The first sip surprises almost everyone. At the blue-domed pavilion in Borjomi’s Central Park, the water comes out warm, faintly fizzy and distinctly salty, with a mineral aftertaste that lingers like the smell of wet stone. It tastes nothing like the chilled Borjomi in green glass bottles sold across the former Soviet Union and far beyond.
That contrast is a fair introduction to the town. Borjomi is famous for one product, but it rewards more than a tasting stop. It sits in a narrow, forested gorge in southern Georgia, about 160 km from Tbilisi, with imperial-era villas along the river, warm outdoor pools at the end of a forest path, and the trailheads of one of the country’s largest protected areas a short drive away.
A visit can be as short as two hours or as long as several days. This guide helps you decide which fits your trip, with practical routes, prices, transport, and the distinctions that matter when you book.
Borjomi at a Glance
| Region | Samtskhe-Javakheti |
| Distance from Tbilisi | About 160–165 km |
| Driving time | About 2.5–3 hours |
| Recommended stay | A full day, or two nights for a hike |
| Best for | Walking, resort history, families, hiking |
| Main sight | Central Park and Ekaterina Spring |
| Hiking | Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park |
| Best seasons | Late spring to autumn; winter if combined with Bakuriani |
| Good to know | The Kukushka train to Bakuriani is suspended, and Likani Palace is closed to visitors |
How Borjomi Became Georgia’s Spa Town
People were bathing in Borjomi’s water long before anyone bottled it. Archaeologists have found stone bathing pools showing the springs were in use by the early medieval period, but the town you see today is a product of the 19th century.
In the 1820s and 1830s, Russian imperial officers stationed in the gorge began studying and promoting the springs. The best-known source was named Ekaterina Spring in 1841, after the daughter of Yevgeny Golovin, then viceroy of the Caucasus. A mineral-water park followed in 1850, and as roads and later the railway improved, Borjomi became a fashionable imperial resort. The Romanov family developed estates in the valley, including Likani Palace just west of town, and hotels, villas and administrative buildings filled in around them. For the full story, read our article on Borjomi in the 19th century.
The Soviet period added a second layer. Sanatoriums turned Borjomi into a destination for organised rest and treatment, some historic properties were adapted for state holidays, and bottled Borjomi became one of the most recognisable products in the USSR.
All of it is still visible in a compact valley: carved wooden balconies, ornamental villas, heavy Soviet resort blocks and new spa hotels within a few minutes’ walk of each other. The town makes more sense once you see it as a working resort that has been reinvented several times.
Borjomi Mineral Water and Where to Taste It
Borjomi is a naturally carbonated mineral water, rich in sodium and bicarbonate, that rises warm from deep underground sources in the gorge. At Ekaterina Spring, just inside Central Park, you can taste it straight from the source.
A few things are worth knowing before your first cup:
- Start small. The warm, salty spring water is an acquired taste. Try a mouthful before filling a bottle.
- It is not the bottled version. Chilled, bottled Borjomi feels quite different, so disliking one does not mean you will dislike the other.
- Bring a clean cup or reusable bottle. Tasting at the pavilion is normally free, though entry to the park is not.
- Drink from the designated fountain. The bathing pools further up the valley are a separate attraction, not a drinking source.
Traditional spa culture credits Borjomi water with many health benefits, and that reputation built the town. Treat the tasting as part of the visit, not as a cure or a detox. The water is high in sodium, so if you follow a prescribed diet or have a medical condition, check with your doctor before drinking more than a sip.
Things to Do in Borjomi
Walk through Borjomi Central Park
Central Park, also called Mineral Water Park, follows the Borjomula River into a narrow wooded gorge, and it is where almost every visit begins. Taste the water at Ekaterina Spring, follow the riverside paths and stop by the Prometheus statue and waterfall.
