Tbilisi Ridge Walk: Turtle Lake to Mtatsminda and Narikala
A car-free day hike above Tbilisi: about 7.5 km from Turtle Lake through pine forest to Mtatsminda Park, then down the Sololaki ridge to Narikala Fortress and the sulphur baths, mostly downhill with around 200 m of climbing and 3 to 4 hours including stops.
Trail sign above TbilisiPhoto: georgia.travelTbilisi sits in a bowl, and the wooded ridge on its southwest side gives you the best natural walk you can start from a city street. Forest trails run along the top of it, planted with pine and cedar in the Soviet period, linking three places most visitors only reach by cable: Turtle Lake above Vake, Mtatsminda Park with its TV tower and Ferris wheel, and the old citadel of Narikala at the eastern end. Walk the whole line and you finish a few steps from the domed baths of Abanotubani, ready for a soak.
We describe it west to east, starting at Turtle Lake, because the cable car then does most of the climbing and the rest is gently downhill with wide views over the river, the Old Town and, on clear days, the Greater Caucasus. Distance and climb are modest, so most people would call it easy. We grade it 2 because the last descent from Mtatsminda to Narikala is steep, eroded in places and slippery after rain. Walking it in reverse, from the baths uphill, means about 400 m of ascent and makes a decent training hike.
Highlights
- Riding the Soviet-era cable car up to Turtle Lake
- Pine and cedar forest along the ridge, a short taxi ride from the centre
- The panorama from the Mtatsminda funicular terrace
- Walking down past Mother of Georgia onto the walls of Narikala
- Finishing at the sulphur baths and the Leghvtakhevi waterfall
Trail facts
Last checked Oct 2026 by the Maspindzeli team. Mountain conditions change: ask us before you go.
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Stage by stage
| Day | From → to | Distance | Up | Down | Hours | Highest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Turtle Lake → Mtatsminda Park | ~3.5 km | ~+150 m | ~−80 m | 1-1.25 h | ~770 m |
| 1 | Mtatsminda Park → Upper funicular station | ~0.5 km | +0 m | ~−30 m | 0.5-1 h | ~770 m |
| 1 | Mtatsminda Park → Narikala Fortress | ~3 km | ~+50 m | ~−330 m | 1-1.25 h | ~750 m |
| 1 | Narikala Fortress → Abanotubani | ~0.5 km | +0 m | ~−60 m | 0.25-0.5 h | ~470 m |
01Turtle Lake to Mtatsminda ParkTurtle Lake → Mtatsminda Park · ~3.5 km · 1-1.25 h
Stroll around the small lake first, then pick up the wide forest track that leaves its eastern side and heads along the slope towards the TV tower, which you will keep in sight most of the way. The track is mostly shaded dirt and gravel with a few short climbs; side paths branch off, so keep the tower ahead and the city on your left. You come out at the back of Mtatsminda Park, near the top of the hill, at roughly 770 m.
01Mtatsminda Park and the funicular terraceMtatsminda Park → Upper funicular station · ~0.5 km · 0.5-1 h
Take a break in the amusement park: the terrace by the upper funicular station has the widest view over Tbilisi, and the restaurant there is well known for its doughnuts. The park itself is free, and rides are paid with a park card. If you want to end here, the funicular takes you down past the Pantheon and St David's Church (Mamadaviti) to Daniel Chonkadze Street in Sololaki.
01Down the Sololaki ridge to NarikalaMtatsminda Park → Narikala Fortress · ~3 km · 1-1.25 h
From the eastern edge of the park, a footpath drops along the crest of the ridge through pine woods, with the Botanical Garden gorge on your right and the rooftops of Sololaki on your left. It is the steepest part of the day: loose gravel, exposed roots and bare clay that turns greasy when wet. Lower down the ridge opens up, you pass behind the aluminium statue of Mother of Georgia, and the path joins the walkway to the walls of Narikala.
01Narikala to the sulphur bathsNarikala Fortress → Abanotubani · ~0.5 km · 0.25-0.5 h
Climb onto the fortress walls for the classic view of Old Tbilisi, then either take the stepped lanes down to the brick domes of Abanotubani or ride the Rike cable car across the Mtkvari. From the baths a short path leads up the gorge to the Leghvtakhevi waterfall.
Practical information
Getting there
From the centre take a Bolt or Yandex taxi to the lower cable car terminal, which stands above Vake Park beside Chavchavadze Avenue, about 8 to 15 GEL (about $3 to $6) in 2026, or a city bus along Chavchavadze Avenue for 1 GEL. The old cable car lifts you about 1.1 km to Turtle Lake in roughly six minutes for about 1 GEL, paid with a Metromoney card or bank card. If it is closed for maintenance, walk up the road and footpath from Vake Park instead, about 3 km and 250 m of climbing, or take a taxi to the lake car park for about 10 to 15 GEL.
