# Rike Park, Tbilisi > Rike Park is a free, open-access riverside park on the east bank of the Mtkvari, directly across from Old Tbilisi — no gates, no tickets, open at all hours. Allow 30–45 minutes for the lawns, giant chessboard and Bridge of Peace. Most people come for the cable car to Narikala Fortress: 2.5 GEL one way, from 10:00. In autumn 2026 part of the park is fenced off while the Fuksas “tubes” are demolished. Web page: https://yesgo.io/georgia/tbilisi/rike-park - City: [Tbilisi](https://yesgo.io/georgia/tbilisi), Georgia - YesGo score: 61/100 (Yes, go) - Time on site: 45 min - Entry: Free; cable car 2.5 GEL - Opening hours: Park open 24/7; cable car from 10:00, until 22:00 from 1 November and until midnight in summer - With kids: Fine with kids - Park entry: Free, no tickets - Park hours: Open all hours — unofficial, the park publishes no timetable - Cable car to Narikala: 2.5 GEL one way - Cable car hours: From 10:00; until 22:00 from 1 November, until midnight in summer - Paying for the cable car: Metromoney card (2 GEL deposit), sold at the lower station and metro stations - Musical fountain: Evenings in the warm season; no published schedule - Right now: The Fuksas tubes are being demolished, due to finish by 25 December 2026 per a City Hall document; the area around them is fenced - Nearest metro: Avlabari — about 10 minutes downhill on foot - Location: East (left) bank of the Mtkvari, between the Bridge of Peace and Metekhi Bridge - Coordinates: 41.69286, 44.81005 - Facts checked: 30.10.2026 ## Key facts - **2.5 GEL** — one-way cable car ride from the park to Narikala (source: Tbilisi Transport Company, fares) - **2010** — the year it opened — central Tbilisi's newest park (source: Russian Wikipedia; Wikidata; Eurasia Travel; Tripster) - **508 m** — length of the cable car line — under two minutes to the top (source: Remontées-mécaniques.net ropeway database; Georgian National Tourism Administration (≈ 500 m)) - **“Sands”** — what “rike” means — the park sits on a former island and sandbanks of the river (source: Russian Wikipedia; Madloba guide to Tbilisi parks) - **East bank** — of the Mtkvari, between the Bridge of Peace and Metekhi Bridge (source: Russian Wikipedia; Georgian National Tourism Administration) - **Fuksas** — Massimiliano and Doriana Fuksas designed the tubes — a music theatre and exhibition hall (source: Reuters; Dezeen) - **Never opened** — the tubes were nearly finished, then abandoned in 2012–2013 (source: Dezeen (2012); Reuters (built 2011–2012); Eurasia Travel (2013)) - **2026** — City Hall approved demolition of the tubes; work started in late July (source: Reuters; Dezeen; Georgia Today) - **≈ 1 m** — height of the pieces on the giant chessboard (source: Russian Wikipedia; Georgian National Tourism Administration) - **Tbilisoba** — the city's festival, held in Rike Park every October (source: Georgian National Tourism Administration; 1TV) ## Rike Park cable car: price, hours and how to pay The lower station of the Rike–Narikala cable car is inside the park, by Europe Square. Cabins glide over the river and the Old Town rooftops to the ridge beside the fortress — **508 metres** in under two minutes. A one-way ride is **2.5 GEL** on the Tbilisi Transport Company tariff, and it is not part of the 90-minute fare that covers the metro and buses. Pay with a **Metromoney** card: the ticket desk at the lower station and metro stations sell it for a refundable 2 GEL deposit, and you top it up with cash or a bank card. Guides disagree on whether contactless bank cards work at the cable car gate, so buy Metromoney and you won't be stuck. Elsewhere in Georgia, contactless Visa and Mastercard work on the metro and buses and in most cafés; carry some lari in cash for kiosks. The cable car opens at 10:00. Last autumn City Hall announced that from 1 November it closes at 22:00 instead of midnight, with summer hours back to midnight. Nothing new has been published for this season, so treat those times as unofficial. The line also shuts a few times a year for scheduled maintenance, from a single day to a few weeks. > **Autumn 2026: part of the park is a building site** Since late July the “Rike tubes” — the never-opened Fuksas concert hall in the middle of the park — have been coming down, with a City Hall deadline of 25 December 2026. The riverside lawns, the Bridge of Peace and the cable car are unaffected, but the area around the tubes is fenced and noisy, and the classic tubes photo is about to disappear. ## How to get to Rike Park 1. From Meidan (Gorgasali) Square in the Old Town, cross the river on Metekhi Bridge and drop down to the right, to the riverside — 7–10 minutes on foot. 2. Or walk from Meidan along Erekle II Street to the Bridge of Peace, which lands you right in the park — about 5 minutes more. 3. By metro: get off at Avlabari and take the stairs down past the Presidential Palace — about 10 minutes. 