Tbilisi Open Air Sulphur Baths

Insider tip — Tbilisi's Abanotubani — the sulfur bath district — is the literal origin of the city's name, meaning 'warm place' in Georgian, with natural sulfurous springs at 42°C surfacing beneath domed brick bathhouses that have operated continuously since the 5th century. The egg-scent of hydrogen sulfide is unmistakable in the narrow alleys of the Old Town, where caravanserai-era architecture frames the volcanic bath pavilions. Opt for a private room with a dedicated masseur for the full Georgian kese scrub ritual, ideally followed by a glass of Saperavi wine in a nearby tavern.