Chreli Abano — Attraction in Tbilisi

History The sulfur baths of Tbilisi, Georgia are a centuries-old tradition. The baths are built over natural hot springs, which are said to have healing properties. The water is rich in sulfur, which is a mineral that is known for its therapeutic benefits. Benefits of sulfur baths The sulfur baths are said to be beneficial for a variety of health conditions, including:

Arthritis

Skin conditions

Respiratory problems

Muscle pain

Stress

What to expect The baths are typically divided into three sections: a hot room, a cold room, and a massage room. The hot room is where you will spend most of your time. The temperature in the hot room can reach up to 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit). The cold room is where you will go to cool down after spending time in the hot room. The massage room is where you can receive a massage, which is a great way to relax and relieve muscle tension. How to book a sulfur bath You can book a sulfur bath at one of the many bathhouses in Tbilisi. The most popular bathhouses are located in the Abanotubani district, which is known as the "bathhouse district." Cost The cost of a sulfur bath varies depending on the bathhouse and the services you choose. A basic bath typically costs around 20 GEL (about $7 USD). Tips

Bring a swimsuit or bathing suit.

You will be given a towel and slippers to use during your bath.

It is customary to tip the massage therapist.

If you have any health conditions, be sure to talk to your doctor before taking a sulfur bath.

Here are some additional details about the sulfur baths of Tbilisi:

The baths are located in the Abanotubani district of Tbilisi, which is known as the "bathhouse district."

The baths are open year-round.

The baths are a popular tourist destination.

The baths are a great way to relax and experience...

Having read many, very mixed reviews, we booked room N2 for 5 of us with a large dollop of trepidation. We needn't have worried. The receptionist was great and even remembered who we were and what we had ordered two days previously. We had drinks on the terrace while one of our party had a 45 minutes massage and then we sorted our towels and mitts. We were shown to our room and everything explained. The room was clean and everything in good working order, except the QR code for the menu, which didn't include the alcoholic drinks so I had to phone reception to ask for a cold beer - which arrived very promptly. The hot sulphur water pool was very warm (c. 45oC?) and the cold pool was perfect (not an ice bath, just enough to get the heart gently racing). The shower took a while for the hot water to come through and the pressure wasn't great, but adequate for a rinse. The sauna was a good heat for us, but appreciate that others might want it hotter. We all had the kisi scrub and the massieurs (female for the ladies, male for the men) were very good. The only thing to note is that the room description says there is a changing area and a rest area, but in reality it's the same room so as a mixed party we had to take turns getting changed which wasted a little time. The girls had to be out on time for their massages after our 1 hour session, but nobody chased us to vacate - just a 10-minutes warning call from reception to let us know our time was almost up. For 2 people, one hour is probably sufficient. For 5 of us,and extra 30 minutes would've been perfect. We enjoyed chacha and kindzmauruli on the terrace while waiting for the ladies to finish and come out. All in all, a very relaxed and...

Excellent -- but only if you know what to expect! These baths exemplify the hot thermal baths tradition after which the entire city is called ("Tbili" means hot, after the hot springs). So baths like Chreli Abano allow one's to connect with this city historic tradition. The concept here is DIFFERENT than hot thermal pools like in Budapest or the famous bath towns in Austria or Germany. The concept here is not a large public space with several pools where you can hop from one to another along with numerous stranger people that happen to visit the pools just like you, but rather - it works with PRIVATE BATHING POOLS. There are several private rooms in the premises, of different sizes, with each one containing a hot tub or pool, sometimes a cold one too, as well as a private changing space within the per-hour rented room. The baths, however, are fairly small: At most rooms, whose hourly rate range from 150-250 GEL, the hot pool is barely bigger than a bathtub at home (still in an atmospheric premises and with all the minerals etc. I guess), and to truly feel a bigger bathing space one needs to rent the VIP/apartment which contains a hot pool that is as big as a hotel jacuzzi or so, which then cost 500-600 GEL. For this reason I deducted one star (the expensive price). Other than that all was good- the service, the cleanliness level, the scrabbing (kisa) was good too! Too bad it's only 10-12 minutes :-) In short, highly recommended if you know what to expect, and if money is...