Old Tbilisi / Abanotubani

აბანოთუბანი

The birthplace of Tbilisi, with domed sulfur bathhouses in Persian style, the tile-decorated Orbeliani Bath, wooden balconies, churches and mosques in the old town.

Abanotubani, the “Bath District,” sits at the southern end of the Old Town at the foot of Narikala Hill. According to legend, in the 5th century King Vakhtang Gorgasali founded the city here after his falcon fell into a hot spring. The natural sulfur springs here reach 38–40°C. The bathhouses, built between the 17th and 19th centuries, are partly sunk into the ground, so only rows of brick domes are visible above the surface. The most ornate is the Orbeliani Bath (also known as Chreli Abano), with blue mosaic tiles and a Persian-style facade. Pushkin and Alexandre Dumas both bathed here and wrote in praise of it. The baths offer communal pools, with separate sections for men and women, for about 5–10 lari. Private rooms cost about 60–200 lari for 1–2 hours and include a lounge and shower. You can add a kisa scrub or a massage, but book ahead, especially on weekends. Recommended options include Gulo’s, Royal Bath, or Orbeliani. The bath district is the most charming part of the Old Town. A 5-minute walk along the Leghvtakhevi Gorge brings you to the Tbilisi city waterfall. To the north, Shardeni and Bambis Rigi streets are lined with restaurants and bars. Further north are Sioni Cathedral, founded in the 6th century and home to the Cross of St. Nino’s Vine, Anchiskhati Church (Tbilisi’s oldest, dating to the 6th century), the leaning clock tower of the Puppet Theatre, and Meidan Square. On the riverside to the east stands Tbilisi’s only mosque. Many 19th-century wooden-balconied courtyards in the Old Town, such as those around Betlemi Street, are currently under restoration, and they’re best enjoyed simply by wandering. Getting there: a 15-minute walk across the river from Avlabari Metro Station, or a 15-minute walk from Freedom Square. The lower station of the cable car is right across from Rike Park.

Old Tbilisi / Abanotubani

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