Getting back
From Narikala you can walk down the lanes into Abanotubani in 10 to 15 minutes, or ride the Rike cable car down across the river to Rike Park for about 2.5 GEL. From either, Avlabari and Liberty Square metro stations are 10 to 15 minutes on foot and a taxi anywhere in the centre costs roughly 6 to 12 GEL (about $2 to $4.50).
Water
Buy water at the kiosks and cafes by Turtle Lake and again in Mtatsminda Park, which has cafes and shops near the funicular station. The forest stretches between them have no springs you should rely on, so carry at least 1 litre, 1.5 litres in summer. Narikala has drink sellers near the cable car station.
Phone signal
Good 4G almost everywhere, as you never leave the city limits. Expect a weaker signal in a couple of folds of the forest below the ridge.
Nearest help
Dial 112. You are never more than about 30 minutes on foot from a road, and Mtatsminda Park has staff and a first aid point. Central Tbilisi hospitals are 10 to 20 minutes away by taxi.
Permits
None. The forest paths, Turtle Lake, Mtatsminda Park and Narikala Fortress are all free to enter. You only pay for transport you choose to use: the Turtle Lake cable car about 1 GEL (about $0.40), the Mtatsminda funicular about 12 GEL (about $4.50) one way for foreigners, the Rike to Narikala cable car about 2.5 GEL (about $1), all 2026 figures.
Gear and safety
What to bring
- Trainers or light hiking shoes with a grippy sole; city sneakers slip on the ridge descent
- 1 to 1.5 litres of water and a snack
- Sun hat and sunscreen from May to September
- Light rain jacket in spring and autumn
- Some cash in GEL and a Metromoney or contactless bank card for the cable cars
- Swimsuit and towel if you plan to finish in a sulphur bath
Stay safe
- The descent from Mtatsminda to Narikala is steep and slippery after rain: go slowly or take the funicular down and walk up to Narikala from Sololaki instead.
- Several informal paths drop off the ridge towards cliffs above the Botanical Garden. Stay on the main, well-worn path.
- Street dogs live in the forest and around the park. They are usually calm and often tagged; do not feed or provoke them, and walk on steadily.
- Do not walk the forest section after dark; it is unlit and quiet.
- In July and August, temperatures can pass 35 C by midday. Start early and carry more water.
- Reverse direction: start at Abanotubani or the Rike cable car, climb to Narikala and up the ridge to Mtatsminda and Turtle Lake, then ride the cable car down to Vake. About 400 m of ascent, 3 to 4 hours.
- Short version: Mtatsminda Park to Narikala only, about 3 km and 1 to 1.5 hours mostly downhill. Ride the funicular up from Sololaki first.
- Botanical Garden option: from Narikala, enter the Tbilisi National Botanical Garden and walk up its gorge past streams and a waterfall before returning to Abanotubani. Allow 1 to 2 extra hours; entry is a few GEL.
- Ethnography add-on: the Open Air Museum of Ethnography lies on the hill just above Turtle Lake, 10 to 15 minutes' walk, with old village houses from across Georgia.
- Rainy day: skip the ridge and use the funicular and the Rike cable car to reach the two viewpoints without mud.
Emergency number in Georgia: 112. Tell your guesthouse your plan before you set off.
Places on and near the route
Tours that include this trail
Tbilisi Ridge Walk: Turtle Lake to Mtatsminda and Narikala: FAQ
Can you walk from Turtle Lake to Narikala?
Yes. Forest paths run along the ridge from Turtle Lake to Mtatsminda Park and then down to Narikala. It is about 7.5 km to the baths and takes 3 to 4 hours with stops, with most of the height gained by the cable car at the start.
Do I need a car or a guide for this hike?
No car is needed: cable cars, the funicular, buses and cheap taxis cover both ends. The path is not waymarked everywhere, so download an offline map. If you prefer a local to lead and tell the city's story along the way, we can arrange a guide in your language on any date.
Is the Turtle Lake cable car running?
It runs most of the year, but the city closes it for maintenance from time to time, including from late December 2025. Check before you go; if it is shut, walk up from Vake Park or take a taxi to the lake.
Is the walk suitable for children?
Yes, if they can manage a few hours on foot. Kids enjoy the cable car and the shady forest stretch; hold hands on the steep, loose descent to Narikala, or shorten the day with the funicular.
Last checked Oct 2026 by the Maspindzeli team. Mountain conditions change: ask us before you go.
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