Borjomi

Borjomi — a resort in Georgia with legendary mineral water

Borjomi is a small resort town in southern central Georgia, in the Samtskhe-Javakheti region, about 165 km from Tbilisi, at an elevation of about 794 m above sea level. It is located in the wooded Borjomi Gorge, on the eastern border of Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park. The mineral springs of the Borjomi Valley have been known to locals for more than a thousand years, and in the 19th century the town became a fashionable spa resort of the Russian Empire — it was called the “pearl of the Caucasus” and the “Russian Vichy”.

What Borjomi is famous for

The main thing the town is known for is Borjomi mineral water: natural sparkling water of volcanic origin. The valley gained wide fame in the early 1800s, when the healing properties of the water were noticed by units of the Russian imperial army stationed here. In 1850 a mineral water park was opened in the town, and in 1854 the first bottling plant was launched. The resort was loved by the Romanov dynasty; according to legend, Anton Chekhov and Pyotr Tchaikovsky visited here.

After the establishment of Soviet power, aristocratic mansions were turned into sanatoriums for the party elite, and Borjomi water became one of the most recognizable brands of the USSR and a major export item. Today the town has retained its resort character, and at the end of September it hosts the city festival Borjomoba.

Borjomi attractions: what to see in the center

• Borjomi Central Park — a historic park along the Borjomula River with a mineral water spring (Catherine Spring), attractions, cafes and a waterfall with a statue of Prometheus. Admission is charged.
• Cable car and plateau — the ascent starts near the entrance to Central Park and leads to a plateau with a Ferris wheel, cafes and panoramic views of the town and mountains.
• Natural sulfur and hot pools — located a few kilometers from Central Park, reachable on foot along a marked forest trail; a popular swimming spot.
• Borjomi Museum of Local Lore — one of Georgia's oldest museums, with more than 40,000 exhibits; the building was constructed in 1890 for the Romanov state administration.
• Likani Palace (Romanov Villa) — a summer mansion from the 1890s in the western part of Borjomi, designed by Leonty Benois for Grand Duke Nicholas Mikhailovich. Later the Soviet elite vacationed here, and today it is the summer residence of the President of Georgia; the museum opened in 2016.

What to see in Borjomi and the surrounding area

• Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park — one of Georgia's largest national parks: about 1,093 km², more than 1% of the country's territory. Founded in 1995, officially opened in 2001. It has marked multi-day hiking routes, overnight shelters, picnic and camping areas.
• Mtsvane (Green) Monastery — the Church of St George in Chitakhevi, a three-nave basilica from the late 9th–10th century with a 15th–16th-century bell tower, about 12 km southwest of Borjomi. In 2003 it was restored and again inhabited by monks; a national cultural monument and pilgrimage site.
• Timotesubani Monastery — a medieval monastery complex in the Borjomi Gorge. The Church of the Dormition was built in the “golden age” of medieval Georgia under Queen Tamar (1184–1213) and is known for frescoes no later than the 1220s.
• Medieval fortresses of Gogia, Petra and Sali — fortifications on the surrounding hills that guarded the region's historical roads.
• Borjomi–Bakuriani narrow-gauge railway (“Kukushka”) — one of Georgia's first railways, holding cultural heritage status since 2017; the line has a bridge ordered from Gustave Eiffel.

Holidays in Borjomi: mineral springs and climate therapy

Borjomi is a year-round balneological and climatic resort: people come here for mineral water, clean mountain air and a calm pace. The town center is small and easy to explore on foot; further afield you can use city buses along the main road, inexpensive taxis, bike rental and the bus to Likani. A cable car takes you up to the plateau.

Excursions in Borjomi

A typical excursion program in Borjomi and the surrounding area consists of Central Park and the spring, a trip to Likani, the Mtsvane and Timotesubani monasteries, and hiking routes in the national park. A separate pleasure is a ride on the narrow-gauge railway to Bakuriani.

When is the best time to go to Borjomi

The resort welcomes guests all year round, but the best period for climate therapy is from June to October. Winters here are cold, and summers are long and hot. If you want to catch the city celebration, plan your trip for the end of September — the time of Borjomoba.

How to get to Borjomi

From Tbilisi to Borjomi is about 165 km — roughly 2 hours by car. The train goes to Borjomi-Parki station in the town center in 4–5 hours; it is a very cheap option, but tickets are bought on the train, not online. Marshrutkas depart every hour from Tbilisi's Didube station; there are also connections with Batumi, Kutaisi, Akhaltsikhe and other cities. You can reach Bakuriani by the narrow-gauge railway.

Borjomi weather by month

The climate here is continental: cold winters and long hot summers. The average daily maximum temperature is about +5 °C in January and about +28…+29 °C in July–August.

How much does a holiday in Borjomi cost

Prices are in Georgian lari (GEL). According to 2019–2024 data, entry to Borjomi Central Park cost about 5 lari, the cable car about 15 lari one way, a marshrutka from Tbilisi about 8 lari, a museum ticket about 3 lari, an overnight stay in a national park shelter about 10 lari, camping about 5 lari per night. Park permits are free. Prices may have changed; check locally.

Planning a trip to Borjomi?

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