Tskaltubo

წყალტუბო

A once-glamorous Soviet spa town famed for its radon-carbon mineral waters and grand, now-crumbling bathhouses and sanatoriums. Its faded, atmospheric ruins draw photographers and explorers of Soviet-era architecture.

Things to do

• Explore Sanatorium Medea — Wander the grand, decaying halls of this iconic curved sanatorium, one of Tskaltubo's most photographed abandoned buildings.
• Bathhouse No. 6 (Stalin's Bath) — Visit the bathhouse reportedly built for Stalin, with its ornate interiors and grand entrance still partly intact.
• Soak in the radon-carbon spring waters — Take a therapeutic dip in the naturally 33-35°C mineral waters at the Tskaltubo Spa Resort that made the town famous.
• Stroll the Central Park — Walk the circular Soviet-era park at the town's heart, ringed by the sanatoriums and bathhouse pavilions.
• Photograph Sanatorium Imereti — Capture the sweeping staircases and mosaic details of this atmospheric abandoned complex favored by urban explorers.
• Day trip to Prometheus Cave — Explore vast illuminated stalactite caverns and take an underground boat ride, about 20 minutes from town.
• Visit Sataplia Nature Reserve — See preserved dinosaur footprints, a karst cave, and a glass viewing platform over the forest nearby.

Food to try

• Khachapuri Imeruli — The round, cheese-filled bread native to the Imereti region, thinner and simpler than its boat-shaped Adjarian cousin.
• Satsivi — Cold poultry, usually turkey or chicken, served in a rich walnut-and-spice sauce common at Imeretian feasts.
• Mchadi with sulguni — Cornbread patties served alongside the region's soft, brined sulguni cheese.
• Kubdari — A meat-filled bread with roots in nearby Svaneti, spiced with Svan salt and often found in local bakeries.
• Ajika and pkhali — Try the fiery red pepper paste ajika and vegetable-walnut pâté pkhali as classic Georgian starters.
• Local wine and chacha — Sample Imeretian amber wines and the potent grape spirit chacha, often offered homemade by hosts.

Local customs & good to know

• Respect the abandoned buildings — Many sanatoriums now shelter internally displaced families from Abkhazia, so ask permission and stay quiet in occupied wings.
• Bring cash and a torch — ATMs are limited and the ruins are unlit and unmaintained, so carry lari, wear sturdy shoes, and use a flashlight.
• Honor the supra tradition — If invited to a feast, expect a tamada (toastmaster) to lead ceremonial toasts—wait for his cue before drinking.
• Hire a local guide for the ruins — Guides know which structures are safe and accessible, and support the local IDP community economically.

Nearby

• Prometheus Cave — 4 km
• Sataplia Nature Reserve — 7 km
• Bagrati Cathedral — 12 km
• Kutaisi — 12 km