4. From Liberty Square (Tavisuplebis Moedani) metro, walk 10 minutes down to Meidan, then cross by Metekhi Bridge or the Bridge of Peace. 5. From the airport, bus 337 runs to Liberty Square; continue on foot as above. 6. The cable car station is in the park by Europe Square: buy a Metromoney card at the desk and ride up to Narikala. ## Is Rike Park worth visiting? Yes — as part of a walk, not as a destination in itself. Rike is the pleasant middle stretch between the **Bridge of Peace** and the **cable car**: cross the bridge, spend 20–30 minutes by the river, then ride up to [Narikala Fortress](https://yesgo.io/georgia/tbilisi/narikala-fortress). Don't cross town just for the park; the lawns and sculptures are nice, not unique. With children it is an easy win: soft-surface playgrounds, the giant chessboard, a hedge maze, a climbing wall and the cable car itself. In high summer skip the midday visit — there is almost no shade. In autumn 2026, factor in the demolition site around the tubes; by the river and at the cable car you barely notice it. ## What to see in Rike Park - The glass-and-steel **[Bridge of Peace](https://yesgo.io/georgia/tbilisi/bridge-of-peace)**, whose east end steps straight down into the park. - The **giant chessboard**, with pieces nearly a metre tall — anyone can play. - A white sculptural **grand piano** and metal artworks in place of trees, including a metal oak with little doors. - The **musical fountain** near the centre — evening shows with music and lights in the warm months. - A bronze **Ronald Reagan** seated on a bench. - Playgrounds, a hedge maze and a climbing wall for kids. - The view across the river to Metekhi Church, the sulphur baths and Narikala — best after dark, when it is all lit up. - The Fuksas tubes, while they last — visible from the bridge and from the cable car. ## What is Rike Park? Rike is the newest park in central Tbilisi, opened in **2010** on the east bank of the Mtkvari (Kura) between the Bridge of Peace and Metekhi Bridge. It is less a garden than a broad riverfront: lawns, wooden boardwalks, grassy mounds and sculptures, with very few trees. That makes it scorching at noon in July and lovely in the evening. The name means “sands”. In the early 20th century this was an island between the main river and a side channel; the channel silted up, and floods kept leaving sand and mud on the bank. The park was laid out on that reclaimed ground. Above it rises the Avlabari district, crowned by the glass dome of the Presidential Palace; across the water are the Old Town and the walls of Narikala. So think of Rike as a **viewpoint and a transfer point** — you arrive over the bridge and leave by cable car. ## Best photo spots From the Rike riverside you can fit the Bridge of Peace, the Old Town domes and Narikala on its ridge into one frame. Go at blue hour, when the bridge lights come on and the fortress and Metekhi Church glow above the water. The second angle is **from the cable car cabin**: the park, the bend of the river and the whole bridge from above — stand on the river side. The third is **from the bridge itself**, looking back at the lawns, the cable car station and Avlabari above. If you want the tubes in your shot, hurry: they are being dismantled now. ## Before you go: checklist - [ ] Metromoney card, or 4.5 GEL for a new card plus one ride - [ ] Cable car running: from 10:00, until 22:00 in winter - [ ] Water and a hat for a summer afternoon - [ ] An extra hour for the bridge and Narikala - [ ] Comfortable shoes — Narikala is all stone and steps ## Rike Park vs Mtatsminda Park vs the Bridge of Peace | | Rike Park | Mtatsminda Park | Bridge of Peace | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | What it is | Riverside park | Hilltop amusement park | Footbridge over the river | | Cost | Free; cable car 2.5 GEL | Park free; funicular and rides extra | Free | | View | Up at the Old Town and Narikala | The whole city from above | River, park and fortress | | Getting there | Walk from Meidan or Avlabari metro | Funicular or taxi | Walk from Meidan | | Time needed | 30–45 min | 2–3 h | ≈ 20 min | | For kids | Playgrounds, chess, cable car | Rides | Short and car-free | Rike and the Bridge of Peace make one easy evening in the centre. [Mtatsminda](https://yesgo.io/georgia/tbilisi/mtatsminda-park) is a separate trip, but the view is higher. ## Tbilisi after dark, compared Tbilisi places that are at their best in the evening, 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 - [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 - [Rustaveli Avenue](https://yesgo.io/georgia/tbilisi/rustaveli-avenue) — YesGo score 42/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free, 24/7 ## An evening in the centre: bridge, park and fortress Over the Bridge of Peace into Rike Park, up by cable car to Narikala, then down on foot to the sulphur baths. