient dwellings, a theater, and even a basilica from the 9th-10th centuries. The craftsmanship and ingenuity required to carve these structures from solid rock are truly awe-inspiring.
The town's strategic location along the Silk Road made it a significant center of trade and culture.
Walking through Urlistsikhe, you can almost feel the echoes of the past, imagining the bustling activity that once took place here. The panoramic views of the Mtkari River and the surrounding landscape add to the site's allure, making it a perfect spot for photography and contemplation.
Despite its historical significance, Uplistsikhe is not as crowded as some of Georgia's other tourist attractions, allowing for a more intimate and immersive experience. Whether you're a history enthusiast, an architecture lover, or simply someone looking for a unique adventure, Uplistsikhe is a must-visit destination that promises to leave a lasting impression. Don't forget to try the Wine tasting tour at the end of the tour, where you can experience a wine cellar. You can get separate tickets to the cellar by paying 5 Lari more.
Written 20 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

jbg74
Saint Paul, MN1,094 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2023 • Solo
This is an amazing 3,000 year old ancient cave city carved on top of a hill. About two-thirds of it was completely destroyed by Genghis Khan then the remaining third was severely damaged by earthquakes in the middle-ages. It was occupied through the middle-ages and is a really cool historic site.
Written 11 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

MsMkonnichiwa
Sydney, Australia271 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
July 2024 • Family
Ancient history at your fingertips. See where some of civilisation started. Close to Gori, this place has a small souvenir shop (most of which is disappointingly basic; not much to do with the caves, which I think they should do), bathrooms, cafe and museum which blessedly had strong AC. The guide was knowledgeable but a bit robotic and I was horrified that the guide thought my 87 year old father could do this climb, when only a small portion has steps with railings. The rest is a clamber up sandstone which can be slippery and dangerous. Not to mention it was 93F/34C. Luckily he realised he couldn’t do it and retreated with help from one of our family members. Special mention to the bathroom worker who ushered me into the male toilet when she saw my desperation, and ensured I had toilet paper. Apparently that’s not a given in Georgia, and some bathrooms have a charge.
Written 5 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Georgian Tourist Service
Tbilisi, Georgia48 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Couples
Uplistsikhe - a city carved into a rock, one of the first cities in Georgia and in the Caucasus. The city arose at the end of the 2nd - beginning of the 1st millennium BC and contains various structures dating from the Early Iron Age to the Late Middle Ages. In its heyday, Uplistsikhe included more than 700 caves and cave structures, of which only 150 have survived to date.
Written 10 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Genelee M
Sydney, Australia6 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
I hadn't heard about this place until our host in Gori told us about it. It's otherworldly with some amazing views. However we had a bad experience at the wine cellar which kind of put a dampner on the trip. I would advise against stopping there for a tasting.
Written 12 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Stephen L
Cambridge, UK504 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2022
A must see if you are in Gori. It can be a tricky climb up over the rocks but it's well worth taking the time to explore. Built originally 3000 years ago it's a really interesting rock hewn settlement.
Written 1 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Mohamed Sami
Alexandria, Egypt1,714 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020
This place dates back to the early iron age way to the late middle ages. with structures from pagan era to early christian times. It is the place of the throne of the famous queen Tamar as well as the basilica and many temples and other structures cut in the rocks . At the top there's a small church, the prince church, which is a more modern structure and there's also right to the left of the entrance a small museum of some artefacts and the story telling of the place but most of artefacts found in the area are kept in Tbilisi national museum. Very interesting place that should not be missed.
Written 31 January 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Showing results 1-10 of 385
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing

Uplistsiche Cave Town, Gori

All things to do in Gori
RestaurantsFlightsHoliday RentalsTravel StoriesCruisesRental Cars