Mushtaidi Park Tbilisi: Dinosaur Garden and 19th-Century History
🌳 Historical park · ⏱️ 2–3 hours · 📍 Baratashvili and Tsabadze St, Tbilisi
🌿 What you need to know before visiting
| 📍 Address | Intersection of Baratashvili and Tsabadze streets, Tbilisi. Near the Central Railway Station |
| 📐 Area | 8 hectares |
| 📅 History | First half of the 19th century. Founder — Mir-Fatah-Agha Saied Tabrizi, received the land from the Russian Tsar |
| 🚂 Unique highlight | Children's train (1935) — the world's first children's railway with a circular route through a flower garden |
| 🌳 Nature | Relict zelkova grove. "Dinosaur" trees that survived millennia |
| 🏛️ Silk Museum | On the park grounds — a cultural heritage building. Cocoon collections from 61 countries |
| 💰 Entrance | Free |
🧭 Who is this article for
Mushtaidi Park is one of the most unusual places in Tbilisi. Not because it is large — it is only 8 hectares. But because it has a multi-layered history: a Persian founder, a 19th-century casino, a sericulture station from 1887, relict trees, and the world's first children's train. All of this is packed into a single park right next to the railway station. This article is for those who want to know exactly what to look for here.
📜 A history you wouldn't expect from a city park
The Persian fugitive and his Georgian wife
In the first half of the 19th century, a Persian fugitive named Mir-Fatah-Agha Saied Tabrizi received land in Tbilisi from the Russian Tsar as a token of appreciation for his services in the Russo-Persian War. On this land, he planted a garden and named it Mushtaidi in honor of his late Georgian wife.
There is a detail that changes how you feel about the place: his wife is buried right within the park grounds. Initially, the garden was intended for receiving nobility. Today, residents of Tbilisi strolling here walk through a site where a silent, 19th-century love story still lingers.
1853: Casino and high society life
In 1853, Mushtaidi became the property of a casino. The park hosted exhibitions, public festivities, and theatrical performances — turning the location into one of the city's premier high society centers.
1887: Sericulture and Nikoloz Shavrov
In 1887, on the territory of the park, a famous Georgian public figure Nikoloz Shavrov founded the Caucasian Sericulture Station. This was a serious scientific institution — it was from here that the systematic study of silk production in the Caucasus began. The main building of the station has survived to this day; today, it houses the Silk Museum. The building holds the status of a cultural monument of national significance.
🚂 The 1935 children's train: World's first
In 1935, a children's train opened in the park — and, according to the park's records, it was the first of its kind in the world. The route runs along a loop through a flower garden. It is not just an amusement ride — it is a whole experience: a small train set, flowers, children in the carriages, and a slow loop around the garden.
Visitors who are familiar with children's railways specifically highlight this spot: everything here has preserved its cozy, nostalgic scale.
🌳 Relict Zelkova Grove
A zelkova grove grows in the park — relict trees that have existed on Earth since prehistoric times. The zelkova outlived the dinosaurs — not metaphorically, but literally: in the scientific sense, it is a relict species.
Standing next to such trees brings a physically different sensation. Especially when you know their history.
🎭 Mobile Theater
A mobile theater operates in the park with a diverse program: ballet, acrobatics, pantomime, performances with circus elements, and original music. The schedule varies — please check before visiting.
🏋️ Infrastructure: From playgrounds to viewpoints
- Playgrounds and amusement rides — the park is well-equipped for family recreation.
- Outdoor gym equipment — an area for exercising in the fresh air. Visitors enjoy morning jogs here.
- Viewpoints — overlooking Tbilisi. According to reviews, it is especially beautiful at sunset.
- Cafes and restaurants on the territory.
Start with the Silk Museum — it is small, but it provides crucial context: sericulture in Georgia, the history of the building, and a collection of cocoons from 61 countries around the world. Afterwards, look for the zelkova grove — the quietest and most unexpected corner. The children's train operates during specific hours — check with the staff at the entrance. For the mobile theater, verify the schedule separately. The best time for the viewpoint is an hour before sunset.
🗺️ How to spend your time in Mushtaidi
1️⃣ Enter the park from Baratashvili St and first locate the Silk Museum building — a cultural monument where Shavrov opened the sericulture station in 1887.
2️⃣ Find the zelkova grove — relict trees that have survived it all. Ask the staff exactly where it is located.
3️⃣ Wait for the next departure of the children's train — check the schedule at the entrance. Even if you are traveling without kids, it is worth a look.
4️⃣ Walk over to the viewpoint looking out over Tbilisi.
5️⃣ If the theater is running, drop in for a performance.
6️⃣ Wrap up your visit at one of the cafes on the grounds.
💬 What visitors say
"Mushtaidi Park is one of those places that pleasantly surprises you with its atmosphere. It has everything: a historical part, green alleys, and fun rides. I especially loved the children's train. I also learned a lot of new things by visiting the Silk Museum."
