Besarion Gabashvili Park stands on a hilltop above Kutaisi, on Vazha-Pshavela Street, and is named after the 18th-century Georgian poet and diplomat Besarion (Besiki) Gabashvili. You can reach it by cable car, built in 1961, from the lower station near the White Bridge, or by hiking up the hill.
This is a classic Soviet amusement park: a Ferris wheel, carousels, a children's train, and other venerable rides. Travelers have mixed impressions: the panoramic view from the Ferris wheel is almost universally praised, but many also honestly comment on the shabby condition of the equipment, and not all the rides are operational.
Read a blog post about two Kutaisi parks connected by a cable car.
🎡 What's visible and what's nearby
- A Ferris wheel with panoramic views of Kutaisi, the Rioni River, and the mountains
- Carousels, a children's train, and other Soviet-era attractions
- A model sculpture of the Eiffel Tower for photos
- A Georgian restaurant on the premises
⚠️ Honestly about attractions
- Many of the rides are old, and not all are always operational.
- Travelers regularly note poor safety standards in their reviews.
- Ride prices are low, and the atmosphere is more nostalgic than modern.
👤 Who is the park named after
- Named after the poet and diplomat Besarion (Besiki) Gabashvili (1750-1791).
- Gabashvili lived at the foot of this hill in the 18th century.
- He headed the Imeretian diplomatic mission to the court of the Russian Empire.
🧭 Where is it and how to get there
- Vazha-Pshavela Street, on the hilltop above Kutaisi
- Cable car from the White Bridge, 1 lari one way, or walk up the hill
💰 Paid or free
- Admission to the park is free.
- Tickets for individual attractions start at 50 tetri.
