Borjomi is a city in the south-west of Georgia, which became famous in Soviet times for its mineral water. In terms of export, this healing water ranked first in Georgia and is still very popular in the CIS countries.
Today, the city is home to about 10,5 thousand people. This is a small and very picturesque low-mountain resort in the Kura River gorge, located at a distance of 152 km from Tbilisi. It is worth coming here to admire the beautiful nature and look at historical monuments, including the palace of the Russian royal Romanov family.
The resort of Borjomi has a well-developed tourist infrastructure: there are many cafes and street kiosks with Georgian cuisine, grocery stores, and several Internet cafes in the center.
Where to check in
As for accommodation, more than ten hotels, several sanatoriums, a budget hostel and many guest houses have been built in Borjomi. The upscale Borjomi Palace Resort & Spa has recently opened. You can find a suitable place to stay at different prices: from 12 to 150 euros per night.
Be careful when choosing guest houses in Borjomi! Among them, there are decent housing options, and apartments that leave much to be desired. Tourists do not recommend contacting barkers who offer travelers guest accommodation on the streets. It is better to use the booking services in advance: this way you will be able to find discount offers and choose accommodation in the city at a favorable price. The cost of a night’s stay in guesthouses starts from$12.
Borjomi city attractions
Having visited Borjomi, you will see that this Georgian city is interesting not only for its famous mineral water. There are also attractions worth seeing here.
Central Park
Borjomi Park is located along the Borjomula River. The main object of the park is a mineral spring in a beautiful pale blue pavilion with a glass roof. In it, you can get free water in your container. Around the pavilion there are benches where you can relax in peace, and in the evening, when the lights turn on, you can also enjoy a peaceful and romantic atmosphere.
What else can you see in the park in Borjomi?
- Waterfall and Prometheus statue.
- Bridges and gazebos.
- Sulfur pools with a temperature of 32-38 deg. (cost of visit — GEL 5)
The park is open daily from 9 am to 19 pm. The entrance fee is GEL 2.
On a note! What sights to see in Tbilisi can be found in this article with photos.
Local History Museum
Be sure to visit the city’s Museum of Local Lore. In the museum you can get acquainted with the history of the resort of Borjomi, find out what famous people rested here. It also contains a lot of interesting things from the everyday life of local residents and Georgia in general. You can see rare exhibits, including items from the Romanov Summer Palace. Visitors note that getting to know the museum’s exposition will be much more interesting with a guide.
Address of the attraction: St. Nino str., 5, Borjomi 383720 Georgia.
Mirza-Riz Khan’s House
The house is a cultural heritage site of Firuz. This is a mansion in the very center of the city, which is included in the list of important sights of Borjomi. The house was built in 1892 by order of the Persian (now Iranian) Consul General. It is perfectly preserved and now attracts tourists with its unusual architecture with many openwork elements and patterns. The building is the most photographed in Borjomi
Address: 3 Baratashvili str., Borjomi, Georgia.
Fortress of Petra
Today, only ruins remain of the unique ancient fortress of Petre in the Borjomi Gorge. However, the lower tiers and the upper fortification are partially preserved: they are made of an unusual material-large pebbles.
Who exactly built this fortress is unknown. At one time it was a large defensive structure, and then it was captured by the Turks and made the headquarters of their army. It is worth going up here at least to look at the magnificent panorama that opens from the mountain and take a photo as a souvenir.
To reach Petre Fortress, follow the right bank of the Kura River to the railway tracks. Then turn left and follow the trail uphill.
Cable car
The cable car, which is considered one of the most interesting sights of Borjomi, was built in the 60s of the last century. It recently underwent a comprehensive restoration. Ride in a cableway booth should be combined with a visit to the city park. It is here that the lower station of the road called “Park” is located.
The cable car will take you up to an altitude of 1000 meters above sea level, where you will enjoy beautiful views of the city of Borjomi and the surrounding nature. At the upper station “Plateau” you will see a modest church of St. Seraphim of Sarov built in 2008. You can go to this church, it operates and is very popular among the townspeople.
- The cable car is open during the warm season (from mid-May) from 10 to 20: 00, in winter from 10 am to 18 pm.
- A one-way ticket costs GEL 5.
Green Monastery
If you ask local residents what to see in Borjomi, they will definitely advise you to visit the Green Monastery. This is the oldest active monastery in all of Georgia, which still regularly attracts pilgrims.
