October in Tbilisi brings perfect weather—warm, but not hot. If you’re looking to hike in the mountains without leaving the city, here’s one route to consider. The basic version takes around 45 minutes with a steep climb, but it’s easy to adjust to your preferences.
One possible starting point is just a 20-minute walk from Freedom Square metro station.
The route is safe—I only ran into one very meowy cat and a woman. The path is fine for city sneakers (though you’ll probably want to wash them afterward).
Starting Point and Route#
Coordinates for the starting point: 41.699342;44.789788. On maps: Organic Maps, Google Maps, Yandex Maps.
There’s a signpost at the start—you’ll see others like it along the way.
The route is shown in the image below, and the GPX track is available for download here. After the “hook” in the track, there’s a rather steep climb. You’ll see it at a fork where one path goes around the hill and the other heads straight up. Choose whichever feels more comfortable to you.
Hiking trails are well-marked on OSM maps. I used the Organic Maps app—it shows the trails from this post plus others, so you can easily extend your walk to a more comfortable duration and distance.
The Route#
Almost immediately after starting out, you can stop to enjoy the views. The photo below was taken just a little way from the Adamo Hotel.
A bit further along is a spot marked on the map as “Viewpoint.” It’s really just a little deck with a wooden railing, a table, and benches. Still, it offers a great view of the surroundings.
After a short stretch beyond that, right by the TV Tower, you’ll have another chance to look out over the city. If you time your walk for sunset or sunrise, the impression will be even stronger.
At the end of the walk, you can finally get a close-up look at the TV Tower.
Right behind the tower is a sizable amusement park where you can stroll, grab a bite, and hop on a few rides.
The Way Back#
If you don’t feel like walking back—you can take the funicular.
Tickets are sold at the booth next to the funicular. They’ll give you a reusable card with your ticket, which you can also use in the amusement park. The pricing is a bit opaque—somehow it seems cheaper if you already have the card. Asking for two tickets at the booth, the total came out to 22 GEL.
Top station of the funicular on maps: Organic Maps, Google Maps, Yandex Maps.