# Mtatsminda Park, Tbilisi > Mtatsminda Park is a free amusement park at 770 m above central Tbilisi, with a Ferris wheel, the TV tower and the widest city view. It's open every day. Get up by the 1905 funicular from Chonkadze Street (about 10–12 GEL, 3 minutes) or the cable car from Rustaveli Avenue (12 GEL, 11:00–22:30). Allow 2–3 hours, ideally around sunset. Web page: https://yesgo.io/georgia/tbilisi/mtatsminda-park - City: [Tbilisi](https://yesgo.io/georgia/tbilisi), Georgia - YesGo score: 46/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 2 h 30 min - Entry: Free entry, funicular ≈ 10–12 GEL - Opening hours: Park open every day, free entry; Rustaveli cable car 11:00–22:30; funicular from morning to late evening — check on the day - With kids: Fine with kids - Park entry: Free, every day - Funicular: About 10–12 GEL one way - Rustaveli cable car: 12 GEL one way for foreign visitors, 3 GEL for Georgian citizens and residents, under-6s free - How to pay: Mtatsminda Park card (about 2 GEL) from the station ticket desks; Metromoney not accepted - Cable car hours: Every day 11:00–22:30 - Funicular hours: Morning to late evening; sources disagree - Funicular frequency: Every 20 minutes, 3-minute ride - Buses: 364 from Rustaveli Avenue, 390 from Orbeliani Square - Funicular lower station: 22 Daniel Chonkadze Street - Time needed: 2–3 hours, longer with the Pantheon - Coordinates: 41.69450, 44.78400 - Facts checked: 30.10.2026 ## Key facts - **Free** — park entry — you pay only for the ride up and the attractions (source: Mtatsminda Park official website; Madloba) - **770 m** — the park's altitude, the highest point of Tbilisi (Russian Wikipedia gives 730 m for the mountain) (source: Mtatsminda Park official website; English Wikipedia; Georgia Travel) - **1905** — the year the funicular from Chonkadze Street opened (source: Mtatsminda Park official website; Georgia Travel; Eurasia Travel) - **501 m** — length of the funicular track, climbing 267 m between stations (source: Mtatsminda Park official website; English Wikipedia) - **2024** — the Rustaveli Avenue cable car opened (source: Russian Wikipedia; Advantour; CBW) - **21 gondolas** — eight seats each on the Rustaveli–Mtatsminda cable car (source: Mtatsminda Park official website; CBW; iPress) - **“Holy Mountain”** — what Mtatsminda means — St David of Gareja settled here in the 6th century (source: Russian Wikipedia; Georgia Travel; Georgian Holidays) - **1929** — the Mtatsminda Pantheon officially opened on the slope (source: English and Russian Wikipedia; Georgia Travel) - **1829** — Alexander Griboyedov buried by St David's Church (source: English and Russian Wikipedia; Tonkosti) - **1930s** — when the park on the summit was laid out (source: English Wikipedia; Russian Wikipedia gives 1938) - **1972** — the TV tower on the summit was built (source: English and Russian Wikipedia) ## Is Mtatsminda Park free? Tickets and prices Entry to the park is **free**, and it's open every day of the year. What you pay for is getting up there and the rides. The park doesn't publish its fares online; unofficially, the **funicular** costs about 10–12 GEL one way and the **cable car** from Rustaveli Avenue 12 GEL for foreign visitors (3 GEL for Georgian citizens and residents, under-6s ride free). Each attraction — the Ferris wheel, roller coaster, carousels, the Ghost Castle dark ride — is charged separately at its own price. If you only want the view, the lookout terraces along the edge of the plateau cost nothing and the view is nearly the same as from the wheel. > **You need a Mtatsminda Park card — Metromoney won't work** The funicular, the cable car and every ride are paid with the park's own plastic card, not the city's Metromoney card. Buy it at the ticket desk of the lower or upper station — unofficially about 2 GEL — with cash or a bank card. Several people can share one card, so load enough for the whole group at once and skip a second queue at the top. ## Mtatsminda funicular: price, hours and the middle stop The funicular opened in **1905** and is a sight in its own right. The lower station is at **22 Daniel Chonkadze Street**, a Moorish-style building in the Sololaki district. The 501-metre track climbs 267 m; two cars pass each other halfway, departing every 20 