The building was built in the 9th-10th centuries in the form of a typical basilica of that period. A 14th-century bell tower has been erected nearby, completing the architectural appearance of the monastery complex. Be sure to go inside the temple to feel the spirit of antiquity and feel its calm atmosphere. Behind the basilica, you can visit another interesting place – a spring with holy water, which is visited by pilgrims from all over the country.
The monastery is located in the State Nature Reserve, which itself is an important attraction of Borjomi. You can reach it by taxi (about 20 GEL) or minibus. Do not forget that you should dress appropriately to visit the monastery-your shoulders and knees should be covered.
Likansky Palace-summer residence of the Romanovs
The Likani Palace was built in the village of Likani near Borjomi by order of Grand Duke Nikolai Mikhailovich Romanov in the late 19th century. This beautiful Moorish-style palace complex in Georgia served as the royal family’s summer residence. Interestingly, the view of the Romanov palace was captured in color photos of Borjomi by photographer Prokudin-Gorsky.
It is noteworthy that in 1898, the first power plant in the Russian Empire was built near the palace specifically to conduct electricity to the palace. This was a huge advance for the time.
In Georgia, the Likan Palace served as the president’s summer residence until recently. The entrance was forbidden: you could only admire the facade of the complex. But in 2016, the Georgian authorities decided to change the situation and turn the attraction into a museum open to the public. The restoration took three years.
From Borjomi, you can reach Likani by bus or taxi. But keep in mind that as of March 2020, the palace is closed for restoration and can only be viewed from the outside.
Treatment and wellness in Borjomi
The miraculous properties of local mineral water were first discovered by military doctors of the Kherson regiment. This happened in 1816. The resort gained wide fame in 1841, when a famous general named Golovin cured his daughter with local waters. After that, notable people from all over the Russian Empire began to come here for treatment.
The chemical composition of mineral water in Borjomi is sodium bicarbonate. It is naturally mineralized in nature. You can get healthier with Borjomi water in different ways: drink, take baths, inhale vapors and perform inhalations. Drinking water is useful for people with diseases of the stomach and digestive system, metabolic disorders.
Taking baths with mineral water is recommended for people with nervous disorders, heart and vascular diseases, and problems with the reproductive system. Inhalations are good for respiratory diseases.
Springs and health resorts
Two well-known mineral water springs in the city of Borjomi in Georgia are located near the central park. You can collect and drink water from them for free.
You can get treatment in one of several local sanatoriums, dispensaries and health complexes that offer diagnostics and numerous procedures. The resort’s sanatoriums use not only Borjomi water, but also mineral sulfur baths.
The most famous resorts are Rixos Borjomi (5 stars) and Borjomi Palace (4 stars). Accommodation in them is quite expensive (around 85 euros and above), but it includes both medical procedures and meals consisting of dietary dishes, as well as access to swimming pools and other guest infrastructure.
Borjomi is not the only health resort in the country, but also pay attention to treatment at the Abastumani health resort in Georgia, it is less developed, but more affordable.
Weather and climate
Borjomi has a mild climate. The city is protected by mountains, so there are no such unpleasant phenomena as temperature changes and gusty winds.
You can come to Borjomi for rest and treatment at any time of the year. In winter, it is cool, but there is no severe cold. The average temperature in January is 1 degree below zero in the daytime and -6°C at night.
The rainiest month in Borjomi is May. In the rest of the year, it rains regularly, but not often-4-7 days a month.
Due to its location in a mountain gorge, summers at the resort are warm, but not hot. In July, the average air temperature reaches +25 degrees. The most favorable month to visit the city is May. At this time, trees and shrubs bloom here, the day becomes longer, and the weather is already mild and pleasant. It is in May that the most beautiful photos of Borjomi are taken.
It is worth noting that housing prices in the city practically do not change depending on the season.
Telavi-the center of wine production in Georgia
How to get to Borjomi from Tbilisi
The distance from the capital of Georgia, Tbilisi, to the Borjomi health resort is 160 km by road.
Buses and trains run regularly from Tbilisi to Borjomi. The latter depart from Tbilisi Train Station and stop in the city center. Trains leave twice a day: at 6: 30 (No. 618/617) and at 16:15 (No. 686/685). You will need to spend 4 hours on the road. Tickets can be purchased online at <url> www.railway.ge for 2 GEL.
Buses to Borjomi leave every hour from 7 am to 6 pm. The place of departure of minibuses is the bus station near the Didube metro station. The fare is 8 Georgian lari, and the travel time is about 2-2. 5 hours.
