Tskhinvali
From traveller-now
 WARNING: While the war between Georgia and Russia is over as is the fighting in Tskhinvali, now is not a good time to travel to the region. It has been heavily damaged by fighting, and armed troops still patrol the city. The situation is in a dangerous state of flux and simply put, this is not the time to consider any travel of any sort to Tskhinvali. |
Tskhinvali (Ossetic: Цхинвал, Georgian: ცხინვალი) is the capital city of the separatist republic of South Ossetia, which sits in the Kartli region of Georgia.
Get in
Pretty much the only way to get to Tskhinvali at present is to travel north from Gori. The cheapest option is to take a marshrutka, which run multiple times per day between the two cities (although the routes are shut down for the time being, because of the hostilities between Russia and Georgia.
Get around
Tskinvali's city center is compact, and easily covered on foot.
See
- The main government building. A large neoclassical Italianate building, home to the separatist government of Eduard Kokoity, which is the main landmark in the city
- Monument to the victims of the Georgian-Ossetian conflict.
- Statue of Abaity Vasoiy (Абайты Васойы).
- Statue of Khetagkaty Kostaiy (Хетæгкаты Къостайы).
Do
Buy
Eat
Drink
Sleep
Contact
Stay safe
Tskhinvali has long been the safest destination in South Ossetia to visit (although that emphatically does not mean that it has been safe), but as it is currently unsafe for foreigners of any kind to visit. But even better times, corruption, violent banditry, and general lawlessness have made this an unappealing place to vacation.
Get out
- The Russian-Georgian border has been closed to all third-party nationals for more five years, but it should now be considered closed to everyone. The only people crossing the border at present are Russian troops and Ossetian refugees.