minutes and taking 3 minutes to the top. The middle stop is for the Pantheon and Mama Daviti church. Hours are the murky part. Guides quote anything from 9:00 or 10:30 to 23:00, and one says it runs well past midnight. One guide also says the cars skip the middle stop after 19:00 — so visit the Pantheon by day. Before an evening trip, ask at the desk when the last car goes down. At the top, the three-storey upper station houses a restaurant and café with a terrace looking straight over the city centre. ## Rustaveli to Mtatsminda cable car Since October 2024 a **cable car** also runs up the mountain. The lower station is at **52 Rustaveli Avenue**, by the Georgian Academy of Sciences and a few minutes from Rustaveli metro. Its 1958 building by architect Vakhtang Lezhava is a listed heritage monument and has been restored. According to the park, it runs **every day from 11:00 to 22:30**, with 21 eight-seat gondolas; the ride takes about 4–5 minutes. You pay with the same park card. It's the easier choice if you're staying near Rustaveli or Vake — no uphill walk to the station. The funicular is the better ride and stops at the Pantheon. Best of both: go up one way and come down the other. ## How to get to Mtatsminda Park 1. From Meidan (Gorgasali) Square, walk up Pushkin Street to Liberty Square (Tavisuplebis Moedani) — about 10 minutes. Avlabari metro across the river works too. 2. For the cable car: take the metro one stop from Liberty Square to Rustaveli, or walk along [Rustaveli Avenue](https://yesgo.io/georgia/tbilisi/rustaveli-avenue) for about 20 minutes. The lower station is at 52 Rustaveli Avenue, by the Academy of Sciences. 3. For the funicular: from Liberty Square or Rustaveli metro walk up through Sololaki to Daniel Chonkadze Street — about 15 minutes of steep lanes. With kids or in summer heat, a Bolt taxi is easier. 4. By bus: the park lists bus 364 from Rustaveli Avenue and 390 from Orbeliani Square, 15–20 minutes to the top. Tap a contactless bank card or a Metromoney card on the validator. 5. By taxi: about 12–15 minutes from the centre along the road towards Okrokana. Coming back, ride down by funicular or cable car and walk to the metro. ## Is Mtatsminda Park worth it? Yes, for the view alone: from the edge of the plateau you see all of Tbilisi at once — the Old Town and [Narikala Fortress](https://yesgo.io/georgia/tbilisi/narikala-fortress), [Sameba Cathedral](https://yesgo.io/georgia/tbilisi/sameba-cathedral), the river and the new districts out to the hills. Come about 90 minutes before sunset, watch the city light up, and ride down after dark. With children it's the best half-day in the city: rides, a kids' zone and two fun ways up. Without kids, the rides themselves are a standard funfair and not why you come — skip them, enjoy the lookouts and the funicular, and you'll need about 90 minutes in total. In cold, windy weather many rides stop, and the summit feels noticeably colder than the streets below. ## What to see at Mtatsminda - **The Ferris wheel** on the cliff edge — the park's signature view over the whole city. It's paid and stops in strong wind. - **The free lookout terraces** along the plateau — almost the same panorama, best at sunset and after dark. - **The rides** — a roller coaster, carousels, the Ghost Castle dark ride and a kids' area; each paid from your card, some only in the warm season. - **The upper funicular station** — a three-storey building with a restaurant, café and the classic terrace view. - **The TV tower** from 1972, the red-and-white landmark visible across Tbilisi — not open to visitors, but great up close for photos. - **Mama Daviti church and the Pantheon** halfway down, at the funicular's middle stop — quiet and historic, a complete change from the funfair. ## Mama Daviti church and the Mtatsminda Pantheon Halfway up the slope stands the **Church of St David (Mama Daviti)**, built in the 19th century where, according to tradition, St David of Gareja lived in a cell in the 6th century. Springs run from the rock in the churchyard. Around it lies the **Mtatsminda Pantheon**, officially opened in 1929 for the centenary of the death of the Russian writer and diplomat **Alexander Griboyedov**, buried here in 1829 beside his Georgian wife Nino Chavchavadze. Georgia's great