Bath domes
Halls below ground.
Ana Aptsiauri — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Lessormore — CC BY 4.0 · Marcin Konsek — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Jason Rosenberg — CC BY 2.0 · Wim Koolhoven from Enschede, Netherlands — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Paata Vardanashvili — CC BY 2.0 · Mostafameraji — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Александр Сигачёв — CC0
A historic quarter of Tbilisi's Old Town whose Georgian name means «bath district», on the bank of the Mtkvari at the foot of Narikala Fortress, famous for sulphur baths fed by hot springs. Brick domes rise from the square, roofing the bath halls below ground, and a whiff of sulphur hangs in the air. The springs are tied to the city's founding legend: King Vakhtang Gorgasali's falcon is said to have fallen here, leading the king to discover the hot springs and decide to build a new capital. The very name Tbilisi comes from an old Georgian word meaning «warm». By the end of the thirteenth century the city had sixty-five baths. The most striking is the Orbeliani bath, known as the Colourful Bath, with a striking facade of blue glazed tiles. A small bridge crosses the Leghvtakhevi stream, whose narrow rocky gorge leads to a small waterfall right in the city, with the mosque and houses with painted wooden balconies nearby. Wandering the district is free, while bathing is priced by each bathhouse: public halls cost less than private rooms rented by the hour, and scrubs and massages can be added. Book private rooms ahead for evenings and holidays, and avoid the hot water if you have heart or blood-pressure problems.
Halls below ground.
A blue-tiled facade.
A gorge in the city.
East bank of the Mtkvari at the foot of Narikala, Old Town, Tbilisi
Juma Mosque of TbilisiThe only surviving mosque in Tbilisi's Old Town, on Botanikuri Street at the foo1 minute walk
National Botanical Garden of GeorgiaA large botanical garden in the Tsavkisis-Tskali gorge on the southern slopes of2 minutes walk
Narikala FortressAn ancient fortress crowning a steep hill above Tbilisi's Old Town and the Mtkva2 minutes walk
Metekhi ChurchA medieval stone church on the Metekhi Cliff above the left bank of the Mtkvari,4 minutes walk
Sioni CathedralThe Cathedral of the Dormition, known as the Tbilisi Sioni, stands on Sioni Stre6 minutes walkIt is best to book private rooms ahead, especially for evenings and holidays; public halls can usually be used without booking.