Gori
Middle East, Caucasus and Central Asia · Georgia
Did you know?
- The Stalin Museum includes his birthplace, death mask, and railway coach.
- In churches, women should cover their heads and wear longer skirts.
- Uplistsikhe is an ancient cave city and former Silk Road center a short drive away.
See also
Tbilisi
Georgia41.72°N 44.78°E · 575 m
Mtskheta
Georgia41.85°N 44.72°E · 460 m
Borjomi
Georgia41.83°N 43.38°E · 820 m
Gudauri
Georgia42.48°N 44.47°E · 2,196 m
Kazbegi
Georgia42.66°N 44.65°E · 1,740 m
Rustavi
Georgia41.53°N 45.00°E · 350 m
Overview
A compact history stop centered on the Stalin Museum, Gori Fortress, and nearby Uplistsikhe cave city. Stay overnight for lower-cost lodging and a fuller look at the town's museums, parks, and Georgian food.
Languages: Georgian
Understand
Gori is most famous for being the birthplace of Joseph Stalin. Today, surprisingly, it does not look much different from when Stalin ruled the USSR. Gori is a short drive from Uplistsikhe, an ancient Silk Road cave city and former regional center of pagan worship.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Get in
Gori is about an hour from Tbilisi by marshrutka (minibus) from the bus station beside the central bazaar, costing 3.50 lari for bus or 4 lari for marshrutka. Direct buses and marshrutkas also go to Kutaisi, Borjomi, and Batumi. The Tbilisi-Batumi night train passes through Gori at 23:30, tickets 15-25 lari.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
See
The Stalin Museum (15 lari) is the highlight, with exhibits on Stalin's life, his death mask, and includes his birthplace and railway coach. Gori Fortress offers free entry and great views. Uplistsikhe cave city (7 lari) is a short drive away. Other sights include the Virgin Mary Cathedral, Stalin's birthplace caged in columns, and three Stalin statues around town.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Do
Visit the Historical Ethnographic Museum (3 lari) for cultural exhibits. The Great Patriotic War Museum (free) covers WWII and the 2008 invasion. Catch a play at Gori Academic Theater. Stalin Park has a Ferris wheel, bears, and paintball. Football: FC Dila Gori at Tengiz Burjanadze Stadium.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Buy
Shops in Gori sell Georgian crafts and gifts cheaper than Tbilisi. The underground pedestrian tunnel below Stalin Square has shop No. 14 with handmade crafts by local street children. Icons and religious items at the Cathedral shop. Along Stalin Ave, late-night stores sell essentials. The Central Bazaar on Chavchavadze St has food, produce, and various goods.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Eat and drink
Orbi's Restaurant offers a wide selection of Georgian food and inexpensive locally-brewed beer (10-15 lari). Atrium (10-15 lari) is a local favorite. Cake House (5 lari) has cakes and khachapuri. Coffee House (5-10 lari) serves bliny and salads. Read Cafe (5-15 lari) is non-smoking. The Pub (5-15 lari) has cocktails. Beer tents pop up in summer. For nightlife, join young people at the birzhas by Stalin Museum and Stalin Park with store-bought drinks.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Sleep
Gueshouse Marina (30 lari/person) is comfortable with breakfast. Guesthouse Luka (25 lari/person) has clean rooms. Guesthouse Tamazi (25 lari/person incl. breakfast). Hotel Victoria (from 60 lari) is the best with modern rooms. Hotel Intourist (50 lari and below) is a Soviet-era option with variable quality. Staying overnight is cheaper than Tbilisi.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Connect
Internet Cafe @ENTER (1 lari/40 min) on Chavchavadze St has fast connection. Another internet cafe on Stalin Ave is smoky and dark. Free WiFi likely available in some hotels and guesthouses.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Respect
Residents honour Stalin; avoid offensive comments about him. The statue removal was opposed. In churches, women should cover heads and wear longer skirts. Foreigners are welcome but be mindful of worshippers.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Stay safe
Avoid taxi drivers hustling for tours to Uplistsikhe outside the museum. Be cautious at the border area near South Ossetia due to security concerns.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Go next
Marshrutkas to Tbilisi every half hour from the bus station (3.50-4 lari, 1½ hr). Westbound buses to Kutaisi, Borjomi, Batumi via Khashuri. Night train to Batumi (23:30, 15-25 lari). Trains also go to Kutaisi, Borjomi, Poti. North-bound buses to villages near Tskhinvali, but crossing to South Ossetia is not possible since 2008 conflict.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Field guide adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0. Text has been adapted and organized for this guide. About our sources.
Places to know
A few starting points from the guide. Check current hours and prices before you go.
- sleep
Gueshouse Marina
A comfortable guesthouse in a quiet neighborhood about a 15-min walk from the city center. The rooms are spacious and very clean, and the hosts warm and hospitable. Hot water is reliable, and the price includes breakfast, internet usage, and pick-up from the station. The owners speak Georgian and Russian, the son knows some English, and they can help arrange day trips in the area. (April 2011 update: some people are renting the house long term - there is no room available)
Recorded price: 30 lari/person
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
- sleep
Guesthouse Luka
A 2nd floor apartment with clean rooms, hot water and internet access. Toilet flush by water bucket. Hosts speak Russian and sufficient English. Make sure to ask for a receipt if paying for more than one night, otherwise you may be asked to pay again. No doorsign, entry is the door under the balcony.
Recorded price: 25 lari/person
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
- sleep
Guesthouse Tamazi
10 min walk from the Stalin museum. The rooms are very tidy and comfortable. The family is very friendly and hospitable, they speak Georgian and Russian and can host up to 3 people.
Recorded price: 25 lari/person incl. breakfast
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
- sleep
Hotel Intourist
A typical Soviet hotel with typical dour Soviet service and rooms that look unrenovated since the Khruschev era. Water and electricity are not always available. On the second floor, Rooms No. 1 & No. 2 have been renovated (50 lari - more if you are non-local/Russian); the rooms on the third floor, while cheaper, are less than desirable. Hotel Georgia in north wing of the same block.
Recorded price: 50 lari and below
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
- sleep
Hotel Victoria
The best hotel in Gori. Built in 2000, it has modern rooms with air conditioning and television. Conference facilities are available. Orbi's Restaurant is next door. Accepts major credit cards.
Recorded price: From 60 lari
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
- eat
Atrium
A local favorite, the Atrium offers traditional Georgian food and a pleasant atmosphere. The service is amongst the best in town.
Recorded price: 10–15 lari
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
- eat
Cake House
Aside from a large selection of delicious cakes, the cafe offers khachapuri, pirozhki, and pizza.
Recorded price: 5 lari
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
- eat
Coffee House
Despite the name, the cafe only offers two types of coffee. There is a decent selection of other foods, however, including bliny, salads, and pizza.
Recorded price: 5–10 lari
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
Before you go
Connectivity
Internet cafes available; @ENTER on Chavchavadze St costs 1 lari per 40 min.
Culture
Stalin is revered locally; avoid negative comments. Respect Orthodox church customs: women cover head and wear skirts.
Money
Prices are in Georgian lari. A meal costs 5-15 lari, a dorm bed 25-30 lari. The Stalin Museum is 15 lari for foreigners.
Safety
Avoid taxi hustlers near the Stalin Museum. The border with South Ossetia is closed and security concerns exist nearby.
Transport
Marshrutkas to Tbilisi cost 4 lari, about 1 hour. City marshrutkas cost 40 tetri. Taxis can be hailed, 0.6 lari/km.