Yes. Uplistsikhe sits around 16-21 km (10-13 miles) east of Gori, roughly a 15 to 20 minute drive along the Kura River. Pairing the ancient rock-hewn town with Gori's fortress and old town in one day is a popular combination, since both sites are close enough to explore without feeling rushed.
Gori sits 85 km (53 miles) west of Tbilisi. A private transfer typically takes about 1 to 1.5 hours depending on traffic, far more predictable than a shared bus schedule. Traveling privately means you set your own departure time and skip waiting for a minibus to fill up.
Gori's highlights include the hilltop Gori Fortress, the Old Town's historic streets, and the Virgin Mary Cathedral. Most travelers spend around half a day covering these on foot, leaving time to also fit in Uplistsikhe or the Stalin Museum before heading back.
The museum, opened in 1957, covers the life of Joseph Stalin, who was born in Gori in 1878. Exhibits include the small wooden house where he spent his early childhood and the armored Pullman train carriage he used from 1941, including trips to the Tehran and Yalta conferences. It remains one of Georgia's most-visited historical sites.
Beyond its fortress and museums, the Shida Kartli region around Gori is known for its orchards, producing some of Georgia's crispest, juiciest apples. A day trip here pairs Bronze Age and medieval history with a taste of the countryside that shaped the region's identity long before Stalin's birth put it on the map.
Perched on the hill that gives Gori its name, the site has held fortifications since ancient times, with the current structure dating to 1774 under King Erekle II. The uphill walk rewards visitors with panoramic views over the Old Town and the surrounding Shida Kartli valley.