King Farnavaz Garden in Tbilisi: Viewpoint by the Metekhi Cliff
🌿 Memorial Square · ⏱️ 30–60 min · 📍 29–29A Noe Zhordania Embankment, Avlabari
🌿 What to know before your visit
| 📍 Address | 29–29A Noe Zhordania Emb., Avlabari, Tbilisi by the Metekhi Cliff, on the bend of the Kura River |
| 🕐 Opening hours | 24/7, free admission |
| 👁️ View from the viewpoint | Kura River, Narikala Fortress, Old Tbilisi, Bridge of Peace, Metekhi |
| 🗿 In the square | statue of Farnavaz I, benches with river views, well-kept greenery |
| 🚇 How to get there | "Avlabari" metro station, a 5-minute walk down to the embankment |
🧭 Who This Article Is For
King Farnavaz Garden is a small memorial square with one of the most low-key yet beautiful viewpoints in central Tbilisi. It is worth visiting if you want peace, a good view of the river, and a few minutes alone with history. This article is for tourists walking around Avlabari or Metekhi who are looking for a spot to step off the beaten path.
📍 A Square on the Edge of a Cliff
Tbilisi is surrounded by mountains—and that is exactly why finding a decent viewpoint in the historic center is not as easy as it seems. King Farnavaz Garden is one of the few places where it happens naturally and without the crowds.
The square stands on the Metekhi Cliff, right where the Kura River makes a bend. This offers a rare opportunity: seeing both banks at the same time. On the right, you can see Narikala Fortress, the sulfur baths, and the blue domes of Abanotubani. On the left is the Metekhi Church, the equestrian statue of King Vakhtang Gorgasali, and the Bridge of Peace. Directly below is the river itself.
The location is on Noe Zhordania Embankment, between buildings 29 and 29A, just a few minutes from the "Avlabari" metro station. Nearby, you will find the Sheraton Metekhi Palace hotel, a couple of currency exchange offices with good rates, and restaurants with panoramic terraces.
🏛️ Who Was Farnavaz and Why Is His Name Here
In the center of the square stands the statue of Farnavaz I, the first king of the ancient Georgian state of Iberia (Kartli). Scholars date his reign to the 3rd century BC: according to historian Cyril Toumanoff, 299–234 BC.
Farnavaz is a figure both historical and legendary. The chronicles of "Kartlis Tskhovreba" ("The Life of the Kings of Kartli"), compiled between the 7th and 12th centuries, portray him as a young representative of the Kartlian nobility who raised a rebellion against ruler Azon—a puppet of the Greeks. Azon was defeated twice, and Farnavaz became the first king of united Iberia, founding the Pharnavazid dynasty.
According to the same chronicles, it was Farnavaz who created the Georgian script—the Asomtavruli alphabet—and established the Georgian language as the sole state language. Chronicler Leonti Mroveli explicitly writes: "He spread the Georgian language, and no other language but Georgian was spoken in Kartli anymore."
Historical science remains cautious: the earliest surviving examples of Georgian writing date back to the 5th century AD, and the origin of the alphabet remains an open question. However, the figure of Farnavaz as the first king and unifier of the Georgian tribes is undisputed. He ruled for 65 years and was buried in front of the idol Armazi in Mtskheta.
👁️ The Main Attraction Here Is the View
The viewpoint stretches along the entire square. Benches face the river—you can simply sit and watch for as long as you like.
Sunset here is special: Tbilisi lies in a valley surrounded by mountains, and there are not many viewpoints in the city center properly oriented to the west. Farnavaz Garden is one of them. One visitor wrote in Georgian something like: "What can compare to the view from here over Khrpushi and Abanotubani? The sunrise here is beautiful, and the sunset is mesmerizing."
In the fog, you can get unique photographs. Trees partially block the view in summer and autumn, but this has a upside: the photos turn out with a natural frame.
It is never crowded here—even though the spot is well known to both locals and tourists.
Come closer to sunset or right after it. The view of the right bank becomes warm and multi-dimensional, and there are significantly fewer tourists at this time than at the viewpoints near Metekhi or Narikala. If you want peace, come on a weekday morning: the benches are empty, the river flows below, and there is no one around. Restaurants with panoramic terraces are literally a minute's walk from the square, so you can easily combine the two.
