Tskaltubo

Tskaltubo (also Tsqaltubo) is a town in the Rioni Region of Georgia. Tskaltubo is a great place to remember the great era of the 20th century when it was a mineral spa with many sanatoria and grand hotels. You can explore the old buildings and get a feeling for the now gone time.

Understand

Tskaltubo's architecture is a synthesis of Stalinist period classical style and of Georgian ethnic decor with Gothic and Roman features.

The "Spring No. 6", is the largest thermal bath working today. It was built in 1950 exclusively for Joseph Stalin, leader of the Soviet Union at the time. Private baths and dachas of Stalin and Lavrenti Beria are still kept in the city. The mineral water flows directly into Buildings #1 and #6. There are five pools of mineral water, 37 individual cabins for bathing mineral water and 17 hydro-massage cabinets.

In 2024, the town had a population of 7,400 people.

Get in

Marshrutkas 4, 30, 34 and 44 go regularly between Tskaltubo and Kutaisi, taking 20 minutes and two lari—try the western side of the Red Bridge in Kutaisi if you cannot determine a different starting point.

Get around

Small enough to explore on foot.

See

• 1 Former Sanatorium "Iveria". The building is fenced but there are many openings, try the most distant side of the fence. (updated Oct 2019)
• 2NOT EXISTING LISTING IMAGE Abandoned Sanatorium Medea. (updated Aug 2023)

Caves:

• 3 Chimney. The descent is only possible with a 30-50 m rope. (updated Oct 2019)
• 4 Tunnel. Bring a good torch or head lamp (updated Oct 2019)
• 5 New Cave. (updated Oct 2019)

Further afield:

• 6 Prometheus Cave (პრომეთე მღვიმე), located in village Kumistavi (from the central market to the cave take minibus #42, leaves every day except Monday (1 lari, 20 min) ; taxis cost 5 lari). May-Aug 10:00—18:00, Sep-Apr 10:00—17:00. Closed on Mondays and rainy days. Admissions only for groups. One of Georgia’s longest natural caves, with fabulous stalactites and stalagmites and underground lake. Take warm clothes. For an additional fee (15 lari?), there is a short boat ride at the end in an underground river. It is necessary to purchase the boat tour when purchasing the tickets. Some travellers have complained that it is just an expensive tourist trap. Often you have to go in a large group (at least 30 people), having to wait for everyone. And also, the tour guide only explains things in Georgian or Russian. If you have seen other caves around the world before, you can probably skip this one. 23 lari. (updated Sep 2019)
• 7 Cracked Rock Lake (Gabzaruli cavity) (just northwest of Prometheus, easy to hike or by car). For the descent you need ropes longer than 30 m or decent climbing experience. Otherwise, it is a nice view from the top. Free. (updated Sep 2019)
• 8 Okatse Canyon. Closed Mondays. Another (beside Prometheus) overhyped tourist destination around Kutaisi. You must climb 700 steps to get there. Generally, the canyon is beautiful and nice to see, but the prices are a little high, considering the other prices in this country. You can go in by 4wd if you have one. If not, there are 4wd "taxis" parked around the visitors center that will take you there. You can also do the 4-km walk, which is quite pleasant. 17.50 lari (parking 10 lari, 4wd transport 70 lari). (updated Sep 2019)