Digital Nomad Gori Guide

While there is not much of a digital nomad Gori, nor expat scene here, it is still one of the best places to travel in Georgia. It is also overall a pretty cheap place to stay and is a decent place to escape city life in Georgia.

Therefore, much like Anlong Veng, this is somewhere you visit because you have a penchant for communist history rather than somewhere you move to for months on end. So here’s our guide to short term travel and, or digital nomading in Gori.

Background to Gori

Gori is a city of around 45,000 people located about 85 km west of Tbilisi in the Shida Kartli region. While its history stretches back well over a thousand years and it is overlooked by an impressive medieval fortress, there is no escaping the fact that Gori is famous as the birthplace of Joseph Stalin.

During the Soviet era it became a pilgrimage destination for visitors from across the USSR, today somewhat less so, although it is still a draw for Red Tourists. Its also a cool modern rural countryside town that has a lot to offer visitors.

What to do in Gori

The main tourist draw to Gori is that it is the birthplace of Joseph Stalin and houses the museum dedicated to him. This makes it a major Red Tourism destination. That is not to say it is the only thing to do here, with historical sites, excellent scenery and wine country all close at hand. And yes, you really can buy Stalin wine.

Stalin Museum

The reason most people visit Gori. The complex includes Stalin’s birthplace, his famous armoured railway carriage and one of the last great Soviet style museums still operating much as it always has.

Gori Fortress

Standing high above the city, the medieval fortress offers the best views in town and is free to visit. It is particularly good towards sunset.

Uplistsikhe Cave City

Just outside Gori lies one of Georgia’s oldest settlements, an ancient cave city carved directly into the rock and dating back thousands of years.

Stalin Avenue

The main street through Gori is lined with cafés, restaurants and shops, making it the perfect place for an evening wander after a day of sightseeing. Also has a really name.

Shida Kartli Wine Region

The countryside surrounding Gori produces some excellent Georgian wines and several wineries welcome visitors. And yes, Stalin branded wine is easy enough to find.

Nightlife of Gori

Gori is not a party place like Tbilisi, Batumi or even Kutaisi. Yet while there is not all that much going on here it is worth remembering that this is still Georgia and Georgians like to drink.

Here’s our top five places to eat and drink in Gori.

Old Marani

Without doubt our favourite bar in Gori. Good beer, decent food, friendly staff and the closest thing Gori has to a proper pub.

Black Star

Probably the best restaurant in town, serving excellent Georgian classics at prices that are very reasonable.

Cafe 22

A relaxed café for coffee, cakes and light lunches. One of the better places if you need to answer a few emails.

Georgia Gold Restaurant

The restaurant at Georgia Gold Hotel serves reliable Georgian food and is a solid option whether or not you are staying there.

Dzvel Ubanshi

Traditional Georgian cooking with excellent khinkali, grilled meats and plenty of local wine.

The infamous KE&RA is very much not on our list of places to go in Gori. This is because, in our opinion at least, KE&RA is a bit of an overrated tourist trap despite the online hype that it receives.

Sleeping in Gori

Despite being popular with tourists there are not all that many hotels in Gori. The two main choices if you want to stay downtown are Gori Apartments and Georgia Gold, both of which I can recommend. These are generally around the $60 per night mark. As things stand I could not work out if the old Intourist Hotel is still operating.

Aside from these there are plenty of smaller guesthouses charging around $40 a night, many of which are not listed on Western booking sites.

If you decided you actually wanted to live in Gori then prices become considerably cheaper, particularly if you are prepared to live a little outside the centre.

Typical long term rental prices:

• One bedroom apartment: 400 to 700 GEL / $145 to $255 per month
• Two bedroom apartment: 600 to 900 GEL / $220 to $330 per month
• Village house: 300 to 600 GEL / $110 to $220 per month

Typical purchase prices:

• Apartment: 1,200 to 2,000 GEL / $440 to $730 per m²
• Village house with land: from around 50,000 GEL / $18,300

Digital Nomad Gori scene

Even typing “Digital Nomad Gori” is something of a misnomer because there really is no scene here, nor is there likely to be one any time soon. Cafés suitable for working are limited and most foreigners simply pass through on day trips from Tbilisi. That said, the internet is perfectly respectable, the food is excellent and the cost of living is low. If you like peace and quiet more than networking events then Gori certainly has its appeal.

Cost of living in Gori

With there not being much of a Gori digital nomad scene, the following is more estimate that full on fact.

• One bedroom apartment: 550 GEL / $200
• Utilities: 150 GEL / $55
• Internet: 40 GEL / $15
• Mobile phone: 20 GEL / $7
• Groceries: 450 GEL / $165
• Three nights out each week: 350 GEL / $128
• Local transport: 50 GEL / $18

Total: 1,610 GEL / $588 per month.

Conclusion

Gori offers one of the best travel experiences in Georgia and not just for Red Tourists. It is also a great stopover if you are heading further west or north from Tbilisi. There is probably not enough going on to justify living here permanently, particularly during the winter, although it could certainly make a pleasant base for a few months over summer.

Click to read about the best apps for Georgia.

Traffic permitting it is almost close enough to commute from Tbilisi. As a digital nomad destination we would probably give Gori a solid 4/10. It has plenty of charm, low prices, excellent food and fascinating history, but not much of an actual remote working community.

Click to see my tours to Georgia.