🌆 Tbilisi Viewpoints: Where to Find the City's Best Panoramas

🧭 Who is this article for

Tbilisi is built on hills, and from almost any point in the old town, at least one peak with a view is visible. But tourists usually stop at Narikala, even though the city has two other ski lifts and a dozen hiking spots. This article is for those who want to see more than just a postcard panorama, but different Tbilisis: the old town from the fortress walls, the Soviet outskirts from the bridge between the houses, a quiet church courtyard devoid of a single tourist.

🏔️ Why are there so many observation decks in Tbilisi

The city stretches across the hills along the Kura River, and the terrain here isn't just a backdrop, but a part of everyday life. The funicular to Mtatsminda has been in operation since 1905; it was one of the first such structures in the Caucasus, built to ascend to the Church of St. David. Later, two cable cars were added: one takes tourists to Narikala, and the second, less well-known, takes Tbilisi residents to Turtle Lake. And during the Soviet era, observation decks were created entirely by accident: architects built housing on the impossible slopes and connected the buildings with overhead bridges, from which sunsets are now captured. Below, we examine six must-see spots in detail, and briefly list the others.

⛰️ Viewing platform of the funicular (Mtatsminda)

📍Upper cable car station, Mount Mtatsminda

The viewpoint is located at the top station of the funicular, on the plateau of Mount Mtatsminda, and offers perhaps the widest view of the city: from here you can see the entire historic center, the curve of the Kura River, the domes of the old town, and the distant neighborhoods beyond the river. The best viewing spots are from the restaurant terrace or right at the edge of the plateau next to the Ferris wheel.

In the evening, it gets crowded: both tourists and locals come specifically for sunset, when the city below gradually lights up. During the day, there are fewer people, but you can better see the details of the old town's architecture and the curve of the river along its entire length.

You can take the funicular, which has been operating since 1905 and stops at the Pantheon and the Church of St. David, or walk along the path through the park if you don't mind the time and effort of the climb.

🏰 Observation deck at the Narikala Fortress

📍 Sololaksky ridge, near the Narikala fortress

The city's most popular spot, and for good reason: from the Sololaki Ridge fortress wall, you can see Meidan Square, the Kura River, and the rooftops of all of Abanotubani at once. There are actually several vantage points here: at the upper cable car station, on the wall near the Church of St. George, and at the foot of the Mother of Kartli monument, which can be reached in a five-minute walk along the ridge.

The fortress itself dates back to the 4th century; admission is free and open 24 hours a day. The best time to visit is the hour before sunset, when the walls and domes of the old city take on a warm hue.

You can ascend by cable car from Rike Park in a couple of minutes, or on foot, along the steep path from the sulfur baths or the more gentle climb from Meidan. It's best to walk down through the Betlemi quarter to see the city from different angles, not just one vantage point.

🐢 Turtle Lake and the Svan Tower

📍 The upper station of the Vake Park cable car

The observation deck at the upper cable car station offers views of the Vake and Saburtalo districts, a completely different Tbilisi: without domes and old roofs, but with mountains on the horizon. The lake itself is small, about 400 by 300 meters, located at an altitude of about 800 meters, and is more appreciated by locals than by tourists: in summer, people swim and picnic right by the water.

If you climb a little higher along the dirt road, you'll see the stone Svaneti Tower, a miniature replica of the battle towers of mountainous Svaneti. You can't get inside, as the area is fenced off, but the tower's silhouette against the mountains is worth the effort. Nearby is an open-air ethnographic museum displaying traditional buildings from various regions of Georgia.

You can get there by cable car from Vake Park in 6-7 minutes; the fare is 1 lari. In the catalog, these are three different passes, but essentially one promenade.

💧 Observation deck above the Legvtakhevi waterfall

📍 Botanicheskaya Street, entrance to the Botanical Garden from the gorge

The platform is located directly above the gorge, at the entrance to the Botanical Garden from Botanicheskaya Street. From here, you can see the entire canyon from above, the wooden bridges with their love locks, and the 22-meter waterfall itself, even before you descend to it. Admission is free year-round.

The gorge, also known as Inzhirove (Fig Gorge), is hidden behind the Abanotubani sulfur baths. Two hundred years ago, a turbulent river flowed here, and in the 20th century, it was completely filled with earth for sewage drainage. Restored only in 2012, it is now one of the few waterfalls in the world right in the center of a large city.

