The Funicular

By Mariam Lomidze, GTour desk · Fact-checked against the sources listed · Last checked 17 October 2026 · Editorial policy

Overview

The Funicular is the cable railway that climbs Mtatsminda, the forested ridge rising above the centre of Tbilisi, carrying passengers from Chonkadze Street near Rustaveli Avenue to the plateau that holds Mtatsminda Park and the Pantheon of Writers and Public Figures. It is one of the oldest mountain railways in the Caucasus and remains the easiest way to reach Tbilisi’s best panoramic viewpoint without a long walk or a drive up the switchback road. For visitors planning a day in the capital, it functions as both transport and attraction in its own right, with restored early-twentieth-century station buildings, a historic restaurant terrace, and sweeping views over the Mtkvari (Kura) valley.

Although the Funicular itself sits inside Tbilisi, GTour lists it alongside family-friendly sights and wine estates of the wider Kvemo Kartli region for travellers combining a city morning with an afternoon among the vineyards south of the capital. It appeals equally to families looking for an easy outing with children, photographers wanting elevated views of Tbilisi’s old town and the Trinity Cathedral skyline, and anyone retracing the city’s early industrial and urban history.

History

The funicular opened on 21 December 1905, built to connect the expanding city below with the summer villas and gardens that were being developed on Mtatsminda in the late Russian imperial period. The lower station on Chonkadze Street and the intermediate and upper stations were designed in an eclectic, partly Art Nouveau style typical of Tbilisi’s turn-of-the-century architecture, and the line quickly became a fashionable destination, with a restaurant and observation terrace built at the top.

The funicular operated through the Soviet period as a popular leisure route, feeding visitors to the open-air restaurant and later to the amusement park that developed on the plateau. On 1 August 1990 a serious accident involving one of the funicular cars caused multiple fatalities, after which the line was closed for safety reasons. The system then stood largely out of use for more than two decades while the surrounding park fell into partial disrepair.

Reconstruction works in the 2010s replaced the cars and mechanical systems and restored the station buildings, and the funicular reopened to the public, returning as a working transport link and a renewed tourist attraction integrated with the modernised Mtatsminda Park above. Today the line and its stations are a familiar part of the Tbilisi skyline, regularly cited in city guides to the capital and used both by tourists and by residents of the Sololaki and Mtatsminda districts.

What to see

Lower Station, Chonkadze Street

The lower terminus sits a short walk from Rustaveli Avenue and Freedom Square, in a building that preserves elements of the original early-1900s design. It is the practical starting point for the ride and a useful orientation landmark at the base of Mtatsminda.

Mtatsminda Pantheon

A short walk from the upper station, the Pantheon of Writers and Public Figures is the burial ground of many of Georgia’s most significant cultural figures, including the writer and diplomat Alexander Griboyedov. It is a place of quiet reflection rather than a conventional sight, but it is closely tied to the funicular’s history as the reason the upper plateau became a destination in the first place.

Mtatsminda Park

The amusement park on the summit combines rides, a Ferris wheel, and open terraces with views over the city, making the area popular with families. It sits directly beside the upper funicular station, so the ride and the park are typically visited together.

Panoramic terraces and former restaurant building

The historic restaurant building at the top, once one of the city’s most fashionable venues, overlooks the Mtkvari valley, Narikala Fortress, and the Old Town rooftops. Even outside opening hours of any food service, the terrace area remains a favoured spot for photographs at sunset.

Getting there

From central Tbilisi, the lower funicular station on Chonkadze Street is reached on foot in ten to fifteen minutes from Freedom Square or Rustaveli metro station, or by a short taxi ride from anywhere in the city centre. From Kutaisi, the drive to Tbilisi is around 230 km via the Rikoti Pass and takes approximately three and a half hours by car; Georgian Railway also runs passenger trains between the two cities, taking roughly four hours, after which the funicular station is a short taxi ride from Tbilisi railway station. From Batumi, the road distance is about 370 km, around five to five and a half hours by car or marshrutka along the same Rikoti corridor, with an alternative overnight or daytime train service also available. Before travelling by road in winter, check the road status page for Rikoti Pass conditions. GTour arranges private transfers and guided tours with an English-speaking driver-guide for travellers who prefer not to self-drive; see GTour’s private tours for options that combine the funicular with Kvemo Kartli wineries in a single day.

