Mtatsminda Mountain and Tbilisi Funicular, Tbilisi (must see)

Rising to a height of 770 meters, Mtatsminda or “Holy Mountain” offers a tranquil retreat above Tbilisi’s bustling streets. Its summit houses Mtatsminda Park, an expansive leisure haven that features a Ferris wheel, roller coaster, water slides, dark rides, charming cafés, and lush green spaces-all with sweeping views of the city below.

Your journey begins at the Funicular, a historic cliff railway that first opened its tracks in 1905. Designed by an international team of Belgian, French, Italian, and Georgian engineers, the funicular solved the city's challenge of connecting Lower Tbilisi with its lofty plateau. The ride spans 501 meters, climbing 267 meters in elevation-from the lower station at 460 m to the upper station at 727 m above sea level-taking just about three minutes per trip.

At the top, the experience leads to the Mtatsminda Pantheon and the historic Church of Saint David. According to tradition, an ascetic named Saint David settled here in the 6th century. Since 1929, the slopes around the church have been home to the Mtatsminda Pantheon, the final resting place of many of Georgia’s most celebrated figures-writers, artists, scientists, and national heroes.