Mtatsminda Park

Mtatsminda Park occupies the summit of Mount Mtatsminda, right above the historic centre of Tbilisi. The cable car ride from Rike Park takes about eight minutes; the cabin ascends over the rooftops of the old quarter and gives views of the wooden balconies of Abanotubani and the Narikala fortress from above. If you have a slight fear of heights, best to know in advance: the cabins sway in the wind and the glass is not the newest. A return ticket costs around 5 lari (~€1.80).

Up top there is an amusement park with rides for children, a large Ferris wheel from which you can see the entire Tbilisi basin and the Trialeti Mountains in the distance, several restaurants and a pantheon where Georgian writers and artists are buried. The weekend atmosphere is that of a family park: couples, groups of young people and families with children; on weekdays it is much quieter and restaurant prices are negotiable.

The highest point in the grounds has a 180-degree view over the city that is different from the one offered by the Narikala fortress. At sunset, when the sun sets over the western side, the light over the rooftops and church domes is remarkable. The cable car operates until 23:00 in summer, allowing a night ascent to see Tbilisi lit up.

Mount Mtatsminda, whose name means holy mountain in Georgian, houses the Mamadaviti church and hermitage on its slope, a place of worship since at least the 4th century. The leisure park was built in the Soviet era, between 1938 and 1940, as a popular recreation space for the inhabitants of Tbilisi. The current cable car replaced an old funicular line that had operated since the early 20th century. The pantheon on the slope brings together the graves of Georgian cultural figures such as the writer Ilia Chavchavadze and the poet Galaktion Tabidze, two of the most revered names in Georgian literature.

• Cable car from Rike Park The journey takes about 8 minutes and offers the best aerial views of the old town of Tbilisi; a return ticket costs around 5 lari.
• Panoramic Ferris wheel The tallest in the grounds; from the cabins you can see the entire Tbilisi basin, the Mtkvari river and the Trialeti Mountains on clear days.
• Writers' pantheon Graves of Georgian literary and cultural figures in a garden with cypress trees; Ilia Chavchavadze's grave nearly always has fresh flowers.
• Mamadaviti church and hermitage A small active religious complex on the slope, with the atmosphere of everyday worship very different from the tourism of the rest of the park.
• Sunset viewpoints The northern side of the park has terraces with views over the old town and the Mtkvari river, especially good in low light.

Photo gallery

Access is mainly via the cable car from Rike Park, next to the Peace Bridge. You can also go up by taxi or car along the road that circles the mountain, with some narrow stretches. There is no direct public transport to the summit. The nearest metro station is Avlabari, from where Rike Park is about 10 minutes' walk across the bridge.

The park operates year-round, but the rides close in winter or have reduced hours. The best time is from May to October: the cable car runs at normal frequency and the viewpoints are pleasant. In July and August it is hot in Tbilisi but the temperature at the summit is several degrees lower. On very windy days the cable car may be suspended; worth checking before heading up from Rike Park.