Guide to Dighomi Forest Park: Trees and City Walks

🌲 Forest-Park · ⏱️ 1.5–3 hours · 📍 Dighomi District, Tbilisi

🧭 Who This Article Is For

Dighomi Forest-Park is not a tourist spot in the usual sense. Tour groups are not brought here. There is no "photogenic entrance" or cafe with a view. It is simply a forest in the city — a real one, with trails, birds, ancient trees, and air that you can physically feel. Tbilisi residents come here for a run, with children, or with food. Tourists who want to understand the city a little deeper should also visit.

🌲 A Forest That Is Nearly 100 Years Old

The history of Dighomi Forest-Park begins in 1934: back then, a nursery was established here with a practical task — a windbreak zone. No aesthetic goals, just function. The area was 75 hectares.

Over the past decades, urban development has gradually swallowed up the territory — the forest-park shrank. But what remained preserved the main thing: a genuine forest that was planted back in the Soviet era and allowed to grow.

Today, Dighomi is considered the "lungs of Tbilisi" — the only place within the city limits where you can find yourself inside a real mixed forest, rather than among meticulously manicured lawns.

🌿 What Grows in Dighomi

These are not just "trees". Around 7,000 plant species grow here — a significant portion of which is listed in the Red Book. Among them are both native species found only in this part of the Caucasus, as well as imported varieties.

Forest-forming species: oak, hornbeam, beech — a typical composition of a Caucasian mixed forest. It is this combination that creates that dense shade and that special smell of damp leaves that you cannot mistake for anything else.

The age of some trees exceeds 150 years. This means they were growing even before the nursery was established — they were here before 1934. Standing next to such a tree and realizing how many eras it has survived is a unique feeling.

Many birds live in the park. If you come early in the morning, especially in spring, the singing is so rich that audio recording cannot fully capture it.

🏃 What You Can Do Here

• Walking and running. The trails are well-trodden, and the terrain is diverse. For a morning jog or a peaceful evening stroll — everything is here.
• Cycling. There are bike paths. The forest terrain makes riding more interesting than on city streets.
• Picnic. Equipped areas with BBQ grills and benches. Coming with food and a group of friends is a standard format for locals.
• Workout. Outdoor gym equipment and sports areas.
• Children's playgrounds. Available and in good condition.
• Observation decks. Several spots offer views of Tbilisi and the surrounding mountains. On a clear day, the ridges are clearly visible.

🗺️ How to Spend Your Time in Dighomi

1️⃣ Get to the Dighomi district — by taxi from the center or public transport. Check the current route before your trip.

2️⃣ Enter the forest and simply follow the trail. Take your time — the feeling of a real forest appears a few minutes after the city noise fades away.

3️⃣ Find trees with markings or pay attention to the signs: some of the unique and rare species are labeled. This is one way to understand how serious the plant collection is.

4️⃣ If you came with children — head towards the playgrounds and workout areas. Children stay there for a long time.

5️⃣ Walk up to the observation deck overlooking the city and mountains. in good weather, it is worth a separate trip.

6️⃣ If you brought food — take a spot near a BBQ grill in the picnic area. In summer and on weekends, they are taken early.

🍂 Spring and Autumn: The Best Time

Several visitors agree: the forest-park changes depending on the season, and both "transitional" periods are the best.

• In spring — blossoms, bright first greenery, and the most intense birdsong. The air is humid and clean.
• In autumn — the leaves of oaks, hornbeams, and beeches turn to gold and ochre. The forest light at this time is special — warm and horizontal. It is in autumn that people most often take those photos in Dighomi that they later want to hang on the wall.
• In summer — it is a rescue from the heat: the forest is several degrees cooler than the city.

💬 What Those Who Visit Say

"The forest is harmony, a special world. A walk in Dighomi will fill you with energy and strength. Here you can observe interesting, unique plants — this makes the trip especially exciting."

"I especially liked the observation decks with views of the city and mountains — a real find. Well-equipped picnic areas and children's playgrounds make this place an excellent choice for a family holiday."

"We recently spent the weekend with the family. I was pleasantly surprised by how well-equipped the workout areas and walking routes are. My daughter especially liked the playgrounds. The panorama of the city and mountains from the observation decks is breathtaking."

"Clean air and natural silence are a true treasure. Something was created with a simple practical purpose and then turned into a city asset."

🏁 Why It's Worth Visiting

Dighomi Forest-Park is what most city parks lack: a real forest with a history. Not trees planted in a row, but a mixed woodland area established back in 1934 that has grown over nearly a century into a significant natural site. Seven thousand plant species, trees older than 150 years, birds, observation decks with mountain views — and all of this is free and within the city limits.

ℹ️ The forest-park is open for free. Check the current route on how to get there from the center of Tbilisi. There are no cafes on the territory — bring food and water with you. Information is current at the time of publication.