"I visit this park every time I am in Tbilisi. Strolling along the shady paths, the view from one of the lookout points, morning jogs, and outdoor gym equipment. Admission is free — yet the place is equipped with everything you need."
"The children's railway is not just a regular ride, but an exciting journey. When you find out that the history of sericulture began right here in 1887, you feel a special connection to the place."
🏁 Why you should go
Mushtaidi Park is a rare case where 8 hectares accommodate so many stories. A 19th-century Persian garden, a sericulture station with a landmark building, the world's first children's train, relict trees, and a mobile theater. Entrance is free. And there are almost no tourist crowds.
ℹ️ Entrance is free. Children's train, theater performances, and the Silk Museum — please check operating hours on-site, as schedules may change. The park is located next to the Central Railway Station. Information is current at the time of publication.
Have you been to Mushtaidi Park? What impressed you more — the founder's history, the children's train, the zelkova grove, or the Silk Museum? Tell us — we read all comments ❤️
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
💬 At the intersection of Baratashvili and Tsabadze streets, near the Central Railway Station. It is easy to get to by taxi or public transport, as the station is well-connected to the center.
💬 Entrance is free for everyone. Amusement rides, the children's train, and admission to the Silk Museum may require a fee — please check on-site.
💬 That is exactly how the park presents this feature: the children's train with a circular route through a flower garden was opened in 1935. The train carries children along a loop that passes right through the park's flower garden.
💬 It is the building of the former Caucasian Sericulture Station, founded in 1887 by Nikoloz Shavrov. Today, it houses the Silk Museum with silkworm cocoon collections from 61 countries. The building holds the status of a cultural monument of national significance.
💬 This question is asked frequently. The park does indeed neighbor the station, and some visitors mention this aspect. Inside the park, especially in the zelkova grove and distant walkways, the noise is noticeably quieter. It is not a silent mountain forest — but a city park with trees and green zones where the sounds of the station are felt less than you might expect.
💬 Yes. Visitors regularly jog here in the mornings. Shady alleys and outdoor workout equipment provide a good base for training. On weekday mornings, it is relatively empty.
💬 It is perfectly suited. With the children's train, amusement rides, and playgrounds — you can easily spend several hours in the park with kids. Plus, there is a mobile theater with a diverse program.
33 comments
Log in to leave a comment
ახსენებს לי ჩემი ბავშვობის მოგზაურობები, როცა დინოზავრების ხმები მახსოვს. იმედია, პარკის ეს ისტორიული ზომები მაინც ინარჩუნებს ავთენტიურობას და არ დაიკარგება ამ თანამედროვე კომერციულ სამყაროში.
ბაღების ტურები მართლა საინტერესო იდეა იქნება, მაგრამ იქნებ მითხრა, რამდენი დრო უნდა დავუთმო მუშტაიდის პარკში? 2-3 საათი მართლა საკმარისია?
История парка действительно невероятна. Я никогда бы не подумал, что место, которое выглядит так мило, связано с такой богатой культурой. И, черт возьми, как же приятно сидеть на лавочке, наслаждаться атмосферой и просто наблюдать за жизнью вокруг. Это идеальное место для пикника или небольшой передышки от городской суеты.
Каждый раз, когда захожу в этот парк, ощущаю, как будто попадаю в другое время. Здесь нет суеты - только ты и этот сказочный мир. Классное место для зарядки позитивом!🔥
Очень вдохновляет, что в статье есть советы от местных 👣💬 — они подсказывают, где найти лучшие уголки для спокойной прогулки, где устроить пикник и откуда открываются самые живописные виды 📸. Такой рейтинг действительно помогает почувствовать атмосферу места ещё до поездки!
После прогулки по парку так приятно представить, как зайдёшь в уютное кафе ☕🍰 в Тбилиси, обсудишь все впечатления с друзьями за чашечкой ароматного кофе и бокалом грузинского вина 🍷 — отличное завершение тёплого дня! 🌞💛
Мне особенно нравится, как этот рейтинг помогает открыть город с новой стороны, показывая зелёные уголки, где можно уединиться и отдохнуть от городской суеты 🌿✨
А вы уже были в парке Муштайди? Какие места там особенно запомнились вам, и в какое время года, по вашему мнению, здесь особенно красиво гулять? 🌳👣💚
Очень впечатлила история парка. Я не знала, что его создатель был персидским беглецом, а его жена похоронена на территории парка. Это добавляет особого шарма этому месту. Кроме того, в парке есть реликтовое дерево и целая дзельковая роща, что само по себе удивительно. Если вы ищете место для отдыха в Тбилиси, Парк Муштаиди — это идеальный выбор, где можно насладиться природой и узнать что-то интересное о культуре Грузии.
Его начало положено аж в 19 веке, конечно же там есть на что взглянуть.
Мне кажется, это замечательное место для отдыха с семьёй, с детьми или с друзьями, да и наедине с собой этим парком стоит насладиться!