🗺️ How to Get There
1️⃣ "Avlabari" Metro — exit and walk down toward the Noe Zhordania Embankment, about a 5-minute walk. The garden is located between buildings 29 and 29A.
2️⃣ On foot from Metekhi Bridge — cross the bridge from the Old Town, then turn along the cliff via the embankment. The walk takes 10–12 minutes and offers a great view of the same cliff from below.
3️⃣ By taxi — say "King Farnavaz Garden" or "Parnavaz Square on Zhordania Embankment". Coordinates: 41.6889, 44.8204.
💬 What Those Who Have Been Here Say
"The main thing here is the amazing view of Old Tbilisi from the observation deck, which is beautiful both during the day and in the evening. In the fog, you can take great photos. For convenience, benches are installed to enjoy the view while sitting."
"One of the most beautiful views of the city opens up here. I love this park very much."
"Strolling through the ancient district of Tbilisi—Avlabari, we stumbled upon a cozy square with a beautiful view of the city and the Mtkvari River. The square's observation deck is rarely empty. However, there are no large crowds of people here, unlike in overhyped tourist places."
"A nice, quiet, and well-kept park. The view is great and it's very cozy."
"King Farnavaz Garden is a charming green oasis in central Tbilisi, offering a serene escape with lush trees and a statue of King Farnavaz I. Perfect for relaxation."
"For me, this is the best place—a mini-park in Tbilisi! Here are cozy benches with a magnificent view right at the river and the city from a height, as well as well-kept green spaces."
🏁 Why Go There
King Farnavaz Garden is a place to pause, not just a box to check. Five minutes from the metro, a bench overlooking the river, a statue of the man who ruled this land more than two thousand years ago, and a complete absence of crowds. In Tbilisi, with its dense tourist season, such a combination is a rarity.
If you are walking around Avlabari or heading toward Metekhi, do drop by. It won't take much time, but the view will stick with you.
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ℹ️ The square is open 24/7, admission is free. Information is current at the time of publication.
Have you been to King Farnavaz Garden? Did you come across it by accident or were you looking for it specifically? Did you catch the sunset, fog, or sunrise? Tell us what you saw and felt. We read all comments ❤️
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
💬 Farnavaz I was the first king of Iberia (Kartli), an ancient Georgian state, ruling approximately in the 3rd century BC. According to the "Kartlis Tskhovreba" chronicles, he overthrew the ruler Azon, united the Georgian tribes, made the Georgian language the sole state language, and, according to tradition, created the Asomtavruli alphabet. He founded the Pharnavazid dynasty, which ruled Iberia for several centuries.
💬 Yes, it is the exact same place. On Madloba, this location is listed as both a garden and a monument—because the statue of the king stands in the center of the square. Officially, the place is called "King Farnavaz (Parnavaz) Garden", and its popular name is Parnavaz Square.
💬 At Metekhi, the view is directed straight at the Old Town and Narikala—it’s the classic Tbilisi postcard view. Farnavaz Garden sits slightly further up the embankment, on a bend in the river, so both banks are visible at the same time: the right bank with the fortress and the left bank with Avlabari. Another difference is that there are almost no crowds here.
💬 Yes, according to visitor reviews, there are restaurants with panoramic terraces within a one- to two-minute walk from the square. Across the road is the Sheraton Metekhi Palace hotel. On the nearby embankment, there are currency exchange offices with good rates.
💬 Yes. The square is well-kept, with benches and greenery. The observation deck is fenced. The only caveat: it is on the edge of a cliff, so you need to keep children close by when near the viewpoint.
💬 Both options are good. In the morning, you get peace and soft light, often with fog over the river. In the evening, at sunset, you get warm colors on the right bank and, if you're lucky, illuminated bridges and buildings. There are no crowds at any time, but it is slightly busier in the evening.
💬 Metekhi Church and the equestrian statue of Vakhtang Gorgasali are literally next door, on the same cliff. The Abanotubani sulfur baths are a 15-minute walk across the Metekhi Bridge. The Bridge of Peace is visible directly from here, about a 10-minute walk along the bank.
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