According to legend, Georgia's king was out hunting when his falcon chased a pheasant into a hot spring. The bird came out cooked — and the king loved the spot so much he built a city there. That is how Tbilisi got its name: 'tbili' means 'warm' in Georgian.
The sulphur baths in the Abanotubani district have round brick domes that poke up from the ground like little mushrooms. Inside, the warm mineral water fills big shared pools. The water smells a little bit like eggs (because of the sulphur), but locals say it is very good for your skin and muscles.
Walking through the old town feels like stepping into a storybook. Many buildings are decorated with intricate wooden carvings — no two balconies look the same. Pomegranate and fig trees grow in the courtyards, and you can buy freshly squeezed pomegranate juice from street stalls.
Up on a cliff above the old town stands Narikala Fortress, an ancient castle with walls that glow orange in the evening sun. A cable car takes you up to the fortress, where you can see the whole city spread out below, with the Mtkvari River winding through the middle like a silver ribbon.