Is Tbilisi getting too tiring? Kutaisi too chaotic? If you’re looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of big cities in Georgia, a short break to Borjomi is exactly what you need.

This gorgeously lush town, nestled in a gorge and surrounded by a huge national park, is the perfect place to spend a day or two to relax and unwind – not to mention try its famous mineral waters. Let’s check it out!

BORJOMI CITY GUIDE

Perfect for…
Hiking – Amazing views – Borjomi’s famous mineral water – Fresh air – Relaxing after Tbilisi

If there’s one thing that us Eastern Europeans absolutely looove, it’s going health resorts. Places like Karlovy Vary (Czech Rep.) and Odessa (Ukraine) were famous back in the day because their mineral water and spa resorts were able to supposedly heal any health problems, and Borjomi was no exception.

Surprisingly, the discovery of Borjomi’s mineral water was a complete accident. Back in the 1800s, Russian troops were fighting a war against the Ottomans in an area near present-day Borjomi. Some of the troops saw some water bubbling from the ground and, being extremely thirsty, decided to drink it. They soon noticed that their stomachs didn’t hurt anymore, their wounds healed faster, and they felt much better overall. News quickly spread to the viceroy of Georgia, who took his sick daughter there in hopes of curing her illness. Within a few days she was cured, and thus began the story of Borjomi’s magical mineral water.

When planning my trip to Georgia, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to visit Borjomi. It looked so cozy in photos and would be the perfect place to stop and relax after two whirlwind weeks of traveling through Russia and other Georgian cities.

The best part about Borjomi is that it’s fairly small and everything can be seen in one day. Most attractions, hotels, and restaurants are located in the center and travelers can easily get around by walking. It’s also off the beaten path and there weren’t many tourists when I was there in June, AKA the high season.

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HOW TO GET TO BORJOMI

The easiest way to get to Borjomi is via a marshrutka (minibus). If you’re traveling from Tbilisi, there’s a huge marshrutka station/parking lot in front of Didube Metro Station. Walk around for a little bit until you see a car with a sign on the dashboard that says Borjomi (signs are written in Georgian and English!) and jump in. The journey takes about 2 hours and costs 7 GEL (as of 2018). You can also reach Borjomi via marshrutka from other cities like Batumi, Poti, Kutaisi, etc.

One thing to note, though: you might be waiting for a little bit because marshrutkas will only go when there are enough people in the car!

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WHERE TO STAY IN BORJOMI

While looking for accommodations in Borjomi, one thing that immediately caught my eye was the Borjomi Crowne Plaza hotel. It was right in the center of town, rated the #1 hotel on TripAdvisor, and had plenty of facilities. When I checked in, they even upgraded me to the two-story suite (with a balcony!).

Overall, I loved this hotel and highly recommend it. Some of my favorite features were the pool and outdoor patio/swings, plus the customer service was some of the best that I’ve experienced in my travels through Georgia. Bonus: If you show your key card to the kiosk in Central Park, you can enter for free. Such a nice perk!

If you’re looking for a few other options, there are plenty of hotels, hostels, and guesthouses in Borjomi. Here are a few options:

Borjomi Hostels

Riverside Hostel – Close to the center, cozy atmosphere, and less than $10/night!
Agoda || Booking.com

Borjomi Hotels

Golden Tulip Borjomi *Boutique Hotel* – Near Central Park, gorgeous interior design, and comes with free breakfast.
Agoda || Booking.com || Hotels.com || HotelsCombined

Crowne Plaza Borjomi – Located in the center, free access to Central Park, huge rooms, and plenty of facilities.
Agoda || Booking.com || Hotels.com || HotelsCombined

Borjomi Palace Health & Spa Center – Excellent value, staff brings mineral water to your room (!), and there’s an outdoor pool.
Agoda || Booking.com || Hotels.com || HotelsCombined

Borjomi Homestays

Rainbow/Tsisartkela Guest house – Cute vintage decor, quiet area, and very friendly owners/hosts.
Agoda || Booking.com

Guest House Metreveli – A Georgian-style home run by extremely friendly hosts and a balcony in each room. Around $15/nt!
Agoda || Booking.com

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WHAT TO DO IN BORJOMI

Borjomi’s Mineral Water Spring

If you can’t wait to try Borjomi’s famous mineral water, this spring should be your first stop. Remember my story about the Russian viceroy’s daughter? After she drank the water from this spring and successfully healed, the locals named the spring after her: Catherine’s Spring. Once you get into Borjomi’s Central Park, it’s very easy to find: just walk straight until you see a huge dome and some local ladies pouring water (photo above). Don’t worry if you don’t have a plastic cup, because the workers will give you one for free. If you’d like, you can also bring your own plastic bottle or buy it from the market outside the park.

