Mtatsminda Mountain & Funicular

The funicular departs from the lower station on Chonkadze Street (460 m elevation). Modern carriages with panoramic windows climb at a 28–33° angle – during the 3-minute ride, you see the rooftops of Old Tbilisi, church domes, and the Kura valley. Halfway up is an intermediate stop at the Pantheon and St. David's Church, where Griboyedov, Baratashvili, Tsereteli and other prominent figures are buried. From there, 2 more minutes to the top.

The upper station is a monumental 1936–1938 building (architects: the Kurdiani brothers) housing the Funicular restaurant, known for Adjarian khachapuri and Georgian doughnuts (ponchiki). From the restaurant, you walk directly into the park. It's divided into three zones: extreme (roller coaster, water rides – summer only), family (bumper cars, Ghost Castle, carousels), and kids (mini-rides for toddlers). The 65 m Ferris wheel is the main attraction: glass cabins at the top offer a 360° view across Tbilisi, the Caucasus range to the north, and the Trialeti Mountains to the south.

After dark, the park lights up and the TV tower beside it glows like a local Eiffel Tower. The grounds are well-maintained: lawns, flowerbeds, benches, fountains. Several cafés operate in addition to the main restaurant. Live concerts and open-air events take place on weekends.

Funicular – built in 1905 by Belgian engineers, 501 m track, 267 m vertical rise, 28–33° incline

Ferris wheel – 65 m tall, the park's highest attraction, 360° panorama

Pantheon – necropolis at St. David's Church, burials since 1929, including Griboyedov and Baratashvili

Park area – over 100 hectares, about 60 rides and play areas

Elevation – 770 m above sea level, Tbilisi's highest point within city limits

Funicular rebuild – closed for 13 years after a 2000 cable accident, reopened in 2013 with new carriages

The funicular concept emerged in 1905 when a Belgian company that owned Tbilisi's tram network funded a cable railway up Mtatsminda. French engineer A. Blanche designed the project; Tbilisi architect A. Shimkevich handled the station buildings. The funicular became popular quickly, and in the 1930s an amusement park opened at the summit. The upper station building was constructed in 1936–1938 by the Kurdiani brothers – its silhouette is still visible from across the city.

In 2000, the funicular's cable snapped. No one was killed, but the line shut down for 13 years. It reopened in 2013 with completely new carriages and mechanisms. The park was also modernised with new rides and upgraded infrastructure. Today Mtatsminda is one of Tbilisi's key landmarks, and the TV tower on its peak is illuminated every night.

Funicular (recommended):

Lower station – Chonkadze Street (5 min walk from Rustaveli Avenue). Carriages every 10 min, ride time 5 min. Runs daily 9:00 AM – 4:00 AM.

Bus:

Routes #90 and #124 from Freedom Square / Rustaveli Avenue – 15–20 min, 1 GEL. These go to the park entrance via the road.

Taxi:

Bolt from the centre – 3–6 GEL to the lower funicular station, or 10–15 GEL to the park by road.

On foot:

From Chonkadze Street along a forest trail – about 1 hour. Steep but scenic.

Tip: Take the funicular up and walk down via the Pantheon – you'll see both the mountain and the necropolis.

Season: The park is open year-round, but all rides operate May–October. Water slides are summer only.

Time of day: Sunset (6:00–7:30 PM in summer) gives the best light for panoramic photos. The park is illuminated after dark. In summer, it's 5–7°C cooler on the mountain than downtown.

Duration: 2–3 hours for the park, Ferris wheel, and a stroll. With the Pantheon – 3–4 hours.

Avoid: Summer weekends (July–August) – the park gets crowded. In winter, some rides close, but the funicular and viewpoints operate.