writers rest here too: Ilia Chavchavadze, Akaki Tsereteli, Nikoloz Baratashvili, Vazha-Pshavela, Galaktion Tabidze. Entry is free; get off at the middle funicular stop or walk up the switchback path from Chonkadze Street. > **Dress code for Mama Daviti church** St David's is a working Orthodox church and the Pantheon a cemetery. Women should cover their hair and wear a skirt below the knee with covered shoulders; men need long trousers and should remove hats. No shorts or vest tops inside. The park at the top has no dress code — just carry a scarf. ## Can you hike up Mtatsminda? Yes. A paved switchback path climbs from Chonkadze Street to Mama Daviti church, and from there a steep trail through pine forest continues to the park. Other trails link the summit with Turtle Lake and the Sololaki ridge towards Narikala. Hike in daylight with proper shoes, and take the funicular down — the descent on loose paths is harder on the knees than the climb. ## Before you go: checklist - [ ] Money for the park card, enough for everyone - [ ] Leaving about 90 minutes before sunset - [ ] A jacket — it's windier and cooler at the top - [ ] A scarf for Mama Daviti church - [ ] I know when the last funicular or cable car goes down - [ ] Proper shoes if I'm hiking the trail ## Mtatsminda vs Narikala vs Sameba for views | | Mtatsminda | Narikala | Sameba | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | What it is | Amusement park on the mountain top | 4th-century fortress above the Old Town | Georgia's main cathedral on a hill | | View | All of Tbilisi from the highest point | Old Town, baths and river up close | The cathedral itself and Avlabari | | Cost | Park free; ride up about 10–12 GEL | Free; cable car 2.5 GEL | Free | | Time needed | 2–3 h | About 1 h | About 40 min | | Getting there | Funicular, Rustaveli cable car or bus | Walk from Meidan or cable car from Rike Park | Walk from Avlabari metro | | With kids | Best pick: rides and a kids' zone | Careful: walls without railings | Quiet, can bore children | First evening in Tbilisi? Narikala — it's central and free. Give Mtatsminda its own evening, especially with kids or for the biggest panorama of the city. ## Tbilisi viewpoints compared Tbilisi's best viewpoints, rated by YesGo. - [Bridge of Peace](https://yesgo.io/georgia/tbilisi/bridge-of-peace) — YesGo score 64/100 (Yes, go) · 20 min · Free - [Rike Park](https://yesgo.io/georgia/tbilisi/rike-park) — YesGo score 61/100 (Yes, go) · 45 min · Free; cable car 2.5 GEL - [Narikala Fortress](https://yesgo.io/georgia/tbilisi/narikala-fortress) — YesGo score 60/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h · Free; cable car 2.5 GEL - [Abanotubani Sulphur Baths](https://yesgo.io/georgia/tbilisi/abanotubani) — YesGo score 57/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h 30 min · Private room ≈ 50–250 GEL/hour - [Holy Trinity Cathedral (Sameba)](https://yesgo.io/georgia/tbilisi/sameba-cathedral) — YesGo score 52/100 (Yes, go) · 40 min · Free - [Chronicle of Georgia](https://yesgo.io/georgia/tbilisi/chronicle-of-georgia) — YesGo score 48/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free - [Mtatsminda Park](https://yesgo.io/georgia/tbilisi/mtatsminda-park) — YesGo score 46/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h 30 min · Free entry, funicular ≈ 10–12 GEL - [Open Air Museum of Ethnography](https://yesgo.io/georgia/tbilisi/tbilisi-ethnographic-museum) — YesGo score 29/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · ≈ 20 GEL (unofficial) ## New Tbilisi by day, Mtatsminda by night The flea market in the morning, a stroll down Rustaveli in the afternoon, the cable car up for sunset. