Red Garden in Tbilisi: Vaso Godziashvili Park on Kazbegi Avenue

🌿 City park · ⏱️ 1–2 hours · 📍 Kazbegi Ave, Saburtalo, Tbilisi

🧭 Who is this article for

The Red Garden is one of the main parks in Saburtalo. People come here with children, run along the paths, walk their dogs, or just sit in the shade of the trees. This article is for tourists staying in this area or trying to understand if it is worth making a special trip here from the other side of Tbilisi.

🌳 A park with two names

In Tbilisi, it is known by two names, and both have stuck. The official one is Vaso Godziashvili Park, named after the actor who became one of the symbols of the 20th-century Georgian theatre. The popular nickname is the Red Garden, and here the versions differ. According to one, the name appeared back in the Soviet era. According to another, it stuck after the 2019 reconstruction, when waterfalls with bright red pillars were installed in the park. Be that as it may, Tbilisi residents understand both.

The park is located on Kazbegi Avenue in the Saburtalo district — this is not a tourist center of the city, but a regular residential area with clinics, universities, and dense high-rise buildings. This is exactly why the park is so essential here: 35 thousand square meters of greenery surrounded by asphalt.

🎭 Who was Vaso Godziashvili

Vasili (Vaso) Davydovich Godziashvili (1905–1976) was a Georgian actor, People's Artist of the USSR (1958).

Born in Kakheti. At the age of 14, he was already performing in a circus. He studied at the Akaki Pagava drama studio, then joined the troupe of the Rustaveli Theatre. From 1930 until his death, he was an actor at the Kote Marjanishvili Tbilisi Theatre, a pupil of Marjanishvili himself and Aleksandre Akhmeteli.

In 1939, he became a laureate of the First All-Union Variety Contest. He acted in movies from 1932. In 1952, he received the Stalin Prize of the second degree, and in 1971 — the Shota Rustaveli State Prize of the Georgian SSR.

He died in Tbilisi in 1976 and was buried in the Didube Pantheon. Naming a park after him on Kazbegi Ave is no coincidence: the Marjanishvili Theatre, where he served for half a century, is located quite nearby, on the left bank.

🔨 What changed after the 2019 reconstruction

The park existed here long before 2019, but by the mid-2010s, it had become quite dilapidated. At the end of 2018, the Tbilisi City Hall started a full rehabilitation. Mayor Kakha Kaladze personally inspected the progress of the work — and, judging by his words at the opening, was pleased.

On May 15, 2019, the park was reopened. Singer Stephane Mgebrishvili performed at the ceremony, and Nana Bregvadze was a special guest. The project cost 2.5 million lari (about 926 thousand dollars at that time).

After the reconstruction, the following appeared in the park:

— waterfalls on red structures — the main visual detail

— two playgrounds, including a zone for the youngest children

— pedestrian and running paths around the entire perimeter

— a bike path

— outdoor workout equipment

— a tennis court

— a dog park

— a picnic area

— open and closed spaces for cultural events

🏃 Things to do in the park

There is a great running loop here — the paths run under the trees, which is especially valuable in summer. In the evenings, the park is crowded: some are running, some are exercising, others are just walking their dogs.

The tennis court is a rarity for district parks in Tbilisi. The playgrounds are large by Tbilisi standards: swings, slides, and a special area for toddlers.

The dog park is fenced. Waterfalls operate during the warm season — red pillars, the sound of water, you can sit nearby on a bench.

🗺️ How to get there

1️⃣ By "Medical University" metro — exit and walk along Kazbegi Avenue towards the center; the park will be on the right in 5–7 minutes.

2️⃣ By "Delisi" metro — exit and walk towards Kazbegi Avenue, about 7–10 minutes on foot.

3️⃣ By taxi — tell the driver "Red Park on Kazbegi" or provide the coordinates 41.7243, 44.7542. Drivers in the area know this place well.

💬 What regular visitors say

"A really lovely and green park located in the Saburtalo area."

"Very nice place. The park is clean, there are lots of trees, benches, a gazebo with tables, workout equipment, a playground, a fountain, sun loungers, and a cute composition of dogs."

"Wonderful place for a family vacation. Many active areas for children."

"Located in the Saburtalo district, this park offers tranquility away from the city bustle. It even has waterfalls — and they are not that common, to be honest."

"A really lovely and green park located in the Saburtalo area."

🏁 Is it worth a special trip

It depends on where you are staying. If you live in Saburtalo or are heading towards Delisi — yes, absolutely drop by: the park is great, large, with waterfalls and a tennis court. If you live in Old Tbilisi, there is no need to make a special trip unless you want to have a proper run on a path away from the tourist trails.

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ℹ️ The park is open 24/7, entrance is free. The operation of the waterfalls and the tennis court may depend on the season. Information is current at the time of publication.

🗺️ What to see nearby