Borjomi — the Tsar's Resort
Borjomi became famous in the 1820s when Russian officers discovered its mineral springs. By the late 19th century it was the summer residence of the Romanov dynasty, and the waters were being bottled for export across the Russian Empire. Today the iconic Borjomi mineral water is sold in over 40 countries.
The Central Park (est. 1892) covers 17 hectares of riverside forest with century-old sequoias and walking paths. The famous open-air mineral spring lets you drink the water directly — warm (37°C), slightly fizzy, tasting of sulphur and iron. It's an acquired taste, but worth trying from the source.
Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park
One of the largest protected areas in Europe (65,000 hectares), the national park begins at the edge of town. The cable car (₾5) lifts you above the gorge to walking trails through beech and fir forest. The air at altitude — clean, pine-scented — is its own kind of therapy after the city.
Rabati Fortress — Akhaltsikhe
Forty minutes from Borjomi, the fortress city of Rabati (Akhaltsikhe) dates from the 9th century and was rebuilt by the Ottomans in the 16th–19th centuries. The complex includes a mosque, an Armenian church, an Orthodox cathedral, a museum, and a caravanserai — all within one fortified enclosure. Entry ₾7.