Turtle Lake Tbilisi: 1 GEL Cable Car, Free Lakeside Day

Turtle Lake (Kus Tba in Georgian) is a small lake in the hills above Tbilisi and a popular spot for both locals and visitors to relax. It’s cooler here than in the centre, surrounded by pines and greenery, and at the water’s edge there are cafes, pedal-boat rentals and a walking path.

The most enjoyable way to get up is by cable car: small cabins rise to the lake from the lower station near Vake Park (Chavchavadze Avenue) in just a few minutes, opening up a view of the city along the way. You can also drive up, or take a taxi along the road.

Right next to the lake is the open-air Ethnographic Museum, so it’s easy to combine a walk by the water with a visit there. It sits just below the lake, and in the second half of July it stays busy after dark for the Art-Gene folk festival: an afternoon by the water, then down the hill to the ensembles. For more on the city, see our Tbilisi guide; for getting around, the transport section; and for other things to do, the entertainment section.