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers. 1. [Bridge of Peace](https://yesgo.io/georgia/tbilisi/bridge-of-peace) — YesGo score 64/100 (Yes, go) · 20 min · Free 2. [Rike Park](https://yesgo.io/georgia/tbilisi/rike-park) — YesGo score 61/100 (Yes, go) · 45 min · Free; cable car 2.5 GEL 3. [Narikala Fortress](https://yesgo.io/georgia/tbilisi/narikala-fortress) — YesGo score 60/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h · Free; cable car 2.5 GEL 4. [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 ## Good to know The Rike cable car goes only to Narikala. The Turtle Lake cable car and the Mtatsminda funicular are separate lines with their own stations and fares. “Rike” is also the name used for the concert hall in the tubes, but no concert was ever held there — the building never opened. ## Tips - Arrive half an hour before sunset: stroll by the river, then ride up when the Bridge of Peace lights come on. - Ride up, walk down to [Abanotubani](https://yesgo.io/georgia/tbilisi/abanotubani) and the sulphur baths — less climbing and no second queue. - The cable car queue peaks just before sunset; on a weekday afternoon there is hardly any. - Keep your Metromoney card: on the metro and buses it gives you 90 minutes of travel for 1 GEL. - Not keen on the climb at the top? Ride up and back — the view from the cabin is nearly as good. ## Questions ### Is Rike Park free? Yes. It is an open public park with no gates or tickets. You only pay for the cable car to Narikala — 2.5 GEL one way. ### How much is the Rike Park cable car? 2.5 GEL one way on the Tbilisi Transport Company tariff. Pay with a Metromoney card, sold at the lower station for a 2 GEL deposit. ### What are the cable car hours? It opens at 10:00. City Hall's last announcement had it closing at 22:00 from 1 November and at midnight in summer; treat those times as unofficial for this season. ### Can I pay for the cable car with a bank card? Sources disagree. Metromoney is the reliable option — buy it at the lower station with cash or a card, and use it on the metro and buses too. ### How do I get to Rike Park? Walk 7–10 minutes from Meidan Square across Metekhi Bridge, cross the Bridge of Peace from Erekle II Street, or take the metro to Avlabari and walk 10 minutes downhill. ### Is Rike Park worth visiting? As part of an evening walk, yes: cross the Bridge of Peace, stroll by the river and ride up to Narikala. On its own it is a pleasant park, not a must-see. ### What are the tubes in Rike Park? A music theatre and exhibition hall by Studio Fuksas, nearly finished in 2012 but never opened. Demolition began in summer 2026. ### When does the Rike Park fountain show run? On warm-season evenings, with music and lights. There is no published schedule, and in late autumn and winter the shows usually stop. ### Is Rike Park good for kids? Very: soft-surface playgrounds, a giant chessboard, a hedge maze, a climbing wall and no cars — plus the cable car ride. ### How long do you need at Rike Park? 30–45 minutes for the park itself; about two hours with the Bridge of Peace, the cable car and Narikala. ## How we checked The cable car fare comes from the Tbilisi Transport Company's fares page — the only official figure here. The park has no official timetable: it is free and always open because it has no gates or ticket desks, and guides agree, so its hours are marked “verifying”. Cable car hours come from City Hall's announcement last autumn; nothing has been published for this season. Sources disagree on payment: most say Metromoney only, one says bank cards work too. The year the tubes were abandoned differs (2012 in Dezeen, 2013 in Eurasia Travel), so we show both. The demolition deadline is from a City Hall document quoted by Reuters. The park's area (6 ha) appears only in Wikipedia, so we leave it out. ## Sources - Russian Wikipedia: Rike Park (Парк Рике); Wikidata Q12868375 - Georgian National Tourism Administration (georgia.travel): Rike Park - Tbilisi Transport Company: standard fares, Rike–Narikala ropeway, 30.10.2026 - Remontées-mécaniques.net: Narikala gondola (Leitner) — length and travel time - Tbilisi City Hall via Georgia Today and 1TV: cable car winter timetable, October 2025 - Reuters, Dezeen, Georgia Today, 2026 — demolition of the Music Theatre and Exhibition Hall - In Your Pocket Tbilisi; Eurasia Travel; Tripster — park descriptions - Civil.ge — the Ronald Reagan statue in Rike Park --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.