The entrance area is a busy recreational park, with cafes, souvenir stalls and rides for children. For a quieter walk, keep going past the developed section into the forest. Allow one to two hours for an unhurried visit, not counting the walk to the pools.
One common mix-up: Central Park and Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park are completely separate places. A park ticket does not get you onto national-park trails.
Walk on to the sulfur pools
Beyond the rear of Central Park, an easy riverside path runs for about two kilometres to a group of warm outdoor pools in the forest. Counting the walk through the park, that is roughly three kilometres each way from the main entrance.
Budget around three hours for the return walk, changing and a soak. Children, photo stops and muddy patches can stretch that. The official tourism page lists several pools, showers and changing rooms; published temperatures vary, so expect warm outdoor bathing rather than spa-bath heat.
Bring swimwear, a towel, sandals and a bag for wet clothes. Pool admission is separate from the park ticket, and a paved entrance does not mean the whole forest path is step-free. If you are travelling with a wheelchair or a stroller, check conditions before you set off, and do not count on a taxi being able to drop you at the pools.
Take the cable car if it is running
The cable car beside the park entrance climbs to the plateau above the gorge in a few minutes. Treat it as a short viewpoint trip rather than a long aerial ride. The schedule changes with the season, and weather or maintenance can stop it, so check at the lower station on the day: whether the fare is one-way, when the last car comes down, and whether the upper attractions are open.
Look at Firuza and the resort architecture
Firuza, the blue villa beside the park entrance, is Borjomi’s most photographed building. Its painted balconies mix Persian, Georgian and European motifs, a good summary of the town’s international 19th-century clientele. Today it operates as the Golden Tulip Borjomi hotel, not as a museum. Admire the facade from the street, and if you want to go in for a meal or a drink, ask the hotel which areas are open to non-residents.
From there, walk back through town for carved wooden balconies, former villas, railway buildings and Soviet-era sanatoriums. Many are hotels or private homes, so enjoy them from the pavement.
Visit the Museum of Local Lore
The local museum covers Borjomi’s archaeology, natural setting, resort history and mineral-water industry, and makes a good first stop or a rainy-day alternative. Allow 45–60 minutes. Redevelopment of the museum has been reported, so confirm its current location, hours and admission locally rather than trusting an old map pin.
Climb to Gogia and Petra fortresses
Ruined fortifications on the hills above town recall the gorge’s older role as a strategic route. The paths are much less developed than Central Park. Use reliable directions, wear shoes with grip and skip exposed ground in poor weather.
Check before you go to Likani Palace
Likani Palace, the former Romanov summer residence west of town, is closed to tourists according to recent visitor reports. The surrounding Likani area is still pleasant for forest walks and views of the estate, but do not plan a special trip around the palace itself without explicit confirmation of access. Staying in a hotel nearby does not include a palace visit.
Borjomi Ticket Prices and Opening Hours
For budgeting, these are the prices reported for 2026 by an independent guide:
| Attraction | Reported 2026 price per adult |
|---|---|
| Central Park | 5 GEL |
| Sulfur pools | 15 GEL |
| Cable car | 15 GEL each way |
| All three, with a return cable car ride | 50 GEL |
These are reported figures, not prices confirmed by the operators. Check the posted tariffs, child concessions and closing times when you arrive, and carry some lari for small purchases and taxis. Hotel rates and private transfers depend on your dates and what is included, so ask for a quote rather than relying on a range.
Hiking in Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park
Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park protects more than 100,000 hectares of forest, river valleys and high ridges in the Lesser Caucasus. Its marked routes range from short introductory walks to multi-day crossings, plus winter snowshoe routes. A trail name alone tells you very little about whether it suits a free afternoon.
Register before you hike. Registration at the Borjomi or Kharagauli visitor centre is required for the tourist trails. In Borjomi, the visitor centre is at 23 Meskheti Street, and the official park website lists the contact number +995 599 747 919. Use the visit to ask about closures, weather, water sources and shelter availability, collect a current map and sort out transport to the start and from the finish.