In the summer, the stream is calm, but during the spring floods, it becomes noisy, and in the evening, the illumination turns on, giving the gorge a completely different appearance than during the day. The site is compact and fits well with the walk to Narikala and Betlemi, making it convenient to include in the same route rather than a separate one.

🌉 Nutsubidze Skybridge

📍 1st microdistrict Nutsubidze, house 213

The least touristy spot on this list, and that's precisely why it's so interesting. From the bridge between three Soviet-era high-rises on the Nutsubidze Plateau, you can see residential areas of Saburtalo, the slopes of the plateau, and typical Soviet buildings, hidden from the usual tourist routes.

The bridges connect buildings on the 14th, 12th, and 10th floors: architects Otar Kalandarishvili and Gizo Potskhishvili built them in 1976 so that residents of the upper buildings wouldn't have to climb the steep slope. For locals, this is a common route to work or the store, but for visitors who enter through a special entrance and a paid elevator with a 10 tetri coin, it's practically a set from a science fiction film. This unusual feature has made the complex go viral on social media. You can enter through the entrance of one of the buildings at 213 Nutsubidze Street. This is a residential building, not a museum, so please be respectful of the residents.

⛪ Betlemi Viewpoint

📍 4th dead end Askani

A small garden-like area near the Upper Betlemi Church features a fountain, fruit trees, benches, and a few cats fed by the church's clergy. The southern side of the church overlooks the rooftops of Old Tbilisi, and the area is quiet and almost deserted, unlike the crowded Narikala neighborhood.

It's easily accessible via a stone staircase from Betlemi Street or Gomi Street. The staircase itself was built in the mid-19th century on the site of an old path and still connects the lower part of the neighborhood with the upper part. While descending it, you might encounter a local celebrity, a goose named Vasya.

The neighborhood's name derives from the Hebrew word for "house of the Lord," hence Betlemi, the Georgian version of Bethlehem. According to legend, King Vakhtang Gorgasali built the first church on this site. A little higher up the slope stands the Church of St. George, which offers another similar view, but without the benches and cats.

📋 Six more points for those who have already seen the main thing

🗺️ Half-day Old Town itinerary

1️⃣ Start with the cable car from Rike Park and ascend to the Narikala Fortress.

2️⃣ Walk along the fortress walls and reach the Mother of Kartli monument.

3️⃣ Walk down through the Betlemi quarter and stop at the observation deck near the temple.

4️⃣ From Betlemi, walk to the Abanotubani sulfur baths and look down the gorge to the Legvtakhevi waterfall.

5️⃣ In the evening, take the funicular up to Mtatsminda for sunset.

If you're spending the day on the cable cars rather than strolling through the old town, it's worth taking a separate trip to Turtle Lake by cable car from Vake Park or taking the metro to Nutsubidze for the overhead bridges between the buildings.

💬 What people say about Tbilisi's observation decks

Travelers most often agree on one thing: the views from Mtatsminda and Narikala are very different, although both are considered "the city's main panorama," and it's better to see both than to choose just one. Regarding Turtle Lake, tourists usually write that it's more for locals than for tour groups, but that's precisely why it's quieter. And regarding the Nutsubidze Bridge, they almost always say the same thing: from the outside, it looks like a set from a sci-fi film, but for locals, it's just their way home.

🏁 Why go

Tbilisi's observation decks aren't limited to the single, postcard-perfect spot near Narikala. The city is worth seeing from various heights: from the 4th-century fortress walls, from the terrace of a century-old funicular, from an overhead bridge between Soviet-era high-rises, and from a quiet church courtyard, where no one but the local cats dares to claim the observation deck. Different perspectives offer a different sense of the city, and they're worth the travel time.

ℹ️ Lift prices, cable car operating hours, and access to individual points are subject to change. Please check the latest information before your visit. Links to the catalog cards and map are above.

Read also

• Unusual Places in Tbilisi: Top 6 Hidden Gems
• Tbilisi Viewpoints: 8 Panoramic Spots and Routes
• King Farnavaz Garden in Tbilisi: Viewpoint by the Metekhi Cliff
• Svan Tower at Turtle Lake in Tbilisi: a hilltop viewpoint above the city