Borjomi

History of the resort

Borjomi's healing springs have long been known, but the town became a resort in the 19th century: Mikhail Vorontsov, Viceroy of the Caucasus, made it his summer residence, and Borjomi was nicknamed the “pearl of the Caucasus”.

In the 1890s Grand Duke Nicholas Mikhailovich built a palace with a park in Likani. Borjomi mineral water has been bottled since the late 19th century, and today it is sold in many countries.

What to see

• Mineral Water Park — along the Borjomula stream: a pavilion with a warm spring where you can fill up with water for free, footbridges, a cable car to the viewpoint.
• Sulfur pools in the upper part of the park, with warm mineral water.
• Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park — about 85 thousand ha of forest, trails from a couple of hours to several days. Entry is free; registration at the visitor center is required before hiking.
• “Kukushka” — a narrow-gauge train through the forest to Bakuriani, about 2.5 hours.

Best time to visit

Borjomi is good all year round: in summer the gorge is cooler than Tbilisi, in autumn the forests turn yellow, in winter there's skiing nearby in Bakuriani. On summer weekends the park is crowded.

How to get there

• By car: 2.5–3 hours from Tbilisi along the highway west.
• By minibus from Didube bus station — about 2.5–3 hours; there's also a train.
• On a tour: Borjomi is often combined with Vardzia or Bakuriani — see the Borjomi tour.

Tips

• Bring a bottle — the spring water is free. It's warm and salty, don't be put off by the taste.
• Bring a swimsuit if you want to use the pools.
• The gorge is especially beautiful in autumn — the forest turns yellow and red.