These routes show the range. Distances and ratings follow the official descriptions; your fitness and the day’s conditions decide the real effort.
| Trail | Distance | Difficulty | What to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Park Information Trail | Short loop | Easy | A circular introduction near the Borjomi administration building |
| Likani Valley Trail | Short | Rated easier | More climbing and descent than the rating suggests |
| Footprint Trail | 13 km | Moderate | 1 day; Likani to Kvabiskhevi; sustained climb and a steep descent |
| Panorama Trail | 34 km | Hard | 2 days; loop from Atskuri; overnight shelter |
| Nikoloz Romanov Trail | 43 km | Moderate | 3 days; Likani to Marelisi; start and finish on opposite sides of the park |
Do not mistake the Footprint Trail for a family stroll. On the Nikoloz Romanov Trail, plan your return before you leave, because you finish far from where you started. For overnight routes, reserve shelters in advance and ask what bedding and cooking gear you need to bring.
What to carry on any trail:
- Water and food. Do not count on refilling along the way unless the visitor centre confirms a source.
- Rain protection. Weather in the gorge changes quickly, even in summer.
- An offline map and a charged phone. Signal is patchy once you leave the valley floor.
- A daylight margin. Plan to finish well before sunset, not at it.
Independent hiking is possible on suitable routes, but a guide makes sense if you are new to mountain navigation or conditions are uncertain. Our guide to the 12 hiking trails in Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park compares the full network, and our overview of Georgia’s national parks puts it in context.
Green Monastery near Borjomi
The Green Monastery, also called Mtsvane or Chitakhevi Monastery, is a small stone church in a wooded side gorge near the village of Chitakhevi. It is generally dated to the 9th century and is still an active monastery. The official park guide places it about eight kilometres from Borjomi, with a 1.2 km approach from the main road towards Akhaltsikhe.
It fits neatly into a southbound drive. Ask your driver to include it, or arrange a taxi with waiting time, and allow 30–60 minutes at the site. If you walk the approach, agree exactly where you will be picked up. Cover shoulders and knees, keep voices low, and do not photograph worshippers without asking. It also makes a good alternative to a hike on a wet day.
Day Trips from Borjomi
Bakuriani, and why not by the Kukushka
Bakuriani is a ski resort in winter and a family mountain destination in summer, a short drive up the mountain road from Borjomi. The historic narrow-gauge railway between the two, known as the Kukushka, has been suspended for years. Georgian Railway describes the heritage line but publishes no dependable passenger timetable, and talk of reopening is not a schedule. Go by road unless an official timetable and tickets appear for your dates, and check road conditions in winter.
Decide whether you actually want time in Bakuriani before adding a return trip to an already full Borjomi day.
Rabati Castle in Akhaltsikhe
Akhaltsikhe is about 50 km from Borjomi, roughly an hour’s drive. Its main sight is Rabati Castle, a fortress complex with courtyards, a mosque, a church and a museum that tells the region’s Georgian and Ottoman history. Much of what you see is the result of heavy modern restoration, so go for the setting and the story rather than expecting an untouched medieval fortress. Museum admission is separate from access to the grounds. Our Akhaltsikhe travel guide covers the rest of the town.
Vardzia and Khertvisi
Vardzia is about 110 km from Borjomi via Akhaltsikhe and Aspindza. Treat it as a full day: around two to two and a half hours each way, two to three hours for the cave monastery, plus lunch. The route through the cliff involves steps, uneven surfaces and narrow passages, so wear shoes with grip and carry water. Khertvisi Fortress stands on the same road and makes an easy extra stop.
A private car makes combining Vardzia and Rabati far easier. By public transport, sort out onward and return connections first: a minibus to Akhaltsikhe does not guarantee a convenient connection to Vardzia.
Abastumani
The old mountain resort of Abastumani, known for its observatory, works best as a full-day excursion or as part of a wider route through southern Georgia rather than a quick add-on.
