Absolutely everything you need to know before you visit the iconic Abanotubani sulfur baths — plus 10 of the best bathhouses in Tbilisi compared. Going for a soak and a scrub at the sulfur baths is as much of a Tbilisi tradition as diving into a plate of Khinkali or sipping on a glass of Qvevri wine.
The first few times I visited Georgia as a tourist, I fumbled my way through a number of different bathhouses, often with hilarious results. I hope this article answers any questions you have about how it all works. Please note: This post contains affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission if you make a purchase by clicking a link at no extra cost to you.
Learn more. The history of the sulfur baths is the history of Tbilisi itself. Legend has it that King Vakhtang Gorgasali happened upon the hot sulfurous waters while out hunting with his falcon. You can see the bird immortalised in statue form on the bridge near the baths. This design allows natural light to stream into the bath rooms and provides ventilation for the sulfuric steam to escape.
The waters are naturally warm, averaging temperatures of Celsius degrees Farenheit. The thermal springs that feed the baths are said to have health benefits too, helping to treat a range of ailments from heart disease to psoriasis. Today, most people come to the baths for the atmosphere and experience rather than the remedial benefits. In the old days, people used to congregate at Abanotubani gorge which still looks much the same as in this archival photo to wash and do laundry in the stream supplied by the nearby Leghvtakhevi Waterfall.
By the 13th century, there were as many as 65 baths in the area. Today there are fewer than a dozen. In days gone by, women would come to the baths to check out their prospective daughters in law. Decades later, a visit to the public baths was still a weekly or even daily ritual for many people. In the past, the main objective was to get clean, not to be pampered.
