Tbilisi’s name comes from the Georgian word for warm, and legend says the city was founded where a king’s falcon fell into a hot spring. Those springs still feed the bathhouses of Abanotubani, the bath district at the foot of the fortress hill, where low brick domes rise from the ground like loaves and the smell of sulfur hangs in the air. For centuries the baths were where Tbilisi socialised, gossiped and did business, and they remain a favourite of locals and visitors alike. The most famous is Chreli Abano, the colourful bath, with its tiled, mosque-like facade at the top of Abano Street, dating back to the seventeenth century. Others include the Royal Bath, Bath No. 5 with its mosaic interior and Gulo’s, popular for its authentic atmosphere. A visit means soaking in naturally hot mineral water, around 38 to 40 degrees, often followed by a kisi scrub from an attendant with a rough mitt. This page links to the official tourism guide to the baths.
How to visit: most visitors book a private room by the hour, priced per room rather than per person, which suits couples, friends and families. Rooms usually have a hot pool, a cold plunge, a shower and a changing area. Sessions run about an hour, and there is no clock, so set an alarm. Booking ahead is wise, especially at weekends and for the popular Chreli Abano, which takes advance reservations online and opens late into the evening. Public baths are cheaper, separated by sex and usually without photographs. Some bathhouses close for refurbishment from time to time, so confirm your choice is open when you book.
What to expect: shower before you get in, soak for just a few minutes at a time, then cool off in the plunge pool. Do not put your head under or drink the water. A kisi scrub takes ten to fifteen minutes and is paid separately; leave the door unlocked if you have ordered one so the attendant can come in. Swimwear is optional in private rooms, and dark fabrics can stain.
Making the most of it: arrive twenty minutes early to pay, bring cold water as the baths are dehydrating, and plan a slow dinner nearby afterwards.
What to expect
The experience
A private room or public bath with hot sulfur pools, a cold plunge and an optional kisi scrub or massage.
Best time
Evenings, after a day of walking, or a chilly winter afternoon; book ahead for weekends.
How long
About an hour in a private room, plus time to change and pay.
Tips
Book ahead, arrive twenty minutes early, bring cold water, and soak for only a few minutes at a time.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Couples and friends who want a uniquely Tbilisi way to unwind.
- Families
- Private rooms work for families, but keep children’s soaks short in the very hot water.
- Couples
- A private room for two after sunset at Narikala is a perfect Tbilisi evening.
- Pair with
- Narikala Fortress, a short walk up the hill.
- Time needed
- One to two hours.
Good questions
Do I need to book the Tbilisi sulfur baths?+
Booking ahead is recommended for private rooms, especially at weekends and at Chreli Abano, which takes advance reservations online. Public baths do not usually need a booking.
How long is a sulfur bath session?+
Private rooms are usually booked by the hour. Rooms have no clocks, so set an alarm on your phone.
What is a kisi scrub?+
It is a vigorous exfoliating scrub with a rough mitt, given by a bath attendant in about ten to fifteen minutes. It is paid separately, and tipping is optional.
Do you wear a swimsuit in the sulfur baths?+
In a private room swimwear is optional, and many people wear it. Public baths are separated by sex, and photography is not allowed.
How hot is the water in the sulfur baths?+
The natural thermal water is around 38 to 40 degrees. Soak for only a few minutes at a time and cool off in the plunge pool between dips.