How Long to Spend in Borjomi
Use these as planning guides, and add time for weather, children and transport connections.
| Visit | Time needed |
|---|---|
| Spring, Firuza and the town park | 2–3 hours |
| Full day with the sulfur pools | 5–7 hours |
| Borjomi and Bakuriani by road | A full day |
| Town and a national-park day hike | 1–2 days |
| Borjomi plus Rabati and Vardzia | 2 days |
If you only have two or three hours
Start at Firuza, enter Central Park for the spring and walk along the river as far as time allows. Save the pools for a longer visit: the return walk alone takes most of an afternoon.
A one-day Borjomi itinerary
- Morning: start at Firuza or the Museum of Local Lore, then enter Central Park and taste the water at Ekaterina Spring.
- Late morning: walk on to the sulfur pools, carrying everything you need so you do not have to return to your hotel first.
- Afternoon: have a late lunch back in town. Ride the cable car if it is running, or visit the museum if the weather turns.
- Evening: keep the last hour free for luggage and transport, or stay overnight and eat in town.
A two-day Borjomi stay
Spend the first day on Central Park, the pools and the historic town. On the second, register at the national-park visitor centre early and walk a trail that matches your fitness, the season and your transport. In bad weather, swap the hike for the Green Monastery and the museum.
Two days from Tbilisi with Vardzia
Day 1: drive from Tbilisi to Borjomi, visit the park and spring, then continue towards Akhaltsikhe. Add the Green Monastery or Rabati only if your timing allows. Sleep in Akhaltsikhe or closer to Vardzia.
Day 2: reach Vardzia early enough to walk it without rushing, then return to Tbilisi.
If you also want the pools or a hike, add a night in Borjomi. Squeezing them into a long driving day takes the value out of every stop.
Getting to Borjomi
From Tbilisi by road
Borjomi is about 160–165 km from Tbilisi. Allow two and a half to three hours by car, without sightseeing stops or heavy traffic.
- Marshrutka (minibus): generally from Didube bus station. Confirm the departure point, fare and return times locally, and for a day trip, know how you are getting back before you head for the pools.
- Private transfer or driver: the easiest option with luggage or children, or if you want to stop at the Green Monastery or Likani. Agree the vehicle, total price, waiting time and destination in advance; a one-way transfer and a full day with a driver are different bookings.
From Tbilisi by train
Georgian Railway’s published timetable lists two daily departures from Tbilisi to Borjomi, at 06:35 and 18:35, taking about four hours and twelve minutes. Departures from Borjomi are listed at 05:50 and 16:30. Check the official railway timetable again before you travel. The train is slower than the road, and the evening service arrives late, so tell your accommodation if you take it. This regular train has nothing to do with the suspended Kukushka.
From Kutaisi
The usual road goes east to Khashuri, then south into the Borjomi valley; there is no remote mountain pass on the standard route. Compare a direct transfer with minibus connections for your day, and when you ask for a pickup, specify whether you mean Kutaisi airport or the city centre. They are some distance apart.
Getting around town
Central Borjomi is compact and walkable, though hills and uneven pavements add up. Taxis are useful for Likani, the Green Monastery, national-park trailheads and hotels outside the centre. Agree the fare first if the car is not using an app or a meter.
Where to Stay and Eat in Borjomi
Choose the location first, then the room. Staying near Central Park puts the spring, restaurants and the main sights within walking distance, which matters on a short visit. Likani and the hillside properties are quieter and some have forest views, but you will need taxis.
Borjomi has everything from family guesthouses to full-service spa hotels. Before you book:
- Check the walk, not just the map. A guesthouse 500 metres away can be 500 metres uphill.
- Ask about heating and parking. Both matter outside summer and if you are driving.
- Read the spa hotel rate carefully. Pool access, mineral baths, treatments and meals are often priced separately.
