Regulus K Going to Gori from Tibilis by Bus(Mtskheta) is cheap at 5 GEL (~USD 1.8) one way and takes only 50 minutes. This is way cheaper than most of the day trips that cost you over 30 USD to go to Gori.
Unfortunately, the information online is very confusing. You can hardly locate the right bus at the right time and in the right place. In that, I want to write you this step-by-step guide based on my last visit to Georgia.
Step 1 Get To The Didube Bus Station
Didube Bus Terminal is the location for you to take the bus to Gori. It is around 10 Km from the city center. Thus, the best way for you to get there is to take a Bolt for around 8.8 GEL ( ~ 3.1 USD) and the ride is around 14 minutes.
Arriving there you will see a large bus open-air terminal with a toilet (0.5 GEL pp) and a supermarket, the bus platform for Gori is on the opposite side of the open-air terminal.
Step 2 Purchase The Ticket At Gori Booth
Crossing the road, you shall see both with “Gori” on top. There, you can pay 5 GEL for the bus ticket and get on the bus to Gori, which is just nearby. You will also see a board with “Gori” at the left-hand corner of the bus, so it will be hard for you to miss it.
If you cannot find the booth, just ask people “Gori” or “Stalin”. Although most Georgians do not speak good English, they will know both words and point you in the right way.
The bus from Tbilisi to Gori runs from 7:30 am to 7:30 pm daily. The frequency is around 20 minutes and the bus will depart whenever it is full. However, you need to be aware that the last bus from Gori to Tbilisi during my last visit is 6:00 pm.
The bus environment is not as bad as many described online. Yes, they will use every available seat including the extension ones on the van but it is not as bad as the stuffy situation in India or some African Countries. You will still have your own seat in a van with around 20ish passengers. Yet, there is limited space for large suitcases and no toilet break for the 50-minute drive. In winter, it is still a pleasant journey. In summer, it would be a bit hot but it is only 50 minutes.
Step 3 Get Off At The Stalin Museum
Gori bus station is the final bus stop. Normally, you can get off at the Stalin Museum and start your day tour in Gori. If you depart from Tibilis at 7:30 am or even 9 am, you shall have 7 hours in Gori before the final bus departing to Tibilis.
7 hours are quite sufficient for you to explore the important icons of the whole city including a round-trip to Uplistsikhe.
Step 4 Get Back In Time. Gori Bus Station
Again the last bus to Tibilis is at 6 pm from Gori Bus Station. You can take a Bolt from the city center of Gori to the Gori bus station. It is a 3km and around 8 minutes drive for around 4.4 Gel (~ 1.5 USD). The ticket booth for the bus to Tibilis is noticeable at the corner of the Gori bus station. The ticket costs you another 5 GEL.
If you miss the last bus, there is a saying that you can still pay 7 GEL for a shared minivan to Tibilis at the Palace of Justice. I have not tried that before and would suggest you take the bus from Gori Bus Station. However, the minimum takeaway is there should be a minivan heading back to Tibilis even after the last bus.