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers. 1. [Dry Bridge Market](https://yesgo.io/georgia/tbilisi/dry-bridge-market) — YesGo score 50/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h · Free to browse 2. [Rustaveli Avenue](https://yesgo.io/georgia/tbilisi/rustaveli-avenue) — YesGo score 42/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free, 24/7 3. [Mtatsminda Park](https://yesgo.io/georgia/tbilisi/mtatsminda-park) — YesGo score 46/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h 30 min · Free entry, funicular ≈ 10–12 GEL ## Not to be confused with Mtatsminda is also the name of the old district at the foot of the mountain and of the Pantheon on its slope; this page is about the mountain and the park on top. Guides sometimes call the park Bombora. The Mtatsminda funicular is unrelated to the Rike–Narikala cable car, which has its own stations, fares and Metromoney payment. ## Tips - Ride the cable car up from Rustaveli and the funicular down — you see both and finish in Sololaki. - Arrive about 90 minutes before sunset to catch the wheel in daylight and the city lights after. - Load the park card for your whole group at once — one card covers several people. - Not into rides? Skip the wheel: the free lookouts give almost the same view. - Visit the Pantheon by day — reportedly the funicular skips the middle stop in the evening. - Bring a layer even in summer: the summit is breezier and cooler than the avenue below. ## Questions ### How much does it cost to visit Mtatsminda Park? Entry is free. Unofficially, the funicular is about 10–12 GEL one way and the Rustaveli cable car 12 GEL for foreigners, plus a park card of about 2 GEL; each ride is extra. ### How much is the Tbilisi funicular to Mtatsminda? The park doesn't publish the fare; current unofficial figures are 10–12 GEL one way. You pay with the Mtatsminda Park card, not cash or Metromoney. ### What are Mtatsminda Park opening hours? The park is open every day. The Rustaveli cable car runs 11:00–22:30; funicular hours vary by source, roughly morning to late evening, so check the last car down at the desk. ### How do I get to Mtatsminda Park? Funicular from 22 Chonkadze Street (15 minutes uphill from Liberty Square), cable car from 52 Rustaveli Avenue near Rustaveli metro, bus 364 or 390, or a 12–15 minute taxi from the centre. ### Can I pay with a bank card at Mtatsminda? You can buy and top up the park card with cash or a bank card at the ticket desks, but the turnstiles and rides take only the park card. Online top-up is also available on the park's website. ### Is Mtatsminda Park worth visiting? Yes for the view — it's the highest point in Tbilisi — and with kids. Without children, skip the rides: the free terraces and the funicular ride are the highlights. ### Can you walk up to Mtatsminda? Yes: a switchback path from Chonkadze Street to Mama Daviti church, then a steep forest trail to the park. Go in daylight and ride the funicular down. ### Is Mtatsminda good at night? Very — the city lights spread below and the wheel and TV tower are lit. Check the closing time of your ride down before you go up. ### Who is buried in the Mtatsminda Pantheon? Alexander Griboyedov and Nino Chavchavadze, Ilia Chavchavadze, Akaki Tsereteli, Nikoloz Baratashvili, Vazha-Pshavela, Galaktion Tabidze and other Georgian writers and public figures. ## How we checked Free entry, the visitor card, funicular length, climb, frequency and ride time, cable car hours and bus numbers come from the park's official website. The park doesn't publish fares: the 10–12 GEL funicular price comes from Madloba and Eurasia Travel (older guides quote 2–8 GEL), and the cable car fare from Madloba and other cable car guides — all unofficial. Funicular hours disagree (9:00–23:00, 10:30–23:15, until midnight or 4:00 depending on the source), so we don't give them as times. Altitude: the park and the National Tourism Administration say 770 m, Russian Wikipedia 730 m for the mountain, Tonkosti about 700 m; we give 770 m for the park. Sources differ on the height of the Ferris wheel (62 or 65 m) and the TV tower (274.5 or 277.4 m), so we leave them out. The park's founding: English Wikipedia says the 1930s, Russian Wikipedia 1938. ## Sources - Mtatsminda Park official website: about the park, cable car, visitor card, buses - English Wikipedia: Mtatsminda Park; Mtatsminda Pantheon; Tbilisi TV Broadcasting Tower - Russian Wikipedia: Mtatsminda (mountain); Mtatsminda Pantheon - Wikidata Q15260155 - Georgia Travel (Georgian National Tourism Administration): Mtatsminda - Advantour: Rustaveli–Mtatsminda cable car - CBW and iPress: opening of the Rustaveli–Mtatsminda cable car - Eurasia Travel: Tbilisi Funicular; Georgian Holidays: Mamadaviti church - Madloba: Tbilisi funicular, Mtatsminda park, Griboyedov's grave; Tonkosti: Mount Mtatsminda --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.