For food, look for Georgian staples such as khinkali, khachapuri, mtsvadi and lobio. Leave a proper lunch break between the park and an afternoon excursion, and in the quieter months do not leave dinner too late, as kitchens close earlier. Guesthouses will often cook breakfast or dinner if you arrange it in advance. If you have dietary restrictions, ask about ingredients rather than assuming a familiar dish is made the same way everywhere.
Best Time to Visit Borjomi
| Season | What to expect |
|---|---|
| April–May | Fresh green forest and spring flowers; rain and muddy trails are likely |
| June–August | Long days, every attraction open and the widest choice of hikes; busy weekends and queues at the pools |
| September–October | Cooler walking weather and autumn colour in the forests; shorter days for hikers |
| November–March | A quiet spa-town feel and winter sports in Bakuriani; snow, ice and shorter opening hours affect trails and attractions |
Whatever the month, bring a light waterproof and shoes that can handle wet ground. And remember that a pleasant day in town tells you nothing about conditions on the higher trails.
Plan Your Borjomi and Southern Georgia Trip
Borjomi works best as the green, unhurried part of a longer journey through Samtskhe-Javakheti. Two of our tours include it:
- Two-day Vardzia tour: Borjomi and Vardzia with transport and sightseeing arranged.
- Four-day Mystic South Georgia tour: a longer loop adding volcanic highlands and more of the region.
Want a different pace? Plan a custom trip and tell us your dates, group size and whether you want a short park visit, time at the pools or a separate hiking day, so the itinerary gives each the time it needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Borjomi worth visiting?
Yes, especially if you like walking, nature and resort history. It combines a historic spa town, mineral springs, warm outdoor pools and access to Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park, and it is a natural stop on the way to Akhaltsikhe and Vardzia.
Can you visit Borjomi as a day trip from Tbilisi?
Yes. Go by road rather than train to get more time in town, and pick a few things to do. The park, the spring and the pools fill a day; adding a mountain hike or Vardzia does not work.
How many days should I spend in Borjomi?
One full day covers Central Park, the spring and the sulfur pools. Stay two nights if you want a national-park hike, the Green Monastery or a slower look at the town.
How much does Borjomi Central Park cost?
Independent 2026 reports put Central Park admission at about 5 GEL, the sulfur pools at about 15 GEL and the cable car at about 15 GEL each way. Check posted prices on arrival.
Can you drink the mineral water in Borjomi?
Yes. Taste the warm water at the Ekaterina Spring pavilion in Central Park and fill a small bottle if you like it. It tastes very different from chilled bottled Borjomi. Because it is high in sodium, people on prescribed diets should ask their doctor first.
How far are the sulfur pools from Central Park?
About two kilometres beyond the rear of the park, or roughly three kilometres each way from the main entrance. Bring swimwear, a towel and sandals, and check the closing time and separate admission before setting off.
Are Central Park and the national park the same place?
No. Central Park holds the spring and leads to the pools. Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park is a separate protected area with its own trailheads and visitor registration.
Do I need to register to hike in Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park?
Yes. Register at the Borjomi or Kharagauli visitor centre before entering the tourist trails. Staff can confirm conditions and book shelters or campsites.
Is the Kukushka train to Bakuriani running?
No. The narrow-gauge passenger service has been suspended for years, and no dependable timetable is published. Travel to Bakuriani by road.
Can you visit Likani Palace?
Do not count on it. Recent reports describe the palace as closed to tourists, so confirm public access before including it in your plans.
Is Borjomi suitable for children?
The park and the spring suit families well. Decide on the pools only after weighing the return walk, the changing facilities and your children’s stamina, and ask directly about step-free access if you need it.
What is the best time to visit Borjomi?
Late spring to autumn for walking and hiking, with September and October especially pleasant for cooler weather and forest colour. Winter suits a spa stay combined with skiing in Bakuriani.
