Borjomi is Georgia's most famous spa town — the mineral water bottled here since 1890 was the drink of Soviet Party elites and remains the country's best-known export. The town sits in a densely forested river gorge in Samtskhe-Javakheti, surrounded by Georgia's largest national park. It's a 2.5-hour drive from Tbilisi and the standard base for two very different experiences: Bakuriani ski resort (30 min south) in winter, and Vardzia cave monastery (2 hours further) in summer.
Top things to do in Borjomi
- 1.Central Park — drink Borjomi water straight from the spring
- 2.Cable car up to the amusement park and forest walk
- 3.Romanov Palace at Likani — the tsar's summer residence
- 4.Day trip to Vardzia — 12th-century cave monastery with 400+ chambers
- 5.Winter ski trip to Bakuriani (30 min south)
May–October for hiking and Vardzia. December–March for Bakuriani skiing.
2.5 hours from Tbilisi by marshrutka (from Didube) or the daily Borjomi train (scenic, 4 hours).
Crowne Plaza Borjomi and Rixos Borjomi are the two upmarket picks. Many small family guesthouses in the center.
1 night + 1 day for Vardzia = 2 nights minimum.
Deep-dive guides for Borjomi
Four dedicated pages with everything a first-time visitor needs.
Frequently asked questions about Borjomi
Can you drink Borjomi water from the spring?
Yes — it's the same water that's bottled, straight from the source in the central park. Warm and mineral-tasting; not to everyone's liking.
Is Bakuriani worth visiting?
For beginners and families, yes. For serious skiers, Gudauri (near Kazbegi) has better terrain and longer runs.
Tours related to Borjomi
Explore more of Georgia
Mtskheta-Mtianeti Mountains
Kazbegi (Stepantsminda) →
The most photographed mountain scene in Georgia — Gergeti Trinity beneath Mt. Kazbek.
Upper Caucasus
Svaneti →
Georgia's remote mountain kingdom — medieval stone towers and 5,000-m peaks.
Eastern Wine Country
Kakheti →
The birthplace of wine — 8,000 years of qvevri tradition in one valley.
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