A quick warning: since this is real and unfiltered mineral water, it’ll taste quite salty and a little strange if you’ve never had it before. Personally, I wasn’t a fan, and the majority of locals and travelers drink it for the healing benefits and not for the flavor. It’s not San Pellegrino (or champagne) but it’s an experience you need to have. When in Borjomi, do like the locals.

Central Park

Now that you’ve tried the mineral water, it’s time to explore the rest of Borjomi’s Central Park! In order to get inside, you’ll need to pay 2 Lari at the kiosk or show your Crowne Plaza keycard to get in for free. The park is pretty huge in comparison to the town of Borjomi and has many walkways, food kiosks (ice cream!), and things to do. You can also walk about 30 minutes or take a golf cart to the Sulfur Tsar Baths to really experience the relaxing powers of Borjomi’s water.

See Borjomi From Above in a Cable Car

One of my favorite things to do in Borjomi was taking the cable car to the top and hiking through Borjomi’s national park (see below!) There’s only one cable car and it takes less than five minutes to go between the stations. The coolest thing was the cable car itself: it’s open-air, which means you can look through the windows and breath the fresh air. It also has a cute wooden design and benches, in case you get tired. The cost was 5 Lari for a one-way ticket, which is a steal considering the priceless panoramic views you’ll see!

Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park

Did you know Borjomi is situated in one of the largest national parks in Georgia? The Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park has more than 850 square kilometers of nature and dozens of trails. If you’re short on time, do the National Park Information Trail – it’s only 3 kilometers and takes less than 2 hours to complete. For travelers who want to really explore the Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park, there’s an information center with maps and helpful tips.

Other Borjomi Activities

Cultural Heritage Monument Firuza – If you’re walking to Central Park, you can’t miss this bright blue building (above). It was originally commissioned by an Iranian king back in the 1800s, but now you can go inside and look at the lovely architecture.

Borjomi Local Lore Museum – If you have an hour or two, stop by this small but interesting museum that details the history of Borjomi and its mineral water. Bonus: most of the signs are in English and Russian :)

Sulfur Tsar Baths – Located about 2 kilometers from the cable car station, the sulfur baths are a nice way to relax after a long day of hiking in the national park. The entrance fee is 5 Lari and there are a few different pools to soak in.

Likani Romanov Palace – This used to be the previous residence of the Romanov dynasty, but unfortunately the main grounds are closed for visitors. It’s still a lovely place to walk around and take photos (and pretend to be a Russian royal).

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WHERE TO EAT IN BORJOMI

If you think that Borjomi is so small that there’s nothing to eat, think again! There are dozens of small cafes and restaurants in Borjomi that serve traditional Georgian food along with other cuisines. Here are some of my favorites:

🍴 Cafe Tourist – Don’t let the name throw you off – there are plenty of locals here (fine, and maybe a few tourists ). There’s plenty of space inside and outside and a nice selection of items on the menu: I recommend the cheese plate and khinkali (see photo above). If you don’t know what to order, don’t be afraid of asking the server – they’re extremely friendly and very helpful!
LOCATION: Nodar Dumbadze street 3

🍴 Inka Cafe – Located on the other side of Borjomi Park, Inka Cafe is a cute little cafe that’s great if you want a snack or something light. They have a variety of desserts, wine, and coffee, along with “bigger” portions like khachapuri and fish.
LOCATION: Aprili Street 9

🍴 My House – Close to the center of Borjomi is My House. It’s a nicely decorated restaurant with plenty of options and outdoor seating – perfect for summer nights!
LOCATION: Kostava St. 31

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BORJOMI TRAVEL TIPS

For a really unique Georgian souvenir, buy pinecone jam! This jam is famous in Eastern Europe because it claims to heal the immune and respiratory system. The pinecones are taken from the nearby forest and usually handmade by the local ladies – a small jar costs around 5 to 7 Lari.

Did you know you can bring back Borjomi’s mineral water for free? You can take an empty plastic bottle (or buy one near the park) and give it to the ladies who pour water at the springs. They’ll fill it to the top for free and you’ll have another unique souvenir to take to your friends. If you don’t want to lug around a bunch of bottles and piss off customs at the airport, you can also buy Borjomi water here and pretend it’s from the source.

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That’s it for my Borjomi travel guide! Are you feeling refreshed yet? If not – a ticket to Borjomi is calling your name. :)
Until next time!

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