When to go

The funicular and park operate year-round, but visibility over the city is best on clear days in spring and autumn, and the ride is particularly rewarding around sunset, when the Mtkvari valley and the Old Town are lit low and warm. Summer evenings bring the heaviest crowds, especially at weekends when the park is busiest with local families. Winter visits are quieter and the air is often clearer, though operating hours may be reduced and maintenance closures do occur, so checking current hours before travelling is advisable.

Where to stay and eat

Because the Funicular sits in central Tbilisi, most visitors stay in hotels around Rustaveli Avenue or the Old Town and treat the ride as a half-day outing. Travellers extending their visit into the wine villages and countryside south of the capital, in the Kvemo Kartli region, can combine it with verified wineries and travel specialists including Georgian German Wine House, Amate Winery, Saduni, Demi’s Winery, Shavnabada Monastery Winery, and Shalos Marani, as well as travel agencies such as HAPPY TRAVEL and Landmark of Georgia for arranging logistics. GTour’s verified register lists more hotels, wineries and restaurants below, and the destination guides section has further detail on Tbilisi accommodation by district.

Practical notes

Tickets for the funicular are typically purchased with a Metromoney card, the same contactless card used on Tbilisi’s metro and buses, and are issued separately from any entrance fees for rides inside Mtatsminda Park. The lower and intermediate stations involve some stairs, so strollers and wheelchairs may find access easier at the upper park entrance by road. Queues can build quickly on summer weekends and public holidays, and operating hours are occasionally shortened for maintenance, so it is worth confirming current schedules on the day of a visit. The route is not part of any UNESCO-listed property; it is a municipal transport and leisure landmark rather than a protected heritage site.

Questions travellers ask

What exactly is the Tbilisi Funicular?

It is a cable-hauled mountain railway connecting central Tbilisi, at Chonkadze Street, with the top of Mtatsminda hill, where Mtatsminda Park and the Pantheon of Writers are located. It has operated, with interruptions, since 1905.

Is it the original 1905 funicular car still running?

No. The original mechanical system and cars were replaced during reconstruction works following the line’s extended closure after a serious 1990 accident; the current cars and cable system are modern, though the historic station buildings have been preserved and restored.

What can you see from the top?

From the upper station and the park terraces, visitors see the Mtkvari (Kura) River valley, Narikala Fortress, the domes of the Old Town, and on clear days a wide view across the city toward the surrounding hills.

Is the funicular suitable for young children?

Yes, it is a popular family outing, particularly combined with the rides and open spaces of Mtatsminda Park at the top, though strollers are easier to manage via the upper road entrance than via the lower stepped approach.

How do you pay for a ticket?

Tickets are generally purchased using a Metromoney card, the contactless card also used for Tbilisi’s metro and bus network; fares and operating details can change, so confirming them locally is recommended.

Is the Mtatsminda Pantheon part of the funicular visit?

The Pantheon of Writers and Public Figures is a short walk from the upper funicular station and is commonly visited together with it. It holds the graves of several notable Georgian cultural figures and the writer Alexander Griboyedov.

Is the site wheelchair accessible?

Access varies by station; the lower terminus and intermediate stops involve stairways, while the upper plateau can also be reached by road, which is generally easier for wheelchairs and strollers than the stepped approaches.

What is the best time of day to ride it?

Late afternoon into early evening is popular, since the light over the valley is softer and the city begins to light up as dusk falls, though this is also the busiest period at weekends.

Can the funicular be combined with a day trip into Kvemo Kartli?

Yes. Many visitors pair a morning at the funicular and Mtatsminda Park with an afternoon visiting wineries and villages in Kvemo Kartli, a route GTour can arrange as a private guided day; see the best-of itineraries for examples.

Sources

• Georgian Railway
• Georgian National Tourism Administration — Kvemo Kartli region